head. “No, it’s not weird. We just have open minds.” Dhani laughed. “And, I agree with you that Etana is probably more than just blind. Dad tells me that her name means ‘strong’. I think she is. I don’t think anyone could accept not being able to see the way she accepts it. She walks as though she can see and now she has some sort of healing power that takes away your mother’s fever? Yeah, she is more than what she seems which is good.”

            Dhani nodded, smiling. “My mother is alive. I have Etana to thank for that.”

            “We all do, Dhani,” the princess said gently. “We all do.”

            A while later, the six cubs rejoined, Sabiha looking better than before. She gave Adisa a fond smile and nuzzled him gently. The friends didn’t play, but talked instead.

            Their lioness watcher, noticed them interacting and smiled. Whatever had been bothering them, it was no longer. She sighed in relief and rested again.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The day continued and when the sun started to sink, the lioness and the cubs returned home, the hunting party arriving with the kills at the same time. The cubs ran to their parents and sat with them. As Adabu and his siblings came to theirs he sensed a strong tension between his mother and father. The Prince shivered. He hoped nothing was wrong.

            The kills – zebra – were laid in the usual spot. Kovu and Kiara stood in front of the meal and Kovu stared at Mabaki, who stood straight, ready to do anything the Prince asked. Kovu nodded and Mabaki departed, going into the den.

            The white lion stood in front of the king’s chambers and scratched the floor. There was no answer. Hesitating, Mabaki walked in but didn’t see Baraka. He sighed, knowing where his friend was. He was being king. Mabaki knew the importance of Baraka’s position. As he walked further, he saw Takata lying in the midst of the chamber, a few steps away from Etana. He approached and gently nudged the older lion.

            Takata stirred after the second nudge. “Oh, Mabaki, what time is it?”

            “The sun is beginning to sink… its late afternoon. The pride is assembled and the kill has been presented but we’re waiting for Baraka. Prince Kovu asked me to come get you.”

            Takata yawned. “Thank you. I’ll be out in a moment.”

            Mabaki smiled and left.

            Takata moved up and whispered in Etana’s ear. “My dear daughter, dinner has come. I promise, I’ll return.” He was tempted to lick her cheek but stopped. He didn’t want to break her concentration. He rose and walked to the entrance, his heart pounding with every step he took out of the chamber, into the den, out of the den and amongst the pride.

            When he joined them, stepping beside Mabaki, Baraka arrived. The king looked on his pride, smiling weakly. He cleared his throat and placed his paws on the kills. He gave the blessing and stepped back. The pride rose and everyone got their shares. Kadiri and Arif got large pieces to share with their families. When his parents had their shares, Baraka stripped off a piece, smiled to them and walked away. The pride didn’t watch. They knew where he was headed. When he moved up to the den, Takata was at his side. Baraka set his meal down.

            “Sire,” the lion said nervously. “You don’t have to go in there. She’s my daughter, my responsibility.”

            Baraka nodded. “Yes, that is true but you’ve been keeping an eye on her all day. You care about her, yes. You have to, you’re her father. I care about her too. I consider her a friend and she is a member of my pride. I care for all the members. She healed one of my childhood friends.”

            “I know. Well, who am I to stop the King of the Pridelands from entering his own den. I apologize.”

            Baraka smiled. “You were concerned. I will not fault you for that.” He picked up the meat and departed.

            Takata watched him and went to chat with the Regents, hoping that would take his mind off his daughter.

            Njozi chewed on the piece of meat her father gave her. Adabu and Adisa ate happily but she ate slowly. Her mind was in a daze. She had seen her uncle go into the den and knew where he would be. His steps and movement told her everything.

            “Don’t worry, Uncle Baraka, Miss Etana will be alright,” she whispered.

            Akase looked down. “What was that, dear?”

            “Nothing, Mom,” she replied, looking at her mother with a smile.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Baraka walked into his chambers. His eyes grew sad. Etana still hadn’t moved. He made his way up and lied down, setting his piece of the kill in front of him. He watched, wondering how she was battling Dailia’s fever within her own body. He hoped she was alright and would wake soon. He started to eat and thought over what Takata had said.

            Though she was blind Etana could feel a person’s pain and heal them? Baraka had seen his brother and the mandrill heal injured animals with herbs, juices, and powders, but they never healed someone with physical contact. Arif said that shamans couldn’t and Rafiki added that it would take someone with unbelievable and unknown strength.

            The small group, aside from Kovu as he heard the story the night before, gasped but Dailia remained unmoved. She had only nodded. She had understood and believed. The evidence of her pain being gone and Etana’s weak voice was proof that the lioness had some special gift. She had watched her friends and mate become silent, but it was Baraka who spoke first. He’d said that Etana could stay in his cave for as long as needed and left after that, attending to his duties but no one noticed how fast he ran through the grasses or the pain in his eyes.

            And even now, hours later, the pain was still there. It hadn’t left. It surprised Baraka that he was able to concentrate on helping the animals and walking the kingdom but while he did, he felt different, hollow and empty. Now, it was a mixture of all three.

            He pushed the meat away with a sigh. He couldn’t eat anymore.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The evening air was cool and crisp with a clear night sky filled with stars. The moon was out, completely full, the rays illuminating the lands in a silver glow. The lion pride was in the den, everyone sleeping soundlessly, but two figures emerged and walked up the promontory. They didn’t speak; the quietness of the lands soothed them.

            At last, the figures turned their heads.

            Kovu and Kiara faced one another, regarding each other with unreadable expressions. In the dark of the night it was hard to see the looks in their eyes but both knew what the other was thinking. Their thoughts always coincided and this night was no different, but compared to past issues, their thoughts weren’t on each other.

            “He likes her,” Kovu finally said.

            Kiara looked at him startled. She slowly nodded. “But he won’t admit it. You know that as well as I.”

            “He’ll keep it hidden. He feels he has to otherwise he’ll show weakness.”

            Kiara silently agreed. Baraka’s concern for Etana was evident to them from the start. “Kovu… we don’t know what he’s going through. You and I… we always knew about our feelings. My parents knew about theirs too. Same goes for my great uncle and your mother, not to mention my grandparents.”

            “Not everyone finds their soul mate as fast as you or I…” Kovu said in a soft