Unyenyezi moved through the silvered grass with a slightly defeated look on her face. It had been two days since she had left her home in the Mwezi’Johari and she had no clue how to find and seduce a suitable male within the last two days she had. Two days and then the moon would be too advanced and she’d have to wait a month if she wanted her cubs born a good class. Would Unyenyezi give her permission to wander again? Was she so tarnished by time she was no longer desirable?
*
Now, where had that son of hers gotten too? Asali hoped she wouldn’t spend the rest of the night tracking down her son. It wasn't that she didn't trust him but he was very young and both he and Jing worried when Sorin ran off like this. He was a smart boy, with a good head on his shoulders but still only a baby. Even if they did live in such a safe area she did worry, for she had reasons from her past to worry more than was possibly normal.
“Where could he be Shirin…?”
“Don’t fret. Two pairs eyes see better than one as they say and there’s more than just you and I out here looking for the kitten Asali.” The serval soothed, looking about with eyes that shone brilliant as rubies in this light. She called the lion cub a kitten almost as if she was making a mistake but the softest touch of affection snuck into her voice as she did so. No matter how full the river, it still wants to grow….She was sure Sorin was just off playing and thus learning, as youngsters were wont to do.
*
Perhaps ZiZi should figure out how she’d attracted her real mate Tamu so long ago... yes, that sounded very sensible! A slow, small smile creeping onto her face, she looked up and around at her surroundings. It was a beautiful night, just like when Tamu had sworn his love so long ago. How she missed him. She’d sat just so, the moon on her then-paler fur…
*
She lowed her head and gave a low call as they walked, hoping that far carrying, wordless sound would summon up her offspring. She doubted he would answer but it was worth a shot and for all she knew, she was very much alone out here save for Shirin, so even his small voice would carry far.
Shirin took a pawful of steps to every one of Asali’s as they went along and the smaller cat weaved in and around the grass rather than barging straight through. Despite that she seemed in better shape than Asali – she wasn’t the worried mother here after all. Honestly she thought Asali was worrying a bit too much. If she ever had kittens herself…
*
She blinked at the sudden noise of another animal very close by. A noise she wasn’t that used to not being a mother or a nanny and living in a close knit pride. But wait... that was just another lioness, wasn't it? Calling her young.
Hesitantly she moved forward, tail swinging side to side. Her searching eyes eventually landed on the dark shape of another female and she froze. Getting between a strange mother and her lost cubs was never a wise mover. Better let her know she was about.
“Good evening! Lost some little ones?” She called over, standing in place when she’d padded forward a reasonable distance, offering a smile.
*
Her head snapped up as the voice interrupted her call, closer by than she’d thought anyone was. Not her son. The larger form of another lioness came to a halt nearby and called a greeting. A stranger, seemingly offering assistance to track down any lost cubs – or perhaps making herself known for another reason. It startled her a moment.
Shirin’s lips curled up in a smile. How considerate and wise of the old timer to call. Asali was the kind of female who’d snap at anyone who really got in her way if a cub was really lost. But while worried, she shouldn’t be that worried, and this old timer clearly meant no ill intent to Asali or to Sorin – or to Shirin herself, she judged, as the serval stepped forward until she was noticed by the other lioness too.
“Good evening. My friend’s son has wandered off, children being children…” She trailed off, ruby eyes turning to pointedly look at Asali.
“He was always a fan of playing in the dark. I’ve been calling for what feels like an hour now. Unfortunately he thinks it a game and hides sometimes.” Asali admitted.
*
“I have a young friend who tends to wander at night as well.” Zizi said, sympathetically. “I could help you two comb the area if you wish or stay out your way if you’d rather. I think this night is a dead loss for me anyway.”
Let’s face it old girl, she told herself, your chances are slim. You’ve stayed loyal to your memories of your dead mate and always will, you’re not after love and that’s just as well. But its been so long your old. No male wants an old female, not even for a fling, they want pretty young ones like this lioness before you. So, you might as well be useful.
*
“Oh really? What was your purpose?” Asali motioned for the stranger and for Shirin to spread out and start looking – they could talk by calling each other and hopefully her voice wouldn’t just reach the grey female but her son as well.
“Maybe I can help, since you’re helping me. My name is Msimbo’Asali, by the way.” She said as she checked in some brush for her boy. So help him if he was hiding like last time!
“And mine is Shirin, at your service, friend.” She was very pleased at this turn of events because Shirin was a rather sociable female and because another person helping to look for Sorin would help calm Asali’s nerves. The serval took her place in the formation and got looking. With them here and Tufah and Jun out the other way…
*
“Pleasure to meet you Shirin. And that’s an interesting name Asali. A false one or are you from a pride that requires you find a new name later in life?” Unyenyezi raised an eyebrow. Msimbo meant code name, false name, and alias. She didn’t mean any offence and her voice just sounded softly curious. It didn’t do to insult someone the second you meet them and she’d heard of such practices herself. There was once a family before the war in her own pride, she recalled…
She lowered her form to peer into a hollow under some rocks, seeking any small furry cub who thought to hide there.
“Mine is Unyenyezi by the way. I’m a historian of my pride, that’s why I’m so interested in the name. I memorized hundreds you see.”
*
“It’s a religious thing.” Asali rolled her own eyes, not in the mood. What happened to the days of no one catching the first part of her name, huh? Those were the days! “My sons all have Msimbo in front of their name too. This lost on is Msimbo’Sorin.”
“It’s true! You know, I asked her the same thing when I met Asali myself. Not many enjoy knowing names and their meanings these days, so I bet we’re the only ones to really question.” Shirin chirped up, obviously amusing and finding that she quite liked the grey female so far. Sharp and polite, helpful – yes, Zizi was clearly a nice lioness.
“And you didn’t answer my question. What were you doing out here?” Asali got the conversation back on track.
*
“…some things a lioness cannot do alone.” Unyenyezi said, with emphasis, hoping her meaning was clear. “I lost my mate long ago and I doubt I’ll have many more seasons where I’ll have a chance so I seek a male’s company for a night or two. Hopefully I’ll know the joy of being a mother before its too late – teaching them what I know and chasing my own babes in the night.”
*
“So what’s the problem? And keep it light will you, my cub is out here.” She joked, not minding being frank about sex, mates and the making of such cubs even with a stranger. But not around her son, thanks. He was too young to worry his little head over females and such yet.
“He’ll have to learn one day but the boy gets into enough mischief already without knowing about that – I imagine he’d tell every other cub her knew, just to see them squirm.” Shirin checked with a patch of scrub, as only she could of the three being so small herself, her voice muffled somewhat by the foliage.
*
“Of course, of course…and to be honest I’m not sure. I suppose I am just not as appealing as I was when I was young.” She said, voice quiter but not too much – Asali was some feet away looking in more bushes. Zizi would rather have been chatting close to in whispers. She was no prude but still. It was embaressing.
*
“No, many males wouldn’t care. They’ll go for anything, even ugly girls. So long as the lady’s to their own liking and such. You’re still a handsome female, even if you are way past your prime.”
“Asali! Begging your pardon Unyenyezi. I’m no lioness but I daresay I’m more like you in age than this whippersnapper Asali. Youth always boasts the bloom of beauty, as they say.” Shirin shook her head, hoping the silvery lioness wasn’t one of those older females who took offence at being remined that…well, that they were in fact older.
Maybe you just need more confidence, a more seductive way about you. You look like someones old aunt – no offence – the way you smile and the way you stand.”
*
Unyenyezi laughed, and if lionesses could blush she would have. Nice to know she was still looking alright then even if the old aunt bit was a bit …disconcerting even though she knew it was true. And to learn perhaps where she was going wrong was wonderful.
“Thanks for the reassurence and the advice! Someone’s old aunt…it’s true Shirin, though thanks for the kindness…” She laughed and looked through a hollow log, spotting a curled up youngster inside. It was too dark to see, but had the shadows been lighter she’d have seen he had a great resemblance to his mother.
“Hello there!” She raised her head. “Asali! I may have found your little rascal.”
*
The golden-peachy lioness was there in a flash.
“Msimbo’SORIN. Get out here this instant. I have been worried and you hid from me again. Come on, we’re going home. And don’t think we’re not talking about this later.” She admonished her son as he crawled out to sit sheepishly at her paws, ears back (but he flashed Zizi a quick impish grin that made her like the cheeky little thing instantly. Little rascal indeed.)
“Restless feet may walk into a snake pit young sir.” Shirin came forward to groom the cubs fur reassuringly. Even though his mother was quite rightly annoyed, she knew cubs would be cubs and that Sorin didn’t mean to worry her so. But one day he would get into trouble…and he would have to learn… The serval tutted her tongue and shook her head at him.
“Thankyou Zizi. Goodluck with your…hunt and I might see you around. I’d better get this boy back to the den.” Asali nodded her head at the older female before picking her cub up roughly but also gently from beside Shirin, before carrying him off by the scruff of the neck.
*
”Goodnight Asali…and you too, Shirin and Sorin. Try not to wander off too much of your poor mother will end up grey as me before her time.” Zizi joked, bobbing her head and turning to go away. Maybe tonight wouldn’t be a total loss. Confidence. Confidence. Maybe that was what she was indeed lacking….
THE END
