Chapter 2: Improving Circumstances
#3 of Growing Idol
A derivation of a collaborative story between myself and shalion, though I've modified it somewhat.
Several days after her arrival, Sarabi was beginning to question whether many of those cubhood stories she'd heard about humans were entirely accurate. Oh many of them were probably true she was sure, but the way she was being treated now left her thinking that they didn't - indeed couldn't - be all there was, her own situation showed that. Of course they were still worryingly mysterious, but that was something she couldn't, given her condition, do anything about. One thing was for sure though, they seemed determined to help her, and that was something she was willing to accept. However, for all of the care she was receiving, she was still not completely happy, loneliness and homesickness weighed heavily on her usually positive demeanour. This wasn't helped either by the fact that she was being held in this, place, this cave-like structure that was dark, often stuffy and had only a narrow door on the far wall to let in sunlight and sound.
Thus, Sarabi was pleasantly surprised that evening when her melancholic, aimless contemplations were interrupted by a familiar voice, "Sarabi, are you in here?"
"Zazu," Sarabi exclaimed excitedly, then caught herself, continuing more quietly, "yes, yes I'm here."
"That's good," Zazu said, "and how..." stopping when there seemed to be an elevated level of activity outside.
"Quick, get in behind me so they don't see you," Sarabi hissed, which thankfully for her, Zazu did. As an attempt to allay suspicion the than stuck her injured foreleg out a little way and when a couple of humans appeared in the doorway with a burning torch, licked at the foreleg above the bandage. As they drew closer, she worried that they suspected something else, but that didn't seem to be the case so much as the torches weren't bright enough when held at the doorway, so they had to come inside. Fortunately, her display seemed to assuage them, and so they soon left again. When they had gone and the noise outside had died down, she turned behind her and said, "it's safe."
"Well," Zazu said as he emerged, "I have to say, that was most unexpected."
"Yes it was," Sarabi agreed, "of all of the stories I was told about humans in cubhood, not one of them even came close to describing a situation like this."
"Nor have I heard of the like," Zazu replied, "which makes me think that a quick exit is desirable."
"Desirable, yes, but not possible," Sarabi sighed, "I managed to get myself caught in one of their traps, and the injury's pretty bad."
"Oh," Zazu said, "have you any idea how long it's going to take you to recover?"
"Not really," Sarabi replied, "It was a real mess at first, and them they knocked me out with some concoction and I woke up with this, so I don't really have any clue on that score."
"A great pity," Zazu said, "I'd hoped I might be able to take something back to Simba to help him take his mind off the situation, a bit."
"How's he coping," Sarabi asked.
"Not terribly well," Zazu replied, "I'm afraid he rather blames himself for all of this."
"Well there is one thing you can tell him," Sarabi said, "tell him that I'm being well cared for and am hoping my wound will heal up sooner rather than later."
"That might help I suppose," Zazu said thoughtfully, "now I'd better be off."
"Wait, can't you stay a little longer," Sarabi asked, "it's been very lonely here these past few days, I'd really like to have someone to talk to."
"It's getting dark," Zazu replied, "if I don't leave now I probably won't be able to make it back in time."
"Just the one night, please," Sarabi begged, "I'm sure Simba would understand if you explained it."
Zazu considered this for several seconds, before sighing, "very well, but just for the night."
"Thank you," Sarabi replied, "this, this means so much to me."
It was more a sensation than a sound that awoke Sarabi the next morning. Looking over at the door she saw three humans there, with, but the sounds of it, more outside, all looking at her with expressions of what she thought might be awe. This puzzled her, until she remembered, Zazu! Looking down she saw, yes, there was the little hornbill resting peacefully atop her outstretched legs. Well, maybe not for much longer, "Zazu, Zazu wake up."
"Wha'" Zazu said sleepily, cracking his eyes open, they coming fully alert as he realised his surroundings, "oh dear."
"Do you think you can fly out the opening," Sarabi asked, suddenly feeling guilty that she'd asked Zazu to stay, despite the fact that she'd no idea this would happen.
"I'll try," Zazu replied, though he sounded uncertain. Fortunately, luck seemed to be on his side, for as he flew for the door, the humans ducked, giving him sufficient room to roll to pass through the otherwise too-narrow entrance.
"Good luck old friend," Sarabi whispered, and then turned her attention back to the humans, wondering what they would do about this unexpected development.
This was more to her liking, Sarabi had to admit as she settled herself down in her new 'home'. The trek across the village, despite being a very short distance in comparison to the distances she had once travelled daily, was nonetheless arduous for only having three good legs. Unlike her former dwelling that had been dark and enclosed this one was more open and airy, the thick mud walls extended only about half way to the roof, with the upper sections being of a lattice of wooden poles, and even with a handful of openings that certainly let in the light, as well as, she hoped, Zazu. What was more surprising was the meal that was quickly brought, not a stew as she had been given in the days before, but larger lumps of meat in blood-milk, and coated in a sort of paste that, on examination seemed to be honey - a rare delicacy in itself, she's tasted it only a very few times before - and herbs which left a not unpleasant tingling sensation on her tongue. The meal was also larger than once it had been, not mere survival rations this, it was sufficient to leave her feeling pleasantly full, but not uncomfortably so. The change did however leave her wondering precisely what was going on, and why.
Another difference soon became apparent, for instead of being left alone after her meal as she'd expected to be, Sarabi found herself being approached by a human. A female she noted when the human stuck out its-her hand for her to sniff, and young too, she'd have guessed between a year and a year-and-a-half old were she a lion. Her presence was slightly unnerving to the former queen, but to be fair, the female human smelled even more nervous than she was, whispering, no, singing softly to herself presumably to keep herself calm. Sitting down beside her, on her right side, the human pulled out an object and let her sniff at it. The object was made of a set of blunt, thickish, close-set wooden spines bound at the top into a row, though its use she couldn't comprehend initially.
Suddenly, Sarabi felt something sharp on the side of her neck, an attack! However, before she had time to do more than flinch, the sensation moved down her neck, and it didn't seem so sharp now, more rasping, just a little like a tongue, albeit larger. Momentarily the pressure was removed, and then started at the top of her neck again, a little higher, and again, was drawn backwards along the line of her fur. For a few moments she puzzled over this, this obviously wasn't an attack as she'd first supposed, but what was it? A form of grooming? Yes, that must be it she decided as the human continued, this young female human was grooming her. Once she had accepted this, she began to enjoy the grooming, not just for the physical sensation - though that was quite pleasant in itself - but also for the knowledge that that she was...special, at least to these humans.
Sarabi suddenly found herself, well not really awake, but not quite asleep either, "mm?" Somewhere nearby there was a sound, faint but insistent, and focussing on it gradually drew her towards full wakefulness. After a few moments, she gave a big yawn, which dispelled some of her sleepiness, though what did it fully was when she tried to stretch, only to be brought short by an agonising sensation in her right foreleg. Grimacing at the pain, but fully awake now, she finally recognised the sound as a familiar voice, "Zazu, good to see you again,"
"And you m'lady," Zazu replied, "and I have to say, they seem to be treating you much better now."
"Yes, thanks to you," Sarabi replied.
"Thanks to me," Zazu asked, curious, "what makes you say that?"
"Well they only started doing all this after they saw you the last time," Sarabi explained, "oh I suppose it might have been a coincidence, but I suspect something about your presence caused them to reconsider how they were treating me."
"Well whatever it was, I'm glad," Zazu said, "I'm sure Simba will be as well, he was rather, concerned, when I reported back last time."
"I can only imagine," Sarabi replied, "I hope you were able to stop him doing anything rash."
"I wasn't," Zazu replied, "but fortunately Nala was nearby, and she was able to calm him down."
"Good," Sarabi said emphatically.
"Indeed," Zazu said, obviously confused.
"What I meant was, I'm glad to hear she's coping so well," Sarabi smiled as she explained, "I had full confidence in her of course, but it's still nice to know that confidence wasn't misplaced."
"Ah," Zazu said, "well I'm sure she'll appreciate the sentiment when I tell her, if you want me to tell her that is."
"Please do tell her," Sarabi replied.
There followed several moments silence, before Zazu asked, "would you like me to stay again tonight?"
"Well I'd certainly like that," Sarabi replied, "but if you want to leave, I won't try to hold you back."
"Indeed," Zazu said, "well your mood seems to have improved, even if your foreleg hasn't."
"Well circumstances are different now," Sarabi replied, "before, I was afraid that even if I did manage to escape, that I'd never be able to find the Pridelands again, but now..."
"I see your point," Zazu said, "and I'll leave shortly, because even if these humans are being friendly to you, I still don't fancy them seeing me."
"Well I can't fault you there," Sarabi said, "but you'll return regularly?"
"Every few days if I can," Zazu replied, then flew up to the window, "farewell."
"Good bye," Sarabi said, "you will tell Nala what I said?"
"I will," Zazu replied, and then left. Would he have stayed if she's insisted, she wondered, suddenly feeling lonely. No, she told herself, oh he might have stayed, but it would have been selfish of her to try to keep him there when he clearly felt uncomfortable.