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Dalili's parents were always very loving, but she had to say she was a bit of a daddy's-girl. It was difficult to swallow the fact that her mother would rather stay in their old home than stay with her, but that loss was nothing compared to her father's death.
Compared to that feeling of having to walk away from his still-warm body, sandwiched snugly between Asili and Imara so she didn't have the room to look back.
She almost wanted to run home to her mother - or at least try to - but she knew her father was right. There was no future in their old lands. Only death awaited her, and anyone foolish enough to reside there.
When they arrived in Achilia's lands, she was glad to be so surrounded by friendly lions and lionesses again. Sikia had become a sort of father figure for her, and Imara was more like a sister than a mother - they were good to be around, but she still missed having friends her own age.
She quickly became close friends with a black lioness named Giza, who taught her to climb trees.
Life was starting to work out pretty damn good for Dalili.
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A few days after their arrival in the new lands, Dalili went to Achilia and asked him for time to travel and find a mate. Sikia objected; he had grown very protective of Dalili since her father had died. Imara stepped in to state simply that regardless of Sikia's relation or not to Dalili, she was an adult now. She could make her own decisions.
Begrudgingly, Sikia backed down. Achilia gave him a stern glare, before turning to Dalili and agreeing with Imara. She was granted three days to find a mate, or return to the pride - any longer would be dangerous considering how little they knew of the territory. Sikia escorted her to the border.
But after three days there was still no sign of Dalili. Sikia blamed Achilia for his lack of foresight and demanded search parties be sent out. Achilia responded that it would only risk more lives - something he flat out refused to do in such a disadvantaged situation. He gave Sikia permission to leave and search for her, but none of the lionesses were permitted to go with him except Imara.
Sikia turned to her, but she planted her rump beside the King, staring him down, her mouth set firmly. In an angry huff, Sikia set off.
He was gone for days, then weeks. And when he finally returned, it was leading a small group of lionesses.
And carrying a haggard, filthy Dalili over his back.
He spat an angry snarl at Imara as they paraded into the territory, causing her to sit back, perturbed.
Finally, Achilia arrived to meet the group, escorted by Jivu and Nuksi, and accompanied by Majani, the herbalist. As Sikia lowered the weak lioness to the ground, she rushed forwards to tend to her. She spoke a few hushed and urgent words into his ear and he stood once more, pushing past the King without a word, and heading towards the dens.
Nuksi glared after him and Jivu looked worried. Achilia merely sighed.
They waited for hours outside the cave, heatedly discussing what had transpired whilst Majani did what she could. Dalili had been captured by a group of scouts from a rocky kingdom. They'd returned their prize to their King - an in-heat young lioness, healthy, and probably fertile. There she'd been abused, in more ways than one, but had remained strong enough to inspire other victims - an older lioness named Fala who had willingly joined the pride without realising her danger until it was too late, and an adolescent named Adhana, who was one of the King's bastard cubs - to help her escape.
Finally, Majani emerged from the den. She looked tense. She explained that Dalili's right hind leg had been seriously injured. It was unclear if she would be able to walk properly again, let alone hunt. And she was pregnant.
Sikia shot a snarl at Achilia, demanding a revenge strike, but the King bristled immediately. He was as concerned for her welfare as any other lion, but he flat out REFUSED to take such disrespect. Before Sikia knew what had happened, the King darted forwards and delivered a heavy smack to the guard's muzzle, flooring him without a word. He stood over the fiery lion, glaring down at him, but Sikia flipped out from under him, zoomed backwards and fled to nurse his bloody face, and his pride.
Achilia shook out his mane and sat back, grumbling, then composed himself and turned to welcome the newcomers and assign carers for Dalili...life went on. And Sikia would be back eventually.
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Sikia returned to apologise just hours later. Achilia was accepting - he didn't excuse the other lion's behaviour, but he was no stranger to tyranny...he understood. He told Sikia he would be on lighter guard duties - protecting the den for a time.
Sikia accepted. He was still angry at the King for lack of action...but at least he had the chance to make sure Dalili was okay.
Weeks after their return home, Dalili went into labour. She'd improved a great deal since returning home, but all the abuse had taken its toll. Of her two cubs born, only one survived. Dalili named her Zatiti, meaning 'strong'. She knew her daughter would be a fighter...just like her.
Dalili means 'sign' in Swahili.
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