Lioness Tales

Tale 1: Njano's Secret

Chapter 12: The Secret Bond

Just as predicted, after the lionesses were done telling Duni about Njano's disastrous test, Duni approached her and whispered, "We need to talk, please come with me."

Njano just let out a deep sigh and followed her mother to a secluded spot where they wouldn't be easily overheard.

"Care to tell me what's going on?" Duni said, sitting next to Njano, looking worried.

"I don't know what you mean, mom. You heard them already, I just made way too many mistakes."

"I may not be able to see, but I'm not dumb. I can tell that you didn't put the smallest amount of effort into today's test, and I want to know why. Are you scared of growing up? Is that it?"

Njano frowned slightly. "What? Um, no, not really, where did you get that from?"

Duni sighed deeply and looked away. "Erevu came to speak with me a few days ago. He told me he was sick and tired from watching you act like a huge cub all the time, when you should already be helping to bring food in, just like the rest of the lionesses. He also doesn't want you to spend that much time with Kanai, who tends to copy your playful behaviour when you're around."

Njano remained very quiet, holding her breath slightly, which puzzled Duni for a moment.

"You're not a cub anymore," Duni went on, "it's time that you start thinking seriously about these lessons. If something were to happen and you had to fend for yourself, you wouldn't stand a chance right now."

"I can hunt rodents just as good as you can, mom. I'm not as weak as you think I am."

"I never said you were weak, sweetie, but if one day you find a mate and you get your own cubs, rodents won't keep your little family going. Even Safi has to hunt bigger prey for me once in a while."

Njano remained silent for a moment, but finally ventured to ask, "What else did Erevu tell you?"

Duni looked thoughtful for a moment. "That was basically it... He just wants Kanai to concentrate more on her learnings without you distracting her with your games all the time."

Both lionesses remained quiet for a moment, until Duni asked, "So if you're not afraid of growing up, why did you throw this test away so badly?"

Njano looked at Duni, biting her lip nervously, but decided to confide in her in the end. "I don't want to leave yet. Passing that test means that I'd be ready to go away, and I don't want that."

Duni looked a bit shocked when she heard this. "Really? But I thought you didn't like it here. I mean, we didn't end up in the friendliest of Prides, you and I both know that very well. I always thought you'd much rather go and seek adventures somewhere else."

Njano lay down on her tummy, followed by Duni, who looked very confused.

"I was looking forward to go, mom. But... Things change, you know? I just want to stay a bit longer, that's all..."

Duni tilted her head, thinking hard about what could have made Njano change her mind so drastically. As far as she could tell, the lionesses still showed her little acceptance, and they were very quick in losing their temper with her. Erevu never built any sort of bond with Njano either. What could possibly have made her want to stay? It was then when realization hit her.

"Oh, dear. It's Kanai, isn't it?"

"What about her?" Njano asked a bit too quickly, holding her breath again.

Duni stood up, walking in circles, trying to come to grips with the situation.

"This is very serious, Njano... You do realize that, don't you?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about mom, she's my friend, that's all," Njano replied, sounding slightly nervous. Duni picked up on it clearly, confirming her suspicions.

The lioness sat down next to Njano again, taking a few deep breaths to calm down. "My dear... I know you two have really bonded, I know she's your best friend and partner in crime. But she's also a lioness, and she is already betrothed to Imara. Can't you see that what you are feeling is just not meant to be?"

Njano swallowed with difficulty, admiring how this blind lioness could still see right through her as easily as if she was just peering into her soul. "I know that, mom," Njano admitted in the end, "It's not right, I know. Don't worry, she doesn't know about this. No one knows. I'm sure it'll pass..."

Duni shook her head slightly. "We should leave as soon as possible... Safi is right, between him and I we can teach you how to hunt, but we must leave now."

"No!" Njano said, standing up quickly, "I don't want to leave, not yet. Just the thought of going away and not seeing her again makes me want to die... I can't explain it, it just does."

"Don't you see? The sooner we nip this in the bud, the better! Won't it be as painful to stick around, knowing that what you wish for is not going to happen? Not in a million years?"

Njano quickly dried a couple of tears that had formed in her eyes. "I'll take my chances. I'll leave when she becomes the leader and seals her engagement with Imara. You and Safi can go ahead if you want, but I'll catch up with you guys later."

Duni walked to her. "Do you think Erevu will simply allow you to stay? He's already losing his patience with you."

Njano shrugged. "S'worth a try... I don't want to leave her, not yet..."

There was an awkward moment of silence between them, but Njano finally said, "You must really hate me now... You must think I'm a freak or something..."

Duni looked up. "I don't hate you, Njano. When I was younger and craving for a cub, I always said that I would love it no matter what. I wouldn't care if it was blind, deaf, mute, unhealthy and sickly. I was blessed with a healthy and smart cub instead, granted, a very troublesome one, but I loved it all the same. And I still do, very, very much. I just think that you're making a huge mistake that will only backfire on you later and cause you more pain."

Njano couldn't help but smile, grateful for her mother's understanding of the situation. "I'm willing to take the risk, mom. Please let me stay a bit longer, please?"

Duni rubbed her right temple with a paw, feeling a headache creeping up on her. "It's your choice, Njano. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

Njano gave her a head-butt and licked her cheek lovingly. "Thanks... I think I'll go for a walk... My head's about to explode at the moment, I could use some time alone."

Duni nodded and returned the kiss. "All right... Stay safe..."

The lioness stayed put on her spot long after Njano's footsteps had already faded in the distance. Duni desperately wanted to talk to someone about this, to find out whether this kind of situation had already come up in the past. The lionesses in a Pride were usually very close, some more than others, and no one thought anything about two good friends grooming each other and spending time together. But Duni had no idea whether anybody had crossed beyond the line of friendship, and whether the Pride would react negatively to that.

In the end, she decided against asking around, for fear of giving Njano's feelings away, but Duni kept praying that Njano would see the light of reason and leave before she'd make things more difficult on herself and on Kanai.

Several weeks had passed, and Kanai was finally ready for her First Hunt. She was away for a long time, but when she finally returned to the lair, she was carrying the body of a gazelle.

The lionesses roared in celebration and congratulated the new huntress. Kanai presented her catch to Erevu, who nodded in approval. He gave the first bite, and then returned the gazelle to Kanai so that she could either eat it on her own, or share with her pride-mates.

Kanai felt in a sharing mood, so the Pride gathered round the food and they all ate together, in high spirits. She even saved something for Safi and Duni, who as of lately tended to eat on their own.

Njano was looking forward to hang out with her for a while and hear all about her First Hunt, but Nura took Kanai away right after they were done eating, so the lioness had no choice but to entertain herself in the meantime.

She sat there for a moment, listening idly to the lionesses' conversation. Faiza and Etana had both given birth to one cub each, and Damisi was also heavy with cub. Most of the talk revolved around the little ones, and Njano, feeling little or no connection with the new mothers, simply decided to retreat to her favorite tree and perhaps take a nap.

She had finally made herself comfortable on one of the branches, but was awakened all of a sudden by footsteps, and what sounded like Kanai mumbling to herself.

Njano almost fell down the tree when she lost her balance after trying to get up quickly. Steadying herself, she climbed down the tree and went to greet Kanai.

"Oh, I didn't know you'd be here," the lioness said, looking visibly agitated.

"Do you want me to leave? Just say so."

Kanai looked at her and shook her head. "No, no... I'm sorry. I'm just so incredibly angry..."

"What happened?" Njano asked.

Kanai sat down next to her. "You know mom had that talk with me some weeks ago, about how cubs are made and such, right?"

Njano nodded. She had already had the same talk with Duni a bit earlier than Kanai. They both found it disgusting at the time, and the two young lionesses had quite a good laugh grossing each other out by trying to imagine how mating would be like.

"Well," Kanai went on, "It turns out that the whole being the leader thing also includes me being betrothed to Imara since birth! Can you imagine? I will have to get married to him, and make cubs that will take our place once we're no longer fit to rule the Pride!"

Njano didn't look surprised at all, which made Kanai even angrier. "You knew about this?"

Njano tilted her head, looking confused. "Of course I knew. Everyone knows about it. It was no secret, Erevu announced it loud and clear as soon as Nura returned to the Pride after giving birth... I really had no idea you didn't know about it."

Kanai cursed under her breath and paced to and fro, clearly upset. "Well I just had a major freak out moment with mom. She told me I'd learn to accept it in time, maybe I'd even learn to love Imara. Bleh, I never really liked him, he's such a sissy."

Njano couldn't help but chuckle. "My mother says she didn't feel love for Safi, and he hated her guts as a cub, and look at them now, they're really happy together."

"Yes, but they chose each other, that's different... I don't think I could ever feel attracted to Imara at all..."

"Maybe in time you'll learn to love him, just like Safi and mom learned to love each other, who knows?"

Kanai looked at Njano. "How does one know, anyway? How can you tell when you're in love with someone?"

Njano looked away. "How in the world would I know?"

Kanai was taken aback slightly. "Well, what do you think it would be like?"

Njano took a deep breath. "I dunno... Like, you wake up one day and all you can do is think about him, and when you see him, your stomach does this funny turn and your mood lightens up, and you always have a good time together, and when you part ways at the end of the day, you miss him so much it hurts, and you can't wait till morning comes to see him again. Rinse and repeat."

Kanai let out a deep breath and remained very silent.

Njano glanced at her, wondering what was going through her mind. "You okay?"

Kanai nodded, as she gave her a little smile. "Yes, yes... It's just... I kind of feel that way already, sort of, but not about Imara. It makes this whole betrothal thing sound even more disgusting than before."

Njano looked at her, and couldn't stop herself from asking, "Who is it?"

"Oh, nobody..." Kanai replied nervously.

"Is it Erevu?" Njano kept pressing on, sounding a bit too eager to find out.

"Yuck, no!"

Njano pondered for a short moment, and her eyes widened for a second. "Oh, my... Did you meet a rogue at the borders?"

Kanai let out a loud laugh. "If I had, I'd have called you immediately, so you could ask him all those questions you wanted to ask, about far away lands..."

Njano smiled, trying to keep her nerves at bay. "Well... That just leaves us with Safi then... Did he catch your eye?"

Kanai chuckled. "Nah... He's nice and all, but that's about it."

The lioness looked at Njano, and took a step forward.

Njano swallowed with difficulty, but remained silent, trying not to lead herself into believing that Kanai might also feel the same way she did.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to freak out?" Kanai asked.

Njano nodded in reply, as her heart skipped a beat.

Kanai then whispered in Njano's ear, "I think I may be in love with my best friend."

Njano closed her eyes, as she felt her head spinning for a moment.

Kanai looked at her, unsure about how to interpret Njano's reaction. "You're freaking out, aren't you."

Njano shook her head. "No, I just... I had no idea you felt that way, it's quite a surprise."

Kanai looked at her, shifting her weight from side to side nervously. "How about you? How do you see me, Njano? Am I just a good friend and nothing more? Please, be honest..."

Njano's eyes began to tear up. "I've been in love with you since you learned how to say my name. I never said anything, because I, unlike you, knew about your betrothal, and, well, of course, you and I being lionesses, it's all just too weird. I didn't want to make things more difficult. Things are hard enough for you already as it is."

Kanai listened intently. She had suspected something already, from the way Njano looked at her sometimes, and from how gentle and caring she was towards her.

"Nobody has to know. We will keep this a secret. Our secret. We can keep on hanging out together, and nuzzling each other and grooming each other and no one will ever have to know what it all means to us," she said, drying Njano's tears with her tongue.

"Erevu already warned my mother he doesn't want me around you. Do you think he suspects something?"

Kanai frowned for a moment. "I wouldn't think so. He just thinks I'm goofing around too much lately. But I'll keep hanging out with you whether he likes it or not."

Njano gave her a sad smile, and lay down on her belly, resting her head on her paws.

Kanai lay down close to her. "Hey, what's the matter? I thought it would make you glad to know we both feel this way. Why aren't you happy?"

"Because it's not meant to be. You'll get married, and I'll leave this Pride... It won't last."

"Then we might as well make the best of it while we can, don't you think?" Kanai replied, snuggling closer, "I say we start by taking a nap together. C'mon, please, just hold me close."

Njano shifted position as she wrapped one forepaw around her friend, while Kanai tucked her head under Njano's chin.

They didn't say anything else after that. Kanai's breathing became very slow, a sign that the lioness was fast asleep, but there was no way Njano could fall asleep right now. She simply lay there, smiling to herself as tears kept streaming down her face, enjoying this bittersweet moment, hoping it could last forever.

Njano and Kanai kept their secret well. Njano didn't tell Duni about the developments of the situation either; she didn't want her to worry.

The two lionesses still spent a lot of time together, but they were always very subdued when around the Pride. But once they were alone by their tree, away from prying eyes, they would constantly nuzzle and groom each other, lying close together.

Njano was on her own one morning, practicing stalking. While she had been doing a good job at it lately, today her heart was not into the lesson at all. She was feeling snappy and couldn't stop herself from talking back to Adla, who was teaching her that day.

"I'm sorry, Adla, I didn't mean it, I just don't know what got into me today," she quickly apologized.

Adla approached her and nuzzled her gently, sniffing her face in the process. "It looks like you'll be in season shortly. That explains why you're feeling so moody."

Njano's eyes opened wide in surprise. "Already? What if I don't want any cubs yet?"

Adla chuckled. "Then you don't ask the males for assistance. I'll tell you what, let's stop the lesson here. You go and find yourself a quiet spot where you can hide until it's over. Don't worry about your mother and Kanai, I'll let them know you'll be gone for a few days."

Njano nodded, remembering what Duni had taught her about this subject. "Okay, thanks... See you later."

The lioness decided to take refuge by the abandoned cave, which the wild dogs had vacated once again just a few weeks ago. She sniffed around just to make sure that no one else had claimed the cave yet, but the marks from the wild dogs were old and faded, so once she was sure it was safe, the lioness lied down, feeling a bit nervous about what was to come.

Duni had already warned her that this was quite a difficult time for a lioness, but since Njano had no desire to bear cubs yet, she hoped that this thought would make the loneliness more bearable, and would fuel her strength, in case Safi or Erevu managed to find her.

It was late into the night when Njano realized how much she was craving the company of a male. In a moment of weakness, she even called around to see if there were any rogues nearby. Luckily for her, no one answered her calls, and Njano spent the next couple of hours pacing inside the cave, while rubbing her body against the rocky walls.

She was too distracted rubbing her face against a rock that she failed to notice someone approaching. She finally jumped back, looking startled, when she saw the silhouette of Kanai standing at the entrance of the cave.

Njano was unsure what to do in this case. She was glad to see her, there was no denying that, but at the same time, she felt it would be better if she went away.

"What are you doing? You're not supposed to be here..." Njano finally told her.

"I know... But the way they described things to me, it looks like you could use some company..."

Kanai walked closer and nuzzled Njano gently for a moment, but Njano shook her head and walked away. "Just nuzzling is not enough. I'm sorry, Kanai. I'm in a rotten mood, and I'm really snappy right now. Maybe it's better if you just leave, and let me handle this on my own, before I say something nasty that I'll regret later."

Kanai hesitated for a moment, but she was determined to help her as much as she could.

"Wanna know a secret?" Kanai said, ignoring Njano's moodiness, "I accidentally walked in on Erevu and Damisi, when she was in season."

Njano snarled slightly as she paced to and fro, rubbing herself against the rock again. "Good for you..."

"I didn't stay to watch for too long, but I did see how things kinda went, and what he was doing to make her bad mood disappear."

Njano didn't reply, she simply kept on pacing, looking upset. She was not in the mood for chitchat, and was doing her best not to snap at Kanai.

Kanai walked closer to Njano. "Stop pacing and close your eyes."

"Kanai, I-"

"Just do it!"

Njano growled deeply, but did as she was told. She closed her eyes impatiently and stood still for a moment.

Kanai took a quick look around, to make sure there was no one spying on them, and she started sniffing Njano's face.

Njano's scent didn't have any particular effect on Kanai, like it would have had on a male lion, but she was still enjoying herself, knowing that she could help Njano through her season, while keeping her company. She continued sniffing, and the hot air from Kanai's breath on Njano's face was enough to send shivers down the lioness's spine.

"That's it... Just let yourself go, and let me help you," Kanai insisted, as she proceeded to sniff Njano's neck and shoulders, just as Erevu had done with Damisi at some point.

Kanai smiled as she saw Njano's mood changing. She was no longer growling, on the contrary, she was clearly enjoying herself, softly begging her for more.

Kanai proceeded to bite her on the neck. Seeing Njano's extremely positive response, Kanai kept nipping and biting, until Njano finally surrendered to her.

Kanai looked at her, puzzled as to how to continue now. "Heh, I think this is as far as I can go, you know... I mean... Without a... You know..." she giggled.

But Njano did not move or laugh, she appeared to be entranced, as if waiting for Kanai to finish what she started.

Kanai pondered for a moment, and taking a deep breath, she muttered to herself, "Um, well, here goes nothing, I guess..."

Kanai continued mimicking what Erevu had done, not sure that it would work at all, but Njano eventually snapped out of her trance and let herself flop on the hard rock floor, looking more relaxed. She could not experience the pain and joy that comes from mating with a male, but whatever Kanai had done, it certainly had done wonders for her mood and state of mind.

Njano looked at Kanai calmly, and motioned her to come closer.

Kanai smiled and lay down next to her.

"And to think I was this close to chasing you away..." Njano muttered, while grooming Kanai lovingly.

"I guess it worked, then? I wasn't sure, you know..."

"It's probably not the same, but just feeling you so close to me, holding me down like that... It was the best thing I've ever felt. Thanks for coming to help me."

"I'll be expecting you to help me out too, when my time comes," Kanai said, looking serious.

Njano lifted her head and looked at her. "Huh? Aren't you supposed to go to Imara for that?"

"Forget Imara. I want to spend my first season together with you, just like this."

Njano grinned and carried on grooming Kanai. "Then so be it... You can do the sealing of the bond thing during your second season then."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," Kanai replied, chuckling to herself, "Erevu and Nura are still in pretty good health, so there's no rush. Maybe I'll even wait for my third season."

They remained quiet for a while, holding each other close. The only sound that could be heard were the rain drops that had started to fall.

"Hmm, looks like now it's a good time for me to head back," Kanai whispered as she stood up, "The rain will conveniently wash your scent off me. But I'll come back tomorrow, is that okay?"

"I'll be waiting right here for you," Njano replied.

The lionesses licked each other's cheek one last time, before they parted ways. Njano tried to get some sleep, now that she felt a lot calmer, but the events of the night kept playing through her mind and making her heart race again. In the end, she remained wide awake, wishing for Kanai to return to her as soon as possible, just to hold her close once more.