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Description

With the end of the rain came an abundance of food for both predator and prey alike. Despite this abundance, I still had to abandon a kill occasionally, mostly to the heckling hyenas that usually followed the lions. It didn’t take the lions long to figure out that I was in their territory, however. Mostly, I stayed on the outskirts, hunting the prey that moved further away from the lake.

By the time the rains ended, I had become used to being alone. In fact, I found a strange comfort in it. I finally found where I fit in this world and even the herds seemed to have a grudging respect for me. I hunted only what I needed and left them in peace the rest of the time. In hindsight, I don’t think the herds even knew what to make of me and my brothers when we first arrived. It was as if they’d never even seen a cheetah before, which was most likely the case from what M’vita had told me. Now, however, they knew what I was and what I could do. Also, I was alone instead of in a hunting group like the lions.

As the spring progressed, I would catch fleeting glimpses of N’dugu at the edge of the horizon and smell his scent as I walked my territory. I know it was his way of making sure I was well and I was okay with that.

One evening in late spring, I heard the yelping of many dogs. They were still some ways off but their yips and barks echoed through the air. I turned toward the direction and caught just a glimpse of the pack running through the grasses, their white-tufted tails wagging in the air. I imagined I saw M’vita among their numbers but they were too far away to tell for sure. I sighed and lay my head across my paws. Someday…I thought.

Summer came early that year and was the fiercest I’d ever felt it. Many of the rivers shrank to mere trickling streams or dried up altogether. The water that was available was murky and filled to bursting with eager and cranky crocodiles. Even the fish suffered, many dying in the rivers-turned-mud. Their gills gasped in the open air as the fish suffocated. For some, this was a smorgasbord, a great variety of fish to dine on without the wasted effort of hunting for it. The waterfowl dodged the snapping jaws of crocodiles for the promise of an easy meal.

I worried about N’dugu since he relied so heavily on the rivers for survival. My worry, however, was short lived when I realized that I, too, was in danger.

Late one evening, the hierarchy of the lions changed. The great roaring of male lions startled me from my sleep. From what I could tell, three lions were battling for control of the pride. The sounds from the battle sent chills up my spine. I remember seeing one of these battles as a cub and the brutality of it gave me nightmares for days afterword. Some time later, we came across the old male that lost, his bones picked clean by the vultures. I feared what this change would mean for me.

By morning, the fight was over and two lions roared a message that could be heard for miles: “We are the new kings of this land!” I wondered if the other male survived. Pushing the thought passed me, I made my way to a stream I’d found a few days prior. After slaking my thirst, I left to find food.

Although I usually skirted the lake in search of prey, the dry summer forced me to move closer. The herds, those that stayed in the area, kept close to the only reliable water source and what was left of the green grasses. If I wanted to eat, I would have to follow them. As I moved closer to the water, however, I found the pride of lions lounging between me and the herds. There was no way for me to get passed them without them seeing. Despite the distracted males who were busy asserting their dominance, I knew the lionesses were alert as ever, especially given that many had young cubs hidden beneath their bellies.

I ignored my grumbling stomach and turned back toward the plains. I would just have to find something further out.

Description

With the end of the rain came an abundance of food for both predator and prey alike. Despite this abundance, I still had to abandon a kill occasionally, mostly to the heckling hyenas that usually followed the lions. It didn’t take the lions long to figure out that I was in their territory, however. Mostly, I stayed on the outskirts, hunting the prey that moved further away from the lake.

By the time the rains ended, I had become used to being alone. In fact, I found a strange comfort in it. I finally found where I fit in this world and even the herds seemed to have a grudging respect for me. I hunted only what I needed and left them in peace the rest of the time. In hindsight, I don’t think the herds even knew what to make of me and my brothers when we first arrived. It was as if they’d never even seen a cheetah before, which was most likely the case from what M’vita had told me. Now, however, they knew what I was and what I could do. Also, I was alone instead of in a hunting group like the lions.

As the spring progressed, I would catch fleeting glimpses of N’dugu at the edge of the horizon and smell his scent as I walked my territory. I know it was his way of making sure I was well and I was okay with that.

One evening in late spring, I heard the yelping of many dogs. They were still some ways off but their yips and barks echoed through the air. I turned toward the direction and caught just a glimpse of the pack running through the grasses, their white-tufted tails wagging in the air. I imagined I saw M’vita among their numbers but they were too far away to tell for sure. I sighed and lay my head across my paws. Someday…I thought.

Summer came early that year and was the fiercest I’d ever felt it. Many of the rivers shrank to mere trickling streams or dried up altogether. The water that was available was murky and filled to bursting with eager and cranky crocodiles. Even the fish suffered, many dying in the rivers-turned-mud. Their gills gasped in the open air as the fish suffocated. For some, this was a smorgasbord, a great variety of fish to dine on without the wasted effort of hunting for it. The waterfowl dodged the snapping jaws of crocodiles for the promise of an easy meal.

I worried about N’dugu since he relied so heavily on the rivers for survival. My worry, however, was short lived when I realized that I, too, was in danger.

Late one evening, the hierarchy of the lions changed. The great roaring of male lions startled me from my sleep. From what I could tell, three lions were battling for control of the pride. The sounds from the battle sent chills up my spine. I remember seeing one of these battles as a cub and the brutality of it gave me nightmares for days afterword. Some time later, we came across the old male that lost, his bones picked clean by the vultures. I feared what this change would mean for me.

By morning, the fight was over and two lions roared a message that could be heard for miles: “We are the new kings of this land!” I wondered if the other male survived. Pushing the thought passed me, I made my way to a stream I’d found a few days prior. After slaking my thirst, I left to find food.

Although I usually skirted the lake in search of prey, the dry summer forced me to move closer. The herds, those that stayed in the area, kept close to the only reliable water source and what was left of the green grasses. If I wanted to eat, I would have to follow them. As I moved closer to the water, however, I found the pride of lions lounging between me and the herds. There was no way for me to get passed them without them seeing. Despite the distracted males who were busy asserting their dominance, I knew the lionesses were alert as ever, especially given that many had young cubs hidden beneath their bellies.

I ignored my grumbling stomach and turned back toward the plains. I would just have to find something further out.