Walking through the tall grasses the lilac leopard made her way towards a waterhole. The day had been warm and dry so she was eager to get a drink. Even now as dusk settled over the Savannah, the heat of day clung to the air. Already she wanted to go lie down in her den where she could rest. The thought made her hurry until she passed by the huge tree with its dead branches that were often occupied by the vultures. Then she paused to look up at the tree. Such a pity. It must have been so pretty when it had flourished.
“Lalika?” The voice made the lilac leopard jump in surprise. “Oh, sorry!” Out of the shadows of the evening came a lithe black leopard whose golden eyes gleamed with humor. “I forgot how jumpy you sometimes are.”
“I’m not that jumpy! You just randomly appeared and it caught me off guard.” Lalika shook her head before stretching out, “Plus, you have some odd talent for sneaking up on things, Nia.”
The leopardess laughed, “I guess I do have a talent for it.”
“Yes, you do.” Lalika looked over at her, “I should know. Since you never seem to approach me normally. I almost feel like I’m some prey you’re hunting down.”
“Sorry.”
“What are you doing here though, Nia? Didn’t you run off to join up with some lion?”
“I didn’t run off after him, I just wanted to leave. To stretch my paws and travel like I used to.”
“But you ended up with him still.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“Why are you here then, Nia?” Lalika suddenly looked back to her friend. “Already tired of him? Ready to come back?”
“No!” Nia frowned, “I would never tire of Abrafo. He’s my mate, the father of my cubs.”
“Oh?” Lalika blinked in surprise, “You have cubs?”
“Two litters though…my first came because of some misunderstandings.”
Lalika shook her head and stood, “Misunderstanding eh?”
“I allowed my temper to get the best of me. I had an affair with a leopard in charge of the pride that Abrafo and I joined. Just because I was hurt and jealous.”
“Wow! You even joined a pride?”
Following the leopardess towards the watering hole, Nia nodded. “Yes, though it is no longer our home. I refused to stay any longer. I was so afraid for Abrafo and my new cubs, and the ones that were already growing up so quickly.”
“I understand.” Lalika looked over at her friend before bending down for a sip of water, “You have rogue blood, Nia. It’ll never change. Roaming is in your blood.”
“I can’t believe he accepted my plea to leave.”
“Must be some lion you mated with then.”
“Ah.” Nia nodded her head, “But I have been behaving, I’m not running anymore. I’ve…been settling down since my family has grown.”
“How many?” Sitting up the leopardess looked at her old friend with interest. She herself had never settled down yet, and was excited to hear that her friend had actually managed to do such.
“Twelve. Six with that leopard and six with Abrafo.” She frowned and sadness was clearly etched in her features, “Though I left three of them to that pride, with their blood father. Though he never openly raised them. Abrafo did that.” She laughed, “But you should see ours! I never had seen cubs born between a leopard and a lion before! They are obviously of mixed blood, but to me that makes them even more precious.”
“Ah. I see.”
“It’s true.” Nia suddenly blinked and looked over at the other leopardess, “How about you Lalika? Ever find a mate of your own?”
“No.” She shrugged, “None have ever really caught my eye, not like I’m in any hurry to settle down. I have too much to take care of as it is.”
Nia nodded and the two leopards were quiet for a bit. Both watched as the last rays of sun started to sink beneath the Savannah coloring the water before them rust orange. It was beautiful. “I’m glad, Lalika.”
“Glad?”
“That I got to come here again. It’s been a while since I got the chance to visit.”
“Ah. If that’s the case, then I’m glad you came.” Both grew quiet again until the lilac leopardess finally whispered, “Was it worth it? Leaving that is?”
“At first, I was going to return. I missed this area where I knew others and had a great friend.” Nia looked up at the sky with a sigh, “But then I met that young lion of mine.”
“So he made it worth it?”
“Everything that I have ever suffered or went through since then holds nothing over being with him.” She replied softly, “Our cubs are worth more than my own life and I never understood what love really was before. Even when we hurt each other, we couldn’t let go.”
Lalika didn’t reply but stared up at the sky as well. Once she remembered joking with her friend about finding a mate and raising a family, but neither of them had been serious about it. But something had changed with Nia. Her gaze was so much older than the playful rogue who had loved to tease Lalika about her own serious nature. Love must be an amazing thing then, to change someone so much.
“You should go.” She nudged Nia and stood, “You’ll make your lion worry about you.”
“Pfft. Like he has to worry about me.” Nia grinned before nudging her friend back, “I’ll come again, Lika.” Her golden gaze caught the dark purple gaze of the other leopardess. “I promise.”
“I know you will.” Lalika smiled, “Maybe I’ll get to see your cubs one day as well. I’m sure they have to be somewhat cute.”
Nia laughed, “Of course!” And just like that the dark leopardess was off and disappearing into the darkness of night. Lalika stood watching for the longest time before turning back towards her own home. Leave it to Nia to prove her wrong. So finding love was possible. But was it possible for her as well? Maybe, maybe not.
