her bloodshot eyes. “And you think you can just step in?”

            “I didn’t mean to. Njozi looked like she needed someone to talk to. She came to me, not the other way around. She trusts me.”

            “She could’ve gone to her grandparents!”

            Saada turned away slightly, praying not to get angry. She spoke softly. “Maybe Njozi was afraid that Kovu and Kiara wouldn’t understand.”

            “And you would?” Akase near laughed. “Just because you and Arif spend time together, it makes you an expert?”

            “No, it doesn’t. Njozi sensed I would listen and not judge her. But you didn’t listen, and judged her and in front of Arif. It’s not his fault. Njozi is a gifted cub, gifted as her father.”

            “Like father like daughter,” Akase muttered. She looked at Saada, her face dripping with madness. “Let me tell you something, Saada, and I’ll speak slowly. Stay away from my cubs.”

            Saada was unfazed. She met Akase’s gaze determinedly. “I can’t do that. They need a mother. I’m not saying I will be, but I will be there whenever they need me.”

            Akase’s fur rose and a low growl formed in her throat. She chuckled ruefully. “As for Arif,” she said at last, ignoring Saada’s last statement, “you are not his mate! You had your chance.”

            At this Saada was deeply hurt. Maybe Akase planned that. “I know …” Saada said quietly. “But I do love him. Whether he feels the same, I don’t know. But you can’t stop me from caring about him or the cubs. You can’t stop me from helping them.” Saada felt her throat tighten and she could see the deep well of rage in Akase’s body. This made her wonder. Would Akase attack?

            Knowing she couldn’t change Akase’s mind, Saada whispered but loud enough for Akase to hear. “You’ve broken Arif’s heart and crushed your cubs’ spirits. I feel sorry for you.” With that, Saada turned and walked away, her head low, her mind clouded, and as she expected, her heart shattering for her best friend’s emotional suffering.

            Before Akase could even blink, she started moving. She was confused. Why was she…? Then, in a flash, Saada’s words echoed in her mind. But I do love him… The small bout of rage spread all through her body. Her blood was boiling. Her vision became blurry, then sharp a moment later, and clear the next. Her lips curled into a soft snarl. Her front claws emerged. Akase had no idea what happened next. She found herself running at Saada.

            The rest was a blur.

            Saada, however, did not hear the princess, or ex-princess’s, fast and hard breathing. She did not hear the sound of running of paws. What she did feel was a crushing weight on her back. Teeth sank deep into her neck and claws violently pierced her shoulders.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

By afternoon, the pride stripped the evening kill. Many ate leisurely, but there was no chatting. Everyone, even the cubs, was silent. Some wandering eyes turned to the den. They wondered what was happening.

            Kovu and Kiara rested near the lower caves. Arif’s cubs were beside them.

            Njozi said she was feeling better, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. She shivered and snuggled next to Kiara. The Princess Regent licked her granddaughter’s forehead and shot a worried glance to Kovu, who shrugged.

            The guardians stood in front of the den. It was only Kadiri, Takata and Dailia. They stood at attention, their faces filled with duty. No one was allowed in.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

In the darkness and coldness of the cave, Mabaki sat shivering in a corner. His forepaws and his back were stained in blood. He forced a gag down his throat. His eyes were full of grief, but there was no news. It would be days, months, even years before he’d get the image out of his head. He couldn’t understand what had happened or how. He had been patrolling his assigned area but the smell of blood in the air was hard to ignore. Like any good guardian, he went to investigate. Lying in the grass, near death, was a lioness Mabaki knew. His own sister… His heart had sunk into his stomach. He’d tried waking her but there’d been no response. Believing his sister had a chance he gently picked her up, placed her on his back, and ran home. Whoever did this, Mabaki swore they would pay. No one attacked someone he loved.

            The question the white lion had now was, ‘who would do this?’ Saada was the most innocent person he knew. She couldn’t, wouldn’t hurt anyone.

            From what he had seen, the blood and marks on Saada weren’t from an antelope’s horns or any other grass eating animal. They were from a predator. Could it have been a lone leopard, a cheetah, a rogue lion? Neither option was possible. The leopards and cheetahs were good, always loyal to the Lion King. And no rogues had been spotted around the borders for months.

            Mabaki sighed and sniffed. As tears threatened to fall he remembered sniffing his sister’s blood soaked fur for a scent. He’d found it. The scent was unmistakable and unbelievable. He wanted to tell Arif, but how? His thoughts were suddenly cut off as he heard the king and his brother shaman speak near the royal chambers. Mabaki lay down and tried to distract himself. He started to lick the blood off his paws.

            “Njozi said she had a vision of two figures fighting. She didn’t say who or what type of figures, but that the fighting was brutal,” said Arif, pacing up and down.

            Baraka sat patiently. He was concerned for his childhood friend but couldn’t let it show. “Was this a random vision?” he asked. “The last few Njozi’s had have been about you and Akase, and now she has a vision that doesn’t give any specifics?” He shook his head.

            “Why Saada,” Arif suddenly asked, pain and hurt evident in his voice and on his face. He looked at Baraka, lips trembling, and eyes torn. “What did she do to deserve this?”

            Baraka didn’t reply. He didn’t know the answer. He wasn’t sure there was one.

            Rafiki emerged from the chamber, his expression grim.

            Arif felt his throat constrict and his heart beat slowly. “Rafiki, will she be alright?”

            Mabaki looked up from cleaning, stared at the three animals, and waited. His body trembled.

            The mandrill nodded. “She will be, thank de Lord. De wounds were pretty severe but de medicated leaves should heal them. As for her body…” Rafiki paused. “Physically… from what I examined, she took a nasty blow to de head. Her sides are bruised. When she wakes, she will be in a lot of pain.” He turned to Baraka. “I left some herbs in de cave. If she’s in any pain, give some to her, but I tell you, they may not be strong enough.”

            “Thank you, Rafiki,” said Baraka.

            Rafiki bowed and came to Mabaki. The white lion wrapped a foreleg around the shaman’s back as the mandrill embraced him. When Rafiki left the den the young guardian approached his friends. “Arif, I…” He stopped as Baraka also left. A moment later, he came back with Etana at his side.

            “Baraka, you think she can –” Arif wondered, a hint of hope in his voice.

            “Can she take the edge off?” Mabaki asked.

            Etana stepped forward, her eyes on Arif. “Believe it or not, Prince Arif, I have felt your daughter’s pain and worry