Wenet's Cousin

"Trespass into the Forbidden Savannah"
Under the sprawling African sky, the Savannah lions had to undertake the quest of hunting once again. The fierce, burning sunbeams struck the golden grasses with brute force as the lions blended well and fine within them. Among them was an unusual lioness. Her eyes were strikingly green and blue, and she was holding herself with an assertive air, typical of males. Her name was Anippe, cousin to Wenet, a lioness respected among the lands. Lately joined in the pride, Anippe was out to prove her loyalty, strength, capability-all but for this unexplained hatred she fosters towards rabbits, which leads to some intense episodes.

Her teeth gnashed daily in disapproval at the little furry beasts. In her disdain and malice, she would leap in their direction, powerful paws swatting them fiercely. Often, high-pitched roars would reverberate across the expanse of Savannah as some unhappy rabbit happened to cross her path, making the pride roll over in soft laughter. Soon, she became the brunt of jokes because she actually bothered-cared too much-about these very harmless creatures.

But Anippe was undaunted by the jests, watchful, her green and blue eyes leaping across the grasslands for the darting figures. She would time her attacks perfectly, showing at once her perfect warrior skills while satiating an impossible hatred. It was on one of these hunts that she, thoughtlessly, veered onto forbidden territory.

The smell of peril hung heavy in the air, and her senses tingled with a burrowed fear she refused to acknowledge. She could hear the distant growls of the rogue lions that commanded the territory. Still, a rabbit had taken off, and her blood boiled recklessly, demanding the chase. The rest of the pride watched with a mix of humour and concern at Anippe as she dove headfirst into enemy territory, gallantly unafraid.

Far from enjoying the spectacle, pride was on edge, keeping a watchful eye on the border, ready to charge in when things got worse. Loyalty to Anippe now abounded as they held their collective breath. Meanwhile, Wenet found her cousin's persistence amusing-a sign of strength and bravery, though misdirected, it was.

She finally stood with the dead rabbit hanging from her mouth, pride and defiance booming from her muscular, stern pose. With a big sigh of relief, the rogue lions had been elsewhere, and this little girl had gotten away with it. It would have been impossible thereafter to laugh at Anippe after such a harrowing risk. Her brave act had won their respect, and her place amongst them was firm.

With revitalized respect, Wenet approached her. "Anippe," she began, still a tinge of scolding in her voice, "you are too fierce for your good."

The lioness who had obviously been defiant smiled at her and dropped the rabbit at his feet. "Wenet," she retorted-her voice with a fond closeness to it-"Life is not one big playground here. It is a fight each day. A serious one."

Wenet was silent. She looked at her impulsive cousin and felt admiration well up in his heart. It was then that she fully realised, Anippe was not just another lioness; she was a warrior. In her own particular ways, she had to prove herself, and it was obvious that she would carry this mad hate of rabbits and her show of strength with her to her grave.

Louder was the pride of the lions that evening in the Savannah, a sign of solidarity and respect for the new warrior: Anippe. Even the rabbits, from their burrows, looked upon the victorious lioness with a budding sense of terror. Thus began the amazing journey of Anippe inside the pride-a path of unbridled fierceness, fearless bravery, and an irrational hatred for rabbits.