Unyenyezi lay in her favourite resting place, bent over backwards to smooth the fur on her back down with her tongue. Her fur had tarnished from the more delicate silver of her youth to a grey colour and she wasn’t vain but it was just proper to keep oneself tidy, no? Especially when you intended to go see your king.
*
Unyezi was out for a walk, thinking over some things that he had to do. There wasn't a great deal that he had to concern himself with nowadays, things were peaceful. His main concerns involved family, those who were still lost and keeping up to date on things happening within the pride. He was still trying to understand how he came to be an uncle through Njiru before Khathelela- Lela was dedicated, but she was certainly much more.. cheerful and social. Everything involved Njiru made him think more about Ally and how she looked like her uncle, and how he'd been his main concern when it came to her safety and loyalty. He'd been unable to catch Ally for a quick lesson for the afternoon, so he wandered around the lands on his own, keeping his eyes open for anything unusual or anywhere he might be needed.
*
Finishing her grooming, the historian got to her paws and stretched before wandering towards the prides centre; where most lions lingered together in the day. It took a while but it wasn’t too long before she spotted the familiar white-brown-blue of Unyezi in the distance. Seemingly he was out for a walk. With a few smiles at others as she passed though, she made a beeline for him.
“King Unyezi?”
*
Everything seemed as peaceful and calm as usual, it didn't seem like anyone was in great need of talking to him- or so it seemed at first, and he was looking in the wrong direction as Zizi approached him and called out. He turned around when he heard his name, and spotting the historian he smiled. Ally had gone on and on about how Zizi was her friend, about how much fun she'd had hanging out with the older lioness. They were an unusual pair, but it was nice that she was being so kind to Alcmene.
"Unyenyezi," he greeted her.
*
“Everything well with you and yours? Little Alcmene?” She questioned.
Drawing closer, the old female bobbed her head politely and asked after his family. She hadn’t seen her little friend Ally yet today though perhaps she’d see her later. Zizi adored the cub and enjoyed spending time with her, unlikely as it seemed. She’d never had children of her own and never had a real friend so young since she was that young herself. It was sort of…refreshing.
*
"Yes, thank you," he replied with a bright smile, "Alcmene has told me all about you two beings friends, thank you for being so kind to her." It would be easy for an adult to humor a cub, to entertain them, but to truly have an influence and create a friendship.. that was rather unique. If Ally had not been born into her position he would have been sure she could have made a very nice apprentice for the historian. That thought, however, reminded him of the disappointing fact that Dinaledi used to hold that position and hadn't quite met any standards for the position he'd left it for. His old friend had become quite the interesting adult.
*
“Oh it’s my pleasure. She’s a delightful girl, I’m sure you’re very proud of her.” Zizi praised then after a beat she decided to get the ball rolling and ask what she’d intended to.
“I was wondering if you might have known where Dinaledi might have gone? I haven’t seen him around lately and though it’s no longer my business to keep track of him especially closely I was rather curious.”
*
"I am very proud of her," Unyezi agreed in a very pleased voice, he couldn't have asked for a better bunch of cubs- he and Aure were very lucky, in his opinion. Very lucky, some things considered- but they didn't talk about that. He would probably never tire of hearing good things about his daughter, and he hoped that it would never end for her. He had to deal with Njiru and anyone who sympathized with him.. but those who did now were very few and far between. In fact, Njiru was alone in his opinion as far as Unyezi knew. But still, Unyezi hoped that Ally never had to worry about that- he would do his best to help her be as good and fair at her job as possible.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Dinaledi was brought up, though he wasn't too surprised.
"I'm not sure where he went," he said with a shrug, "He disappeared shortly after he'd requested to step down from his position as your apprentice and take the position his mother held when I was young. He recently returned, though. But needless to say, I'm not sure he qualifies to nanny the cubs if things like that are going to happen."
*
“Hmm…well, if he should want his old apprenticeship back, if he’s unsuited to look after the little ones…” Zizi frowned, taking in the information and turning it around in her head. On the one paw, no one of the younger generation had been trained by Sini'ngozi or herself and Sini now had her own cubs to look after too. Zizi being older and with more free time to devote to it, in her mind, should really have one. But on the other paw, Dinaledi had had his chance and turned it down in favour of his new position which he’d then been irresponsible about. Vanishing and changing about did not suit a historian, Zizi thought. A historian should be reliable. Not change their mind and vanish.
“I don’t know.” She sighed.
*
Unyezi knew this conversation was long overdue, but most importantly it was one that had to be had with Dinaledi. But before he spoke with Dinaledi, Unyezi would be happiest knowing how Zizi stood in this situation. Dinaledi had been given the opportunity to switch out of friendship and entitlement that came with being high class, but Unyezi respected Zizi. And the less drama there was in a position, the better the chances that they would continue to maintain it, to fill it with well qualified individuals. He didn't comment as Zizi hesitated, letting her complete her thought before saying anything.
"I haven't spoken to him about it yet," he said, "He has had a certain about of power over this where he is high classed, but despite your being lower than him I'm going to leave it up to you. You have the right to replace him as you see fit or to allow him to return. The only lion who absolutely must have an apprentice is Shira. Between you and Sini, you should probably have at least one."
*
“That is very kind, my king.” Zizi said, thankful she had senority in the matter. She had of course known her former student outranked her but it was nice to know what she thought mattered.
“I myself may not have many seasons left – in a season or two I’ll be a true elder. Sini is a fine lioness and a good priestess. With her cubs I doubt she’ll have time to also train an apprentice in the meantime but she is young and strong so there is no pressing need for someone to be trained now. And yet I would like to pass on what I know, and to someone reliable, before I grow too old. I think perhaps Dinaledi would do better to find another position, hopefully one he’s passionate about, as I am about my job as historian.”
She didn’t really mean to slight the younger male, but she’d been a bit hurt when Dinaledi had switched jobs and truly, he position was an important one.
*
Unyezi nodded, hearing her out and seeing exactly where the conversation was going. Zizi's more advanced age compared to Sini had been why she'd been offered an apprentice first, and now that Sini had cubs it was another reason that it would lean more to Zizi. It was lucky that she was so keen on the idea, though. He nodded when she finally voiced her opinion on Dinaledi taking back the job, completely understanding her position on the subject. If he could so easily decide to abandon his post, then it just might not be the best job for him.
"I understand," he nodded, "I will have to talk to him soon, I'm sorry this hasn't worked out for you. As for selecting a new apprentice, options are fairly limited at the moment. My two sons haven't had any positions selected for or by them yet, though I wouldn't be surprised if they'd been talked into being guards with all the stories about the Queen's family. And then there is only Indu for upper-middle class youths to pick from."
*
“I thought as much. As they grow I’ll keep an eye on them, see if any have ambition for it.” Zizi nodded as he mentioned the three possible candidates. She knew of Indu of course and the two princes. With Queen Aure’s family history it was likely the two boys would prefer to be guardslions, and beyond her particulars Zizi wasn’t familiar with Indu. Maybe she’d be lucky and the yellow girl would fancy the job and be as wonderful as Ally. Still, slim pickings really, not that there was anything Zizi could do…unless…
“On another matter, I was wondering if I might have your permission to leave the pride lands temporarily? There was something I wanted to find and I can’t find it here.”
*
"Take your time deciding," he said reassuringly, not wanting to rush a decision on this subject. The cubs would grow, she would get to know a bit about them and decide what would be best for the position. Unyenyezi was more experienced with her position than Unyezi was with his position and the knowledge expected to come with it, he was not wrong to put his trust in the right expert on the matter. He was caught off guard by the request to leave the lands. Considering how Dinaledi had gone off on his own without warning recently, it was nice to have some warning. But on the other paw, Zizi had an important job and no apprentice. Settling in was still fairly recent, he did not wish to lose any more of their members where still there were many who were lost.
"You have an important job here," he reminded her, sounding as reluctant as he felt, "Why do you wish to leave?"
*
“I promise, any new knowledge would be learnt swiftly when I return.” She tried to assure him. When she’d found the pride again, having been lost, she’d learnt what she’d missed quickly enough. Then she paused, just for a second. Zizi had never lied beyond little white lies to make things better. It felt wrong to deceive Unyezi – but if she failed (which was likely) or even if she succeeded what an embaressing thing to explain!
“I heard rumor of my brother and his family. He left not long before the war started, with his lover and their cubs, and while I was trying to get home to the pride I didn’t want to get more lost pursuing it. But now we’ve settled I could easily go for a short time and see if there’s any truth in it. I can also keep my eyes and ears open for any of our other members who’re lost while I’m gone.”
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