The Last Lioness: As A Juvenile

Part 7

"You are so annoying leave me alone!" I looked over to see Jefe tugging on Athenas' tail, Nova just laying down ignoring the both of them, minding her own business. She always seemed so quiet, so sweet. As if something was always bothering her. I always had the urge to ask her but they were getting older now. It had been just over 3 months since I had birthed them and I know how annoying it is when an adult pesters you about what on your mind, so I let her be.

After I separated Athena and Jefe before things got any worse, I decided it was time to expand on their hunting skills, after all they were growing up faster than I expected. "C'mon cubs, time to practice hunting." Athena groaned in annoyance, she never liked to get her paws dirty. Jefe bounded off toward our small enclosed hunting area that me and Fuerte had made for this purpose and Nova followed behind quietly.

"Today, we will be practicing our stalking." Fuerte was out securing our territory while he left me to train and look after the cubs. He told me he should be back by dusk and if not he said to sit tight and wait. "Now, you know the basic rules of stalking which are?" I looked down to the three little lions in front of me and waited for an answer. "Ooo! Ooo! I know! I know!" Jefe screeched while jumping from side to side impatiently.

"First you track down your prey," He crouched down low toward the ground and focused on a beetle that scuffled across the floor a few foot in front of him. "Then, you follow it as quietly as you can," He reduced his talk to a whisper before creeping foreword slowly until the beetle was right in front of him. "And then...you POUNCE!" He jumped into the air and landed right on it, crushing it between his tiny jaws.

Athena rolled her eyes and scoffed at him. "Show off..." Jefe grinned madly at her before looking up at me eagerly, desperate for me to praise him. I licked the top of his head and smiled at him. "At least one of you have been listening to me.." After about 20 minutes of teaching them more in-depth stalking we headed back to the den where we slept for a while until Fuerte had returned.

"I love you so much Sancha." Rapido licked my cheek and I felt my face flush. "I love you too." I said before nuzzling into his side. "I'll see you soon, my love..."

I leapt to my feet panting and sweating. It was only a dream.. "Mum..." Nova said while looking at the floor. "Who is Rapido?" She glanced at me guiltily. It was the first time I had heard her talk in two days, but more importantly, how did she know Rapido? "Why sweetie?" She played with the dirt beneath her paws and mumbled, "I've been seeing him in my dreams." I gulped before sighing. "Daddys' brother.." She scowled at me slightly.

"There's something your not telling me mum..." I frowned and gave into her. "He was also mums mate, long before you were born...he disappeared one day and never came back. Why do you want to know so much?" She told me she had been having constant dreams about him for the last two days and that she felt as if she knew him from somewhere. "I'm sure they are just dreams sweetie, think nothing of them."

She seemed to turn sour toward me, her ears bent back and she glared at me. "No, you are not getting it. Whoever he is, wherever he is, he wants me to notice him." I was confused by her sudden change in personality. She has never been like this and I struggle to understand why she is now. "Sweetheart, he is gone. I don't know what happened to him but he is no longer in my life. So we ignore the fact he seems to be popping up in your dreams and we carry on as a family, ok?"

It pained me to say that, but it was the truth. I missed him dearly and hoped the cubs would never find out about him as it would make things worse. "Its only a matter of days." She huffed and walked off while mumbling to herself. What could be a matter of days? Why is Rapido showing up in my cubs dreams? This was all getting too much for me. I felt faint, the world around me seemed to spin on its axis and suddenly, the world went black.

"The little one isn't imagining, nor is she lying." I was confused...where was I? I looked around to try and find the mystical voice but it was no where to be seen. The surroundings seemed familiar...I was at my old den! How I missed this place! I bounded toward the small opening and the voice spoke once more. "You aren't going to find me, so don't try. I am coming back. Today, tomorrow, a months time. At some point I will. So be ready." With that I awoke with all three of my cubs and Fuerte surrounding me.

"Fuerte...he's coming.." He stared at me in confusion before his eyes widened with realisation. "He cant be...He died?" I shook my head and got to my paws. Fuerte comforted me as our three cubs sat in front of us, two of which had no idea what we were so worried about. "Im not ready Fuerte..." He nodded understandingly as I nuzzled into his shoulder. He had left me without even the smallest goodbye, if he's not dead then why didnt he come back sooner? Why did he wait 9 months to decide to appear again. I didnt want to meet again, not like this.

I sighed aloud and smiled weakly at Athena and Jefe, who were clearly confused about the situation me and Fuerte were in. "Mum whats going on?" Jefe mewed, getting to his paws and stretching. "Cubs, there is something we have to tell you. Daddys' brother is coming to visit us, he was also my old mate," Athena didnt at all seem bothered by the news and yawned, then shut her eyes slowly. But I was bothered. I know Rapido wasn't a bad lion, but it had been 9 months since we last spoke. What if he tried to kill the cubs?

You may call it paranoia but it was definitely playing on in my mind, of all different scenarios that could take place when he finally shows his face. Would he kill them? Would I start to love him again? Would he stay with us and help protect the cubs? More importantly, I don't think I'm ready for him to just turn up again. I have no telling in what I will do to him. In a way I didn't want to see him ever again. I had my perfect little family and I loved them all to pieces. But I knew Fuerte feared for him coming back, I know he didn't want to lose me. But I also knew that he would let me go if it made me happy.

"He wouldnt do that!" Fuerto growled at me. It had been a few hours since we had told the now soundly-asleep cubs about the news. "You dont know that!" I snarled. "If im having doubts about him, god knows what you're thinking!" We had been arguing since we put the cubs to rest over an hour ago. "We cannot risk it. I am not losing any more lions of my own blood Fuerte." I saw him gulp and he sat down, burying his head in his paws. "If he tries anything at all, I will kill him. You need to trust me Sancha." I stared up at the stars and just left it. I couldn't be dealing with all this right now.

"Now, now brother...there will be no need for that." I turned my head to see Rapido, laying down beside my cubs. My heart started pounding so loudly I could hear it. Fuerte leapt to his paws. "Brother, good to see you again." I stared at the lion I once called mate with no emotion at all. There was no reason for him to return. He seemed..different. I watched him rise to his paws and stretch outright, then start padding toward me slowly. The smirk spread across his face seemed sinister. "What's the matter Sancha? Hyena caught your tongue?"

I reached out and smacked his face, leaving small gashes on his cheek. Tears started flooding from my eyes. "Who do you think you are coming back here after-after deserting me all them months ago?!" He stared at me and just for a second i thought I saw a hint of sorrow in his eyes before they returned to the dull brown colour. "Listen, Sancha-" I cut him off before he could continue. "Leave." I couldn't control it, I just let it slip out. He frowned at me before starting again.

"No let me expla-" "Go, Rapido." Fuerte interrupted. "You've done enough." He said before motioning toward me, who was crying uncontrollably in front of them both, barely able to keep myself standing. I stared at him blankly, unable of saying a word. I wanted to roar aloud but what to say? Stay? Leave? He sighed and started to walk off without saying a word. I guess it is truly goodbye this time. Goodbye for good?