Unpleasant duties

"Great job, girls, great job!" Followed by the rest of the pride a lioness approached a group of younger females. With the same tone of her pelt and similar lineaments she looked just like an elderly version of Jua. Except for her eyes, which differed from her daughter's name giving eye color. "So, whom may I congratulate?"
Still panting Jua looked up noticing her mother's glance. "Wasn't me this time. It shook me off." With a paw she pointed at another one of the lionesses gathered around the dead zebra. A proud smile appeared on her bloody flews, as Usiku noticed the pride's leader looked at her. "Her first takedown of a prey this big."

"Well then, nice work Usiku. I'm happy to see your hunting skills grow."

"Thank you, Heba", the lioness cheerfully responded and took a few steps backwards to make space for her leader.
Together with the others Jua waited her turn, while her mother dug her teeth into the fresh carcass. After Ushindi's death Heba had led the lionesses who hadn't left the pride, despite the fact, that she wasn't their queen. By that time the only thing she had to offer, was being the mother of the one child the king couldn't deny having fathered. But for the moment that had been enough and by now Heba had proven a competent leader and worthy of her pride's trust. Unfortunately for Jua, being the leader's daughter brought some unpleasant duties for her.

"Have you thought about, what we discussed yesterday?", her mother asked after they all had been fed and laid down to rest.

"Please…", she begged despite knowing it was too late already.

"Jua!", Heba admonished her daughter and gave her a strict glance. "You know it is necessary for the wellbeing of this pride and especially for your own. We have been lucky for a long time, but with every day the risk is increasing. After more than a year I'm sure the news of your father's death has spread. If you don't make a choice soon, someone will come and take it from you!"

"I know, mom. But…"
With an angry look on her face her mother rose. "No more excuses! You have to take this seriously. You are Ushindi's only known child and by that heir to these lands. That makes you the target for everyone who wants to take them over. I'm your mother and I will not simply step aside and watch a jumped-up brute taking advantage on you!"

"And neither would I!" Jua sat up as well. "Let them come! I'll…"

"Oh, they will!", her mother interrupted. "And if they do so, believe me, they'll make you obey, no matter how tough you think you are and neither I nor our pridesisters will be able to stop them!"
Grumbling, Jua turned away from her. She knew her mother was right, but that made it only worse. For a moment she thought about telling her mother about her attempts on Kenua, but quickly dropped the idea. She had never taken her daughter's crush on the young rogue seriously and Jua was sure, it was better to leave it that way.
"Come on, sweetie", her mother tried again with a way softer voice. "Just give it a try. I promise, you won't have to choose. We'll only visit a few other prides and introduce ourselves. Maybe we can arrange an alignment, to improve our reputation, so we've got someone to turn to, if we get into trouble. And by that you will at least get to meet some males. Maybe you'll even like it."

"I don't think so."

"Honey, I beg you. Please."
Sighing Jua laid down again. Under her mother's pleading glances, she finally surrendered. "Fine", she growled. "I'll go with you. But only, if you stop bothering me. At least for a while, ok?"

"Of course!" The relieve in Heba's voice couldn't be missed, as she softly nuzzled her daughter's cheek. Then she took a step backwards. "So, uhm… We'll leave tomorrow at sunrise. If you want to, you can ask one of your friends to join us. You'll probably feel better having some backup while approaching a male. When I was your age…"

"Mom!", Jua interrupted with her eyes wide open. "Stop it! Don't make me regret my decision." She stood up and stretched her legs. "I'll go and wake up Usiku. It's time for our patrol", she quickly said before her mother could continue.

"Fine, be save!" Heba called after her as Jua left shaking her head about what she had let herself in for.

. . .

"You're kidding me."

"No. I know it sounds odd, but I'm serious. I'll go with my mom introducing myself to some other prides."

"You mean to some males!", Usiku corrected her grinning all over her face.
"I'm thrilled", Jua growled sounding everything but thrilled.
"Hey, I know you're not interested in dating, but think about it! You're going to meet other prides, other lions. Even kings and queens and their children!" Usiku didn't even try to hide her excitement. "Awesome!"

"I've only agreed after mom promised to leave me alone with her future plans for a while. At least she said I can take one of you guys to accompany me."
Her friend's eyes widened. "Your mother said one of us could join you?"

"Yeah. For backup as she put it."

"Jua? I promise, I'll be the best backup you could ever imagine! I know my experience with boys are as poorly as yours, but I'll do my very best! If you choose me, I'll…"

"Stop it. Please! I want you to aid me enduring this, not to help my mother hooking me up."

"So, I'm in? Oh girl, I love you!"
Now smiling herself Jua watched Usiku rapturously jumping in the air. "We're leaving tomorrow morning. Now try to calm down a bit bevor Kenu mistakes you for a gazelle."
Within an instant Usiku froze. Due to her excitement she hadn't even realized where her friend had led her. Her eyes focused the ledge where the young rogue usually could be found. "Jua!", Usiku hissed tense. "How often have I told you not to take me here?"

"Oh, come on." Jua laughed at her. "I thought you wanted to be my backup?"

"Yeah, but definitively not if it's about him! But look, he is not even there so, we can continue our patrol like we're supposed to."
Stubborn Jua shook her head. "I'm not leaving without saying goodbye to him. He could be worried if I suddenly disappear."

"I guess relieved would describe it better."

"Listen, if you're too scared to meet the guy I like, how could I count on you, if I'm out meeting someone I don't know?" Despite knowing she was mean Jua enjoyed the torn look on her friend's face, as she continued walking towards Kenua's ledge.
As Usiku had already noticed, the rogue wasn't there, but his mere absence wasn't enough for Jua to give up. Instead she began sniffing the area, curious to figure out where the young lion had gone.

"I told you he's not here." Finally, her friend had dared to follow her. "Can we go now?"

"No. Something off here. His scent is weaker than ever, like he hasn't been her for a while", Jua noticed a little worriedly.

"Maybe his crocodile friend was successful after all?", Usiku carefully surmised, what led to her friend giving her a bad look.

"There is only one way to find out." With confident steps Jua walked up to the edge and looked down into the water. "Njaa? Njaa, are you here?" It took her a few more attempts, but finally the water rippled and the scaly head of the reptile emerged from the river.

"Well, well, if that isn't Jua's sweet voice coming to my ear", the croc greeted her. "Nice to see you around, sunshine. How's the adoption going?"

"The what?", Jua asked perplexed by his words.

"Never mind." A smile appeared on the crocodile's face, revealing rows of crooked teeth. "But why don't you come a little closer, so we don't have to shout at each other, huh?"

"Sounds great and all, but I'm not here for dinner, you know?", she replied unimpressed. "Just wanted to ask you, were Kenu is. Hungry as you are, he didn't agree with your diner plans either?"

"You're right, unfortunately. Your lover boy left a few days ago. Don't tell me he didn't kiss you goodbye?"

"He didn't." Headshaking she stepped back from the edge. Knowing Njaa, asking where Kenua had went would be pointless. If he knew it, he already had offered her the information, perhaps in exchange for Usiku, or another possible meal. "Fine, where leaving", she growled at her friend, as she passed her. "If Kenu hasn't been here for days there is no point in waiting."

. . .

Together the lionesses left the scenery continuing their patrol. As they returned to their prides lair Usiku went straight up to her friends to tell them about the diplomatic mission she would be part of. At first her overwhelming joy about their journey had annoyed Jua, but by now it had started to cheer her up. Maybe with Usiku by her side the trip wouldn't be that bad at all.