Kiesi was the first lioness to approach Elanna and make conversation. “I hope you’ll be happy with us. I was just noticing--I mean--my Aunt had a ubruki nose too. You’re very pretty.”
      “So are you, Kiesi. You are, Kiesi, aren’t you?”
      “Yes ma’am,” the lioness said shyly.
      “You don’t have to ma’am me,” Elanna said, nuzzling her. “Just call me Lannie.” She looked at the two cubs that drew near to her and rubbed against her legs. “That goes for you too, Inwiena. Hello, Ibura.”
      “I’m Ibura. She’s Inwiena.”
      Elanna laughed prettily. “Give me time! I’ll get it right.”
      Tetesi came up. “Honey Tree, I hope you know star lore. I’ve run out of stories.”
      “I love star stories,” Elanna said. “Meholo and Darzee, the Brothers of Marabo, the Seventh Trail....”
      “Oh thank the gods! I’m telling you, Hon, you just might know enough to keep Asuri busy for a week. I warn you, he’s like dry earth--he’ll soak up whatever you give him and come back for more. And always ‘why.’ Why this and why that!”
      “I’m so glad!” Elanna could tell by the shy grin which one was Asuri and she nuzzled him warmly till he giggled. “We’re going to get along just fine.”
      Gamaiusi, an adolescent lioness, came up and said, “Star lore? Do you mind if I listen in too?”
      “Sure, Honey Tree! Your mother is welcome too.”
      Wehu smiled broadly. “I’ll take you up on that. But we’ll also cover the lands too. You need to learn this place if you’re ever going to hunt here.”
      Elanna smiled broadly. “Yes, I’d like that. You’ve been so accommodating.”
      “Dad really likes you, I can tell.”
      “He’s a dear old thing.”
      Wehu laughed. “You add a touch of elegance to our pride. You know, I love mother to death but sometimes she can be so....”
      “Wehu!” Ujuzi shouted, “hike your buns over here and help me drag this carcass! We have a visitor!”
      Wehu smiled and nodded in the direction of her mother. “That’s my mom, all right.”
      Wehu and Ujuzi pulled in a large wildebeest carcass. The lionesses came around with their cubs by their side and began to tear at the flesh. Elanna came over and tried to nose in.
      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.

      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.

      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.”
      “I know...I mean nothing against her....it’s just....”
      Kiesi was interrupted when, noticing that they held up, the queen joined the group, “Are we, or are we not going to hunt, Wehu?”
      She turned to her quickly and nodded. “Sorry mother...just trying to...um...get our strategy set for the hunt.”
      Ujuzi just snorted. “Were you not going to include me...or am I just not useful enough for you?”
      Wehu shook her head, “No mother...we were just going to call you over when you came...”
      Ujuzi frowned. “Fine...now start acting like a hunt mistress and take charge of this...GROUP.”
      Wehu nodded...then thinking quickly said, “OK...normal semi-circle. Mother...you are the beater.”
      She could sense her mother’s grumble as she walked away from the others. She glanced to the other three. “No more discussions about Elanna right now. Who knows what my mother would do.” The lionesses nodded to her as they continued through the grasses.
      Sometime later back at the pride’s resting grounds, Elanna was among the cubs when they heard the huntresses’ roar. She was in the middle of a story when the cubs all jumped up, gave her a warm nuzzle of thanks, and dashed after the sound and the meal it promised. Elanna chuckled, watching the mob of cubs take off as she rose and followed them. As she topped the ridge, she could see the five lioness dragging a large gazelle behind them.
      It was common for the beater to carry the prize home since she did the least amount of work in the hunt, so behind Ujuzi followed the carcass.
      She saw Elanna top the ridge and cried out to her, “Get your butt over here, sweet cheeks, and help me tug this carcass...or are you too proper to do that?” Elanna sighed and hurried to her aid. When she got close enough the queen said, “You grab the butt and I'll get the neck--we can do this--that is, if you feel up to it, dearie.”
      Elanna could feel the blood rush to her face in embarrassment. She shook it off quickly. “Yes ma’am.” She grabbed the haunch on the prey and, along with the queen, drug it up the hill to the pride’s resting area.
      Elanna said little, and she tried to avoid eye-contact with the queen. Wehu did not sit next to her, but Elanna understood and was not upset. Wehu sat next to her mother, engaging her in chit-chat to ease her raw feelings.
      But after the meal and a good nap, Wehu approached Elanna. “Come on...I want to teach you more so you can join in on the next hunt.” Elanna got up slowly and stretched out, following after Wehu as they disappeared from the rest of the pride.
      After a short walk, Elanna looked at Wehu. “Is she always that crude?”
      Wehu chuckled, “Who...my mother...yes, unfortunately she gets like that.” She frowned softly, “It’s quite embarrassing at times.”
      Elanna just shook her head, “I’m sure it’s nothing. I only knew two queens myself, Sarabi and Akase. I guess I can’t expect all queens to be like them.” Elanna looked at her, “What does your mother think about me...really. Yesterday it almost seemed she suspected me of trying to steal your father.”
      Wehu shook her head. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. You’re the first one I’ve seen her react like this with.” She smiled softly, trying to change the subject. “I can say that you have impressed the other lionesses in the pride...and the cubs just love you. Even Darky says that she wishes she was just a cub...so she didn’t have to miss your stories.” She thought for a moment. “Some even wish you were the queen.”
      Elanna was taken aback. “I hope I haven’t given that impression. All I want is to be loved. I don’t care about being queen, and truthfully I don’t want to be. I know what it’s like.”
      Wehu nuzzled her softly, “No, no...it’s all right. You haven’t given us that impression, at least not me. It’s just that sometimes mother can be rather embarrassing as you saw. You seem much more cultured than her. And you’re younger. She’s trying to compete with you, and she knows she can’t win.”
      “But I’m not competing with HER!”
      “Honey Tree, I know that. She’s just apprehensive. Now I know for a fact that my father loves her with all his heart. He would never take a new queen, even if she died.” She smiled. “Now come on. If you want to join in the next hunt, you must learn the lay of the land. And your signals, too!”
      Elanna dropped her head in embarrassment.
      Wehu made several sweeping gestures with her paw and then tapped the ground twice.
      “What does THAT one mean??”
      Wehu imitated her mother’s accent. “It means ‘I think wildebeest is good for one’s constitution. It stimulates one’s enduring if properly mitigated with other circumstances.’”
      Elanna laughed. “Just don’t let HER hear that!” She pawed Wehu. “Thank you! You have really made me want to stay.”
      Wehu chuckled and nuzzled her. “It’s good to finally see someone that my mother can’t scare off.” She smiled. “Now come on. I know you’d rather hunt than sit cubs.” The two lionesses disappeared into the grass, Elanna eager to prove herself.

      Mabongo was resting, something he was very accomplished at as a lion, but even more since he was older. Ujuzi came and nudged him with a paw. “Wake up, Bobo!”
      One eye opened. “I wasn’t asleep. I was resting my eyes.”
      “Then you won’t mind having a go at it?”
      Both eyes opened wide and he sniffed the air. “Ujuzi, could it be that I didn’t notice? Is it that time for you?”
      Ujuzi laughed merrily. “I meant wrestling, you old fool!”
      Mabongo rose slowly and stretched. “Do you know how long it’s been since you asked me that?”
      “Too long,” Ujuzi said, unwilling to speculate. “Now let’s see you work off some of that fat.”
      “Fat? Me??”
      Ujuzi snickered at him. She popped his thigh with a paw. “Fat little legs.” She ducked and touched his belly. “Check out that flab!”
      “That’s muscle!” Mabongo said, getting into position.
      “Put on much more muscle, you won’t fit in your cave!”
      “That did it!!”
      Mabongo stood ready for all comers. Ujuzi sprang at him, laughing. She sought to bear him to the ground.
      Mabongo easily ducked her. “So I’m fat, am I??” He whipped out with a paw as she passed under him and grasped her shoulder. Coming down on her, he bore down with his weight. But she would not be easily won. Despite her age, she was a huntress, not the hunted. And she squirmed away, wrapping her paws around his neck. A few thrusts of her back legs got her the purchase on the grass she needed, and she shoved him over.
      Ujuzi tussled with him as he lay on his back. Mabongo laughed, then reached up with both arms, not to wrestle, but to draw her face to his. He rubbed her cheek and kissed her. “My golden treasure. Oh, I love you, girl!”
      “I need to hear you say that sometimes.”
      “Am I old? Am I stodgy and no fun?”
      Ujuzi said, “Heavens, no! You’re wonderful! I pledged to you once. I’d renew my vows if you wanted it.”
      Mabongo rolled on his side, taking her with him. As they lay panting in the grass, looking deeply into each other’s eyes, he said softly, “You know, there’s no shame in growing old, not if you have someone that loves you to grow old with. Oh girl, I’d die if you left me!”
      She stroked his mane. “No chance of that, Bobo! No chance of that! Nothing, and no one will come between us, my love!” Ujuzi kissed him, then got up and trotted away as quickly as he came. Mabongo closed his eyes and went back to sleep, a happy smile on his face.
      For her trouble, Ujuzi ached all over, even in muscles she forgot she had. She would never let HIM know that, and she headed to see her friend, Uzima the Shaman.
      Ujuzi had been walking quite a distance and her muscles were beginning to protest every step she took. She knew it was only a little bit longer. Finally...she reached a solitary tree in the open savanna. Uzima...come down here!” she cried out.
      Quietly a mandrill’s head pokes down from the tree, “Who dares disturbs my sleep?? Go away--come back tomorrow!”
      “Get your ugly blue butt down here on the double!”
      A laugh was heard, “And what if I don’t?”
      She growled up to him, “You know good and well that I will come up there...”
      Another laugh, “I would like to see you try.”
      Ujuzi grunted and braced her forepaws against the trunk of the tree. With a powerful push of her hind legs, she managed to clear the ground. Grunting loudly in exhaustion, she pushed her self to the lower branch, just barely above her height over the ground. With another laugh, the mandrill joined her on the branch, “How long has it been since you have done that?”
      Ujuzi looked at him, “I can’t remember the last time I climbed a tree...” She looked down at the ground, gripping the branch tighter, “Damn...I’m surprised I got this high.”
      Uzima chuckled. “Ahh...the mastery of the language...your father’s blood does course through you...”
      She growled, “Don’t you start on my butt too...”
      He nodded, “Come on down to the ground...then we'll talk...” With that, the mandrill flipped gracefully to the ground. The lioness looked down, holding on tightly. Finally...she simply let go and fell gracelessly to the ground, landing with a dull thump and raising a cloud of dust. The monkey chuckled, seeing the lioness get up and shake the dust out of her fur. “Never was able to master the dismount.”
      She growled softly and moved to him. The mandrill smiled and wrapped his arms around her neck, fondling her face and kissing her. “What brings the great queen all the way out to see me?”
      She sighed, “Am I getting older, friend? I was wrestling with Mabongo the way we used to, and kings above does my body ache!”
      He laughed, “The only ones not getting older are dead, Ujuzi...it’s a part of life. Your body is telling you to slow down.” He looked her over slowly. “Why the sudden interest in your age? That wrestling match get you down?”
      “I missed on the hunt. Me! I hadn’t done that in ages.”
      He looked at her, “Everyone misses at times...”
      She continued, “Then my daughter gave me the position of beater, something that is given to the worse hunter or the injured lioness. I haven’t been the beater since I was my granddaughter’s age."
      Uzima started to stroke her fur, rubbing the deep muscles of her shoulder. “It’s all right...someone has to take that position.”
      “But I’m the queen...doesn’t that mean anything?” she protested?
      “Wasn’t it you that taught your daughter that position in the pride doesn’t carry to the hunting grounds? I seem to remember you saying something like that.”
      She sighed. "But for all your monkey mumbo jumbo, you still know what it means! I don't like double talk, ape. I'm washed up--through--and from here on out it's only going to get worse."
      He worked her shoulders, loosening up the muscles and eliciting a contented grunt from the old lioness. "That's the price of perfection--any change is for the worse."
      "You have a civil tongue in your head, I'll grant you."
      "And you have friends that love you." He continued to work on her shoulders, making her purr softly.
      “I don’t want to grow old," she said, like a cub that is afraid of the dark mewing to her mother. "Please tell me how to be young again.”
      He looked in her eyes with pity. “You should know better than that. You know even my spells have limits.” He grinned slightly, “Don’t you think that I would have used it on myself?” He smiled and continued to work on her shoulders. “Besides...you are only as old as you feel.”
      She smiled, but with a tinge of sadness. “That old?”
      He changed to the other side. “You need to slow down at your age. Please...dearie...don’t do what your mother did...she worked herself to death. Let the future of the pride take some of the burden from you.”
      A tear rolled down her cheek. “It’s not just the hunt. I wouldn't mind being beater if that was all of it! It’s my husband!” She looked at him with tears in his eyes. “I think I might be losing him.”
      He shook his head, scandalized. “Mabongo chasing tails?? Him?? That lion would never leave you dearie! He loves the very ground you walk on!”
      “But I’m old and ugly!”
      "You, ugly? Maybe I have some herbs for your madness. Maybe it's not old age, it's the notions in that pretty head of yours!" He wrapped his arms around her neck. “Your beauty comes from within. Your body might age...but you're as beautiful as you were when I helped your mother give birth to you.”
      "Do you really think so?"
      He kissed her beneath each eye. "Honey Tree, I really know so. If you want to be beautiful, you should smile more often. When I see you cry, I bleed inside."
      She touched him with her tongue. “I know you think I'm being foolish. But please help me. Please?" She frowned in her desperate impatience. "You must have something that can help me? Please?? Damn it, help me keep him. I live for that lion! Remember that I help you whenever I can, and I ask for so little in return.”
      He sighed, seeing that she didn’t listen to what he said. “Fine. Give me a moment and I’ll see what I can do.”
      With that, he hopped back into his tree. Leaves rustled around as he moved about and a few minutes later, he appeared back on the ground with a gourd of liquid. Without saying a word, he started to work the fragrant mixture into her fur.
      She winced as the strong floral smell hit her nose. “Are you sure this will help?”
      He smiled. “Of course I’m sure. I was wearing this when I met my mate. It contains musk from antelopes. That's why it's so hard to come by, and so effective."
      "Hard to come by?"
      He smiled, holding up her paw and pressing the claws out. "Hard if you're a monkey!" He kissed her paw and sat it down. "Your husband will love it.” He finished rubbing her down and hugged her once more. “Now go be with him, and remember that he will always love you.” He nuzzled her. “And dearie, look for sources of stress in your life. Get rid of those things, and those you can't, learn to accept. You'll sleep better and feel better if you do.”
      She nodded and smiled, “I will try...thank you.”
      He patted her on her rump, “Now go on, and let an old monkey sleep!”
      So the fragrance was hard to get because the poor little monkey had to scavenge carcasses? If that’s what it took, Ujuzi would work out a beneficial relationship with him. All the antelope musk he could ever want--pounds and pounds of it if she had to pluck whatever part it was found in herself and carry it to the baobab! In return, she would be the sexiest and most exciting streak of golden sunshine that ever lit the pride lands! “Who knows, with time I may even grow to like that smell!”
      She went back to the pride kopje with a mincing, happy trot and with a sultry purr drew alongside Mabongo. She rubbed him and batted him with her tail alluringly.
      “Hello, handsome!”
      He looked about, then stared at her. “Who, me??”
      She purred again. “Who else!” She nuzzled him and said, “Bobo, do you notice anything different about me?”