Anwar was wandering the pride lands, a more and more common pastime for the young cub. There was so much to see and hear… and the further he went from his den the more new things there were to be seen and heard. And the less likely he was to get dragged into some sort of silly game with his syblings. It wasn’t that he didn’t like playing, he was a cub after all and games had a strange sort of appeal for him. But there were much better ways he could be spending his time. There was so much that needed to be discovered. How was he ever to learn all that he needed to if he sat around the den playing tag with his various siblings?
Red eyes wandering around as he walked, taking in the sight of the endless blue skies and lingering on the occasional pride member as he passed, Anwar wasn’t going anywhere in particular. At this point there was so much he didn’t know that he really could have started learning just about anywhere…
“…blind with rage Lujayin went home. She vowed she would never be happy until she had eaten Aurnia’s liver and heart…”
The sweet little voice went on softly against the warm morning, carefully pronouncing each syllable and stumbling slightly over some of the words, with a few uncertain pauses. Her father had told her lots and lots of stories, in his deep wonderful voice, but try as she might Suha never could tell them just the way her father did. And if they weren’t told exactly the way he told them, then they weren’t right. Her daddy told the very bestest stories ever, with the most perfect voices and such delightfully frustrating pauses in all the right places.
So she was practicing, all alone out beneath a tree that whispered and sighed in the occasional breeze like an audience might. Someday. If she could just get this right…
…hm? Who was that?
Ears perked curiously as a young female voice went on and on about someone named Lujayin being enraged, Anwar slowed, then changed his direction. Who was this ‘Lujayin’? He hadn’t met most of the pride, but she certainly didn’t sound like a pleasant sort to meet. He’d like to know who to tread lightly around before something bad might happen. He didn’t want some Kajira, for she certainly sounded nothing like a sane Banu, to tear him apart to devour his liver!
“…hello?” he tried, pausing a few feet away from where the silver pawed Banu sat and spoke to what looked to be a perfectly ordinary tree. Who was she talking to? There was no one else there…
Suha jumped slightly, having managed to engross herself so completely into the story she was trying to tell that she hadn’t even noticed the other cub until he spoke. Startled, she leapt to her feet from where she’d been sitting to retell her father’s tale, turning quickly to see who it was.
It was a boy.
She was immediately a bit nervous. She still wasn’t quite sure how to act around male cubs. She knew Pads needed to be treated with respect, and that Banu her age were fun to play with. But boys her own age? Aside from family, she still wasn’t quite certain what to make of them… or how to act. Or what to do. Or say. Or… anything. Maybe someday she’d meet the one who was just right for her, and then she could hope and wish and perhaps hint that her father give her to him. But for now…
“Hello, my name is Suha,” she said politely, trying to think if she’d ever met anyone who looked like he did. Hmmm… no… “What’s your name?”
When the Banu jumped, Anwar flinched slightly, taking a half step back. He hadn’t meant to startle her! He’d only been trying to think of a way to ask who Lujayin was! He didn’t want to scare her or anything, especially since if he scared her she might not want to talk to him and then he’d never know…
“I’m Anwar,” he said as meekly as he could, trying to prove he wasn’t threatening her or anything. He didn’t mind acting meek or humble or weak, though he did hate feeling weak, so long as he could get what he wanted from it. “I was just wondering… who Lujayin was. She doesn’t sound very nice…”
And hopefully that would be enough to get her talking. He’d learned answering a question, like what his name was, wasn’t such a bit deal in return for learning more about them. Or the people they knew, in this case.
Anwar…Anwar… he was a totally new cub to meet. Maybe they could be friends? He certainly didn’t act much like a Pad… not how she pictured a Pad would act anyway. Suha had no way of knowing that the cub was only acting in order to get what he wanted. That anyone would have an ulterior motive was completely beyond her. Yes, she knew the world was more than flowers and starshine, but she saw no reason for anyone to try to deceive her...
“It’s nice to meet you, Anwar,” she said politely as she could, “And my daddy told me about Lujayin. She asked a bird who was the prettiest, and the little bird told her that her stepdaughter was far prettier than her. So she got jealous and decided she wanted to kill her so that she would be the most beautiful,” the Banu explained. She was happy to tell about the story, it was good to know all about the characters so she could tell their story even better!
Anwar offered the Banu a tentative smile as she said it was nice to meet him. He’d heard people say that before. Nice to meet you. Nice to see you. Have a nice day. It was all ‘niceties’, the words didn’t mean all that much. It was just a safe way to say hello. But he didn’t mind. It was good to learn anything, and it seemed like Suha was a polite sort of cub. Or at least, she seemed to try to be. Anwar wondered for a moment who her parents might be, she didn’t look like anyone he’d met yet… but then, there were so very many he had yet to meet.
As she went on to explain about Lujayin, Anwar felt himself grow more…disgusted? Nervous?
“Is…is she a Kajira?” he asked, puzzled. She didn’t sound like a Banu, but…hadn’t someone said there were no more Kajira in the pride? He’d heard it was thanks to his father, though how Tariq had done it Anwar didn’t know. All he knew was that his father was brave and powerful and very very smart. He could do anything, his father could.
Oh that was an interesting question. Suha tilted her head, feeling almost gleeful to have met someone else who was just as interested in the story as she was. He was a bit quiet and jumpy looking, but otherwise he seemed quite nice. And he liked her story! Or well, her daddy’s story. But he wanted to talk about the story, so that was still wonderful. Stories were the most amazing things ever, especially her daddy’s stories.
“Hm… no, I think she’s a Banu. She’s very sly,” Suha decided. “But I’ll ask daddy about it if you’d like, and tell you when I find out?” she offered, not wanting to give the wrong information. Even if it wasn’t really real. She still liked to be accurate in the stories. Who knew, maybe they had once upon a time been real. And Anwar seemed to be so very interested… how guilty would she feel if she steered him wrong?
Anwar nodded slowly as she explained. Lujayin…she sounded very dangerous. But hearing more about her made a delicious shiver run up his spine. Clever and sly enough to pretend to be a Banu? Now… instead of wishing to hide from her…he rather thought he’d like to meet her. How very knowledgeable she must be if she could fool everyone…
“Yes…I’d like that,” he replied when she offered to ask her father about it, offering her another smile. Her father must be very wise, to know something so secret. Perhaps Anwar could meet him one day, get to know him, and get to know some of his other secrets as well…
Suha nodded brightly, grinning back at the dark furred cub as he smiled at her. He was so shy! And quiet. And it was sweet how he wanted to know about her stories! Or her father’s stories. That she was practicing telling.
“Okay! I’ll ask him then,” she promised cheerfully, turning and bounding away towards the den. Maybe daddy would be home and she could tell him all about this Anwar and ask all the questions he wanted to know about the Truth of Silverbird…
Anwar was surprised when she sprang up like that and bounded away. He had half a mind to follow, but decided, instead, to wait. Maybe she would come back? He wasn't sure if her father would approve of her sharing such secret things, best not to risk trouble for either of them.
“Lujayin…I wonder how you got so cunning…” he murmured. The soft sighing of a stray breeze wafting through the tree was his only reply.
FIN
