with her eyes but he couldn’t figure out what. He had to fight. The lioness ran at him, rising up onto her hind legs. Kadiri growled and lifted himself onto his hind legs too. He clawed at her but she blocked his attack with a paw and gave him an uppercut to his chin, causing him to stumble and roar a bit in pain. He fell, thankfully landing on all four paws and stepped back, shaking his head. The lioness ran at him and jumped, her paws making contact with his chest. She pushed him onto his back.

            Kadiri grunted and pushed his hind legs into the lioness’s stomach and with a surge of energy he was able to flip her over his head. He groaned, hearing a thump on the other side of him. He rolled to his feet, preparing for another attack. It came. The lioness had rolled to her feet as quickly as he and was now charging at him ferociously. He snapped his teeth and ran at her. They clashed again and stood on their hind legs, clawing each other. Kadiri couldn’t believe what a fighter this lioness was, whoever she was.

            He roared out in pain as the lioness struck him with a blow to the cheek. He was dazed and found himself again on all four legs. He shook his head and felt something slam into his side. He fell to the ground, on his back in a daze. He felt two paws on his chest, a weight pressing him to the ground, and a snarl in his face. He looked up to see that the lioness was again on top of him with her front claws just inches from his neck. He was tired. He closed his eyes waiting for the end to come but before he did, he got a better view of the lioness and was able to look into her eyes.

            His mouth dropped, his eyes widened. There was no color in the female’s eyes at all. They were completely white with a hint of gray in where all lions had color.

            She was blind. And yet, she had fought like she could see.

            He swallowed a large lump in his throat and found his voice but his first three words came in a stutter. “W-who are you?” he asked.

            The lioness stared down at him with her sightless eyes. She could feel the rhythm of his heartbeat. She smiled. He was surprised and scared. She got off of him and shook the grass and dirt from her dark gray colored fur. She turned to him. “The question is: who are you?” she asked. “Surely you are not king of these lands?” She asked the question as though it brought her amusement, and it did.

            Kadiri drew a confused stare and rose to his paws. He tensed, as if waiting for another attack but he could see that the lioness was done fighting. “My name is Kadiri, one of three guardians of the Pridelands under the rule of King Baraka, son of Prince Kovu and Princess Kiara, Regents of this kingdom.” He took a step towards the lioness. “And you are?” he asked in an authoritative tone.

            The lioness turned back to him. “Etana,” she said point blank. “But I am not alone.” He looked surprised but she couldn’t see that. “Don’t worry, he is a lion but harmless. He is my father. We’ve been looking for a pride to take us in. We’re rogues.”

            The guardian’s head spun. What a day this was turning out to be. All he wanted to do was patrol his assigned area, return home by afternoon and spend the rest of the day with his wife and children, then turn in but instead he would actually be working. He sighed. “What’s a guard to do?” he asked himself. He looked at her. “Where is he?” he asked. “Perhaps, if you tell me, I can find him for you.”

            “No,” Etana said harshly. “I do not know you well enough. How do I know that if I tell you where he is that you won’t kill him?”

            “Because I am a guardian and I do not kill others unless I have a reason to. Hunting is no exception. And in this case, living a rogue’s life is never easy, it’s life and death. I’m sure that my king will be more than… kind enough to accept you and your father. Please? Let me help? It’s the least I can do after we almost killed each other a few minutes ago.”

            “I would have killed you,” she replied and scoffed. “For a lion you should be better at fighting.” Kadiri ignored the comment. Etana sniffed the air and planted her paws firmly on the ground, the guardian watching in both amazement and confusion. If she was blind, which he could clearly see she was, how in the name of the ancestors was she able to fight? “It’s this way,” she said a second later and she walked in the same direction where he had lied down in the grasses. She stopped and turned. “Are you coming?”

            Kadiri snapped out of his thinking and hesitatingly began to follow. But thoughts and questions filled his mind. He had never known a blind creature in his life and yet, here he was walking with a lioness, who, was indeed blind but walked as though she could see.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

They all played together in the plains of their homeland. They were so happy and continued to revel in the games they could never get tired of. A lioness strode away from her companions and came up to nuzzle a young male, her head rubbing against his shining red mane. The lion looked at her and shuddered carefully. As kindly as he could, he rose and walked from the lioness, leaving her in stunned silence. She made a move to follow but the young lion, hearing her steps, turned and hissed, his green eyes angered. The hiss caused the others to stop playing and look on in confusion. They all exchanged glances, each of them watching the male leave them, going off to once again be on his own. They wouldn’t admit it, especially the lion’s brother, but they worried.

            And they were not the only ones.

            On the promontory of Pride Rock, Kovu and Kiara watched them, watched as a lone lion walked away from his friends. They both sighed.

            “He doesn’t like lionesses, Ki,” Kovu said quietly, his eyes downcast. “Will he be this way when he becomes king?” The Prince Regent trembled.

            “I hope not, Kovu,” Kiara replied, her voice also quiet. “We cannot force him…” She suddenly trailed off.

            Kovu shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense. This isn’t a medical condition. Rafiki says Baraka’s in perfect health. He also said that this is something inward, something he cannot cure…”

            “I wish he could. Baraka needs to have a mate…”

            “They’re not grown up yet, Ki.” She faced him, tears brimming at the edge of her eyes. Kovu tried to smile. “They still have time. He still has time. He’ll find someone. Just look.” Kiara stared out at the young lionesses. Kovu did too and continued speaking. “He has three girls to choose from, to have feelings for. He’ll find one among them and she will be his queen.”

            Kiara nodded sadly, pawing at the ground. “I hope you’re right. I don’t want him to be alone…”

            He drew closer and nuzzled her softly. She buried her head in his mane. “Baraka is a kind lion. He gets it from you,” Kovu said, smiling.

            “And he gets his strength from you,” the Princess Regent replied, sighing.

            “He will find someone, Ki,” Kovu said, whispering. He rested his head upon hers. “I know he will.”

            Kiara didn’t reply. Instead, she pushed her head under his chin.

            They both had tears streaming down their faces…

Kovu sighed heavily as he looked at the Pridelands. A smile came to his mouth. He had seen the kingdom alive and at peace in the past but now, with his eldest son in charge and ruling, his second son being the shaman, it was true. He could not have been more proud. But his pride did not dampen the worry he constantly felt for Baraka. He always questioned himself on what was wrong with his son and how it was possible that he was unable to find a mate to settle down with. But there was never an answer and Baraka did not discuss