Bubu was in heaven. She'd been following Sadiki for a week now, and each day only got better. He fed her, talked to her, even asked her what things she heard throughout the day. He was really wonderful, and she followed him now more out of adoration than duty. Bubu truly believed that he was her soul mate, that the Gods had sent him to her so that they could spend eternity together. It was wonderful, and she never wanted to leave his side. Even now they were on the move, and she trotted next to him gleefully, shooting him questions every now and again.
"Sadiki, have you ever eaten a rabbit?"
"'Diki, what happens to the sun when the moon rises?"
"Sadiki, do you want to hear a story about an argument I heard between a fat tree and a little bush?"
Sadiki was going slowly insane. The female never shut up. He was trying to be nice to her so that she'd continue to follow him; he'd come this far and he wasn't about to stop now. Bubu was always talking, always chatting, always asking questions. It was driving him batty, and he feared for his own sanity. What would the others think of his choice in females? Hopefully they'd just accept her as having some strange version of the Sight, and cheer him for bringing one of their kind into the fold. He hoped that was the case. He was already regretting the moment he'd approached this female, and he didn't want to keep regretting it. This was a huge, huge decision he'd made, one he'd have to live with for the rest of his life. Unless, of course, he found another one to bring back. He scowled to himself. It'd taken him weeks to find THIS one; he didn't have it in him to keep looking.
"Did you hear me, Sadiki? I asked you a question." Bubu glanced at him curiously, her eyes bright. Sadiki seemed to be miles away and lost in his thoughts. She was wondering what he was thinking about. It obviously was troubling him, and so she'd merely asked what was on his mind. Bubu hoped he would talk to her about it, but if he didn't maybe she could just sing him a song instead.
"I didn't hear you, Bubu. I apologize. What did you ask?" He tried to keep his voice even with patience, his tone completely neutral. It wasn't her fault that she was strange, and Sadiki saw his mother in her at times. It made his heart ache if he thought about it too often, and so he banished the thought from his mind.
"I asked you if something was troubling you, 'Diki. That's all." Bubu fell silent for the first time in hours, watching him carefully. If there was something bothering him, she wanted him to be able to talk to her about it. Perhaps if she kept quiet he would find that to be an opportunity to talk to her about his problems. "I've been talking so much," she confessed, "is there anything you'd like to talk about?"
She was strange, Sadiki admitted to himself, but she was kind-hearted. He knew this for a fact. She had a sort of innocence that was almost childish, and he knew she could never possibly be malicious. Not like himself. Sadiki felt like he could talk to her and she wouldn't pass judgment on her, which was refreshing. He couldn't talk to Joto about his deepest darkest secrets or thoughts; that old bat, thought wise in his ways, was always passing judgment on one thing or another.
"I sometimes find myself thinking about my mother," he confessed, wanting to be truthful with her. He'd seen the way she started to look at him in recent days; with soft emotion, even devotion. It was strange, but it lulled him into a sense of security. "You remind me of her sometimes."
Bubu blinked. She mulled over what he'd just said, quite surprised that he'd opened up to her in such a way. Usually he was giving her noncommittal responses and she knew he was humoring her; she might not be the smartest girl around, but she knew when she was being catered to, placated. Glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she decided to ask him a question in response, though she didn't want to dig too far. Bubu didn't want to push Sadiki, not when he'd just opened up. "Maybe you can tell me about her some day, once we're home." She'd already started thinking about his pride as her future home, and it was a strange thought. "Would you like to tell me about the pride?"
Sadiki was surprised but didn't want to show it. For once she wasn't pressuring him to answer questions about this and that, stupid little things that tended to get under his skin. No, she'd actually been understanding. Her clarity at times was so astounding. He nodded in response to her question. "Your future pride is a beautiful place. It's hidden in a valley between two snow-capped mountains. Have you ever seen snow, Bubu?" He chuckled when she shook her head, wide-eyed. "It's white, and cold, so cold that to dip your paws in it for long enough causes them to ache as if they burned." He grinned before continuing as they walked.
"Kizuka'nafsi is the female head of the pride, the Kabaila'umbikezeli, or High Priestess. She shares the position with her twin sister, Fasihi'nafsi. They are two lovely, intelligent lionesses. All blessed females have the ability to have the Sight, a gift of the gods. Everyone has a responsibility in the pride." He paused for a moment, looking at Bubu thoughtfully. "I wonder what you would enjoy doing as your duty, Bubu?"
She looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, "What do you think I would do well as?"
"Hmm," Sadiki murmured, mentally going over all of the duties that needed to be done. "I suppose you might like to be an Umbelethisi, or Midwife? They care for the cubs, and sometimes help new mothers bring life into the pride. Do you like cubs, Bubu?" His last question held motives beyond finding a job that suited her; it was a way for him to see if she'd someday want cubs of her own.
"Cubs?" She looked thoughtful, "I like cubs, I suppose. I would like to be a mother someday. I don't know much about pregnancy, though." She chewed her lip before continuing, "I am willing to learn, though."
Sadiki grinned, feeling satisfied by her answer. "That is what matters, Bubu. A willingness to learn shows dedication; I think you will be a skilled Midwife before you know it." His mind and conscience felt settled; now he knew that she someday wanted to be a mother; that was enough for him. Steeling himself against the onslaught of talking that would follow, Sadiki asked," Now, Bubu. Tell me what the world around us says to you today."
Happy and content, she bumped her shoulder against his before launching into a tirade about how rocks were utterly stupid, trees were old and wise, and bushes were haughty troublemakers.
