softly.

            She smiled but it soon faded. She heard steps coming toward them. She tensed herself, waiting for a confrontation.

            “What are you doing here? Can’t you see Baraka needs to be alone?” said a voice rather angrily. It was a lioness, her tail lashing fast behind her.

            Baraka turned his head. Hasira was there and she was not happy. He sighed. Just what he needed as if his day wasn’t bad enough. But before he could speak, Etana spoke first, her voice calm. “Baraka invited me,” she said simply. “He looked like he needed someone to talk to.”

            Hasira scoffed. “He has his parents, his brother and his friends for that!” she spat. “And address him as ‘sire’! Show some respect you stupid blind rogue!”

            Baraka’s eyes snapped with anger. With a burst of strength and energy, he immediately rose to his feet and whirled around, facing her with an angry stare burning in his face. He growled, the blood boiling in his still tired body but all tiredness he felt was almost gone. He allowed the anger in his eyes to shine through. Much of the pride who heard, were up and looking downward, Takata among them. He stood beside Kadiri, who along with Dailia and Mabaki accepted the black lion as a new guardian. They were pleased but their faces held duty. They were ready to defend their king and their new guardian’s daughter.

            “Hasira,” the king hissed, “don’t you EVER call her that again! I will NOT tolerate verbal abuse in my kingdom. Apologize…” Hasira turned her face away but Baraka held out a foreleg, his paw digits wrapping around the lioness’s chin. He pulled her face towards his. “NOW!” he demanded.

            Etana rose to her feet and turned. Her head was pointed directly at Hasira. She was patient, as if the comment didn’t bother her. She felt that Hasira would’ve said more than that if Baraka hadn’t intervened. She smirked. She was surprised he did but she welcomed his quick defense.

            Hasira struggled. She growled and faced Etana, the coldness in her eyes definite. “Sorry,” she said rudely.

            Baraka jerked her. “Like you mean it!” he hissed again, his heart pounding.

            “Sorry,” she said again.

            Baraka smiled. “Better.” He let her go and watched her go back up the stones. He couldn’t see the pride but he imagined them giving her glares, Takata especially. The day before when Hasira insulted Etana, the black lion had growled. He was thankful that Takata was not down with them. But he was king and he knew Hasira. He could handle her. He sighed and turned to Etana, his eyes concerned.

            “Are you alright?” he asked.

            Etana nodded. “It’s alright, Baraka. Remember, I’ve heard worse.”

            The king shook his head. “Still I will not tolerate that, Etana. You are a good lioness, blind or not, and I am happy that you were silently concerned about me. I appreciate you coming down here.”

            They lay down in the grass.

            Baraka sighed. “Now, Etana would you like some part of this piece?” He pushed the meat towards her with a paw.

            She lowered her head, sniffed it and nodded. “I’d be honored, Baraka,” she replied. She tore a piece and started eating.

            He smiled a true smile and began eating too. He was feeling better now.

Chapter 4: Pridal Issues

Arif let out a sigh as he looked at the lands. The sun was up and the animals were grazing. The pride was in the den sleeping except Baraka. He had left early to walk the kingdom. It was a good time. Everything was peaceful. When Arif woke, the spot near the den, the place where Etana made her sleeping spot was empty.

            He wasn’t surprised. Etana was with his brother. It surprised him that Baraka didn’t mind her company. Usually he didn’t want anyone to join him… He thought for a moment then his eyes grew wide. Did Baraka like her? Did Etana like him? What was it about this lioness that Baraka seemed to like? Arif lowered his head, his mind searching. He remembered what Baraka had done a week ago, how he told Hasira to never insult Etana. He never knew his brother to get that angry. Baraka never raised his voice except for small outbursts but this was different. It was actual anger.

            Arif had shuddered then and shuddered still. If Hasira would insult Etana in the king’s presence, how angry would Baraka get if Hasira ever attacked her? The thought terrified him and in his terror, he tried to think of something else. His mind involuntarily wandered to the message given by his ancestors.

            A lioness would come…

            She did but with a companion, her father… They didn’t mention that, but maybe they didn’t know.

            She would be very special and endured much in life…

            Arif was surprised that she was blind. “But she’s gotten through it. She’s accepted it,” Arif said to himself. “She doesn’t seem to care that she’s blind and her other senses are strong.” He suddenly smirked. “Strong enough that she fought Kadiri and won…!” He laughed softly but his face fell. He remembered the warning, the one his grandfather, the late King Scar had given.

            You must tell no one…

            The words still rang in his head and the pain of not being able to tell was getting worse. Akase was getting more worried about him and he was even starting to worry himself. Every time he saw Etana he wanted to tell his brother, their parents and Rafiki…

            “And Akase,” he added in a shameful afterthought. He bowed his head and clawed the stone, growling softly. For a moment, his eyes snapped and he mentally cursed himself. He loved Akase and their cubs more than anything in the world…

            Telling Baraka and their parents would be easy enough, but Akase… Arif bit his lip. His heart pounded. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep quiet. The guilt was eating at him and he was getting to where he couldn’t sleep at night. He would wake and leave the den, going to the lower caves where he wouldn’t have to look at anyone, including Akase. He would cry and force himself to sleep. He feared that doing this would cause Akase to worry even more.

            Why did he have to carry such a burden? Were the past leaders testing him, to see if he could carry the message without succumbing to the pressure?

            “If this is a test, I’m failing,” Arif thought miserably. “Some shaman of knowledge I am,” he said aloud.

            “You okay, Arif?” said a voice.

            The shaman flinched but relaxed soon after. The voice was not hers. “Hi, Dad,” was all he offered.

            The Prince Regent sat down beside his son. Though he was aging, Kovu was still strong, both mentally and physically.

            Arif smiled and dipped his head in greeting. “Morning, Dad,” he said, hoping the pain and sorrow left his voice.

            Kovu wasn’t a fool; any sensible animal would know that. He did not take his son’s happy greeting as truth. “Arif… what’s on your mind? Something must be bothering you. What is it?”

            Arif hesitated. Now, more than ever, he wanted to tell but the words didn’t come. He sighed. “It’s