Pridelands.

            Simply put, Arif wouldn’t have had it any other way if he could help it. He’d always been eager to learn new things, to advance in his studies of medicines to help the sick, to be enlightened in life and to know so much more of the realm after death, to know of the possibilities over what existed beyond this world. But his own special trip to heaven itself, the place where all good believing animals went, was not for his well-being. It was for the well-being of the Pridelands and his brother, the king.

            Gazing upon his homeland, looking on the animals he and Rafiki helped day in and out, Arif wondered if things would go well for Baraka. He knew, as did everyone in the pride, that there was something between their king and the blind lioness, but what, was unclear and would remain so until an announcement was made. And if anything did come out of their friendship, Arif would be happy.

            His brother deserved some happiness.

            At this, the smile faded and was replaced by a cold shudder that passed through his body. Happiness… The word, terrible in his mind, would have been worse if he’d said it. After everything he was going through with Akase, Arif wasn’t sure if he knew what happiness meant. It sounded so foreign and what bothered him was that he couldn’t go out, find his wife, and convince her to return.

            He couldn’t prove that his message was true, not without exposing the fact that he knew the lioness – the one his ancestors spoke of – that one Baraka would possibly marry, that is if things went well and Baraka admitted any feelings. Arif looked down. “The ‘right lioness’ is under everyone’s noses and no one even realizes it! Wait…” Arif pawed the ground, thinking. Did his parents know? It wouldn’t surprise him. Parents knew everything about their children, even when they grew up.

            Arif understood Baraka’s patience and admired it. It made him wish to be more like him. After talking to Etana the day before, he understood why Baraka trusted her and came to her with his problems whether personal or royal. She was a good listener, and for someone who couldn’t see when she turned her head to him, Arif sensed that she could look into his eyes, face and soul, see his problems and offer solutions. Arif was grateful… so grateful he had not spoken till she was through. He had nodded and left to spend the day with his children.

            Arif shook. Yesterday started with him worrying, then being counseled by a lioness he somehow knew his brother was – is – meant to spend the rest of his life with he felt better. Then his daughter suffers another vision that gave no explanation until he returned home… He finds his best friend, a lioness, who he admitted to his teacher having deep feelings for, had been brutally attacked.

            The prince was torn. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew who did it but he couldn’t speak the words. He didn’t want to make a scene which was why he didn’t go and find Akase, for fear – out of rage – he’d hurt her. It wouldn’t have changed things and he wasn’t violent. Shamans were peaceful but fought only when needed and to fight out of hatred was not a shamanic way.

            Arif sank to the floor, his body shivering. He felt cold. His front claws showed but didn’t scrape the ground. Rafiki would have a fit if he did and that was the last thing the lion needed. Instead, his mind searched for any reasons as to why Akase would do a terrible thing.

            The answer came, like his head had been slammed into a large rock. Of course! Why hadn’t he seen it before? The last time he and Akase spoke, Saada was with Njozi. The look in Akase’s eyes when she saw the golden brown lioness was menacing, cruel and vicious. Her words had sent chills down Arif’s back, and her words to him made him want to slap her and demand her to treat Saada with respect.

            Arif closed his eyes tightly and exhaled slowly. His heart pounded, the emotions overwhelmed him. There was another reason, other than Saada comforting his daughter after her mother said that the cub’s dreams were nothing but a joke and that it was his fault. Saada had been there for him and his children when Akase wasn’t. Whether Saada sought Akase out the previous day in order to help repair things, or if it was other way around, that Akase sought Saada out and not for good reason, Arif did not know.

            He felt his blood boil, felt the fur on the back of his neck rise in anger, an anger he never knew he possessed. Now more than ever, he wanted to find Akase and set her straight, to show her the damage she inflicted on an innocent lioness. Arif shook his head. Thinking of a way to get back at Akase for wounding him like this wasn’t going to help. That was not the way of a shaman, but after everything Akase put him through…

            Arif rose, stretched, and turned to join Rafiki, who was now meditating. The lion looked at his teacher, thinking more meditation would calm his mind and help mend his heart.

            An hour later, Arif was lying down, his eyes closed, his breathing even and deep. His ears twitched a little as he heard Rafiki working behind him. Sometime later, a call from outside at the base of the tree snapped the lion out of his meditation. He growled lowly. He hated being woken or disturbed out his mental and spiritual communion.

            Arif went to the opening and looked down. Kadiri, Baraka, and the royal advisor, Kahuni were there, the lions with solemn looks on their faces.

            “What’s wrong?” he asked, hoping not to sound irritated.

            “We’re sorry to interrupt, Arif,” said Kadiri. “Can you come down?”

            Before Arif could answer, Rafiki spoke. “Go, Arif,” he said.

            The lion leapt out of the tree. “What’s wrong, Baraka?” he asked, facing his brother.

            The king looked stricken. “Arif…” he said softly, “come with us. There’s something you need to see.”

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Kadiri shivered maddeningly as he walked. Refusing to meet eyes with anyone, he focused on the task. He couldn’t believe it. Baraka was just as shocked, and what of Arif? This is going to crush him. How’s he gonna take it, and how’s he gonna tell his cubs?

            With these questions running through his mind, Kadiri decided that the only way he could help his lifelong friend was to do his job. Was this real? Was what he had seen a dream he and the others would wake up from? Kadiri shook his head. This was real. He could feel the strain in his legs, the numbness growing. The reality weighing hard on him would settle on Arif and shake him to his core. This, Kadiri knew, would put Arif and his family to the ultimate test.

            The gray guardian felt sorry for his shaman friend and he wanted to help. But he and his beloved wife, doing their jobs, serving their king and keeping their home safe from rogues, caring for their cubs, being respectful to each other, would help. Kadiri could only pray it would be enough. He kept his head low and remained quiet until the cheetah, Kahuni, spoke with a soft, quiet voice.

            “This is it, sire,” said the cheetah, addressing Baraka. “Isn’t it, Kadiri?”

            The guardian was startled and with a trembling mouth he looked at the advisor, then the king and the shaman. He nodded weakly, his head hurting painfully at the gesture. He felt like he was going to throw up and pass out. Seeing this again would give him nightmares but not as much as it would Arif.

            Finally, he found his voice. “This is it, yes,” he said, feeling his eyes moisten. He stepped back, as did Kahuni. Only Baraka and Arif walked up.

            Arif’s heart pounded in his chest, his breath coming in short gasps. He wasn’t sure what he should be feeling so he stared at her body. It was all he could do. He was, for the first time in his life, he guessed, at a loss for words. She looked like she was sleeping, her tail curled around her,