Elanna had settled back among the cubs, relating a story of her and Sarabi during happier times. The cubs...and even Darky...were sitting around her in silence as she talked about how they played and got in trouble with Muffy and Taka. Slowly though, as the story continued and the memories flooded back into her mind, tears began to form in Elanna’s eyes.
The cubs noticed this and Inwiena spoke up, “Auntie Elanna...this is a fun story...why are you crying?
Elanna smiled to her, using a paw to wipe her eyes, “Dearie...it’s just bringing back memories...good memories...before me and my sister got mad at each other.”
“You and your sister still fight?”
She shrugged, “I don’t know...it’s been so long since I have seen her...I do miss her though.”
“Why not go back then?”
Elanna chuckled and sighed, “It’s not quite that easy...if I thought I could, I would.”
Inwiena looked back to Ibura, her sister, “We fight...but we always say we sorry and we still love each other.” She looked back to Elanna, “Maybe you go say that to your sister?” She moved and placed a paw on Elanna, “Then you won’t cry no more.”
“Anymore.” Elanna licked the top of the cub’s head, “Maybe ...perhaps. If only I saw the world through your eyes...none of this would have happened.” She nuzzled the cub and smiled, “You have something special, a sister that loves you unconditionally...I only wish I had the same.”
The cubs looked at her sadly as Elanna lowers her head back down to her paws. Inwiena moved back to her sister and flopped down next to her, whispering, “I’ll never be mad at you.”
Elanna looked at the group...their mood now saddened by her story. “You don’t have to be sad for me...I have accepted my place in the circle.” She smiled softly. “Hey, if I hadn’t been in trouble there, I wouldn’t have met you! And I’m glad I met you. Now...who would like to hear another story?”
The ears of the cubs perked up and they nodded enthusiastically. Elanna was about ready to take a breath to start her story when Ujuzi and Wehu appeared.
“Hello Elanna,” Wehu said. “Keeping the cubs occupied?” She looked straight at Darky, who turned her head a bit from her.
Elanna looked at the two, “Hello my queen. Hello, Wehu. Yes...I was just telling them a story of my sister and I.”
Ujuzi prodded her daughter, looking at Elanna. Wehu jumped a bit at the prodding then looked to Elanna, “You have been making great progress with me in your hunting skills. So much, that I think it’s time that you join us. Darky, why don’t you take over?”
Elanna smiled a bit, ready to hunt. She rose slowly from the grass and yawned, shaking off the dead grass on her pelt. Amid the pleas of the cubs for her to say, she stretched out her body and muscles.