the voice and the way ‘sire’ was pronounced. The king stepped forward. “Etana,” he said in surprise. “Well, what is it?”

            The lioness took another step inside. “You say that Dailia is in your chambers with a high fever, and that the medicines Arif and Rafiki gave will only dull the pain, not take it away?”

            The shamans nodded. “Dat’s right, yes,” said Rafiki.

            Etana nodded her head. “I can help,” she said.

Chapter 5: Their Healing

The pride gasped and muttered to each other, hearing the words of the gray colored lioness, but Kovu, who heard them speaking in soft whispers, hushed them. They turned to the Regent, seeing his disciplinary look and nodded apologetically. Kovu, however, didn’t return the nod. Both he and Kiara had their eyes on the den. They both wondered what their son was going to do as did everyone else. Questions ran through their minds. How could Etana help? And would Baraka let her?

            The cubs of Dailia and Kadiri were still huddled near their caretakers, Mabaki and Saada. The cubs started to ask questions only to be silenced tenderly by the adults who gave each other worried glances. They hoped that their childhood friend would be alright.

            From inside the den, Baraka, Arif, Kadiri and Rafiki exchanged glances of their own. Baraka had a surprise look on his face but shook it off. Dailia was his friend and he couldn’t deny the fact that he was worried but he had a duty to fulfill. He looked at Etana and thought a moment. If his brother and the mandrill could only dull the pain then maybe Etana’s offer was what they needed for Dailia to get well again.

            “How,” Baraka asked with a strong voice.

            Before responding, Etana was also thinking. How could she explain? She hadn’t realized that there was something wrong until she heard the lionesses talk. And she had felt a sharp pain in her head. It was then; she knew she could help, but to explain how… “There’s no time,” she said to herself. “Father can explain it better.” She spoke aloud. “Baraka, I’m sorry but there’s no time for me to explain. You’re going to have to trust me.”

            Baraka opened and closed his mouth several times while the shamans just looked at each other.

            Kadiri, the anger gone from his eyes, was now replaced with wonder and fear. Before the king could speak, the guardian came to the blind lioness. He began to stammer. “Etana… how can you… I mean… can you help her? If so, please, I beg you…” Tears flooded his eyes. He lowered his head and sniffed.

            Watching his friend, Baraka found his voice. “Etana, if you can help then by all means do so. As you already know Dailia is in my chambers. You will have all the privacy you need. And whatever your intentions are, I assure you, you will not be interrupted.” He turned to Arif and Rafiki. “I thank you both for your services, but it seems…” He stopped, unable to say more.

            The two shamans stared at him and bowed their heads reluctantly. Rafiki walked to Etana, his eyes almost snapping with a curious expression on his face. “Are you a healer, miss?” he asked.

            “Sire, do I have your permission?” She didn’t mean to ignore the mandrill’s question but there simply was no time.

            Before he realized what he said, Baraka answered. “Yes. My chambers are…”

            “They’re in the back of the den,” said Etana as she started to walk but she stopped at Kadiri’s side. “Don’t worry. When I’m through, she will be fine but it may be a while. Be patient and trust me.”

            The guardian nodded numbly. “I don’t care how long it takes. Just please, help her. I cannot lose her.” He stared, looking into her colorless eyes. She gently put a paw on his then walked away. Kadiri watched, suddenly feeling warm throughout his whole body. He breathed deeply and was shocked. Much of his worry was gone.

            Baraka led her to the back of the cave until they stopped at the entrance to the royal chambers. “How will you do this?” he asked softly.

            “My father can tell you,” Etana said. “It may be a few hours or longer before she is healed. Also, tell the pride, and this includes you, to not come in. Not until this is over.”

            “Why?” Baraka wondered but then he knew. “Oh! Oh, yes, of course. I forgot.”

            “It’s okay. The reason I say this is because I won’t be able to work if I can feel so many vibrations of the pride members, and you as well. It gets confusing and hard to focus.”

            Baraka nodded. “Alright, we’ll sleep either in the main parts of Pride Rock or the lower caves. The den and my chambers are all yours.”

            “Thank you.” She went inside.

            Baraka turned and left. The lions and the mandrill followed their king to the entrance of the den.

The moment Etana entered, her head began to hurt. She ignored the pain and stopped, hearing soft quiet breathing. “Dailia?” she called. There was a moan of pain. Etana trusted her paws to guide her. “Dailia, it’s me, Etana. I’m here to help.”

            She continued walking to where she heard the moan until her left forepaw touched the lioness’s side. At the physical contact Etana’s head swam. If she could see her vision would be spinning. Her left foreleg was numb, almost asleep. She stepped back then carefully settled herself next to Dailia’s side, their fur touching. She didn’t have to concentrate. Etana sensed that the pain was no longer in Dailia’s head but had already spread to the rest of her body.

            Etana let out a sigh, the pain starting to overwhelm her.

            “I hope this works,” the gray lioness said softly. “And if it does, we’ll both be free.” She got into a comfortable position and put her head down on the ground.

            Within a few minutes, her eyes closed.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The pride asked their questions when Baraka, Kadiri and the shamans came out of the den. With all the clamoring, Kadiri went to his cubs, who he could tell, also had questions but he gently told them to remain quiet. Mabaki and Saada stayed with them.

            “Will Dailia be alright?” asked a lioness.

            “What exactly did Rafiki and Arif do for her?” asked another.

            “If they can’t help her, how can Etana?”

            The questions continued and Baraka let out a roar that caused everyone to stop talking. The king met the eyes of his pride for a long moment, but didn’t speak. Then he took a breath, let it out and at a length, spoke. “Now, as you all know Dailia returned a few hours ago with a small fever. Arif and Rafiki were called in to see if they could help but all they can give her are herbs to dull the fever’s pitch. Since the herbs are not enough to take the pain away, Etana has offered to help.” He paused. No one spoke. “She is in with Dailia now and both of them are in my chambers. Etana has requested that no one come into the den until she is done healing Dailia. And from the feel of the weather, tonight will be cool so we’re all sleeping outside.”

            “Why do we have to do that?” a lioness wondered.

            “We