We continued walking, Rhun walking beside me, our hands almost brushing. Wecan holds my hand tightly, walking close by me. As the day continues, the environment starts getting hotter. By mid-day, the sun beats directly down on us.
"It must be 100 degrees out right now!"
Wecan exclaims. I nod, then tell him.
"Maybe we'll melt!"
I say between a laugh. His eyes widen
"I don't want to melt!"
I ruffle my hands through my 6 year old brothers hair and grin.
"That won't happen. Unless I-"
I am cut off by Rhun whispering loud enough for us to hear.
"SHH!"
He points his finger ahead to a large lion sitting on a termite mound. It shakes its head, ruffling his large mane. He is a dull orange brown color, and his mane a crisp brown color.
"It's a 'Śaktiśālī Sinha', a powerful lion."
He says, his voice clear, with a slight quiver. I pull Wecan close, feeling him tremble. I look up back at the lion, when Rhun grabs my hand, pulling me and Wecan down lower to the ground. The lion turns his head look in outer direction. Our eyes meet and he stares for a second. He looks away, watching a herd of gazelle near by.
"Sinha"
I whisper into the wind. A few moments later the lion looks over at me, his ears twitching. He heads down off the mound and flicks tail at my direction as if it was a wave goodbye. He pads off towards the direction of the gazelle. Rhun, not noticing what I said, speaks.
"Whew. That was close!"
I nod, staring at the lion as he goes.
"He's so beautiful, or as you say, Sakura, I'll call him, Sinha."
I let the Hindi words roll on my tongue.
"Ah, Sakura you seem to be taking a liking to my language!"
He says then winks.
"And maybe because I'm saying it."
He whispers so only I hear. I blush, and stand, wiping dirt off my dress.
"We should find a spot to camp out for the night."
I speak to him and Wecan. Wecan, loosing his fears behind him, stands and growls.
"I don't know about you, but all this walking and events has made me hungry! As hungry as a lion!"
He roars acting as if he was a lion. He trips on a rock falling onto the ground laughing. Soon enough we all are on the ground in a messy pile of laughter.
YOU ARE READING
The Canopy Tree
Teen FictionAñuli was a normal girl, living with her tribe in the Kenya. Everyday she would stare out her cracked and stained window, looking across the river beside her house. There stood a tall, elegant, canopy tree. She would stare at its curving trunk, desi...
