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Chapter 2

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The lioness's paws slid over the dirt as she tried to gain as much traction as the dusty surface would give her. She was sprinting; adrenaline pumping through her body as she closed in with the rest of the huntresses on the gazelle that would be their meal for the next few days.

As the lionesses surrounded the beast on both flanks, Neema pulled ahead of her huntresses to go in for the kill. Despite the extra flesh that quivered on her sides as she ran alongside the gazelle, she kept pace effortlessly, and with a manoeuvre that favoured her excess bulk she jumped on the frantic gazelle and tackled it to the ground.

It took a few hours to drag the carcass back to the den, but it was always worth it to keep their spoils safely within the confines of the den, to deter any potential scavengers. It was traditional for the lions of the Sadaka pride to eat around the pool at the base of their den. Shaded from the intense sun, and with a supply of water during the rainy seasons that saved a parched lion from walking far from their meal, it had always been the favoured place to it.

Presently the pool at the base of their den was nothing more than a dried-up depression in the earth, but they left the carcass there as a habit.

Kali tucked into her prize with enthusiasm. She hadn't eaten in a few days and was quick to take her fill. With a full belly, she made her way to her favourite spot in the sun and lay on her back, basking in the mild evening warmth.

Someone whispered to Kali, 'Hey, wake up.'

She woke up groggily and felt dazed. It was starting to get dark; a few stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky above her.

Suddenly she became aware of the lion standing over her and looked around quickly to make sure that nobody else was present. 'What are you doing here?'

Sikio grinned cheekily, but Kali was feeling irritable. 'You shouldn't be here, if someone sees you they'll drive you away!'

'Are you going to drive me away?'

'Not if you don't cause any trouble I won't, though I can't make that promise for anyone else.'

Sikio looked left, and he looked right. 'I don't see anyone here but you and me.'

'Don't you get any ideas.' She warned.

'I wouldn't dream of it. I came here to see another, your friend.'

She felt a bit huffed, for a moment she thought that he had come to see her. 'Utani?'

'Yes. Could you point me in the right direction?'

'She... Can't be far from where you met us at the river, Utani scouts as this time of night.'

Kali tried to swallow her words, why was she telling a stranger where her friend was? He could try to attack her or worse.

'Thanks. I didn't catch your name?'

'Kali.' Kali Responded.

It all came too easily. She shouldn't have been giving away information about her pride to a stranger, but she found herself too fascinated by him to think straight. A lion should be strong and lean - at least that was the traditional notion - but here was Sikio; plush and overfed, and she found him far more alluring than the likes of Shamba. Despite this softness, he was dark and handsome, with deep brown fur that almost looked black in the dim light. He was certainly easy on the eyes, but it was not his natural features that she was finding herself attracted to.

She realised that she was staring, but he didn't seem to notice. 'Nice to meet you, Kali.'

Kali was starting to feel hot under her fur, 'Urm, nice to meet you to.'

He gave one last smile, his sapphire blue eyes twinkling against the light of the setting sun, and slipped away from the den.

Footsteps padded up behind Kali, 'Who were you talking to?'

She nearly jumped out of her fur, a large and powerfully built lion was overlooking her with a stern, kingly stare. Neema would berate her if she found out that she had been taken by surprise twice in only a few days, perhaps her senses were dulling. 'No one, sire.'

'It's not like you to let someone sneak up on you like that.'

'No, it isn't at all.' She agreed.

*

Utani had settled herself down for the night, but Kali couldn't wait until morning. She poked at her friend's fleshy flank.

She rolled over sleepily, 'What is it?'

'Did he find you?'

'What do you mean, did who find me?'

'Sikio, did he find you?'

'Who is Sikio?'

Kali leant in closely so no one else would hear, 'You know, Sikio, from the river.'

'Oh!' Kali made shushing motions and Utani spoke more softly, 'I haven't seen him since the other day.'

'But he said he wanted to see you, where were you today?'

'I was out in the savanna with mother, she wanted to teach some hunting things again. I've told her that it is pointless, but she still...'

Kali interrupted, 'I told him you would be at the river where we met him the first time. He wanted to talk to you!'

'You told a rogue male where I was?'

'I know, but he doesn't exactly seem like the dangerous type, does he?'

'You never know with rogues!'

'I'm sorry.' Kali said with sincerity, she hadn't meant to just give away her friend's whereabouts, it had just slipped out without a thought.

'It's okay, besides I can handle myself. Do you know what he wanted?'

'I think he has a crush on you.'

Utani scrunched up her face. 'If you see him again, tell him I'm not remotely interested.'

'He is kind of handsome though...'

'He's not my type Kali.'

'I just kind of thought that you would be, I could kind of see the two of you together.'

'Because I'm fat?'

Kali paused, 'I didn't say that.'

'You were thinking it though.' She said with a frown.

'You always said that it didn't bother you, why is it bothering you now?'

'I have accepted who I am Kali, but that doesn't mean that I have to find a male who happens to be fat attractive.'

'I suppose not.'

'Why does he want to bother me anyway, you are a far better catch.'

Kali felt vain for thinking it, but she had been feeling jealous that Sikio had only shown an interest in her friend all day. She was used to Shamba and the wandering males who came and went obsessing over her, but the one time she wanted to return some affection, she was ignored, and it didn't seem fair.

'Obviously, you are the better catch this time.' She said out of guilt.

'Oh, don't worry he's all yours.'

Kali toyed with the notion of admitting her attraction to him, 'Maybe he can settle for second best.'

'You like him!'

'Maybe I do, he's interesting.'

'I'd say he's no more interesting than any other male that wanders out of the lands beyond. The only difference is that he likes me instead of you this time!' She stuck her tongue out at Kali.

Kali pulled a face back at her.

'Maybe he has a thing for plumper lionesses.' Her friend said.

'Or maybe you are just more attractive than you think you are.'

Kali settled down next to her friend, ready for sleep. Maybe he does like plumper lionesses, she pondered. Her last thoughts as she slipped off to sleep were of Sikio, and his own plump features. Maybe I like plumper lions.