Ulozi was resting quietly as she healed. She was still in terrible pain, and had not lifted her head since Sharti brought her a rabbit. Her stomach was grumbling but she was being stubborn. It had been a few hours, and Sharti realized that the darker lioness she was caring for was too proud to accept her help for what it was. Sharti frowned thoughtfully, glancing around. She got up and moved to nuzzled Ulozi’s shoulder softly, to get her attention and to be reassuring in her way. The larger lioness let out a low sound, but it was not quiet a growl.
“I am going to go and get someone to help me bring you some water,” she said, thinking that maybe if she went off to do something Ulozi would eat the rabbit. It would help her recover her strength, and it would keep her from getting dehydrated. That defeated the purpose of her going out to get the water in the first place, but she was really just coming up with a feasible excuse to leave the larger lioness alone for a moment. Ulozi knew what the other was doing, not finding her delivery or performance particularly believable, but she just opened one eye and looked at her in wonder.
It was strange to her. Ulozi had never felt that inclination to help someone in need. Many times she walked by someone who had been injured, a lion who needed help bringing down a larger animal. But she had never felt the need to help them. She never felt anything for another being, in fact, beyond mild disdain and distrust, the sense that they were an enemy she had not yet made. It was unnatural for her to consider more friendly attitudes, save perhaps with an ulterior motive. But she had nothing to give to this lioness, and there was no plot that Ulozi could think of that might require keeping her alive.
So why was this lioness trying so hard to help someone who could potentially hurt her?
It was not likely Sharti would be able to answer that one, either. She just knew that Ulozi needed her help and that no one else was around or would do it. It had hurt, seeing the lioness fall, and knowing that something bad would happen. Sharti loved making trouble, getting into it and getting out of it. She loved laughing and playing and even annoying other lions for the sake of it, but she never wanted to make serious danger. She never wanted to see anyone legitimately hurt. And this had not been a plan of hers, a game in any way. It had been an accident, and since she had not been there in time to stop her from falling she could at least do what she could to tend to Ulozi and help her heal quickly.
Luckily it was just bruises and bumps, scrapes and maybe some lost tufts of fur but nothing that would not fade away or grow back. No broken bones and no punctured organs. She had survived long enough so far for Sharti to be comfortable in thinking that she would survive longer yet. And she was comfortable leaving the lioness alone for a short period of time. The night had settled and come morning she would go and meet up with her new friend, Scatha, and see if she might help tend to Ulozi with her. She had no idea that the two had already met, and had not quite hit it off.
She bounced her way toward the rocks she could climb up and out on. It was steeper than the way she had come in, but at the time she had been in such a rush she could not afford to fall and break her own neck. Now she had more time to climb as she needed, without running or rushing. It was far enough from Ulozi for her to feel alone, as well, which was good, and Sharti could keep her eye on her. She climbed up slowly, and glanced over her shoulder toward where she had left the darker, larger lioness. A smile crossed her muzzle as she saw Ulozi scoot forward a little to sniff the rabbit. Her stomach must have gotten the better of her, as she began to chew at the rabbit’s hide and tear into the flesh as best she could without moving too much.
Ulozi knew that she was being set up. She also knew that Sharti could see her, and was likely spying on her to see if she would eat the food. It was clearly a trap but Ulozi was hungry and she could not get up any time soon to get her own food. So she sniffed at the meal as it was presented and chewed at it easily. She felt something strange, and realized it was gratitude. Or so she assumed it was. Another thing she had never spared much thought toward. Thanking others. Considering the efforts she went to in order to remain alone, it was not unnatural to assume she did not know how to show gratitude. Or even how to recognize the feeling of it when it occurred. It never had before.
She ate quietly while Sharti continued to climb. She reached the mouth of the gorge and climbed over, hauling herself up with her arms. Though she was small, she had been climbing for so long she was very used to hauling her body weight around without much trouble. She looked back down and saw Ulozi still eating and then nodded, smiling. Now she had a new problem. How was she going to get water back to Ulozi? She did not have anything to carry it in, and she didn’t think she could make a little cup out of leaves.
Maybe she could find a large nut or something… something curved that she would be able to use to carry the water.
It took her a little while, but she managed to find what she needed. It was a very long and slow walk back though, carrying this little, well large for what it was, half of a nut filled with water. She took the long way back down into the gorge again as well, padding slowly and letting time waste away. It was almost morning by the time she got back. Ulozi was sleeping, and Sharti put the nut down nearby. Ulozi opened her eye, just one again, to look at it, then at her caretaker. She sighed, but this time she took a drink without needing to be left alone.
Sharti beamed brightly, and considered it progress.
(Word Count: 1,116 in Word)
