moistening.

            He smiled. “She thanked me and kissed me on the cheek. Her tears anointed my mane…” A small tear fell down his face. He often wondered after that encounter why a lioness such as Adila was married to a lion who hated blindness or any other kind of disablement. “After that she spoke softly to her daughter, thanked me again and left.”

            The black lion grew quiet again, including Kovu and Kiara who were also quiet. The lion’s story filtered through their minds. He was telling the truth, they knew, otherwise he wouldn’t have asked for a private audience.

            “It’s Etana, isn’t it?” the Princess Regent guessed.

            “Yes. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter, even if she isn’t of my blood. I raised her like she was my own. I looked out for her, protected her as best I could.”

            Kovu smiled. “You did well, Takata. Queen Adila of the North Mountains would be both pleased and proud.”

            “I hope so… And I deeply hope that you’re okay about the growing bond between my daughter and your son, the king.”

            At this, Kiara smiled. “Of course we are, Takata. Etana seems to bring out the best in Baraka.” She let out a deep sigh of relief. “That’s something Kovu and I have been hoping and praying about for a long time.”

            Takata nodded. “Yes, and so have I for Etana’s sake,” he said softly.

            “We thank you for sharing your life story with us,” said Kovu.

            “My honor and I shall tell the king but in due time…”

            “Even if you do not, he wouldn’t think less of you. He knows you’re a noble lion, as do Kiara and I.”

            “Thank you.”

            A cold chill surrounded the area. The lions and lioness shivered.

            Kovu looked up at the sky, seeing the dark clouds coming in at a fast pace. Without the sun, they wouldn’t be able to tell what time of the day it was. He turned to his mate and the guardian, his expression deep. “I think it’s time we leave,” he said. “It’s gonna rain soon, and by the look of the clouds, the rain is gonna be hard and heavy.”

            Kiara and Takata nodded in agreement and they all rose, turning in the direction Pride Rock lingered.

            As they walked, Takata said quietly to himself, “Etana, wherever you are, I hope you know to take shelter if you’re not with Baraka…”

            While leaving the clearing, small drops of rain fell from the darkening skies.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Hasira’s pelt was soaked with rain. She didn’t care. She buried herself in the grass, her eyes set on something far, but with her sharp vision, she was still able to see it. The object was right in front of her. She licked her lips, her tongue rolling along her front teeth. The color in her eyes was dark and her pupils narrowed. Hasira never imagined that she’d find her target without realizing it, and so easily. Either the Princess Regent had taught her well or she inherited some tracking genes from her late mother. Whatever the reason, it served a purpose.

            She’d been watching for awhile, biding her time. One of the important things when hunting was to never rush out after your prey. Kiara had said that.

            Normally, upon seeing good prey, Hasira would rush out and chase. But this was a special hunt and she wasn’t about to ruin it by rushing. Not after this particular prey. For this, the timing was everything. She would enjoy it; enjoy the adrenaline that would pump through her body.

            Oh, yes, this was a hunt she would enjoy very much.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

When the first drop of rain hit her fur, Etana knew it was time to pick up the pace of her trek to Pride Rock. So far she had been walking, strolling around the lands like always. Strolling through these peaceful lands gave her time to reflect and think. She thought of the past often wishing it had all turned out differently.

            Upon entering the Pridelands Etana wondered what good, if any, she and Takata could find or do there. They had traveled and tested out the conditions, inhabitants, and rulers of other kingdoms in the past, none of them pleasing their expectations. Finding the Pridelands happened on a whim. They found a jungle called the Oasis where meerkats lived peacefully, away from threatening predators. It was there she and her adopted father heard about a lion ruler who was the grandson of the lion that was good friends with the meerkats. With orders from the colony leader, who knew that Takata and Etana meant no harm, four meerkats agreed to escort their guests to a border of the Pridelands.

            Etana smiled. Following that whim was the best thing they ever did. Takata had finally found his place. He was supposed to be a guard, but not in his brother’s pride. Etana learned of her adopted father’s past when she was a cub. It didn’t surprise her. She could tell that Takata was not a rogue by birth from the way he spoke and how he was so kind, nurturing and caring towards her. A true rogue male certainly would not have been. She counted herself lucky then and did so now. Her mother had done what was best for her and knew Takata would be the perfect caregiver. Hearing that the black lion she called ‘Father’ was a prince and had a friend who was like her, born blind, was a great comfort. When he adopted her, he knew what he was getting into and from helping his friend he used the same methods to help her.

            With her adopted father finding a place of fulfillment in his life, Etana wondered about her own. Did she have any? What was she other than a healer, a counselor, an advisor, and a storyteller? Those were all the things the pride seemed to see her as. What kind of place was that? Sure she had healed two lionesses and a cub but did that really count? What of helping the king and his brother during their trying times?

            In that moment, she reflected on the previous night. She, too, had a trying time. Telling Baraka of her past had been difficult, but Baraka, she knew, was a lion of his word. He listened to everything she said and was patient during her pauses as she tried to grasp the memories and avoid the pain. But when he placed his paw on hers, then allowed her to rest her head beside his, she felt a deep connection to him. She admitted to herself that Baraka was a strange lion, probably the strangest she ever met. But he was also different, just like her, and like her, he, too, was set apart from all others, even his family. Last night he had helped her, and gave her the comfort and safety of his own chambers during the rainy season. He thought of others before himself, which was a good quality in a king. She found herself admiring him more than ever now.

            What surprised her now was that she had poured her soul out to him. And he received it without fear. When they were in his chambers, his quiet invitation for her to lie down beside him had scared her. But that trust… that looming trust she felt with him had surrounded her, telling her that it was okay, and she rested at his side. Being that close, with no need to heal her own body from taking someone else’s illness, was an unusual feeling. The warmth of his body soothed the awful aches she’d felt after telling him about her life. Sleeping at his side, she suffered no nightmares. And it felt good to wake up refreshed and relaxed.

            Throughout her walk, and occasional stops to rest and drink from nearby waterholes, she thought of Baraka and wondered how he was. Though she knew he was alright, she hoped that if there were any serious problems he’d be able to handle it. A part of her wished she was there with him. What was it about him that allowed and made her unleash the part of her that was still a cub hoping for affection? Why did she trust this lion… this king?

            A thought suddenly crossed her mind, but the gray lioness dismissed it with a shake of her head. No, she told