It had taken three days before Dania could walk unaided, though their progress was still not so great, they were at least slowly making up ground as the small lioness’ stamina returned. She was still skin and bone, her ribs visible under her caramel coloured fur and hips jutting in painful relief. But she was far improved, both brighter eyed and more alert. Ilanga had hunted daily, though after that first large meal she had kept to smaller prey, rats and lizards and the odd snake. Anything to keep Dania eating yet unwilling to make her sick by allowing her to gorge after so recently having starved herself.
As they travailed Ilanga also tried to strike up conversation, and though stilted, gradually she came to piece together Dania’s story. It seemed most of her problems came from her identical twin sister going missing. Kania had been her more shy-natured sister’s grounding point. The rock that made Dania feel safe and from who she drew her own courage. Ever since the more confident twin had vanished, Dania had struggled on alone. But without her emotional support, she had struggled. The one thing she had fixated on was her role in the pride. Not hunting, since they all did that, but bearing cubs. Ilanga assumed it was because Dania was lonely and cubs would be the closest she would come to a bond as close as the ones twins apparently shared. It made sense, and had apparently helped Dania cope with her loss. But then Gakere had vanished along with Surtek, the last remaining point of reference in Dania’s life. That had seemed to send Dania off the deep end, and indeed Ilanga recalled seeing the lioness and wondering at her confused, uncertain manner.
She briefly wondered what she would do if she lost her two sisters, but shook her head. No sense in inviting trouble, and anyway, it was not really something she wished to think about.
Shying away from such thoughts she watched the lioness walking along at her side. Dania looked better, though her coat was still a little dull, her energy was up and while she still looked distracted and uncertain, at least she was following Ilanga’s lead without too much prompting. What she needed was a purpose, Ilanga decided… something more than just hunting with the rest of the pride. Something just for herself. She discarded the role of Umama without a thought, no way was Dania Umama material, even before all this. Thoughtfully she considered Dania as a Cinga. She would have a constant companion which would be good. Though vultures were not quite the same as a lion… But she didn’t think Dania would be very good as a scout.. She was very much a quieter female.
Maybe Dania had been on the right track originally… Cubs would keep her occupied and fill that hole in her where her twin sister had been. Curious she turned to Dania again. “What do you think to Andhaka?” It wasn’t a strange topic, after all most of the lioness’ had been talking about the ex-Inselelo’s promotion. She watched Dania flinch in surprise, tilting her head. That was an odd reaction.
Dania looked over, expression strained. “A-Andhaka?” Clearly nervous she glanced around, as if expecting the male to simply appear out of thin air. “Well…. I.. I don’t know. He seems strong enough to be Umholi..” Dropping her gaze she stared at her paws as they walked, her posture hunched as if from a blow.
Puzzled but accepting, Ilanga was quiet for a few moments, but she was curious, and wanted to see if her idea would work anyway. “But…?” She prompted.
Dania flinched again, head dropping even lower as she pressed her ears back. “He… scares me.” She finally admitted, which made Ilanga tip her head in puzzlement. Certainly he seemed no more scary to her than any other Umholi or Iselelo. But then, maybe it was the change Dania was fearful of? After all, Gakere had been well established and even if a lioness was of a more nervous disposition, it was clear that he had been a good protector, strong and powerful.
Well, if Andhaka made her nervous, what about the other Inselelo who was still of that rank. But then… Inselelo males did not tend to stay overly long. And perhaps that constant change was just as bad. Dania seemed to need something she could focus on and trust to still be there in the future. And while Umholi did change, it was often a longer time frame. Long enough for everyone to adapt.
Stuck for an idea Ilanga was quite for a long time. “What about the new Umholi?” She asked slowly. Yes he was new, but he was at least an Umholi, and should stay with the pride for a long time. He was also someone who, while she had not really spent much time with him, Ilanga could see as being just the kind of male a more shy lioness could warm up to and trust. He had been steadfast and yet willing to follow their lead when he had arrived in such a spectacular manner. And Njalo had basically brought him with her, and treated him like an over grown chew toy…. If Njalo liked him and more importantly, trusted him so completely, then he should be right for Dania.
Satisfied with her plan she smiled at the smaller lioness. Now all she had to do was get Dania near him so she could start to get to know him and get used to him, for he was a very large and imposing male. Just how she would manage that she wasn’t sure yet. But manage she would. She was determined to set Dania up with him, and hopefully the pair of them would look after the rest.
“Come on, lets go a bit further then we need to eat. There is a small watering hole up along that ridge..” Moving forwards Ilanga broke into an easy jog and to her delight, Dania managed to follow, trotting along at the Cinga’s hip without having to struggle overly much. Good, it seemed as if she was healing physically, and Ilanga knew what to do to help her the rest of the way.
Together the two lionesses and the vulture headed on. They would be back with the pride soon enough.
(words = 1,06 cool
