"But, Grandma!" the little white cub squealed at the retreating back of the red lioness. Eli didn't turn around. Didn't even flick an ear in the direction of the sound as she marched away, her shoulders set angrily. She didn't want to listen to what Aolani had to say. She just wanted Aolani to obey her and stay put. Probably forever.
So Aolani gave up calling to her and slumped down on her belly, all her limbs spread out around her, her chin sitting on the hard ground. How could she make her grandmother listen to her? Anastasiya wasn't a bad hyena. Maybe bad hyena existed in the world. Maybe her grandmother had met nothing but bad hyena. The one she knew wasn't one of them.
"What did you do to anger her so badly?"
Aolani recoiled a little at the voice. She'd forgotten in her misery that her aunts were nearby, set up to watch over her while the other lionesses hunted. Malia wasn't even all that much older than her. Part of her grandmother's last litter, while her own mother was from the second. Aolani didn't think she should have so much authority over her. Not like the older aunts. Not like Hokulani, from the same litter as her mother. Hokulani was much older, born during the time the family lived in the Sikukuu.
Being in a pride sounded awful to the cub. So many lions always around you, all the time. Responsibilities and duties. How did anyone get any time to themselves? How did anyone think?
"None of your business," Aolani answered, rolling over onto her side, her back to her adolescent aunt. From her vantage point, she could see Hokulani, the tiniest smile on her lips that she quickly erased before anyone saw. Also one of the reasons she respected this aunt more. At least she knew how to have fun.
At least Hoku really hoped no one had noticed the smile that had graced her lips for just a moment. From where she lay on Aolani's other side, she had a clear view of the sputtering expression that had crossed her half-sister's face. Malia was always far too serious, but when she got mad, it was downright hilarious.
"You know that's not very nice, Aolani," she corrected her niece, trying to do her best to discipline the mischievous little cub. She was always getting into trouble, this one. Which of course wasn't strange for a cub. Weren't they always doing something or another that they shouldn't? Testing their limits with the adults .Well. Not her. She'd always been a bit of a momma's girl. Following Eli around and always trying to be just like her mother.
Nothing really changed now that they were out on their own.
"You're still too young for exploring."
Aolani sighed and rolled over, again. This time on her back, staring at the clouds slowly floating by overhead. It wasn't that she was trying to make everyone mad at her. She just wanted some peace and quiet. A large family was exhausting to be around. Why didn't anyone else seem to think that way? Why did everyone always want her to stay right in the middle of them? She could take care of herself. And besides, Anastasiya would help keep her safe. Not that anyone would believe her.
"But it's fine," she said softly.
"No, it's not. Why do you just not understand?" The roguelands were dangerous. It wasn't like Aolani had been born within the safety of a pride. Malia had been born out here, too, and she understood what was waiting for her out here if she strayed too far from her family. Aolani had been lucky so far. So lucky. If there was a God of Luck out there, they were surely watching over her very closely. The roguelands scared her. Why didn't they scare her little niece, the most vulnerable of them all?
"Fine..." Not really listening anymore, Aolani reached up towards the sky with her paws, flexing her toes as if she expected to catch the drifting clouds. She could hear sighs from both her aunts, almost synchronized on either side of her.
The silence was nice. No more whining or arguing from Aolani was always a treat. Though Malia knew she wasn't giving up. Aolani was far too stubborn to give in that easily. She wondered what the cub would try next in order to defy them? Sneak away at night? They'd obviously need to put up a night guard. She'd never tried to sneak away at night before, but now that she was being home-locked more than ever, she might get desperate.
Malia opened her mouth to say as much, to tell Aolani not to even try it. At the last second she noticed Hokulani making motions with her head and looked up, locking eyes with the older lioness. Her sister shook her head, so Malia closed her mouth without saying anything. Saying something, anything, might set Aolani off, again. Knowing when to stay quiet sometimes was the only thing you could do with a cub like this. Scolding and telling her no only seemed to burn the fire deep within her to do the opposite.
Soon the hunting party returned, dragging with them pieces of a large buffalo. The hunters always got first pick, than divided the kill up afterwards so it was easier to carry back. Hokulani saw many legs being returned and a few smaller prey to help feed the cubs bellies. The juicy bits of the carcass would always go to the ones who had helped bring it down, so any part of the torso would be long gone by now. A bit disappointing, as those were always the best parts. But a fair system. It would be her turn to help next, after all. And than she would be able to choose what she wanted from the kill.
The blue lioness watched as her mother approached Aolani and dropped the bottom half of a rabbit at her feet, before turning her back on the cub and walking away.
----------
1019 Words