CHAPTER:  A STOLEN GLANCE

	Wehu couldn't believe what she just saw...the new lioness--her 
dear friend--going after her father.  At first she didn't believe 
what her mother told her about Elanna.  She always saw her as being a 
kind, caring lioness, and she never thought Elanna would try to steal 
her father away.  She had tried to dismiss her mother, but Ujuzi had 
persisted and convinced to keep an eye open.  Maybe her mother was 
right...maybe she was trying to steal father.
	Slowly she appeared in a clearing...her mother already waiting 
there for her.  "Well?" the elder lioness asked.
	Wehu's head hung low, "She kissed him..."
	Ujuzi grinned, "See...I told you that she was trying to steal 
him from me.  Now...what are we going to do about this fallen queen?"
	Wehu blinked, "We?  Mother...I don't know what really happened.  
I couldn't hear what they were talking about.  All I saw was her give 
him a innocent little lick."
	"Daughter...I know what I feel from my husband. She is moving 
in on me and I won't have it."
	"And I won't get involved in something I don't know what is 
happening.  Don't ask me of this.  Elanna is my friend...I trust 
her."
	"Who do you trust more...this `friend' who just got here within 
a moon...or your mother who gave you life and kept you alive?  Do you 
expect me to throw away six years of marriage?  Six LONG years that 
I've hunted for him, carried cubs for him, picked him up when he fell 
down!  Comforted him when he wept!  Six LONG years.  And what do I 
ask of you, my own flesh and blood?  For all the love and care I've 
given you?  This one thing alone I've asked.  That you help me 
against this viper that would come between your father and I!  Honey 
Tree, you're young.  You don't see things the way my older and wiser 
eyes do.  Where do your loyalties lie--tell me, daughter."
	Wehu just stood there, stunned at her mother's attitude.  She 
was about ready to answer when a rustling sound from the distance.  
Her mother hushed her as the king appeared through the grass.  "Hello 
you two."  He moved to join the two lionesses, "Wehu...would you 
excuse me and mother for a few moments, I have to talk to her."
	Wehu looked to her mother and father, then nodded, "All 
right...I'll be around."  With that, she disappeared into the grass.
	The king turned to his wife, "Why are you harassing Elanna, 
dear?  Why did you bring up cubs in front of her like that?"	
	Ujuzi shook her head, putting on her best act, "Dear...I didn't 
know about her and cubs.  I just thought I would mention it to her."
	"I told you about her problem.  Don't you remember?"
	"Oh...if you say so, dear...it must have slipped my mind.  I'm 
sorry...I really didn't mean to hurt her feelings."
	"It seems like you are trying to make her life difficult here.  
She has been through a lot in her life.  Please...for her...for 
me...give her some slack and make her feel welcomed here.  Everyone 
but you seem to love her."
	Ujuzi moved closer to him, and nuzzled him, taking a moment to 
catch Elanna's scent on his cheek.  "Of course my husband...I will."  
She pulled back as thought went through her mind, "I will be nice to 
her."
	Mabongo smiled, "Thank you love...now if you will excuse me, I 
need to finish my patrol."  He gave her another nuzzle and continued 
on his way.
	Ujuzi sat down, waiting a short time before calling out, 
"Wehu...come on out."  Wehu appeared a short time later, sitting 
beside her.  "We need to do something to Elanna...she is the evil one 
here...not my husband."
	Wehu shook her head, "No mother...please...I don't want to be 
involved."
	Ujuzi looked at her coldly, "You will help me...remember that I 
am your mother...your queen...and the lioness that got you the title 
you hold.  How would you like me to give your title to another 
lioness.  I know Kiesi would love to be hunt mistress."
	She looked at her mother and sighed, "All right...all 
right...I'll help you."
	Ujuzi almost wept.  "My darling, my firstborn, I know I've 
asked a lot of you, but Sweetie, I'll make it up to you, I swear!"  
She nuzzled her daughter who returned the nuzzle desperately and 
kissed her mother.
	"Please Mom, let's not argue any more."
	"Of course, Sweetie!  If you want to know who loves you, and 
who would never take advantage of you, it's your mother."  Ujuzi 
pawed her cheek and kissed her.  "You relied on me when you were 
young and weak.  Now Honey Tree I'm growing old and weak and I need 
someone I can rely on."
	Just...don't ask me not to hurt her."
	Ujuzi smiled.  "Hurt her?  No, your father would be furious if 
someone hurt her.  But she might have an accident."
	"An accident??"
	Ujuzi smiled innocently.  "Maybe it's time we gave Lannie poo 
another chance to hunt."  The queen leaned over and started to 
whisper into Wehu's ear.  Wehu eyes went wide as the plan was passed 
to her.


CHAPTER:  THE STORY

	Elanna had settled back among the cubs, relating a story of her 
and Sarabi during happier times. The cubs...and even Darky...were 
sitting around her in silence as she talked about how they played and 
got in trouble with Muffy and Taka. Slowly though, as the story 
continued and the memories flooded back into her mind, tears began to 
form in Elanna's eyes.
	The cubs noticed this and Inwiena spoke up, "Auntie 
Elanna...this is a fun story...why are you crying?
	Elanna smiled to her, using a paw to wipe her eyes, 
"Dearie...it's just bringing back memories...good memories...before 
me and my sister got mad at each other." 
	"You and your sister still fight?"
	She shrugged, "I don't know...it's been so long since I have 
seen her...I do miss her though."
	"Why not go back then?"
	Elanna chuckled and sighed, "It's not quite that easy...if I 
thought I could, I would."
	Inwiena looked back to Ibura, her sister, "We fight...but we 
always say we sorry and we still love each other." She looked back to 
Elanna, "Maybe you go say that to your sister?" She moved and placed 
a paw on Elanna, "Then you won't cry no more."
	"Anymore."  Elanna licked the top of the cub's head, "Maybe 
...perhaps. If only I saw the world through your eyes...none of this 
would have happened." She nuzzled the cub and smiled, "You have 
something special, a sister that loves you unconditionally...I only 
wish I had the same."
	The cubs looked at her sadly as Elanna lowers her head back 
down to her paws. Inwiena moved back to her sister and flopped down 
next to her, whispering, "I'll never be mad at you."
	Elanna looked at the group...their mood now saddened by her 
story. "You don't have to be sad for me...I have accepted my place in 
the circle." She smiled softly. "Hey, if I hadn't been in trouble 
there, I wouldn't have met you!  And I'm glad I met you.  Now...who 
would like to hear another story?"
	The ears of the cubs perked up and they nodded 
enthusiastically. Elanna was about ready to take a breath to start 
her story when Ujuzi and Wehu appeared.
	"Hello Elanna," Wehu said.  "Keeping the cubs occupied?"  She 
looked straight at Darky, who turned her head a bit from her. 
	Elanna looked at the two, "Hello my queen.  Hello, Wehu. 
Yes...I was just telling them a story of my sister and I."
	Ujuzi prodded her daughter, looking at Elanna.  Wehu jumped a 
bit at the prodding then looked to Elanna, "You have been making 
great progress with me in your hunting skills.  So much, that I think 
it's time that you join us.  Darky, why don't you take over?"
	Elanna smiled a bit, ready to hunt.  She rose slowly from the 
grass and yawned, shaking off the dead grass on her pelt.  Amid the 
pleas of the cubs for her to say, she stretched out her body and 
muscles.


CHAPTER:  ON THE HUNT

	Elanna was overwhelmed at the chance of getting on the hunt 
again.  Though she hated to leave the cubs, she wanted her old life 
back.  Enthused about the chance to redeem herself, she went to Wehu.  
"I need to make up for my last mistake.... I'll be the beater this 
time."  
	"Oh no, my dear," the Queen said, moving past her daughter and 
rubbing against Elanna.  "You will be next to my daughter.  This will 
signal a new time of friendship among us.  I haven't been very nice 
to you.  But now I want to get to know you better, and show you how I 
really feel about you."  She grinned slightly as she moved away from 
the two, getting a look from her daughter.
	Elanna smiled to the queen, bowing her head slightly, "I pray 
that Aiheu may remove all doubts from your mind about me."
	Ujuzi turned her head from her, grinning, "He has, my dear.  I 
have no questions about you or your intentions.  Now we will see what 
kind of huntress you really are."
	Perhaps if Elanna had looked deeply into Ujuzi's cold stare, 
she would have seen past the smile.  She would have suspected the 
plan that  Ujuzi had in store for her.
	The other lionesses were in a good mood to see Elanna among 
them.  They all nuzzled her and commented on how fast that she came 
back when they saw her.  There was a certain relaxing of tension 
among them that could be seen and even felt in subtle ways impossible 
to describe.  Ujuzi herself seemed to be in an upbeat, if intense 
mood.  Unlike the others, Wehu seemed to be tense as she scanned the 
horizon for the target of the nights hunt.
	Quietly the group headed into the grass, searching for that 
weak animal that would sustain them for another day.  Elanna sensed 
that something was wrong with Wehu as the night progressed.  Slowly 
she moved over to her and tried to improve her mood.  "I'm glad to be 
hunting again.  I feel you have talked with your mother--there's no 
other explanation.  You're a dear friend, and so like my daughter 
might have been."  Elanna smiled nervously to the hunt mistress.  "I 
want to do well and not mess up again."
	Wehu turned to her and tried to put on a smile, failing 
miserably, "I wouldn't worry about that if I were you."
	Elanna looked at her curiously, but shook it off.  "Still, I 
feel the queen is only being nice to me because of you.  If there's 
anything I can do to make your mother really like me, let me know.  
Your father likes me well enough."
	Wehu swallowed slowly, looking down at the ground.  "So I 
gathered."
	"Aiheu bless you for your kindness.  At my age, I need peace 
and stability.  I've felt torn up inside since I got here.  You're 
all that holds me together."
	Wehu nuzzled her, her insides tight over what her mother had 
planned.  "I think you will find peace."  Wehu hung her head.  "You 
know Lannie, you've had to face a lot of obstacles in your life.  I 
wonder if I would have done half as well."  Wehu added quietly, "No 
matter how this hunt turns out, I think you're a good lioness."
	Elanna looked at her in surprise at her statement "Now I AM 
frightened.  Is so much riding on my making well tonight?"
	"No, Honey Tree.  Don't worry about it.  I'm just making a 
statement, that's all."  Wehu sniffed at the air and sighs softly, "I 
smell something."  Quietly she grunted to the others in the 
group.signaling them to get prepared for the hunt.
	As the pride topped the hill, they spotted their target for the 
night, a small group of wildebeest.  Wehu looked around at the group, 
as if she was about ready to make a decision which she dreaded.  
Quietly she cleared her throat as she looked to the pride.  "Mom, you 
head to the right with Kiesi.  Tetesi, come left with me."
	Elanna looked to Wehu in confusion, "Where do I go?"
	Wehu tried to smile as her insides tightened more, "You have a 
very important part."  She motioned with her head, "You head down the 
dry gully as far as you can and when you hear all grief break loose, 
climb out and create panic."
	Elanna looked down at where she was suppose to be, through the 
sea of wildebeests.  She turned backed to Wehu "Are you sure that it 
is safe for me?  I'm getting awfully close to their hooves when you 
start to drive them."
	"It's not as bad as it sounds, dear.  We'll be pushing in 
toward your position.  If you're careful, there should be very little 
danger to you."  She tried again with a reassuring smile, "It's 
Tetesi and I that will have to watch out."  She tried to let out a 
small chuckle, "And Mom is not as young as she used to be."
	Elanna nodded softly, still not suspecting what the real prey 
was.  "I'm sorry Wehu.  I guess I just have to get use to a new 
hunting style."  She looked up to her, "I trust you with my life, 
something I don't do to many."  She smiled up to her, "Just tell me 
what to do and I'll do it."
	Wehu nodded and tried to hold the pain in her stomach, "Thank 
you Lannie.um.I have to speak with the others to set up our portion 
of the hunt."  With that, she quickly moved over to Kiesi and Tetesi.
 The two lionesses looked at the hunt mistress, "What are we 
going to do, Wehu?  What's the plan?"
	"Just do as you're told, girls.  I'm sorry it makes no sense, 
but I've given Elanna some special instructions.  It will be clear to 
you when it all comes together."
	As Wehu was talking to the other lionesses, the queen made her 
way towards Elanna, "Well, I'm sure you will do well on this hunt.  
As a matter of fact, I talked my daughter into letting you come on to 
this hunt.  She thought you might not be ready."  She nuzzled Elanna 
gently and smiled, "But I convinced her to let you play this pivotal 
role.  If everything goes well, we'll have a kill for sure."  
Elanna smiled to the queen and returned the nuzzle as Wehu 
glanced over and glared at her mother.
The hunters regrouped and began to make their moves.  Elanna 
was very careful to watch Wehu's, the signs she had been taught 
running through her mind.  Wehu sent the other lionesses off, and 
before disappearing with Tetesi, she nodded at Elanna.  It was time.
	Elanna kept a low profile and walked with a quiet tread as only 
a cat could through the savanna grasses and toward the beginning of 
the dry wadi.
	There were rocks in the bottom of the wadi.  It would take all 
her skill to keep from making sound there.  She stepped gingerly from 
boulder to boulder, avoiding the loose pebbles and gravel that could 
make scraping noises.
	So far, she had not heard a stampeding herd.  There was not 
even the nervous stamping of a few spooked animals.  She could tell 
by the grunts and low calls of mothers to calves and the chirps back 
that against all hope she had pulled off the perfect stalk.  How 
proud Ujuzi would be of her!  And how proud Wehu would be!  With 
pride in her heart, she waited for the signal, prepared to make a 
mighty effort to start panic among the wildebeests.
	Suddenly, she heard a rush, and what she thought was a signal.  
Wehu shouted, "Stay still!  Don't move!"
	The rumble of hooves was all around her.  Suddenly the hunt 
mistress was bounding down the wadi after Elanna with Tetesi behind 
her. Wehu had been hit on the side by one of the animals and was 
bleeding a bit.
	"Oh thank Aiheu!  You're all right!"
	"Why?  What happened??  Did I mess things up??"  She looked at 
her friend, "Oh Wehu, your bleeding!"
	"No, Sweetie!  You didn't mess up!  I did!"  She didn't seem to 
notice the bleeding or care for that mater.
	"You did?"
	Wehu looked down at Elanna's paws and suddenly burst into 
tears.  Elanna looked at her curiously and nuzzled against her.  Wehu 
looked up and into her eyes, "Forgive me!  I love you, Elanna!  
Forgive me!"
	"For what??  I'm all right!  So you made a little mistake on 
the hunt--who am I to be upset with you??  Why are you acting like 
this??"
	Wehu looked up quickly, the fear showing in her eyes, "Run, 
Elanna!  Don't ask why, just run.  Run far away!  Or the queen will 
try to kill you again!"
	Elanna was shocked, but before she could react Ujuzi came 
running into the wadi, snarling.  "Wehu, are you all right??"  She 
noticed the blood quickly.  "Did Elanna almost get you killed??"
	Wehu growled back at her mother, "You know good and well what 
happened!  I couldn't carry out your orders!  Not and stand before 
Aiheu when I die!"
	The Queen growled, "I don't need a trick to kill a dirty little 
adulteress!"  She turned viscously on Elanna but before she could 
advance, Wehu bodily blocked her mother.
	"Out of my way, brat!"
	"No!  You'll have to kill me first!"
	"I am your queen!"
	"I thought you were my mother!  You're not!  I don't even know 
you!"
	"You're not hunt mistress anymore!  You disgraced the one who 
bore you!"
	"You disgraced yourself!  Elanna and I are leaving together."
	"No we're not!" Elanna shouted, which instantly silenced the 
Queen, her daughter, and the other lionesses in the pride.  Elanna 
turned on the queen.  "You think all I dream about is making it with 
your husband!"
	"Watch your mouth!" she screamed balefully at Elanna.
	Elanna snapped back, "I've just gotten started, Missy!  And do 
you want to DO something about it??"  Elanna stepped forward.  "I'm 
not afraid of you, you overstuffed, backbiting, treacherous loud-
mouthed hussy!"
	The queen silenced, backing back as she saw Elanna for the 
first time.  No longer was she a timid little mouse, but a mighty 
hunter.
	"Mabongo is like the brother I never had, and Wehu is like the 
daughter I never had.  Personally I don't care if you live or die, 
but they love you--no matter what you think--and I don't want to see 
them hurt.  If you want to hold on to that husband of yours, start by 
showing him a little respect!  Now by your leave, YOUR HIGHNESS, I 
will leave you and your `pride' alone!"
	Elanna turned away from the queen, catching her breath.  
Instantly, her gaze fell on Wehu.  
"Where will you go?" she asked, moving towards her.
	Elanna nuzzled her gently, giving her a kiss on the cheek.  
"Where I belong.  I'm going back to my sister to face my past.  If I 
can face Sarabi, you can face your mother.  Honey Tree, it doesn't 
seem like it now, but you will work this out with your mother.  It's 
all right.  I want you to."
	Wehu kissed Elanna, then went to the Queen.  Embarrassed, Ujuzi 
looked down.
	Wehu began to weep softly, and Ujuzi gently but urgently began 
to clean the cut on her side.
"Ujuzi?" Elanna called.  The Queen looked up and tried to meet 
her eyes with her own.  "He never loved any lioness but you.  I'll 
admit I found him attractive, but I never tried to act on it.  I 
swear to Aiheu.   He loves you, Ujuzi.  I hope the two of you have a 
good life.  Sometimes dreams do come true--not always, but I hope 
yours do."
"You too, Hon," Ujuzi said.  "But somewhere else, please?"
Elanna nodded, turned, and walked away.

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