Etana.

            “You don’t mind,” Arif asked.

            The lioness laughed softly. “Not at all… Your son is a very kind cub and I enjoyed my time with him.” Her ears lowered. “I haven’t been around cubs in a long time.” Her voice was low.

            Arif gave a single nod. “I see. Well, the cubs in the Pridelands are very well mannered.” He looked down at Adabu with a smirk.

            “We try, Dad,” said Adabu, chuckling.

            A while later they arrived at Pride Rock. The pride was assembled, the kills were made and Baraka stood in front of the carcasses. Arif looked at his brother and bowed his head in apology for being late. Baraka just nodded. Arif and Adabu joined their family while Etana went to her father. The king gave the blessing and the pride stripped the carcasses.

            For some the dinner was eaten in silence, for others it was in conversation.

            Arif had once again left his family and was now sitting next to his mother. He could talk to her about anything, except one. He shook his head quickly and tried to meet her gaze as she spoke.

            “Arif, son, I understand that you’re having problems with Akase,” the Princess Regent said carefully.

            “It’s nothing, Mother,” said the Prince as he turned his face away.

            Kiara smiled a bit. “Don’t tell me that, Arif. I know you, and in knowing my sons I can tell when something bothers them. Now what’s wrong with you and Akase? She’s telling me that you’re not communicating with her like you used to and she’s getting worried.”

            Arif shuddered and scoffed. “She should join the community then, Mother. I have too many things to worry about right now.” His voice was like a snarl.

            Kiara was taken back. She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Arif,” she said, keeping her voice firm. “Is it work? Is Rafiki –”

            “No, that’s all fine. It’s not work… its shaman stuff in general, Mom.”

            “Arif, what does that have to do with not talking to your mate?”

            The question sparked a flicker of anger in the Prince’s eyes. His eyes grew and he barely managed to keep a growl from rolling in his throat. “It has more to do with it than anything, Mother,” he bitterly thought. He lowered his head, seeing his forelegs tremble. He breathed in the air with a hiss while his mane hung over his shoulders. “Mother, I do love Akase, but there are just some things I can’t talk about with her.”

            Kiara placed a comforting paw on his but he pulled away. “Arif, honesty and trust is what makes a marriage last, as does communication.”

            “Then maybe we don’t always need honesty, trust or communication,” he muttered. Before Kiara could reply, he rose and walked off, going somewhere else amongst the pride.

            Kiara watched him and her ears and expression lowered sadly. “Arif,” she said quietly. “You love her, I know you do. Akase is only worried because she loves you.” She returned to Kovu, who had a worried look on his face when she lied down beside him. She just shook her head.

            Kovu understood and silently watched as his younger son idly nodded at whatever Akase was saying. Kovu tilted his head as he stared at the family. It looked to him as though Arif wanted to listen but the look in his eyes was one of fear and slight boredom. He watched as Arif wandered to his cubs. He smiled at them and it was genuine and full of love.

            Kovu shuddered. He feared a coming martial dispute between his son and daughter-in-law.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The stars were out and so was the king. He stood on the promontory stone with tired eyes but he couldn’t sleep. The evening air was cool and refreshing. He breathed in the air and sighed peacefully.

            So soothing…

            He looked at the stars. “Grandpa, are you up there tonight?” he whispered. “I could use your guidance. Am… am I doing a good job as king?” The question was hard. He felt like he was failing all past rulers of the Pridelands. He looked down at the ground, now embarrassed to see the stars glory and beauty. “They all did something that made them great…” the lion muttered. “What have I done? Nothing so far, nothing that helps.”

            “I think they know you’re trying,” said a voice.

            Baraka’s ear flickered but he didn’t turn. The owner of the voice was familiar and he waited. He heard soft paw steps. At his left side sat a gray colored lioness with unseeing eyes. He slightly turned to her.

            “Good evening, Etana,” he said. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

            She turned to him. His gaze met hers. “You didn’t. I felt you come out here. I figured you could use some silent company. If you do want to talk, I’ll listen.”

            He only nodded but pawed the ground. He was having a problem and he knew the stars couldn’t answer. He couldn’t talk to his parents. They’d tell him the same thing. That he was doing all he could, that he was making them proud… He didn’t feel he had anything to be proud of. But what he would do now happened all too quickly. He began to talk. The offer was there and he took it. He began to tell her of his worries, of the chances he would fail.

            True to her word, she listened to everything he had to say but she flexed her paws on the ground, listening to the vibrations in the earth. She felt his voice rise and fall with emotional pain and anger. By the time he was done, she weighed the words in her head.

            “Baraka,” she said, choosing her words carefully. “It seems that you have lived a good life, but you seemed to have lived up to everyone’s expectations. You’re the first born. The leadership was supposed to fall on you, not Arif. Truthfully, though your brother is a good and kind lion, I could never imagine him as king. He doesn’t have the drive for it, the spirit. He was supposed to be the shaman. That was his calling. You were destined to be king. You’ve been given everything to make it so. You have the knowledge, the wisdom and the strength. But…”

            Baraka flinched. He knew that was coming.

            “But, you tell me that you have unknown reasons for not marrying.”

            Baraka closed his eyes and turned away. He knew something else was coming and he had heard it too much.

            Etana continued. “Whatever those unknown reasons are they are no one’s business but yours. The pride is worried, your parents are worried, and your brother is worried. Everyone is worried. It’s only because they care and don’t want to see you alone. You cannot fault them there. You’d be worried too if any of your family dealt with that, right?” He didn’t reply. “Perhaps there is a reason for it.”

            This caused Baraka to turn to her again, this time the look on his face was one of surprise.

            “Everything, good and bad, happens for a reason. Maybe you’ll find someone to spend your life with, maybe not.” She nodded her head up to the sky. “But they’ll know you tried your hardest and you will be rewarded for your work.”

            Baraka nodded, amazed at the words. In his amaze he too looked up, seeing the stars, many he knew were his