No Fear Friendship Club

A little whoosh broke the usual hubbub of the Jungle’s noises. It was the sound of paws through leaves. No sooner had it begun than a light brown bundle skidded into Shabaha’s side.

Though she was older than the dusky lioness, Kasi was significantly smaller. That was okay though. Shabaha never held it against her...especially not since Kasi had learned this trick! She would pump her skinny legs and rush headlong at someone and let her momentum make up for “lack of body weight” (as Queen Zira called it.) So when she came to a stop, she could bowl whoever it was over! Bonus, she kept her own footing.

The shadowy eyespots crinkled, a teasing grin pointed at her friend.“No ya can’t! No thorns for you!”

Shabaha was awesome. Of course, the stunted girl thought all of her little family, consisting of girl cubs, were awesome. But it was super true about Shabaha because she had the crazy-bravery of an angry elephant all the time. Except sometimes she forgot she wasn’t as big as an elephant, or as thick-skinned. Then she’d get things stuck in her pads or twist her paw or bonk her head and be no good the next time they had huntress training. Any time even one of their little group had to sit out, Kasi felt it like a pit in her heart where quicksand could form.

Of course, she wouldn’t show that around anyone else. Cursed Thorns were supposed to be tough and ruthless, even with their friends. When she was alone with them, though, Kasi showed off her warmth and adoration freely. She couldn’t help it.

The indigo eyes narrowed to a squint just above Kasi’s panting. “Remember what happened last time?”

"But if she gets prickled, then there was no use getting the mouse anyway. Besides, it's only hard if you can't see it." Tazama retorted, glancing up at Vitani. The sandy lioness was one of her best friends, but sometimes Tazama swore that she was only there to goad them into trouble.

"Here, let me see," Tazama said, padding over to the bush. She looked into the dark thorns, her sharp eyes looking for any sort of movement or sign of life. She could make out a sort of grey blob underneath the thorns worming and moving it's way towards the edge of the bush. In a few moments, Tazama knew it would be the right time to pounce.

"It's right there," she said, pointing with her paw. "It's kind of hard to see, but it's moving. If you concentrate real hard, you can see it." She moved her paw with it so Kasi and Shabaha would follow the mouse as well. There was a small nugget of pride in the cub's chest as she could see what no one else could. "Wait until it's out of the bush and then pounce. Then you won't get pricked and you get your treat." The small lioness was pleased with herself and she hoped her friend was, too.

Little sharp eyebrows shot up. Kasi was light on her feet, and even quicker to take in the arrival of her other friends. Vitani always looked so queenly no matter how she made her entrance—Kasi was blissfully blind to the ragamuffin lioness’s frequent bursts of temper and ferocity that were anything but dignified.

And here was Tazama, looking for the mouse! She had such great eyesight. Kasi couldn’t wait to hunt with her one day; they already worked like a well-seasoned team toghether. When her turqoise-gazed friend was around, the older cub didn’t have to worry about missing anything. She crouched to try and see what the other girl was indicating, and didn’t mind admitting, “”Well, I can’t see it, but I bet you’re right.”

Aaaand Shabaha was back in the thorns. Because she’d been squatting, this time Kasi only had a moment to throw her shoulder in the way, but the crazy friend shoved right past to a prickly fate.“Woah!”

Well, at least she wouldn’t waste the Shabaha’s effort. “Haraka-haraka!” She cried determinedly, leaping over her buddy’s rump and splashing through the leaves of the jungle. Not as keen as Tazama, maybe, but Kasi could see the blue of movement fleeing the thorns, now.

In a single leap she’d caught the little thing by the tail and landed nearly nose-to-nose with Vitani. Kasi lifted her head proudly, fin of fur bouncing between her ears.“Er goddit!” Mumbled the happy lioness through clenched teeth. She wanted to add ‘great work’ to her playmates, but that would mean letting the mouse go.

"Very impressive, Vitani," Tazama said with a small giggle. She knew her friend liked to show off, be the leader and of course she had every right. Not every lioness got to hang out with the undisputed Princess. Taz just considered herself lucky to be in the group. Well to have good enough eyesight to be in the group. While Vitani could be dominating, Shabaha brave, and Kasi fast, Tazama knew her role well as the keenest. Not only in eyesight, either.

"Where did you learn to do that?" Tazama asked, sitting on her haunches. "It's a neat trick." She always wondered how Vitani could learn to do perfect pounces and stellar catches without missing a beat. She assumed it was from all the training. It didn't matter, though. Tazama was with her friends and she was ready to relax.

"Any other interesting rodents out there, Shabaha?" Taz called over to her wild friend. Shabaha always had the wildest knack for finding the weirdest creatures. Especially in the jungle.