CHAPTER: GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER

	Brother Sun padded slowly across the sky, shedding his warmth 
across the savanna in a proclamation of Aiheu's glory, exposing all 
His works for the world to see.  The light was reflected from the 
ground, the golden grass barely wavering in the stillness of highsun 
as the world slowly revolved about its axis, the intense heat 
rippling the air and making the world shiver in a macabre dance as 
the two lions sought surfeit from its hungry embrace.
	Kubali groaned and shifted again in another fruitless attempt 
to get comfortable in the sweltering heat.  His chest rose and fell 
rapidly, tongue lolling absurdly as he panted, the hot air seeming 
thick as liquid as it burned at his throat.  Rolling slightly, he 
reached out with a paw and stroked Elanna gently, wishing for a 
delightful rub against her fur but unable to stand the heat.  She 
purred tiredly, glancing at him and smiling.
	Movement yanked at the corner of her vision and she glanced 
upward.  "Look, Kubali!"
	The young lion twisted and squinted upward into the azure sky, 
perking up slightly as he spied the dark shapes drifting high above 
on the thermals.  "Vultures.  Looks like they might have found a 
meal."  He debated a moment, then sat up.  "Care to join me?"
	Elanna hesitated a moment, then nodded and rose to join him, 
following him as they left the pitiful shade of the kigelia trees and 
padded through the high grass, glancing upward now and again to keep 
their bearings.  The birds were circling still, but lowering; 
whatever it was would soon succumb to heat or predator's jaws, 
preferably theirs.  Kubali increased his pace a bit, trotting through 
the golden sea of waving grass, his own form nearly indistinguishable 
from the plants around him.  Elanna, distracted by the birds, trotted 
after him quickly, feeling the heat encapsulate her in the enclosed 
grass.
	Abruptly the circling birds descended and vanished.  "Quick!  
Let's go before they get it all!"  She sped past him, ripping through 
the tough plants effortlessly as she hurried towards the unseen 
carcass, her ears detecting the raucous squawk and gabble of the 
birds as they began fighting for position.
	"Elanna, wait!"  Kubali sprinted to catch up, seeing her moving 
eagerly towards the fallen animal, now discernible as a zebra, albeit 
a decidedly feathery one with the carpet of vultures around it.  The 
bird scattered out of her way, forming a rustling ring about the 
animal as Kubali cantered up beside her and cut her off.  "Wait."
	"But they're going to eat it all!  They already ate the eyes 
for heaven's sake."
	"They have their right to the kill as much as we...none of us 
brought it down.  Aiheu chose this spot for it to die upon of its own 
accord."
	She paused, nodding at his wisdom, but unable to fathom his 
hesitation.  "All right...but they're just birds...it's not like 
they're helping us hunt."
	"Aren't they?  What signaled us that there was a carcass to be 
had?  In return, we dispatch the prey quickly and they can eat 
sooner."
	"Oh...I see your point."
	Kubali nuzzled her playfully.  "Hey, they're the next to best 
thing that's happened to me out here.  They'll take care of you if 
you respect them."
	She looked at him askance.  "And what's the best thing?"
	"Not what--who."  He nuzzled her again, meaningfully this time.  
"Gods, it's good to hear a lioness' voice again.  I was beginning to 
forget what it was like."
	Elanna purred and lashed her tail shyly as the two approached 
the downed zebra.  One of the vultures hopped astride the striped 
form and cawed in greeting.  "Fuzzy!  Still making life miserable for 
hardworking birds, I see."
	Kubali laughed.  "I have yet to see you break a sweat, 
Markaaagh.  Since when have you worked hard in your lifetime?"
	"Ever since I met you, Fuzz; it's hard enough trying to fill my 
own belly with this crowd without a walking gizzard moving in, har-
har!"  Markaaagh cackled wittily and looked at the lioness.  "Two for 
dinner?  Does she know the rules?"
	"It's safe.  This is Elanna."
	The vulture clucked and shifted his weight.  "Oooh, so you want 
to lay a few eggs and raise a brood?  Pretty thing for a lioness.  No 
scars or anything."
	"Thanks, I think," Elanna said.  "And might I mention that you 
don't have a feather out of place?"
	"Aw!"  He looked about at his wing coverlets and groomed self-
consciously.  "This one has manners, kid.  Hold on to her."
	Kubali looked at Elanna.  "He thinks we're in love," he 
whispered with a grin.  "The silly old buzzard."
	She looked at him.  "Yeah, silly idea."  Her ears fell flat at 
his chastened expression, and she hurried to correct herself.  "I 
didn't mean it that way.  I mean, you're really handsome."
	Kubali arched his neck slightly and smiled.  "Why, thanks.  And 
you're no blot on the landscape yourself."  He waved a paw 
invitingly.  "Shall we?"
	They fed on the carcass until their hunger was satiated, then 
stood guard while the buzzards ate.  As Elanna groomed herself clean 
from the meal, she paused and looked about at the tussling pile of 
birds, a wry smile coming to her face as she watched her `pride' 
wrestle its way through dinner.  She returned her gaze to the 
surrounding savanna, watching for predators and feeling a mild sense 
of wonder at guarding what she had previously seen as nothing but a 
nuisance or a competitor for her dinner.  She looked over at Kubali, 
who lay with his back to her as he watched the western plains, and 
wondered at his sense of composure, the odd peace which wrapped him 
in a near visible aura of confidence.  She muttered a short prayer to 
Aiheu in thanks for sending the young male...otherwise she might have 
met the acquaintance of the vultures under much less pleasant 
circumstances.
	Sighing, she exchanged greetings with a contentedly stuffed 
Markaaagh and chatted with him absently, fielding his odd questions 
and wondering what Uzuri would have made of all this.


CHAPTER:  COMING TOGETHER

	One morning as Kubali and Elanna were sitting side by side, 
they watched the clouds and imagined what things their shapes might 
be.
	"There's a wildebeest," Elanna said.
	"It has a calf," Kubali said.  "See, that little puff to the 
left?"
	"So it does!  And there's a rabbit.  He's eating a--oh, it's a 
lion!"
	"That must be some rabbit!"
	"No, I mean there!  A rogue!"
	"What the...."
	"Should we say hello?"
	Kubali tensed up.  "To him??  That dirty rascal??"
	"You know him?"
	The strange lion trotted up, obvious pleasure on his face.  
"Kubali!  Our paths cross again!"
	"I wish the pleasure had been postponed--indefinitely."
	The stranger showed disappointment.  "Surely not!"
	Elanna nudged Kubali disapprovingly.  "Aren't you going to 
introduce me?"
	"This is Gamu," Kubali said shortly.  "We grew up together."
	"Your brother?"
	"Heavens, no!"
	Gamu looked down.  "Whatever wrongs I've done, I've paid for in 
the hell of my solitary existence.  I'm sure I wasn't perfect like 
you, so they weren't sad when I left."
	Kubali's face fell.  "Well, maybe I've been harsh with you.  
But you asked for your hard times."
	"Asked and received.  Remember at your mantlement?  Something 
about the proving grounds of hardship which strengthen the Ma'at and 
purify the Ka?"  He bowed his face to the ground.  "I have suffered, 
Kubali!  Please let us try it again from the start?  Please??"  He 
looked up and mustered a withering smile.  "Kubali!  Our paths cross 
again!"
	Kubali came forward and nuzzled him.  "So they do.  This is my 
friend Elanna.  Elanna, this is my old pridemate Gamu."
	Elanna shyly nuzzled Gamu and felt his timid kiss on her cheek.  
She felt sorry for him at once.
	"So what brings you this way?" Kubali asked, pointedly.
	"The whims of the savanna.  Some gracious chance, or was it 
Aiheu?  But since kind fate has thrown us together, let us band 
together.  I can help protect you and aid you in hunting.  Maybe 
someday if you want lands of your own, I can be a valuable ally."
	"And in return?"
	"I have a real audience.  I've had no one to talk to but myself 
for many long weeks.  I've lost track of the time."
	Kubali nodded, then looked over at Elanna.  She nodded back at 
him and smiled shyly.
	"Very well.  Behave yourself and you may travel with us."


CHAPTER:  THE STARS

	Gamu managed to steal a few moments from his new companions to 
visit Griz'nik in the reeds.  The hyena had brought him a rabbit, and 
Gamu nodded silently, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and took the 
carcass a short distance.  He rolled it in the fragrant leaves of a 
Corbynanthus and then licked the wound on the neck, chewing it a bit 
to fully disguise the hyena scent and toothmarks.  He brought it back 
to where Kubali and Elanna sat.  By their sudden silence, it was 
clear they were talking about him, but unfazed, Gamu sat the rabbit 
in front of Elanna.  "For you, my vision of lovliness.  Have you made 
your decision yet?"
	"My decision??"  Elanna looked at him puzzled.
	"Oh come now, I didn't mean to hint around at anything naughty.  
I meant to come straight to the point.  On the one paw, Kubali is 
dependable, reliable, and is saddled with a strong moral character.  
Not that I hold any of that against him...."
	Elanna laughed.  "Oh, Gamu!  You are such a wit!"
	Kubali grumbled.  "At least she's half right."
	Gamu sneered.  "Come now, Kubali.  Would you stand in the way 
of true love?"
	"No.  And I hope the one of you will be very happy together."
	Gamu laughed.  "Why Kubali, you've acquired a sense of humor!"  
He looked over at Elanna and winked.  "Well, how about it?  Do you 
want the perfect marriage or some real fun?"
	Elanna shoved him with a paw.  "You wicked lion!  If you must 
know, I haven't given the matter a lot of thought."
	Gamu smiled innocently.  "Insects don't give the matter a lot 
of thought.  That's why there are so many of them."
	"Her husband is dead," Kubali said, a bit ruffled.  "Have a 
little respect."
	Gamu's face fell.  "Oh my gods!  That's my problem.  I had a 
little respect when I should have had a lot."  Gamu nuzzled Elanna 
tenderly.  "I meant no offense.  No doubt he must have had many 
bitter rivals for your affection."
	"It's OK," Elanna said, nuzzling him back.  "I'm not offended.  
I know you meant it all in fun."
	"Of course, my dear.  Of course."
	Gamu was better than his word.  He proved to be an intelligent, 
polite, and charming companion.  That night when the stars winked in, 
he astounded Elanna with stories even she had not heard; Maku the 
Hunter, Ari and Kuzima, and the Love of the Evening Star.  When Gamu 
spoke in his rich, well-cadenced voice, even the most improbable of 
tales sounded as firm as the stone, and as warm as a nuzzle.  He 
touched her emotions with tales of great kings and epic struggles in 
long ago days.
	Through it all, Kubali sat there jealous and uncomfortable.  
His own knowledge of star lore was adequate, but no match for Elanna, 
much less Gamu.  And rather than learning something from it all, he 
merely tolerated it as best as he could.
	Gamu saw the sullen look on Kubali's face, and to avoid 
offending his host he left the admiring Elanna to contemplate all 
that she had heard and caught up on events with Kubali.  Gamu 
listened to Kubali's story, and in return he told Kubali a great many 
things.  Only he did not mention the hyena Griz'nik or the plans Gamu 
made with him.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | reddit | newsvine | furl | google | yahoo | technorati