Why was she not dead yet? How could she live when her partner, her bonded, had been killed? Sikivu should not have found her alive, but he had. And she was needed. She was needed still. Perhaps that was all there was too it, perhaps that was the only reason. But she could be helpful, could be useful. And if she was needed, well, then she would do her best for those who needed her. At least until the time came for the rust colored lioness to lay down her body and leave this world behind altogether.
Yamini moved silently through the tall swaying grasses, her old skills as a huntress for her pride still as sharp as they had been before her death. She was a huntress still after all. And the little ones that had been found, the survivors, they needed to eat. With the brave guard looking after them, it was a natural role for her to fall into as their provider. Sans the eyes of her kite, she was not quite as quick to find a suitable kill, but her beloved Azize was no longer with her. She would just have to manage on her own until she could sleep her way to finding him again…what was that?
The lioness froze, her ears lifted and alert. Out here, in the rogue territories, beyond the safety of the pridelands, danger could be anywhere. Their small group had been lucky so far, or at least fortunate as far as meeting a dangerous rogue went. Lucky was not the word to describe the aftermath of a terrible disaster, no matter how miraculous a survivor’s story was. If they were lucky, there would not have been anything to survive. But that was not the point nor issue at current. If there was trouble, she wanted it to find her, and not one of the little ones or their protector. She was dead after all, there was nothing that could be done to harm her more.
”Hello? I hear someone…” a warm voice chuckled, and Yamini straightened. That didn’t sound like serious trouble to her. And once her vivid orange eyes fell upon the speaker, she decided that they didn’t look like serious trouble either. A large and well muscled lioness, and while her size was certainly trouble if she started something, there was just something about her expression…
”Just me,” Yamini answered, her own empty gaze meeting the lioness’ soft pink eyes. If there were trouble, she’d prefer to keep the small band of survivors she looked after out of it. The stranger’s head tipped quizzically, as though she sensed the untruth behind the statement. Her tail flicked, but then she nodded, accepting the lie without a fight.
”Well, ‘just me’, my name is In’ta. I hope I am not interrupting anything? she asked, the smile on her face barely flickering. It hurt to be lied to, but she could understand. This lioness was wary for a reason, to be sure. And if she had cubs to hide and protect, well, a stranger, particularly such a large and powerful looking stranger as In’ta herself, would be best kept away. But that did not mean, if the lioness wasn’t adverse to it, that she couldn’t keep her company for some short while.
”…my name was Yamini,” the smaller lioness replied quietly, still eyeing this In’ta with uncertainty. Though there was more deadness in her expression now. The slight brush of adrenaline faded, she had no further emotion to bolster her up from the grave where she was meant to be. ”I was just hunting. You’re hardly interrupting.”
Hunting was it? In’ta’s smile grew, a cheery idea occurring to her. ”Mind if I lend a paw? I’ve not much else to do and it would be nice to have some company for a while.” That sounded perfectly reasonable to her anyway. And if this female was trying to feed cubs, she would be glad to help her. She seemed downcast, if something was wrong and she didn’t wish to talk about it… but still. Still, it was something, some small thing, that she could do to help a damsel in distress. It didn’t hurt anything after all.
Yamini eyed the stranger for a few moments. Though, since they had exchanged names, she supposed they weren’t strangers after all. It was a moment’s thought before she decided to go along with the idea. After all, she’d always known that two sets of eyes were better than one. With another’s help, she’d have more food for the group when she returned. The survivors needed to eat to keep up their strength. They needed to return home, where it was safe for them again. ”Alright. We’ll go after larger prey then.” Alone she had intended to take a small gazelle or hare, but with help they might manage a good sized antelope or something.
In’ta nodded at this suggestion. It made more sense to get more food while there was two of them to do it. ”Great! You know, I think I scented a herd a little ways back. You want to go and have a look?” she suggested brightly, to which the smaller lioness only gave her another dull and empty-eyed look.
”Sure.” Was she being too friendly? Too helpful? Was something up? …no, she didn’t care. She didn’t have it in her to care. Whatever. If this was an elaborate ruse to get her alone, well, she was already dead. What was the worst that could happen? Especially after that. No, as long as whatever trouble there might be here was kept properly away from the little ones, then she didn’t care what happened to her.
In’ta regarded the quiet lioness with less and less cheer. Something was wrong here. Something was really wrong. Maybe she was a mother and had lost a cub? Maybe her cubs had no ‘father’ and she struggled to support a family by herself. Maybe she had not wanted a family, maybe the cubs were an unexpected burden or a living memory of some horrible nightmare. Maybe she’d lost a mate, a family member, a friend. But whatever it was, there was just…no spark of life left. This lioness…was so dead inside. She…she didn’t know what to do to help her. She wanted to see a sparkle in her eyes, for all they’d only just met. A lioness like this…so sad and despondent… she wanted to help. She wanted to save the day. But what could she do?
Well. What she could do was whatever she was capable of. Helping her to hunt and bring down enough food for whom ever it was she was trying to feed was a small thing. But even a small favor can make a big difference. And it seemed to her that this female could use the help… ”Alright then, it’s right back this way…” In’ta said, her tone still warm and inviting. So what if this Yamini didn’t care to share her troubles. She had some, and a good meal might not solve them all. But at least she, and whomever it was she was trying to feed, would no longer be hungry today. That was something. Perhaps not the most amazing and stellar thing for a ‘knight in shining armor’ to help with, but any small task was a noble one when done in the name of good.
(Word Count: 1276 )
