but the words of his cubs, the happy murmurs of his pride brothers and sisters, and the gentle purrs of his former leaders rang in his ears.

            He couldn’t hold it in any longer. He collapsed, his head buried in his paws. He began crying. Then he felt the brush of fur against his own and a gentle lick on the cheek. He couldn’t look up. He was given another lick on the forehead and with pain in his eyes he opened them to see a face he thought he’d never see again until he was in the afterlife. Tears leaked from his eyes and his lips quivered. With a whimper, he fell against her.

            Dailia put a paw on his back and drew him close. She purred with love. Her cubs smiled to each other and went to their friends. Dailia rested her head against her mate’s mane.

            Kadiri clung to her, not wanting to move or let her go. They both barely noticed the pride leave to do their own things a few minutes later. The cubs also left, led by the lioness, who, would be in charge of them. A few lions and lionesses stayed behind.

            A minute or two later, Kadiri found his voice. “I thought…” He paused to sniff, his body still shaking. “I thought you were… That you had…” He couldn’t continue. He buried his head in her shoulder.

            Dailia rubbed his back with her paw. “I’m here now, Kadiri,” she said softly. “I’m here now. It’s me, my love. I’m well.”

            Kadiri didn’t reply or move.

            She understood, as she always did. If it had been him who suffered such a fever, she’d have been afraid he would die too.

            They didn’t speak anymore after that.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Takata remained at the den, the urge to enter tearing at him. “I’m sorry, Baraka, but I must see my daughter,” he muttered. He prepared to move when someone blocked him.

            “What are you doing?”

            Takata sighed. It was Dailia’s sister. He stared at her. “Now that Dailia is well I’m going to see how my daughter is.” He made a step but Hasira stood firm. Takata quickly became frustrated. He was a peaceful lion but a growl of disobedience entered his throat.

            “Baraka gave orders. No one is to go inside.”

            “Your sister is well,” Takata replied plainly. “You should be happy. And now that she is, Etana needs me.” He tried to move but Hasira swiped at him with a paw. Takata groaned. Talking wouldn’t help.

            “Hasira, he’s right,” said a voice. They turned to see Mabaki. “Dailia is well so that means Etana is finished. Let him through.”

            Those who remained heard the conversation. Kovu and Kiara, who stayed behind to talk to their sons, approached. Kovu nodded to Mabaki and met Hasira’s gaze. “Hasira, Kiara and I warned you yesterday. I’m sure Baraka would allow Takata to enter the den. Etana is, after all, his daughter. Let him go…” He narrowed his eyes. “Now…!”

            Hasira growled softly under the Prince Regent’s stare. She snarled and stepped back and Takata, giving Kovu a nod of thanks, rushed in. Hasira scoffed and left. The Regents and the guard looked at each other, each thinking the same. When would Hasira stop her sudden cruelty towards Etana?

            What they didn’t know was that the same question went through Takata’s mind as he walked to the back of the den. He’d done his best to raise Etana and taught her to never let what others thought of her break her, but with Hasira the black lion felt a well of rage and a distant past pain. He shook his head and stopped when he saw Baraka’s chambers. He scratched the floor.

            From inside he heard, “Who is it?”

            “It’s me, your highness, it’s Takata.”

            “Come in.”

            Takata let out a breath and entered. In the middle of the cave, he saw three forms, two lions and a mandrill, surround the body of his daughter. Takata felt a lump in his throat. These were the moments he feared whenever Etana used her healing power to take on the pain of another. Dailia’s pain had been anything but ordinary; he knew that as did Etana, which was why she couldn’t allow Dailia to suffer. It was why she took the pain onto herself. Takata swallowed his emotions as he stood next to Baraka.

            “Rafiki, Arif, what do you think?” the king asked gravely.

            The lion and the mandrill met eyes, and then Arif spoke. “Baraka, whatever Etana did… Well, it’s hard to explain. It’s as if Etana is suffering the same symptoms Dailia had. Since, we couldn’t do anything for Dailia we can’t do anything for Etana.”

            Baraka nodded silently and shivered. Would Etana die? Would they be burying a pride member? The thought was unthinkable. There hadn’t been any deaths since Simba and Nala. Baraka looked at them and if someone looked close enough, they would see pain in his eyes.

            “So, there’s nothing?” he asked, hoping his voice didn’t crack.

            Arif and Rafiki exchanged glances and shook their heads ‘no’.

            “Actually, there is,” said Takata.

            “Speak, Takata,” Baraka said.

            “My daughter, as you said Arif, is suffering the same symptoms Dailia had. And the pain that was in Dailia’s body now resides within Etana.” He paused for a moment. “She’s fighting it.”

            “Fighting it?” Rafiki asked. “What do you mean?”

            Takata sighed. “Sire, might I have an audience with you outside? You and a few others need to know something.” He looked at Arif and Rafiki. “You two might want to hear this as well.”

            The shamans were unsure while Baraka nodded in approval. “Alright, Takata, but what about Etana… Someone should stay here and look after her.”

            “It’s alright, my king. She will be fine; however it might take a while for her to heal…”

            “She can stay in here as long as needed.”

            “Thank you,” Takata replied. He walked up to Etana, his eyes moistening. Though he had seen her take on the pain of others in the past, him being the first, the fact that she would take on the pain and now the illness of one’s fever surprised him. It was proof she had a good heart. “Etana,” he whispered. “Be careful, please. I don’t want to lose you.” He sighed, sniffed and turned, heading towards the cave entrance. “Sire…?”

            Baraka nodded and began to follow. The shamans, still reluctant and hesitant, also followed but Baraka let them go ahead. He stayed for a moment, staring at the gray lioness’s still form. He bowed his head, feeling torn and conflicted. He cared about her, he couldn’t deny that. He had worried for Dailia but she was healed now thanks to the lioness, who, now lay on the floor of his cave.

            “God, please, keep her safe,” the king prayed.

            When he emerged from the den, Takata had gathered those of the pride that stayed, Baraka’s friends among them. The king looked at his father and came down.

            Takata breathed deeply. What he had to say would take a while to tell, followed by