"I can't believe you beat Makuu like that!"
"What, you don't think your mama can handle herself?"
Fuli giggled slightly, leaning into her mother's side. Night had taken over the Pride Lands once more, and the two cheetahs were now laid down together in the grassy field that the cheetahs were using as their resting grounds, the younger of the two only slightly worn out after their trip to Big Springs. As soon as they had returned, they began to recall some of their events of the day, with Kasi now telling of her sparring session with the leader of the crocodiles. "I didn't say that, Mama. I'm just surprised. Makuu hates to lose at anything, anything that makes him feel weak."
"Well, that may be, but I was never going to just let him win, you know. I didn't help lead my tribe by letting anyone just walk all over me. He wanted a fight, so I brought it to him."
"Well, I wish I could have been there to see it. Makuu and the Guard and I are kind of on the same page now, but I'd be lying if I didn't like to see someone shut him up every once in a while."
A hearty laugh came from the mother, though it was contained so as not to awaken the other cheetahs who were just starting to let sleep overtake them. "I guess so."
"So… how are you feeling about tomorrow?"
She tilted her head, seeing the somewhat weakened smile on the younger cheetah's face. "You're worried, aren't you?"
"… kind of?" She looked down at her paws, trying not to let her mother see her frown. "I mean, I can't imagine why the other herd leaders would vote for you to leave. You said that they seemed to like you, and it sounds like they would be okay with you and everyone else joining the Pride Lands… I just wish I could be certain."
She heard her mother sigh, and before she even could look, she felt her muzzle press against the side of her face. "I know, Mpenzi. I wish it didn't have to be this uncertain, but I don't make the rules here, so I have to play by them if I want to make it work. I'm going to be honest with you, Fuli… I can't guarantee this will happen. However, I'm confident that I have done what I need to. Hopefully, that will be enough."
"Yeah… hopefully…"
Kasi could feel the mood had dropped a bit, so she gave her daughter a bit of a nudge. "Come on, let's not let this get us down. We don't know what will happen until it does. In the meantime, we need to make the most of the time we have together. Tomorrow, if you're up for it, I was hoping we could go hunting together before your patrol."
Fuli looked up at her mother, a bit of starlight appearing in her eyes. "Really?"
"Of course. I never got to see how well you would do at hunting, and if tomorrow is my last chance, then I would love to see how much you've learnt by yourself."
This brought a smile back to the girl's face. "Okay! Sure."
"Wonderful. But, of course, that means you have to sleep first."
Fuli laughed again, but didn't argue. "Alright, fine." As she shut her eyes, she felt a thought return to her. "Hey, Mama?"
"Yes?"
"Did you and dad… ever sing to me? For the past few days, I keep thinking I remember a song. It's one I recognise, but I can't remember it perfectly. Almost like…"
"You haven't heard it since you were a little cub." Fuli nodded, and a smile came to Kasi's face. "It was a song my mother sang to me, long before Scar ever took over the Pride Lands. She died just before I became an adult, and as time went on, it became the thing I remembered most of her. Any time I felt like crying, knowing that she wasn't with me, I would sing that song, and my mind would be at ease. Turns out, it also helped us to get you to sleep, when you wouldn't stop running around."
Fuli gave a small chuckle as she said, "guess some things never changed."
This got Kasi to chuckle as well. "I guess so. Honestly, I haven't sung it in a while, so I might not remember the words fully, but I could sing it for you, if it would help. Would you like me to sing it?"
Though there was a small twinge of embarrassment in Fuli's mind, feeling like she had gone back to being that little cub again, it went unheard due to the part of her heart that wanted to hear that song. "Yes, please."
"Alright, then. Let me see what I remember." She cleared her throat and racked her brain for a second, and then she started to sing.
"Stay with me, my child
I'll keep you safe tonight
Nothing shall dare try
To take you from my sight
You mean the world to me
You are the purest light"
As her mother's voice, quiet and tender, sang the lullaby, Fuli felt a nostalgic warmth fill her mind. It comforted her, bringing a smile to her face. Her eyelids began to grow heavy, a yawn quietly escaping her lips as she snuggled up in her mother's fur. This action brought a smile to Kasi's face, so she continued to sing.
"Stay with me, my dear
No harm shall come to you
You are safe with me
And nothing will undo
This feeling in my heart
That tells me, I love you"
This was the most that Kasi could remember of the song, but she didn't need to remember more. The gentle intakes and outtakes of breath she could hear made her look down and see her daughter peacefully resting, a sight of pure bliss to the former rainforest queen. Feeling like she should join her in this peaceful state, she lifted her paw and used it to pull Fuli closer, before placing a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep tight, Mpenzi," she whispered to the sleeping cub, before lowering her head and closing her eyes, letting the sweet embrace of sleep take over her.
Eventually, the sun rose once again, and after Kasi was the first to awaken, she allowed Fuli a few extra moments of slumber before waking her up. While Fuli was initially confused as to why she was awake when the others were still asleep, she remembered in time what her mother had proposed before they went to sleep, which allowed her to quickly awaken fully. They made sure not to wake the rest of the tribe as they left the resting grounds, travelling not too far to a grassy field, where a couple of springboks were grazing on the grass, unaware of the predators with their eyes on them.
"Alright, I think this will be good for breakfast," Kasi said, keeping her voice low enough. "So, Fuli. Would you care to show me what you can do?"
"Sure thing, Mama," the cub replied, not taking her eyes off of the prey. "Let's see… the winds are blowing West, and we're currently South East of the springbok. The grass is tall enough to provide cover."
Kasi nodded approvingly. "Very good. Now, you have your approach. Go for the hunt."
Fuli nodded back, before lowering to the ground and beginning her approach. She kept her head high enough to keep her sights on the animal, but are sure that her tail was low enough that it didn't poke out of the grass, so as not to give away her position. Though she was taking her time to close the distance, making sure not to make too much noise, she didn't waste time either, not wanting the springbok to leave before she had a chance to pounce on it. Eventually, she found herself close enough that the springbok suddenly felt like someone was watching it, so she stopped and lowered her head as it looked around. Once it stopped doing so and returned to grazing, Fuli knew it was her chance. She narrowed her sights, took one step back, then rushed forward, leaping out of the grass. As the springbok looked and saw the cheetah approaching, claws bearer and jaw opened wide, it was too late for it to run, and in an instant, it was brought down to the ground, with Fuli making its death as quick and painless as possible.
Having seen the kill take place, Kasi smiled. 'She's come so far by herself,' she thought to herself, before making her way over. When she found a clearing in the grass, she saw Fuli standing by her kill. "Well done, Fuli. That was excellent work."
"Really?"
"I mean it. You made quick work of it, your approach was stealthy and planned out. Honestly, I'm so proud of you, Fuli."
Such high praise made Fuli beam. "Thanks, Mama. So, was there anything I could have done better?"
"Not better, as such, but there is a tactic I have used in the past that has helped me. It's not a perfect tactic, but if it works, it can guarantee an easy kill. Basically, if you are able to grip your jaw into its leg without it kicking you away, you effectively render it unable to escape, and while it reacts to the pain, you can make the kill that way."
Fuli nodded, not having considered that in the past. "I see…"
"Of course, it only works in certain situations, particularly when the prey is still, so you would need to decide when to employ that. Other than that, you've come a long way as a hunter."
"Thanks, Mama."
"Now, let's find somewhere to eat." She took hold of one of the front legs with her jaw, while Fuli grabbed one of the hind legs, and they began to drag the springbok's body away, eventually finding a tree that was tall enough to cast shadows over them, which meant they could eat without risk of any other animal trying to take their catch. Once under its shelter, they sat down and began to eat. "You know, it's nice to have some time during the day, just for the two of us. As much as I love my tribe, there are things I can't talk to you about with them around."
Fuli looked up, gulping down a mouthful of the springbok meat. "What do you mean?"
"Well, with the exception of Aliye, some of them can be-"
"No, Mama, I meant what kind of things?"
"Oh. Well, the kind of things only a mother and daughter can talk about." A bit of a grin began to form on her face. "For instance, there's something I've been meaning to ask you about."
The younger cheetah tilted her head slightly. "What is it?"
"Well, Mpenzi… how do you feel about Kion?"
Fuli had to blink, the question catching her slightly off guard. "Umm… how do you mean?"
"You too seem quite close. I was wondering just how close you are?"
"Well, yeah, he's pretty much my best friend. I've known him since I was little."
"Is that all you too are?"
"Uh… I mean, we're both on the Guard together, so we're teammates. What else could we-" It was then that it clicked for her, and when she saw the grin her mother gave her, her cheeks started to turn pink. "Eww! Mama, we're not mates! We're too young for that!"
"I know that, Fuli, and that's not what I was suggesting. I just wondered if, perhaps, he was your kipenzi."
"He's not, I swear. We're just friends, that's all."
"Are you sure? Because you seem to be blushing right now. You like him, don't you?"
"Mama!"
Kasi couldn't help but chuckle. "Fuli, I'm joking with you. You don't need to tell me, it's fine. Just know that, if you do decide you want him to be your kipenzi-"
"Ugh, why are you suddenly being so embarrassing?"
"Because I'm your mother, and I have a lot of embarrassment to make up for." Though Fuli was going to argue with that, she actually found it kind of funny, giving a small chuckle. She then got up and walked around the springbok so she could nuzzle her mother. "Well, now, someone seems affectionate. Where has this come from?"
"Well, you might have embarrassment to make up for, but I have cuddling to make up for."
Her heart felt like it melted, so she happily returned the nuzzle. "You and me both, Mpenzi."
