CHAPTER 3 – Marital Problems
"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens and lie in wait in their thicket?" (Job 38, 39-40)
Among the scrub there laid a lion, holding his sleeping son firmly in his grasp. He was slowly licking the cub's dark brown fur, that strongly resembled his own, except being much more haggard.
-Oh Nuka… when is your mother finally going to return? You must be starving. It's so unlucky for you to be born in such a time, when nearly all of the land has become a desert…
He paused and strained his ears. There was a loud sound of someone's footsteps. The lion's job of looking after his son, who was an easy catch for every predator, has made him strongly cautious. He hid Nuka in his embrace, but calmed after a minute, having sensed a familiar smell.
-Zira! Come out, we're waiting here for you!
Indeed, a moment later the lioness emerged from behind the grass. Unfortunately, she wasn't carrying any pray with her.
-Oh Zira… another unsuccessful hunt?
The lioness snorted. She came closer and looked at her son.
-He is weak. – said Siri.
-He definitely inherited it from you!
-Darling, why are you so upset? Your behavior towards me has recently changed dramatically. What happened to you from the time you moved here to live with me?
Zira looked at him with anger.
-It seems that your company has finally made me realize who you really are.
The lion became concerned.
-What are you saying, Zira?
-Do you think that this is my idea of a perfect life? I wanted to have a mate and cubs, being a respected member of my own pride… and not to become an outcast!
-But you yourself wanted to separate to come and live here with me!
Zira turned her back on Siri.
-Maybe I was wrong.
-Oh darling…
The lion came up wanting to hold her, but she pushed him away. He tried again, but she moved his head away with her paw, growling angrily. Her mate stood beside her with sadness.
-Then maybe you should ask your king again to grant me permission for joining your pride?
-Do you take me for an idiot? I spoke with him about your aspirations many times!
Siri became confused. He didn't hear her say that she was going to visit Pride Rock lately.
-Wait… and weren't you supposed to hunt for Nuka and me?
The lioness growled even louder.
-Oh stop it!
-Zira! You've also been there today, haven't you? Admit it! You haven't even started a hunt today!
His mate did not like Siri's raised voice. He was usually calm, so he still didn't have the chance to experience how delicate the female's nerves were. Until now.
-Don't you yell at me, you fool!
She hit him on the face with her paw. Siri groaned, looking in her furious eyes with a frightened expression.
-How could you?
-You're weaker than I thought! Get out of here! I don't want to see you before sundown, and even then you better bring some prey, or else you'll have to find yourself another place to sleep tonight!
Siri wanted to say something, but instead he just sighed with disappointment and left. When Zira finally calmed herself, she approached the sleeping Nuka.
-Don't worry, my little one. We will find someone better than that bastard father of yours…
AN: So we meet Siri, the mysterious father of Nuka. Too bad Zira neglects both of them. Obviously she found something more interesting back at Pride Rock… What's her plan? Don't mind reading and reviewing if you wanna know.
