"Aww, man..." Tanabi glanced at the brothers angrily, as if looking for support, but the two had suddenly found something fascinating about their toes, for they studied them intently, avoiding his gaze. He turned back to Misha and rubbed cheeks with her reassuringly. "Well, since you're not babysitting, do you want to go see our joke?" He smiled halfheartedly. "Maybe it'll make you feel better, anyway."
"Oh, PHOOEY on you and your stupid joke! You don't even care, do you?" Misha's eyes blazed with anger. "What's my mama going to say when Malaika tells her I'm not even fit to look after newborn cubs? I'm worthless! " She fell back, tears streaming down her face. "I thought you were my friend, Tanabi. I guess I was wrong, wasn't I?" She turned and began to walk away.
Tanabi stood frozen, unable to speak as Togo stepped down and joined him. The older cub elbowed him and snorted. "Boy, she can't take a joke, can she?"
The tendons in Tanabi's neck creaked as he turned to face him. "Get away from me, " he said icily. Togo shrank back as Tanabi leapt up and sprinted after Misha, calling her name.
He raced around a granite outcropping and nearly blundered into her. "Misha, wait."
She stopped, but did not turn. "What do you want?"
He circled around her until he was face to face with her. "I-I have to tell you something." He cast his gaze down to the ground, unwilling to look her in the eye. "It-It's my fault Malaika kicked you out."
"Huh?" Misha cocked an eyebrow at him. "What're you talking about?"
His right ear began to jitter nervously. "I asked Malaika to get you to come play with us, " he said in a small voice. "I didn't know she was going to freak out like that, though. I thought she'd just, you know, maybe let you take a break for a couple of hours, or something." He finally looked up and met her gaze miserably. "You aren't worthless, Misha; I am. I shouldn't have tried to make you do something you didn't want to. You're my bestest friend in the world, and I just wanted to spend some time with you, that's all." His eyes began to water and he rubbed his nose with a forepaw, sniffling. "I'm really sorry, Misha. Please don't hate me."
Misha stared at him silently, looking into his sad face. Abruptly, she grinned, and leapt through the air, tackling him. Caught off balance, the startled Tanabi toppled, again giving out a healthy "OOF! " as his bruised back once again made an aquaintance with the hard rock.
"You dimwit, your head must be full of dead grass." She laughed joyfully. "Of course I don't hate you! Malaika didn't throw me out; we planned this! "
Tanabi gaped up at her. "W-What? She knew?! " He laughed shakily. "Ohh, man, you had me going, Misha." He scowled suddenly. "That was a dirty trick! "
"So was what you had planned for me, young prince." Tanabi cringed at the familiar voice. Craning his head back, he saw the inverted form of Uzuri pacing nonchalantly toward him, her wayward cubs following her meekly. She stopped, her huge form looming overhead. Tanabi was utterly flabbergasted as he saw the serene smile on Uzuri's normally stern features. "By the way; it wouldn't have worked, Tanabi. I'm the hunt mistress, remember? I can spot an attack pattern a mile away, especially one I invented." She clucked disdainfully at her children. "Really, kids; you've GOT to learn to invent your own stalking patterns." The lioness chuckled and meandered away, with Togo and Kombi following reluctantly.
Misha put her paw under Tanabi's chin and shut his mouth gently. "You're drawing flies, T." Laughing softly, she rubbed up against his side. "Did you really mean what you said about wanting to spend some time with me?"
"Of course."
She grinned as he fell neatly into her trap. "Great. C'mon. I'll show you how to babysit."
SCENE: THE SHINING MOMENT
The spring rains had brought forth an abundance of flora from the valley floor, the flowers blooming in a riot of color which dazzled the eyes of the two yearling cubs who scampered about through the scented plants, laughing gaily.
Tanabi grinned at Misha as he crouched down among a clump of yellow wildflowers, his tail lashing madly. Giggling, she complied, standing tall and straight, strutting through the greenery as though he did not exist. He sprang from cover, tackling her and sending the two of them rolling down the gently sloping hillside.
Tanabi lost his grip and flew over his friend to land in a heap. He got up, chuckling, but froze when he heard Misha cry out. He looked over to see her emerging from a dense shock of brambles, staggering unsteadily as she favored a paw. "What's wrong?"
She shook her paw gingerly and looked at him, a tear gleaming in one eye. "I can't put my weight on it, Tanabi, it hurts! "
"Lemme see." His stomach knotted as he trotted over to her. His mother had sprained a leg a few months back, and even with Rafiki's assistance, she was only now returning to her full capabilities. If Misha had done the same, or worse, broken a bone... He sighed with relief as he spotted the problem. "It's just a thorn, Misha. No problem."
She looked at him worriedly. "Can you get it out?"
"Uh-huh. Hold still." Nosing through the fur, he carefully took hold of the edges of the shank with his teeth. With a smooth, gentle tug, the thorn pulled free.
Misha hissed in pain, then relaxed slowly. "Thank you, Tanabi."
He smiled back at her. "You're welcome." He began to groom her wounded paw in smooth, soothing strokes, noting absently how much she had grown recently. Her legs, which were her only vanity, had grown out quite a bit, much to her relief, now rivaling even the older Lisani's in their graceful appearance.
Misha sat quietly, enjoying the sensation as Tanabi cleaned the wound on her foot. Finishing, he raised his head and smiled at her. "All better."
She felt a surge of warmth for her friend. Tanabi was always so sweet. He never played too rough like the other cubs, and if he had something nice to eat, he was always willing to share. Impulsively, Misha leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Tanabi froze for a moment, then grinned. "Back at 'cha! " he said, and kissed her. But he didn't draw away immediately. Instead, he stood balanced on three legs, his attention riveted on Misha's eyes. "M-Misha?" he stammered. "I, uh-"
She laughed prettily and swatted him with a forepaw, sending him to the ground in a heap. "Tag! You're it! "
"Oh yeah?! " He leapt to his feet, grinning, and gave chase. She ran, laughing, dodging through the underbrush from spot to spot, always staying just out of reach as he pursued her across the savanna. They had begun to near Pride Rock when he finally caught up with her, intercepting her gracefully in mid-leap to send them both sprawling in the grass. The cubs paused there to catch their breath, giggling softly.
Tanabi looked over at Misha again, unable to tear his eyes off her. As she looked over at him and smiled, the sun sailed out from behind a cloud, the brilliant light surrounding her with a golden nimbus as the sun shone off her fur. His breath caught in his throat, and he was unable to speak.
Misha blinked, perplexed. "Tanabi? Are you okay?"
He cleared his throat scratchily. "Uhh, yeah. You ready to head back?"
She nodded. The two made their way towards the Rock slowly, enjoying the warm sunshine and the pleasant breeze that ruffled their fur, sending ripples across the green carpet of grass that covered the ground.
Misha leaned her head against Tanabi's shoulder companionably, noting absently the pronounced bulkiness which had not been there only a month ago. Cool, she thought. I wonder what Tanabi will look like with a mane. She tried to imagine her best friend's visage surrounded by a ruff of hair like Simba's and giggled quietly.