There was no way Juillenne was leaving Africa without cuddling a lion or two, Sakaki. Just saying.

For now, though, zebras would do. The herd remained completely unconcerned as the girls approached.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. A couple of the zebras actually deliberately trotted up to Juillenne and Sakaki, until they were mere inches away.

Juillenne reached out to stroke one of the zebras much like she would a horse. True to what she’d said, it didn’t shy away, and in fact leaned in to the naturalist’s touch.

“Aren’t you a beauty,” Jules murmured. “Yes, you are.”