They quickly padded over to him.  “What is it?” they both asked. 

“Look, there are paintings of us on here!” he pointed to them. 

“Hey someone painted us! Look there’s me!” Siva admired her painting. 

“Wow, how did they do that?” Suvo asked. 

“You mean who did that?” Niru wondered. 

Just then Rafiki and Reekyo dropped down from the treetop next to them. 

“Uncle Rafiki did them!” Reekyo said excitedly. 

The cubs yelled, caught off guard, and jumped back.  They all huddled together for a minute, with Niru in the middle. 

Reekyo giggled. “Don’t be scared of us cubs, we won’t hurt you.” 

Niru, still unsure and surprised asked, “Who are you?” 

Rafiki hopped in front of the huddled trio and asked, “ The question is whooo are you three?”

Niru stood up and stepped forward bravely.   “ I’m Niru, future ruler of the Pridelands.” 

Suvo moved up next to him on one side and Siva on the other side. 

“I’m Suvo, one of Niru’s best friends.” 

“And I’m Siva, Niru’s other best friend.” 

Rafiki chuckled and patted their heads, pleased with their answers.  “I’m glad you know who you are, hehe.” 

“Yeah, that’s the key to becoming a good king, and good lions,” Reekyo explained happily. 

“That’s good to know,” Siva smiled and they all nodded to each other. 

Niru remembered the paintings.  “Did you paint these, umm…”

“I am Rafiki,” he bowed politely to Niru and smiled.  “And yes, I did paint these,” he pointed at the paintings. 

Niru brightened.  “Is that me?” he asked anxiously.   

“Yeah, is that me over here?” Siva and Suvo jumped over and each pointed to their painting. 

“Yes they are, and here are all the generations of lion kings and queens,” Reekyo answered proud of the wisdom her uncle had passed onto her. 

“Wow!” the trio gasped and looked at one another, smiling excitedly. 

“ Yes, you see young ones, it’s all about the Circle of Life,” Rafiki added. 

“ The Circle of Life?” Siva asked curiously. 

“Don’t you remember, Siva? I told you my mom said the Circle of Life can never be broken, so it never ends,” Niru reminded her. 

“Oh yeah! Sorry,” Siva apologized quickly, feeling embarrassed. 

“It’s all right,” Niru said. 

Siva’s stomach growled a bit, and she remembered she was hungry. 

Rafiki chuckled at hearing it and asked, “Are you cubs hungry? Would you like to stay for some breakfast? Reekyo and I were just about to have some ourselves.” 

The three cubs looked to the two baboons, and smiled politely, not wanting to be rude, trying to contain their growing hunger. 

“If we could have some fruit from your umm tree, that would be nice, please,” Niru asked politely.

Suvo and Siva joined in  “Yes, if it’s ok with you,” they too smiled politely. 

“Wow, such polite young cubs!”  Reekyo grinned excitedly.  “Have as much as you like—oh well if it’s ok with Uncle Rafiki,” she smiled to him and asked. 

Rafiki smiled.  “Of course.  You cubs are welcome to the fruit of dis tree anytime.” 

“Wow! Thanks Rafiki, thanks Reekyo,” they all replied, as Rafiki handed them each a fresh morning gourd with juice inside, and a heavy fruit.  They all started eating, savoring the sweet, juicy fruit and gourd juice.  After they finished, they licked their paws and muzzles clean. 

“Mmm! That’s the best breakfast I’ve ever had,” Siva smiled and licked her chops. 

“Yeah that was good,” Suvo agreed, having had his fill. 

“That was a great meal!  Thanks again Rafiki and Reekyo,” Niru smiled and nodded to them. 

“Of course,” Rafiki chuckled. 

“Well, what should we do now?” asked Suvo. 

Just after Suvo asked, Siva and Niru heard a noise in the grass. 

“Did you guys hear that?” Siva asked. 

Niru and Suvo both nodded. 

“Come on, let’s go find out what it is!” Niru said jumping down from Rafiki’s tree.  “Bye Rafiki, Reekyo! Thanks again!” he said in a whisper.

Siva and Suvo both thanked them again, and hopped down from the old tree.