“We won’t disturb her, we promise,” said another.

            If only Baraka could believe that, and he could from almost everyone. If he wanted them to do something, they did it without question. They respected him and were always grateful to help.

            “What?” said another voice, clearly angry and many of the lionesses flinched. Baraka snapped his head up to the voice. His eyes began to burn. He had hoped nothing would happen, that nothing would be said of his request but it was too late.

            From among them came Hasira, her tail lashing. Kadiri saw his sister-in-law, knowing that what she had to say would not go over well.

            “What is it, Hasira?” asked Baraka.

            The lioness scoffed. “My poor sister is in your chambers with a blind lioness, sire!” she hissed. “The shamans should be the ones taking care of her, not some non seeing creature who knows nothing of our life! Get her out of there and let the true healers handle this.”

            “Hasira,” Baraka said, keeping his voice reasonable, “Arif and Rafiki did all they could. They’re not miracle workers. They only do what they can and Etana may have another way of helping Dailia. If she says she can help then she has every right to try.”

            Her fur bristled and a growl came from her throat. “How do you know? She’s a rogue, not a healer. Baraka, send Arif and Rafiki back in…”

            “Hasira, my decision stands.”

            “Baraka, she knows nothing of healing…”

            The king narrowed his eyes. “Hasira… stand down!” he snarled.

            “I don’t trust her,” she continued.

            Baraka opened his mouth but someone else spoke in his stead. “Well, you have no say in the matter, Hasira.” Everyone turned their heads to see Kadiri standing next to Baraka. The guard eyed his sister-in-law. “I’m not sure what Etana plans to do to help my mate but if she is willing, and she was, I did not stop her and neither did Baraka. Now I can’t explain this but when I looked at her, I saw and felt something. It was telling me that she could help. But how, is unclear, so we’ll just have to wait.”

            Hasira was fuming. “Wait? Wait for what? You don’t even know what she’s going to do. And what… you expect us to sleep out here tonight? I am not sleeping in the grasses, Baraka. We need the den.”

            “Not tonight,” Baraka said, close to losing his patience. “And that is an order. No one and I repeat no one is to go inside the den until Etana is finished.”

            “Doing what? What’s she doing in there, Baraka? Don’t you think you should keep surveillance within your own den with one of our friends, my own sister, and a lioness you barely know?”

            If they weren’t amongst the pride Baraka would have surely hit her. Last time, he had been merciful but now he wanted to show his authority. He looked at her, his blood boiling. The coolness in his green eyes was hard. He growled angrily and turned, heading for the stairs.

            Most of the pride watched as his form cut through the grass and they all turned to Hasira, giving her glares of disappointment.

            Kovu, who had seen the hurt in his son’s eyes, turned to the gray brown lioness. “That’s enough, Hasira,” the Prince Regent said. “I, like my son, will not tolerate your cruel behavior towards Etana and it stops.” He could see Hasira prepare to protest. “Now…” the dark brown lion growled.

            From her position, Kiara saw the same anger in her son’s eyes shine through her mate’s. She walked up to Kovu and nuzzled him gently as if saying that she would take over. “Hasira, not another word or I’ll suspend you from the hunting party.”

            Hasira’s eyes grew. “What does this have to do with hunting?”

            The Princess smiled coyly. “Nothing, but unless you want to start getting your own food, you’ll treat EVERYONE and this includes Etana, with respect. Otherwise I’ll give you a taste of what Takata and Etana had to go through before they joined us. If helping Dailia is Etana’s way of thanking us for accepting her and her father into the pride then that’s a generous way of showing it.” She paused and turned to the black lion. She smiled at him and he returned it, bowing his head.

            Hasira remained quiet. She knew she was outnumbered. “Very well,” she mumbled.

            “What was that?” Kiara asked, pretending she hadn’t heard. “Repeat that, Hasira.”

            “I understand, my lady,” said the lioness aloud.

            Kiara smiled while Kovu smirked. “Very good…” She addressed the pride. “Now then as my son said, we are not sleeping in the main den, so everyone decide where you want to sleep, whether it’s on Pride Rock or underneath it or in the lower caves, it doesn’t matter.”

            As the pride talked about where they wanted to sleep, Hasira growled softly and began to move away, going near the den. She stared into the darkness. “You stupid blind lioness,” she thought to herself. “You had to interfere, didn’t you? If my sister dies, I will kill you!” Her purple eyes burned with an intense hatred. Her ears rose and she carefully lifted a paw, as if to step inside the darkened cave when a voice stopped her.

            “Hasira, what did Baraka say?” said Mabaki as he approached with a weary gaze. Hasira turned to him. “You’re not supposed to go inside. None of us are. Do not disobey him.”

            Hasira scowled. “Or what, Mabaki, you’ll tell on me? We’re not cubs anymore.”

            “No, but you’re acting like it.” Mabaki drew closer. “I’m warning you. If you go anywhere near the cave, I’ll make you regret it.”

            Hasira smiled but it was humorous. “Oooh, I’m quivering.” She walked away.

            Mabaki sighed and Takata came up to him. The white lion met the black one’s red eyes. “Shall we guard just in case?” the young lion wondered.

            Takata smiled gently. “We have nothing else to do.”

            Mabaki chuckled and they rested beside the entrance. Four lionesses came up. Mabaki recognized them. “Yes?” he asked.

            “We’ll guard the den,” said the first lioness.

            “You and the others do so much for us, let us do this for you,” said the second. The other two nodded.

            Mabaki and Takata looked at each other, but they didn’t decline the offer. It surprised them but that showed what a good and decent pride they lived in. The lionesses made a line at the entrance while the other adults scattered themselves around Pride Rock either upon it or below in the grasses. Takata and Mabaki joined Kadiri, Kovu and Kiara, along with Prince Arif and his family who were in the grasses.

            The sky started to change, the colors now light purples and blues. The stars slowly made their appearance in the sky but has Kovu settled beside his mate, watching his grandchildren play with the other cubs, he wondered where Baraka was and if he was alright.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Baraka fell in the grass, panting heavily. He was exhausted from