Little Lion Rescue Read online

  This is dedicated to my grandmother, Rosemary, who loved animals and fought for their rights – Rachel

  Contents

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Chapter 1 The Big Clean-Up

  Chapter 2 Free to Roam

  Chapter 3 A Particular Postcard

  Chapter 4 Welcome to the Wild

  Chapter 5 A Suitable Name

  Chapter 6 The Sound of Thunder

  Chapter 7 Journey to the Mara

  Chapter 8 Danger, Everywhere

  Chapter 9 Serengeti Daze

  Chapter 10 A Laughing Matter

  Chapter 11 Pride of Place

  Chapter 12 A Special Gift

  About the author

  Copyright

  “Oh, yuck! You’re covered in elephant dung!” Ella held her nose and pointed at Fliss’s overalls.

  “You can’t muck out elephants without getting a little bit dirty.” Fliss grinned. “If you’re clean, it means you didn’t work hard enough!”

  “I’d rather be lazy than stinky,” Ella said, flicking mud and straw from her fingers.

  Jonty, the zookeeper, clapped his hands together loudly.

  “Wheelbarrows down, everyone,” he called. “Gather round.”

  The girls joined the rest of their school group at the gate, where Jonty laughed at the state of them.

  “So how was that? Smelly?”

  Everyone made poowee noises and giggled.

  “Elephants eat for up to sixteen hours a day, which means they produce a lot of … muck. If you look behind you, you’ll see the elephants waiting to come back into the enclosure.”

  The giant grey beasts were behind the next gate, their ears flapping gently.

  “I hope they say thank you to us for cleaning their house!” Ella said.

  “I think they’ll be very pleased,” Jonty said. “Can you see how their tails are swishing from side to side? It means they’re happy.”

  “How do we know when they’re not happy?” Fliss asked. She wished she had brought a book to take notes.

  “I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with these animals in the wild,” Jonty said. “I’ve seen them in all sorts of moods. If their tails go stiff or they spread their ears out wide, then they may be nervous. If they make a trumpeting sound, then get out of there fast! It could mean they’re about to charge.”

  Fliss closed her eyes and imagined it – a happy herd of elephants suddenly startled, ears wide and trunks raised, trumpeting their alarm… Jonty clapped his hands again and she opened her eyes, hoping no one had seen her daydreaming.

  “Right, these beauties need to come in and cool off in the water. You lot could do with some cooling off, too! Your teacher says there’s ice cream waiting for you in the school centre, just as soon as you get out of those overalls. Off to the wash room!”

  There was a big cheer as the children hurried out of the enclosure, shouting “Ice cream, ice cream!”. Fliss was the last to go. She would stay forever if she could, even if it was smelly.

  She tugged the zookeeper’s sleeve. “My name is Fliss. Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.” Over her head, he beckoned to the other zookeepers, who began to lead the herd back into the enclosure. Fliss watched them in wonder – how did these large animals move so gracefully?

  “Fliss, did you have a question?”

  “Yes. Sorry!” Fliss blushed. “I just wanted to know how you became a zookeeper.”

  “Well, I knew what I wanted to do from a very young age. I learned all I could about animals and when I was old enough I volunteered at rescue centres all over Africa. It took a lot of patience and passion but now I’m here, in charge of elephants and lions. It’s my perfect job.”

  “You’re so lucky being with animals all day long.”

  “Is this what you want to do when you grow up?”

  “I want to be a vet,” Fliss said. “I want to help animals who are in trouble.”

  “Being a vet is a tough job!” Jonty said. “But it looks to me like you have determination. That’s a great start.”

  “Jonty?” Fliss said, thinking of something. “If you’re in charge of the lions, does that mean you can tell them to wake up?” She had been so excited for the zoo trip but with a particular longing to see those proud creatures up close. The empty enclosure had left her feeling disappointed.

  Jonty laughed. “It’s not that simple, I’m afraid. I’m sorry your group didn’t get to see them but if they wake before you go, I’ll come and get you, OK?”

  In the distance, Fliss could hear her friends calling. She wasn’t interested in ice cream. She just wanted to talk to Jonty about animals.

  “You’d better go,” Jonty said, steering her towards the school centre. “The elephants are coming and you’re not a professional animal handler – not yet, anyway.”

  After changing out of her overalls, Fliss found Ella in the school centre, covered in splodges of pink-and-white gunk.

  “So, you don’t mind getting dirty sometimes,” Fliss said.

  “No!” Ella licked the sticky liquid dripping down her wrist. “I don’t mind getting messy when it’s with ice cream. Are you going to have one?”

  “I’m too excited to eat!” Fliss unfolded her map of the zoo and pointed to an area called Pride of Place – the lion enclosure. “The zookeeper said he’d come and get us as soon as they wake up. Isn’t that great?”

  “If they wake up, Flissy. Come on, it’s the butterfly house next.”

  “You’d better wash your hands, then. Butterflies love sugar! They’ll lick you all over with their long curly tongues.”

  Ella shrieked and ran to the wash room and Fliss smiled.

  The butterfly house was going to be fun, especially now Ella was in a flap! But as they walked through the rubber doors and into the steamy room full of colourful fluttering wings, she hoped that Jonty would soon interrupt with the news that the lions had woken up.

  “Urgh, it was so sticky and hot in there,” Ella gasped, flapping her hands in front of her face.

  “It’s because the exotic butterflies need a tropical temperature,” said Fliss. “I loved the big blue ones, didn’t you?”

  “No! All I could think about were those tongues!” Ella wrinkled her nose. “I watched one drinking… Fliss, the tongue actually rolled out! Butterflies are monsters!”

  The teachers did a headcount of all the children, most of whom were looking soggy after their butterfly encounter. Mr Pincent was looking particularly hot and frazzled but it wasn’t because of the butterfly house. Apparently, Ollie, Dan and Sarah had crept off to have another look at the crocodiles without permission and were now completely lost!

  “Mrs Mullins and I are going to look for some lost pupils. The rest of you may take a last walk around the zoo,” Mr Pincent said, dabbing at his face with a handkerchief. “Stay in pairs and meet back at the gift shop in fifteen minutes.”

  “Anyone who is late will sit at the front of the coach on the way back, next to me,” Mrs Mullins added sternly.

  Before she’d even finished speaking, Fliss had grabbed Ella’s hand and was pulling her along the walkway.

  “Whoa there, Flissy! What’s the rush?”

  “We’ve only got fifteen minutes and there’s so much to see! Come on, this way.”

  “You’re dragging me to the lions, aren’t you?” Ella said, jogging to keep up. “I bet that’s where we’re going.”

  “Yup!” Fliss grinned. “I’ve got a feeling I’m going to meet one today.”

  All around them, the zoo rang with the cheeps and hoots of birds and animals, but Pride of Place was disappointingly quiet. Fliss read everything on the information boards – about the Serengeti, the lio
ns’ native home, and about diet and behaviour and bringing up cubs. Then she paced around the enclosure fence, hoping to spot one hiding in the bushes or sleeping up on a rock.

  “They’re not here,” Ella said impatiently. “If we wait any longer there won’t be time to see anything else.”

  It was true. The zoo had more animal species than Fliss could name. She wasn’t even sure why she was so desperate to see the lions. There would be other visits to the zoo.

  “Ella, you’re right,” Fliss said. “Where shall we go next?”

  “Let’s go-go to the flamingos!” Ella sang, wiggling her hips. “This way.”

  It was impossible to be sad when Ella was around and Fliss joined in with her friend’s made-up song. They sang Everybody sing-o, we’re going to the flamingos! at the tops of their voices and the other visitors looked at them as if they were crazy, which only made Ella sing louder.

  At the flamingo pond, Ella tried to stand on one leg for as long as possible while Fliss read out facts from the information board.

  “Did you know that the feathers under flamingos’ wings are black and can only been seen when they are flying? And their pink feathers are only pink because they eat pink shrimp!”

  “I thought it was for camouflage,” Ella pondered.

  “Only if they were hiding in a strawberry field,” Fliss snorted. “And I don’t think there are many of those in Africa!”

  Laughing, the girls ran back to the gift shop, discussing what colour flamingos would be if they ate blueberries or chocolate or multicoloured Unicorn Pops.

  At the gift shop Ollie, Dan and Sarah were standing behind Mrs Mullins, looking sheepish. Mr Pincent had gone to freshen up – which meant he was having a cup of tea to calm his nerves – so the children were allowed a few minutes to look around the shop and spend their pocket money.

  “The gift shop – my favourite enclosure!” Ella cheered.

  Fliss smiled but for her this was the worst part of the zoo. It meant her time with the real animals had come to an end.

  “Come on. First to find a fluffy flamingo gets a … a fluffy flamingo, I guess!” Ella whooped and disappeared into the cuddly toy section, along with most of the class. Within seconds they were all play-acting with squidgy crocodiles, plush sharks and stretchy octopuses.

  Fliss wasn’t keen on gift-shop toys. For a start, they didn’t look that realistic. The sharks’ teeth were made of bendy felt, the snakes were furry and the cuddly flamingos did not have black feathers under their wings…

  Instead, she was drawn to the postcards, which were photographs of real animals. She wanted to find one of a butterfly drinking nectar for Ella. Just the thought of it made her giggle. If she saw a penguin she’d get that for her mum – it was her favourite animal – and an elephant for her dad.

  But what about a souvenir for herself ? It was so hard to choose. From the anaconda snake that made her classmates scream to the foxy-faced zorro, Fliss loved all the animals from A to Z. She couldn’t pick a favourite if she tried! Maybe a postcard of the one animal she’d missed on the day’s outing would be a good choice. It wouldn’t be a souvenir, more of a missing piece. Yes, she would buy herself a postcard of the lions.

  There weren’t many lion postcards – a couple taken in the zoo and a few taken in the wild. These ones didn’t show lions as “kings of the jungle” like picture books did, but as kings of the African plains, which were wide, open grasslands that seemed to go on forever. Fliss was about to pick one when some other cards further along the wall caught her eye. They were large, shiny and colourful.

  When she got close she saw they were 3D hologram pictures making the animals look like they were alive, and the pictures moved around or changed completely if you tilted them. There were great white sharks swimming then attacking, grizzly bears sitting and then standing tall, and lions, too! There was only one left and Fliss snatched it quickly, as if it might disappear.

  She looked down at the picture and gasped at how lifelike it was – it was as if she were holding the lions in the very palm of her hand! The pride was sitting in the shade of a tree and all of them were snoozing in the midday sun. All but one. A lioness was standing up, her head turned to the side. It was as if she was looking for something. Fliss tilted the card backwards. The picture of the pride faded away and in its place was a single lion cub, standing all alone, its eyes wide with fear. Something was wrong. This lion cub was lost.

  Fliss bought the card right away. There was no way she could leave this little cub behind, even if it was just a picture! She’d give it a home on her bedroom wall and on the coach journey back she could pass the time making up a story with a happy ending for the lost cub. Perhaps Ella could help with a song. At that very moment Ella came up behind her, placed a long, cuddly snake on her shoulder and hissed. Fliss jumped back in surprise but when she saw what it was, she grabbed the snake and cuddled it under her chin.

  “You’re supposed to be scared!” Ella groaned.

  “Not me… I’d love to meet a real-life snake. I’d like to wear one round my neck like a scarf.”

  “People would call you Fliss the Hiss!” Ella laughed.

  Just then Mrs Mullins boomed her full name – Felicity – across the gift shop. Fliss looked over and knew right away that her day was about to get better, because standing beside Mrs Mullins was Jonty. The lions were finally awake!

  Mrs Mullins announced that she would hold the coach for anyone who wanted to see the lions, but Fliss’s classmates were more interested in choosing toys and sweets for the journey home. Even Ella wasn’t that interested. She had bought the cuddly snake and was happily annoying people with it.

  “I’m sorry but we can’t delay the journey home for just one pupil,” Mrs Mullins said. Fliss looked at Ella pleadingly and got down on one knee, clasping her hands together.

  “Only if you promise to play pranks with me on the way home,” Ella said, holding out her second purchase – a tube of plastic spiders. Fliss leaped up and wrapped her arms round her.

  “And I can promise to have them back in ten minutes…” Jonty added with a smile.

  Mrs Mullins caved in and the girls ran ahead of Jonty, laughing and waving at the monkeys on the way. When Pride of Place came into view, Fliss sprinted and didn’t stop until she was right there, her face against the enclosure fence.

  “Where are they? Where are they?” she cried.

  Jonty put his hands on his hips and sighed heavily. “Boab, the big male lion was out… But it seems he’s hidden himself away again. Lions are crepuscular, which means they mainly come out at twilight and sleep through the day. Don’t take it personally. Visitors are often disappointed. We have webcams dotted around the enclosure, so when you get home you might be able to see them online.”

  “Oh, OK,” Fliss said weakly.

  “Come on, Fliss,” Ella said. “Race you back to the gift shop. Let’s tell the others we saw nine huge lions and a million lion cubs and make them all jealous.”

  “But that would be a lie,” Fliss said sadly.

  She took her postcard from her pocket and looked at the pride, imagining them there in front of her. Then she tilted it so she could see the cub.

  “Fliss!” Ella’s voice was impatient but it sounded oddly quiet, as if she was a long way away. She must have already started running back. It was time to go.

  Fliss raised her eyes to look at the enclosure one last time but from out of nowhere a warm cloud of dust hit her in the face. She blinked and rubbed her eyes… Even before she opened them again, she knew something strange had happened. The air felt warmer, her skin tingled as if she was standing in strong sunlight and the echoing zoo sounds were gone.

  She opened her eyes and gasped. It couldn’t be possible! She had to be dreaming!

  In front of her, stretching to the horizon, was an expanse of dry grasses, bleached white and yellow by the sun. The landscape was bare apart from a few lonely trees and occasional lumps of rock, some as big as houses. T
he sky was a wide roof of palest blue.

  Fliss spun round. There was no Ella or Jonty behind her, no information board or fence, no walkway back to the gift shop. This wasn’t a trick of the light or a special effect designed by the zoo for a Serengeti experience…

  This was the Serengeti!

  Fliss knew all about the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. But what she didn’t know is how she got there! Was Pride of Place a portal to another dimension? Was Jonty some kind of time-travelling zookeeper? Or maybe… Fliss looked down at the postcard in her hands.

  “Did you bring me here?” she asked it. “And how do I get back?”

  She tipped the picture backwards and forwards to see if it would transport her back to the zoo but nothing happened. Fliss felt a flutter of panic rising in her tummy. If she didn’t get back soon, Mrs Mullins would be cross and Mr Pincent would need another cup of tea, and the coach driver might lose her patience and drive off without them all! Then something caught her eye.

  In front of her was a rock and behind it she was sure she saw something move. Fliss froze. Don’t be scared, she told herself. If it was a big animal, I’d see its horns or ears sticking out above the rock. She decided it had to be something small, like a bird or a hare, and crept forwards to take a look.

  At the same time, the creature cautiously peeked round the rock. It wasn’t a hare or a bird.

  Fliss knew exactly what it was.

  She held her breath as it walked unsteadily out into the open on large padded paws.

  “Hey, little lion,” she said softly.

  And it was definitely a lion. Fliss quickly recognized the roundness of the ears and even though its little legs had spotty markings like a leopard, she could see the strong lion-esque features through the fluffy golden coat that covered the rest of its body. There were grey flecks on its wide nose, which was dotted with rows of white whiskers.