that sleep was what they needed to keep their minds off what was going on in the royal chambers. The pain was worry. Inside the king’s chambers two lionesses were unconscious. One was wounded; the other was healing the wounded. And they were both important to the king, his shaman, and the pride.

            A few hours later the lower caves filled with activity.

            The Prince Regent, Kovu, informed the pride on the new day’s events. He kindly suggested that the hunting party go out, despite the mist. Kiara, with a small bit of hesitance, agreed with her mate saying that it was time to catch new food. Kovu smiled as he listened to Kiara talk with the lionesses on the party and plan a strategy, but the smile fell from his face as quickly as it had come. The scene made him remember when they met as adults’ years before when he was sent to kill Simba.

            He’d been a different person back then. He was an exile, a lion chosen to walk in the pawprints of the late King Scar. His mother, the late Queen Zira, trained him mercilessly to bring down the lion, the ‘un-rightful king’ who had killed her love. The only way to get into the Pridelands, into the king’s circle, was to save his precious daughter, which is exactly what Kovu did. Thanks to his late brother, Nuka, and sister, Vitani, the rescue of the princess was a success, but in doing that things changed. He had changed.

            Kovu closed his eyes. Those memories, though they had a happy ending, and he ‘fulfilled’ his destiny to be the next ruler, yet not in the way his mother wanted, had had grave consequences. He lost his only brother and mother. Kovu shivered. He hadn’t thought of the past in a long time, but seeing the love of his life addressing the lionesses caused him to go back.

            Kovu chuckled. Kiara had no idea how to hunt properly back in those days, but with his help, and the help of Vitani, she proved herself an excellent huntress and a capable leader. She had done Simba and Nala proud. And she had done him proud too. She always made sure that everyone came home safely.

            In the midst of all this, and the memories dredging up the images of his brother and mother, Kovu decided to make himself more useful by talking with the guardians, telling them who would go where to what part of the kingdom, and with whom. He wasn’t surprised that neither the lions nor the lioness objected to his setting the schedule, but since his oldest son was not up, and probably didn’t want to handle it, the Regent decided to take care of this matter and give his son extra time to sleep.

            Luckily for the brown lion, the cubs didn’t need to be told what to do. They were always good and never caused trouble. But Kovu worried for his grandsons and granddaughter and how they had been suffering from their parents’ separation. It surprised him that Prince Adabu and Prince Adisa were calm and trying to keep their father and sister in good spirits.

            Smiling at this thought, and knowing everyone would be heading out to their jobs, Kovu went outside and made his way up to the den to check on his sons. He knew that Baraka and Arif only stayed so that everything inside Baraka’s cave went uninterrupted. He also knew how worried they were for the two lionesses inside. When his paws touched the last stone, and he heaved himself onto the platform, Kovu tilted his head. Arif and Baraka were talking. Kovu sat down and listened.

            “I know you’re worried, Arif,” said the young king. “I am too, but until Saada comes out healed and healthy, we’re not going in there and neither is anyone else.”

            The shaman lowered his head, sighing.

            Baraka eyed Arif. He could tell that his brother had not slept well. He hadn’t either. How could they? Arif’s reasons were clear. He’d wondered about Saada. Baraka did too, but not as much. He knew Saada well but didn’t have the friendship with her like Arif.

            In truth – even if he admitted this to himself – Baraka’s main concern was for Etana. He had seen her battle a fever from one of his friends in her own body, which had taken all of her strength, and he was there when she woke, around mid-moon if he remembered correctly. And now she was taking on the pain of yet another friend, someone he knew his brother was deeply in love with. Baraka wondered how this would end. Would Saada be as well as Dailia? How long would it take for Etana to get rid of the pain in her body? Would it take longer than a day? The king shuddered, praying she would be all right. He’d nearly lost someone close yesterday. He couldn’t take losing another today.

            “With Etana healing her,” Arif began again, his voice almost a whisper, “I know she will. I just…” He closed his eyes. The thought of Saada dying was unbearable and if she did… I love her, he thought to himself.  I should’ve married her when I had the chance, when things were well and less complicated.

            While Arif was in his thoughts, Baraka had a few of his own.

            Etana is a lioness with an extraordinary gift. Should she not be able to – He dismissed the thought, knowing the blind lioness would take away Saada’s pain, battle it in her own body, and recover. But what if she…? No, no, no, no! Baraka told himself. He couldn’t think about the possibility of Etana dying. He’d asked Takata if she ever came close when battling pain and the black lion said no. The king had been relieved. That possibility – even such a small one – saddened him. She was his friend. He confided in her, trusted her. To lose her, the only lioness who understood him, listened to him, and counseled him…

            “Brother,” Baraka managed, his voice quivering, “We must not focus on what could happen. We must focus on what is, and right now Etana is healing Saada. When they’re healed I do not know. All I know is that I trust Etana and her gift, and you do too. I know you believe she can heal Saada. Look at Dailia, and that was weeks ago. She’s fine. She does her job, takes care of her family, and enjoys life. She acts as though nothing happened. Saada will do the same.”

            Arif nodded. “I know you’re right, Baraka.” He sighed again and looked up at the sky. There was a bit of sun. “I should go to Rafiki.”

            “Yes, and I should check with Kahuni on any issues in the Pridelands.”

            “You don’t have to worry about the guardians, son,” said a voice. “They have their assignments and are performing them. Your mother has taken the hunting party out and Arif, your cubs, along with Kadiri’s, are with a lioness and they’re all off playing.”

            The brothers turned to see Kovu coming to them with a gentle expression. It took a moment for the king and his shaman to speak but when they did, their voices were grateful, and thanking their father, they left to perform their duties.

            Kovu walked up to the den and lay down with the intention of guarding it. For an early morning, the Prince Regent felt he’d been up all day.

            But it was worth it, he thought with a smile.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Arif was relieved that the day wasn’t dragging, though when he got to the Tree of Life, there wasn’t much to do. Oh, a few animals came to him and his mandrill teacher, some wanting herbs for a muscle pain, others in need of stronger herbs for sprains.

            Aside from that, Rafiki was at the wall painting and looking up, down, and around it. Probably, Arif guessed, to reflect on changing times. The prince smiled weakly. Times were indeed changing.

            While his master busied himself with that Arif mediated, sometimes lying down and sometimes sitting up. His spirit almost refreshed, he stared out in to the lands. Every day Arif came to the tree, he was filled with the spirit of past healers and spiritual leaders. He considered it an honor – a gift – to know what those from the past knew, put it to good use and help others as they had. He’d dedicated his life to it, his own place in the Pridelands.