responsibility on her shoulders. Adabu, Adisa and I, we understand but still. I just can’t help but feel that there’s something else going on other than their work. It… it’s almost like Dad’s keeping something from us and Mom.”

            Saada’s concern grew. “What makes you say that, Njozi? I know your father well. He would never…” She paused, growing silent and thinking. The princess was right. Arif was not acting like himself and he had been this way for a while. She’d wanted to talk to him but didn’t. Whatever was wrong with her friend, Saada did not want to interfere. She couldn’t. “Well…” she tried again, unable to think of anything that would take away Njozi’s worry. But after a while, she looked down at the cub with a comforting smile. She wrapped a paw around Njozi. “If something is bothering your father, why don’t you try talking to him? I’m sure he’d appreciate talking with you or your brothers. You may get somewhere.”

            Njozi thought on the lioness’s words. A minute or two later, she nodded. “Okay. I understand. I may try.” She nuzzled Saada’s chest, purring. “Thank you.”

            Saada kissed the cub’s forehead. “You’re welcome and besides, your father is not one to keep secrets from anyone and…” She lowered her head, down to where she could whisper. “It was no secret to any of us that your father loved your mother upon their first meeting. Remember, your mother was once a rogue and had lost her own mother long before her time. When her mother died, Akase was living in the Eastlands. Remember your parents telling you and your siblings about that kingdom?”

            Njozi nodded.

            “Well, I’m sure they told you of going with your grandmother and uncle to the Eastlander king’s coronation?”

            The princess nodded again and Saada continued. “Well, back then, the Eastlands did not have a king. Their old king had died and his son was readying to take the throne but didn’t want to without the Prideland royals present, not to mention the neighboring kingdom leaders.”

            “Yes, and after the ceremony Dad had to leave but he never stopped thinking about Mom, nor did she about him. They were meant to be together.”

            Saada smiled. “That’s right, they were.”

            The cub gradually began to feel better. And for now, the worry of her father would be laid to rest. She gave Saada another nuzzle and rose to join her friends.

            Saada watched as the princess ran over to Sharif, licking him on the cheek then pushing him into the grass, his sisters joining their friend in her game of pouncing on the gray male cub. The lioness laughed, shaking her head in the cubs’ amusement. Even the simplest and easiest thing in the world, such as pouncing, could wash away someone’s worry and heartache. Saada lowered her head, thinking, but it didn’t last long. The laughter of the cubs rang in her ears.

            Soon after, she found herself lying on her back in the grass, paws all over her. Saada laughed. The cubs decided to pounce on her.

            An hour later, the cubs calmed down and were idly lying near their cub sitter in the grass. Adisa, who lifted his head, yawning, looked up at Saada, surprised to see that she was still awake. He nudged her.

            The lioness looked down. “What is it, Adisa?” she asked.

            “Saada… what do you think of the two new pride members?” the prince wondered.

            “I think they are good lions. They’ll fit in well with us and I hear your grandparents are giving them a tour of the lands.”

            “The… the one who cannot see,” Adisa started.

            “Etana…”

            “Yeah, she’s nice, or she seems to be anyway.”

            Saada smiled and rubbed Adisa’s head with a paw. “I’m sure she is.”

            “She… she gets around well.”

            “Yes, she does.” Saada noticed the cub’s curiosity. “Adisa, when you’re unable to see, your senses, such as your hearing and smell becomes stronger. They become your eyes so to speak.”

            “She can still live a normal life, which is good. She proves that just by being among us, right?”

            “Etana is strong, Adisa, and she seems to like cubs.” An idea struck her. “Maybe she could cub sit for you one day, that way you and the others can really get to know her.”

            Adisa’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, that’d be cool; of course, you’d be there, right or…”

            Saada smiled. “I think… as much as I love cub sitting, your mother and the other huntresses miss me in the party. It’s time for me to get back to that, but I promise I will cub sit for you as often as I can.”

            The prince nodded. “I know.” He nuzzled Saada’s shoulder.

            “You look tired, young prince.”

            Hearing this, Adisa shook his head. “No, I’m not,” he insisted. She looked down at him and he chuckled. “Okay, maybe I am a little.”

            “Take a rest, Adisa. We’ll be leaving in a few hours.” She looked up at the sky. “It’s mid sun.”

            “Okay, maybe I will.” The cub yawned and put his head down to rest.

            Saada stroked the prince’s back, purring with a soothing tone. She began to feel tired as well. Taking one last look at the cubs, she too fell asleep.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

“You’ve lived in the Pridelands all your life?”

            Kovu wasn’t surprised at the question. He turned to his black colored companion, his eyes almost remembering the past. “I was born here, but I grew up in the Outlands. It’s not a place you wanna spend almost three years of your life, trust me.”

            Takata chuckled. He and Kovu had been walking the Pridelands all day. Kiara and Etana were on a different side. They had come to this part earlier. The day was beginning to pass but the black lion didn’t mind. No matter how long it took he would settle into his new home. He had been searching for a good pride for over a year but always came up short. He had wanted to provide for himself and his daughter but nothing seemed right until they came across an Oasis that housed a meerkat colony. At first the black lion thought that the small animals would be afraid but they weren’t. After staying a few days, they were told by the colony leader that all meerkats were friends of the royal lions of the Pridelands. Four meerkats, called upon by the leader, offered to escort their lion guests into the land. Takata felt it was the best choice he had ever made.

            For the rest of the tour, Kovu told Takata about his life. By the time he was finished, Takata’s red eyes were wide. The black lion stopped and bowed his head. “You have endured much, Kovu, but you have prospered,” he said softly. “You have been blessed, indeed. You have a wonderful mate, two sons who have made you very proud and a good pride that still recognizes you and Kiara has the leaders.”

            Kovu laughed. “As much as I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t want to continue ruling, nor would Kiara. She and I… We had a good time with it but there were times when we wished we had left the Pridelands and formed a pride of our own.” He smirked. “That was our