Pride of the Plains Read Online Free

right,’ his brother agreed. ‘And as soon as we do, our constant young shadow’s waiting game will be over.’
    â€˜He’ll be around the sisters the moment we’re out of sight.’
    â€˜We could set a trap for him,’ Blackmane growled.
    â€˜I’ve been thinking the same thing,’ Battlescars said.
    Moja began to doubt Challenger’s motives. Every time he asked the young adult about returning to his pride he got the same answer.
    â€˜Not just yet. It’s not safe enough.’
    The first time he was told this Moja reminded Challenger that he had said it would have to be at dusk.
    â€˜It will be,’ Challenger had responded. ‘Darkness is the only possible time for you to travel in safety. But we must choose an occasion when there will be the least interference.’
    After that Moja’s question was repeated regularly and always met with the same response. The lion cub was tired of remaining in the same confined area, either hidden away in the rock hole he had come to hate or crouching nearby to eat what was brought him or to lap from a pool. Because of the distance he had to cover, Challenger’s absences became more protracted. Moja was half inclined to run away, but the pact he had made with Challenger kept him rooted to the spot. His only hope was that eventually his unwanted guardian would decide it was safe enough for him to be taken to rejoin his pride, although as time passed his faith in this outcome was gradually being eroded.
    The day came when Challenger couldn’t find Moja’s pride at all. Moving with care as usual he scanned what he understood to be Huru and Kimya’s territory without so much as a glimpse of them. Panting with exasperation, he slunk to a much-used waterhole which he knew the entire pride visited on occasion. An area of bush fringed one end of the pool. Challenger lay down to wait. He didn’t venture into the thicker vegetation straight away but positioned himself under cover at its edge where his tawny hide was well screened. Without stirring he watched successive groups of animals come to drink, from zebra to antelope to a mother rhino and her calf. But no lion showed up. Finally he went to drink himself, keeping constant watch as he did so. He was on the point of leaving when all at once the sister lionesses with their remaining cubs arrived at the waterside. Their appearance was by then so unexpectedand sudden that Challenger was startled. Anticipating that Battlescars and Blackmane would now soon appear on the scene, he hastened to return to cover. The sisters’ faces were red with gore and so were those of the cubs. They had recently feasted and were thirsty. Challenger recalled his own empty stomach but he dared not move again yet.
    Kimya had spotted his retreat from the pool and stood for a long while looking towards his hiding-place. She thought she saw him still lurking amongst some foliage. The dipping sun was reflected in the water, making everything shimmer in a golden haze. She couldn’t be sure, but she was eager to know his identity. She remembered how she had persuaded Blackmane to spare a young male who had been badly beaten in a fight.
    â€˜Yes, he was a daring youngster. Foolish, too,’ she murmured to herself. ‘I wondered if we’d see him again.’
    Huru noticed her abstraction. ‘What is it, sister?’
    â€˜Look. Over there. D’you recall the courageous young male?’
    â€˜The stout one with all the bravado? Of course. Is that him?’
    â€˜I’m fairly certain of it,’ said Kimya. ‘And if it is him, he’s here because of us.’
    Huru looked solemn. Her first thought was for her young. ‘We should move away,’ she advised. ‘And get the cubs into cover. Battlescars is absent. We can’t take chances, whoever that young lion is.’
    Kimya didn’t respond at once, but bent her head to lap some more. The cubs