FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A long tail of dust trailed behind the rugged vehicle traveling over the equally rugged terrain. The harsh sun above never seemed to blink with its radiant heat across the largely flat landscape. The sweat and dirt collected on my brow as my pack of belongings jostled beside me in the bumpy ride. I had left the civilized world behind for a period of time to study one of the remote lion tribes located in the hot savanna. It was downright shocking to imagine that people still lived a life of hunting, gathering, and herding with only a little farming. But I had the utmost fascination to see it all for myself. Growing up with books in hand, there was always a strong love of history present in my life. All the way through my studies, experiencing the past was one of my highest goals. How could I turn down an opportunity to witness what would otherwise be typed words in a dusty book?

A man of age and experience sat beside me, smiling brightly despite every bump the vehicle ran over. The hat he wore was more reminiscent of the British colonial period, akin to something a time traveler would wear. However, it was oddly fitting for a place that had changed little in over a thousand years. He appeared far more excited than me to go on our expedition, and live with the lion villagers for a few weeks. Our goal was to study the tribal group and document our experiences before moving on.

The tall dry grasses and patches of dirt we crossed over were wild and dry. Acacia trees and small brush dotted the horizon wherever I looked. The amount of wildlife inhabiting the savanna was equally breathtaking. Wildebeest, giraffes, and gazelle dotted the landscape along with zebra, impala, kudu, ostriches, and hartebeests. Looking at photographs paled in comparison to seeing the wide open scenery in person.

Small structures came into view over the next gentle bend in the earth. Small domed huts made of mud, wattle, sun baked bricks, and thatched reeds were the first manmade buildings we had seen in hours.

"Luhanga." The professor beside me smiled broadly. That was the name of the village, as well as the immediate surrounding region that belonged to it. Populated by a small group of tribal lions, it was going to be our home and place of study for the next three and a half weeks. Our jeep pulled up just outside the village where one particular figure was ready to greet us.

"Doctor Renault! It's wonderful to see you again!" A dark maned lion spoke jovially with a booming deep voice as soon as we jumped out of the vehicle. "Welcome! Welcome back to our village."

"Thank you! It's good to return after so many years." He smiled and they shook hands. I couldn't help but notice how strong the lion was compared to us. "This is my friend." Dr. Renault motioned to me. At first glance I was afraid to approach the jovial feline. His arms reminded me of tree trunks. The large hand gripped mine and shook.

'He's stronger than steel!' His protruding belly made me realize that he was not immune from leisure, but it didn't lessen his grip on my hand.

"It's nice to meet you." I was happy to have my hand back at my side. Other villagers were quick to notice us, and soon we were surrounded by several curious lion villagers. Little ones of varying ages surrounded the jeep and prodded its hard exterior. Everyone we saw wore loincloths around their waists to cover their groins, but little else was worn.

"They really are barely clothed." I mumbled in mild surprise. Reading about it in a book was one thing, but actually seeing it was another. Maybe one or two adult females wore something like a cloth around their chest, but that was the exception.

"Come join us at the fire. We accept you two as our guests properly." He led us with many other lions like an entourage within the village of huts and bare dirt. A large fire was prepared while we greeted what felt like every villager who lived there. Young and old, male and female; I had a feeling that we were meeting an entire town of people. We eventually gathered around the fire with the villagers and took our seats. Dr. Renault and the village leader talked about various things while I watched the celebratory mood unfold around us into the late evening. As the sun set, the bonfire roared with life rivaling the sun. Large wooden bowls of food were passed around. One bowl passed by and I wasn't too sure what I was eating, but I liked the taste. Several lions and lionesses began dancing around the fire pit. They carried fans made from ostrich feathers, tall narrow shields with feline faces, and wore lengthy beaded necklaces adorned with little bones. Several even danced holding animal skulls or rattled painted sticks with empty dried gourds clacking together. Drums were beaten in a fast lively rhythm and many of the villagers clapped as they started singing. The laughter and voices shouted jubilantly.

"What exactly is this?" I prodded Dr. Renault to catch his attention above the noise.

"It's a song and dance about the rainy season, an important cyclical change, although we won't see much rain if any in the next three weeks."

"Nin cho-bohu ma-hega!"

"Chin-de-yofaaaa!"

"Ille ma-no Sa-hega!" They sang the traditional song. I was given a rough translation.

Come Celebrate!

We have come with our wives!

We have come with our husbands!

We are all here,

dancing by the great fire!

Rolling onto my side, I felt everything around me turn a little slower. Last night's meal weighed on my mind... and my stomach.

"Ugh." I drew in a hasty breath, hoping nothing would come up. Last night's events replayed in my mind like a movie clip as I felt the sleeping bag underneath me. There was lots of dancing, the smell of smoke, and plenty of food. That last thought made my uneasy. I sat up and hoped that I didn't have food poisoning. Blinking my eyes open halfway, I stared at the thin tent that had been erected sometime after midnight. I distinctly remembered Dr. Renault saying the other night that it would be our 'hut' during our stay. As if on cue, the tent ruffled as Dr. Renault entered.

"Morning." I sluggishly spoke.

"Are you getting used to the local cuisine yet?" He laughed.

"What exactly did I eat?"

"A lot of game that was caught prior to our arrival. Here. I made some tea before you woke up." He handed the cup to me.

"Thanks." I drank the bitter brew and laid back. "Why are you wet?" I noticed the grey mustached man with obvious signs of being soaked.

"I took a bath when the sun rose. The water was still warm from the night, and it was refreshing to wake up." He spoke like he had gone to a nice restaurant.

"A bath? Where?" All I remembered was a trail of dust behind the jeep.

"In the river of course!"

"Aren't there crocodiles in the river?"

"Well, yes." He offhandedly admitted. "But I didn't see any." I couldn't believe what I was hearing and sipped more of the tea. Sometimes I didn't think he knew what the word risk meant. "Feeling better?" He asked after a minute.

"Yeah. My stomach was not happy when I woke up. Thanks for the tea."

"Sure. Come on out when you're ready then. This is our first full day in Luhanga. We need to make the most of it." His souls brimmed with eagerness for adventure despite his age. I hastily dressed when he left the tent.

'I didn't think I would have trouble keeping up with the old man.' I downed the remainder of the tea before exiting the tent. Bright sunshine stung my eyes as I emerged into the village. The simple huts replaced buildings of concrete and brick; there were no sounds of rush hour traffic; no pavement to cross, only dirt. The entire decent was quiet and peaceful.

"Let's take a walk around the village since we have some daylight to see by." Dr. Renault offered and immediately set out. We weren't the centers of attention like we had been the previous evening and night. The doctor and I were treated like visitors instead of celebrities. Anyone who saw us kindly smiled or greeted us. Compared to the night before everything was calm and quiet, but the villagers still wore virtually no clothing. Nearly every lioness was bare chested like any male, but no one seemed to care save for me. The loincloth was the only standard garment for anyone over the age of four or five. Below that age there wasn't much point.

"They may not look it, but they're actually around my age." Dr. Renault told me as we approached two seated lionesses outside of a hut. "A lion doesn't age noticeably to the human eye. You'll have to look for subtle hints like more white hairs around their faces, an aged voice, or scars."

"Scars?" I felt a little skeptical.

"Of course." He nodded without missing a step. The pair of older lionesses were weaving baskets made from reeds gathered from the riverside. Their bulky fingers worked effortlessly with the natural material while chatting amongst themselves. Their chests had a noticeable sag from age, but I was more surprised to see small scars on both of their bodies. One had a lengthy mark on her leg, and the other had a pair on her arm and shoulder. 'Even the lionesses are fighters.' I realized.

"Hello ladies." Dr. Renault had no fears talking to both felines.

"Hello."

"Hi." Both smiled and greeted us.

"Do you mind if we try weaving with you two?" Dr. Renault pointed at their half finished baskets.

"Please join join us!"

"Yes, sit right here with us." They kindly offered. We joined the older ladies as they handed us their partially woven reed baskets. I stared at the item without a clue what to do.

"Do I pull these here?" I hesitantly moved something only to receive an immediate answer.

"No, no, human. Put it through like this." She had no qualms about reaching into my lap and helping me weave the next section of open strands together. "Just do that."

"I might get this finished in a month."

"It might take me a year!" Dr. Renault said making the lionesses laugh. We were more trouble than we were worth, but it was actual hands on experience making something I otherwise took for granted at a store.

"They're so kind..." He politely waved as when we eventually departed. "Let's see what else we can find." The village was alive with activity, although I personally didn't know where to look next. The soft knocking sound of rock being fletched against rock caught the professor's ears.

"What's going on here?" Dr. Renault curiously peered at another little scene at village life. A male and female were working on making primitive weapons, although a lot of skill went into hands rafting every single item. The male chipped the stone for a sharp edge while the female wrapped the stone tip to the end of a slim wooden pole. She effectively made a spear to use for hunting large animals. Just imagining that a few thousand years ago, every Stone Age person was doing the same thing to an extant. Yet, here the lions were, still doing it.

"Wow, they're weapons really are made of stone." I touched the worn tipped point of a spear leaning idly on a hut. "It's very sharp too." I was careful not to cut myself. I didn't need a creative imagination to see how deadly it could be during a hunt.

"Of course it is. Nothing here is for display only." He joked as we kept walking.

"It's amazing that they still make everything by hand; bows, arrow, spears, everything."

"The history is very interesting for the region. You can imagine the entire region being similar to what this village is like now. The colonial government brought a tentative peace to the country, albeit it at a cost. Before that borders were always shifting and enforced through ethnic ties and marriages. Little skirmishes and wars sparked like wildfires only to be doused like an ember in the rain. When colonialism ended, the coast modernized around the capital, but large swathes of land remained the exact same, untamed. There are still hyena villages, wild dog villages, leopard villages, and cheetah villages similar to this one; but their practices all differ despite the same savanna location. The majority, however, have quickly accepted modern amenities like clothes and bicycles. You won't be able to see places like this forever."

"What made you decide to visit this lion village for the first time Dr. Renault?" I asked.

"I wanted to study remote people who had changed little overtime. That led me to the savanna, although it was a funny story of how I ended up here." He gave a characteristic smile.

"What happened?"

"Before I planned on visiting the people here directly, I was surveying the land by myself. I was overconfident about doing everything on my own, which unfolded into a disaster. One day I had stopped and looked around when I accidentally fell off the jeep and bumped my head."

"Ouch."

"That's what I said." He joked. "However I woke up not knowing where or who I was. It was crazy. But after a long day of wandering around a pack of lions on the hunt found me. I was fascinated with them, and they took me in and cared for me."

"How did you regain your memory?"

"It gradually came back over a few days, but it was funny that I had managed to arrive at the lion village without even realizing it. Everything worked out perfectly." He smiled as we passed by another hut and a pair of dead trees. Just ahead several lions were grouped together, surroundings two males sparring in the center.

"What's going on here?"

"It looks like a wrestling match. We can watch." He eagerly walked up to the lions. The little group cheered and roared as the darker maned lion bested the lighter maned one.

"They're very skilled." I watched as they cleared the open area.

"I think only the males wrestle each other for serious matters. This helps settle small disputes, but it's also an important sport for them."

"So do the females not wrestle?"

"Oh no, far from it." Dr. Renault was serious. "Even though a male is stronger, you should never underestimate the strength of a female. She can almost best any male." He informed me.

'No wonder lions, tigers, and bears dominate wrestling in the Olympics...' I thought to myself.

"Deciding strength and prowess is very important. It helps develop the body for the difficulties of life, and it's a fun sport." He told me before taking a step forward. "I will wrestle someone!" He yelled. My eyes widened as I watched the professor join a sparring partner in the ring. I looked at the tall brown maned male.

'He will kill Dr. Renault!' I worried for his well being. No one else seemed worried even as the pair tangled. The contest was one sides as the lion took the professor down with ease. His hat popped off his head like a breeze had whipped him. There were a few congratulatory cheers for both participants as the lion helped the professor stand up. He returned worn out and tired to the spot right beside me.

"I'm out of shape." He smiled regardless.

"Why in the word did you do that? You could've broken your arm or something worse."

"It's all good fun." He waved a hand dismissively.

"Is there anyone that I can best?" I half joked. My words resulted in several of the lions excitedly chattering amongst themselves, and eyeing me courageously. The professor eyed me peculiarly.

"What did they think I said?"

"It sounds like you're being boastful." He warned me.

"Show us!"

"Wrestle a lion." Several villagers began goading me and pushed me forward into the dusty "ring."

"Hey! Hey! I don't want to wrestle." I pleaded. "I don't know how!" My words fell on deaf ears. 'Uh oh.' I watched as a lioness entered the open space. Apparently there was no issue with her being topless while wrestling since she only wore a loincloth.

"Bashira." She introduced herself before readying a stance. Her golden eyes petrified me. I looked over her body only to develop a sinking feeling in my gut.

'Her abs are rock solid.' I gritted my teeth at the feline's slim and muscular torso. I felt terrified as I prepared myself. The small group cheered as she charged me with blinding speed. The collision of our bodies nearly knocked me over like a wave of thunder. Arms quickly grappled and tossed me down. I hit the ground and Bashira pinned me before I could make sense of the world spinning around me.

"I'm done!" I smacked the dusty ground to surrender. The lioness hesitantly released me before climbing off. I felt dazed at what had happened to me. I had been bested by a lioness in mere seconds. Standing up, I steadied myself.

"You need to wrestle more." Bashira grinned and patted my shoulder.

'She is really rough.' I rubbed my jaw feeling the sting of defeat, and hoped that my body wouldn't complain about my beating too much...

The strong smells of unknown substances burned inside my nose. After being in the village for several days, we had become aquatinted with much of the tribal village's basic way of life and its people. Now we were discovering more spiritual elements of the lion village. Dr. Renault and I were inside a special hut. The dim light hid everything from direct sunlight, reflecting our own limited knowledge about the lion village's more sacred aspects. The shaman's hut was mystical and had a sense of magic despite being primitive in nature. Gourds hung along a fibrous string, giving hollow rattles when moved in unison. Ostrich feathers, antlers from various animals, and bones were visible around us.

Seated before us was a male lion of considerable age. His dark mane had lost all of its youthful luster, and his face looked tired. Despite all of this his limbs still appeared strong.

"I will share the sacred story of our people with you." The elder male rattled the gourd in his hand. "This is as important as the story of how fire and water were created." He mentioned before clearing his throat. I sat up eager to listen.

"Long, long ago." The elder male began. "The jackal god Shekewem was a trickster and he sought to make a fool of anyone who he feared was as smart as him. It is said that nowadays his spirit inhabits those who are careless or lazy to perform evil deeds."

"The land at this time was nearly lifeless. It never rained. All of the plants were dry and there was little food to be found. There were no rivers, only little lakes that were far apart. When a lake dried up, then the lion tribe had to move to the next lake. They would live there until it dried up, continuing the cycle. There was one lion in the tribe named Ayuja.

Ayuja never failed to find the next lake. He was praised by his tribe for his resourcefulness and wit. Always cunning, he never wanted to see a member of his family, or a friend die from thirst."

"This made the trickster god Shekewem jealous." He made a frowning face and held his hands out. "One day Shekewem told the other gods that he could make a fool out of Ayuja. He wanted to turn Ayuja into a prideful lion. One day the jackal god approached the lion tribe when they were searching for a new lake. They had been walking for days without luck. Shekewem lied and said that he was a little benevolent god of fortune. With his power, the jackal claimed he could turn Ayuja into two things." The shaman held up two fingers.

"He told Ayuja that he could become the mightiest king that ever ruled the entire earth. His feats would ring throughout every land until the end of time itself. Even the gods would celebrate his greatness. Or he could choose to become a river, the lowest thing in the world that everything drank from and waded into." The storyteller explained the two choices the young lion warrior had. I looked at Dr. Renault who seemed very focused on the story. I wondered what the mythical lion warrior would do. I wondered what I would do in such a situation.

"Ayuja immediately made his choice without hesitation and turned into water and splashed onto the ground. Shekewem laughed at the puddle that used to be the proud and smart warrior Ayuja. Everyone watching began to cry, because they mourned the loss of the person they loved. The tears of his family and friends caused clouds to gather. Loud thunder silenced their wails of grief. Suddenly rain poured from the darkened sky to everyone's shock. The rain patterned onto the ground and pooled into one source, the very first river where it flowed for all to quench their thirst. Everyone ran forth and enjoyed flowing water for the first time. They praised Ayuja's name greater than they would for any king, vowing to never forget his sacrifice. Shekewem the trickster was so surprised that he disappeared and never returned to the surface of the earth again. Every day we drink, filling ourselves with Ayuja's strength, the water. We bathe using his essence. His sacrifice for a humble purpose allows the land's survival, the animals' survival, and our survival. Ayuja gave up everything he had, all of his mighty self fulfilling potential, for everyone else to live a better life than he did." The shaman concluded the story with a bow.

"That was an incredible telling of a story!" Dr. Renault proclaimed.

"Thanks for telling is the story." I chimed in.

"Thank you for listening." The elder lion bowed his head deeply and motioned with a hand for us to leave. We thanked the elder again, and upon leaving the hut I quickly began writing down in my notepad.

"Are you writing down the story from earlier?" Dr. Renault asked.

"Yes. I liked the story. I was half expecting something simple, but it was really interesting."

"Good to hear it."

"Are we going to do something else before lunch?"

"Well, I don't have anything arranged with the chieftain right now." He admitted. It was mid morning, so we had plenty of time to decide what else we wanted to observe. "Did you want to try weaving reeds again?" Dr. Renault grinned cheekily.

"No, let's focus on something else."

"Wrestling?" He took another funny guess. "I believe that lioness would make a fine sparring partner to toughen you up."

"Not a chance!" I still felt embarrassed about it.

"Haha! Don't take any of that personally. No one here thinks less of us. All of the villagers are nice and tumble around with us in good sport."

"I doubt that Bashira lioness is nice..." I mumbled under my breath and read over my notebook. "There's so much that we've done in just a few days." I recalled. "Hand carving masks, fishing from narrow canoes, preparing a field for farming, playing several traditional games, and plenty of other things." I said as a trio of lions watched us. They were talking in hushed voices.

"They're talking about me aren't they?" I could feel the stares from their golden eyes.

"Seems so..." Dr. Renault guessed. "Hey! What are you three talking about?" He openly asked the villagers.

"He smells like a sour... a sour human." One of the males spoke and pointed at me.

"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"You do smell." Dr. Renault waved a hand in front of his face. I looked over myself feeling a touch of guilt. We had been in the village for a week already, and I had noticed that everyone in the village bathed regularly. Even the doctor had no qualms about using the river to bathe in the presence of the tribal felines.

"Well there's no shower. What do you want me to do?" I really didn't want to do anything about it.

"Bathe in the river." One of the lions told me.

"We can bathe you." Another insisted.

"Give me a bath?" I half laughed at the thought. "I'm a grown man, and I saw a crocodile in the river a few days ago! There's no way I'm going in there." The lions all exchanged looks before setting their eyes on me. Within ten seconds I had transformed from a regular adult into a groveling baby.

"Stop! Put me down!" I yelled for help as I was carried by the group of feline villagers all the way to the river. Not even the doctor could save me from my fate. I nearly shrieked as they threw me into the calm river with a loud splash. I emerged spitting a stream of water from my mouth. I was sitting in the water and my clothes were completely soaked. I had nothing better to do at the moment so I yanked off my clothes and threw them back at the smiling lions ogling me from the water's edge.

"Don't worry. I'll have them hung out to dry." Dr. Renault happily smiled and wandered off with the other lions. One remained, standing just a few meters away, acting as a guard for me.

"Thanks." I blew a sigh. 'I have never in all my life...' I didn't know what to make of it. My eyes glared around every inch of the river but I didn't see any crocodiles. I had to trust the lone lion keeping guard. I cupped my hands into the water and stared at the little pool I had collected.

'I wonder if there is any truth to that story about Ayuja the lion.' I thought to myself and splashed my face. It was an interesting tale about self sacrifice for the benefit of others. 'It is relaxing... when I don't think about what can eat me out here.' I thought about the hot sun overhead. I washed myself without any interruptions, which was nice. A little privacy in an open tribal village was a little luxury. Maybe I was too uptight about taboos that the lions didn't recognize. Not wanting to stay in the river longer than I had to, I waded over to the lion watching out for me.

"Hey um, where do I go?" I asked the lion standing knee deep in the water.

"You can dry there." The male pointed to a sunny dry patch of land. "No monsters lay there." His voice hinted at a tease.

"Thanks." I tersely spoke and walked away. I uncomfortably kept my hands to my sides. The "patch of dry land" was very close and within sight of the village, and I was still in the open and butt naked. I had no idea where my clothes had ended up, and I still needed to dry myself.

'There's some privacy right there.' I spotted a dense patch of tall reeds nearby, but far enough from the river. My eyes darted around making sure no one else was around before I scurried over. I entered the patch of growth only to pause hearing light splashes ahead.

'Huh?' Curiosity getting the better of me, I quietly parted the reeds. I stepped into very shallow water and peered ahead through the foliage. I found a small opening surrounded by reeds acting like a tiny forest of natural privacy screens. In the center was a pool of shallow water with a few lily pads, and two lionesses washing an older lioness seated upon a large stone.

'That's Bashira.' I recognized first lioness instantly. I rubbed my jaw remembering how ferocious she was at fighting. 'But who are the other two?' I watched her rise onto her knees and tenderly wash the older one's leg. The other lioness looked very similar to Bashira, but I couldn't figure out who she was. They were carefully tending to the seated lioness, bathing her entire body with much love and appreciation. Her age was evident with her breasts which were noticeably heavier, sagging some from years of living life. Her fur cost appeared somewhat faded in its colors as well, but that could have been my own eyes deceiving me.

Looking more closely, I could see that the seated lioness wasn't frail like a regular elder from a city, but far from it. A large scar traveled along her torso going over a portion of her belly. A second large scar was on her upper chest, right between her clavicle and left breast. 'What gave her those terrible marks?' My stomach tensed at the thought. There were other numerous smaller nicks, scrapes, and scars scattered along the rest of her body, especially her arms and legs where strength still resided. Her tummy was taught and lean as well. She was the obvious image of a battle hardened lioness of the savanna. Her body was still strong despite the passage of time.

All three wore pleasant smiles, but the eldest one seemed to be the happiest. She rested her hands on both of the felines washing her.

"I'm proud of both of you." The older lioness spoke with adoration. "A mother couldn't ask for better daughters." She licked Bashira's forehead affectionately.

'That is Bashira's mom and sister!' I realized.

"How many times have I bathed you two here?" She whimsically asked. "Oh, you two were so little splashing and playing around me. I could barely keep either of you two still."

"Countless times." Bashira's sister fondly spoke.

"We always wanted to play." Bashira agreed.

"My old bones couldn't be happier." Their mother smiled before giving a few loving licks to their foreheads. I watched as they lifted their mother's legs one at a time to clean. It was touching to see the love that they showed for each other: a mother and her two daughters. The nudity became more of an afterthought since they were bathing together. As soon as her paws her cleaned, the aged mother lioness stood up.

"We're going over to dry off." Bashira's sister spoke up.

"I still need to wash." She mentioned. Her mother and sister waded out of the shallow pool and exited through the reeds beyond my sight. However, Bashira remained in the pool and began bathing herself. She cupped her hands into the shallow pool before pouring the water over her front and head. The water sprinkled down her fur and dripped back onto the pool.

'She looks graceful when she isn't glaring at me.' I watched the lioness calmly rub her fur with both hands. I wanted to leave and give her privacy, but I couldn't remove my gaze from her naked form. She was very beautiful and graceful.

'Alright, let's go.' I told myself with some regret. I attempted to move my feet, but I had sunk into the mud from squatting for so long. Carefully balancing myself, I held my breath and gradually moved. Twisting around, I managed to free myself only to fall backwards with a loud splash.

'Uh oh.' I froze as Bashira's golden eyes immediately cut right through the brush and stared at me. The lioness didn't look pleased to find me. I immediately felt like vulnerable prey in the clutches of a predator. Bashira waded towards me with little splashes rippling at her paws. The starkly naked lioness looming above reminded me that I was equally nude.

"What are you doing here?" She firmly asked.

"Sorry!" I blurted out. "I was walking by and I didn't know anyone else was here, so I just sat and waited for everyone to leave... I sound stupid." I heaved a sigh wondering what I should say. "I was wrong about you." I admitted. I felt a little guilty for inadvertently spying on her as well. The lion's head turned slightly as a look of confusion etched onto her face.

"What?"

"I thought you were just aggressive from the way you wrestled me. I think I'm just a sore loser." She smiled at my strange admission.

"I love my mother, and I appreciate everything she did in order to raise me and my sister." She offered a hand and helped me stand up. "It is only natural for me and my sister to care for her now."

"I shouldn't have been watching you three." I still felt bad.

"You're just curious." She brushed it off. "You weren't creating trouble."

"Since I'm here... would you like me to give you a bath?" I hesitantly offered despite the lingering redness on my face. Bashira's round ears bashfully fell back for a brief moment. I had nothing else to give her other than a poorly worded apology, and no one else was here to wash her back.

"Sure." The lioness offered with a simple grin. She walked back through the shallows, and sat down on the rock where her mother was once perched. My feet lightly splashed as I waded towards the feline. The reeds were fairly tall, so no one outside them could see us.

'Ok. I have to actually touch her.' I stared at her light golden tan furred backside. She glanced back at me.

"What?" I reflexively spoke.

"Nothing." She calmly answered and faced forward. Taking a breath, I hesitantly touched her back. The lion's fur was exquisitely soft, but the muscles underneath were impossible to miss. It was awkward at first. We were both naked after all, but at least taking a bath made it a little more normal. That feeling of being intimidated gradually receded. I finally felt like we were on good terms now.

"Why did you come to the village?" She asked as I poured more water down her back.

"To study." I simply answered.

"Study? Like the doctor?"

"Yes. We wanted to observe and learn about the village. What everyone does, how they do it, and what living here is like."

"What is so interesting about lions like us?" She curiously asked. "I remember when the doctor last came to the village, but not much has changed since then."

"For me it was seeing how the lions of Luhanga lived. Where I am from we only learn about the past or different people by reading, but I wanted to learn and see everything firsthand." I explained. "What was it like when Dr. Renault first came to the village?" I felt curious."

"It was very odd seeing someone without fur." She recalled. "I never knew how his clothes were made, how he dressed, why he smelled so different, and talked in a different voice. I had seen hyenas, jackals, leopards, and cheetahs before; but a human is the strangest of all."

"He's even strange among humans." I joked. "His interests take him all over the world."

"I remember calling him doctor professor when I didn't know his name." She added. I laughed at that as I rubbed down to the base of the lion's tail. I could've stopped with her back, but I wasn't going to shortcut anything with her. Stepping around to her side, I poured water over her arm.

'She isn't lacking strength anywhere.' I rubbed her upper arm with care. I held her hand while I washed her forearm next. The bulky fingers were nearly identical to a human's. They almost felt a little rough, but the pads were still supple and the short fur was soft. I lowered the limb when I finished, but Bashira rested her arm around my shoulder with a wet slap. The little gesture was friendly and trusting, but not too intimate for me. I knelt down and washed her entire side next, reveling in her strength all the same. However, I must've missed a cue somewhere by the time I reached her leg. The lioness playfully pulled my closer and nibbled my shoulder and neck.

"Ah! Hey! Careful." I managed to move her head. "I bruise easily compared to a lion." She licked her lips teasingly.

"You need a few battle scars on you." The lioness grinned and brushed a few fingers over my chest. "Your skin is very soft and unmarked."

"It's supposed to be unmarked!" I laughed. "I don't fight or hunt." Bashira let go of me with a smile as I resumed washing her legs. The muscles on her thighs felt impressively toned. Lifting her leg up to wash the rest, I glimpsed up and had a plain view of her womanhood. She didn't seem to mind in the slightest of the view I had.

'Don't think about that.' I kept my thoughts clean like the water and focused on her legs. I washed her other leg before bathing her side and finally her other arm. She seemed to understand my avoidance of her more private areas, and didn't force anything.

"Thank you." Bashira warmly spoke as I stepped back. Her fur appeared darker from being wet, but she was washed up just fine.

"You're welcome. It's the least I could so."

"How about I bathe you?" She offered and stood up.

"Me?" I half snorted and laughed at once. "Oh no. I already took one. They had to throw me into the river over there." I pointed through the reeds where I had come from. Her golden gaze remained unwavering as she stared holes through me. Not sensing a "no" would suffice, I begrudgingly accepted her offer and sat down in the shallows.

"You aren't going to wrestle me, are you?" I half joked.

"No!" She laughed and sat down behind me with a splash. "Silly human." The lioness said and poured water down my shoulders and back. I expected her to roughly treat me for what I had done, but I received something different entirely when she touched me.

"Ohh." Her hands felt divine as she rubbed my shoulders.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

"Yes." I immediately answered. "Your hands feel nice." I could almost feel her smiling behind me from the compliment as she washed my back.

"Good." Bashira answered. Without the lioness to look at, my eyes scanned the little private enclosure of shallow water and reeds. Considering that we were in the savanna, the greenery and water was a privilege to have.

"This is a nice place to wash up." I fondly looked at the scenery. It reminded me of a little personal place to escape a world of worry.

"Wash up?" She mused at my choice of words.

"You know, bathe." I explained.

"I know." Bashira hummed. "It is a nice place. My mother used to bring us here as kids, or did you hear all of that?" She presumed.

"I heard it." I acknowledged the fact.

"We would play around, but now that she is older we bring her here to bathe instead be aside she has done everything to raise us. It's our responsibility."

"That's very nice of you and our sister to do. I don't know if I would be able to bathe my own mother." I couldn't imagine having to do that for my own parent. It felt too intimate and personal.

"Is that something humans do not do?" She wondered.

"No." I mumbled. "Nudity is... inappropriate for humans, no matter what. It's always taboo." I wasn't sure how else to explain it to a lioness who was always one garment away from being completely nude. The lioness sounded amused by my words.

"Humans have bodies under their clothes. I can see that with you."

"We easily forget that." I half thought. All of my attention was focusing on how tender her hands were rubbing my skin. I would've fallen asleep in her embrace had she not continued to bathe me. Her hands graced lower over my skin, cleaning my sides and my front. The combination of her leathery padded hands and firm yet gentle touch was far too irresistible to ignore. My senses returned as I blinked my eyes awake. Looking down, her fingertips rested on my thighs, pointing towards a common direction. Before I could say anything Bashira spoke.

"If you think I will hurt you, then I will stop." She told me.

"No." I answered. "I don't think you will hurt me.. but... I'm not comfortable with... with you touching-" The sound of water rippling and reeds bending pulled both of our gazes over. My face reddened completely seeing Bashira's mother standing in the shallow water, looking at us.

"Bashira? What are you and the human doing?" She looked suspiciously at us. I was at a complete loss for words.

"It's nothing." Bashira spoke calmly. "He wanted to bathe me." She explained. The mother lioness seemed unsure, but have an affirmative nod without a word. She turned back and walked through the reeds. As soon as the older lioness left, I hastily stood up.

"You're done?" She eyed me and wiped off the backs of my legs.

"Yeah, I think so." I quickly spoke. Bashira stood up beside me, and I could hear the water noisily dripping from our bodies into the shallow pool below.

"Thank you for bathing me. I appreciate your kindness." The lioness placed a hand on my shoulder, and leaned closer. I was surprised to feel her rough tongue trace over my neck. My skin shuddered to her amusement.

"Oh. Well, uh. You're welcome." I nervously smiled in return. For a moment we didn't say anything. Her golden gaze lingered on me with a kind stare. In that moment I felt like the sun was watching out for me.

"I'm going to dry off with my mother and sister. You can join." She offered. "They do not bite like me."

"Umm. Thanks, but I'll dry off back there I guess." I pointed back to where I had stalked through the reeds earlier.

"I'll see you in the village then." She spoke before wading towards the wall of reeds where her mother had disappeared.

"Oh. Yeah! I'll see you around." I watched her disappear into the foliage. Looking around I suddenly realized something. "I still have to dry off." I marched back to where I had stumbled upon the bathing lionesses.

My eyes were wide at the lioness standing before me. That hadn't happened since I first arrived in the village more than two weeks ago, but right now was the exception.

"Bashira?" Normally I would see her and most of the other lions of the village dressed minimally. A loincloth with maybe a simple necklace made from string was more than enough for the villagers of Luhanga. By comparison, Bashira was dressed up properly.

Two thick red lines were painted on her upper legs, and three were painted on her shoulders giving her the appearance of the sun's rays on her body. The stone tip on the spear she wielded spear looked menacing. Her scrappy loincloth had a bird's skull attached to the waist string. She wore armbands on her wrists, and a necklace of beads with little bones decorated her neck. The lioness looked stunningly wild in a good way. It was absolutely stunning and I couldn't take my eyes away from here. The way she stood there with her arm postured... was she flexing for me?

"Lad." Dr. Renault's voice snapped me from my stupor. "Someone is talking to you."

"Oh. Uh, sorry." I swallowed and composed myself.

"Bashira wants to hunt for you." The another lion surprised me.

"Wait. What?"

"Not what, hunt!" He exclaimed.

"Is that good or bad?" I half imagine a pack of lions hunting me down in place of a wildebeest.

"Oh, that's a high honor lad!" Dr. Renault smiled broadly. "It's the equivalent of giving food to someone."

'Sounds like a date.' I imagined.

"Let's prepare to set out then." Dr. Renault was eager to begin. We walked together to the edge of the village.

"You look nice." I told her while the other briefly talked. Bashira glanced back at me with a smile before joining several other lionesses who were ready to hunt as well. They had minimal paint on their bodies, the most common style being a pair of simple stripes on their legs, arms, or backs. A few males were also ready. They had simple paired lines painted on their backs with little circles representing suns. Everyone was armed, primarily with spears, but a few wielded bows and had quivers full of arrows.

"Let them go ahead. We will watch from behind at a distance." Dr. Renault explained. The painted females trotted ahead with the males following shortly after. We trekked out into the savanna last with a single male lion to help us follow.

Two weeks quickly slipped by despite every day being a mix of an adventure and a lesson to learn more about the Luhanga lions. The simplicity in their living, close familial bonds, and Bashira of course were all growing on me. I was starting to dread when I would have to depart with the professor, research or not. But now wasn't the time to sulk...

"You have to tell me about the body painting." I nudged him. "Why now all of a sudden?"

"It's part ritual, and part strategy. The lines are mostly on the sides and backs to make themselves visible to each other. Now everyone know where everyone is so to speak." He explained. "They don't have phones to tell each other where they are."

"That's pretty clever." Crunching through the dry wild grasses, I was excited to see the lions hunt in person. The walk was tiring as we crossed the open landscape. It was hard to imagine keeping up with the lions at a jog before having to hunt, and then go all the way back to the village.

"Wait here." The lion accompanying us motioned to the edge of a brush patch. "They are just ahead. We crouched down and peered ahead at a herd of gazelle grazing in the distance. Further ahead we could see past the tall grass and towards a pond bordering the snaking river upstream to a section of hills and low lying trees. He water buffalo and wildebeest resembled tiny specs from our vantage point.

"I can't see anyone." Holding a hand over my eyes, I squinted to catch a glimpse of someone.

"Here." Dr. Renault handed me a pair of binoculars. "Try looking with these." I quickly brought them to my eyes.

"Wow. They're almost invisible in the grass." I could barely make out the outline of golden fur against the surrounding thickets of tall grass. I could see the painted markings on their backs, shoulders, or legs. Each individual design was akin to a team jersey. The females were spread out in the field and lying low. The males were further back, waiting for an ambush. The herd of gazelle were oblivious to the lions inching closer, and as the space between them diminished, the likelihood of a successful kill increased.

Then everything suddenly moved. One lioness broke into a sprint after her prey causing everything to simultaneously jump. Half of the hidden lions jumped to action, driving their prey towards the other hidden group.

"Look at them scatter!" Dr. Renault watched in awe. The entire peaceful order had erupted into chaos as so many bodies were darting around and jumping into actions. I should've been focused on the entire group, but my gaze was centered on one lioness in particular.

"Go Bashira!" I cheered for her. The lioness chased down one gazelle and a aged to strike its flank with her spear. The nimble legged animal fell where another lion laying in wait pounced. It was over in an instant. Other lingering pursuits quickly died down and a total of three animals were killed.

"That was incredible." Dr. Renault beamed a smile. One lioness in particular was approaching us through the grass, dragging along a single gazelle.

"Bashira?" I blinked as the painted lioness came to us. The painted lioness dropped the animal close to us. Her entire front rose me fell with deep breaths. I had never seen a lion like her tired or breathing hard before. It was humbling to know that even someone with her strength had limits.

"Good catch!" I managed to say.

"Thanks." She breathed and licked her nose. A male lion approached with a long pole and rope. He began tying the animal's legs to it so the entire beast could be carried back.

"Alright. I will go back and help prepare for a feast. You can help them with anything they need here, ok?" Dr Renault told me.

"Sure. No problem." I said before he left ahead of us. The other lions began singing cheerfully in a deep rhythm over the successful hunt.

Ama-kiyaaa

Solo-mendaaa

Ama-kiyaa

Way-ka-dolo mendoji!

I could feel the excitement and joy in the air. I had a feeling there was going to be a celebration during the evening and night. I watched Bashira and another male tied the gazelle to a pole to carry back. Bashira lifted the back end of the poll before looking back at me.

"You carry?" She asked.

"Sure." I nodded. Not wanting to appear completely useless to them, I was ready for the task. Carefully balancing the wooden pole, I could feel it dig into my shoulder with every step I took. Bashira threw an arm around my shoulder while continuing to hold onto the pole with her hand. The lioness smiled and patted my shoulder with her free hand as we walked close together.

'Show off.' I thought to myself, but felt grateful that she took some of the burden. We bumped into each other constantly while we walked back to the village. I didn't think much about a different soft furry warmth touching my arm. I thought it was her stomach or her side since we were so physically close. Nothing particular caught my eye until I glanced down to see what it was. My eyes darted away at the sight of my elbow firmly placed on her breast. I didn't know what to say or do so I pushed it away from my thoughts. After all the breast was very visible in the village, a distant marker of a woman who could nurse children. It wasn't directly sexual like it was in the modern world where I was from. But still, I could feel the soft warmth pressed against my arm.

"Huh?" I blinked realizing that we were looking at each other, nose to nose. Bashira flashed all of her teeth in a peculiar smile. I could only describe it as an odd cross between human and feline. My skin crawled a little at the sight of her impressive canine teeth.

"Your smile is scary, and beautiful." I complimented her. Her rope like tail swung and batted my side playfully.

"Such nice words." She purred as we continued walking pressed tightly together.

***

It had been a lively party and celebration for a successful hunt. The gazelle that were killed had been quickly prepared and cooked over open flames. All of the families celebrated well into the evening. Children played, mothers and fathers sang, and elders told tales stretching back across generations. And it was all because of a little meat that had been cooked.

To someone who didn't understand the villagers, it was easy to think that the lions would celebrate anything. The cause for joy and fun didn't seem special to an outsider, but demonstrating skill and teamwork to acquire food was the basis for survival where there was no guarantee of life. Where refrigerators held abundance, and electricity made life easier by comparison, the lion villagers of Luhanga had no such luxuries. Everything required an amount of work which made the accomplishments that much sweeter.

When the evening came to a close and the stars came out to play, the joyful cries and laughter had died down, fading away into good memories. Everyone retired for the night to begin a new day all over again. But now the two of us were alone together under the moon and stars. Only the crickets and frogs talked to us.

"There." I finished jotting down in my little notebook that was nearly two thirds full. Looking up, the lioness was reclined onto her side, facing me. It was funny to see her being lazy after demonstrating her prowess during a hunt, but she had earned it. Bashira resembled an artistic nude portrait painted by a master artist; her entire figure in stunning detail. But unlike a painting, she was very real. The lioness was tough in appearance, but very kind at heart. Her strength radiated in the shadows of the dancing flames. Her powerful golden eyes glinted like topaz gems from the firelight. That look of calm on her face appeared calm and indifferent. She appeared like stone, unyielding to anything else. There was no smiling or outward emotion present. I don't know what it was about her naked indifference, but I secretly loved it. I wish I had a camera with me to capture the moment forever.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" She asked.

"Mm. I did." I nodded. "Thank you for hunting for me. You didn't have to do that." Her lips curled into a subtle grin.

"I wanted to," she told me, "because you are kind to me."

"I'm just a stranger." I sheepishly grinned and rubbed the back of my head. "I only gave you a bath." I downplayed it.

"You bathed me because you are kind." She insisted. "I will always appreciate that."

"I'm happy to help you." I smiled. The big cat's tail contently thumped on the ground. Nothing else was spoke for a moment as we gazed at each other. There was nothing else I wanted to do right now anyway. The staring contest was broken off by a prolonged yawn from Bashira. Her impressive teeth were fully displayed for an instant before vanishing into a sealed mouth.

"I'm tired." Her fingers curled on her leg. "I will go to bed." She sat up and rose onto her paws.

"It is late." I quickly followed suit. Bashira stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me. The embrace lasted only a moment, but it felt much longer than that. "Sleep well." She softly spoke and trailed her hands down my arms, slowly unwinding the embrace. My skin longed for that gentle touch to return.

"Goodnight." I felt my mouth dry. For once I wished that the night hadn't come so quickly.

***

I half stumbled out of the tent in the darkness of night. It wasn't late, maybe half past ten, but nature was calling. One of the small changes to living in a tent in the savanna was the fact that using the bathroom was more open than I preferred. There wasn't even a bathroom to speak of. This was true even at night where I had to navigate to the edge of the huts with the aid of starlight above. The glimmering celestial bodies above guided my half asleep feet to the edge of the village so I could take care of business behind a tree. Relieved, I stepped around and started to navigate back to the tent when a faint sound caught my ear.

"Rrroaor." A quiet roar rumbled from close by.

'What was that?' I peeked around and located the source of the noise. Feeling my way towards the brush, I carefully parted the top half of a bush. Peering through the foliage, my eyes widened awake at the sight before me. Two figures were silhouetted into dark and silvery shadows from the moonlight. A female lioness was crouched down onto all fours, and a burly male behind her dropped onto his knees. His eyes gleamed with desire as he placed a hand on her exposed backside. His malehood was fully erect, rigidly swaying from the slightest movements. Mating was one aspect of tribal life I wasn't expecting to cover, but it was the most erotic thing I had ever seen. My eyes caught sight of the barbs on his glistening member before they disappeared from view. He pressed forward causing the female groaned out of pleasure, but also a little out of pain as his barbs pressed forward first. The male's growl reminded me of a rumbling Diesel engine. I didn't know why I was so fixated on the pair. Was it the hotly erotic act, or the fact that they were lions passionately loving each other in the wild? I could feel a little heat rising in my blood simply from watching them mate.

'Huh?' Something brushed against me causing the hairs on my neck to stand. I gasped only for a hand to cover my mouth. Looking over, my eyes widened at the shadowy figure standing beside me.

'Bashira?!' My heart was pounding within my chest. I wondered if she would drag me back and turn me over to the chieftain for watching the two lions mating, ending my research in disgrace.

"Sh." The lioness quietly whispered and gently rested her hands on my sides. Resting her fuzzy chin on up my shoulder, we resumed watching the pair in the midst of lovemaking. Neither had noticed us watching from the bush. The male grunted quietly as his hips lightly slapped into the female's backside over and over again. The heated growls and flashes of teeth only fueled their desires for each other. The male dropped forward onto his hands, covering her back like a shell on a turtle. His hips didn't slow down or cease slapping against her rear. It didn't take long for an instant of pleasure to spark as they both growled together. Slumping down to the ground, we could hear them both breathing and whispering little words between each other. The male rubbed a hand over the lioness's front and licked her cheek. It was a nice ending to a passionate moment. Bashira and I backed away quietly from the bush and returned back to the village.

"Sorry for jumping so easily." I whispered when we were close to several huts. "You startled me."

"I didn't think humans liked mating."

"Well, I think everyone does." I looked the lioness over. Bathed in moonlight, she appeared like a nighttime mirage. I also noticed that she wasn't wearing a loincloth. It was a very appealing look.

"Do you... have a mate where you are from?" She asked.

"A mate? No, I'm not married. Are you?"

"No. I'm not." Her ear flickered. I felt my body unconsciously relax a little feeling relieved to hear it.

"So... What were you doing outside this late?"

"I had to go, but I heard something and then I saw you walking around. I'm glad that I followed." Her voice purred huskily. I felt my face turn a shade of red that thankfully remained hidden from the moonlight. "I'm going back to my hut. Sleep well... Again."

"Thanks. You too." I found myself staring at her backside intently as the lioness sashayed back to her hut. Bashira vanished into a shadow like a specter, but nothing I had just experienced was a mirage or hallucination. Placing my hands in my pockets, I realized how aroused I had become from the entire thing.

'Alright. Calm down.' I took a few breaths and adjusted my pants. Walking back to the tent, I found myself in a good mood despite the detour.

It was funny returning to the hut awake when I left half asleep.

"You're still reading?" I squinted an eye as I tumbled down to my sleeping bag.

"Of course. I will be done in a second though."

'He said that when the sun set.' I thought to myself and closed my eyes. I hoped to drift back to sleep, but I was fully awake and I couldn't stop thinking about Bashira. The lovely images of her painted up ready to hunt, and reclining nude had capture my thoughts entirely. It wasn't just her appearance though. Many of the lionesses possessed the same physical qualities as her. Her calm demeanor, warrior-like prowess, and strength were impressive. She wasn't a damsel in need of rescuing, far from it. I was more likely to be rescued by her than anyone else! Yet she was also very caring and loving despite her tough exterior. I imagined bathing her again, able to feel her fur and every curve of her body.

A cough from Dr. Renault interrupted my little fantasy. My eyes squinted from the low light with questions on my mind.

"Dr. Renault..."

"Yeah?" He answered.

"Have you ever... had feelings for any of the people you've met in the savanna?" I hesitantly asked. The professor didn't see to take the subtle hint and resumed his lazy reading.

"There's a lot of different people I've met over the decades, and I love them all like family. Across so many cultures there are many of wonderful people that I have come to know."

"But was there anything you felt where it was more than a family?" I pressed forward. "Like... it was special for only one person you cared for." This time the older man paused and thought for a moment.

"Well." He offered an honest assessment. "I would suggest settling those feelings before our deadline in three days, because we will be traveling back to the nearest town and then chartering a flight to the capital before returning home." He said before setting his notes aside and turning off the lantern. "Goodnight." He rolled over.

"Goodnight." I closed my eyes searching for sleep. Deep down I knew he was correct. I would have to make a decision...

Sitting alone in the little clearing outside the village, I gazed fondly at the savanna's scenery. The horizon was gradually reeling in the sun to settle down for the night below the acacia trees. The golden light it casted was becoming fainter, drawing the shadows longer. The endless swathes of wild untamed grasses appeared frozen in time, having remained in place for millennia. My mind was blank for the moment as I took in the still scenery. The dry dirt beneath me offered only footprints of those who had walked here before me. Gathering a little dry dirt into my hand, I let it slip loose and pour back onto the ground like an hourglass with sand. Red dust softly rose like smoke before drifting away into the savanna. The fleeting moment weighed on my mind.

'If I go, I probably won't see this place in quite some time.' I thought to myself. 'I won't see any of the villagers either.' I frowned at the next thought already forming in my head. 'I won't see Bashira again.' That saddened me the most. How many more times would I see her, or anyone else here again after I traveled back? The grass behind me rustled as someone entered the little dry patch with me. Looking over I spotted a familiar figure.

"Bashira?" I was surprised to see the beautiful lioness so late in the evening. She was dressed in a typical manner: only a simple loincloth tied around her waist that draped between her thighs, and nothing else. The topless feline stood confidently with the low sun giving her fur a more fiery golden appearance. She seemed to glow angelic ally before me.

"Hey. What are you doing here?" I turned to face her.

"I thought you may like to learn how to wrestle properly." The grin on her muzzle made me second guess her intentions. "Or are you busy?"

"No, I was just looking at the grass." I made up a lame excuse. "I'd like to wrestle with you." It seemed like a good way to keep my mind busy while being with her. Bashira readily tossed her loincloth aside. I looked at the idle garment with hesitation and then back at the naked feline.

"It will get in the way." She explained without a care in the world. The only thing on the big cat's mind was wrestling. Taking her word, I accepted her offer and readied a stance. With that out of the way we sparred together, tumbling, maneuvering, and grappling. Throughout it all I could tell that she was holding back. If she used her full strength on me then I would likely bare several injuries. True to her word she helped teach me some basics about keeping a low stance and avoiding a quick pin.

In the midst of another round I felt a sharpness on my shoulder as she gripped me tightly.

"Ow! Wait!" I skidded back as she pushed me around. The lioness halted and we both took a breather. Glancing over, I could see a small red line.

"Sorry. I cut you." Bashira noticed and balled up her fingers.

"It's just a cut." I didn't feel worried about it.

"Hold still." She lowered her head to my shoulder. I half expected her to bite me, but I saw her tongue flick out instead. The sandpaper texture of her tongue was a unique sensation as it gently scraped and glided over my skin. As soothing and weird as it felt, I didn't want it to be the last time we spent time together this way.

"Let's rest. You are quick to learn." She commended my efforts while licking the small cut on my shoulder.

"Thanks." I winced. She finished when the oozing ceased, and sat back. The was no speaking between us as I kept my gaze low. Only the crickets and little insects seemed happy to say something as the evening began fading into night.

"You are quiet." Bashira mentioned. Not wanting to say anything, I merely nodded. But closing myself off didn't lessen her feline curiosity. "Are you leaving soon?" She correctly assumed.

"That's the plan." I shrugged feeling unsure about it. Her short round ears fell back for a moment as she thought to herself.

"Everyone in the village will miss you and the doctor, but I will miss you long after you leave." I felt heartbroken hearing those words.

"I will miss you too." I admitted. "I like you." The words quickly left my lips. The lioness looked at me before grinning.

"Why do you like me?" Bashira asked attentively. I felt a little rush of embarrassment and giddiness at the question. There was no dodging it since we were alone together.

"There's a lot of reasons." I fumbled for the right words. "You're very beautiful." I started out. "The lionesses of the village are pretty, but my eyes always look for you in a group." I found myself staring at the naked lioness before me.

"Beauty is a fading thing." She held back a chuckle. "I won't look the same forever."

"I'm not done yet." I hastily added. "You're not afraid to work for what you want, and you don't complain. I like that you're strong, physically and mentally. There's no one else I can think of." I paused and shrugged. "I wish I knew how to say all of this better." I mumbled.

"I understand." Bashira offered a smile of her own. "I like you too." I blinked and felt my mouth dry.

"Why do you like me?" I asked her in turn. "I can't understand it. I'm not athletic like you or any other lion; and I can't hunt or do anything useful for you. I'm slower, weaker, and untrained. But I shouldn't complain. I'm glad that we like each other."

"I'll answer you." The lioness flicked her tail. "I am not a man. I am a woman." She smoothly spoke. "I can tell when someone cares. You don't need a fluffy mane or a lion's muscles to impress me. You're willing to learn different things, even if they are difficult. What more do I have to think about?" Her concluding remark was made clear as she reached over and touched my arm. I liked the smooth warmth of her leathery palm. Despite her strength, she could be very gentle.

"Is that why you hunted for me?" I placed a hand on her side, just beside her breast.

"Mm. I knew you were a good person when you bathed me." She smiled. The lion's light golden tan fur felt warm and invitingly soft, yet underneath was a well toned body able to endure anything physically demanding. It felt nice to touch her, except this time I wasn't bathing her. I wanted to love her. My hand slowly traced down her side. Her tail tapped the ground as I felt her hip and down to her leg. Her leg shifted a little, revealing more downy white fur covering her groin. I couldn't quite see what laid nestled under her fur, but it wasn't hard to imagine. I left my hand on her muscular leg, and opened my mouth to speak. Bashira gave me a curious look.

"You're so beautiful." I mumbled.

"Mm. Thank you." She whispered with a heavy purr.

"I think I love you." I said. The lioness appeared taken aback as her round ears wiggled.

"Do you?" She questioned.

"Yeah... Shouldn't I? Don't you believe me?"

"Love is shown by doing." She explained. "You remember... those two lions during the night?"

"What does that mean?" My heart fluttered hoping to find out. Bashira smiled without a word. To my surprise she stood up, stepped forward, and straddled the space directly in front of me. Looking up, above the swell of her breasts, the lioness's golden gaze didn't leave mine as she stood directly in front of me. I was staring at a beautiful woman. My gaze gradually travelled lower through her cream colored fur to what rested mere centimeters from my face. The simple curve of the female labia was supple, and the beautiful feminine line of her sex waited for me. The hint wasn't subtle in the slightest. I knew what she wanted, and I wanted it to.

I leaned forward. Bashira didn't part her legs very wide, allowing the fur of her thighs to caress my cheeks. The warmth of her body heat kissed me in return, however, that paled in comparison to the lion's inner heat that graced my lips. I traced my tongue along that beautiful feminine line, feeling the soft skin part to the entrance of her succulent heat. There was a taste, but there wasn't a word in my language to describe it. I tenderly sealed my mouth over the lioness's flesh, and gently lapped at her womanhood without a care in the world. The lion standing above me didn't make a sound at first. Bashira simply stood in place for me to keep pleasuring her. We could stay like this all night if we wanted to. The seconds quietly ticked by except for the soft wet sounds my mouth occasionally created, but I didn't let my hands remain idle. Reaching up, I slowly ran my hands up the backs of her legs before reaching the bottom of her rump. I lightly rubbed the tops of her legs, brushing the bottom cusp of her rear. I could feel her strong legs begin to quiver and tense. I gradually allowed my hands to move up and rub her rear. I gave a firm squeeze feeling her cheeks tighten. The lion's rope sturdy tail swung in response. My touch was beginning to have an effect on her. She was starting to feel wet, and I could finally hear the lioness beginning to pant and moan.

"Nnnggh. Ohh..." Leaning forward, she propped herself up by grabbing ahold of the tree behind me. My lips never left her lower ones as I unceasingly licked and nibbled her hot feminine entrance. I wasn't hurried in gradually pleasuring Bashira. There wasn't anything I could rush through with her. Her claws raked along the tree's bark as she breathed deeply. Glancing up, I watched her breasts subtly shake and jiggle from her body's trembling. I couldn't resist and snaked a hand up to gently fondly the feminine mass. My thumb rubbed and teased the firm nipple in the center. Her arms tensed as she held onto the tree trunk. Her forehead briefly planted onto its surface before rising up again. She hissed and quietly moaned something inaudible while I felt over her naked body. Her muscles tensed as her face contorted into a passionate mixture of ecstasy and disbelief. The moans escaping her mouth became higher pitched and prolonged. Every lick brought her closer. Her breathing came rapidly as the end neared. I focused my efforts towards the top of her womanhood, where I could stimulate on her most sensitive places. She shook and moaned from the touch. I had to grasp onto the lioness and hold her steady so she couldn't wriggle away. For a moment she went rigid like a spear as her body quaked incessantly.

"Oooohhhowwoohh!" The final cry was angelic and the most beautiful noise I had heard her make. My mouth felt her womanhood pulsate. The subtle contractions lasted briefly before fading. Bashira gasped for air as she began to sink down. With a soft suction I pulled back and helped ease her down onto the ground. She slumped down beside me only to throw her arms around me. Bashira leaned onto me, holding me close. The lioness was warm and strong, and yet she was holding into me for support. Smiling, I wrapped my arms around her. Having that physical contact felt lovelier than anything else. For a minute we didn't say anything. I listened to her breaths steady in my embrace. My mouth and chin were wet, but I was completely satisfied having her warm body laying against me. Bashira rubbed her head against me.

"Feel good?" I guessed.

"Mmm. Very good." She spoke with evident pleasure in her voice. "Your tongue is caring like you are... But we're not done yet." A gleam inhabited her eyes as she sat upright. Our bodies were still entangled as she pushed forward, catching me off guard. Falling back into the tall grass together, she took the initiative and climbed onto me. Gazing up, two strong hands carefully rested on my shoulders. I was effectively pinned under her, not that it was a concern of mine. Her breasts hung over me like a lure to keep me preoccupied as she stripped my pants down to my knees. My quickly hardening length was freed and rose to the challenge. Her wet sex kissed my length, but her hips didn't lower just yet. The glow of her golden eyes returned to mine.

"You will need to match my endurance like the sun." Bashira breathed. "But If you want me as a wife, then you'll have to stay in the village." She spoke but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. Did she fear what my possible answer was?

"I want to stay." My answer made her eyes widen. "I want to love you as much as possible." I touched her sides encouragingly. Her smile broadened like that of a successful predator. With nothing holding us back, she wiggled he hips before gracefully taking me to the hilt. The emerging moon above glowed like a lonely voyeur above us, watching our unfolding love for each other. We were going to be busy for much of the night...

"Are you sure?" The doctor asked.

"Positive." I nodded firmly. There was a pause as he thought over what I was asking of him.

"Okay. If that's what you want..." He shrugged and looked away. "Although I can't really blame you." The professor looked back up with a cheerful grin. I could only offer a content grin of my own at my decision. "Will you continue writing in your journal in the meantime?"

"Of course!" I flipped through several pages only to notice a particular night was blank. "I can arrange for someone to travel and drive me to the closest town to update you on what I am writing about."

"Splendid." The older professor jovially smiled all the same. "All I can say right now is goodbye, and enjoy your stay." He gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder. The jeep behind him was only half packed up. My belongings had been moved out of the tent before it was taken down. However, they were in Bashira's hut right now. I walked over with him to the vehicle, but my legs ached. I still felt sore from the other night. I wasn't sure if my body would ever be the same after the tiring night of lovemaking, but despite being a lion Bashira was never content with resting very long. A hand touched my shoulder.

"Bashira?" I looked over my shoulder.

"You are staying?" She asked.

"For the time being, yes." I happily told her, and placed my hand over her heart. Bashira brightly smiled and nuzzled up to me. Her rough tongue lapped my neck to my check. The bristly appendage gently scraped over my skin from her affection. Holding onto her hand I watched the old man board the jeep. It was bittersweet in plenty of ways. I would miss his company and the luxuries of the outside world, but I was exactly where I wanted to be.

"So long!" Dr. Renault called out above the rumbling vehicle's engine. We waved and several others shouted goodbyes and farewells to the eccentric and curious professor before the vehicle drove away. The jeep gradually grew smaller within my sights, leaving a hot trail of dust behind. When all of the goodbyes had been said, I was led by Bashira to her hut.

"Wait here." The lioness told me before disappearing inside. I wondered what she was going to do.

"You, human." An aged voice spoke to me. Turning my head, Bashira's mother stood within reach wearing a loincloth and several armbands.

"Hello. You're Bashira's mom." Her stubborn gaze looked me over. In the back of my mind I thought about what Bashira told me concerning aging. 'She will age... well.' I couldn't help but think to myself. The lioness wore her scars well. Her mother was easy on the eyes, and being topless wasn't bad either.

"I'm happy that my eldest daughter has a mate, but you are human." She clearly pointed out. "I'm not convinced." She pointed a finger accusingly at me. I didn't know what to say as Bashira returned with a simple garment folded in her hands.

"Mom, do not hassle or bite him."

"I'm just talking." She folded her arms as her daughter stood before me.

"Disrobe." Bashira told me. I looked around before hesitantly complying. There was little commotion as others watched from the distance. Bashira knelt down and unfurled the loincloth before tying it around my waist. I felt a sense of pride as I now donned the simple garment.

"You are wearing it now." She gave a little tug to make sure it was secure. "But..." She stood up slowly and faced me. Her beautiful golden eyes glowed at me with a warm smile. "You remove it when I ask." Her finger traced directly over the meager covering to make her point crystal clear.

"Does the same rule apply to you?" I asked.

"Confident." She grinned and leaned closer for a kiss. "But yes, it does." The fuzzy lips of her brusque muzzle connected with mine in a sweet kiss. Her arms wrapped around me in a loving hug as our bodies bumped together. I wasn't going to remain idle in the village either. Morning, noon, evening, early night, or even a romantic late night... I was part of the village now.