Elanna discovered to her great surprise that the other lionesses gave way before her and offered her the deference they paid the queen herself. The look in Ujuzi’s face was not exactly angry but it was not approving either.
“You know,” Ujuzi said, her mouth full of meat, “I think wildebeest is good for one’s constitution. I mean it stimulates one’s enduring if properly mitigated with other circumstances.”
Elanna looked up quizzically. Wehu’s face was pained.
“I’m so glad you invited me in,” Elanna said.
“My husband invited you in,” Ujuzi said.
“Still, now that I’m here, I think we can be real friends. You have a delightful daughter.”
Ujuzi pulled off another large hunk of meat and minced it. In words clogged with meat and humors, she said, “That Wehu’s a good’un. Just like her Poppa. Yes ma’am, a real first class act.”
The next few days for Elanna were touch and go for her. She seemed to be accepted by most of the members of the pride. Even the cubs had come to call her ‘Auntie Lannie’. The cubs flocking around her made her very happy. For the first time, she felt that she could play or tell stories to the young ones without getting bad looks from their mothers. Even Darky, although a young lioness, would often stop and listen to her musings.
Most of the lionesses were very kind and trusting to her, especially Wehu. Wehu had been taking her off to the side during the day and showing her the lands, often to the sighs of the cubs that were gathered around her. Slowly, Elanna felt that she was learning the skills she would need to hunt in the group again. She had enjoyed spending the hunting time with the cubs, getting to know them better, but she was anxious to get in some hunts.
CHAPTER: THE SIGNAL
Elanna finally got her chance to hunt with her new pride. Memories came flooding back to her of the few good hunts she’d had with her old pride. There was a time she had enjoyed the title of lioness while her sister the queen reveled in Mufasa’s love, and poor Simba enjoyed the ignorance of youth. Sarabi, lithe and lovely would stride through the golden grass beside her as Uzuri forged a path across the trackless savanna. For the longest time it had seemed like a distant dream rather than a memory. Now it was clear and sharp once more.
The group closed in on some gazelles that were grazing in a clearing. Elanna’s pulses pounded, and her breath came and went in restless tides. She felt so alive, so aware! The moment of fate was approaching, and her prey would either live or die.
Then Elanna saw what looked like the signal to cut off escape and she joyously lunged forward. Behind her came shouts of, “No! Stop!”
But surely she had read a tail wave from the hunt mistress! Could it mean something different here? The realization made her stomach knot tightly. Rather than cutting off escape, her gaffe only spooked the gazelles who ran like an opening blossom of tan across the grassland.
The lionesses looked upset at her move...but understanding as it was her first hunt with the new pride. It wasn’t until she heard the queen yell, “Damn,” Did she feel the blood rush to her face in embarrassment of her move.
The lionesses of the pride came up to her and nuzzled her gently, each telling her that it was all right. Wehu was embarrassed. “I should have gone over our signals with you. I’m so sorry!”
“It’s my fault, Wehu. I should have asked.”
Elanna understood, though, that she would be cub-setting again for a while. The queen went up to her and scowled, “Damn honey...I know you are new here, but that was downright stupid of you to go charging in on the alert signal.”
“But Ujuzi, ma’am, in our old pride that was the signal for cut off escape....”
The Queen just snorted at her. “Maybe it still does. You’d be of some use there.”
“Please, Ujuzi, forgive me! It was an innocent mistake, I swear! I’m a good huntress--really I am!”
“Well dearie, why don’t you go over your signals while you cub set for a while longer. And remember Hon, you will be sitting the cubs...NOT my husband.” The lionesses looked with shock at the queen as she disappeared over the ridge.
Wehu sighed and gave chase to her mother. Finally catching up with her, “Mother! Please! Give her more chance! She is almost having to learn to hunt again. It isn’t easy for her, and besides, what she did wasn’t any worse than that miss you made with the wildebeest.”
“Damn it, that wasn’t the same! Not at all!”
“Whatever you say, Mom.” She looked at her with a sigh. “And could you PLEASE tone down your language a bit?”
Ujuzi turned quickly, her eyes full of rage. “What...am I not good enough for the little princess now? I will not sit here and suckle that overgrown cub, while we grow thin enough to catch gophers in their holes. Not only do we have another mouth to feed in the pride...but here she goes and ruins our hunt so we have NO food. If she doesn’t start getting her butt in gear, dear...I’ll throw her out on hers...understand? My responsibilities is to this pride...not to some deposed queen that has fallen on some bad times.” With that, she walked away, leaving Wehu in shock.
Latter that night, the pride had bedded down. The cubs were against their mother, enjoying their warmth, giving Elanna a breather from what seemed like constant story telling. Mabongo noticed Elanna alone and moved to lie down next to her. “I heard about what happened earlier”
Elanna looked up to him, “I’m really sorry...I just got my signs messed up.”
Mabongo chuckled, “It’s all right. I remember what it was like when I started hunting, and when my daughter, then my granddaughter did. It’s not an easy thing you do, and I’m grateful to have such a fine group.”
Elanna smiled softly, “It won’t happen again...I promise.” She looked around uneasily. “Where is the queen?”
He shook his head, “She probably off moping somewhere...she does that when she is in a foul mood. I hear she didn’t take your mistake too lightly.” He chuckled softly, “I’m actually kinda happy she is gone...she can be such a pain when she is in a bad mood.” He nuzzled her softly and smiled. “I know the cubs ragged on you all day, but I would love to hear one of your stories.”
Elanna smiled gracefully and began telling him more about Taka, grateful that she had found her place.
CHAPTER: AFTERMATH
The next night, the huntresses walked slowly through the grasses. The queen had taken her usual spot in the front of the group. Wehu, Kiesi, Tetesi, and Darky were a few paces behind her. They had a way to travel, so the four were talking quietly amongst themselves. This was the first hunt since Elanna had made her mistake, so talk ran to the newcomer.
“I think she is rather kind,” Kiesi noted.
“She’s a lot more cultured than our queen is,” Tetesi added in a hushed voice. She could feel Wehu’s gaze fall on her but she continued. “Can you believe how she speaks? I never heard such words come out of Ujuzi...I think it’s rather nice to have someone here that can act noble. Still....” She paused, unsure how to express herself. “It is intimidating trying to talk with her. I’m afraid I’m going to say something stupid. Not that she would ever let it show. She’s not that type.”
“Have you heard some of her stories?” Darky jumped in. “It makes me wish I was a cub again so I could stay with her and not miss any.”
“I almost wish that she was our queen,” Kiesi added in quickly. The other three lionesses stopped and looked at her. She continued in a hushed voice. “Well...how many queens you know go around acting like ours? Not that I don’t like her...but sometimes...she just doesn’t act like a queen.”
“Be careful what you say...she is my mother.”