rejoiced upon seeing the king walking well again. Nala led the lionesses in a successful buffalo hunt, while Simba watched with a grin. Youth and adult ate well that day, and for the first time in a long time, the dark clouds that had so quickly surrounded Pride Rock turned white, and pained expressions became joyous.

After a little digesting, the pride engaged in a playful frolic. Cubs pounced adults, adults pounced back. The young and old raced around in a time for unbridled merriment. Simba sat with Nala, just watching the fun. Every once in a while, he might reach out and playfully bat a passing cub or help tickle a pinned adult, but other than that, the king continued to show his love to his dedicated mate. He felt proud that the fun was all in his honor, even if he didn’t participate fully. At the rate the pride was going, the festivities might have lasted into the night, if it had not been for the calling of a little blue hornbill.

“Sire!” Zazu called, sweeping in from the sky. His landing was a bit off, showing both Simba and Nala the level of concern.

“Zazu? What is it?” Simba asked quickly. Zazu panted a little, before straightening up and dusting his feathers.

“Forgive the interruption my king,” he started, “but the hyenas have come into the pridelands, several of them! Off the edge of the western border!” Simba’s face tightened immediately, and he jumped to his paws. Nala was up beside him immediately, stepping in front before he could take off.

“Simba, are you sure about this?”

“No,” he said on a pause looking back at the pride having fun. They had done so much for him, been so dedicated, gone so far out of their way to help him. And as serious as the situation was, he couldn’t bring himself to break their spirits over the invaders. “But we can handle this Nala. You and I.” The lioness nodded shortly, her face hardening as well.

“Okay, as long as you’re sure, I’m with you.” Without another word, Simba looked at Zazu. Nothing more needed to be said, and the hornbill took to the sky and led the two lions to the location. As the pair broke into a run, Nala glanced back at the shrinking pride. They were still in the middle of the great game, not even noticing the royal pair running away from happiness.

The five poaching hyenas were so engrossed in their ill-gotten prey that they did not notice the two lions approaching rapidly. They had taken down a zebra female near the furthest west edge of the Pridelands. The herds were in a state of shock at the sudden attack, and stampeding away from the feeding hyenas. The resulting dust made the appearance of the royal couple dramatic enough, and Simba’s roar of introduction was no different.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Simba roared, trotting in with his mate. The five hyenas cringed back a little at the onslaught but remained defiant.

“We’re eating, what’s it look like?” one of the bigger ones scowled. Nala spoke up in a strong and commanding tone.

“We had a deal,” she snarled, “you got our remains without a fight and stayed out of the pridelands.” There was a rise in giggles that caused the fur to stand on Simba’s back. Having no intention to move, the five spread out a little and moved towards the lions.

“Well we intend to have our own hunt. And don’t want your rotten remains anymore.” The group snarled, closing in on the two. Zazu alighted on Simba’s shoulder as he leaned lower, amber eyes narrowing.

“Should I get help sire?” he whispered emphatically in Simba’s ear. The king nodded shortly.

“Quickly Zazu.” And in a blink, Zazu was in the air and flying across the horizon. Simba glanced to Nala, who was already broken into a fighting stance. Turning back to the hyenas, he prepared himself.

The battle began swiftly as one hyena charged the lioness, followed quickly by another. The other three closed in on Simba, giggling wildly. Nala reared and swatted them away, with a vicious roar, following them to finish the job. Simba watched as the hyenas circled. Perhaps it was just their giggling, or the trauma from early experiences with hyenas, but for some reason Simba was in a state of nervous excitement over the battle.

When the first one attacked, Simba’s move was lighting fast. A paw whipped around and snatched the hyena from the air, depositing it a few feet away. In what seemed to be the same moment, the lion felt the trapping jaws of a hyena begin to embrace his lower hind leg. Without a second thought, he rolled quickly and kicked the hyena off with a minimal amount of his own fur in its mouth. Then things began to change sides. As he got up, the two recovering hyenas charged into his side, knocking him off balance and sending him tumbling onto the ground. Clearing his head quickly, he could see the two advancing, assuming the other to be on its way. He whirled to his paws, giving one hyena a mighty blow to the head from the right. When he felt teeth on his back, he spun and in one tragic moment, extended his left arm for a roundabout swing. He made contact and then, it happened.

Nala’s head shot up immediately when she heard her mate roar. The sound was recognizable only to her, and with terror she knew what had happened. Leaving the two dazed hyenas to scamper back over the western border, she raced into the fray where Simba lay on the ground, writhing on his side in agony. There might have been another scuffle there, but the combined roars of pride lionesses racing in the direction tipped the hyenas that their time was up. With a yip and giggle, they turned tail and raced over the western border and into the waning sunlight. Turning her attention to Simba, Nala nudged him.

“Simba! Simba! Are you okay?” he groaned and glanced up at his shoulder, the lay his head on the ground, beginning to cry. Paling under her already creamy fur, Nala’s view shifted to where he looked. With a gasp, she could see the hated bulge, staring at her, mocking her every effort to help Simba heal. It was as if a nightmare had just stepped from her head and planted itself before her eyes.

Gathering her frayed emotions, she cooed Simba into a sense of calm. Then, remembering what Rafiki had done, she landed a hard paw directly on the shoulder. The resulting roar was devastating, and rent her heart into another piece. She only took a glance, then looked to Simba.

“Is it better?” A little wiggle of his arm, and a growl of pain emerged.

“No! No!” Simba grunted, fighting the pain, “It’s still on fire!” Wincing, Nala took another swipe at it, jumped back as she heard the roar intensify. However, Simba’s breathing slowed and his growling turned to low grunts, indicating her success. She went around to his front, and looked into his eyes.

The two sat that way for a moment, neither speaking nor moving. Silent apologies passed between them, each one feeling responsible for the other’s pain and internal turmoil. Then, with all barriers down, lioness set her head on lion, and the two stayed that way, crying tears of disappointment and despair. They did not stop, even when the pride arrived and escorted them on the long journey to Pride Rock.

Time is short,

Time is infinite.

Time is subjective,

Time is omnipotent.

Time is merciless,

Time is forgiving.

Time is sweet,

Time is self-fulfilling.

Time is brain,

Time is brawn.

And before you know it,

Time is gone.

Imagine if you will, having the whole world at your feet. All doors are open, there are no barriers. You have the power, the will, the determination to make it in life. All your life, every experience has led you to the highest level of your potential. All you have to do, is step out and be yourself, and everyone will know your greatness.

Imagine now, that right before making the step, something else comes up. Something traumatic, painful, and physical. Sure, you’ve been through trauma before, but not like this. This one refuses to go away. It threatens to take down all the pride and prestige you’ve built for yourself. There is no way to tell when it will strike, or how it will strike. It is a demon, waiting, watching, picking times to rear its ugly head, and smite you with a vicious blow. And each blow destroys a little part of you, the part that makes all things possible in the world. The last thing left in Pandora’s box, is slowly being eaten away by a demon sitting on your shoulder. And as the hope is eaten, it is slowly replaced by an intolerable despair. That is how Simba felt, even a few weeks after the injury.

Rafiki had been working closely with the pride, and their emotions. All were shaken by the sudden re-injury of their king. Cubs and adults alike felt sorry for him, wishing there was something they could do. The mandrill often sighed, and even doubted himself. So much had been tried, so much effort on his part that to have it happen again was like a blow in the face. In his heart, he knew he had done all he could, and that fact made it even harder to accept the spiral of agony that Simba was going through. However, through it all, his resolve never wavered to help his friend as much as he could.

Poor Nala. The queen was often distressed at the agony of her mate. It was not so much the fact that his actions were limited, as it was the fact that his emotions were torn. He was more depressed than she had ever seen him in his life. Why did the circle have to treat him so cruelly? He was a good king, a good father, and a wonderful mate. Although it hurt her to see him become so reserved in action, her dedication and