him.”

            “He said you didn’t hurt him too badly. He’s still amazed that you’re able to fight.” Here, Baraka held up a paw. “I mean, he didn’t know at first that you were…”

            “It’s okay. He is a good fighter, I just happened to be quicker.”

            “He says you fight pretty hard.”

            “When you’re a rogue, you have to fight. You have to live for another day. Fighting is the only way to do that.”

            He came near. “You don’t have to anymore. You can relax. Both you and Takata…”

            “Thanks again, Baraka,” she said quietly.

            “You’re welcome.”

            Before either of them could speak again, a cheetah ran toward them. Baraka looked ahead, seeing that it was the royal advisor, Kahuni. He sighed. He did not want to work today.

            “Good day, Kahuni, how are you?” the king asked.

            The cheetah panted heavily, fighting to catch his breath. “I-I’m fine… this morning… s-sire!” He let out a heavy breath then lifted his head, assuming a serious face. “My king, there some problems that require your attention… One of the leopards wishes to speak to you, the leader, and –” He stopped, upon seeing Etana. “Who is that?”

            “This is Etana. She and her father joined the pride yesterday. Etana, this Kahuni, majordomo of the Pridelands. He reports to me any problems the animals may have, problems that they are unable to solve themselves.”

            The lioness stepped forward, sensing he was a cheetah. She’d felt the running paws in the ground. Only a cheetah could run like that. “Nice to meet you, Kahuni…”

            The cheetah smiled. “Same to you, ma’am…” He looked up at her and stared, his eyes widening. ‘She’s blind?’ the advisor thought. ‘Could’ve fooled me…’ She was looking directly at him. He cleared his throat and shook his head, his eyes now on Baraka. “Your majesty, these problems… I’m afraid they cannot wait.”

            Baraka nodded. “Very well…” He turned to Etana. “Etana, I am sorry. Can… can you find your way back to Pride Rock?” He felt terrible. He did not want to leave her.

            She turned to him, heard the worry in his voice. “It’s alright, Baraka. I can take care of myself. You have duties to attend to, I understand. Your mother offered to give me a tour of the Pridelands today. And your father offered to take my father around as well.”

            “Oh, well my mother is a good lioness. She can tell you many things about the Pridelands and its history. Enjoy yourself.”

            “I will and thank you, Baraka, you have treated me kindly.”

            “Be well, Etana. I shall see you and the rest of the pride in the afternoon.” He bowed his head. “Good day.”

            She returned the bow. “Good day, sire…”

            With a swift jerk of his head, Baraka walked away, the cheetah advisor following. Etana left a few moments later.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Adabu looked down at Adisa with a triumphant smile. “Looks like I win,” he said with a smirk.

            The second prince playfully rolled his eyes as Adabu got off him. Adisa rose to his paws, shaking the grass from his back. He then ran, pushing his brother to the ground, Adabu landing in the dirt. Within a minute the two princes were rolling in the grasses, laughing.

            Sharif watched the brothers then came to his sisters. “Why can’t you two play like that?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

            Sabiha and Dhani looked at each other with annoyed looks. “Sharif,” said Sabiha. “You know girls don’t pounce each other unless we’re hunting, which we won’t do until Mom feels we’re ready.”

            “Yeah, yeah, I know that, but would it really bother you if you did pounce on each other once in a while? We are cubs, ya know!”

            The sisters glanced then whispered in one another’s ears. Sharif perked his ears up but his face held confusion when his sisters turned back to him with mischievous looks in their eyes.

            “What?” he asked.

            “One…” Dhani started to count. Sharif stepped back.

            “Two…” Sabiha added, stepping forward to her brother.

            “Uh, come on now, don’t do something you’ll regret,” Sharif said, his nervousness growing.

            Dhani chuckled. “Oh, we’re not going to regret this, brother, we’re gonna love it!”

            “Three,” they called and ran towards Sharif. The male cub turned to flee. He was fast but not fast enough. Dhani, who inherited speed from her mother, was able to pounce on her brother’s back and pin him down.

            Sabiha ran to the front and gave a nod to her sister. Dhani slowly moved away. Sharif made an attempt to get up but Sabiha pounced, pushing her paws onto his shoulders. “You were saying, brother?”

            Sharif panted and muttered incoherently.

            “I’m sorry, what was that?” Sabiha teased. “Dhani, did you hear what he said?”

            “Okay, okay, you made your point!” Sharif yelled. “You and Dhani can pounce! You were right, I was wrong! Ya happy now…?”

            The yell was so loud that it caused the royal cubs, or at least Adabu and Adisa, to stop playing. It woke the princes’ sister, Njozi, including their cub sitter, Saada. The lioness lifted her head.

            “Sharif,” she called. “What’s wrong?”

            The gray cub turned his eyes to the lioness, not sure what to say.

            “We were teaching him that girl cubs can pounce, Saada,” said Dhani, speaking quickly.

            “Oh. Well, continue playing then, but don’t be so hard,” the lioness reminded.

            The three cubs nodded and together with the princes, they continued their pouncing.

            Saada sighed and smiled. There were times when she wished she was their age again. She was about to put her head down for another nap when she met the princess’s eyes. “Njozi, are you alright?” she asked in concern.

            The young cub looked up at her, nodding. “Yes, I’m okay, but…” She paused. “I’m worried about my parents. Dad… Dad’s not been himself. Momma tries talking to him but it doesn’t seem to work.”

            “I’m sure your father is alright, ‘Jozi. Being a shaman is probably not easy. And your mom, she has her duties too. She is leader of the hunting party.”

            “I know. Dad tells me that it can be hard with him healing the injured animals and meditating half the