relieved, Baraka was glad. By the third day Etana was fully well and when night came she returned to her sleeping spot outside the main den.

            Etana also knew that by healing Dailia and taking the fever, she found favor among the pride. But she was not looking for it. She had only done what was right.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The sun had already risen. The animals were up and wandering but the lion pride slept peacefully in the den. Outside, Etana also slept.

            A few hours later a cub left the den and headed up the promontory. It was Prince Adabu. The brown colored cub sat down and breathed in the fresh air, sensing that the weather was going to be to everyone’s liking.

            “Thank the ancestors for a day like this,” he said softly.

            “You’re right, Prince Adabu, it is going to be a good day,” said a voice behind him.

            The cub turned with wide eyes. He was caught. He gasped then a look of relief and surprise came on his face. Etana walked up and sat beside him. Adabu shivered. He had never been this close to the blind lioness. He wasn’t sure what to do or what to say. After a minute, he slowly mussed up the courage to look at her. To his displeasure, he stared at her, stared at her eyes. He trembled and not from fear. He looked away, feeling sorrowful.

            “It’s not fair,” he whispered. “She deserves to see, like all animals…”

            “It’s alright, young prince. With my ability to feel movements in the earth I can see as well as you.”

            He snapped his head up, his mouth open a little. She heard him. He should’ve known that. Because she had no sight, her hearing was amplified to an extent that she could hear even the softest whisper. “Yes, my uncle told me and my siblings about that. That helps? You feeling the movements in the earth?” he asked politely.

            She smiled and looked down at him and he wasn’t afraid to stare into her sightless eyes. “Yes, it does. My paws are my eyes. They guide me.”

            “That’s… good that your paws can see for you.” Adabu wanted to be careful with his words. He was afraid that one wrong word or move could bring offense.

            “Yes, it is and I am grateful. Are your parents still asleep?” she asked, turning her head back to the lands.

            “They are and so are my brother and sister. I wanted to wake early but I didn’t want to disturb them.”

            “Very wise and decisive of you, Adabu… Not many cubs would care about their parents or siblings like that. From what your uncle tells me, Prince Adisa and Princess Njozi are the same way.”

            “We try to be,” Adabu said softly.

            “Your parents have taught you and your siblings well.”

            “Yes, they have.”

            There was a pause, followed by a silence. During the quiet, Adabu was silently pondering on Etana. He looked at her again and sniffed the air. For a rogue, he admitted to himself that she kept herself well groomed. He had heard stories of rogues, of how very few cared for themselves and their coats. As he continued to stare, he felt that Etana and Takata were not ordinary rogues. He felt that there was something different and special about both of them but what it was, he couldn’t place. He watched her pose, how she sat straight up, her paws firm on the ground, her head high. He turned away, a thought coming to him. He shook his head, knowing the thought was impossible.

            Etana’s ear flickered and she turned her head down to him, concern on her face. “Are you alright, Adabu?”

            The prince shut his eyes then reopened them. “Yes, I-I’m fine.”

            She was unconvinced due to the tone in his voice but let it go. He would tell her later if he wanted to. “Okay.”

            “Thank you,” Adabu said, smiling.

            Etana returned the smile and they stared at the lands. Adabu was mesmerized while Etana pictured what it looked like in her mind. She smiled again. Even in her mind’s eye, without someone explaining it, the sight was beautiful.

            A moment later Adabu pawed the ground. “Um, Miss Etana…?” He saw her turn her head. “My Dad or Uncle Baraka would usually do this, but… well I’m…” He stopped.

            “You want to get a drink at the waterhole?” she guessed.

            “I am a little thirsty,” Adabu said sheepishly.

            Etana chuckled and rose, starting down the promontory. “Let’s go.”

            The cub eagerly followed. As he watched the lioness go down the stairs, he looked up at the den. He shivered. Would his parents worry about him? What would his uncle say? When they woke and didn’t see him would they send out a search party? In that moment he remembered that Etana slept outside beside the den. If they looked at her spot and saw it empty, there would be no reason to worry. After all, she healed Dailia. They trusted her with that then they could trust her with a cub, especially a prince. He walked down the stairs.

            “Don’t worry about your parents or uncle,” Etana said as she heard him step into the grass. “I think they’ll understand.”

            Adabu nodded.

            From above, two lions came out of the den and saw the lioness and cub in the savannah.

            “Will he be alright?”

            Baraka gave his brother a gentle smile. “Yes. Etana is trustworthy; though this is the first time she’s spent with the cubs.”

            Arif just nodded. In his heart, he knew Baraka was right.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Adabu drank deeply from the waterhole with his caretaker standing close. He lifted his head, water dripping from his chin and whiskers. “That was a good drink.”

            Etana smiled and took a drink herself. Afterward she stepped back and lied down. The warmth of the sun was comforting and the coolness of the shade, given by the few trees around the area, was even better.

            “So peaceful,” the prince thought. As much as he loved playing with the other cubs, just being alone once in a while was almost heavenly. He came over to Etana and lied down in front her. “Thank you for taking me here,” he said politely.

            “You’re welcome, Adabu. I’m glad you thought of it. I needed a drink too.”

            He laughed and took a breath. To his surprise, he managed to breath in her scent. He sniffed again. Her scent was unlike any of the others. The fact that he felt there was something different about her made him want to ask questions. In his mind, he knew she wasn’t a rogue, but she had lived a rogue’s life, so why was he was almost desperate to know anything else?

            “You seem curious, Adabu,” Etana said after a moment of silence. He looked at her. “I can tell by the way you’re breathing. You seem to be full of questions.”

            “I…” Adabu started. “I’m sorry. It’s a cub’s curiosity, but… I’ve never known any rogue lionesses, except for my mom, but… you’re the first actual rogue lioness I’ve ever known and when I see you walk, it’s different,