{This is my first fan-fiction, so please don't post any destructive criticism. I'll take constructive criticism, though. Also: If you do, I'm repetitive on purpose, and the 'buts' and 'ands' at the start of my sentences are purposeful also.
~Thanks~ }
The White Lioness
Chapter One
Lesedi ran. She ran so quickly the ground blurred beneath her white paws. I'm not fast enough, she thought, They are going to catch me. Taking a deep breath, Lesedi ran even faster. She ran away from where the koning and koningin had been murdered. Her parents were dead. And as the princess of the eastern savanna ran, a little voice in her head taunted her. Your fault, it giggled, Your fault everyone's either dead, or all over the savanna . . . All your fault because you couldn't obey the now deceased king and queen. You couldn't obey your own parent's instructions, Lesedi! You fool, you silly little fool!
No. That's not true! I didn't cause this! Farther and farther and farther away from her home did Lesedi run. And she didn't stop. Not even when the sun stopped shining and the moon and stars shone overhead. No! I can't stop! They'll catch me and kill me! I must keep going. But when the white lioness finally did stop, she found herself unable to sleep. Her thoughts drifted to her parents.
"Lesedi," Her mother had said once, "Your father and I need to tell you something of great importance." She had nodded and sat down beside them without a question.
"Do you know what the pride calls us? Me and you mother?" Lesedi's father had asked. The white lioness had nodded. Of course she knew the pride called her father Koning and her mother Koningin.
"Those are not our real names, my little light." Her mother had said, "My real name is Nthada. It means 'star.'" Lesedi nodded her head and felt her pride in her mother grow. Nthada. What a perfect name, she had thought.
"And my name," her father had said carefully, "Is Adofo. It means warrior." Again, Lesedi nodded her head, and felt her pride grow.
"Those fit you both so well." She had said. She saw her mother's jade green eyes and golden coat. Turning her head slightly, she saw her father's cobalt eyes, golden coat, and magnificent mane. What perfect names . . .
She remembered looking into their eyes and feeling safe. Feeling brave. Feeling capable. Feeling strong. Feeling like she had no fear, and if she did, it could never harm her with her parents there. Nothing could harm her with Nthada and Adofo by her side.
A pang of grief hit her like a wave. They were gone. Her parents, her only kin, were dead . . .
Wait. I do have one more relative: My father's brother in the jungle. My uncle. All I have to do is find him.
So then Lesedi got to her paws and ran, but this time with a purpose. To get to the jungle at the edge of the western savanna. No stopping until you get there, she thought, And no giving up.
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Chausiko walked along the border of the western savanna pride with her brother, Kilima, and keeping a sharp eye on the horzion. Kilima was older than Chausiko, and seemed to think it was his job to protect his little sister. She let him, but only because her brother needed a way to spend his time. Personally, she thought he was a lazybones, sitting around or following her or sleeping. An easy job.
Scowling, Kilima stopped walking. Chausiko turned to face the horizon, and saw why her brother was frowning.
"What is that?" He asked her, pointing with his tail to the horizon with his tail. She saw a white dot approaching their territory - and quickly growing larger.
"Um . . . I don't know. Let's wait and watch it." Chausiko said. And they did. After sitting there for awhile, Kilima noticed something.
"I think it's a lioness. A white lioness." He commented. His sister tilted her head slightly in bewilderment.
"A white lioness." She remarked, but Kilima was right. It was a white lioness. Running towards them at top speed.
"Is it just me, or does she have something on her coat?" Chausiko asked. Kilima turned his head slightly in confusion.
"Oh, yeah? Like what?" He challenged, glaring at his younger sister. She strained her eyes, trying to get a clearer view . . .
"It looks like some dirt, some mud, and . . . oh no." Chausiko looked at brother, her eyes stretched wide in horror and confusion.
"Well? Tell me what the third thing is! Come on, Chausiko! We don't have all day!" Kilima raged. He had quite a fearsome temper.
"It's blood." She murmured.
"Oh, Spirits . . ." Kilima shook his head. This was bad. Very bad.
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After the anitial shock wore off, the two littermates went to help this strange lioness. When they reached her she backed away a few steps, hissing.
"No . . . Can't trust anyone . . . I must keep going . . . It's all my fault . . ." She hissed. When Kilima took a step closer to her, she hissed louder, saying "Stay away from me! Are you with them, then? Well, how does it feel?! My mistake is your victory, isn't it? And if you're going to kill me, do it now! I - I will fight you . . . Stay away from me . . ." When the half-crazed lioness fell unconscious, Chausiko and Kilima exchanged a glance.
"We should tell Sahib about this," Kilimba stated, "I'll go, and you watch her." Her brother turned and dashed back to the camp after seeing her small nod. Chausiko waited patiently for the strange cat to wake up. And when it did happen, it was as quick as a flash.
"Who are you? And where did he go?" The lioness was still very wary, but seemed to have lost some tension after they hadn't killed her.
"I am Chausiko from the western savanna pride. The lion you saw - he's my brother. His name is Kilima. He went to tell Sahib - our king - about you, and to get help." She explained.
"Oh. I am Lesedi from the eastern savanna pride. I am fleeing from my home in search of my uncle Kefilwe. I have no intention of telling you or your pride why I have fled . . ." Lesedi trailed off, obviously deep in thought. Upon seeing Kilima on the horizon with Sahib, his mate - Thema, and his daughters - Amara and Zuri, Chausiko felt her mood brighten. Amara was her friend, even if Zuri was a bossy crybaby.
"Sahib, I should talk to you alone first. Lesedi, can fill Kilima in on what you just told me?" Chausiko asked, shooting a glance at the white lioness, whose hackles had raised at the sight of them. Lesedi nodded, and Chausiko allowed Sahib to lead her a short distance away from the others.
"Lesedi? Is that what you said her name was?" Sahib asked immediately, "And where is she from? What happened to her? She looks weary and depressed."
"Yes, Lesedi is her name, and she is all the way from the eastern savanna pride. I think she ran the whole way. We - Kilima and I - saw her running, and nonstop, I think she made it here in two or three days. Also, she refuses to say why, but she is fleeing to her uncle Kefilwe in the jungle." Chausiko told him, "What do we do?"
"I don't know. Maybe if I talk to her alone . . ." The king of the western savanna pride trailed off for a moment before recovering his train of thought. "I will talk to her alone after we have gotten her safely to our camp. Chausiko, can I put you in charge of her? Can you be her escort - and her hunter - until she recovers?" The small golden lioness nodded. Sahib blinked gratefully.
"We need to get her back to camp," Chausiko commented, "She's ran a long way." Sahib nodded and lead them back to the small cluster. Lesedi was on the edge, poised to flee at any given moment.
"We'll go back to camp. Lesedi, would you mind coming with us? We'd appreciate it." Chausiko asked her. The white lioness nodded tensely and fell into step behind everyone as Sahib lead the way to the camp.
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Lesedi tredded lightly on her paws as she followed Chausiko into the camp. What does her name mean, and will she tell me if she knows? The white lioness followed her to a small den in a quieter part of the camp.
"Sahib will be by soon to talk you. Please remember he's our king, and has a lot more power than we do." Chausiko meowed as she left. To wherever that was. Looking around the den, Lesedi saw a small ledge a short ways of the floor. On top of it was a small assortment of grasses for padding and to keep out the chill. Settling down on the bed, she let her thoughts wander.
Why'd you do it, Lesedi? Huh? It's all you fault . . . Your parents are dead, and the Sunrise Pride is in ruins all because of you. Your curiosity killed Nthada and Adofo. And what will you do if Kefilwe is dead? The little voice wouldn't shut up again.
"Lesedi? May I come in?" Turning and lifting her head, she saw the head lion. The one Chausiko called Sahib. Stiffly, the white lioness nodded and stood up. Thanking her, Sahib sat down.
"I would like to ask you some questions mainly for the sake of my pride. You can answer or you can not. It is your choice, no matter how much I prefer to have the answer. Shall we begin?" He asked. Lesedi nodded again.
"Is your name really Lesedi, and are you really from the eastern savanna pride?" Another nod. I should tell him that's not what we call ourselves. I should tell him we call ourselves the Sunrise Pride.
"Are you really looking for your uncle Kefilwe?" Lesedi nodded again. But I've never met him . . . I don't know whether or not to trust him. Or to trust you, for the matter.
"How long has it been since you left, and how did you get here?" Lesedi sighed inwardly. This question meant using her voice . . . and she preferred to stay silent.
"I left my home three days ago. I've been running nonstop. This is the first time I have rested." She answered. Sahib looked surprised.
"You must be very fast, then. Anyway, what was your rank before you left your pride, Lesedi?" Another voice question.
"Heiress to the throne."
"So why did you leave?" He was now intrigued, she could tell. Why would the heiress to the pride's throne leave? It was not a fun question for her.
"Because my parents are both dead, and it's all my fault." His eyes widened in horror and shock. "I caused their deaths. No, I didn't kill them. But my mistake did."
"Will you tell me anything more at the moment about your parents' - the king and queen's - deaths?" Sahib asked her hopefully.
"No. Not to anyone at anytime. Never will I tell this dark secret that holds only more death." Lesedi responded. She had him spooked now. Right where she wanted him. With a tight, worried, nod, he left her alone.