“And in return?”

“I have a real audience. I’ve had no one to talk to but myself for many long weeks. I’ve lost track of the time.”

Kubali nodded, then looked over at Elanna. She nodded back at him and smiled shyly.

“Very well. Behave yourself and you may travel with us.”

CHAPTER: THE STARS

Gamu managed to steal a few moments from his new companions to visit Griz’nik in the reeds. The hyena had brought him a rabbit, and Gamu nodded silently, gave him a pat on the shoulder, and took the carcass a short distance. He rolled it in the fragrant leaves of a Corbynanthus and then licked the wound on the neck, chewing it a bit to fully disguise the hyena scent and toothmarks. He brought it back to where Kubali and Elanna sat. By their sudden silence, it was clear they were talking about him, but unfazed, Gamu sat the rabbit in front of Elanna. “For you, my vision of lovliness. Have you made your decision yet?”

“My decision??” Elanna looked at him puzzled.

“Oh come now, I didn’t mean to hint around at anything naughty. I meant to come straight to the point. On the one paw, Kubali is dependable, reliable, and is saddled with a strong moral character. Not that I hold any of that against him....”

Elanna laughed. “Oh, Gamu! You are such a wit!”

Kubali grumbled. “At least she’s half right.”

Gamu sneered. “Come now, Kubali. Would you stand in the way of true love?”

“No. And I hope the one of you will be very happy together.”

Gamu laughed. “Why Kubali, you’ve acquired a sense of humor!” He looked over at Elanna and winked. “Well, how about it? Do you want the perfect marriage or some real fun?”

Elanna shoved him with a paw. “You wicked lion! If you must know, I haven’t given the matter a lot of thought.”

Gamu smiled innocently. “Insects don’t give the matter a lot of thought. That’s why there are so many of them.”

“Her husband is dead,” Kubali said, a bit ruffled. “Have a little respect.”

Gamu’s face fell. “Oh my gods! That’s my problem. I had a little respect when I should have had a lot.” Gamu nuzzled Elanna tenderly. “I meant no offense. No doubt he must have had many bitter rivals for your affection.”

“It’s OK,” Elanna said, nuzzling him back. “I’m not offended. I know you meant it all in fun.”

“Of course, my dear. Of course.”

Gamu was better than his word. He proved to be an intelligent, polite, and charming companion. That night when the stars winked in, he astounded Elanna with stories even she had not heard; Maku the Hunter, Ari and Kuzima, and the Love of the Evening Star. When Gamu spoke in his rich, well-cadenced voice, even the most improbable of tales sounded as firm as the stone, and as warm as a nuzzle. He touched her emotions with tales of great kings and epic struggles in long ago days.

Through it all, Kubali sat there jealous and uncomfortable. His own knowledge of star lore was adequate, but no match for Elanna, much less Gamu. And rather than learning something from it all, he merely tolerated it as best as he could.

Gamu saw the sullen look on Kubali’s face, and to avoid offending his host he left the admiring Elanna to contemplate all that she had heard and caught up on events with Kubali. Gamu listened to Kubali’s story, and in return he told Kubali a great many things. Only he did not mention the hyena Griz’nik or the plans Gamu made with him.

CHAPTER: THAT CERTAIN TIME

Elanna had been married to Taka for three years. During that time certain habits had become ingrained in her that were difficult to break. Kubali lay asleep, but Elanna lay wakeful, watching the smooth rise and fall of his chest. She kept her vigil faithfully, and at the first sign of dreams--twitching paws and limbs, she shook him. “Wake up, Honey Tree! It’s all right! Lannie is here!”

“Huh?? What’s wrong??” He looked around. “What time is it??”

“About midmoon. You were having another nightmare. I couldn’t stand to see you in torment like that. Let your Lannie make it all better.” She began to paw him, stroking his mane and pushing him gently from side to side. “Feel the tension roll away, my dear.”

He looked at her askance. “I was hunting gazelles. Just about had one too.”

“You weren’t having nightmares??”

“No. I almost never do.” He yawned. “Hey, if you don’t mind, let’s finish this talk in the morning, OK?”

“Sure.” Elanna’s ears flattened in consternation as she watched him begin dozing again almost immediately. She lay her own head upon her forepaws and watched him surreptitiously, waiting for his limbs to jerk and yank him upright as he howled his torment from the nightmares. Absently she gazed at his side, watching his ribs rise and fall with the gentle tides of his breath. Easing forward, she rolled sideways until her back touched his, assuring herself that any sudden movements on his part would alert her in time. Relaxing slowly, she lay her head down, feeling a faint rumble-purr from him at the contact. The sound lulled her gently down, and she let herself drift away, daring to wonder if she might sleep through the night once again without awaking to a scream.

Her eyes opened to the pleasant sounds of morning, the twitter of birds beginning to fill the air as the sky reddened in the east. Jerking upright, she looked around to see Kubali washing his face, rubbing his paw busily over his muzzle and mane as he lay a few feet away. He noticed her staring and stopped, smiling at her. “Good morning.”

“Uh, good morning.” Elanna looked at him carefully. “Are you all right?”

“Fine.” Kubali frowned. “Shouldn’t I be?”

“Oh, uh, of course.” Elanna lashed her tail and sat upright. “Excuse me...I need to go get something to drink.”

Kubali nodded and watched as she padded quickly away through the brush, heading towards the small pond they had passed the previous evening. Footfalls sounded in his ear and he glanced over to see Gamu plodding slowly toward him, yawning hugely. The lion paused and crouched slightly, lowering his chest and splaying his forelegs, claws extending with the effort as he stretched contentedly. Emitting a self-satisfied grunt, he arose again and meandered over to Kubali.

“Quiet one, that,” he said, motioning to the lioness who was lapping at the water’s edge some distance away.

Kubali hummed thoughtfully. “And a strange one, too...do you know she woke me out of a sound sleep last night, rocking me like a cub?”

Gamu’s ears rose upright. “Oh? Whatever for?”

Kubali shrugged with a flick of his tail. “Aiheu knows...I was dreaming of gazelle. She nearly rolled me over trying to get me to wake up, going on about ‘my torment.’” The lion peered after Elanna, who had finished her drink and was watching the marsh birds flitting about, screeching angrily at each other.

Gamu’s eyes sharpened as he stared at the back of Kubali’s head. “What did she say?”

“Something about me having another nightmare...and she was trying to ease my tension.” Kubali glanced back at Gamu. “Have you ever heard such things?”

Gamu quickly lowered his gaze, his expression carefully neutral. “Only from mothers soothing their cubs...I daresay it’s nothing, my friend.” He smiled ingratiatingly. “She was probably half-asleep herself and dreaming of cubs.”

Kubali nodded absently, his gaze returning to the lioness who was making her way back towards them. “You’re probably right.”

“I always am.” Gamu grinned oddly. “Excuse me.”

As the following days progressed, Elanna began to show the outward signs of a lioness entering her receptive period, and Kubali accepted Gamu’s idea that her idiosyncrasies were just another symptom of that special time which all lionesses experience when their bodies yearn for cubs. Eventually the subtleties grew more and more obvious, and the two males spent their days pacing agitatedly about, growing snappish and irritable.