Queen of the Jungle

Episode III

Rain battered her pelt. Droplets fell from her sodden fur. Resilient leapt up to catch a stray leaf floating in the air.

"Brilliant!" he squeaked.

She glanced in his direction. He'd grown in the last moons from the pitiful kit to a strong cub. "Yes?"

"Can we hunt? I'm sure I could catch a huge zebra!" His unusually blue eyes glimmered with excitement.

Brilliant shook her head. "We only hunt when we're hungry. We mustn't disturb the balance." Though Terror certainly had. He'd always wanted more. More prey, more land, more lionesses for his pride. His greed would lead him to death.

The cub looked downcast for a moment but brightened back up. "Okay, then can we practice hunting."

"Certainly." She let out a rumble of laughter when he jumped up to catch another leaf. The rain didn't seem to bother him. It's a good thing I saved him. The guilt for leaving her pride had vanished as she'd watched Resilient grow. His white paw flashed up, bringing the leaf to the ground.

He pranced over to her. "I caught it! I caught it!" he cheered. His little tail lashed back and forth as he tried to trap another leaf. Lost in thought, she didn't notice him straying near the tall animals.

"Resilient! No!" she growled. Her muscles bunched as she tore after him. The cub was right near the grazing giraffes. They wouldn't hesitate to trample over him. Panic exploded through her, causing her to run faster. Resilient looked back at her. She skidded to halt as she realized the giraffes were watching him carefully. Brilliant watched from a distance, careful not to startle them into a stampede.

They glanced at Brilliant with wariness and then turned back to Resilient. The cub piped up. "Hello." The giraffes exchanged a confused look with each other.

One bent down to get a better glance at him. "A white lion? I don't think I've ever seen one. Much less a cub." Murmurs of surprise spread throughout them. "Are you really a lion?" Strangely, they didn't seem afraid. Curious, if anything.

"Yeah, I'm a lion!" he announced. "And you're a giraffe."

The giraffe huffed. "Well, obviously silly cub."

Brilliant advanced a few steps. "Resilient," she called in a soft voice. The giraffes turned to face her. "I mean no harm." She declared.

The giraffe who'd been talking to Resilient spoke to her. "Is this your cub?"

Brilliant flicked her tail. "Yes."

"He's certainly not like any lion cub I've ever seen." Another giraffe remarked. "Are you sure he is a lion?"

"I am too a lion...right?" Resilient turned to her.

Brilliant replied, "Of course you're a lion! Now, let's go." She turned to the giraffes. "Sorry to disturb your grazing."

Resilient skipped to her. Once they were out of earshot, he questioned, "Why did they look so confused?"

"No reason."

"But...what if they're right? What if I'm not a lion?!" he gasped, panic in his tone.

She turned to face him. "Resilient? Do you feel like a lion?"

He looked stumped. "Well, yes."

"Then you're a lion. You've never been another species any day of your life." She reassured.

He padded forward. "Okay, then."

The two of them made their way to the little rock structure at the edge of the Plain Land. Brilliant felt the small grooves under her paws as she climbed up. It was safe from hyenas and no lion or feline would try to trespass.