So, you’re up for it? It will be a mini adventure…” Doug’s voice came through the line. He sounded excited.

Viv smiled into the phone, how could she say no?

“Sure thing,” she replied, “It definitely sounds like a plan.”

******

The day was overcast, but in a beautiful way, with luminescent grey clouds that cooled the day, opening now and again to let golden light spill through in great shafts that illuminated the landscape. A soft, sweet-scented breeze, perfumed by the freshness of the air out in the wilderness, rustled trees. It kicked up pockets of dust that lay between the thick bushes and undergrowth of the savannah. It was a perfect day out in the national park, and Viv and Doug were thoroughly enjoying themselves already.

“Ooh! Look there, how nice!” Viv clapped her hands in childlike glee as they spotted a herd of graceful, grazing impala, their twisted horns elegant crowns atop their heads.

“Yeah…and that ostrich? Way out over there… yep, that black dot.”

Doug’s voice carried a hint of playfulness. Was he jesting since she had not brought her spectacles along. Swatting his arm, a full smile on her lips, she started to tell him not to tease her when the ‘black dot’ suddenly spread out its plumage and stood out clearly against the gorgeous backdrop of green and brown.

“Yes, I see it,” Viv laughed.  “I was about to… oh, is that a herd of buffalo? Yes! Did you know buffalo are one of the most dangerous…” and launched into a tale that quickly went off tangent.

Doug listened with an easy-going attitude to the long-winded story, throwing humorous retorts here and there when she said something particularly ridiculous; and revelling in the carefree feeling of cruising through the park at a slow speed, drinking everything in.

“Want to stop for lunch honey?” he broke into her ‘side’ story.

“Mhmm, I could eat,” Viv grinned, wallowing in the outdoors picnic he had surprised her with. “Where should we go?” Doug posed as he considered up the hill at the incredibly beautiful views and down towards the thickly forested river banks were the trees formed a magical, green canopy.

He chose the former, deciding the sweeping views with the gentle, rolling dips of the green savannah and mountain ranges framed blue in the distance would suit them best.

It was the right choice. With the sun peeping more and more from behind the soft, pearly grey clouds, the landscape panned out before them like a literal dream at the top of the hill.

Doug parked under a large acacia tree and they both climbed out through the sunroof of the car.

******

“This is nice,” Viv said as she inhaled the sweet air and dropped her shoulders with a hearty exhalation, lost in the silence, without a care in the world.

“It is, isn’t it?” Doug murmured back, lost too, in the wide open space and the winnowing wind that whistled soothingly in the ears, as if it had something to say. They savoured the silence for a few moments, then Doug pulled out the picnic basket and they reverted to relaxed conversation as they dug in.

“Delicious…” Viv popped a tomato into her mouth that was already full of sandwich, and licked her lips, “I wasn’t expecting all this,” she swallowed, made sure her teeth were clean and flashed him a brilliant, ear to ear smile.

“I’m glad you liked it,” Doug said pulling off a piece of chewy bread and taking a bite, “Do you want to drive around a little more?”

“Sure, but first, can you take a picture of me over there?” Viv pointed to a solitary tree on a small mound a short distance from the car.

“Viv, we are really not meant to get out of the car, considering there are wild animals all over.”

“Yeah, but there’s none we’ve seen up here… besides, it’s just over there…” her words cut off as she slipped down through the sunroof into the car, and out the door, “Just do it quickly, and make sure you get the tree!” she called out as she walked briskly towards the little mound where the tree seemed to be calling her.

Doug was uneasy, but Viv was so headstrong he knew most times she would do as she pleased.

He shrugged and swept the surrounding landscape as she walked off.

Viv could see the tree up ahead, but mused why objects always seemed closer out in nature until you actually tried getting to them. She was breathing heavily from the exertion and a full stomach when she reached the tree, adjusted her outfit for the photo and waved to Doug for him to snap the picture.

******

His eyes had never left her profile so he was ready when she waved, and he focused the camera lens, clicking several times before going to adjust the zoom, to see if he might capture her face. Aiming the lens at her again, Doug froze.

Viv stood out on the mound, holding onto the tree gently with one arm, posing as Doug photographed. He lowered the camera after a few minutes and seemed to fiddle with the settings. She stood still for a few seconds more, then rolling her eyes, decided he must have gotten at least one good shot, and begun heading back. She suddenly didn’t want to be out here anymore.

Viv didn’t see, rather, she felt it. A sudden, intense stillness fell over the savannah. The birds went quiet and even the wind seemed to stop blowing. The hairs on her neck stood up as she walked briskly back to the car, where Doug was waving wildly at her.

“Viv! Faster!” he called to her.

Hearing the terror in his voice, Viv faltered, instinctively looking back over her shoulder as she stumbled over.

Several metres behind her in the tall grass, moving at stalking pace, were two majestic lionesses, cubs in tow.  But they, too, paused as if to ask about the sudden silence around their forest.