Scatha was waiting for her new friend early that morning. They had not really settled on a time, but Scatha had little to do at home, and had not wanted to go and meet with the King until she had something interesting to say, so she had plenty of time to spare this morning. The whole day, in fact. It was bright enough that she would not mind wasting hours on end sunbathing. She smiled and stretched herself out on her back, letting the sun beat down on her tummy and warm it wonderfully. It was probably one of the greatest feelings in the world, a warm belly.
Almost as good as a full one. Or maybe even a little bit better.
Sharti came running over, bouncing over Scatha before circling back. Scatha saw her shadow before seeing the dark blur come to a stop and turn around. She looked back at the lioness and lifted her eyebrows but did not stand up. Sharti was panting, and must have run all the way out here. Did she think she was going to be late? They had not settled on a time, so how could she show up late for something that was not even that planned? She shook her head and offered a welcoming smile, and Sharti returned it. Even though she looked a little strained and hurried.
“What is bothering you, Sharti?” Scatha ventured to ask, sitting up and looking at her in wonder. She tilted her head to the side curiously and Sharti took a breath so she would be able to speak without her voice cracking.
She managed it for the most part.
“I have someone who is hurt and needs some tending to. She can’t hunt and I wanted to bring her something more filling than a rabbit. I gave her a rabbit yesterday, you see, but she is hungry even if she doesn’t say it and I don’t like listening to her stomach growling on top of her being in pain. She’s in a lot of it and I’m worried, so if I can help her with this then…”
She was babbling, and she took a breath, shaking her head and trying to gather her thoughts again and put them into some sort of order that made more sense. Scatha was only kind of following along, frowning with her eyebrows almost completely furrowed. She almost looked cross, save for the air of confusion that remained. She shook her head and tried to recap things for herself.
“You found someone that is hurt and you want me to go and see her? And help you bring her food.”
“Yes, please!” Sharti said, glad things had been simplified considerably.
“Alright, that sounds serious. I am more than willing to help a lion in need. Please, do lead me to them,” she had limited knowledge of healing, particularly now that her brother had it in his head that he was going to be some sort of apothecary, so she hoped she might be of some use. And if not, she could certainly help to hunt. She was not expecting Sharti to take off at mach speed, however, and had to leap after her, running full pelt just to keep up to what seemed like Sharti’s jogging speed. She was a surprisingly fast lioness, and Scatha was, simply, not.
They came to the gorge and Sharti warned her to be careful as they approach, so she did not suffer the same fate that had injured this unfortunately lioness. They climbed their way down, Scatha with far less confidence and much more shaking and slipping than her companion, and now Scatha saw just who had been injured in this fall, and was now under the care of her sweet new friend.
The black lioness from before.
“Oh… I… I did not realize…”
Ulozi opened her eye, just the one, and peered at Scatha, she grinned and snorted. It was almost ironic, that these two had met now. Ulozi had offered Scatha unwanted advice to keep her alive, and now here she was at the bottom of some hole, covered in bruises and unable to even stand, much less hunt for herself or hunt. Or fight off an enemy. She shook her head slowly and sighed, kicking up a bit of dust through the breath of air she let out from her nose.
“I should have looked out… I am no better suited to survive than you,” Ulozi said. Sharti looked surprised.
“I didn’t know you could talk!”
“I wish she didn’t,” Scatha said with a sigh, but she told herself off quietly and shook her head. She was determined not to be rude, and not to let her personal opinion block her from helping a lion in need. She smiled softly despite himself and sat down and tilted her head. She bent closer, and heard Ulozi’s stomach growling. “Do not worry, my lady. I will help bring you some food and help you to heal. Are you in pain? There are herbs you can chew to ease it.”
Scatha served the King and Queen. While Queen Ygraine was perhaps the nicest lioness she had ever met, especially for royalty, the King was surly and often in a terrible mood. Gruff, short, and snappish, he was very much like Ulozi when he was ill or hurt. Or so she imagined, as she did not know Ulozi well enough for that kind of assessment but all evidence pointed that way so far. Scatha was a servant, though, and she even referred to Ulozi with respect and quiet care.
Again Ulozi was surprised, but this time she ventured to voice her wonder.
“Why would you do that?”
“Would you suffer through it silently if I did not offer?”
“Of course. That is how I have been, and how we all must be in times of trial. We are strong… alone.”
“Well, that may be but I do not wish to know of your suffering. I think my friend is the same. If we can do something to ease it for you, we will, because we wish to and no other reason more. So stay here and rest, and we will come back with something filling for you to eat.”
Ulozi was silent for a long moment, then nodded her head, the movement almost imperceptive.
“I will have to return the favor. I have never had debt to anyone before.”
That statement made Scatha and Sharti pause. They looked at each other. How could she go through life without having any favors? Giving or taking, it seemed. It made them wonder about the way she had been raised, and the life she lived. For a moment, Scatha felt herself pitying the lioness. She frowned slightly, glancing at Sharti, who wore a similar expression. Ulozi had her eyes closed now, and did not want to see their looks of pity concerning her situation. She was perfectly content in her life, whether she showed it or not. She did not need to live the way everyone else did in order to find her place.
If she did not know this was how it was ‘supposed’ to be, how could she be upset about missing it?
Scatha and Sharti left her to her thoughts, heading out to get a kill large enough for the three of them to share. They did manage to find a zebra and bring it down together, but dragging it back was an ordeal. Sharti showed them the way back, dragging the thing with Scatha as they went. A few other predators wanted to take part in the kill, but they managed to chase off all the scavengers without losing much of the carcass in the pursuit. And they reached the injured lioness in due time, finding her sleeping lightly. She woke as they approached, looking at them skeptically.
They looked hot and tired, and she could see how hard they had worked to bring the zebra back to her. It was for all of them to share, but they were allowing her to eat first. It made her feel, for the first time, and maybe the only time, a little humbled. She nodded her head to thank them and ate a little before asking them to eat. They joined in too, voracious from the effort. The three ate until they were full, bones picked clean, and they lounged together in a small circle.
They sat in silence for a long time, and Sharti thought they had all gone to sleep, and was trying to do just that herself. She had talked to Scatha on their hunt about how she knew Ulozi, and though neither of them knew her name yet they were able to fill each other in on all the events surrounding her. It seemed very strange, but such was life in a small patch of the rogue lands, it seemed.
“Thank you for helping me,” Ulozi said at length. Sharti lifted her head and Scatha opened her eyes, looking up. They both glanced at each other before looking at Ulozi again. Neither had expected her to know what the word was. Let alone how to use it accurately. “My name is Ulozi… when I am healed… I wish to make up for your… kindness.” She had to think about the words, and how to say them sincerely. But it was enough. The two lionesses moved closer to Ulozi and neither said anything. They cuddled up with her comfortably and the three fell to sleep one at a time.
(Word Count: 1,598 in Word)
