Uru ignored him. Frowning to himself, Ahadi tried again. "Hey, why are you giving me the cold shoulder now?"

Uru stopped suddenly. "Why don't you go bug someone else?"

Ahadi grumbled. "Fine then." He walked away while Uru sighed. Finally I can get some work done...

It was mid-afternoon when Ahadi returned to Uru's side. He seemed more pleasant than he did earlier. Uru, on the other hand, was more aggrivated. And she was not looking forward to his company. When he sat next to her underneath the shade, Uru looked away.

"Hey, you need to relax," said Ahadi.

"What kind of greeting is that?" snapped Uru. She still wouldn't look at him.

That didn't really seem to bother Ahadi. He only wanted to make a point. "Look, you're overworking yourself. Haven't you ever heard of fun?"

"Fun?" Uru turned her head to Ahadi. "I'm too old to have fun."

"No you're not-"

"Besides I have responsibilities. You might be able to have fun, but I cannot."

"And why not? I don't see why you can't take the day off to relax and enjoy yourself."

"Because I have a territory to run! I can't take a break! I'm doing what's best for everyone, and if it means I drop dead doing my job, then so be it."

"Jeez don't work yourself to death."

"Besides, why does it matter to you if I relax?"

"We're all concerned Uru. I know I know, you've only known me for a day or two but listen... the other lionesses were saying-"

"Wait you were with the lionesses?" Uru gathered herself to her paws and glared at Ahadi.

Ahadi shook his head. "No no not like that! I'm a lion of my word remember? No, I'm just saying, I was with the other lionesses and they're being to become... annoyed with you."

"Annoyed?"

"They want you to relax. Your attitude has been getting very sour. Here I have a suggestion-"

"No."

"You haven't even heard it yet."

"And I know I won't like it. No."

Ahadi ignored that. "Here, why don't I take over patrol for a while. A month maybe? That way you can relax and be less... aggressive to all of us. What do you say?"

"I think that's... an absolutely stupid idea. No. I am the queen and I have my duties to fufill."

"Uru, why won't you let anyone help you? The other lionesses were telling me that they'd gladly help you out if you asked them. But you want them to sit around all day and they're getting bored. They want to help you. But you insist on doing this all by yourself." Ahadi could clearly see how much angrier Uru was getting with him but he stood his ground. "Here I'll take over and you go relax."

"No."

"Please-"

"Besides why does it concern you? A rogue lion?"

"Look, I'm trying to be friendly and try and work things out here. Just... let me take over patroling for a month and then you can get back to work."

Uru growled loudly and began to pace back and forth. Her thoughts were conflicted. Had she really been behaving poorly? Maybe she was judging this lion too much... But she was the queen! She needed to defend her turf and patrol, not some mangy male!

"Uru, I promise I'll do a good job," said Ahadi. "It's the least I can do since you allowed me to stay here."

Uru stopped pacing and sighed. "Fine then... tomorrow you can-"

"No."

"What?"

"I'll finish the rest of your patrol." Ahadi sounded firm and final. In a way it reminded Uru of her father. She prepared herself to argue against Ahadi but she sighed, feeling defeated.

"Okay then... You can finish partrol." Uru began to make the trek back to Pride Rock.

"I won't let you down Uru!" called Ahadi.

Uru sighed. She was burnt out for the day. But when she was about to enter her den, every lioness seemed to have a bone to pick with her.

"Uru why are you so mean to Ahadi?" asked one of the lionesses.

Uru stopped before entering the den and sighed. "Why does it matter if I do?"

"He's very nice," piped up another lioness. "He was telling us jokes."

"I don't want him coming onto you guys-"

"He doesn't. He's very respectful. Honestly Uru, that's the least important thing on his mind."

"Yeah..."

One of the lionesses, one of the two who had snuck away from the pride during mating season, stepped forward. Her belly wasn't too noticeable yet. "Honestly Uru, we feel that you're being way too hard on him. He's a very nice guy and he really respects you."

Uru was surprised by this. "He... respects me?"

"Yeah," said the lioness. "He thinks you're a very good leader, but feels you have a foul-temper and treat him unfairly. And so do we."

"We think you're being too mean to us."

Uru listened to all these complaints, though they were all mainly directed at Ahadi.

"And we're frustrated," continued the sneaky lioness, "because you never want us to do anything. You keep to yourself and force us to sit around all day. If Mohatu was still there-"

"Don't!" said Uru. "Don't bring up my father..."

"Uru... I think your father would be disappointed in you."

Your father would be disappointed in you... This remark caught Uru off guard. She didn't know how to react, but she couldn't take staring down her sisters when they were all looking at her, awaiting a response from her. "I... I'm going to do inside," sighed Uru as she walked inside the den. None of the other lionesses followed after her.

After sundown, Ahadi returned to the rock, hot and exhausted. But he did his job, just as he had promised Uru. Now he was beginning to understand the responsibility of being a leader. It was tough just keeping an eye on the territory. Ahadi had to chase away a male lion who was attracted to the smell of a dead calf. Not wanting to waste the meal, Ahadi took it back with him. The lionesses came up to greet him, and Ahadi laid down the corpse of the calf.

"It was dead when I was on duty," he told them. He looked around, seeing someone wasn't there. "Where's Uru?"

"She went out," said one of the lionesses. "She didn't say where."

Ahadi frowned. "You didn't go after her."

"Honestly she has such a temper, that yeah we didn't want to go."

He sighed. "Where'd she go? I'll find her."

"Ahadi, don't waste your breath," said another lioness. "You know she'll just chase you away."

"Where'd she go?" he repeated.

"Out the back."

While the lionesses moved in to lunch on the body, Ahadi began following Uru's scent. She had gone out from behind the rock. When Ahadi finally found her sitting beside a small dying pool of water, he realized how sad she looked. "Hey," he said, trying not to surprise her as he took a spot next to her.

Uru did not look at him, nor did she respond to him.

"I did good on my patrol," said Ahadi. "A male lion tried to get in but I chased him off. He was going after a dead calf. I, uh, took the food and gave it to everyone. You want some before they eat it all?"

Uru still kept quiet.

Ahadi frowned. Something must've happened after she left. He leaned over and looked at her face. She seemed to not even notice him. Her eyes were dully pinned on the water and she did not blink. Ahadi waved his paw in her face, but she still did not notice him.

"Come on Uru, what's wrong?" he asked her. He nudged her with his paw, but she did not say anything. She didn't need to either. After he nudged her, her face began moving again. Her eyes were glistening and she was shuddering, looking as though to prevent herself from crying in front of him. Ahadi was shocked by this. He never invisioned Uru to ever be in an emotional state like this.

Tears began rolling down Uru's face as she began stuttering, "I-I'm a f-failure..."

"No!" said Ahadi. "No your not!"

"Y-Yes I a-am. I-I wanted to b-be like my d-dad. And n-now everyone h-hates me..."

"Uru, that's not the attitude of a leader. Did what everyone say really hurt your feelings?"

Uru shook her head. "No..." She finally seemed to get herself together. She sighed. "But they've made me realize that I've been a fool..." She turned to Ahadi. "I've been judging you too hard."

Ahadi was a bit shocked. Personally he thought he was never going to expect a sorry from Uru. To hear this now... he was very shocked needless to say.

Uru stood up. "I'm... sorry Ahadi."

"Uru..."

"The other lionesses did have a point.  I have been too harsh. But I'm worried about this drought. I just want to see it end. But that's no excuse on my part to be rough to everyone else, especially to you."

"Listen-"

But Uru cut him off immediately. "I'm sorry Ahadi. I know I went too far now. Forgive me."

Though he was still shocked by what she was saying, what she was admitting, he couldn't help but smile. He took his paw and placed it down on top of hers. "I forgive you."

Uru looked up at him and smiled. Ahadi had to admit, she had

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