should…..I don’t have the right to feel this way. I am still in love with Katlego yet I love Kula at the same time. Ni forget about it, while you still love Katlego you cannot tell Kula how you feel. Kula deserves better than a broken lion who is already a father.”

       The days passed with Kula and Ni existing around yet their friends began to notice a change in their behaviour. When they believed others were not looking they would look at the other. Ni seemed to take on an air of sadness despite hiding his emotions from Aketch. Kula became increasingly withdrawn often volunteering for border patrol along the furthest edge of the kingdom. When Ni left to go on patrol a look of longing would appear in her eyes. The separation was causing both pain yet neither was willing to tell the other their feelings. Their friends became increasingly worried.

      Out on border patrol Ni and Simba walked through the sun baked savannah. Having just seen off a trio of young males the pair were tired. Arriving at a pool both stopped to drink and bath the cuts the rouges claws had inflicted. Looking around them Ni began to speak tentatively.

“Simba have you ever been in love with two lionesses at the same time?”

“No,” Simba replied, surprised at the question from the blue. “I have loved someone I wasn’t supposed to though.”

“You? I find it difficult to imagine anyone who would be unsuitable for a future king,” Ni replied raising in eyebrow.

“When I was a teenager in the jungle…….I fell in love with a leopard. Ni have you fallen in love with a member of the pride?” Simba asked tentatively.

“I have Simba. The fact has been gnawing at me for days. I feel guilty for falling in love again as part of me still loves Katlego,” Ni replied a mixture of shame and sadness swirling about him.

“Ni you shouldn’t feel guilty for falling in love. Part of you will always love Katlego but no one would expect you to be alone for ever.”

“I hear what you are saying Simba yet the guilt is hard to deny, it is a little over a year since she passed. Yet the lioness I love…….”

“I’m not going to ask who it is. I don’t want to complicate the situation further. You have my full support to ask her to be your mate. If you speak to her and feels the same, well don’t live alone.”

“Thank you Simba knowing that means a great deal. You see the world without the guilt I carry in my heart,” Ni replied falling silent.

    Looking over at his friends Simba began to speak then stopped his words dying on his lips at his friends despair. Silently the pair walked home with the weight of Ni’s confession hanging over them like a dark cloud.

        A couple of days had passed since Ni had confessed his concerns to Simba. As the first hint of dawn crept into the Pridelands Ni and Kula patrolled the border between the Pridelands and the Outlands. After a long night that had featured appearances of Zira and others on the opposite side, both lions were glad to see two Pridelanders walking towards them. After the paw over and briefing Ni and Kula left the border, beginning the walk home as it was just getting light. Arriving at rock insight of the border known as Border Rock, Kula and Ni stopped to drink. Standing on the rock Kula looked over at Ni who was stood below her in the pool, looking up at her with a curious expression.

“Ni I am in love with you.”

“You love me?” Ni asked in disbelief.

 “Yes.”

“I never imagined………..Kula over the past few months…………….I’ve fallen for you.”

“You love me, Ni this is fantastic,” Kula began, stopping as she saw the agony on his face.

“Loving you is wrong Kula. You are half my age to begin with.”

“Age doesn’t matter!”

“Maybe not but I am a broken lion. As strong as my feelings are for you part of me will never stop loving Katlego.”

“I understand Ni it is only natural you will feel that way. I am not trying to take her place. I want to make you happy.”

“Kula you deserve better than a lion like me. You should have a lion who will love you with his entire heart. I cannot give you…………” Ni said sadly.

“I don’t want another lion. I want you………”

“Oh Kula you are so young. Right now you think you want me without fully understanding the difficulties that will arise in the future. I love you Kula but you deserve more than a broken lion with a cub. I love so I have to give you up,” Ni replied.

     His eyes filled with tears Ni ran off into the morning light leaving Kula alone and heartbroken. Out alone in the savannah their hearts shattered into a million pieces as both fell into their own grief. Walking through the kingdom guilt racked Ni’s body. As he walked he saw couples together enjoying the others company. Watching them he felt a spike of pain and guilt at what he had done to Kula. Watching the couples his thoughts drifted back to his time spend with Katlego. Slowly his thoughts shifted to Majani.

“Majani where are you? I am so sorry for shouting at you I was just trying to protect you. I blame myself for what happened to us. If I hurt you I am sorry. Not a day passes without me thinking about you. I love you and I miss you. You were right all along Aketch and I should have left earlier. We tried to find you we tried so hard but we were unable to. I wish there was some why you could hear what I am saying. I pray one day we will be reunited,” Ni said speaking to the sky.

    That night as Ni slept his dreams were haunted by the horrors of the draught, his arguments with Majani and the last terrible blazing row the night she left. Then the dream changed and Ni found himself in a savannah. However it was unlike any place he been. The sky was the colour of sunset, the grass was a shade of pink, trees were a mixture of blue, red and green leaves while the trunks were pure white and a lake of lavender coloured water glistened in sunlight. His heart did a flip as coming towards him was Katlego her body glistening with health. In the midst of a circle of flowers the pair nuzzled each other while tears fell freely from their eyes.

“Katleog I am sorry for failing you,” Ni wept.

“You are not to blame. You did all you could to help us. Ni stop blaming yourself for an event outside your control,” Katlego replied licking the tears away.

“I miss you every day. I love you so much.”

“I love you Ni. I will always live inside your hearts.”

“My heart will always love you…..” Ni began, looking away in shame.

“It also beats for Kula.”

“I am sorry.”

“Do not be sorry for finding love. What we had was special but my time has passed. I want you to experience love again.”

“How can you?” Ni asked in disbelief.

“Out of love. All I wish is for you to be happy. Kula is a wonderful lioness who loves you as you love her. I give both my blessing.”

“Thank you Katlego. Nothing will ever stop me loving you,” Ni replied weeping.

“I know that. I will always watch over you and our daughters. What happened with Majani was not your doing, she had a wider role to play in the fate of the Pridelands.”

“She is alive! What happened to her, what part did she play?”

“I cannot say. In time you will know the truth. She is alive and happy in a pride who live by the sea,” Katlego replied as the sky began to change colour. “Dawn is not far off, we don’t have much time left.”

 “Katlego nothing will ever make me forget you. You will ways hold a place in my heart.”

“Be happy Ni, be happy and make a new family. One day you will see Majani again. I love Ni be happy,” Katlego replied as she slowly faded away.

“I love you Katlego. I will be happy,” Ni roared.

       With a sudden jolt Ni’s eyes snapped open and he found himself in the cave at Pride Rock. Gasping for breath he lay there as the pale light of dawn crept into the cave. Memories of his dream swirled around his mind. Rolling onto his side Ni felt a lightness in his heart and a realization of his course in life. Looking around the cave he was many of the lioness were missing, including Kula. Before he could move Simba appeared above him.

“Come on sleepy head our hunting party has made a couple of good kills.”

___________________________________________________________________________   

                    A short time later the entire pride lay contently under the shade of tress feeling content and at peace with the world after a very nice breakfast. Looking over the scene Ni felt his heart do a backflip. Walking through the foliage was Kula. Getting up Ni slowly began to make his away over to her. Suddenly Kula stumbled, her left paw vanishing down a small hole.

“Aaahhhhh!”

      Kula’s scream of agony ripped through the air. Ni had a brief glimpse of a snake’s teeth retracting from her paw. Gasping for breath Kula fell to the floor as the venom coursed through her veins. Fear surged through Ni’s heart as Sarafina and Sarabi called for calm as the

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