softly.

            Njozi turned her head back to them. Where most cubs would possibly feel weird or angry, she didn’t. And if her brothers were there, they wouldn’t either. It struck her in an unusual time but she truly believed, as would her brothers, if they hadn’t already, that their father would be happier with Saada.

            “So would we,” she thought.

            When they returned home, dinner was eaten by all in silence.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Night came. The moon was out and full. The stars were shining brightly. All herbivore and predatory animals of the kingdom were asleep. The lion pride was also sleeping in the comfort of Pride Rock’s den, all but one.

            Baraka was in his chambers, tossing and turning. He whimpered as if he was in pain and a sudden jerk of his body woke him. His head snapped up and he gasped, precipitation covering his face and mane. With wide eyes he stood up and left. The moment he stepped out of the main den he was relieved. The air was cool that it woke him fully. He breathed the air and sighed almost contently but he was far from well. He wanted to walk up to the promontory and sit but not even that could clear his head this time.

            He shook his head and licked his lips. He swallowed. His throat was dry. That’s what he needed: A drink from the waterhole. He went to the stairs but stopped and turned to the side of the den. His ears dropped. He wished Etana could join him. Baraka shook his head again, surprised at his mental wish. He couldn’t wake her up now. She needed her sleep and he couldn’t ask her to accompany him every time he had a problem… That was rude. He had to face at least one of his problems on his own sometime.

            Why not now?

            He headed down the stairs and began walking to a waterhole. Just as he knew, the water quenched his throat and softened the inside of his mouth. He loved drinking water at night. It was always so cool and refreshing.

            With a sigh, Baraka began his way back, dreading the fact that he had to go to sleep again. The dreams were getting worse, almost driving him to the decision of never sleeping. But that wasn’t good. He needed the sleep and without it… Baraka shut his eyes. No. He would not go without sleep. Even if he didn’t get much sleep, every little tiny bit could help just a bit.

            He continued his walk until he saw a figure heading in the same direction. Baraka stopped and peered closer. No. The figure was heading towards him. The figure was a lioness. It was none other than Hasira. Baraka sighed. What was she doing out here?

            “Hasira, why are you out?” he asked.

            “I’m allowed to be out, Baraka, but the question is, why you are out here?” said the lioness as she stopped, standing in front of him.

            “I couldn’t sleep, you?”

            “Same as you… couldn’t sleep either.”

            Baraka nodded. “Well… after a nice drink I think I can. Goodnight, Hasira.” He started to walk away but he heard her call his name. He turned. “Yes?”

            Hasira lowered her head. “I heard you talking to my sister. She told you, didn’t she?”

            “Yes, she did. I understand why you didn’t go. Weusi wasn’t much of a mother to you…”

            Hasira’s eyes hardened. “She beat me, Baraka! She probably would’ve done the same to Dailia if she’d been named differently. Only your parents cared about us. And you… you cared.” Her voice was soft.

            “I felt and still feel that no one should suffer abuse under any means.”

            “Baraka, come here, please.”

            The lion was unsure but he came near anyway. She leaned against him, sighing sadly. Baraka was taken aback. He had been this close to her before but that was when… His eyes widened.

            “H-Hasira…” he breathed. He sniffed the air.

            “Baraka…” she said seductively.

            The king swallowed and trembled. No… not now… He jerked away.

            She looked up at him. “You alright,” she asked, watching him step away from her.

            “Don’t,” he said when he was a few feet away.

            “Don’t what?” She went over and rubbed against him.

            Baraka clenched his jaw tightly. “You know what,” he almost in a snarl. “Leave me alone!”

            She seemed partly surprised but not enough. “Baraka… we’ve known each other all our lives. Come on. I’ve lost too much of my life due to my mother. Dailia has too and she has Kadiri to make up for her lost childhood and innocence.” She paused for a moment. “Me? I have no one, aside from Dailia, but she’s my sister. Baraka…” She reached up, kissed him on the cheek and whispered in his ear. “Baraka… I love you. I love you so much.”

            He cringed as her tongue touched his cheek. It sent shivers down his back and made his body shake and tremble. He smelled the pheromones but was not affected. He was willing himself not to be. “Hasira… get away from me.”

            She pressed herself up against him. “Come on, Baraka, admit it,” she said, her voice low.

            Baraka turned his face away. “I like you, but as a friend and I don’t know where you got it in your head that you’re in love with me, ‘cause you’re not.” Slowly, he turned to look at her. He was unfazed by her seductive stare. He would admit mindfully that she was pretty in her own way but not aloud. That would give her an even better reason to move on him again in the future.

            Hasira eyed him, her head tilted in an amusing way. “And how do you know that? We never spent much time together when we were young to find out.” She nuzzled him again, her tail draping around his hind legs, preparing to intertwine with his tail. “Please, Baraka,” she whispered. “You have feelings for me. I know you do.”

            “I like you as a friend, nothing more.” He felt his head swim from dizziness. He felt sick.

            She circled him, her tail brushing his legs until she stopped, her head near his, and Hasira buried her head in his soft red mane.

            “No!” Baraka said, roughly, barely able to keep a growl from rising in his throat. The smell from her was getting too much.

            “You’ve always been the strong one,” she said, nibbling his ear. “You never showed weakness until your grandparents died. When you were sad…”

            He turned his head away again. He resisted the urge to throw up. “That was different. Just because I was upset didn’t mean I loved you.” He closed his eyes and felt his forelegs shake. “Hasira… I don’t love you, not in the way you want me to.”

            His words seemed to go either unheard or ignored or both. Hasira licked him passionately. “You could. We’re alone…”

            Baraka gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing in the darkness. “Hasira, you’re not my mate. You’re asking me for something I cannot give you.” He stood up and walked away but he heard paw steps from behind. He growled