The White Lioness

[Sweetbriar]

{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.

[Sweetbriar]

{I've decided to take a swing at the second chapter. Sorry the first one was so short, but it was being difficult. Also, I'll try to have a new chapter once up every one to three days, but, hey, I'm human. Anyway, here it is. Enjoy!}


Chapter Two

Chausiko waited patiently outside of Sahib's den. When he was ready, he would call her in for a discussion on Lesedi's most recently surrendered information. She expected to be waiting a while because ever since he'd laid eyes on the white lioness, the king of the pride was often stressed, and he was losing sleep because of it. Finally, she heard his muttered acceptance of her appearance. Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.

"You needed to see me, Sahib, and I assumed it was about yours and Lesedi's first round of questioning. Well, I'm here," Chausiko told him, "so where should we start?"

"At the beginning, which went smooth enough. I asked her things, and she verified their truth. But then, Chausiko, then . . ." The huge lion trailed off, obviously unable to continue this without assistance.

"What happened?" She prompted.

"I asked her the former rank she held, and she replied heiress. So," Sahib took a deep breath, then continuing to say, "So I asked her why she left. Lesedi responded to say she'd maid a mistake that had caused many deaths and tragedies, and telling me what she'd done would only lead to more of that: death and tragedy and horror . . . What does it mean, Chausiko?"

"I don't know, Sahib. I'm going to go talk to her and try to convince her to tell me more. I'm also going to ask her to wash her fur, because the dried blood scares the cubs even more." Sahib nodded, and the young golden lioness left for the strange cat's den.

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Lesedi paced her den, no longer able to outrun her guilt and greif. Her shame and depression. Her fear and horror. She paced. Twelve steps, turn, and repeat. Over and over and over, faster and faster and faster. I need more room. I need to run. I need to race the wind and fly over the grass once more. I need to escape this, she thought as she paced. Over and over and over. Faster and faster and faster.

Oh, no Lesedi. You can't run forever. You can't hide forever. You can't keep your secret forever. Why, it won't be long until Sahib comes again for more questions. And how long can you refuse to answer? He is king here. In fact, he is king of more land than your father - for now Adofo is the king of the dead! The voice in her head told her. And she listened to its rants, satisfying its hunger for attention. Yes, yes, yes! King of the Dead! That is his legend! Adofo, the mighty lion with a name meaning "warrior" is king! Of the dead! Why, that makes you a princess of two things - a scatted, broken pride, and the dead! Hahahahahah! Yes, princess of the broken and the dead! Your pride shouldn't be named after the sunrise but of -

The little voice never got to finish its rant, because Chausiko's voice shattered the silence. "Lesedi? Can I come in?" The lioness waited patiently for her reply, while Lesedi thought seriously denying her entry.

"Yes." She finally growled, never ceasing to pace. Twelve steps left, turn, twelve steps right, turn, repeat. Over and over and over again. Faster and faster and faster.

"Are you okay?" The golden lioness asked her as she entered, looking genuinely concerned. Lesedi took a moment to consider what she looked like from Chausiko's perspective. A white lioness she'd rescued from starvation and madness was pacing around her den - still covered in dirt and dried blood - faster and faster. I look like, she thought, someone who's going mad with poor skills in everything and a great lack of effort.

"I'm okay, I guess. Just trying to cope. Do you know of any cold stream nearby I could wash off in? And may I hunt after that?" Lesedi tried to make herself sound like a visiting royal. Like you mistake never happened, the voice taunted, giggling, Like you never caused this chaos and this mess.

"Yeah, I do know of a place, actually. And I'm sure Sahib would love for you to hunt." Chausiko replied. Yeah. Right up there with me messing up his pride, too, Lesedi thought sarcastically.

"Great. Can you take me there?" She asked. The golden lioness nodded, and Lesedi followed her out of the camp and another short ways to the stream - which was larger, and more of a creak. Nodding her thanks, the white lioness slid into the cold water, letting it seep into her fur before she took a deep breath and plunged underwater.

Effortlessly, Lesedi swam throughout the creak, diving an splashing like back when she had swam in a great river with Nthada and Adofo when she had been younger. Greif crashed over her again. She'd never take another swim with them again. Padding solemnly onto the shore, she shook her coat, and looked at Chausiko.

"Where did you learn how to do that? It's incredible!" The golden lioness asked as they walked away. Lesedi thought for a moment on how best to answer her question.

"Everyone in my pride knew how. I learned when I was very young. Every cub did." She finally responded. Chausiko looked thoughtful for a moment.

"You should teach me one day. And I have another question: Why did you refer to your pride as an element of the past?" The golden lioness questioned.

"Because us of the Sunrise Pride will never be together again. We will never join together for hunting or swimming or just for fun again. Because times have changed. Because of me." The white lioness responded, "May we hunt now?" Chausiko nodded, and lead her to a place where not many lions hunted - she could tell by the scents.

"Do you want to work as a team, or not?" Lesedi asked her, "Or do you do it differently here?" Chausiko donned on her thoughtful look again. Clearly, the two prides had different ways of doing this in just about every category - from hunting to eating to gathering.

"A pair." Chausiko finally answered her, "You can lead." Lesedi nodded, and followed a particularly fresh trail of a herd of antelope. When the herd came into view, she motioned with her tail for Chausiko to stay low and to match her movements.

After springing up so quickly her sore wounds ached, Lesedi began to chase the antelope into a circle. Confused, Chausiko copied her. The two soon had the entire herd in a circle. Lesedi spotted a young, fat doe in the center of the chaos with two elder ones, as well as a baby. Her prizes.

"Keep them in the circle!" She roared, frightening the herd into and even smaller circle. Perfect. She began to run faster and faster around them until she finally had enough power in her. Turning suddenly, she jumped, clearing the fierce males and succeeding in making it into the middle. Quickly, before the herd realized what was going on, she killed the baby, elders, and fat doe.

"Now let them scatter on three! Stay here and guard the carcasses while I catch us a buck or two!" She roared again, changing the attention from Chausiko to her.

"Three!" Chausiko stopped circling them, and rushed in to where Lesedi was. As soon as the golden lioness made it, she dashed off to catch a buck.

In the thrill off the hunt, she did allow herself to enjoy racing the wind and her paws barley skimming the ground. She gained on the lead buck, and with a powerful spring off her hindquarters, she landed squarely on his back. Sinking her teeth into his large, muscular neck, Lesedi killed him. She allowed the others to leave, and returned to Chausiko caring her prize.

"That was amazing!" It was Amara, who was out with her own hunting patrol, "Chausiko, Lesedi, where did you learn how to do that?" Chausiko motioned with her tail for the white lioness to tell them. So with a deep breath, she did.

"I learned how to run - how to race the wind and barley have your paws skim the grass - when I was very young. Our pride had annual races for the cubs, and I always won. The strategy I picked up a while later. Me and my mother tried it, and upon its immediate success, we taught the pride. Everyone knew how." She looked at Chausiko. "If you increase your speed, you'll have a chance at becoming a lead lioness."

"Incredible. We better get back to camp, then. I doubt we'll be able to catch anything else." Amara said. Of all the lioness, she didn't know two of them - an orangey one and a dull brown one.

"Who are they?" Lesedi asked Chausiko.

"The orangey one is Marjuni, and the dull brown one is called Chipo." She told her. Lesedi nodded her head, and went to talk to Amara.

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She managed to strike a bargain with the heir of this pride where Chausiko took the buck, Amara took the doe, and Marjuni and Chipo each took an elder. Amara agreed, and Lesedi got her wish. She strode back into the camp with her white coat gleaming and her dark navy blue eyes sparkling with pride - at the front of the patrol. Sahib looked shocked at their arrival.

"How, where, and why?" He directly asked his daughter. She dropped the doe with the other catches at his feet before responding.

"My patrol came across Lesedi and Chausiko hunting. They caught all this, although Chausiko claims it's all Lesedi's. They caught this where you sent us to hunt. Lesedi lead, because she wanted to see the look on your face . . . and something about a former rank you know about?" Amara responded. Sahib's eyes widened in shock.

"Yes. It is true." She stated, "Sahib knows, as I do, that my former rank in my former pride was heiress." Her dark blue eyes had hardened as she said this, and she never shifted their gaze from where they lay: On Sahib. His pride, of course, burst out in surprise.

"SILENCE!" The king roared, "You . . . you told them." Lesedi nodded, and decided to reply to him with her formal, I-will-be-queen-one-day tone.

"Yes. I did. I felt your pride had a right to know at least one thing other than my name and where I came from." She met his eyes, and held his gaze.

"Chausiko," Sahib breathed, still locking his gaze with Lesedi's, "This is all your fault." She tilted her head in confusion.

"I don't understand. How is it all my fault?" She asked, watching him. He was furious at Lesedi . . . and at her for reasons she didn't understand.

"Because you took her hunting!" He roared, pouncing on the golden lioness as he finally left Lesedi's gaze. With fury the pride had never seen, he attacked Chausiko. Roaring a challenge, Lesedi tore him off of her friend, and began to circle him, ready for a fight.

"Your fight is with me, not with her. And how is it her fault? It is all mine. The blame falls on my shoulders, because if I hadn't made that mistake back at my home, I wouldn't be here. Chausiko couldn't have taken me hunting is I wasn't here, now could she?" Lesedi taunted.

"You. I welcome you into my pride, introduce you to my family, and this . . . this is how you repay me? By causing chaos and confusion?" He spat at her. She continued to circle him, growing exited.

"You didn't welcome me! You tolerated me! It was Chausiko who introduced me to your family and welcomed me here! You attacked her - my only friend, for all my others are dead - so yes, this is how I repay you! I fight for the one who has helped and defended me! And I fight for any kin - living or dead, lost or found - that she has! For I trust her!" Lesedi roared. Kilima looked startled, but also slightly proud that his sister had made such a strong, fierce friend.

"Then this ends now. However concedes first is the loser, and the loser must never challenge the winner - the new king or queen - again. If the loser has a family, the winner decides what to do with them. Can we agree on these conditions?" Sahib asked her.

"Yes. But remember I have only one living family member - my uncle." Lesedi hissed.

"Then let the fight begin!" Sahib roared. As he did, in his brief lapse of concentration, Lesedi sprang at him, stunning the great lion. She unsheathed her claws and scored them down his face and side, knocking him over. She pinned him down under her, digging her claws into his shoulders. They were razor-sharp, because she had sharpened them against river-stones that morning.

"Concede?" She hissed in his ear.

"Never." He snarled, shoving her off of him. But Lesedi was ready for this, and she spun in midair to land on his back. Sahib let out a roar of pain and rage. Lesedi had him pinned again.

"Concede?" She hissed again.

"No." He said, his lip curling in anger. So the fight continued. But the white lioness fought with all her grief, with all her anger, with all her shame and guilt, and with all her fear. Each time she pinned him, Sahib grew less and less confident. Finally, she had him at her mercy. They each bore scratches, although Sahib's were longer and deeper.

"Do you concede?" She hissed.

"Yes. You are queen of this pride." He submitted. Lesedi let out a roar of triumph, and walked over to Chausiko. The golden lioness looked amazed as she scanned her up and down.

"Wow. You did that all for me?" She asked in surprise and awe. Lesedi nodded. "I can't believe it! That was incredible! You are like a living legend, Lesedi!"

"Thank you, Chausiko. Come with me. I have a feeling I'm going to need your help. In just about everything." She stated, "Let's go figure out what to do with Sahib and his bunch."

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Chausiko followed Lesedi around for the rest of the day, showing her around, introducing her to all the other lions and lioness. Finally, they had circled back around to where Thema was caring for Sahib with Zuri by her side. Amara was a little ways off.

"Sahib, I will give you and your family two options. You may become dienaars and reveal to me what your names mean, or you may leave forever. And remember, your daughters and mate can make their own choice." Lesedi ordered. At first Chausiko had been worried about how Lesedi would react to holding a position of power, but now she realized that was foolish. Lesedi would be fine.

"I will leave. I may have lost, but I will never bow down to you - a fleeing, white lioness who was heir of her pride. You have no right here, so I must go." Sahib hissed.

"I will stay. My name - Thema - it means 'queen.' But you may call me Furaha. It means 'joy.'" The former queen told the white lioness.

"I will leave with Sahib. He is the true ruler, not you. You are just an invader with a special coat!" Zuri sneered.

"I will stay. I hate what you did, Father. Attacking your pridemate? What kind of sick leader where you? No, I would much rather stay here with her. My name - Amara - means 'grace.' Later, I will tell you what my sisters' name means. Furaha can tell you what Sahib's means." Amara said soundly.

"Good. Sahib, Zuri, go now and never return." Chausiko was still amazed by Lesedi, especially as she banished the two troublemakers without a bat of her eye.

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Furaha and Amara left Chausiko and Lesedi alone after telling them what their family's names meant. Sahib's had meant 'warrior,' and Zuri's had meant 'beautiful.' The two friends just sat and enjoyed each other's company for a while, before Lesedi asked Chausiko a question.

"What does your name mean? And what does your brother's?" Lesedi looked and sounded genuinely curious. So the golden lioness told her.

"My brother's name means 'mountain.' Mine means 'born at night.' I was born at night, and my mother was dying, with my father already dead, so my mother went with something simple." Chausiko responded.

"I see. My name means 'light.' My mother's name was Nthada, and it meant 'star.' My father's name was Adofo, and it means 'courageous.' I appreciate you telling me. Where I come from, this is a sign of trust." Lesedi told her. Chausiko nodded.

"I am going to tell you why I ran. Why I am here. Why my parents are dead and why my pride is scattered," The white lioness said, "And then, at dawn tomorrow, I tell the pride."