Busted

"Uhh...Ndoa? What are you doing?"

The pale cub froze at his cousin's voice. Oh Great Kings, not now, he thought. 

"Greetings, Suki!" he chirped, overly enthusiastic. "What a fine day it is!"

"Yeah, I guess," Suki replied.  "Why are you in that tree?"

"I was...testing the structural integrity of the branch" Ndoa lied. "I was, uh, worried about the leopards falling if a branch should break."

"I see." Ndoa could hear the smile in her voice and his ears burned in embarrassment. "How long have you been up there? We were supposed to meet by the water hole an hour ago, remember? I got worried when you didn't show up."

"Yes, well, I didn't know how long leopards are usually in trees for, so I figured I would stay a while to ensure maximum safety."

"You're stuck."

"I am not stuck," Ndoa snapped indignantly. "I'll have you know that lions are excellent tree climbers!"

Suki laughed. "Maybe lions are, but you certainly aren't!"

Ndoa's ears flattened against his head. He was defeated. "Please help me down."

"What? Just let go of the branch." 

"Are you insane, cousin? I'll fall and injure myself! It's very difficult for a growing cub to survive with a broken leg. Or what if I hit my head? How will-"

"Ndoa, do you trust me?"

"...yes."

"Then let go."

The cub took a deep breath and released his grip on the tree. He fell no more than three feet before landing softly, and without injury, on the grass below. Bewildered, he looked at Suki, who was doing her best not to laugh. 

"I believed I was much higher in the tree than that."

"I'm sure it seemed very high," said Suki, who was overcome with affection for her strange cousin. "Now tell me why you were trying to climb that tree!"

"It's a secret," Ndoa said with a glance around for any listening ears. "But I can tell you if you promise not to tell."

Suki leaned in close. "I promise," she whispered.

"Well..."

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We'll find out another time!!

I finally drew these two together! They are best friends and thick as thieves, more like siblings than cousins. I made a few changes to Ndoa, gave him a more golden pelt like cub Vitani as well as dark eyerims, so he looks a little less like his father. 

Ndoa is a strange cub. I adore him.