Tulia sprawled comfortably in the sun, soaking in all the warmth that it had to offer. She did this often. It relaxed her, soothed her, and helped her sleep. Terrible nightmares tended to attack Tulia on occasion, and though the lioness kept them to herself, she knew her sister could sense when the nightmares had come. Sebae never pressured Tulia to speak of them, and Tulia appreciated her sister’s sensitivity. Tulia found that she always needed a bit to collect herself after a nightmare, and lying in the sun was the best way she‘d found to do that.
Tulia closed her eyes, a small smile playing across her muzzle. She was lucky to have her beloved twin. Often she’d joked that Sebae was her eyes. Sebae didn’t find it amusing, but then again, Sebae didn’t find much amusing. Tulia understood; from a young age they’d had to look after one another, and it had been a burden on Sebae. Sebae had fed her sister, watched after her, listened to her fears and wiped away the tears that came with Tulia’s frustration with her blindness. Tulia loved her twin and would willingly give her life for the other lioness.
“Wipe that smile off your face,” came a gruffly affectionate voice, followed by a swift nose-bump. Sebae. Tulia laughed at her sister, stretching comfortably.
“And why should I? I was just thinking about you, sister.” Tulia yawned, ears perked in the direction of Sebae.
“Oh?” Sebae eyed her sister. Mirror images, they were. It was like looking at a colorless version of her own reflection. She knew it could be unsettling to strangers, but Sebae didn’t care. “And just what were you thinking, dearest sister?”
“How much you have given so that I could survive,” Tulia said simply. It was the truth, and Tulia knew it even if Sebae wouldn’t acknowledge it. They’d had this conversation before, and it always ended the same way; Sebae denying any sort of sacrifices, Tulia growing frustrated that she couldn’t show appreciation for her sister, and Sebae comforting Tulia.
“You would have done the same for me,” Sebae said simply, eyes locked on her sister. Her heart ached for Tulia, but she could never tell her that. Tulia lived her life the best she could, and Sebae would not stand for her sister being unwelcome simply because she had nothing of use to offer a pride. Sebae was proud of Tulia; honored to be sister to such a strong lioness. Tulia did not tolerate the pity of others; it infuriated her, frustrated her. “Wouldn’t you have?”
Tulia didn’t answer. Sebae knew she wouldn’t, because they both knew what the answer would be. Of course Tulia would’ve done the same for Sebae. They shared the bond that only twins could. Each was the others support system. “I can see shadows still,” Tulia said, deciding a change of topic was necessary. “I suppose that’s good news, hmm?” Her eyesight had gradually gotten progressively worse over the years, and the sisters knew that she would be utterly blind eventually. Tulia had accepted that fact. Sebae was angered by it.
“Very good,” Sebae agreed, watching her sister carefully. “Have you eaten today?”
Tulia nodded. “Pankaj shared his breakfast with me,” she smiled. “He is such a nice lion, isn’t he?”
Sebae snorted. “I suppose he’s nice enough.” She admired the two males currently in the pride. They’d earned their ranks in the pride. “It was good of him to share with you.” Sebae did appreciate the fact that Pankaj looked after Tulia. It wasn’t his responsibility, but the lion seemed not to mind.
Tulia laughed. “He does it often. I think he feels sorry for me. I humor him,” Tulia confided, a sweet smile on her muzzle. “I think it makes him feel better. He tells me stories while we eat. Sebae,” the blind lioness paused, “what does he look like?”
Sebae groaned. “Tulia, I don’t know. I don’t stare at him. He’s nice enough to look at, I suppose, if you like bright colors. He’s got spots on him, and a purple mane. He’s pink,” Sebae spat distastefully. Sebae much preferred darker colors; browns and blacks. Pink? No thank you.
“I remember pink. I remember purple too,” Tulia said wistfully. Those colors were lost to her now, but her memories remained. “What color are his eyes?”
“Gods above, Tulia,” Sebae groaned, “I don’t know. You should just ask him the next time he brings you some of his breakfast.” Tulia could be persistent about these kinds of things, and it annoyed Sebae to no end. “I don’t spend my time staring longingly into his eyes.”
Tulia chuckled. “Of course you don’t. You’re probably much too busy being offensive and snarly to all the males in the pride.” She knew her sister wasn’t the most personable lioness around, but it was one of the reasons Tulia adored her sister. “I want a family.” A new topic once more, this time from out of the blue.
“You have a family, Tulia. I am your family.” Sebae knew what would come next; they’d spoken of it often. Tulia wanted her own family. The thought frightened Sebae. She knew Tulia would be a great mother, but she had to doubt the capabilities of a blind lioness trying to raise a pawful of rambunctious cubs. “The pride is your family, too.”
Tulia scoffed lightly at her sister, “You will always be my family, Sebae. But you know what I mean when I say I want a family. I want my OWN family, sister. I want my own cubs to look after.” A dreamy look came over Tulia’s face as she smiled in the direction of her sister. “You should become a mother, too. Perhaps that would sweeten your sour disposition, hmm?”
Sebae laughed at Tulia’s words. She never took offense to anything her sister said. “I doubt it, sister. Besides, would you still love me as your sister if I changed that much?”
Tulia grinned, “Probably not, Sebae.”
“I thought so,” Sebae countered, rising to her feet. “Now, I’m thirsty. Would you like to walk with me to get a sip of water?”
Tulia rose to her feet as well, affectionately nuzzling her twin’s shoulder. “I suppose so.” The heavy conversation would come to fruition once more, both sisters knew it, but for now they’d said enough to each other. Side by side they walked to the watering hole. Side by side, as they’d always been and always would be.
