Jun was amused. Very. From her perch on one of the rocks she watched as a horridly skinny lion with barely more mane that one of her own brother-cubs crossed over into the Pridelands. Had the creature looked ill she might have felt some compassion but it seemed healthy enough despite its famished figure. She twitched her tail. Funny lion. Jun’d seen many many lions during her short life. She was a Pridelander after all. Maybe it wasn’t even a lion. It was way too weird. What else could she do but go in for a closer look? She’d let herself have sometime off from practising hunting anyway.
*
Isikali wasn’t a fool. If she were going to trespass into any land to get an easy meal - out of laziness mind you because she was a fine hunter – it’d be in the Pridelands. Half the lions were friendly beyond belief according to the nice male lion cub she’d met here earlier. There were hares, she could smell it and she just wanted a quick mouthful so she could get back to running. Isikali was a dab paw at catching hares.
She also wasn’t an idiot in that she knew a small cub was trying to follow her. Stalk him her... though the small black child needed to learn a few things. With her dark fur, its colouring stood out against the grass. Coming from upwind didn’t help. But all she did was smile and keep walking towards where the Pridelanders taught their cubs to hunt hares in the long long grass.
*
Couldn’t be a lion. Nuh uh. It’s entire frame of the thing that made her decide. Even if it were a young lion, the bone structure was too fine, almost delicate looking when Jun thought of her species.
But it was a cat. Her mother and father’d mentioned leopards but those were supposed to be in jungles – whatever those were – and if anything, stocky. Not skinny. And gods were even bigger than normal lions and had wings. And it wasn’t a serval, because it was too big. If Ausi had told her cubs of cheetahs yet, Jun had missed it.
*
“We’re getting close to where I want to hunt, sugar. If you could go back to your nannies and mother, I’d appreciate it. If I can detect you the hares can.” She said kindly but without even looking back at the cub.
*
As strong and brave as Jun considered herself, it still made her jump when the creature suddenly addressed her. It made her pause, twitch her tail tip twice, and think over her words. Clearly she could tell her what she’d done wrong in following her if she’d detected her so very quickly.
“Just tell me how to blend in and all I’ll do is watch your hunt. Please?”
The words were said prettily as she walked up along side her, head held high. It was a gamble because the cheetah was both strange and a stranger, but she thought she’d be able to out run the thing back to those protective adult lions sitting on a distant rock. She had no clue that Isikali would be able to catch up with her with great ease.
*
It was Isikali’s turn to pause and she turned her lovely eyes to look down at the cub properly. It was very forward but it seemed earnest and kind of sweet really.
“I’m a cheetah. We hunt rather differently to you lions, honey, but if you want I could give you a few quick tips on the basics. But please, if you disrupt the hunt, just leave? I’m rather in a hurry you see and also rather hungry.”
*
“Oh thankyou miss!” She ended this with a nuzzle to one of her front legs as they walked. Oh a cheetah! So, this was a cheetah. The word was familiar (so maybe her parents had mentioned it?) but Jun had not known the creature that went under that name.
“I’ll be good and if you’re really hungry you could just have some of the leftoevers from someones kill. These are the Pridelands and they’re as friendly as anything.”
*
Isikali laughed. Really! Well now, she was
“Fine, fine. My name is Isikali, by the way. Stop with those thank yous sweetheart and stop prancing about like that – it’s only one lesson! Never actually seen anyone dance for joy before. You’re being too loud.” Maybe he’d better just try to act like a teacher and get it over with.
“Tip number one...”
*
So. Jun had her lesson, Isikali got her meal, and the only one who who could possibly have any regrets was the hare. He got eaten.
[The end]
