know.”

            “We know, brother,” Njozi said softly. “Now that we all hope that some happiness befalls our uncle, there’s another question that remains… What about Dad?”

            “I know I’ve said this in the past, but when Mom was alive, it sounded… uncertain, but I think it’ll sound better now.” Adabu looked his brother and sister intently in their eyes. “I hope Dad and Saada admit their feelings. It would be nice to see him happy again, too. He needs it as badly as Uncle Baraka. And Dad and Saada seem to possess the bond that he and Mom seemed to lack. We all have some connection to Saada, right? Njozi, you were the first. I view her as a second mom.” He stifled a laugh. “And I’ve been hesitant to start calling her that lately.”

            “That word, that name, it fits her so well,” said Adisa, his eyes shining. “She’s been a mother figure to us before Dad and Mom first started to fight.”

            Njozi’s eyes filled with tears. “We need to be a family again.”

            Adisa walked over and laid his head on his sister’s shoulder.

            Adabu followed suit. “And if there are feelings between Uncle Baraka and Etana, we’ll have the family completed,” he said sighing heavily. “It’s what we need… what we all need now.”

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The night sky was something Prince Arif enjoyed gazing at. He expected to see clouds and feel rain on his fur. The white sparkles in the sky were a joy. But this was supposed to be the rain season, wasn’t it? Why wasn’t it raining? Arif wondered about that all day. Rafiki hadn’t noticed. Were the dead leaders and spirits of old trying to tell him something? That the rain they’d been having the past few days was a taste of what was to come, or that would be it for now? He sniffed the air. The smell of the rain that fell yesterday hung in the night air.

            “Enjoying the air, brother?”

            He turned to see Baraka sit beside him on the promontory. He smiled, laughed, and shook his head. “You know it.” He breathed a sigh. “I love this time when everything is peaceful, quiet.”

            Baraka smiled. “You’re in a good mood.”

            Arif eyed him. “And you aren’t?” He smirked and turned his eyes back to the stars. “So, are you gonna tell her?”

            “What, who…?”

            “You know. I think you should. She’s perfect for you and you care about her more than I’ve ever seen you care about anyone. And since I’ve experienced her help for myself, I understand why.”

            Baraka shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean.”

            “Oh, come on, brother! Do I have to tackle it out of you?”

            “Arif… I love you; you know that, but… Please, stop worrying about me. You have a personal thing to settle don’t you? You settle yours and I’ll settle mine in my own way and time.” He didn’t mean to be short; he’d been wrestling with the idea since Etana woke.

            Arif put a paw on Baraka’s. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I see you when you’re around her. I see that you’re happy. I want you to be that happy for the rest of your life.”

            “Thanks.”

            Without saying more, he nuzzled Arif, walked down the stone, leapt down the ramp, and headed into the grass. Arif couldn’t see it, but walking beside Baraka was the lioness that had touched something in not only his brother, but him, and those they knew. He waited a moment before going into the den. When he finally did, his purpose was one thing. He saw her with his cubs. He didn’t want to interrupt but if he put it off any longer, he’d go mad.

            “Saada?” he asked, politely.

            She looked up from the cubs to him.

            “Um, can I talk to you out on the ledge?”

            She rose and followed, but he let her go first. He gave a look to his cubs, which Adabu understood and told his siblings. When they were out of sight, they sat down at the edge. Tonight was the moment of a long awaited truth.

            “Arif, why are we out here?” she said at last.

            He swallowed. “Because… I had to tell you this alone, away from everyone, and the cubs. It’s something I should’ve done years ago, but destiny had another plan for me, one I wouldn’t change even if I wanted to. But now, I have a second chance and I’m gonna seize it.”

            “That’s good, Arif, but what does –”

            He held up a paw. “Saada, in order for me to tell you there’s something you have to understand …” When she nodded again, he began. “When I first met Akase, I had no idea I wanted a future with her. She didn’t either. The attraction we had was love, but then it drifted. I guess that was my fault. I wasn’t home much before we married and had cubs. But I was still a shaman in training and needed to learn all I could. I tried to make her understand, but she must’ve hated my work long before I realized it. She was the first lioness I vowed under heaven to share my life with. I thought my life was in order, but then I got that message…” He sighed. “I agonized over that, as you know. I laid my burden out to you. You were the only person I could really talk to without revealing it.”

            “You did what you had to do, Arif,” Saada said with a distant voice.

            “She started that first argument in the den. I tried to avoid it, but it happened. It frightened me and I was afraid she’d go back to her roguish ways…” He bowed his head. “I was right. You saw that for yourself twice.”

            “Arif,” Saada said, trembling. “That second time I found her. I told her she was in the wrong, that her children were in pain, and that she needed to go home and make amends with you. Then she attacked me.” Her body shook as she remembered the day she nearly died.

            The brown lion shut his eyes as he also remembered seeing her bruised and bloodied. But knowing that his own wife did it had torn him. It was that day, he knew, Akase returned to her rogue ways. A lump in his throat prevented him from speaking.

            The silence was hard. After a beat, Arif found his voice. “I was afraid for you, and then Etana came and healed you. Then Akase died from snakebite…” His heart pounded. He didn’t want to bring all this up, but it was the only way he could say what he wanted.

            Saada’s ears flickered. “Arif, please…” She blinked tears away. “You don’t have to tell me. After Etana healed me I went down and paid my respects. Baraka told me what had happened. My main concern was for you and the cubs.”

            He smiled at that. How could he not? She cared that much. He closed his eyes, the pounding in his heart so loud he was sure to explode. “And I can’t thank you enough for caring, Saada. It’s helped me and the kids a lot.”

            She smiled weakly, a tear trying to come out of an eye. “It’s my honor, Arif. I…” She wanted to say it, but couldn’t. How would he feel? She flexed her paws. “Arif, why did you tell me all of that?” she asked, turning her head away.

            Arif gave a glance that was overcome with emotion.