Sandile tried to scratch a persistent itch behind his ear, but no matter what he did the irritation kept nagging at him. The adolescent male imagined it was his mane growing quickly enough for him to feel it, pushing him ever closer to the point where he would have to leave his birthpride. He didn't want to, but it was what was expected of him.
He had half brothers in the pride, other sons of Jasiri, but no one he felt he could talk to about this. Sometimes he wanted to approach the Ahluke Ifunci. They shared the same snowy white mane, one he was told was very similar to their father's. Ifunci hadn't left, and Sandile was curious to know why he made that decision.
Males staying as Ahluke were becoming a normal part of everyday life, if not a common one. However, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were looked down upon, especially by the traditionalist females. Like, oh, pretty much every female in his family.
---
Kokumo was watching the horizon, deep in thought. Since helping Han with her cubs she had started to consider approaching one of the leading males. Andhaka didn't feel like a good option, despite the fact that he had proved he could father strong daughters. He was too red, too foreign-looking, despite that dark mane. No, it had to be Bangizwe. Their current abaholi had both reached their position in a less than traditional way, but they had also both proved themselves many times since then. And she felt ready for cubs.Hers would not die, hopefully. While it was sad that some of Han's cubs hadn't survived it was good to see the three that had made it grow into gangly adolescents. The boy, Sandile, was sitting over there on his own. She decided to go greet him. She could always talk to Bangizwe later.
It was one thing to decide she wanted cubs, but actually acting on it... No, not right now. She shook her head and started walking. Staring at nothing would do her no good.
---
The sand colored young lion was startled to see an orange lioness approach him out of the corner of his eye. At first he thought it was his grandmother, as if merely thinking about tradition could summon her. He whipped his head around, but it wasn't Grandma Baie, it was one of his second cousins.
"Hello cousin Kokumo," he said, voice squeaking as if to remind him that he had some growing up to do yet. "How are you today?"
He still felt a bit twitchy, as if she would be able to read his thoughts somehow. He was afraid to leave like he was supposed to, but he was also deeply ashamed of the fact that he was thinking about not leaving.
---
Kokumo didn't have to be a mind reader to see that something was bothering the young male. His ears had twitched back when he noticed her, and she wondered if she had startled him. Hopefully he wasn't upset to see her.
"Hello Sandile, " she said, "I'm fine, thank you. I'm sorry if I scared you."
Her young cousin was just the distraction she needed, so no matter what he thought about it she intended to chat with him for a while. She'd helped a lot with Han's small litter, but her help was not needed as much when they grew and became more independent. Sandile had been a weak cub, not surprising given his coat and mane color, but he'd made it this far.
"Look at you all grown up," she said, "Before I know it you'll be off on your own."
---
The young male fidgeted. She hadn't scared him, because he wasn't a silly little scaredy cat, but he wasn't about to tell her he had thought she was his grandmother. Kokumo wouldn't want to be mistaken for an old-ish female even if Kokumos own mother was way older than his grandmother. Family life could be complicated in this pride. and if you pissed off the females it got waaaay complicated.
So instead of insisting she hadn't scared him he made a noncommittal noise and hoped she'd be satisfied with that and move on. She didn't. Apparently they were going to chat. Ugh.
"I guess," he said, not really meeting her eyes. When they were cubs Kokumo had seemed to have uncanny mindreading skills. The moment he and his siblings tried to do something awesome and maybe a bit not allowed she'd been there to spoil their fun.
Did it show that he'd been thinking about maybe not leaving? And if so - how mad would she be?
---
"What? Are you thinking about sticking around like Kayode?" she joked.
Sandile looked less than enthusiastic about leaving, but that was fairly normal in her experience. Some young males couldn't wait to leave and make a name for themselves in the outside world, but most seemed to be at least a little hesitant. Her own brothers had been meticulously survival-trained by Surtak, and had nothing to fear when it was time for them to leave. She had learned that it was unusual, and no other male cubs before or after Surtaks reign had received that treatment. Kokumo and her sister had enjoyed a much more traditional upbringing, raised by their mother and female relatives. She had never really lacked anything, but it didn't stop her from being incredibly jealous of her brothers and their special lessons from Surtak. And even with this training, Kayode had decided to stay, sort of.
Her young cousin hadn't received any special training, other than learning to hunt like any other cub. Hopefully he'd do all right, but she doubted they'd get to see him come back to challenge a leading male for a place in the pride. Would he be too weak to make it? The thought snuck up on her, but she quickly shrugged it off.
---
"No," he said, but after a pause he added, "I don't know." He traced a pattern with his paw in the dust.
No, not like cousin Kayode, because where would he get a vulture anyway? And he didn't much like the idea of having a tooth yanked out to show his loyalty to a bird or whatever. And as an Enda you would still be expected to roam outside the pride lands... He'd always been... weak. A bit sickly. Slower and more easily exhausted than his peers. He was genuinely scared of what would happen to him without the support of a pride. Sure, he almost always ate last, but he was fed. Out there all bets were off.
---
Kokumo blinked in surprise at the response to her joke. He was really thinking about staying, wasn't he? She studied the young lion with a more critical eye. He looked a bit awkward, like all adolescents, but he had always been small even compared to others his age. Perhaps it would be for the best if the boy stuck around. Han would be devastated if he died. Not that she'd ever know, probably, but still.
"Perhaps you should go talk to Kayode next time he's here," she suggested, "he can tell you a bit more about what it would take. To stay. There is the celibacy issue..."
It felt unnatural to suggest it, but Kokumo loved her auntie Han and wouldn't want her older relative to suffer. It might make her rest easier, knowing that her only son wouldn't just disappear. He'd have to reign in his raging male hormones, but other lions before him had managed to do just that.
---
Perhaps Sandiles hormones hadn't got that memo. Staying away from females didn't seem like that big of a deal. To him the "making babies" part of being a leading male appeared to be just another chore, like fighting challenging males. Neither of those tasks appealed to him much.
"Sure," he mumbled, not quite sure he could trust his ears. Was she really suggesting he'd look into staying? What? How? "But maybe don't tell grandma?"
He slunk away before she changed her mind and started yelling at him.
---
Kokumo watched her young cousin flee, and couldn't suppress a small smile. Nah, she wouldn't tell Baie... She might rat him out to Han, however.
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