Sightseeing

"And… you're sure we can just… well… walk straight up to him?", Kiraka asked, following the other cubs through the long grass.

"Of course she is!", Athari replied, noticeably annoyed by her sister. "What should happen? It's her mom's land after all and we all three are trained in combat. You heard mom, we were very good at training today!"

"If you don't overestimate yourself with that." Vitani turned her head and looked at her friends. "Fighting a grown lion is something different than wrangling with your sister. And by the way, we aren't on my mother's land. Technically we are poachers."

"So what?" Defiantly Athari past her. "We always are, since there is no notable prey at home."

Kiraka didn't seem to be convinced by her sister's argument. "But won't he be mad if he figures out we are stealing his prey?"

"Only if he knows. Tani, you didn't tell him our pride came here to hunt, didn't you?"

"He didn't ask where I came from, so why should I have? And I don't even think this is his land. He was all alone and I haven't seen no pride he could belong to. Guess he is a rogue or something."

"Are you sure?"

With a smile Vitani slowed down and duck deeper into the cover of the grass. "I am", she said in a low voice. "Why don't you see for yourself?" With her front paws she pushed the tufts of grass aside to reveal the rocky ledge.

Excited, Athari came closer to look over her friend's shoulder, just in time to see the victorious smile disappear from Vitani's face. "Uhm… and what am I supposed to see?"

"He… he was right over there when I left!" With a paw Vitani pointed at the spot at the edge.

"Uh, sure he was!" Growling Athari stood up and jumped out of the grass.

"Come back!", Kira hissed fearful. Unlike her sister she hadn't even moved a whisker since they had arrived.

"Why should I? Nobody is here! Come on out scaredly cats."

With a frustrated growl Vitani followed her and looked around the ledge. Unfortunately, there was no sign of the lion. "Damn it!", she shouted out, as Athari giggled. "Don't you even dare saying it! He was here!"

"Ok ok, calm down", her friend said, unsuccessfully trying not to laugh. "As I said, I belief you. Not your fault your new friend disappeared."

"You… really?" She hadn't expected this kind of reaction from Athari after all.

"Yeah, you know, I didn't bother about him that much anyway. I came for the crocodile you were talking about!" With big steps she moved towards the cliff's edge. "You said it was down there?"

Happy about being able to impress her friends at least with this, Vitani joined her. "Yes. Last time I snuck up to the lion from over there right next to the edge where you can see the river. Out of a sudden the croc jumped right out of it! It nearly got him, because he let one of his paws dangling down."

"So, your friend was laying right here?" With a tough grin Athari made herself comfortable at the spot. "Or was it more like this?" She slid closer to the edge, so she could peek down into the river.

"What are you doing?", Kiraka asked appalled, still remaining in a safe distance. "Get away from there!"

"Aw shut up." She turned her head to her friend, who had walked up to her, inspired by her daring. "I don't see anything. Do you, Tani?"

"No, but maybe…" She looked around. "Aha!" With one of her paws she pushed a small rock over the edge and watched it dropping down into the river. With a little splash it disappeared, while the water formed rings. Unfortunately, nothing else happened.

"Stop that! You'll attract the crocodile!"

Annoyed, Athari slapped her forehead. "Oh, how can one possibly be so dumb? That's kind of the plan, scaredly cat! Throw another one Tani!"

"What's up Kira? Not as tough as you always act?", Vitani joined mocking her and did what she had been asked for.

"I AM tough and I'm neither dumb nor a scaredly cat!", Kiraka snapped at them. "But what you're doing is stupid! What if the croc shows up and gets you? You'll be two brave dead lions!"

"Bah, that won't happen, scaredly cat!", her sister replied. "Vitani said that the croc couldn't jump high enough to reach an adult lion up here. He even let his paw hanging down the cliff." With a great gesture she lifted her own and held it over the edge. "Just like this…"

The water splashed high as the beast broke through the surface. In an incredible speed the crocodile's fangs rushed at Athari's foreleg. With a high scream the cub jumped into the air. Frozen in fear Vitani watched her friend's hind paws stepping into the void as she came down again. With panic in her eyes Athari dug her claws into the ground to stop herself from sliding over the edge, but it was in vain. Carving the surface, she slipped down further desperately trying to find grip.

"No!" Finally, Vitani broke her rigidity and jumped at Athari's front paws, just at the moment, she slid over the edge.

"Let go! Let go!", the cub screamed in pain, as her friends' claws dug into her. Dangling from the ledge she glanced at the water. Down in the river the crocodile swam a semicircle and submerged, setting for another jump. "Don't let go! Don't let go!"

A shadow fell over Vitani, as the water splashed a second time. Dark fur took her sight and she was pushed to the ground. A rageful roar was heard, followed by the noise of something big crashing into the river. Then the pressure from her back disappeared.

"Damn you, Kenua!", the crocodile shouted outrageous. "This dumb kitty was supposed to be my lunch!"

"Not today", the lion, standing over Vitani mumbled. He took some steps backwards and let loose of the cub in his muzzle.

Relieved Kiraka ran towards her sister, who laid down, trembling all over her body.

"Move it!", the lion ordered Vitani, who was still standing there like she'd be rooted, walked around the other cubs and pushed her aside, away from the edge. Then he sat down in front of the young lionesses. "You're ok, kiddo?", he asked Athari, who now was surrounded by her sister and Vitani. Unable to speak, the cub nodded. "Fine." The lion turned his attention away from her. Now his eyes had focused Vitani. "I remember you. You're the cub from last night. Tell me, what exactly were you up to? Was it your plan to feed your little friend here to Njaa or are you just unspeakable stupid?"

"No! I… She didn't belief me… And after I've convinced her… I just wanted to show them…", Vitani stammered, trying to regain her usual voice.

"Unbelievable", Kenua growled in annoyance. "After you returned to where ever you came from the first thing you did was telling your kitty gang and making me a tourist attraction? Am I getting this right?"

"Well…" Seeking for help she looked at her friends.

"Am I getting this right?", the lion repeated his question, louder and angrier than before.

"M-maybe?" She tried an apologetic smile, but it looked more like a weird grimace. Unlike she had told her friends and herself, now this guy didn't look weak or lame at all. In fact, something about him gave her a chill running down her spine.

"I bet you haven't told your mommies about that. Guess they wouldn't be glad to hear about you wandering around and annoying strangers. Maybe I should go looking for them to ask."

"They… they aren't around", Vitani quickly lied. "We came all the way from the Pride Lands."

"Yes, she is right", Kiraka tried to support her.

"Really?", the lion replied theatrical. "So, you don't know the lionesses roaming this area since a few days? I could have sworn some of them have the same markings like you." With a toe of his paw he tapped Kiraka's cheek. "Just this morning I saw them hunting after some antelopes. But if you don't know them…" He made a throw-away gesture, but within an instant he became serious again. "Now let's cut the wildebeestshit. It takes more than a day to reach the Pride Rock and markings like yours are rare. But you're lucky. I'm not really interested in giving your mothers advice on child-rearing. All I want is that you don't cause any more trouble. Not you cubbies, not your moms and no one else of your lousy bunch. I don't mind, if you stay around, if you behave but no more toying around with Njaa. Might be difficult for me to explain some angry moms why their lost cubs' track ends right at my place without them being around."

"Tani?", Kiraka whispered without turning her eyes away from the lion. "Why is he talking so much?" Unfortunately, it seemed like she hadn't been quiet enough.

"I'm what?", he asked surprised.

"N-Nothing!"

"Talking so much", Vitani replied loudly. Meanwhile she had recovered her defiant behavior. "You're not going to tell us out or chase us away, if we promise not to get eaten by Njaa, because that would mean trouble for you. We've got it!"

With a puzzled look on his face he stared down on her. "Uhm… That's what I was trying to say, yeah."

"You're kind of weird, you know?", she noted, enjoying her little triumph.

"Can't deny that, huh? Guess that comes, if your closest friend is the crocodile trying to eat you."

"That… that beast is your friend?" Surprised Vitani looked aside. She had nearly forgotten about Athari lying next to her.

"At least what comes closest to that. And I'd always prefer him over Jua, that's for sure."

"Don't even want to know, who that is", Kiraka said quietly. "Guys? Don't you think we should go back? He said Ibura was hunting gazelles. They might have returned already. I don't want mom to find out we've left… and I am hungry."

"Sure, you are!", Vitani growled. "But you're right. We should be back before your aunt or we might meet her on our way. So, Let's go. Bye Kenua." She began walking and looked back to the lion. "Wasn't that your name?"

"Yeah…" Confused he watched Kiraka quickly following her friend.

"Well, see you, Kenua." Athari stood up. For an awkward moment she stood in front of him, not sure, what to do. "And… and thank you for saving me", she finally said, before running after the other cubs.