am!”

            He may have been Arif on the outside, using his voice and body language, but inside he was still Baraka. Only a few minutes had passed and already he was sick to his stomach. Why did he allow himself to do this? Was it because he loved Arif, and they were brothers? Whatever the reason, he wouldn’t force himself back to reality. No matter what his mind screamed at him to say in Arif’s voice, he wouldn’t. He had to see this through, and in the way it must have happened. He had to understand.

            “Yes, I know, but I had to talk with Saada. I asked her if she could help me explain. This hasn’t been easy for me –”

            “This hasn’t been easy for me, either, Arif! I have been trying to figure out what’s wrong with you for the past two weeks, and you keep pushing me away. What is this message, and why must you keep it a secret?”

            He groaned, and his eyes snapped. He tried to speak calmly, but strain and frustration were evident in his words. “I’m a shaman, Akase. I took an oath. I am bound by shaman law to never speak what the ancestors have told me. Please, I am begging you, understand that. I don’t like carrying this message but I have no choice. It was given to me, and only me for a reason.”

            “You shouldn’t have become a shaman, Arif. It’s tearing you from your family. It’s driving you to another lioness!” She glared cruelly at him.

            Arif held his ground. He had to. He couldn’t break down or away. “Akase, shamanism is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a cub. I’m supposed to help Baraka during his trying moments as king. I’m supposed to be his spiritual guide. He’ll need me and my wisdom one day. Rafiki will not live forever and I have to take over for him.” He paused, lowering his ears and his head sadly; the shock over what was happening overwhelmed him. Arif looked at her, tears near filling his eyes. “As for Saada, she is a dear and wonderful friend. She was there for me when I was having doubts about even becoming a shaman. She helped me through it. She encouraged me, supported me. Even now, I am thankful for the help she’s given.”

            Akase growled softly and turned away. An intense silence filled the den, and Arif wanted to break it, to ask if she was alright, but he knew she wasn’t. She was angry, and on one side had every right to be. If he were her, he’d have been angry too, but unlike her, he’d have understood, been reasonable, compassionate, and glad that she’d found solace in an old friend, even if it was another lion.

            “And how much help did she give you this time?” Akase asked quietly, her voice carrying a soft edge.

            “She gave me plenty.”

            “Uh-huh and how much time did you spend with her this afternoon?”

            Arif’s eyes grew. “Are you interrogating me? If so, there’s no need. You know I would never cheat on you.”

            She huffed. “Do I?” Slowly, she turned to face him. “Tell me, Arif, how many times have you spoken with her since you got this message?”

            “Today was the first.”

            “But it won’t be the last?”

            He saw her eyes snap, but he didn’t reply. He knew what to say, but it would fill her with rage, if she wasn’t filled already. He remained silent.

            “You and Saada are close.” Hatred covered her face. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you… found another companion in her.”

            Arif groaned. He couldn’t believe this was happening, that she was suggesting these things. Didn’t giving her his vows mean something? Why would she… He shut his eyes tightly, gritted his teeth then stared at her, his face firm and strong. With her questions, his heart was close to breaking.

            With the slow exhale of a breath from his lungs, he said, “She is my companion but only as a friend.”

            She looked as though she wasn’t buying it, that every word out of his mouth was a lie. She bit her lower lip. Then, “Did you…” She stopped and gathered herself.

            Arif was puzzled. He searched her face. A minute later, he realized and glared at her, his red eyes glowing to a dark shade. Now he was angry, furious, and hurt. “What? You think that –”

            “I don’t know what to think anymore, Arif.”

            He found himself laughing, and then stopped. He narrowed his eyes. “Are you jealous of my friendship with Saada? Well, that’s all there is, just friendship between her and me. We did nothing while we spoke. She comforted me when I talked, but it was nuzzling. We’ve done that for years. It means nothing.”

            The fur along the back of her neck rose. “Arif, nuzzling always means something! You’ve probably nuzzled her more than once and not in a friend like manner!”

            With a swift turn, she ran out of the den, with Arif running after her, calling, “Akase, it wasn’t like that…”

Baraka opened his eyes. He let out a breath and looked around him. He was still on the promontory. He hadn’t moved and he was amazed at what he allowed himself to experience. He understood everything Arif had done in the past two months, and understood what had probably happened in the den with Akase. She had gone too far. It was her stubbornness and jealously of Arif turning to Saada for advice and wisdom that made everything happen. It had nothing to do with the message Arif vowed to keep.

            Baraka lowered his head, his body heaving and shaking uncontrollably. What an experience! It was far more intense than his dreams had ever been. Was this what Njozi went through with her dreams? Was she able to channel herself into another’s body, seeing, hearing, and living everything through their eyes for a moment until the meaning was complete? He would ask her, but he also knew that he would never go through this again. He was shaken, but had a clearer understanding of it all.

            Arif had done what was right the whole way through, and he was judged, persecuted and mocked by his wife.

            Baraka growled softly as he mulled over the moment and closed his eyes again. With Arif being his twin brother, and his worry, the reason he had such a vision? Was his blood connection the reason, or something deeper?

            “Baraka…”

            He reopened his eyes and turned to the right. She was there, staring at him with her blind eyes. As he looked back at her, it was as if she was reading his soul.

            “Hi, Etana,” he said softly. “Sorry, I was thinking.”

            She nodded. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. How are you?”

            “I’m fine, yourself?”

            “I’m well.” She flexed her paws. The air wrapped itself around her. It was - wet. She felt dampness sink into her fur and shuddered.

            “You okay?” Baraka asked. He had never seen her shake.

            Etana licked her lips. “The air is cooler today.”

            He looked up at the sky. “Yes. The cooler it gets, the closer we are to the rain season.” He breathed in the cool air. “The dry season hasn’t been bad, but we still could use the rain.”

            She swallowed. She hated the rain and with good reason. Should she