losing rest. If he slept all the next day, it’d be worth it.

            Etana flexed her paws. The name of her old home had stuck in her throat. She hadn’t mentioned or thought about it in years. But the memories she kept buried for so long were coming back. If she wanted Baraka to understand, to have a clear picture, anything she remembered of her home and family had to be told. She trembled. If pain and hurt came... Hearing Baraka’s soft voice brought her out of her revere.

            “My father’s name was Dharau. My mother’s was Adila, and my twin brother, Jelani.” Her voice was soft.

            Baraka nodded at each name. He knew what Dharau and Adila meant but didn’t tell her. “‘Mighty’, that’s the meaning of your brother’s name. And yours means ‘strong’.” He couldn’t help but look at her, admiration apparent in his voice. “You are strong, Etana. Your mother named you right. She sounds like a good lioness.”

            Etana smiled sadly. “She was, Baraka. She was one of the nicest, most gentle hearted lionesses I ever knew.”

            “Now I understand where you get your gentle qualities from.”

            Her ears flickered and her heart beat increased a little. That was the nicest compliment he’d given her. “Thank you, Baraka. While I’m more like her than my father, I can be stubborn and persistent.”

            That was new. He had never seen her act stubborn. But he also had no idea what she did or how she acted when they weren’t around each other. Was she different? When Arif relayed his conversation with Etana about Akase and Saada, she had been kind, caring, and listened, offering not just advice but counsel when he finished. Baraka shook his head. Surely she was the same when they were apart!

            “Your brother, Jelani, wasn’t blind?” he asked carefully.

            “No, and because of that Father loved him more than me. Jelani was a good cub, and he knew I was blind. Our parents told him when they felt he was old enough to understand. But he never teased or bullied me. In fact for a long time, he was my protector against some of the cubs, and my comforter when Dad was angry. There was one day Jelani and I went out to play and I was attacked by two of the cubs…” She turned her head, her blind eyes locked onto something far and distant.

            Baraka shuddered. He found himself immersed in her life…

The prince asked if he and his sister could play. Worry had fallen over the queen’s face. Her daughter was growing and using her other senses to get around. The young princess was able to tell all pride members – cub and adult alike – apart by listening to their breathing, scents and footsteps. No one taught her. Like her late grandfather, she tried on her own and succeeded.

            After much consideration, and the promise of her son that he would protect and watch out for Etana, Queen Adila gave permission.

            When Jelani and Etana got to the plain of savannah where the cubs gathered, they drank from a stream of water and joined their friends. The prince smiled politely at the lioness who was their guardian. She was an elder, a lioness who knew the last king.

            One cub came to the royal pair, scowling. “Jelani, what’s she doing here? You can’t expect us to play with the blind one!”

            Jelani breathed sharply. “I thought I told you to never call her that again! She will be playing with us. She is my sister and you will be nice to her.”

            Before the male could react, his brother stepped up. His face was gentler, his sky blue eyes kind. “Don’t mind him, Jelani. Etana is a cub like the rest of us -”

            “Oh come on, she’s blind for gods’ sake!” spat a female. “How are we supposed to play with someone who can’t see, and how many times have we had this argument?”

            Three other cubs, two female and another male, were silent. Jelani saw them and got an idea. He looked at the blue eyes of the kind cub and jerked his head in the direction of the others. The cub left while Jelani whispered to his sister, “Will you be alright?” He hated to leave her with those who would scorn and possibly hurt her.

            Etana nuzzled him in reassurance. “I’ll be fine.”

            The prince’s meeting with the four other cubs was enough for him to know that they wouldn’t harm Etana. They liked her and admired her strength, gentleness, and respect. The two females, who were sisters, said they would come to the princess for advice on issues they couldn’t tell their parents or anyone else.

            Before Jelani could speak, he heard growling. He broke away from the group to see the scornful male and female lion cubs fall on Etana. Anger gripped him and he ran forward, pushing the male off. One lioness cub pulled the other female’s tail, making her not only scream in pain, but get off the princess.

            The other two males ran up and the blue eyed cub growled dangerously at his brother. He watched the prince attend to his sister. His heart broke. Etana was so kind. She didn’t deserve such treatment, especially from his family.

            “Dad and mom will know about this,” he snarled.

            Jelani nuzzled Etana. “Are you alright?” he asked, helping her to her feet.

            She shrugged a little but didn’t appear shaken or frightened. “I felt their movements, Jelani. I could feel the anger in their bodies. They just pounced and pinned me. No claws.”

            He rested his head on her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have left you alone. Mom’s gonna –”

            “She’s not going to know. If we say something she’ll forbid us from ever playing. I won’t put you through that.”

            “But –”

            “Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself. You don’t need to protect me all the time…” She gave him a friendly lick on the cheek. “Thank you, Jelani. You’re a great brother.”

            “I love you, sis.”

            She smiled. “I love you too, bro…”

As the memory left a tear ran down the left side of Etana’s cheek. She reached with a paw to wipe it but Baraka brushed it away with his. Shivers ran down her back. Why did he do that? He had never seen her shed any tears. But the memory was sending chills throughout her body, and she felt that pain all over again. She turned her head away again, her body shaking. She remembered what the cubs had said.

            You’re worthless blind one!

            You don’t deserve to be among us. Stay in the caves where it’s dark. You can’t see any way so it won’t matter!

            She clawed the grass. Her blood boiled, but the memory was only one of the many she had of Jelani’s love for her. Forcing back a sob, she found herself missing her younger brother and wondered if he was alright. He would be king now, which meant their parents were either gone from the world or retired.

            Baraka saw the pained look on Etana’s face… and he brushed a tear! He’d acted without thinking, but seeing her this way… She was always so self assured and self confident, and she shared it with others, himself included. He couldn’t blame her for feeling emotional. All she wanted was friends and to live a normal life. Though a few of her old playmates accepted her, the rest were mean by nature and hated anything different or anyone. He envisioned them pouncing and making fun of