Chapter 2
A Savanna Night
Maisha tip-toed across the cold stone floor of the den, hoping with every bit of her that she wouldn't wake up her mother.
That's it, keep on sleeping, she thought, looking back at her sleeping parents. She stumbled on a loose rock and winced, all the while thinking it must have been the loudest thing she had ever heard. But, to her amazement, her brown-furred mother just kept on snoring. Or rather, breathing a bit loudly, because Jua would never admit that a lady like herself would ever snore.
Maisha snorted and lightly laughed under her breath. How Dad put up with her all these years is beyond me.
She finally reached the exit of the den after what seemed like an eternity trying to get out.
"Whew," Maisha breathed in relief. "That was hard." She bounded down the rock slope to the grassy area around the water hole where she had been told to wait by Upendo. She sat and took a few gulps from the water, and then waited.
She waited and waited and waited, and it seemed like Upendo had ditched her. Maisha began to feel rejected, and started to get up to walk away.
Then out of nowhere, Upendo leaped and pinned her to the ground, laughing as they started to roll around in the grass, playfighting.
Then Maisha stopped. "Why didn't you show up? I've been waiting for so long." They were laying side by side on their backs now, and she turned her head away. "I was beginning to think... You weren't coming."
Upendo turned on his side to face her, and she turned her head back to look at him. Maisha wanted to see what the expression on his face was. She wanted to know how he felt about disappointing her. To her surprise, he didn't look embarrassed or completely hating himself, no, in fact he was smiling.
Maisha grew red in anger.
"I can't believe you-"she tried to confront him, but was cut off by his wild laughter, until he managed to calm down and explain.
"Don't you remember what I told you?" He grinned at her. "What time did you get here?"
"Dawn," Maisha said, trying to control her temper.
"I told you to be here at quarter past dawn," Upendo said softly, trying not to make her angry again.
Then it was Maisha's turn to laugh, and soon Upendo joined in.
"I can't believe I didn't remember!" she exclaimed. "How could I forget? Last night was magical," she said softly.
"I know."
88
Maisha and Upendo raced through the meadow under the stars, chasing after the many fireflies that flew around the area. Soon, they grew tired from chasing and flopped down in the grass on their backs.
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the whole world," Maisha said with a small smile on her face.
"Neither would I," Upendo breathed, examining every beautiful feature on Maisha's moonlit face. He reached out a paw and placed it over hers.
"What are you doing?" Maisha twisted her head to look at him. Upendo started to pull his paw away.
"I'm sorry, I just..." He looked up to the stars as if he would find the rest of his sentence among the kings.
"It's alright," and she rested her paw on top of his. The fireflies mixed with the stars until it seemed as if the stars were dancing just for them. They both gasped at the beautiful sight.
"This night is so amazing," Maisha said. "And I'm so glad I shared it with you."
Upendo was wordless, so instead he licked her silky auburn cheek, and he was surprised to find that the favor was returned.
"Meet me by the water hole at quarter past dawn tomorrow," Upendo said. Maisha didn't reply but simply nodded her head lightly and rested it on top of his pale chest. They lay that way until Maisha said that she needed to go home. They parted ways into the night, neither of them ever going to forget it.