After being shown to her quarters, the pseudo slave No was finding little difficulty settling herself in. It was bleak and somewhat inhospitable- but quiet. Occasionally she managed to glance at some slaves passing by as night set in; but as of yet, she hadn’t gotten any to speak with her. She’d be cautious about it. Right now, there wasn’t much danger for either her or Kidondo. She’d manage herself carefully until word began to sink in. She’d need the slaves, that was for certain. Surely they would be on her side? None of them could have Stockholm syndrome so bad that they wouldn’t seek freedom, could they? She snorted and shifted her shoulders. Time would reveal her allies.

But with night setting in, the black lioness was finding herself pulled into the shadows. A land that had once been so bathed in gold and made her coat shine like black tar now covered her in a dark cloak of near invisibility, particularly in the crags. There was no need to stray far- she’d be checking up with Kidondo soon as midnight fell. But for now...


Elsewhere, Kaanga was daydreaming. Or- simply dreaming. Either way, she was still wide awake despite her delusions, and pleasantly shifting her feet as she considered ways to invite herself back up to Uzulu’s den. She was running out of good ideas presently- and it was troubling her. She couldn’t seem too needy. But hell- she was needy. The white lioness rolled herself over and peered at her paws. The pink pads looked dainty in the shadows, and she licked them once as an afterthought.

Approaching darkness. She thought quietly and nonsensically, and her ears lifted forwards. Just as she had- she caught the faint sounds of a creature padfooting about in the darkness. She stilled, but otherwise made no motion to seem upset or distressed over this. Was it Uzulu? But no- she’d had a dream about this. She only seemed to remember her dreams when they played out in front of her- who was this one?

No, No; the dream lion said. The real lion had yet said nothing. Strange name, Kaanga thought in her disjointed thoughts.

“Hello,” The soft voice called, and from her rocky perch, the white lioness rose.

No paused, and turned towards the other lioness just in time to realize she was reacting wrong. Even as she turned she lowered herself as if she was more surprised then she was. A slave got spooked- they did not stand their ground. “Oh!” No mouthed in a rehearsed manner. “I am sorry my lady,” The black cat pooled. “I wasn’t aware anyone was around.”

Kaanga giggled softly and scrambled off the rocks. A slave! She had thought she was a firekin in the dark. But now that she was closer- Kaanga realized she was taller then this female. It was an odd occurrence in a world where Kaanga was used to being the baby. She rubbed her paw beneath her chin and smiled. “No, no. It’s alright. I’m Kaanga, slave-kind. I haven’t seen you before.”

No bowed her head with a slight glint in her eye, and shook. “I arrived this morning with your prince.”

“Kidondo?” Kaanga burst. “He’s back?”

For a moment, No twitched her ear. What was this? A twinge of jealousy? The unabashed way in which this white lioness had spoken Kidondo’s name seemed to imply they knew each other rather well. No supposed she shouldn’t be surprised. She’d have to compete with the firekin women on more grounds then just aiding in this rebellion. “He is. I am his personal slave, No.”

“No what?” Kaanga chirped.

“No, no. That’s my name. No.” No paused.

“No-No~” Kaanga purred. “I dreamed about that. Lioness with a strange name. She smiles but she doesn’t mean it. Kaanga always smiles like she means it.”

No pursed her lips, and decided that the best course of action wouldn’t be to persue it. She wasn’t about to start an argument. “I’m sorry you think that, my lady.”

“It’s alright.” Kaanga whispered. “I think not a lot of people smile the way they mean it. You know? Like daddy. Sometimes he doesn’t smile when he means it. You know?”

No frowned. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand.”

Kaanga shook her head. “It’s alright. No- oh, hee. No. I like that name. I know No.” She played, and cautiously padded around her. “My brother’s slave! We shall be friends then!”

No was a bit struck by two slaps, a bit perplexed as to how to respond to such a comment- and ended up dismissing it for realizing that she was speaking to Kidondo’s sister. He’d never mentioned much about his brothers and sisters, although she’d known he must have had them. Did that mean some of them- [ all of them? ] were loyal to him? Or to their father? “I don’t think that’s possible, Miss.” No spoke slowly, her green eyes shifting. “I do what I’m told.”

“No, she doesn’t.” Kaanga remarked almost to herself. “She smiles, but she doesn’t really mean it. It’s okay, actually. Kaanga doesn’t have many friends. But Uzulu! He is Kaanga’s friend. Do you know Uzulu?”

No frowned and flattened her ears. “No, I don’t know-“

”He came recently too, like you. From the jungle! Have you ever seen a jungle?”

“No, I haven’t Miss-“

”Really?” She sighed in exaggeration. “I was hoping you could tell me about them. I don’t like being stupid. I know people think Kaanga is the dumb one, because Kaanga always smiles like she means it. But she’s not, you know. She likes to know.”

No didn’t respond, and decided to sit down. It was alright, because Kaanga continued on without the need of a response.

“I think-“ She started. “Someday I would like to travel, so I can have stories to tell to. You know? I had a friend once- Khepri. She left to find a way to fix the people who spoke in her head, and I have not seen her since. Brother left too- Sister....and other sister, too actually. Kaanga stays, because I always stay. But when everyone comes back, it will be Kaanga’s turn to go.” She nodded her head. “Maybe...no. Maybe Kaanga will always stay. Sometimes that’s how it goes?”

No closed her eyes as if to consider the garble, and finally decided: “Sometimes, my lady. But, I’m sure your family is glad you are so devoted to your lands.”

Kaanga looked up at the night sky, and leaned to the left. “Sometimes, I wonder.”