|
Thabiti was the only daughter of the leader of her pride's hunting party. Her father was a rogue, and played no part in her life. She was an extremely intelligent young lioness from the word go, always asking questions, always seeking answers...her thirst for leaning was unsurpassed.
Unfortunately, during her first experience of a dry season, her mother was tragically killed by a wildebeest in a hunting accident, leaving her orphaned.
Although a kind and accepting cub, Thabiti was not particularly close to any of the pride's cubs (with the exception of a close friend, Shira) and usually preferred the company of older lionesses. It was the bonds she had with these older lionesses that eased transition from her life with her mother.
She didn't seek a new parent figure, but instead sought intellectual company and guidance from the most seasoned lionesses in the pride.
One night, during the rainy season, the river had flooded and one of the lionesses on patrol offered to take Thabiti along to observe. The weather was dreadful and thus an attack was extremely unlikely - who the hell would want to be out in the pouring rain anyway?!
BUT, it just so happened that someone was. An unwelcome lioness that often lurked on the borders and trespassed to scavenge what she could. Thabiti was instructed to hide in a rocky outcrop while the intruder was chased off.
Of course, she didn't.
From her hiding place, she glimpsed her friend, Shira, accompanied by her parents, traveling towards the gushing river. It seemed peculiar, at this time of night, and certainly in this weather. Silently, she crept from the small crevice and followed the trio, the sound of her paws squishing the sodden earth masked by thunderclaps overhead.
As they descended into the small gorge, Thabiti scampered along the edge, staring downwards at the small path that barely stood above the rising water level. She crouched low over the small precipice and settled just in time to watch with horror as Shira's father shoved her bodily into the floodwater.
Satisfied, they stepped back, and made to return to their den, as though nothing at all had occurred. That's when Thabiti made her move.
She flung herself from the edge, straight down into the raging waters and disappeared. Several lumps of rock and earth came loose from the small cliff behind her and tumbled in as well, just in time for the two traitors to see, and to be convinced it was merely a rockfall.
Thabiti fought the torrent with all her might, struggled to her drowning friend and held her above water until they drifted to a place where they could drag themselves out.
So, by pure luck, they survived that night, and even the following week by hunting mice, and small birds - just barely enough to keep them alive.
When a great golden lion crossed their path, followed by three lionesses, Thabiti knew what she had to do. She begged for salvation; she knew a lot, but she needed the skills that came with practice in a group of hunters, even temporarily until they could survive on their own.
The lion accepted, stating that it would be an injustice to leave them alone to starve. It was up to them if they wished to leave once they were old enough, but he was certainly happy to help.
He welcomed them as Adhabu, King of the Nomad Pride.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Shira began talk of leaving Sikia's pride, Thabiti was anxious at best. She wasn't keen to revisit their days alone in the wilderness, struggling to survive. Of course, they were much more adept now, with Thabiti a master huntress, but still.
Her view changed almost immediately when she was told of Najisi's plan - which, by the way, they carried out flawlessly. In no time, they were safely in Nuksi's territory...and they couldn't be happier.
Thabiti means 'firm' and 'steady' in Swahili.
|
