Lately, Mkuu had been feeling like a bad father. He hadn’t been spending much time with his beloved children – heck, he wasn’t even entirely sure which professions they’d taken up. In all honestly, he’d been avoiding his family the past couple of weeks, a little afraid of what he’d find. They were all sure to take after their mother, and become Ushujaa – it was a far more interesting title to hold, and a far more interesting job to do, he was sure. He was disappointed, he supposed – disappointed that none of his children would be taking after him as a Mwindaji.
But still, that didn’t mean he had to neglect them. And so, Mkuu headed towards the den he knew his daughter Mvua had claimed as her own. She was the most like him, in more ways than one – a rather huge lioness, and not exactly the most sociable. She’d been a daddy’s girl when she was younger, but had grown up more of an outcast. Approaching her den, the lion called out to be polite, “Mvua, are you in?”
It was sleep day.
Mvua had taken all of her anger out that morning on a defenceless hare carcass, followed by a tree. Her claws were sore from ripping into the bark, but she felt good. Mvua was a huge lioness, taking after her father, and one wouldn’t be wrong to call her a bully. She liked things her own way, and made sure they happened in the way that best suited her. One thing she’d struggled to find, however, was friends. Funnily enough, most lions didn’t like being told they were her friend and had to do what she told them to.
Settled in the back of the den, beginning to doze off, the large lioness looked up with a sour expression. Great, her father had come over. Well, this was going to be awkward – and she wanted to sleep! Grumbling rather loudly, the large lioness stood, moving towards the entrance. “What do you want, dad?”
What a way to greet your father.
...Well, she didn’t sound too happy to see him. As his daughter approached, Mkuu was glad to see that she’d obviously been eating. She wasn’t quite as big as him, being female, but she was all but. Definitely one of the larger lioness’ in the pride. Smiling, suddenly feeling as awkward as if he’d been talking to Hasaa, Mkuu found himself stumbling over his words. “Oh I just...just wanted to see you. Is a father not allowed to see his daughter?”
He smiled – maybe if he smiled, she’d smile back.
He just...wanted to see her? No, surely not. There was something he wanted, Mvua was sure. It didn’t sound right, lions doing something just because they wanted to. She only did something if she was going to get something good out of it. What was that called – selfish? Guess what?
She didn’t care.
“...Right.” Not exactly sure what else to say, the lioness glanced back into the darkness of the den where she could have been sleeping right at this moment, if her father hadn’t suddenly decided to grow a conscience. “...I was going to sleep.”
Well, wasn’t this awkward. Still, the male was determined to make it work, not wanting to have an awkward conversation with every member of his family. Admittedly, his relationship with his mate, Hasaa, wasn’t exactly awkward – just...different. He was terrified of her, yet loved her dearly at the same time. Sometimes, he didn’t quite believe that they were mates. Turning his attention back to the neglected daughter in front of him, Mkuu continued to remain smiling, even flashing teeth in a grin. Though that faded as she revealed her plans for that afternoon. “...Oh.” He didn’t want to disturb her if she was busy, but sleeping wasn’t really being busy, was it? “...Can I come in? We can have a chat instead.”
This was the whole point, and he wasn’t really getting it. She didn’t want a ‘chat’. It would be weird and uncomfortable and probably end up with her getting stroppy and trying to kick him out. But, to be fair, she was always complaining how much her parents were weird and didn’t do normal things. Perhaps ‘chatting’ was what normal parents did with their kids. With a defeated shrug, Mvua turned and began back into her den, giving a wave of her paw to indicate Mkuu could follow. “...I s’pose.”
Mkuu’s grin returned – he was getting somewhere! Happily following her daughter to the back of her den, he gingerly sat himself down after dusting a spot off, turning to face Mvua. She was a pretty girl, underneath it all – just large. She didn’t take much care of herself. She was like him in more ways than she knew, really, beyond just sharing very similar coats. Aware that an awkward silence was creeping upon them, he began to fiddle with a pebble on the ground, stumbling over his words once more. “S-So, uhhh...how are you? W-Well, or...?”
Mvua dropped herself onto the ground in her corner, dust flying from around her due to the momentum created. Curling her tail around herself, she glanced lazily to her father, beginning to clean her paws roughly. Not because she was dirty, or actually cared what she looked like – no, more because she had nothing else to do, and had to amuse herself with something otherwise she’d die of boredom from her father’s useless conversation. Sighing as the normal, boring questions began to surface, she rolled her eyes, clearly not impressed. “I’m fine, dad.” She didn’t return the question, or ask another, merely stared at him further, waiting for the next boring question.
...Okay. Right. Clearly she wasn’t as desperate to make this work as he was, but Mkuu carried on regardless, still smiling. His cheeks were getting sore, the usually gruff lion wasn’t used to smiling for so long, but he was determined to make this work. Wracking his brain for something to continue the conversation with, Mkuu ended up blurting out, “So have you been out with your mother yet?” She was bound to have, it was a ridiculous question, and Mkuu’s cheeks turned pink at the embarrassment.
Mvua looked up from her paws with a frown at her father’s next question – out with her mother? As in...she hadn’t told him yet? So this was what this was all about, her father was feeling useless ‘cause he thought they’d all been amazing and turned into Ushujaa. That made...sense. Feeling her heart give a small flutter, feeling quite sorry for him, Mvua sighed, resting her head on the ground and staring straight at him. “I’m not a Ushujaa, dad.” Her eyelids fluttered shut as she began breathing deeply, tempted to fall asleep. “I didn’t make the cut. I’m a Mwindaji, just like you.”
The words cut through the air like a knife – she wasn’t an ushujaa? She hadn’t taken after her mother? Frowning, Mkuu watched her as her eyelids fluttered shut, mouth forming a growl. Had Hasaa not told him, or was this recent!? About to demand his daughter told him more, Mkuu was quickly silenced as she spoke. She didn’t make the cut? ...Oh. Frowning, but this time out of confusion and sadness, he remained silent for several moments, not wanting to hurt his daughter’s feelings. But...he had to know. “What happened?”
What happened? “What, you want me to recount every detail?” she snapped rudely, eyes flashing open to look at her father. His face told her he was concerned more than anything, and she allowed her expression to soften, though didn’t apologize. She sighed, closing her eyelids again, pausing a few moments once more before she spoke, though this time her words were slow and meaningful, as if she’d thought them through. “I just didn’t make the cut. I was strong enough, there were no problems there, but I kept talking back to the instructor. He couldn’t put up with me, so sent me out.” She shrugged – she didn’t think it as that big a deal. She could be lazier as a Mwindaji, anyway.
”...Oh.”
She sounded like she didn’t care, but Mkuu thought otherwise. No-one liked being told they couldn’t do something, and he was sure his daughter would have made an amazing Ushujaa. The problem was just her attitude – but she seemed happy the way she was. And...as long as she was happy, Mkuu was happy. “Well,” he started, smiling down at his daughter, “...As long as you’re happy.”
”Like I said – I’m fine, dad.”
Having someone worry over her wasn’t something Mvua particularly needed or wanted. She could look after herself perfectly fine, and whilst she wasn’t happy...she was content. Her life was fine. Breathing evening out, Mvua felt her thoughts begin to drift as she slowly fell into a contented sleep, beginning to snore softly soon afterwards.
She said she was fine – that was enough for him. Watching her with a fond smile, Mkuu quickly realized his daughter was asleep, which only made his smile wider. Pushing himself to his feet, he moved forwards, nuzzling the top of her head softly. “I’m happy you’re a Mwindaji, Mvua,” he whispered softly, licking his daughter’s nose fondly before he exited the den – now, which child of his was he going to see next?
FIN
