Zebras moved placidly through the high grass, their dizzying stripes flashing in and out of view between the trunks of a stand of acacia trees. It was late in the afternoon and the African heat had had plenty of time to mature; for most predators, it just wouldn't be worth the effort to chase after this lot, so the herd could take its time.
Kijani'laana was no exception. The stocky young lioness' eyes were half-lidded, lazily tracking the movements of the herd from her vantage point under the largest of the acacias. There were the two foals, barely visible through the protective legs of their mothers. This zebra here was large, but she'd bet that slight hesitation in her step would turn into a noticeable limp if she ran more than a few yards. The stallion watching Kijani warily stood between her and his harem, but their movements would be hampered enough by the trees that she'd probably have no trouble catching up...
But of course the herd would never have let her get so close if she had hunting on her mind. Kijani grinned and rolled over, causing one of the more skittish zebras to dance away a few steps. She'd had a good hunt just a few hours before, and was enjoying the luxury of turning this one down. A slight breeze rustled the leaves over her head, she had a full belly, and it was one of those rare days when Kijani'laana was happy enough to be who and what she was.
Life was good.
