Living Free
Living Free
An abandoned lioness cub, alone, frightened, scared and cold, yet still holding to life like a drop of water holding to the granite stalactite of a lonely cave, in the darkness of despair.
The cub crawls to a nearby barn where it stays and waits out the storm. But stays longer than expected.
Daniel cared for animals, almost too much and that was why he was in the barn that fateful night, during the unusually heavy summer storm.
The cub collapsed just as Daniel got close. He picked her up and headed for the warmest corner. The bitter cold sweeping across his face and bare feet, biting at his fingers and toes, yet he stayed and waited, caring only for the cubs' innocent life. He pulled his jacket closer around him but not for his own warmth but for that of the cub, now fatefully named. Kiba. A vicious breeze blew through the open barn doors, cutting through skin, chilling the marrow of the bone.
Shadows glide across the straw strewn stable. One shadow in particular, the dark flowing shadow. Seamlessly gliding. Slowly stalking. Daniel was worried, the cub growled.
Daylight was approaching when Daniel broke from the barn, the storm had died but had also left a wave of destruction in its wake. The earth was wet but drying in the hot Serengeti sun. Daniel knew it wouldn't be long now till everything was back to normal, and that was what he was worried about. Once everything was normal Kiba would have to leave or worse.
It was midday now and Daniels father called for him over the sound of the radio playing in the kitchen, where his mother was hard at work cooking.
Daniel, get in here
yah, dad?
I thought I heard something growl in your room?
nee, pah
Dan, don't lie to me!
I'm not, honest
ok, go do your chores, and don't forget to feed the horses
yah, pah
Daniel slowly trudged to the stables, to where he had left Kiba.
It was bout 5pm when Daniel came back to the house. Sweat dripping from his forehead but he was smiling, as he always did. Supper would be ready, but Daniel didn't have time. He had to get tot eh stables, to Kiba. He got redressed in some normal clothes and climbed out of his window, out to the stables.
Kiba was lying, in the corner of the stables, on one of the many sacks. She seemed intent...