build in her system. She understood his apology, but it hurt. She wanted to say that he should never have to be sorry for nuzzling her. Nuzzling had always been a sign of the bond they shared.

            He knew he inadvertently hurt her feelings which made his heart sank. He didn’t mean to and knowing he did ripped him. “Saada,” he said after a silence.

            Trembling, she put a paw on his. “Don’t worry about it, Arif,” she said, with her voice on the edge of breaking. “We’re just friends, right?” Tears brimmed from her eyes but she swallowed them down. She didn’t want to be emotional around him, but it was getting hard. Last time, a month ago, she nearly attacked him. Remembering that day broke her heart. She hadn’t meant to snap when he’d asked if she was alright. But their bond had become so strong over the years that her emotions ran ahead of her mind. She closed her eyes, hoping not to show the tears that threatened to fall.

            Arif heard her last question. He was more pained than ever. He didn’t want to be just friends with her. Anyone else yes, but not her. And he also didn’t want her to be just his cubs’ caretaker. After a moment he nodded, his head and heart hurting, his body numb.

            “Yeah, we are,” he said quietly. The words choked him. He hoped the cubs didn’t notice what had happened. They were just getting their lives back together. They didn’t need to worry about him any further than they did before. It would be too much. For him, it already was.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Takata watched the king talk with his advisor. It surprised him at how much the cheetah had to remember and inform. Yet it seemed to please Baraka that he hired such a capable animal. Though a bird would have been more suited for the job, Kahuni had proven himself worthy of the title and the work it carried. He was loyal, trustworthy, and always ready to work for his king and the lands. The last majordomo, Zazu, had taught Kahuni everything from Pridelander law, which, to the amaze of everyone, law was the meaning of Kahuni’s name.

            Upon meeting the young cheetah before he became king, Baraka believed Kahuni was meant for something great. He told him that his parents gave him a good name.

            Kahuni had bowed and said, “I try to live up to it. I know all the laws for the cheetahs of these lands, sire.”

            The first impression was all he needed and one month before his coronation, with Kovu and Kiara’s permission, and Zazu’s insistence, but only based on how well the cheetah performed the recitation of Prideland law, Baraka named Kahuni the new Prideland Royal Advisor.

            The black colored lion straightened as the king walked to him.

            “Kahuni says the problems are minimal today,” Baraka said, sighing with relief. He started walking. “So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

            Quickly, Takata went over everything he wanted to say, but it would not be easy. He would be telling a half truth. “Sire,” he began slowly. “I heard from some animals that the rain season will start soon. I must ask…” He stopped in mid sentence and walk.

            Baraka also stopped and turned seeing an unsure look in the lion’s eyes. This wasn’t work related. It was personal. “What is it, Takata?” he asked kindly but concern showed in his face. Was this about the lion himself or… His throat tightened. Was it about Etana? He refused to ask… but was it?

            Trembling with fear and memory, Takata moved forward. “Sire,” he began again, his lower lip quivering. “Has you and everyone else knows, Etana feels movements in the earth. She can also feel the past and any memory good or bad. Her hearing is so sharp that she can even hear the softest cricket chirp.”

            Baraka found himself smiling, his heart and soul being uplifted in an unexplainable way. Everything Takata said was true and he knew firsthand out of everyone in his pride that Etana felt the earth’s movements with her paws and sharp hearing. It was amazing how not only the senses, but the spirits themselves, could give an unseeing creature such a gift. She was blessed… and so was he to know her.

            “Yes, I know. She’s an extraordinary lioness, Takata. And I know you’re very proud.”

            “I am proud.”

            They were quiet for a long while, their own different thoughts filling their heads. Baraka broke the silence, eyeing the guardian carefully. “You didn’t want a private audience with me for no reason, Takata. Something is clearly on your mind, and I’m guessing it’s not just about the coming rain season but also Etana.” Before the older lion could speak, he added, “And I’m also guessing that the two: the rain season and Etana are connected. Tell me, please.”

            He let out a sharp, slow breath. “Sire… Etana is able to feel movements in the earth only when the ground is dry. When she’s out in the rain it doesn’t work. She gets confused about where she is because the ground –”

            “The ground is wet and there is no firm foundation for her to set her paws flatly and concentrate on her whereabouts or who she’s with, right?”

            “I… yes, that’s correct.” The answer caught him off guard. How did Baraka know? Did Etana already tell him? Or was it, perhaps, the way his daughter and the king seemed to spend so much time together that Baraka was picking up vibes and just knew. Was their connection so amazingly strong that one knew the other’s thoughts, hurts, and worries? Getting over the shock, Takata continued. “I found out about her problems in the rain when she was a cub. We were –”

            “Wait, please,” Baraka said softly. He looked ahead and saw a nearby tree with plenty of shade. Though the air wasn’t warm, only cool and still moderately damp, he wanted Takata to rest as it was obvious the lion was having a hard time concentrating on what he wanted to say. With a jerk of his head the two lions walked in the direction of the tree and its shade and lied down.

            When he was settled on the grass, Takata started again. “We were walking through this large green area. There were trees, water streams… It looked almost like a jungle.” He struggled to recall then his gaze softened in recollection. “Yes, it was a jungle and it was raining, not hard, just soft drops. Etana was beside me, as always. I looked down at her to make sure she was okay and as we walked she flinched. I thought it was nothing and we continued. Sometime later, she stopped, her paws stuck to the ground. I turned, asking, ‘What’s wrong Etana? Are you tired?’ Well, by that time the raindrops were coming down hard. As I watched her, she was looking around. ‘Father, father, where are you?’ she asked.”

            Takata sighed in pain and looked up at Baraka. “You can only imagine how I felt. I was standing in front of her and it was like I wasn’t even there. I walked up to her and lowered my head to her ears. ‘I’m here, sweetie. Father hasn’t left.’” He gave another pause, his mind going back to that day. Etana had looked so fragile, scared and lost. “I saw her plant her paws deep in the soiled earth. She looked like she couldn’t concentrate. I was standing right there in front of her and her head was darting all around. Her head wasn’t pointed at me. That’s when I knew something was wrong, or part of it. I told her that I was going to find shelter for us and her ears flickered. ‘Dad… did you say something? Where are you? I can’t feel your movements.’”

            He looked down at his paws. Emotions enveloped him and he sniffed. “The rain tampers with her sharp hearing and ability to feel movements in the earth,” he said softly, worry evident in his face. “She looked like she was in terrible pain. To this day, I think she was. Not many animals are born like her and I don’t mean just blind. The spirits gave her so much to replace her eyes, but sadly they cannot be used in the rain.” He