"Sshhh! Seriously, Hyousa, I know you're a gossip but sometimes you have to be careful with what you say. You never know who may be listening and try to get in with the King by reporting things. Keep quiet."
The two lionesses were walking along the open grasses, the flowers dancing in the soft breeze in the warm night. The air around them was quiet, but Upenzi knew that there was always someone around. Since the start of the royal guards, ranks seemed to mean little...to a point. She was safe, being a Hostess, but sometimes she worried for others in her family. Those who were here...or even some of the old royal family members who went missing. She worried for a lot of things, but how could she not? She was tied into the happy occasions for the pride, but happiness seemed to be in short supply. It seemed like few were getting married, and there had been few births.
How were things to change if everything else remained so stagnant? She could only hope that some would still join...but. Mixed feelings filled her chest as she walked with Hyousa.
"What? I wasn't saying anything that bad," Hyousa laughed. "I'm just repeating what others are saying. Its not my fault that some of our fellow members are idiots." She had a little spring to her step, the gossip-driven lioness just thrived on all this chaos. She did her best to keep herself above it, but the more she talked, the deeper she was getting without realizing it.
"No, you need to stay quiet for once in your life. Nothing dramatic will happen to you, but still. You're not in the high class, so you're not as protected as some of the others. His guards could make your life difficult, even if nothing outwardly seems to be happening to you." Upenzi sighed. "I want you to be careful, my friend. None of us need more sadness."
Hyousa rolled her eyes and sighed, certain that Upenzi was just being dramatic. Everyone loved her! She was nice, just sharing the topic of the day, and made sure to not be mean to anyone. "Okay, okayyyy. Seriously, I don't think anything is that....dramatic."
Upenzi pushed Hyousa. "Really? He killed his own parents, of course its dramatic. He's proud of it too, since he seems to have kept his own paws clean. The Great Lion would recoil in horror if he realized what happened. Somehow he can't see it, for those who had committed the crime...really, Hyousa, what is it that you do all day? Daydream?"
Hyousa pouted. "I don't know, do you really think its his fault? Or someone who thought he'd be helpful? I'm not certain what to believe, and no one seems to be able to give out substantial proof either way. I just want everything to be...happy again."
"Happy will come. Just be patient and try to keep your head down a bit. I just...don't need to worry about anyone else. Especially you. Be strong, you're the head hunter. Keep everyone occupied so they won't get into any trouble." Upenzi smiled, giving her a much nicer nudge this time around.
"Besides, as long as you stay quieter than Uchanjaa you'll be ok. Granted...he's quiet, but everyone knows how angry he is at Shangyue," Upenzi said as she looked around. The moon was bright tonight, at least enough to see decently well. It didn't seem like there was anyone around, unless a black lion was lurking around.
"Yes. Even Uchanjaa...well, as long as you don't go tattling about me, then I think we have a deal," Hyousa said with a wink. She sat down in the bed of flowers, inhaling their sweet scent. It was nostalgic, reminding her of when she first joined the pride. She sort of missed that simpler time.
"Its crazy to think how much this place has changed," she said with a sigh. "I've never heard of a pride that has shifted power so many times. Perhaps it is all because of the Great Lion that it continues to happen." Hyousa wondered if it meant that He wasn't happy with what had been going on....but did that mean he was happy now? Or did they all have to wait to see it change again?
Upenzi didn't know how to answer that sort of question. She had spent her whole life here, and had seen many power shifts. She was amazed that her power hadn't been shifted, and her apprentice take her position. She could retire....and right now it was almost tempting.
"Well, at least I've got you convinced of something. Let's get back before someone comes looking for us. You don't really hunt this late at night, and the only thing I'd be doing out here is gather herbs or flowers. Besides..." Upenzi laughed, "There may be a male you're missing too."
Hyousa laughed. "Oh, you only wished it was something big so it would give you something to do!" Sure, she may have a little flirting to do, but she knew that it was nothing too seriously. "You'll have to look to someone else if you want to handle a marriage." Hyousa didn't think she would be getting married for quite some time! "Besides, shouldn't you look into getting married?!"
Upenzi sighed. "No. I feel too old now. Maybe I'll just copy my mother. It isn't so bad to grow up without a father, there's enough males around to help out if I need it." She waved a paw, unworried about it. Most of her family had grown up into respectable lions with good jobs, so why couldn't it work out the same with her family?
"Well...okay. I'll keep my eye out, just in case a good bachelor lion shows up," Hyousa giggled. "Besides, if you do that...well, you should make sure you have an apprentice all lined up."
Upenzi shrugged her shoulders. "Well I have one, but...I feel like his position may be in turmoil. I've been trying to keep him laid low just in case Shangyue's focus shifts to his uncles."
Hyousa sighed. "Well, I guess we'll see. Let's get back now, before I decide to tease you more!"
The two of them turned to enter the heart of the pride again, the little worry and rift between them settled. Hopefully everything would remain quiet, but the future was quite uncertain.
(1,067 words)
