Building an ‘empire’ within an empire was an extremely satisfying thing and Tabia could never complain of being bored or unhappy. Scheming and plotting and manipulating came as a second nature to the lioness and nothing pleased her more to see how well things were coming together. No one could deny that she and Ahnik were a great team indeed.
She lay in the dappled shade of one of the gathering of trees, her head up. From the scents on the wind she thought a hunt was taking place somewhere just out of sight. Tabia did not hunt as often as perhaps she should have but with so many capable ladies in the pride, she doubted anyone was forced to go hunting every other day.
It might seem strange for one such as Tabia to be so content with her life. She was an independent and fiercely proud lioness who, by all rights, should hate this masculine led group and how little her gender were looked upon. And yet, it had given her opportunities that no other pride would have. She could live her success through Ahnik and operate quietly without drawing any suspicion. After all she was just a female. Certainly she wasn’t capable enough to be so intelligent!! And the fact that everyone looked over her without much notice pleased her more than she would ever admit. Walking by in plain sight, playing them all for fools; except, of course, for the other females in Ahnik’s harem. They knew full well of what she was capable of and she was not beyond unleashing her claws if necessary.
Someone else approached her, another female, and she drew her ears back to show that she had acknowledged the presence a few moments before a pale form dropped down next to her.
Tabia knew the female. Her name was Najiyya. A flirty, round little female who was a part of Faiz’s harem alongside her sister and a number of other females. Tabia was more familiar with the pale one’s sister, Faeqa. Faeqa lacked the ambition that drove Tabia, but she was a dedicated lioness who was a hard worker and viewed her role as a supporter rather than an inferior. Tabia approved.
Naji, however, was a slightly different matter. She was playful, mischievous and often got herself into trouble with the males through inappropriate behaviour. It was never done on purpose, of course, and she was always sorry about it afterwards but it didn’t change the fact that she landed herself in difficult situations.
Tabia smiled, amused. “Good morning, Najiyya.”
“Hi Tabs! What are you doing?”
“Resting. Thinking.” She paused and then added: “Scheming.”
“Well that sounds…boring.”
“Where is your sister?”
“Out on the hunt – as always! Doesn’t anyone know how to have fun anymore?” She stretched. “It’s all work, work, work, all the time.”
“I have fun. It’s just not your type of fun.”
“So what is your type?”
Tabia gave the white female a lidded look. “That would be telling.”
Najiyya pouted, flicking her tail against the ground. “Everyone’s being so cryptic nowadays. Is it the new fashion or something?”
Tabia blinked and cast the white female a curious look. “What do you mean, cryptic?”
Najiyya smiled: “That would be telling.”
