The Long Life of Leonardo the Cave Lion

Our roving rodent reporter Zoey and her partner Zeek delve deeper into the World of Yesterday and find the ancient king of beasts, the Cave Lion! But there is nothing to fear for Zoey and Zeek from this Panthera leo spelaea, as it may struggle just to hear them in its old age.

Zeek: You never know what we’ll find in the World of Yesterday.

Zoey: This place just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

Zeek: Zoey, look! Look at that creature coming out of the cave.

(A huge Cave Lion emerges from a cave in front of them. It is easily over 11 feet long.)

Zoey: It’s humongous!

Zeek: It looks like a lion. But I’ve never seen a lion that big before!

Leonardo: What? Who’s that knocking at my door?

Zeek: Uh, oh. He’s coming. That’s one big cat.

Zoey: (Trembling with fear herself) I...I... .

Zeek: Cats eat mice. I bet they did back then, too!

Leonardo: Rice? No, thank you. I couldn’t eat any rice. Who is that? I cannot see you.
(The cave lion leaps forward and lands near the mice.)

Zeek: Ahhhhhhhhh! We’re done for!

Leonardo: Oh, my hip! I should never have jumped so far.

Zeek: (Pushing Zoey back) Run, Zoey! Save yourself! Run!

Leonardo:  Fun? Yes, I like to have a little fun. But give me a moment to rest my sore hip.
(He lies down.)

Leonardo: Ah, that’s better. Just let me catch my… (He falls asleep.)

Zeek: Quick let’s make a break—

Zoey: Wait a minute, Zeek. I think he’s asleep.

Zeek: Asleep? But he just jumped down here. He was ready to eat us alive!

Zoey: Look at his grey mane and all those wrinkles on his face. He looks really old!

Leonardo: (Suddenly waking) Cold? Yes I am a bit cold. Can you pass me a blanket? Hello? (Sees the mice) Oh, hello there. When did you get here?

Zoey: Hello, good sir. We’re sorry to bother you.

Leonardo: Bother? No, it’s no bother.

Zoey: May we talk with you?

Leonardo: I’m sorry, could you speak up please? I’m a little hard of hearing.

Zoey: (Speaking loudly) MAY WE TALK WITH YOU?

Leonardo: Oh, surely. Be glad to help.

Zoey: Just how old are you?

Leonardo: I’ve long since lost count. Some of my ancestors have been around for hundreds of thousands of years.

Zeek: Wow. That is old.

Leonardo: Yes, I believe some of my kind lasted until around 2,000 years ago. It was in the Balkan Islands, I believe.

Zeek: That’s amazing.

Zoey: Indeed! You seem a very proud species.

Leonardo: Oh yes, we roamed the world. You should have seen us in our day! Europe, Asia, Siberia, we were everywhere! It was a great time for the cave lion.

Zoey: That sounds wonderful. It must be great being able to remember what the world was like so far back then. So pure, so pristine.

Leonardo: You should have seen me in my prime. A real tomcat, I was. (He chuckles, which leads to a fit of coughing.) Did I mention that I am really, really old?

Zeek: Yes, I think you did.

Leonardo: I was born over 10,000 years ago, you know.

Zeek: You don’t say.

Leonardo: I was once on a cave wall. A great painting from the Paleolithic era, I believe. They depicted me as you see me now: protruding ears, tufted tail, light tiger-like stripes, and a shaggy ruff. I was so unkempt in my youth. (He chuckles and coughs again.)

Zoey: Pardon me, sir, what is a ruff?

Leonardo: Oh, that’s my mane. You might call it tattered or scraggly, but I like it just fine.  See how it rings around my neck? It used to be a lot fuller, of course, but that was when I was much younger. I’m over 10,000 years old, you know.

Zoey: Of course.

Leonardo: So many  good times. So much earth to wander. (He settles his head down.) Such a… (he yawns)…such a  lovely time…zzzzzzzzzzzzz…. (He falls asleep, snoring loudly.)

Zoey: (Smiling) That’s enough for today. (She closes her notebook and pats him on the nose.) Good night, Leonardo.

Zeek: I never thought I’d be saying goodnight to a 10,000 year old giant lion from this close up.