Mom.” She felt the warmth of her brothers’ bodies next to hers and heard them say the same.

            Saada nuzzled the cubs with a few tears in her eyes. She noticed Arif smile and felt happier than she had in years.

            “Thank you for this second chance,” Arif prayed.

The moment stayed with the young royals but the questions didn’t follow until today. Would their father and soon to be new mother have cubs and if so, how would they, the other cubs, feel about it? They asked each other.

            “You know, if Dad and Saada have cubs, I wouldn’t mind,” said the eldest prince. “It’d be nice to have another brother or sister.”

            Adisa nodded. “I agree, and we could help watch over them. Chances are we’ll be a little more grown by that time.”

            Njozi smiled. “If it happens we’d still be a family. If not, our family still exists. But either way, I’ll be happy.”

            As she expected, Adisa drew closer and she rested her head on his shoulder. “We all will, sis.”

            Adabu sniffed the air and glanced at Dhani and her siblings. He gave her a smile and winked. She returned the gesture. He wasn’t sure where the future would lead him, but he hoped that the oldest daughter of Kadiri and Dailia was part of it. Though they still had a few more years before the possibility of a friendship being more, Adabu couldn’t wait to find out.

            And the same was known about Adisa and Sabiha. They also cared and had helped each other through tough times. By doing that it made their bond stronger. Like his brother, Adisa hoped for a future with a daughter of Kadiri and Dailia. With his sister’s head still on his shoulder, he managed to look on that daughter. Sabiha really lived up to her name, though she probably didn’t know it. She really was ‘bright-faced’, or as Adisa, and possibly her parents thought of her, ‘pretty’. Still a cub, not anywhere near close to growing up, the second prince was smitten with the guardians’ second daughter. And that made him hopeful for the future.

            Unlike her brothers, Njozi didn’t find herself feeling different about the guardians’ only son, Sharif. To her, at least for now, the gray male was just a friend. Though he had helped her when she collapsed after suffering bad visions, she was grateful for the help but that was all. She wasn’t sure if there would be anything more to their friendship as they grew. There was something else. Njozi was planning her future. Her father was a shaman, but didn’t live in the Tree of Life. She was… what did Rafiki call her… a seer? He’d said that she had a very rare but special gift.

            With her father starting a new life with a new love, and her being uncertain of possible love as an adult, someone had to live in that tree when Rafiki left the realm of the living. And though her gift felt like a curse at times, Njozi believed that living in the Tree of Life, keeping the Pridelands traditions, and helping the pride and animals was her calling.

            Though a decision like this was still far off, it was something she kept in her mind daily, plus she wasn’t even sure if Sharif’s feelings toward her would change in the future. For the time being she met the blue eyes of the gray colored male. He smiled at her. She smiled back. As much as she cared for him, she hoped that if something more did develop out of their friendship, she and Sharif would be able to handle it. She didn’t want to suffer a failed marriage like her father and first mother. That was her biggest fear.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Rafiki had been up long before the sun. Though he wanted to sleep a little while longer, the feel of the wind and knowing what it meant caused him to wake. He rolled from his grass bed and sat on the floor with legs crossed, hands on his knees, and meditated. He didn’t care how long it’d take, it didn’t matter. His great king needed him to prepare. And he knew why the wind had blown. It was a calling. Surely all the animals felt it, and in their hearts knew its message. He should’ve been at Pride Rock.

            The sun was in the sky. How long would this meditation last?

            Finally, a small breeze blew by the old mandrill and he heard that familiar voice.

            Gather your things, Rafiki. It’s time to perform two long awaited unions, and one long awaited coronation…

            He was up and moved to the wall where he kept his staff. He saw the three gourds that hung from its top. They were fresh and just what he needed to perform the ceremonies. He grasped it with his left hand and leapt out of the tree.

            Some animals saw him and word spread. Those he was walking to separated, making two lines and a space in which he was to walk. He smiled. This happened all the time, but it was to respect him and the position he held. He walked up the stone ramp and landed on the platform where the pride and some other familiar faces were all sitting or lying down. Upon seeing him, they rose and bowed. He smiled again and came to the lions of the hour.

            The baboon embraced them. “De time approaches.”

            “Thank you for doing this, Rafiki,” said Arif. “I would perform Baraka’s ceremony, but–”

            “But you’re marrying too, Arif,” his master replied. “You deserve a break from being a shaman. Today, you are neither a shaman nor my student. You are a prince, the king’s brother,” – he turned to the prince’s cubs – “and their father. And, by the time today ends, you will be someone’s husband.”

            Joy filled Arif’s body. He couldn’t wait for this day to commence.

            Baraka didn’t speak, but turned to his father and nodded. He watched the elder lion head to the lower cave.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

“Rafiki’s here. It’s time.”

            Kiara nodded to her mate, called them over, and with Kovu at her side, they left. Behind the Regents were Etana and Takata. Following them were Saada and Mabaki, and making up the back were Dailia and Kadiri. The lionesses, the Northlanders, and the Eastlanders all bowed. Baraka and Arif stepped forward, Rafiki taking his place at their side. Kiara and Kovu nuzzled their sons and joined their grandchildren and their friends.

            Kadiri stood behind his king, as he was best lion. Dailia sat opposite him, as she was maid of honor for Etana. And Mabaki, as the only male in their family, walked his only sister. He knew that somewhere in heaven their mother was watching. He would sit with Takata, who as Etana’s father walked her. They approached the king and prince, nuzzled the lionesses and sat together with the Northlanders and Eastlanders.

            Rafiki stepped in between the two couples, offering one last mental prayer. He turned to Arif and Saada, seeing the love and devotion in their eyes as they smiled and stared at each other. Rafiki smiled. He wouldn’t have any problems performing this ceremony.

            Arif knew the wording by heart and this time the words would follow through. He would not walk into this blind. This time he was determined. His heart pounded as excitement and wonder shined in his red eyes. His focus was entirely on Saada. He was ready.

            The old mandrill began with a simple opening.

            “Marriage is a sacred thing, but also a gift. It was created from de beginning, established by God. He is de Creator of all things. What He has brought together let no one separate.” He looked at Arif. “Prince Arif, son of our Regents, brother to our king and Pridelander shaman, do you take this lioness as your wife? Do you promise to love, comfort, cherish, honor, and take care of her when she is well or sick? Do you promise to forsake all others and keep yourself just for her for the rest of your life?”

            The lion breathed deeply and spoke