“But how about the way it appears to ME?? You better watch your step, Bobo! I’ve given you my youth and my cubs! Six years of my life I’ve put into this marriage! I’m not letting some two-bit tramp come along and steal my husband!”
He growled at her softly...apparently agitated. “She’s not a two-bit tramp! She’s a fine lady, and you could stand to learn some manners from her! She can’t steal me unless I WANT to be stolen, and I don’t! Listen to me, wife--I’m tired of the way you’ve been treating her! You’ve been nothing but hateful for the longest time, and I’m sick of it! Sick, sick, sick!! You know I’m not a tail chaser!”
“I know that, but she’s subtle. She’s stalking you, and you're standing there like a blind gazelle!”
“That’s enough! Wife, this conversation is OVER.”
The Queen was about ready to say something...until Elanna showed up to take care of cubs. She smiled at them and nodded, “My king...ma’am...” Ujuzi snorted loudly and stormed off into the savanna. Elanna looked to Mabongo, “Is something wrong?”
The King just shook his head. Elanna went over and nuzzled him softly, to which he froze and became rigid.
“Is everything all right?”
“Why shouldn’t it be??”
“Oh nothing. You just seem like something’s bothering you.” She walked back a few paces and lied down, looking at him, “I guess that the others are about ready to go on a hunt...”
Mabongo nodded quickly and rose up. “I...um...need to go also.”
Elanna looked at him, “Usually you keep me company...what is wrong?”
He shook his head, “Nothing...I just have to...uh...do my patrol.”
“But you already did it...”
He snapped quickly, “I have to do it again...all right?”
Elanna sighed, “My king...what have I done?”
He shook his head again. “Nothing...but I need to go.” Quickly he ran into the grass, leaving an astonished lioness behind.
Later that day, Ujuzi pulled Wehu aside, “My daughter...I think Elanna might be moving in on my position. I think she might be trying to steal your father from me.”
Wehu gasped, “No mother...you are wrong. I know Elanna...she would never do anything like that to you...or anyone.”
“Listen to me daughter...if you watch them like I do...it would be plain to you. She is trying to muscle in on my lion...and I won’t have it.”
“What do you suggest I do? Go and spy on her like you?”
“Yes...exactly.”
“No mother...I can’t do that to her.”
“What are you afraid of? If you are right then you won’t mind looking in on them. If there’s no wrongdoing, there will be nothing to see.”
Wehu stormed off without an answer. Ujuzi smiled...the first part of the plan was done...now to set the trap for her prey. She found Elanna resting alone in the clearing. Mabongo had come back from his ‘patrol’ and was resting a short distance off. There was tension in the air between the two when Ujuzi walked to Elanna and within ear shot of the king. “Sweetie? You like Wehu, don’t you?”
“Yes, queen.”
“She was my first...and I have had many strong children after her.” She smiled softly, “And how many children have you had?”
Elanna sighed softly...as the memory of her dead son comes back to her, “None my queen. I can’t have cubs.”
Ujuzi just chuckled and shook her head, “That’s a real shame. You know a lioness is not a real lioness until she has her first child.” With that, she walked back to the king and rubbed up against him.
Elanna turned her head away from the two, her eyes focusing off in the distance as tears began to form in her eyes. Ujuzi chuckled softly again and walked off...knowing what would happen next. Sure enough, Mabongo rose and walked over to the crying lioness. “Elanna?”
Elanna turned her head towards him, wiping her eyes clean, “Yes my king?”
He sat down next to her, looking down at the lioness, “I heard what my wife said to you. I don’t know what got into her, it was uncalled for.”
Elanna just nodded, “She is right though...I’m not a real lioness.” She turned to look at him, “That’s why I left Kubali, because I couldn’t give him cubs. I might be a lioness in form...but not a real lioness.” More tears started to form in her eyes as she looked into the sky, “I love cubs so much! Why Aiheu? Why me?” She turned aside and started to sob. “I want to go home!”
Mabongo leaned down and nuzzled her softly, which made her jump a bit. “Dear Elanna...so much tragedy in your life. Aiheu doesn’t do anything without a purpose. You must remember that.” He smiled to her softly, “You are no less a lioness in my eyes because of your injury. You are a very welcome part to this pride. The cubs absolutely love you, and the other members, save my wife, find you very kind and caring. I hope you don’t think about leaving because of her.”
She sighed softly, “I had been thinking it...but I don’t know what to do or where to go. I’m tired of running...”
He shook his head, “Then you don’t have to go. I will talk to my wife and get her to end these attacks. She is a queen...and it is far time she acted it.”
She smiled softly, “You would do that for me?”
He nodded and chuckled, “She may be the queen...but you are also important to me. She can’t be doing this to you...it’s unfair. You see, my dear, she’s very jealous of you.”
“Jealous? Of me?”
“Yes. That’s what was wrong when you came to cub-set. I wasn’t upset at you. I was just afraid what Ujuzi would think, but frankly I won’t hurt your feelings just to spare hers.”
She smiled softly, “I understand now. I’m not worried that she was jealous--it explains a lot. But I’d hate to think I lost your friendship.”
“You never will. She’ll have to learn to deal with her jealousy some other way than victimizing you. Now we spend much time together. And I won’t lie to you--you’re a very beautiful lioness and I couldn’t help but notice that. But there’s no one for me but Ujuzi. I’d never dream of cheating on her.”
“And I’d never dream of breaking up your marriage. But you are a dear, sweet thing and I’m very fond of you. I like to think my brother might have been like you.” She sat up and moved her head to give a lick to his cheek. “I will leave if my presence here is a burden on you.”
In the cover of the grasses...a pair of eyes shown through. after seeing the shows of affections, the owner of the eyes pulled back, further into the grass.
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.”