Lioness Tales

Tale 1: Njano's Secret

Chapter 7: Leader in Training

Even though several weeks had gone by since Duni had requested Faraji and Safi's assistance, it was clear to both lions that Duni still had not forgiven them for letting her down when she needed them most. Usually quick to initiate conversation, Duni would remain quiet and would answer their questions in a curtly manner.

Duni also kept her distance from the lionesses, after Chiku and Damisi brought the issue up one morning.

"You have to think logically," Chiku told her, after seeing that Duni was still sulking about the incident, "even if your cubs don't turn out to be blind, you couldn't possibly take care of them in your state. Cubs are a lot of work, and just like hunting, I'm afraid it's a task you're not cut out for."

"If you have cubs, you'll be basically dumping them on us to be taken care of," Damisi chimed in, "Now, one thing is being on cub-duty, and another one is having to raise someone else's cub. Unless one of us actually agrees first to be the surrogate mother, I think you should really be less selfish and think twice about asking the males for assistance in the future."

The whole ordeal, as well as the lionesses' blunt judgment, had taken a huge blow at Duni's self-esteem, and the lioness spent most of her time lying down and sleeping. She felt it didn't make a difference to the Pride whether she was awake or not. Sometimes she couldn't even be bothered with searching food, and she started losing weight.

Adla and Bahiya were the only ones who kept trying to comfort her and to cheer her up. Adla would often bring her some meat to eat, and would groom her, since Duni had also stopped grooming herself.

One night, already way past midnight, Adla was still busy cleaning behind Duni's ears and neck, while keeping her company. Adla looked up for a moment when she heard someone approaching. It was Safi, who was carrying a zebra haunch in his muzzle.

Adla gave Safi a small smile. "There's someone here to see you," she whispered in Duni's ear.

Duni didn't even bother lifting her head. "Go away, Safi."

Adla stood up. "Just listen to what he has to say, can't hurt, hmm? I'll be at the lair if you need anything."

Duni let out a deep sigh and curled into a ball.

Adla whispered "Good luck!" at Safi as she walked away, and the lion approached Duni, still feeling guilty for what had happened.

Safi placed the meat on the ground next to her. "Hey... I had my First Hunt today, did you know? I managed to catch a zebra. Here, I even brought a little something to share with you... I thought we could... celebrate together or something..." he said, and pushed his catch closer to her with his nose.

Duni simply remained silent, ignoring him and the food.

"C'mon... You can't stay angry at me forever... You know that I will be leaving soon, and I want to part in friendly terms."

The lioness simply let out a deep sigh, but still did not move or react to his peace offering.

Safi tried again, while Duni wished she was deaf for a change, so that she could shut him out. However, between Safi's words, Duni thought she heard something else. The lioness pricked her ears and tried to listen better, while ignoring Safi's monologue.

"...So I really mean it when I say that it was not my intention to-" Safi went on, but interrupted himself when Duni raised her head unexpectedly, looking alarmed.

"Er... Are you okay?"

"Shh!" she hissed, and pricked her ears once more, trying to locate the source. She stood up as she walked in circles, while Safi simply looked at her expectantly.

"Is it a predator?" he whispered as low as he could.

"No... I think it's Faraji... He doesn't sound all right."

Safi walked to Duni and gave her an encouraging nuzzle. "I can't hear him... Can you guide me? I'll warn you if there are any obstacles along the way."

Duni hesitated for a moment. One part of her felt she shouldn't care if Faraji was in trouble, but the other part could simply not ignore the fact that something was wrong with him. She finally made up her mind and started tracing his location.

As they searched for him, Duni eventually picked up Faraji's unusual scent.

"Straight ahead," Duni told Safi, "Come on, hurry! You run ahead and I follow your trail so I won't trip with something."

Safi nodded in agreement and broke into a sprint, not too fast so that Duni could keep up. They finally reached a clearing, where they found Faraji, mumbling to himself in a slurred speech, while his legs appeared not to be supporting his own weight anymore. He eventually knelt on the ground, only to flop on his side a few seconds later.

"You were right, something's wrong with him," Safi told Duni, sounding a bit shocked, "You stay here, I will go alert the lionesses!"

Duni nodded, and approached Faraji, who was still mumbling incomprehensibly and didn't seem to realize Duni was there. He started having short convulsions at some point; his limbs shook without any control.

The lioness did some quick thinking and immediately started searching for food, just like Bahiya had done months ago. She searched frantically, and in her anxiety, she kept losing her prey. There had been no time to trace herself a perimeter, so she didn't dare to run after the rodents. She kept trying though, while reassuring Faraji and telling him it would all be all right.

Eventually, she managed to collect three small rats that she deposited in front of Faraji's muzzle. However, the lion was not reacting to the food at all, he simply lay there, breathing slowly.

"Please," Duni said nuzzling him gently, "Try and eat these, you'll feel better, like last time, remember?"

But Faraji was not responding anymore. He had also stopped mumbling and his breathing became more and more irregular.

It was then when Safi and the rest of the Pride came running towards them.

Bahiya looked at the lion apprehensively. She knew he tended to feel worse whenever he didn't eat, and she tried to remember whether she had seen Faraji eating anything at all. It was then when she realized that he had missed his meal, since Etana had notified him of a leopard that was poaching nearby, and Faraji had left to deal with him. The lion had returned unscathed, but went straight to the lake, as usual.

Bahiya then noticed the dead rats nearby, and glanced at Duni's bloodied paws and muzzle. Bahiya understood then that Duni had done her best to help him, and her eyes filled up with tears, while feeling immense gratitude towards her.

"Faraji? Can you hear me?" Adla said as she nuzzled his head gently. Seeing no response from him, Adla motioned Bahiya to come over.

Bahiya leaned over and licked Faraji's cheek. "Please... Please, you have to wake up, you can't leave me," she whispered in his ear for only him to hear.

Faraji remained completely unresponsive, and the lionesses could tell that the end was near. He would inhale heavily, and then stop breathing, for longer intervals every time.

"Here... Eat these rats!" Bahiya yelled, sounding desperate, trying to force one into his muzzle, but it was no use. His energy depleted, Faraji finally exhaled his last breath. The lionesses kept staring at his chest, waiting for it to raise again, but they waited in vain.

The Pride lowered their heads and whispered a hushed farewell to their fallen leader.

Bahiya burst into tears and threw herself on top of him, giving away her true feelings for Faraji, but the lionesses didn't say anything. They simply nuzzled one another, trying to comfort each other.

Adla sighed deeply and walked towards Duni, who appeared shocked and confused as to what was going on.

Duni jumped startled when she felt Adla nuzzling her. "Faraji has passed away, dear. Safi tells me it was you who heard him first..." Adla said, for all the Pride to hear, "I know you were having a very difficult time, so I want to thank you for putting that aside, and coming here to help him."

Duni nodded silently, and approached the body of Faraji with a bit of caution. Bahiya stepped aside, so that Duni could also say her last goodbye.

Duni pawed his face gently, once again realizing how much bigger she had gotten over the years. His nose, which had seemed huge back when she was still a cub, didn't feel all that big anymore. She also realized that there was not much left of that brawny, big lion she had once pawed as a cub. Faraji had lost so much weight that she could feel his bones clearly.

Duni finally nuzzled him and whispered farewell, forgetting for a moment everything about how mad she had been with him earlier. She now understood that he had been indeed very sick, and decided to cut him some slack, and made peace with him.

The Pride mourned silently for a long time, but Adla finally encouraged everyone to return to the lair.

"Let's go back... We still have to break the news to Erevu and Nura."

The lionesses nodded and one by one they returned to the lair, while Bahiya lagged behind. Adla simply nodded at her, and left Bahiya alone with Faraji, so that she could say farewell to him in private.

As they made their way back home, Adla caught up with Safi and whispered, "I know you were planning to leave soon, but given the circumstances... You know Erevu is still young and not able to defend the Pride properly yet. He wouldn't stand a chance if a rogue tried to invade while we're out hunting. Would you mind sticking around with us a little bit longer?"

Safi nodded. "It's not a problem. You know I wasn't really looking forward to leaving anyway..."

Adla smiled and gave him a gentle nuzzle, and then turned to Duni, who was following the Pride at considerable distance. She waited for her, and then walked side by side.

"I'm afraid it's going to be very lonely for me, without you and Faraji at the niche... Please say you'll keep me company tonight..." Adla requested. Ever since Faraji's rejection, Duni had not spent the night with them at the lair.

"Yes, of course I will," Duni replied without hesitation. Adla needed her now, and Duni knew she had to be strong for her.

Adla was the one who finally broke the news to Erevu and Nura, once they were back at the lair. The poor lion felt an incredible weight on his shoulders all of a sudden, as he knew he was not ready to lead a Pride, not by a long shot.

The lionesses promised to be supportive, and to help him along the way as much as they could.

Safi also reassured them, letting everyone know that he would stay longer, until Erevu was ready to fully take over the Pride.

Erevu eventually excused himself and looked for a secluded place, where he could let his tears flow without fear of being perceived as weak. He couldn't believe that Faraji was gone. Just the morning before they still had gone on patrol together like usual. He still had a lot of things to learn, but Faraji had always been very positive and reassuring. In his eyes, Erevu had all the potential to be a great leader, and he never failed to tell him every day, "I know you're going to make me proud one day, son."

Erevu had kept his composure as he reminisced about his father, but it was when the sun finally rose that the lion burst into tears. He would have to start his rounds soon, only this time, he would have to do it on his own.

Not one day went by without Faraji being remembered one way or another. The lionesses spoke of him fondly, and Erevu tried his best to follow in his footsteps. While he was still young and inexperienced, Erevu had benefited from the extra time that Faraji had dedicated to him. He agreed with his father's method of ruling, and this meant little change for the lionesses and their routine.

It still took several weeks before Duni started talking to Safi again. They finally agreed not to talk about what happened the day of their fight, and instead concentrated on helping Erevu and Nura out.

The little lioness had expressed interest in Duni's hunting method one day, and Duni was more than glad to teach her. After months of feeling worthless, this was a very much welcome activity for her, something that made her feel wanted and useful.

It all seemed to be looking bright for Duni, until she came into season again. This time, she didn't bother asking Safi for help. Instead, she went to the same secluded spot Adla had shown her, and spared herself the disappointment and humiliation. She assumed that Erevu would follow the same line of thought as his father and sibling, but since the lion was still too young, she didn't bother going to him either. She had started to believe that this was her destiny and that she would remain cubless for good.

As months passed, Erevu and Safi had done a good job in keeping the Pride protected, although the young leader had not expressed any desire in forming a coalition with him. Safi realized that his time in the Eyasi Pride was running out again, once Erevu started showing certain interest in the lionesses. As the only other male lion in the Pride, Erevu, full of questions, turned to Safi for answers.

"Let me get this straight... I actually have to wait for the lionesses to be in season, and come to me? What if I feel like doing it right there and then? As leader of the Pride, can't I just ask one out?"

Safi let out a chuckle. "The lionesses will be willing to do your bidding, but not when it comes to this. If you try to force them, you'll just get a good ol' slap on the cheek, claws extended."

Erevu looked away, thoughtful. "How will I know when they're in the mood?"

"Trust me, buddy, you'll know. You can see it in the way they look at you, how they walk, and even how they smell. It's hard not to miss it. But you will have to wait until you've grown some more, and even a bit longer than that, before they actually come to you."

Erevu glanced at the lionesses, who were lounging not far away from them. "Huh? Even longer? Why is that?"

"It's because of Nura. She will become your wife, but right now she's still too young. So the lionesses will not request mating from you, until Nura is of age and you two have sealed your engagement first."

"What?" Erevu exclaimed, looking disappointed, "Man! Nura hasn't even officially started her hunting lessons! Will I have to wait that long?"

Safi let out a loud laugh and lay down on his back, looking relaxed. "Quit whining. Once you marry Nura, they'll be all over you like bees over honey."

Erevu glanced at Safi, whose dark mane was almost fully grown. "You're an adult already... How come they don't ask you?"

"You're the Leader, not me. Besides, they know I will leave someday."

"So you never... did it?" Erevu inquired with curiosity.

Safi shook his head. "I was very close, once, but no. Duni came to me but-"

"Eww, Duni? Yuck! No wonder you didn't go through with it..." Erevu interrupted.

Safi looked at him and frowned. He sat up straight and cuffed Erevu slightly. "Hey, she's really sweet, you know."

"But ugly as a hyena!" Erevu replied, laughing as he avoided another slap from Safi.

Safi sighed. "Well, I guess it's a good thing you don't like her. Your father was of the idea that she could bring more blind cubs into the Pride, and he wanted to avoid that. He asked me to say no to her if she were to request my assistance, and I am sure he would have asked you the same thing."

"Man, he didn't have to ask! I'm not getting close to Duni for that, even if she were the last lioness around. Just the thought of it makes me sick already."

Safi appeared bothered by Erevu's comments and he decided to leave. "We'll see if you can walk the walk the same way you talk the talk, once she asks you for help. Anyway, I'm going for a drink, see you later."

"Whoa, don't get all defensive. What, did I insult your girlfriend?" Erevu taunted.

Safi simply walked away, ignoring Erevu's childish behaviour. After all, the lion was going through adolescence and they would all go through a similar phase in which they would act very rude and annoying.

Safi himself had been very mean to Duni during that stage, but he found out that he felt very differently towards her now. He thought back to those days, in which Duni never failed to greet him with a grin, even when he had been a total jerk to her the day before.

He knew better now, and he was not afraid to admit that he actually enjoyed spending time with Duni. She could make him laugh, and she also was an excellent groomer. All those years practicing with the other lionesses had certainly paid off. Safi was still not sure that what he felt for Duni was actually love, but he would often experience a strong desire to protect her, and make sure she was getting by. As such, whenever Erevu would start dissing her, he'd walk away.

Duni had failed to notice Safi's increased interest in her; she had been pushed aside and hurt often enough, that she didn't even dare to think about him as a potential mate. She liked to daydream, but that was all it was, dreams. But if Duni had been able to see the way Safi looked at her sometimes, she would surely have had seconds thoughts about his feelings towards her. However, the lioness remained unaware, and Safi, still thinking about Faraji's concerns, and the well being of the Pride, didn't bring it up.