“You’re going to hurt yourself, you know.”
“I’m not. This is good for me.”
“If you say so. However, if you undo all the hard work I’ve done to make you better, Jiwekali, I swear I will never forgive you.”
It seemed as if this exact conversation had taken place each day for the past month. Just a few days after Coolbreeze had found Jiwekali near death in the desert, he’d been able to sit up on his own. A few days after that, he was able to take a few steps without feeling as if he’d perish. A few days after that and he was feebly leaning up against the wild dog’s side as she helped him take a few more steps.
He was feeling much better, and he knew that he owed it all to Tuuli. She had saved him from himself, really, and from the death that he’d already given his life to. “Not under my watch,” she’d mumbled to him when one of his paws dared think about becoming infected. Under her careful eye and knowledgeable paw he’d made leaps and bounds.
“The air feels fresh today. Cleaner,” Jiwekali idly commented as he leaned against the cusp of the oddly shaped rock that formed their living space. Though he hadn’t forgotten his family by any means, he would refrain from stupidly and haphazardly searching for them. It wouldn’t be worth it to fall ill again.
Coolbreeze inhaled deeply as she moved to stand beside him. They’d each gotten their fill from a few rangy hares that Coolbreeze had managed to scare up from a spiny thicket of grass and now were relaxing and enjoying their full tummies. “Mm, yes. It does feel cleaner. Refreshing. If we’re lucky we might see a small storm.” She could use the rain water to replenish her dwindling herbal water. While her resources were starting to run low, it was worth it to see Jiwekali feeling better.
“Rain would be nice,” Jiwekali agreed, turning to smile at Coolbreeze. She nodded in return before moving back to the small dip in the ground she’d taken to sleeping in. It wasn’t far from where Jiwekali slept, and he smiled fondly as he watched her curl up. With a happy huff he limped his way back to his own sleeping spot, stretching out with a comfortable sound.
“I’ll be leaving soon, Jiwe,” Coolbreeze said softly, calmly. She knew he’d been expecting her to say these exact words, “I’ll leave the last of my tincture for your nose and paws, but they’re healing well enough that you shouldn’t have to apply it more than once a day. Before I go I’ll hunt so that you’ll be stocked up for a few days.” Coolbreeze watched him carefully from behind the fluffy tuft of her tail, those golden eyes calm and full of affection for the large lion.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for me, Tuuli. I really can’t.” Earnestly he turned to peer at her across the small distance that was between him. In the violet haze of early dusk he could see her eyes watching him, and though his heart ached at the loss of a good friend, Jiwekali knew that he owed his life to her. “You know I wish you nothing but the best in your journey, Tuuli.” His voice was honest and full of emotion. Part of him was terribly frightened at the aspect of losing her companionship; the small, hidden part of him that he wouldn’t acknowledge. At a loss for words, now, he fell silent.
Coolbreeze was silent for a long moment as well. He was such a gentle lion, sweet and thoughtful, with such loyalty and determination. She was glad she had stumbled upon his skeletal body that day nearly a month ago. Look at him now: fatter, yes, but not yet the robust lion that she knew he had once been. That spark of life in his eyes had come back, and while he hadn’t spoken in depth about the mate he’d lost and his missing cubs, Coolbreeze knew that it haunted him still each and every day.
“I’ve a story for you tonight, Jiwekali, one that my mother told me when I was unsure of where to go in my life. I’d like to share it with you now.” She waited for his interested nod before continuing.
“This is the story of a stone. It was a plain stone, nothing special, but this stone was surrounded by family and friends that clacked together happily at the bottom of a small, gentle creek.” She shifted, lazily moving a paw about in the soft sand she rested in. “This stone could think of no other way that life could get better, and honestly, this stone never expected that his life could get worse.”
“One day there was a huge monsoon. The happy creek, once so gentle and small, now pulsed with monstrous waves. Our little stone friend was whisked away from his family and friends, tossed about on the angry waves that carried him far from home. Soon enough the raging creek ran out of steam and calmed to the soothing and peaceful stream it had been once before, and the stone was surrounded by new stones, ones that were so strange and alien to him.” Coolbreeze gave Jiwekali a look, one full of meaning.
“Despite missing his family of pretty pebbles and rocks, the stone made new friends with those amongst him; these stones had also been carried far from their friends and family during the flooding. Though he missed his old home, his new home was just as wonderful.”
Finished with her short tale, Coolbreeze fell silent again, watching Jiwekali with alert eyes. He knew that this tale was just for him – he was that stone that had lost his friends and family, and he was that stone that would find a new place to call home. It would take some time, and he would never forget his mate and cubs. He’d searched for them until he’d nearly died. He’d done all that he could.
“That is a very thoughtful story, Tuuli,” Jiwekali said. He knew she’d be gone by morning, and he would be on his own once again. He couldn’t beg of her to stay – she’d already done so much for him. She truly was sent to him by the Gods to look after him, and now that he was strong and able, they would whisk her away to take care of others that needed her more than he did.
“Goodnight, Tuuli,” Jiwekali said, watching her carefully. Night had settled over the both of them, and he could barely make out the shape of her resting nearby. He could feel her eyes on him though, and slowly he closed his. Soon enough he was snoring softly, and it was only then that Coolbreeze left.
As she’d promised, she left behind the rest of the salve. A skilled huntress, it didn’t take her long to scare up three small hares. She left them resting aside the salve. After watching him sleep for a long, long moment, Coolbreeze of the Peke Na took her leave. He would do well. He would be fine. There was strength in him that she could recognize, and soon enough he would see it for himself.
When morning came, Jiwekali knew that he would be alone when he opened his eyes. He held off for as long as he could. Sure enough, Coolbreeze was gone. Jiwekali choked back the emotion that clogged his throat. No, he wouldn’t cry. He was the stone in Tuuli’s story. Though he’d been through much turmoil, he’d find peace and happiness once again.
WC: 1,290
