The sky was blood orange that evening as Sanka hauled a Wildebeest's head back to her dwelling place. She'd recently taken up "residence" in a small grove of acacia trees and kopjes near the river. It had been a few days since Sanka had first met her new leopard friend, Tuli, and she was bringing him her meal to share.

Funny, she thought, that her first real new friend was both a male and a non-lion. She was still having some difficulty getting past the concept.

Red eyes narrowing in thought, the lioness picked up her pace and weaved through a few kopjes until she spotted Tuli. Smiling for reasons she couldn't figure, the female trotted towards him and dropped the Wildebeest's head.


The sight of Sanka approaching through the long grasses only reminded Tuli of how he didn't get a wink of sleep the night before. The two new "friends", if they could break all tabboos and call one another that, had taken up the practice of sharing meals and even territory. They conversed regularly, and had even slept within close range of one another a few times--including last night.

Tuli watched the wildebeest's head roll in the grass, and his stomach turned. Surprisingly, he wasn't very hungry.

"Wow," Tuli remarked to interrupt his own thoughts, "that's a big one. Did you take it down all by yourself?" He realized only after he spoke that he sounded a bit condescending.


Picking up on the unexpected manner in which Tuli spoke, Sanka's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared.

How dare he ask her that question? Didn't he think she was capable of bringing down an entire Wildebeest by herself? Didn't he think she was a capable huntress? Didn't he think she was strong? Didn't he think she could do well all by herself, without the help of a pride?

"...No," Sanka said sharply, "I--stole it from a few hyenas," she stammered, her stance prideful in spite of her words. Turning away stiffly, the female made her way toward the kopjes.


Tuli stared, mouth agape and ears flattened. After a few moments of watching the lioness walk off, he began to laugh. Then he promptly threw himself down on top of the Wildebeest's face and began to fill his stomach, feeling hungry again.

Strange lioness, he thought, licking blood from his lips. He glanced casually over his shoulder to catch a quick glimpse of her. She was reclining full-out on a shady portion of a kopje, eyes closed.

Stomach turning, the leopard looked back at his meal and grimaced.


Stupid leopard, Sanka thought to herself. She didn't know why she kept his company. It was peculiar that she had left a pride of all female lionesses only to begin hanging out with a leopard, and a male at that. It was true that she had always been a less-than-girly lioness, but was that really an excuse to find friendship in a male rather than a female?

Hmph, maybe she should just leave him if he was going to act all snooty? Gods almighty...she had spent quite a bit of time stealing that head away from those hyenas, and he had the nerve to comment about how she ended up with it? The absolute nerve!

Casting a quick look over her shoulder, the lioness caught sight of the leopard making a disgusted expression at his gifted meal. Eyes widening in offense, the lioness rose to her feet and spun around.

"Is there a problem with your meal, oh great snooty one?!"


The sound of claws scraping rock sent Tuli's hairs standing on end, and his head whipped around just in time to see Sanka shooting glares into his eyes. He swallowed.

"No, no..." he said quietly, clearing his throat. "NO," he said louder, still trying to break his habit of being so quiet all the time. It was difficult being so quiet when one took up the company of someone who could be quite loud and bold.

"I was just thinking--not about the--this," he said, gesturing to the head. His heart was racing and he felt like a moron. "I'm fine with this, see?" he assured her, ripping eagerly into the dead animal's neck meats. He looked back at Sanka, flesh and blood dangling from his jaw.


Sanka's face had grown sullen as she watched the leopard's demonstration. She glanced at the head, then back at Tuli, turned around and reclined once more on the kopje.

Maybe he was a liar? Maybe he didn't like Wildebeest or something? ...WAIT, he was a leopard--did leopards like Wildebeests? Maybe he was more picky and only liked a few types of food? Ughhh, of course, she was so stupid! Lions liked all kinds of things, but what about a leopard? She had never really gotten to know one so personally before. Sure, some had been in the pride she left, but she never really paid much attention to those outside of her immediate family and friends.

Teeth clenching in self-pointed frustration, the lioness turned over onto her other side and scratched her claws absentmindedly against the stone she was lying on, looking grumpy. Closing her eyes once more, Sanka attempted to relax again.


Tuli swallowed his mouthful of Wildebeest with hesitance, failing at first to get it down. For whatever reason, his innards were angry with him and didn't wish to be fed--at all. In fact, they desired that he vomit instead. But Tuli knew he could hold that back if he put his mind to it. He was sick, he guessed...but he'd never been sick in his life.

Smearing blood off his lips with his paw, the leopard glanced back at Sanka for whatever reason, only to find her flipped over and slicing gently at the kopje.

He wondered why she was doing that, and he also wondered what she would do if he just...didn't eat anymore. Maybe she'd believe him if he told her leopards had, uhh...small stomachs? No, she'd never trade into that--he'd proven his stomach could hold a lot of food a few nights prior when they had shared a meal together.

Swallowing the remaining essence of Wildebeest in his mouth, the leopard rose to his feet and made his way to the kopje.


Ears swiveling at the sound of pawsteps, but eyes still closed, Sanka pulled into herself a little to make room on the area of kopje she was lying on. She had a feeling that Tuli wanted to lie in close proximity to her, and for whatever reason Sanka didn't mind being obliging to that want.

The lion and leopard found one another's presence to be somewhat calming, so Sanka didn't mind him invading her personal space. He was the only exception to this rule, however, even when she was feeling sour because of him.

Judging by the strong scent of Wildebeest, Sanka figured he hadn't finished his meal. He had been acting strange, but she wasn't one to comment on another's personal feelings. If he wanted to talk about it, he would. For now, she would let him be, and she would sleep.


Upon seeing the silent invitation to lie beside Sanka on the kopje, Tuli climbed upon the rock and made himself comfortable--well, as comfortable as he could get beside the lioness. Lately, she had been making him feel uncomfortable.

Sighing silently, as to not disturb his "friend", Tuli watched the back of the lioness's head, wondering what she was thinking about. He made sure there was a good portion of space between them, as he knew the lioness didn't like to be touched--not even a single claw was near her back.

Swallowing down his sickening feelings, the leopard closed his eyes and willed himself to sleep--or at least relax--lulled into calmness by Sanka's scent.