Saada depended on him. He had to tell her how he really felt. He waited so long and went through so much to make him realize these feelings.

            He swallowed as he eyed his painted form again. Akase’s faded. Rafiki had wiped it. Arif hoped to see Saada beside him, both on the tree wall and in reality. She had been there for him and his cubs in their weakest and darkest moments. Surely this was some hint, some sign that she and he were supposed to be together. He felt a touch on his shoulder and turned, seeing Rafiki’s gentle eyes and smile. He gave one of his own. They didn’t speak, but just sat, looking at the wall, their minds running with thoughts of the future.

            At a length, Rafiki spoke. “It’s Etana, isn’t it, Arif?”

            The lion held his breath. Should he answer? Rafiki had to figure it out by himself. One slip and… He shut his eyes, praying that his master wouldn’t ask again. Please, ancestors, please!

            The mandrill touched the gray image that seemed to stand proudly beside the Pridelander king. Arif flinched, thinking that a touch by anyone, even himself, on something the ancestors created, would cause the image to smear or disappear. It didn’t. There was no color smeared on the baboon’s hand or the wall.

            Arif began to shake but ceased as he heard Rafiki laugh. “What is it, Rafiki?”

            “I had a thought… De addition to de outline…” He faced Arif. “When did de fight between Hasira and Etana happen?”

            “Four days ago.” Arif shivered. It didn’t seem that long. “Why?”

            “Dat’s when dese other markings were formed, and not by me.”

            “Yes, I know, and you’re right. It is Etana…”

            “De ancestors are saying something, Arif,” the mandrill mused. “She may be our…”

            The lion lowered his head, hoping to sound surprised; to pretend he didn’t already know the answer. “She may very well be.”

            “If dis is true, and our thoughts on dis are right…” Rafiki went back to the wall and gently placed his hand on the gray colored form. “There can be no better lioness.”

            Arif nodded, emotions too hard for words welling in him. Though Baraka did not tell him of his feelings for Etana, there was no need. Arif knew, almost as well as anyone that it was only a matter of time. And, as his ancestors told him in heaven, Baraka needed a mate who was worthy. He stifled a laugh. Etana was indeed that. She was what Baraka needed. The way Arif was seeing it, she was probably chosen for this, for his brother, from the beginning. And his knowing it firsthand from everyone had set off this chain of events that took Akase from him, but had gained him the first real love of his life: Saada.

            How wonderful were the spiritual ways of those who died, and the Creator Himself, to raise this blind lioness up, and bless him for being a good servant.

            At last, he spoke, tears now falling. “You’re right, Rafiki. There can be no better lioness.”

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

“She’s gone now, mother…”

            Dailia let out a hard sigh. She was here for closure. Kadiri was nearby; she asked him if she could have this moment alone.

            “I guess that’s what you always wanted. To get rid of whatever anger you had crammed inside and give it to Hasira. Well, you succeeded. I hope you’re happy.” For the first time in years, she growled at the grave. “She tried to kill, did you know that? She literally tried to kill someone.” She scoffed, shaking her head ruefully. “Hasira tried to kill the lioness that saved my life.”

            Anger rose. She shut her eyes, hoping to suppress and keep it down. “If you were here, you’d know the reason… Baraka, always Baraka. Your cruelty of Hasira forced her to think of some moment in her life where she could be happy. Well, she made up a fantasy in her head of her and Baraka getting together and being our leaders.” She clawed the grass. “Mom, unlike you, I love Hasira, but she would have made a terrible queen. Baraka doesn’t deserve someone like her. Hasira tried many times to move on him, even on the afternoon of his coronation. But he never thought of her in that way. We all thought he’d be alone forever until Etana came. There’s something between them, everyone can feel it. Hasira did and it drove her…” She stopped, not wanting to say the word that many saw her mother has for so long.

            Tears spilled down her cheeks.

            After a few long heartbeats, Dailia continued. “It drove her to the point where Baraka was all she ever thought about. When Etana came, she snapped and often ridiculed her. Baraka defended Etana without a second thought. It caught all of us by surprise.” She smiled. “That’s when we knew that he liked Etana more than any other lioness. She’s special. When someone is sick, she lies down next to them and takes on their pain. It’s the most amazing thing and I’m not the first person she’s healed, there’ve been others. Anyway, I guess Hasira got tired and angry of seeing Baraka with Etana that she attacked her when it started raining.”

            Dailia shivered. “When Mabaki, and Takata, Etana’s father, brought her home, it looked like she was dead.” Her heart ached. Her mother’s body was in the earth while the spirit was in heaven, at least she hoped that. She believed in a life after death. It gave her a hope that she would see her mother again. “Baraka banished Hasira, mother. He thought it’d be better than putting her on trial or killing her, both of which, I think would have devastated me. He wanted to spare not only me, but the pride of that.” She sniffed. “What a lion, what a leader… Etana will make a good partner for him and a good queen for us. Then there’s Hasira… I hope she’s found someplace to call home. I also hope that she finds a good lion that can help her through her problems. She needs that. She needs peace.”

            Trembling, she stretched out a foreleg and brushed the tips of grass on the grave. “I know that you’ve found peace, mom… You didn’t ask to be born the way you were. I was always glad that you didn’t suffer.” The tears continued and she cried quietly. “I know that in your peaceful state you want the same thing for Hasira. And I know that you’re proud of me. Your grandchildren are growing more and more every day.” She smirked. “I have a feeling that your granddaughters will become the next Princesses of the Pridelands someday. If that happens, our bloodline, your bloodline, will have married into royal blood.”

            A small breeze blew by and ruffled the grass around her. “Mom… I love you. I always will, and if you are at peace then I look forward to seeing you when it’s my time.”

            Dailia sighed, sniffed, and turned walking toward the lion she married two years ago. It didn’t seem that long but time had a way of passing quickly. She approached and laid her head on his shoulder. Visiting her mother’s burial site always drained her. This would be the last time. She only did it for Hasira’s sake, though her sister never went along. There was no need to continue.

            “Are you okay?” Kadiri asked, rubbing her back with his paw.

            “Yes, I think so,” she replied, wiping tears from her eyes with a paw.

            “Are you ready to go?”

            She nodded. “Yes.”

            While they walked, Kadiri informed her that the animals that lived on this side of the kingdom were well. He’d patrolled the border and found nothing neither suspicious nor threatening. She was pleased