Imani trotted happily towards Guiv's watering hole. However, it wasn't Guiv she was going to visit today. It was the lion she'd met a couple days ago, Seascann. He was a nice lion, and the perfect hero-type! She had a feeling she could learn MUCH from him. She giggled happily. It would be a good day, she was certain of it. Every now and then, however...she felt like something was watching her. It was an odd feeling she just couldn't shake. But the feeling disappeared once she reached the watering hole. She started dashing about, looking for her new friend. "Mister Seascann! I'm here! Come out, come out, wherever you are!"
Seascann had fallen asleep in the only tree around sturdy enough to hold him. He nearly fell out of the tree when he heard Imani’s voice, but he kept his balance and chuckled groggily as he woke. “Up here, little one. I thought a nap might be good if we’re to defeat Kor today, hmm?” He’d looked forward to the day she showed up again…Lochrann had even mentioned that Seascann’s old smile was back, the one he wore when he’d been just a Dearg Sciath and Lochrann had been his brother’s Bean Crag and his friend.
Imani started and looked up, wide eyed. “Ah! That…that sounded like a good idea, Mister Seascann!” She grinned. “So, great teacher, shall we resume our battle against the dreadful Kor?” She growled playfully and kneaded the dirt beneath her front paws. “He shall fall, and we shall free the savanna from the evil tyranny of his Bati’vichwa for good!”
The green and brown lion leaped down from the tree and took his place next to the juvenile. “Yes, little heroine…we shall resume our defeat of Kor!” He growled at the imaginary enemy and got into a pouncing stance. “His left side is his weak side, little heroine!”
The juvenile lioness charged at ‘Kor’, looking the picture of fearsome purple and red fluff. She swiped at his left leg, teeth bared and a fierce growl coming from her. He tried swiping at her, but she jumped back and bit the paw he used. No villian would defeat her!
Seascann was soon by Imani's side, claws seeking to strike at Kor's side. The fight when on like that for a while, the two striking, and dodging, occasionally getting hit themselves. Seascann had an idea, one that would make the game more entertaining..."Little heroine! Look out behind you!" He ran to protect her from the minion that had managed to sneak up behind them, getting a nasty gash on his side. He dispatched the minion, then fell to his belly.
"Teacher!" Imani turned, worry in her eyes. "You have to get up!" She got up on her back paws to place her front ones on his side and shake him gently. "Please...I need your help, teacher!" How could this have happened? Her great teacher falling at the claws of some evil creature?
Seascann drew in a shakey breath, reaching a great paw up to gently cover one of hers. "I...I will be fine. Please...you must defeat Kor. For...the sake...of the coalition." He groaned and closed his blue eyes. "I'm tired...I must sleep now, little heroine." His breathing slowed, and nearly stopped. He was a little proud of his performance...and his control over his breathing! Woo! He would be feeling this later.
Imani wanted to cry. But she didn't dare give Kor the satisfaction of seeing her tears. Instead, she growled and stalked back to the great villian, fur on edge. "YOU WILL PAY!" And she launched herself into battle once more. With each strike, his power lessened and hers grew. She gained the upper paw...until finally, she got him down! But she did not gloat. Instead, she was very straightforward. "For the crimes you have commited against your fellow creatures, Kor...Death is the only suitable punishment." And with a swift movement, she broke his neck. "It is done..." She trudged back to the body of her teacher, letting the tears fall.
As Imani got close, Seascann drew a deep, shuddering breath and groaned. "Little heroine...did you win?" He rolled a bit, laboriously, and smiled tiredly at her. "I see you felled the dreaded Kor without me. I am proud of you."
Imani's tears suddenly stopped and her green eyes were wide. "Y-you...you're alive?" She grinned and laughed. "You're alive! Haha!" She pounced on him and nuzzled his great mane. "Teacher, teacher don't ever leave me again!" And the tears returned.
Seascann murmured soothing words to her, until her tears stopped. And then...he grinned. The game was over. "Well...that was a great deal of fun, Imani!" He chuckled and nuzzled her. "We should do this again sometime, little one." Yes...it had made his heart lighter, and the burdens of his rank seem a little easier.
Imani grinned and nodded, the tears on her cheeks drying. "Oh yes! You see...make-believe is my favorite game! Tag and hide-and-seek too! And wrestling." She purred and curled up against his mane. "And you seem a lot better...less..I 'unno...heavy. It makes me happy."
Seascann blinked at her wide-eyed. So she'd noticed too! Then his dumbfounded expression changed to relief. "Thank you, Imani." This odd little girl had made her way into his life, and he was all the happier for it. Perhaps...her insights could be used. "Imani...when you're older, would you like to live here? And help me? I am in need of more who see things as you do."
Imani blinked and tilted her head to look up at him. "Uhm....sure! Lemme talk with Mommy and Daddy though! They'll wanna know when I move out of the den 'n' stuff!" She grinned. "And you gotta teach me ALL about where you come from and live!"
The Rí nodded, kind smile on his muzzle. "I shall. When we meet again, I'll start teaching you." She would make an excellent Banbharún. "But for now...sleep. You've earned a nap, little heroine." She'd certainly saved him from going insane.
