have that kind of power or ability? His brother wouldn’t be able to help either. He was at a loss and he knew he would be miserable and alone for the rest of his life unless he found some way, or someone to help him.

            His thoughts were unknowingly interrupted as Adisa bounded over to him, tail swishing. Baraka smiled. Adisa had a way to make even the most sorrowful lion feel better. He looked down at him and asked, “Your parents have already told you of the Circle of Life?”

            “Yes, they have, Uncle but just bits and pieces. Is there more?”

            “Follow me. I will tell you as we walk but did you have fun chasing that butterfly?”

            The prince’s eyes danced as he took his place beside Baraka. “I sure did. I was about to pounce on it when it landed on a rock but it flew off before I could make my move.”

            “Did you use the pouncing skills your parents taught you?”

            “Yes, but I’m not disappointed. Better luck next time, right?”

            Baraka chuckled. “Yes, you’ll get it next time. Just keep trying.”

            “So, what are you going to tell me about the Circle?”

            “Well, as you know, everything exists is in a special balance.” He paused, waiting for an answer like, ‘Dad told me all about that. What else is there?’ but it never came. Adisa was silent. Taking mental notes, Baraka continued. “The balance must be respected, as must all the animals, even if you’re of a different species. Respect, Adisa… That’s one of the methods of the Circle of Life and an important one. If you don’t respect other creatures they will never respect you. Treat the other animals of these lands as you want to be treated. Even if you one day find yourself far from home, searching for a land to call yours, if another animal besides a lion or lioness lives there, let them know of your intentions and that when it comes to hunting you will never be cruel and make your prey suffer. Be sure to pray for those you kill so that you may live, to let the departed spirits know that it was the natural order of things. That just as they eat the grass to survive you must eat them to survive.”

            Adisa was quiet for a long while, so long that Baraka believed the cub wasn’t paying attention. Then Adisa looked up at him, curiosity and wonder showing in his eyes. “Dad did tell me about that,” he said at last. Baraka flinched and turned his head, completely embarrassed that he had recited something his brother already mentioned. “But he didn’t say it exactly as you did,” the cub continued. “No offense to him or anything,” he said with a laugh. “He’s a good teacher but… the way you said it, it made more sense. I… I understand what you mean when it comes to respecting others, treating them as equals. I promise, Uncle Baraka, I will treat them with all the respect I can… even when hunting.”

            Baraka smiled and stopped. Adisa noticed and stopped as well, looking up at him. The king nuzzled his nephew and licked him on the cheek. “You make me proud, Adisa,” he purred. “But not just you, your brother and sister as well… Your parents should be very lucky to have such good cubs.”

            “We try.”

            “I said the same thing to your grandmother when I was your age,” Baraka said softly. He missed his cubhood years but he was glad that he was able to enjoy them in peace with his brother and friends. If he could go back, he wouldn’t change a thing. The time he spent with his friends was worth anything and everything. Even with Hasira… but now… He sighed aloud. He didn’t notice Adisa snap his head up to look at him.

            The prince saw the pained look in his uncle’s eyes. He lowered his own eyes, looking at the grass as they walked. When he and his siblings were old enough to understand Arif and Akase told them of their uncle being king but having no mate. They were confused, asking questions, questions that the prince and princess did have the answers to. The young cubs felt sorry for their uncle and would tell him, whether he had a queen or not, they still loved him. Baraka was happy with their words. Arif and Akase were proud. Adisa’s tail flickered in the grass. He slowly stared up at Baraka, the pain in the king’s eyes still evident. The cub wondered if he could help. He thought it over for a while then an idea struck him.

            “Uncle Baraka?” Adisa asked innocently. The lion met the cub’s eyes and watched as Adisa outstretched a paw, touching him on the leg. “Tag, you’re it!” he yelled and took off running.

            The action caught him off guard, but Baraka knew his nephew was trying to cheer him up. “He must’ve noticed my stare and wants to help. What better way than by playing,” he thought to himself and he hid low in the tall grass.

            “Uncle…!” Adisa called out when he turned, seeing that Baraka had disappeared. He stepped forward, his head moving in all directions. Suddenly the king ran out from the grasses and dashed beside him, his tail tuft brushing the cub’s side.

            “Now you’re it, nephew,” the lion said teasingly, the pained look in his eyes and face instantly gone. Baraka ran ahead.

            The prince laughed and chased after him. The two royals ran through the grasses playing together, and for the first time in six months Baraka was at ease.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

The whole of the Pridelands was abuzz as the day progressed. The hunting parties were out, lead by Princess Akase, preparing for the evening hunt. The cubs were playing with each other while under the watchful eye of a few lionesses who weren’t taking part in the hunt. The guardians had their duties, not waiting for instructions from the king. They knew what to do. And the Regents walked around the lands, occasionally talking with the animals.

            All was peaceful.

            In the Tree of Life, Rafiki and Arif had gotten through with treating an injured cheetah. The female had gotten hurt while hunting and the shamans diagnosed her with a broken right forepaw.

            When the cheetah came in, Arif had gently wrapped his jaw around the paw to feel it for breaks. There was one, a clean break. The cheetah was shocked and angry, but the hunted animal, a zebra, had been drug down by the other cheetahs in the female’s party. After Rafiki laid a special medical herb juice on the injured paw and wrapped in a large leaf bandage, Arif told the cheetah to be very careful and if there was any discomfort, to return right away.

            Thanking the two shamans, the cheetah managed to jump out of the tree, one branch at a time until she landed on the ground, two cheetahs coming near, walking close. Arif and Rafiki watched the small group set off for their territory.

            Rafiki turned to the lion, clapping his hands. “Another customer taken care of!” he said, grinning.

            Arif laughed. “Is that what you call them? I thought they were patients.”

            “Well, dey are, dey are.” The mandrill chuckled and walked over to the base of tree’s painting wall to wash his hands in a gourd shell filled with water.

            Arif padded over to another gourd shell that had water just for him. He drank his fill and then walked to the wall that had pictures of all past Prideland leaders. He started from the form of a brown lion, the first king then worked his way around. He smiled as he saw his parents, their paintings side-by-side. He saw himself and his brother but his cheerful gaze fell. He stopped and stared at the painting and gently put a paw on it. He sighed deeply, his mane falling into his eyes. He walked away, moving towards one side of the tree, looking out into the open where Pride Rock could just barely be seen in the distance. He began to wonder how Baraka was doing since he didn’t get to see him that morning. He also wondered where Adisa