“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.”