THE LONG PATH

By Mirco Zacher and John Burkitt

FOREWORDS:

How mighty is a lioness who springs from cover to pursue a fleet gazelle! Over three hundred pounds of muscle, bone and sinew. And yet every lioness someday surrenders that body to the earth from which it came and moves on. The real Shingi died tragically young. Now she is the heroine of a story which I cannot read or write in this lifetime. Shingi has been places and done things that I can only dream of. I hope that somewhere, somehow she knows how many of us still love her in this world of warm blood.

--- John Burkitt, Nashville, Tennessee

What happens when two people write a story? Either they don't connect and it flops, or with time both start to think and feel alike and they become one with their characters. And certainly John and I shared our feelings. Maybe that's the most wonderful thing to me in writing, what makes that special magic of a story, when you the reader realize that behind the words is something of John and I.

The title of this work is symbolic in many ways, for my own life as well as for the characters. These past few months have made me more mature, perhaps more than all my previous 29 years. A part of me died with Gabor Antos, and I gained an all-new part with every moment John and I got closer to each other. I can't thank him enough for going through my troubles and darkest moments, same applies to many of my Lion King friends out there. This way you were making this story possible, too. Without all of you and John I would most likely just be a memory now.

Well, I promised it. If you don't understand what goes on at the beginning and how it fits to Homecoming, the predecessor, don't give up. It will all be clear. Aiheu's paths are a miracle at times, but his wisdom gives sense to all perils. Shingi lives on. Come with me, I'll guide you through her life.

My special credits go to Dave Morris. The basic ideas for this story were discussed with him when we were still working on Homecoming, and he did the proofreading. He wasn't participating in this project directly, but he deserves to be mentioned here!

--- Mirco Zacher, Hannover, Germany

DEDICATION:

This work is dedicated to the lions of Uganda who were all killed in a single senseless act by retreating soldiers. May God guide your lights unto his own. Shine, my children--shine forever in love.

This is also dedicated to a dear friend who felt that problems in his life left him no way to go on living. But if we remember him he will live in eternity, like Shingi, in his special way. In Memoriam Gabor Antos. He died on Jan. 22, 1998.

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PROLOGUE

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CHAPTER 1: THE THIRST

Mgoma, a lovely young lioness, basked in the early golden sunshine. She stretched luxuriously, extended her claws one by one, and waited for her usual morning walk with mother. Azima was late but Mgoma was not worried--her mother never broke a promise.

Mgoma was the daughter of royalty and she had led a privileged life. She was an only surviving cub, the sole recipient of her parents' attention and love. Queen Azima had continued to nurse her till she was well past weaning age, then King Makini began saving the best part of kills for her. It seemed everything she wanted was hers, and yet Mgoma was not spoiled. Her parents had also given her lessons by their example, instilling in her patience, generosity and an easy, natural kindness that endeared her to many.

When Azima finally showed up, she looked lost in thought. "Daughter, you must walk without me today."

"Are you all right, mother?"

"I'm fine." Azima smiled gently. "You remember a moon ago when you were the one that stayed home? I saw the reason--he looked like a very good reason."

"So there was a lion. I enjoyed talking with him."

"I heard bits of that conversation," Azima said with a knowing smile. "Most of it was 'Oh baby, oh baby!'"

"Why do you tease me all the time!"

"Because I love you. Someday you'll look back on all my teasing and you'll miss it."

"Then tease me forever." Mgoma drew near and nuzzled her mother. "Are you going to be with Daddy?"

"Yes. You may have brothers and sisters very soon."

"I would love that!"

"If you help me raise the cubs, I'll teach you everything I know about motherhood. How about it, darling?"

Mgoma smiled broadly. "Yes! I will!" She nuzzled her mother. "I hope you do kindle, and I want to be there when they are born."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Maybe I will let you name one."

"Oh please! If you have a son, name him Kopa."

"Any particular reason?"

"Yes. My imaginary playmate. You remember Kopa."

Azima smiled. "I'd almost forgotten about him! You never caused me a bit of trouble, but he was into mischief all the time." Azima purred knowingly. "So what would you like best? Brothers or sisters?"

Mgoma blinked. "Can you choose that?"

"No, Honey Tree. I just wondered."

"Then the answer is yes. I want brothers or sisters the most. A young prince might be nice for Daddy. Someone to take some of the worry off him."

"Goma, I have a wonderful mate and a wonderful daughter. I must have done something very good in my life."

Mgoma purred and smiled wistfully. "I'll think about you often."

"And I'll think about you too."

"Sure you will," Mgoma said with a wink. "I know what you'll be thinking about. 'Oh baby, oh baby!'"

"Shame on you! Remember I'm your mother!"

"Can't I tease you cause I love you too?"

"My little nisei." Azima rubbed full length against her beautiful daughter and purred softly. "Here he comes now. Pray for cubs, my darling. I'm not getting any younger."

"I'll pray very hard."

Makini walked by and glanced over at Azima, his eyes sparkling with barely suppressed excitement. "I'll be taking a walk through the reeds to cool my thirst. Maybe you want to join me?"

Azima looked at him, love shining in her eyes. "Yes, let us refresh ourselves."

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ACT I: THE LONG PATH BEGINS

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CHAPTER 2: THE INTRUDER

Azima crouched trembling in the grass, her ear twitching as Makini touched it with his tongue and mouthed it gently. His mane brushed her shoulders and swept her neck. "I love you, girl," he panted gently but breathlessly. "Do I make you happy?"

"Very happy," she purred. "Think of cubs. Think of three or four. Make one a male for Mgoma. I also want a little lioness that…." She gasped, her claws extending into the earth as she shuddered. "Makini!"

Makini leaned slightly forward and nipped her neck lightly as his body trembled. For a few seconds he uttered a low yammering moan, then he said, "I swear, each time is the best time ever!"

When Makini rose from Azima and stepped away, she did not snarl at the slight sting. She had matured in her love for him and had realized the best was yet to come. As she slowly rolled onto her back, she utteried a sigh of contentment at the warm glow that spread through her body. It was time for him to wrap her in his musky embrace, and snuggle into her warmth. She patted her paw on the ground and said, "Come lay by me."

"In a moment," Makini said. "I want to check on some business first."

"I thought we WERE taking care of business," she said impatiently. "Don't you ever stop being King for a moment?"

"Not as long as you're queen," he said with a wink. "I just want to check in on the pride. You know how I worry. Nothing should come between us when we want to be as close to you as possible." He touched her glum face with his tongue, provoking a smile. "You understand, don't you? I have no brother to watch for me."

"Well, if you hurry."

Makini took one last look at his mate, then turned and headed back along the trail to two-headed kopje, the most likely place where the pride would be gathered. Tingling and sleepy, he had to fight his desire to roll on his back and let the sun warm his belly. He was consumed with lovesickness, and his sister Mabota would surely tease him for leaving his lover in the grass. At least Mgoma would not think him a stodgy old lion. Not good old Mgoma.

Makini could not help himself. He had to fight his tendency to make big problems out of small issues. Still he had a harder time than usual--something felt different, and the worried feeling only grew stronger as he grew closer to two-headed kopje. He stopped and tested the wind, then his ears sprang up and his eyes narrowed as his suspicions were confirmed.

He could scent a strange male!

He ran about looking for the source of the smell. From rock to rock he ran, peering about and sniffing. "I know you're out there!"

No one answered him.

"I am Makini, and this land is MINE!"

All thoughts of romance and joy had been pushed from his mind. He knew the hopes of young cubs and young lionesses were at stake. Disaster could strike at any moment--perhaps it already had. "Mgoma! Mabota! Where are you?? Answer me!"

The words echoed back emptily.

"Oh gods, where are you??"

His heart pumped wildly and his pulse pounded in his ears. He forded the tall grass, searching desperately for some sign of his extended family. "Mgoma! Anybody! Answer me! Dear Aiheu, where are you??" He was about to turn back to tell his mate Azima the drastic news when at last he caught sight of the pride sisters. Some cubs were among the lionesses and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God! Are you safe?"

They didn't answer him and he called out louder. "Is everything all right? Have you seen a strange male??"

They said nothing, but two of the lionesses were frantically making the silent hunting sign for "retreat at once."

"Mabota, is he still here??"

She shrieked, "Makini! Look out! Run!!"

Before he could turn, a rogue suddenly lunged from behind some shrubs and burst upon him. The male took a viscious swipe at him and Makini was knocked hard by a terrible blow to the face.

Makini was rolled on his back. He struggled to regain his footing. Shaken by the blow, his eyes would not focus well and all he could see was an oncoming tawny blur.

He braced himself for the impact. It was not an effective defence, and it seemed the interloper was all over him, battering him repeatedly with claws-out paws, seeking his throat.

"No!" Makini gasped, struggling desperately to throw the lion from his back. "Don't hurt them! This land is mine! This land is...."

The interloper's jaw slid under Makini's, and before he had time to cry out, a long ivory dagger bore down on the top of his skull and pierced deeply into the life below.

Makini gasped one last breath and his eyes dilated large and stared blankly ahead. He fell over, his limbs straightened and his paws began to twitch spasmodically. The crimson cascade from his crushed skull smeared blood on his mane and pooled on the ground. The rogue leaned down and nipped Makini on the throat--not a killing bite but a symbol of his victory. Almost as fast as it begun, it was over.

CHAPTER 3: THE AWFUL DISCOVERY

Mabota screamed and ran blindly toward the stricken lion. With the strength that came from shock and grief, she shoved the strange male aside and fell on Makini's body, shrieking, drawing a breath, and shrieking again, rubbing her paws across his bloody cheek and mane. Sobs racked her as she felt the body tremor under her, then fall terribly still. "Makini! My darling! You can't be dead! You just can't!"

Blood smeared on Mabota's face and paws as she kissed and nuzzled Makini and anointed him with her tears. Indeed he was dead. She felt guilty for wishing he would come back and fight for them. She had dared to think her older brother could take on the young rogue. Now he was gone forever and all hope had vanished.

"Get off him!" the rogue commanded. "That's disgusting!"

"Leave her alone!" Mgoma cried. Her teeth were bared with anger and indignation. He snarled back but he did not disturb Mabota.

"Is she his mate?"

"His sister," Mgoma spat. Mgoma was in shock--she knew her father was dead, but she did not have time to grieve--not just yet.

Azima wandered back innocently. "Where did you go? I thought you'd be a minute, you little...."

The sight of Makini lying in a smear of his own blood stopped her speechless like a zebra kick. She was about to shriek when suddenly Mgoma ran up and said, "Sister, I told you there would be no prey in the western plains. A lot happened while you were gone."

Azima looked at the new male with his crimson badge of death. She looked back at Makini. His blood reeked on the light breeze. With a slow, stiff-legged gait she made a final painful pilgrimage toward Makini, tracing the shape of his beloved form with her eyes. His chest did not rise or fall. She knew death had stolen the lion who had just made love to her. Never again would he share his pleasures with her. Never again would he nuzzle her or comfort her with his paw in the night. Never again would his warm voice call to her. She was in shock, unable to take in the full horror of the moment in one gulp. "Makini," she said slowly and terribly, "you're gone!" She turned her glance to the other lion who stared back at her. "It was you, wasn't it? You did it."

"You were off hunting when it happened," Mgoma said with forced calmness. "It was quick, sister. Very quick."

"He hardly knew what hit him," the stranger said, drawing near to Azima. "I'm Machuti. You really shouldn't look at things like this, it's such an ugly sight for such a beautiful lioness." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And you--my dear--seem to be in season. I wondered if there would be someone to lick my wounds and make me feel all better. But I didn't quite expect this!" He frowned. "That is, of course, unless you and he were...."

Azima looked at her daughter and at the other pride sisters. Some of them had young cubs, and their faces were full of fear and uncertainty. With some small remaining strength, she spoke in a trembling voice. "No. He courted me once, but I refused him."

Mgoma said quickly, "Makini's mate died recently."

"It is true," Azima stammered. "It was her heart." She took a few steps forward, stumbling. "Gods give me strength."

"Then I did the old boy a favor by sending him after her. And I will do you a favor too. You will be my queen. What is your name?"

"Azima," she stammered. "My name…is Azima."

Mgoma's jaw trembled and tears began to spill down her cheeks and Mabota came to her and nuzzled her desperately. One by one the other lionesses looked down.

Machuti came to Azima with Makini's blood still on his lips and rubbed against her full length. She stood rigid, in shock, staring at the body of her mate in the dust. She wanted to say a thousand words of grief for him, or maybe one long, loud wordless shriek. It did not matter now--she must say nothing.

CHAPTER 4: CONFESSIONS

The next few days passed like months. Each of the pride sisters spent time comforting Mgoma in her loss and assuring her that Azima was a survivor and would somehow come through her trials.

During this time the pride sisters hunted very little, afraid for the young cubs that huddled close beside them. Machuti had killed once--he might try to kill again.

After three days, Machuti came back with a look of tired satisfaction on his face, followed by a dejected Azima. He ate most of a kill that was supposed to keep the whole pride for two days, then fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly.

The cubs sat glumly and watched him, cautioned against making a sound that might wake, "Uncle Machuti." The older cubs understood the danger--for them there were no polite lies. They knew Makini was not off on a visit--they saw the body before the pride sisters had born it lovingly to the place of jackals. They knew they might probe the great mystery of death themselves if they did not treat the new king with respect.

Azima sat on a kopje and stared into the sky. Her demeanor changed briefly when for a few moments at a time Machuti would wake, nuzzling her and kissing her cheek. The moment he looked away, the desolate look returned to her eyes. She was the walking dead, and most of the lionesses could barely look her in the face longer than it took to greet her.

***

Fully two weeks had passed before Mgoma took her mother aside to ask, "What happened in those three days?"

"I can't talk about it with you."

Mgoma nuzzled her softly. "Please--if you can't tell me, whom can you tell?"

Azima looked about and in a tired voice said, "Mgoma, I have the light in my eyes."

Mgoma looked at her mother. The look in Azima's eyes was dull and glassy, but the meaning of the phrase was clear to her. "Who is the father? Dad?"

"I don't know."

"You mean That Lion had his way with you after all?"

Azima's chin trembled. "Again and again and again." Tears began to stream down her face. "I couldn't let him hurt the cubs. I had to please him no matter what it took."

"Oh Momma!"

Azima turned away, unable to look her daughter in the eyes. "Three days he did not sleep more than a few moments at a time and he ate nothing. All he wanted was me, and all I wanted was to die. I went to the watering hole and washed myself again and again to take his scent from me, but I could still smell him! Even now I still reek of him!" She looked around. "Oh Gods, will I never be rid of his odor??"

"I'll kill him!" Mgoma shouted. "I'll rip him open like a gazelle!"

"You mustn't put yourself in danger," Azima said, nuzzling her softly and slowly. "It's your love that keeps me going. As long as the cubs are alive and you are safe, my life serves a purpose. Besides, Makini..." Her chin quivered and her eyes flooded with tears. Azima looked down, stricken with a sudden wave of grief that stole her strength and her resolve.

"What about Dad?"

"The love I bore him lives on in you. If you die, he'll be gone without a trace. You must never die, Mgoma--promise me you will never die!"

Mgoma sniffed back tears. "If it would make you happy, I'd live forever." She huddled against her mother, her body racked by sobs. "Tell him that I will be his queen! I won't let That Lion force you again, Momma! Oh gods, I'd rather have him on me first!"

Azima's eyes turned red and a growl of rage started deep inside. "If he ever touches you, I'll kill him! Even if I can't, I'll shred him in the tail! You're all that's left of Makini's holy and pure love for me--you're everything that Machuti is not! He'll never touch you! I'd kill him first!!"

"It's all right, Momma. I only said it because I love you so." Mgoma groomed her mother and kissed away her tears. "What are we going to do if they're Makini's? That Lion will know they aren't his."

"I've thought about that. I may be able to fool him. We'll have to be careful--very careful. My dear, you cannot wear that expression of hate on your face when Machuti walks by. You must stop calling him 'That Lion.' You must treat him with respect for my sake and my unborn cubs so that he won't be suspicious. Do this because you love me, and because I'm carrying your brothers and sisters. After all, your father and I made love several times." She half closed her eyes. "His last moments with me were an act of love. I will remember how safe and loved I felt with his strong body wrapped around me. He was my mate, my lover, my very best friend. I thought we would grow old together." Azima nuzzled her daughter and said, "Goma, Honey Tree, I feel so empty. Help me, please!"

Azima collapsed in the grass, and Mgoma laid with her head propped on her mother's belly like a small cub to cry herself to sleep.

CHAPTER 5: THE HUNTED

Mgoma already detested Machuti as her father's murderer. The thought of "that lion" violating her mother fanned the hatred into a burning rage that ate at her insides. She could barely restrain her feelings long enough to stand near him.

Oddly enough, Machuti was fond of Mgoma. He would go out of his way to be near her, which made all the pride sisters wince as they saw a confrontation coming. None of the lionesses were fond of Machuti but they began trying to shield Mgoma by distracting him with small talk or even a flirtatious glance.

Machuti smiled back at these attempts and even returned a couple of timid nuzzles. Still it was clear he felt differently about Mgoma than he did the others.

Mgoma was taking her usual mid-day sunbath, feeling drowsy as the warmth beat down on her exposed belly. She indulged in her usual custom of scanning the skies above her for clouds and wondering what their shapes were most like. One looked like a wildebeest, while another bore a passing resemblence to Pride Kopje.

Suddenly, Machuti's face loomed over her. "Mind if I lay next to you?"

She could not say no. Moments later he had settled next to her in the grass, draping his paw across her chest and grunting. His paw slowly traced a circle over her heart, then slipped down a bit past her ribs and on to her belly to brush across her teats.

"I have to go pee," she said indelicately, getting up, stretching, then looking back for one moment. She could see he was aroused. The lion that killed her father and raped her mother had just groped her. Disgusted and frightened, she hurried away.

***

Mgoma was desperate for guidance. That night on the hunt she came trembling to Azima and whispered, "Momma, help me!"

"Darling, you have been been so patient for me. For all the sisters."

"He stalks me like prey," Mgoma said, her voice slowly rising. "He will spring soon!"

"Keep it low," Azima cautioned her. "It would not do for us to be overheard." Azima nuzzled her softly. "I don't think you're in danger. He seems to like you."

"Momma, momma, that IS the danger! My period is coming on, and I feel like it's getting worse. I know my period makes me anxious, but I'm sure it's not all in my mind! He seems to violate me with his eyes and his voice. Oh gods, I feel so dirty! And I have done nothing to encourage him! You KNOW how I feel about him!"

"That is just Machuti. He is a flirt, but he means nothing by it." She added with bitter sarcasm, "I wonder what I'd do with all my time if he left me and never came back?"

"Do you think there's a chance he ever would?"

"When the moon falls in the river." Azima sighed. "Wouldn't it be justice if someone came in and killed him the way he killed your father! A good lion, one sent by an angry god to pay the blood debt to the last red drop!" She sighed again. "Machuti is young. I will probably not live to see it, but you will. On that day you must be happy for both of us."

Mgoma felt a wistful tear come close to the surface, but she fought it. It would not be good for mother to see her cry when she should be strong. Of course she was emotional anyhow, for her time had come to mate and her emotions were hunting her resolve. "Maybe you will live to see it after all," Mgoma said. "Maybe there's an angry god that just needs a little help from us."

"Don't do something foolish that may get you killed."

"Nothing foolish," Mgoma said. "I promise I will be cool and calm about this. But you know where my heart lies."

CHAPTER 6: LAYING PLANS

Mgoma woke early one morning with a strange restlessness and a slight tingling sensation in her hips. She had felt that way once before, and it ended up in a passionate encounter. Her fragrance was familiar, but admixed with the scent of a lioness was a special message.

Under the circumstances, it was an inconvenience. She padded quietly down to the watering hole for a drink and managed to pass Machuti heading back to Pride Kopje. He passed her by a couple of lengths with a slight nod, then stopped. Mgoma heard his footfalls stop and for a few moments she walked very slowly, then turned.

Machuti's eyes were squeezed shut. Lips parted, he drew in some air, then let it out in a quiet, contented sigh. Mgoma looked about quickly and continued on her way, her tail clamped firmly down.

A few minutes later, Azima joined her. Mgoma's mother lapped the water with her honest pink tongue, then looked about at she smiled. "Restless, Honey Tree?"

"Yes, Momma."

"You have any plans?"

"Yes, Momma."

"Yes Momma?" Azima smiled broadly. For a moment it was the old lioness that had loved to tease the ones she loved. "Can't you do better than that?"

"Ok, it's Mbogo," Mgoma answered shyly. "He's handsome."

"Very."

"And he's gentle. Maybe he's not just like father. In fact, he's a little lacking between the ears."

"I wouldn't say that. He's really very sweet, and if he really worked hard he could amount to something."

"How would you know that?"

Azima nuzzled her daughter. "Don't be cross. My little girl was going on her first date. I wanted to make sure he would please you and treat you with respect."

"Mother!"

"Wait till you have cubs of your own. Speaking of which, are you going to give me a grandchild?"

"Maybe. And maybe I'll be giving you a king as well. Let's see if he'll really work hard."

***

Mgoma found Mbogo where she expected him to be. She had advertised her condition on some bushes just past the edge of her territory.

Mgoma knew not to bargain until she had secured his interest. Mbogo came to her and rubbed her full length, then breathlessly said, "Crouch for me, Goma!" But she did not meekly submit to his entreaties. She flirted with him, wrestled with him and ran from him just far enough ahead to get his blood warm. She led him on with skillful foreplay and affection, arousing him to a fever pitch.

Finally when Mbogo was drunk with desire and ready to promise her anything, she knelt in the grass. Using all she had learned from the pride sisters, she pleased him so greatly that when he shuddered above her lithe body he cried out with abandon, not caring who heard it. He fell panting in the grass and smiled as she lay beside him and stroked his chest mane with a paw.

"Mbogo, you were wonderful! I didn't know it could be so special--so exciting! Don't you wish this could last forever?"

"Yes, Goma!" He wrapped a paw around her shoulder and gave her a pat. "Forever and then some."

"It COULD last forever. One challenge and you could be my king, and you would own all of this and never be a rogue again. You could be home, my darling! Home!"

He sighed and stroked her with his paw. "That sounds wonderful Goma, but I've seen that lion of yours. He's nothing to fool with."

"Alone that may be so."

"I have no brother. No friend to help me. It would be me against him."

"I hate Machuti. We all do. It would be a rout--I can guarantee you we would all turn on him and back you up. Every last one of us."

"Then why haven't they done it before?"

"Because they were afraid they'd do no better with the next male. We need a king--we need YOU."

"What would your mother think?"

"That lion killed my father and Mother hates him as badly as I do! Help us and we will give you anything! Home, comfort, food, and every night I will stroke your chest just the way you like it and every moon I will rub you further back." She fondled him, making him coo and giggle. "I'm good at what I do."

"You are indeed," Mbogo sighed sleepily. "That sounds wonderful. A kingdom of my own, with Goma by my side. Our cubs playing around us." He looked straight into her eyes. "I only wish I could."

"Sure you can!"

"No I can't! I'd get myself killed, and frankly I'm used to living. It's a hard habit to break."

Mgoma snarled. "I can't believe you're such a coward! You unworthy beast, you cub with a lion's mane! Where is your courage??"

"Hiding behind my common sense," Mbogo said softly, his shame clearly visible in his face. He peeked at her with half-lidded eyes. "Do you hate me?"

Mgoma looked at him harsly, then softened. After all, she had been given opportunities to kill Machuti and had not done so. "I should hate you, but I just can't. I love you, too much to hate you and I need you too much to quarrel." She gazed into his soft hazel eyes. "How do you feel about me?"

"You're very beautiful, and very attractive."

"But I meant how do you feel about ME?"

"You're also very nice to be with."

"And?"

"And what?" He looked at her sleepily. Mating had made him feel drowsy and he wanted to nap. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No. But what if I told you that I think about you all the time, even when I'm not in season? What if I say that I love you? How does that make you feel?"

He touched her with his pink tongue. "I think that's really sweet. Now rest like a good girl." His eyes closed at last.

Mgoma sighed. "Sleep well." Somehow she knew he would.

CHAPTER 7: THE BIRTH

Twice Azima had known fear at the birth of her cubs. The first time it was a fear of the unknown, but Mgoma's entry into the world proved to be a beautiful thing. This time Azima was afraid of whom the cubs would resemble. "That Lion" had taken her husband, and he might well take her cubs. That was one crime she would not permit him, even if it cost her own life.

Silently while the rest of the pride still slept, Azima paced agitatedly while the new life within her struggled to be free. She looked into the night sky and watched the silent stars. "Aiheu help me," she murmured as loudly as she dared. "I'm so alone. I could use a friend right now. Mano, Minshasa, look down on a mother's pain. Alba, show me the blood of mercy. I'm frightened--so frightened!"

Machuti lay unmoving, the light breeze stirring his mane as he snored softly. In her desperation, Azima considered a spring, closing on his throat as he slept and butchering him like an antelope. But she was not like him--she could not bring herself to hurt him. In the pale moonlight he looked like Makini as he slept. Tears began to spill down her cheeks. She looked back into the night sky. "I love you, darling! He may touch my body, but my heart is yours alone. Give me strength, darling! Shine down on me!"

Perhaps it was just the emotions of the moment. Perhaps it was her impending birth. She felt a little better, a little braver. She was still afraid but she could face the fear.

A sudden pain in her abdomen got her attention to the matter at hand. Her time was near and she went to her daughter who slept peacefully, her own body now bearing the first fruit of love. As gently as her urgent mission would allow, Azima shook her and beckoned with a paw for her to follow silently.

With a tight-lipped expression of pain, Azima led Mgoma to the creek, then walked into the chilly water, struggling not to slip on the slick stones. Grunting with discomfort, she led her daughter upstream, hoping to leave no scent trail to her birthing place. The extreme measures she took to hide her den were necessary with the uncertainty surrounding the birth.

There was a cave in two-headed Kopje, and when she left the water, Azima headed there in a stiff-legged trot, breathing heavily. "We don't have long now."

"Everyone knows about the cave," Mgoma said.

"Not Machuti. And I told the sisters not to tell him."

The cave was a preferred birthing place among the pride sisters. Azima herself had first seen the light of day within its walls, and she returned there to give birth to Mgoma. Now she came once again to bring new life into the world, only what joy she felt was burdened with grief and fear.

Azima did not lie down, but paced about frantically as if looking for something. Mgoma watched her with fear. "Momma, is everything all right?"

"Yes, darling. Everything is fine."

"Are you sure?"

Azima looked at her, genuine compassion and understanding in her eyes. "Everything that I have control over is fine. Pray about the cubs. Pray hard, my darling."

Suddenly Azima let a muted grunt as if she were struck. She stepped forward a couple of paces and collapsed to the ground. Moments later, her water broke, and the smell of blood and humors filled the cave.

Mgoma, who had never seen a birth before, nearly panicked. "Oh Momma!"

"Mgoma, my darling, have I told you that I love you lately?"

"All the time, Momma! All the time!"

"Well I do." The strain on Azima's face was clearly evident. "Honey tree, I do love you. I love you more than life and light and joy itself. If something ever happens to me, I will be with you always, by night and by day. You'll never be alone, my child, my blessed little Mgoma!"

"Nothing must happen, Momma! Promise me! You have to be there for me when I give birth! Promise me!"

"I promise. Anything for my little Nisei."

"I'm scared," Mgoma said. "It won't be long till it's my turn. I don't know if I can do this!"

"They are going to come out when it's time," Azima said. "Nothing will stop that. But it really helps when someone you love is there to stand watch. Mgoma, I am so proud of you. Your father's goodness is so strong in you."

"And your goodness," Mgoma said, nuzzling her mother and kissing her. Then she glanced back at the struggle taking place in Azima's belly. "How are they coming?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not---oh Gods, I'm sure!"

The first cub began its tentative journey into the world of light. Mgoma grasped the remnants of the birth sac and pulled it from the cub's head. A small, perfectly formed male was revealed. He looked like a small Machuti without a mane, but he did not move.

The second cub was a female. She was clearly her father's child--Makini's beautiful face but with a combination of feminine grace and childlike innocence. As Mgoma cleaned her off, the cub moved and grunted. Clearly she was a fighter. She would live.

The male did not respond when nudged. Azima licked him urgently and nudged him with her nose and paws. He was dead.

"Mgoma, you must take him far away and place him where the scavengers won't come back to me. But first I name him. What do you think is a good name?"

"Why name a dead cub? Why name HIS dead cub? Gods, That Lion killed your mate--he killed my father!"

Azima looked with patient love at her daughter and said, "My son--your brother--did not kill Makini, Machuti did. Look at the poor unfortunate cub who has never seen his first sunrise. When his soul stands before Mano and Minshasa, they will ask him his name. What shall he answer?"

Mgoma thought for a moment. "The dearest male name I know. Call him Makini like my father."

Azima nodded gravely. "My son, your name is Makini. Mgoma, Take little Makini to begin his last journey. Then come back to your new sister Tani."

"Tani," Mgoma said. "That's a good name. She will need courage." She took the tiny, still body of the male outside.

Little Tani, no one promised that the path of life was fair,

Some are loaded down with riches, others burdened down with care;

To find meaning in existance you must hunt a wary prey,

For the meaning of your life is love, so seek it while you may.

What is love? Where is love? What will make your world all right?

Who will kiss you in the morning? Who will hold you in the night?

As your teardrops softly falling wet the grass like evening rain,

Who will have the love to comfort you and take away your pain?

Little Tani, let me love you, let me take your cares away,

Let me guide you with a tender love that helps to light the way

Let me gaze into your hazel eyes and see how bright they shine,

Let me dare to ask you for your heart, and dare to offer mine.

This is love. Here is love. This will make your world all right.

I will kiss you in the morning, I will hold you in the night.

I will kiss away your teardrops when your heart is full of pain

I will love you till the tears of joy come down like evening rain

CHAPTER 8: THE EPIPHANY

Machuti paced from side to side across Pride Kopje. "When WILL she be ready to see me??" he boomed at Mgoma. "I've been waiting three whole moons!"

"In a little while. Please be patient."

"Three times have I been patient a little while. Just how clean can she make those cubs? Just how much milk can she feed them? They must be the cleanest, most well-fed cubs in the world!"

"But Machuti, please! She is very busy right now."

"Then I will watch quietly. Whatever she can do alone, she can do before her lover."

At the word "lover," Mgoma tensed up inside. She hated to think of him on top of her mother, enjoying the pleasures he stole from Makini along with his life. She led him to the cave rather than telling him where it was. She wanted to make sure she arrived first.

As Mgoma drew close to the cave, she used as cheerful a voice as she could muster to speak words of greeting and warning. "Azima, he's here to see the new princess."

The lion pushed past Mgoma and went into the cave. He nuzzled Azima, then sniffed and looked at the child.

"She doesn't look a thing like me," he said with a frown. "Still, she is familiar."

"She just favors my side of the family," Azima said.

"Yes--and no. Still, she does not have my eyes, or my nose. It's almost as if...."

Mgoma said quickly, "At that age there is no telling from appearances. Haven't you seen enough newborn cubs to know that?"

Machuti looked down, somewhat embarrassed. "No. I arrived a virgin and this is the first newborn I've seen."

Azima forced a laugh. "I couldn't tell by the way you acted on our wedding night!"

Machuti chuckled and looked at Mgoma. "Isn't she a treasure??"

Mgoma was repulsed, but managed to keep in her temper. She knew what her mother was planning, and she played along with her. "Too bad your son did not live. He looked just like you."

"Oh? Was he handsome?"

"Yes. Very."

Azima looked gratefully at Mgoma and nodded. For the moment, disaster had been forestalled.

***

Over Tani's first month of life, Machuti treated the new cub like a special little princess. The one thing Machuti did that made him look less than a monster was the way he would play with the cub he felt was his daughter. When she would toddle toward him and call him "Daddy" he would laugh, then twitch his tail tuft before her to entice her to play. So all the careful deceptions that Mgoma and Azima wrought had paid off, and the precious remnants of Makini's love for Azima were guarded, fondled and kissed.

By the time Tani had reached the age of one moon, Machuti had completely reversed his original opinion. He was always bragging that Tani was so much like him. And because of the careful coaching of Azima and Mgoma, the pride sisters all knew to agree with him. There was one feature of Tani that they would never mention: Tani's wonderfully expressive, deep hazel eyes. They were her true father's most obvious contribution.

One day Mgoma was playing with Tani. She not only loved her small sister, but she hoped to practice for next moon when she would have cubs of her own. She crouched on the ground, putting her paws over her eyes. "Where's Tani?? Whe-r-r-r-es Tani??" Then she pulled her paws away. "There's Tani!!"

The cub giggled. "Goma!! Goma!!"

Mgoma bathed Tani with warm kisses and the cub squealed with satisfaction. "That's my baby sister! Yes you are! Peeking at me with daddy's big brown eyes! You're such a sweetie!"

Azima glanced over at her in horror. Mgoma thought about what she had just said and looked about quickly. Not too very far away was the large bulk of Machuti lying belly-up to absorb the warmth of the sun.

Azima's brief flirtation with happiness was over. Added on top of her secret grief was a secret fear. She began to groom Tani frantically, wondering what would come of this.

That evening when Machuti finally stirred and rose to his feet, he passed Tani who greeted him affectionately. He half smiled and said, "You know, her eyes look just like her father's, don't they?"

"Yes," Azima said without thinking.

Machuti looked at her with a forced smile. "Peek-a-boo."

CHAPTER 9: THE AFTERMATH

Mgoma was horrified at her mistake. Unsure what Machuti had heard, or what he had NOT heard, she thought about her foolish statement and regretted it a thousand times over.

Azima comforted her daughter. "Sooner or later someone would have said something. I know you tried your best." She sighed. "I just wish Tani had been old enough to hunt--or fight."

I'M old enough," Mgoma said. "I can take her far away and care for her. Just say the word."

"My love, you are dry and Tani has not been weaned. How will you feed her?"

"The light is in my eyes. Soon I will have milk for her."

"And where does that leave me?" Azima asked. "Until we know she's in real danger, you would be going out in the big world by yourself, a rogue saddled with a young cub. And I would be left alone with Machuti and nothing to live for."

"I'm sorry! Momma, I'll never leave you! Come with us and we will all be together."

"A rogue at my age?" Azima sighed deeply. "Darling, I know you want what's best for all of us. And you're the dearest and kindest of daughters, offering to take Tani as your own. Let's wait and see how swift the waters run before we swim."

"But we can't watch Tani every moment," Mgoma said. "Every second she's alone could be her last."

"We have help," Azima said. "We have many eyes, enough to see everything, every moment."

***

As the evening sky grew soft and purple, Azima went to the base of Pride Kopje and cried, "Baraza!" (meeting) and when the pride sisters gathered to plan the night's hunt, Azima spoke loudly. "There are wildebeests in the wadi area and a few zebras along the sandy lugga. The only decision to make here is which target to go for."

While she was speaking, Mgoma went from lioness to lioness and whispered "Watch Tani. Watch Machuti. If you don't, he may kill her."

There were some shocked looks, worried glances, and in all the faces a love determined to help in any way possible.

After the hunt, every move Machuti made was scrutinized for some sign of his intentions, especially when he was around Tani. Skills that were learned in cubhood play and honed to a fine edge on the hunt were used to watch the lion without making it too obvious.

Machuti may have known he was being stalked--they couldn't very well ask him. He was maddeningly unclear in his behavior, briefly nuzzling Azima when he passed her, but not glancing down at Tani except when she got underfoot.

Tani had grown used to affection from her "father" and did not understand his lack of attention. She ran directly under his paws as he walked, once causing him to stumble. He looked at her and growled something that sounded like "damn nuisance," though no one was quite sure.

Azima was kept informed as often as possible. She tried to bear the strain as best she could, knowing that if worse came to worst Mgoma's offer still stood. It was her one tangible link to sanity that kept her from slipping into complete dispair.

The draining worry made Azima feel tired and she tried to nap while her tiny daughter slept on her stomach. All she could achieve was a fitful rest that was not quite wakefulness or true sleep.

A sound in the grass roused her, but she only opened her eyes a small slit. Through her lashes she saw Machuti staring down at her and Tani, as if he were trying to read the tracks of her dreams.

Machuti nuzzled the cub softly. Tani awoke, stretched, yawned and began to follow him away.

In a panic, Azima's eyes flew open. Her heart began to thump against her ribs. "Machuti, honey tree," she asked with forced calmness, "Where are you taking our daughter?"

"Just for a little walk. I felt alone."

"I'd like to come too. You know how I am."

"Yes, I certainly do."

What did he mean by that? What did he suspect--or know? For a few minutes of icy fear, Machuti led them on a pointless walk about Pride Kopje. There was nothing Azima could ask without implicating herself, and yet she wanted to know so much. There was nothing she could say, though her heart was so full. The tiny cub trotted innocently along at the heels of one she had not learned to hate. "Daddy!" she cried, and the lion would look down at her.

"Isn't it time to mark the territory?" Azima said at last.

"Soon. Not quite yet."

"I don't understand."

Machuti looked around. There was an odd glint in his eyes but he did not frown. "I'm not like other lions you've known. When I drink, it takes me time to work up a good strong pee. But trust me, my dear, soon I'll be ready to draw the line between what is mine and what is not."

Azima felt her heart miss a beat. "Walking about helps?"

"Yes. Both the activity and the chance to gather my thoughts." Just then Tani sprang up and grabbed Machuti's tail tuft, pulling back playfully. He looked around and said with a grin, "Look at that! The little thing thinks she can stop me!"

"She's an innocent little creature that loves you," Azima said, the strain beginning to show in her voice. "Maybe she gets underfoot sometimes, but her heart is pure and she means nothing by it."

"Of course she doesn't," Machuti said with his eyes half closed, turning about and patting the cub's head with his oversized paw. "When do they lose that innocence? When do they learn to get what they want by any means?"

"They grow in WISDOM," Azima insisted. "Some of us have done no wrong. Some of us just want what Aiheu meant for us. A little security, a little understanding, a little luck on the hunt. You don't think I've lost my innocence do you?"

"What an odd thing to say, my dear. I thought…." He grinned dopily. "What do you know! I feel the urge! Pardon me, but I have a date with some bushes."

Machuti turned without a good bye to mark the territory he had wrested from Makini.

Azima laid in the grass shivering with fear, grooming her tiny daughter. For several moments she was afraid to even speak above a whisper, and she stared at Tani, sniffed of her, felt her as if to commit to memory every little detail of her short life. "Tani, my little nisei! I love you, sweetheart! I'd do anything for you, my child. If you asked for the sun, I would jump for it. But never leave me, girl! Never leave me!"

Finally Mgoma joined them. She saw the anguish in her mother's face and said, "Momma, what are we going to do?"

Azima sighed deeply. "I'm sure Machuti knows who her father is. We have to hide her till we can be sure what he means to do."

"I'll help any way that I can," Mgoma said.

"I know that, my darling. That is why you alone will come with us."

Mgoma forgot about her own troubles and silently followed her mother, keeping her energetic little sister from gamboling away after butterflies and frogs. Tani had to be silent--this point her mother made VERY clear.

Far from the pride was a small acacia tree. In its shade Azima laid down to give Tani a quick meal. "Honey tree, you have to stay here," Azima said, stroking the small body. Tani responded by kneading her abdomen to make the milk flow freely.

Mgoma kissed her mother and Tani, then headed on back. "Shouldn't one of us stay with Tani at a time?"

"No, honey tree. Tani knows to stay put. She'll be a good little girl and not wander away. If we're never seen together, Machuti will be suspicious. He must believe Tani is lost, and I will decide when it is safe to 'find' her. I must know his intentions."

Mgoma started back first, leaving Tani in her mother's care.

CHAPTER 10: HEART TO HEART

Mgoma was thinking about what to tell Machuti when suddenly she saw him sitting sphinx-like in the grass. She knew he was far enough away not to see where Tani had gone, but still....

"Sire, what are you doing out here?"

"I could have asked you the same thing, if I didn't already know the answer."

"And what answer is that, sir?"

"I'll say this much. You will make a fine huntress with so much self-control. The cub, of course. One thing is sure to me--I looked into Makini's eyes for one moment before I took the kingship from him. I saw the large hazel eyes look at me for a moment...the eyes you have yourself, my dear. The eyes that your sister Tani has. Big, beautiful eyes." He twitched his tail quickly. "As your king, I need to know the truth. You seemed to be the honest sort, so did your mother, but you are keeping secrets from me."

"So Azima is my mother," Mgoma said guardedly. "Are you angry with me?"

He replied, "Angry? With you?" He chuckled softly. "Angry with my pretty little step-daughter?"

She smiled warily. "Does that mean 'no'?"

"Perhaps it does--if you want to put it mildly. I don't keep secrets, Mgoma. I say exactly what I mean, and I'm about to do it right now." He motioned her closer, then when she drew near he reached up and gave her a long, lingering touch of the tongue up her cheek. "Perhaps it means that the wind has changed and I am looking away from the mistakes of the past and toward a wonderful future."

"That's a good philosophy," Mgoma said nervously. "Well, I'm off to take my nap. Maybe you ought to get a little rest yourself in this heat…."

"I'm not through," Machuti said calmly but firmly. "That brings us back to us and how I feel about you." He rose from the grass, then walked about her appraisingly with a look that made Mgoma feel ashamed and dirty. "Azima could never be truly mine, and it's time I accepted that. I want you to be my new queen."

"You already have a mate," she said, backing away.

"A mate gained from deception. Such a union is tainted and cannot last. But you are fresh and beautiful and ready to bear strong cubs. Your beauty cries out to be appreciated. Azima has betrayed me and she is not worthy to be my queen."

"Mother did not betray you."

His eyes narrowed. For a moment he lost his calm bearing. "Then why did she lie to me? And why has she stolen Tani?"

"Because she was afraid."

"Afraid? Afraid of me?" For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes, then he took a deep breath, let it out, and smiled, stepping closer to her. "Afraid of Machuti? I am a very large and powerful creature, and yet when I settled upon her it was with the gentlest of embraces. And when I fondled her beautiful body, could she stand before the gods and swear she did not enjoy it? I felt her shudder beneath my belly. I could feel the stirrings of her body as I explored her." He slowly ran his paw down Mgoma's thigh, then rubbed it across his face. "She has cooled toward me since, but she wanted me and I satisfied her just fine!"

"I don't want to hear this!" Mgoma said, her tail firmly clamped down.

"You fear me too much. You shouldn't. Once you've felt my pleasures, you will come to me and rub me full length, pleading for more attention." He turned about for a moment and raised his tail in a none-too-subtle gesture. She could see he was clearly aroused. "Let us make our bond official. Crouch for me!"

"I can't. I'm not in my season!"

"That is not the point."

"It IS the point! My body is not ready!"

She began to walk away, afraid to break into a run. He walked behind her, resting his chin on her shapely rump. "Ready or not, I want you. I've always wanted you."

"Don't do this!" she squealed. "I'm pregnant! Please!"

He took a couple of quick strides, bounding up and wrapping his forepaws around her waist. "Crouch for me!"

"No, please! I can't! Let go of me!"

He pulled her rump to the ground, then with his massive forepaws shoved her shoulders, pressing her to the ground. "I'm a good lover. Relax and enjoy this."

"Oh gods! Machuti! Don't do it! Let me go!"

He gripped her neck brutally from behind. She could feel his efforts to conquer her. "Relax! I said RELAX! Move your tail!"

"Let me go! Aiheu, help me!"

His grip on her neck tightened. He mouthed her, groping her and trying to join. She continued to resist him, clamping her tail down firmly.

"Move your damned tail or I'll kill the cub!"

"No, don't hurt her! Don't hurt Tani! Please!"

"Then move it! NOW! You'll thank me later."

She took in a deep gulp of air, then let it out in a sign of resignation. She had brought down antelopes and buffaloes with her powerful body, but just moving her tail took all her strength.

"There you go," he said with a sigh, rudely entering her. "That's not so bad. Oh yes, not bad at all. Just relax and enjoy it, and know that you are mine."

As she felt her body being violated, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Her claws extended and buried themselves in the earth. "It's not my time! I'm pregnant! Oh gods, let me go!"

"Oh you are so fine," he said passionately. "I knew you would be. I let Azima turn my head but you are the real treasure!"

"What did I do, Aiheu?" she whimpered. "Please don't let him kill Tani! Please!"

"You're quite safe. So is Tani. I want to please you! I want...I want...to make...you happy!" He stroked her face with his pink tongue and mouthed her throat as he explored her privacy. "Oh I want to live in your soft, beautiful body! I want...to...oh! OH!!" He gripped her throat firmly, a high yammering moan erupting from the corners of his mouth as he was caught in the grip of passionate fulfillment. He shuddered briefly, took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly. "My gods that felt good!"

He kissed her cheek, causing her to turn her face in disgust, then he quickly rose from her with a final stinging insult to her body. As he staggered drunkenly a few paces and rolled on his back to enjoy his afterglow, she huddled miserably into a tight ball and trembled.

"Try to tell me that was wrong," Machuti said with a self-satisfied chuckle. "Oh it felt so right. So VERY right. I had some good times with Azima, but girl you are so exciting! It felt like my very first time--only better! Mgoma, you are my queen and you will sit by my side on Two-headed Kopje when I call to the sunset."

Choking sobs flooded her eyes with tears. "I can't be your queen."

"Sure you can," Machuti said quietly as if it were settled. "There now, my dear. You will learn to hunger for my touch. When your time comes, you will come to me and nuzzle my thighs and rub my rump with your paw. You know you want it too, so relax and learn to have fun."

"Fun?" Mgoma said. "Relax? How can I? What's going to happen to Tani? And to Momma?"

"If she behaves herself, not a thing. She can raise your sister and we'll all be one big happy family. I'm not mad at her--not anymore. Besides, it was my fault that I didn't come to you first." He turned and looked at her with a grin. "I'll make it up to you. We'll spend some good times together, my girl. Then one day you will have my cubs. Little Machutis and little Mgomas that we can be proud of."

Mgoma began to sob again quietly, turning to groom herself with desperation to remove every trace of him. She wondered what her mother would think of her when she found out.

CHAPTER 11: HELL TO PAY

Mgoma did not have to wait long. Before Machuti had finished his short nap, Azima poked her head through the tall grass into the clearing. She saw her daughter lying huddled and the tyrant luxuriating on his back. "No!" She scented the air for only a moment, looked in her daughter's distraught face and asked, "Did he??"

She looked away. "Oh momma, he said he'd hurt Tani!"

Rage reddened Azima's eyes and her hackles raised. "You dirty son of a jackal!" she hissed at Machuti through her bared teeth. "You crouched with her!!"

He looked up and yawned. "Oh, it's you. I can forgive your little games, Azima, but you've had your last fling with me, baby. There's a new girl in my life now."

Azima roared, then came bounding over in a couple of powerful leaps and with all the stored up hatred of her bitter heart. She thrashed at him, claws out, stunning him with blow after blow. Caught by surprise, he fell back at first but his mane had well protected him from serious harm.

Machuti gathered his wits, then came with one massive cuff to her face that sent her staggering back. A second blow toppled her with a shriek. "Oh God! Let me go! I have a daughter!"

"I'll kill you, you lying witch!"

Mgoma screamed. "Momma!!!"

"Run, child! Save yourself! Save Tani!"

Mgoma watched with horror. She wanted to help but she couldn't move.

Azima struggled to her feet, but Machuti closed on her again, battering her with white hot rage. She tried to protect her face, but she was clearly no match for him. He found an opening in her defenses and struck her, knocking her to the ground. Then he reached down and clamped his jaws around the top of her head. There could be only one outcome, and suddenly Mgoma saw the death of her father reenacted in all its brutal horror.

"Oh my gods!!" Mgoma shrieked. "You killed her, you bastard!! I hate you!!"

Azima saw Machuti look around, blood dripping from his jaws. As her mother's blood stained body stiffened and began to jerk spasmodically, some small voice in Mgoma's head cried, "Escape now!"

Mgoma could move again. She screamed, "I'll kill you someday! I swear to the gods!", then turned and with choking sobs of grief ran away.

CHAPTER 12: THE TIME OF WANDERING

Mgoma's trail of pain had led her from her mother's body to the empty place where Tani's scent scent still lingered. She had not saved her mother, and in one last defeat she had failed to grant her mother's dying wish. Tani was gone.

Perhaps she had not completely failed her mother. "Save yourself," Azima had cried. It was the only thing Mgoma could do. Despising life but fearing death, she fled the land of her birth with nowhere to go and the rest of her life to get there.

Life as a rogue was even worse than life with Machuti. The grief and fear were just as real, but they were complicated by dangers and isolation. She tried to make contact with some hunting parties, begging the lionesses just to hear out her story. They did not trust her, something that surprised Mgoma who had always been known and loved by everyone she met.

One group of lionesses was touched by her story, but they had a new male themselves. Another was suffering from a plague and urged her to leave for her own good. Still another thought her story was an outright lie. They asked her for the real reason she was exiled. "What was it, dearie? Too tempermental, too lazy, or too untrustworthy?" Mgoma would not even dignify the question with an answer.

The loss of her reputation gnawed at Mgoma bitterly. "All the things I did, all the gifts I gave, all the cubs I've sat and all the nights I sat up with old Namambu when she was dying. Can't you let me find a friend? Aiheu, do you even know I'm out here? This is Mgoma who never forgot her prayers and always gave thanks to you after every meal. Help me please? Please, Aiheu?"

On her lonely pilgrimage she met a few rogue males. Most were not like Machuti, they were frightened cubs in an adult body who held on to a nameless hope, much like Mgoma. She learned how to follow the corridors between the main kingdoms where she could eke out a living, and she learned the pass signs fathers taught their sons when crossing a territory was unavoidable. These chance meetings saved her sanity and probably her life, but none lasted more than a day and she was on her own again.

Mgoma had been stripped of everything except the cubs she carried within, and even that one blessing would prove to be a challenge as she wandered the savanna alone.

By day she watched for pride males and by night she watched for hunting parties. The few moments she stopped were to eat or to peer into the stars and feel hot tears of grief and guilt roll down her cheeks. In those moments of despair she would beg her mother to forgive her for the terror that had sapped her strength and rooted her to the ground. She would relive the death in all its horror, think about her flight, and finally about her failure to grant her mother's dying wish. She would see Tani waiting for a mother and sister that would not return. Mgoma would finally fall exhausted and sob herself into a fitful sleep.

By night she lay huddled by the doubtful shelter of trees or bushes, never daring to stretch out on the open ground. She was frightened of the mysteries of the night, though she was a mature lioness, but she never cared what those sounds meant when she had the secure shelter of her pride, knowing she was safe. Once as a princess she worried about very little, even paying attention to her hunting lessons. What a mistake that proved to be! Now she only ruled over what she could catch, and that was very little. Snakes and lizards were often her only nourishment, and even the muddiest water trampled by beligerant elephants was better than the burning thirst she felt.

Inside her the life that had formed from her first taste of love had begun to fill out her abdomen even as her stomach shrank from hunger. Mgoma was desperate to eat. She would eat the most rank of carcasses scavenged and defended at great cost from the hyenas. Sometimes when the sun was especially hot and her hunger was sharpest she would hear voices from her past speaking to her. At those times she would huddle in whatever shade she could find and beg Aiheu to preserve her sanity. Maybe Aiheu helped her--maybe the shade--maybe both. The voices would recede and once again she would start her journey toward nowhere.

CHAPTER 12: THE FOUR OF US

She did not count the days that had passed, but it was midnight nearly a moon later as she was crouching low in the brown grass watching a wildebeest from so close she could almost touch it. Then the wind shifted and the beast caught her scent. It made a high, quavering call and looked about in a panic.

The lioness never taken a wildebeest before, but she felt up to the task. "RUN!" Mgoma's instincts commanded. "RUN, or it's gone!"

She jumped out from her cover right at the moment when her prey decided to run. The wildebeest took flight, but it did not have much of a lead on its pursuer. Mgoma surged alongside and with all her strength she jumped, her forepaws embracing the wildebeest's neck. All its efforts to gore Mgoma failed and her jaws and sharp claws dug deeply into its back.

Momentarily Mgoma was thrust off in the struggle, but sore as she felt, she scrambled to her feet and made another lunge. This time her jaws closed on the wildebeest's throat and her powerful arms wrapped it in an embrace of death.

Down to the ground went the struggling creature. Her weight bore it into the grass and still her jaws firmly choked off her prey's wind until it finally ceased to struggle. With unseeing eyes that still mirrored the moonlight, it had found the final sleep of the dead.

She had killed her first wildebeest, but she did not have much time to celebrate or even feed her hunger. The tremendous excitement and exertion had started her contractions. She was ready to kindle, and she remembered how her mother had promised to be there for her. Alone and panting in the stillness of the light, she looked at a bright, shining star and heard her mother's voice from the past. "If something ever happens to me, I will be with you always, by night and by day. You'll never be alone, my child, my blessed little Mgoma!"

As she lay panting with her exertions, a lioness appeared out of the brush and stood before her. Mgoma looked at them with tired eyes filled with tears. "Momma? Is that you?"

"Not likely," the stranger said.

"Then I am done for." Mgoma sighed deeply. "Take the fresh prey for yourself, or if you must kill me, make it quick and merciful. I can't run. My cubs are coming and I have no one to help me. "

The lioness looked at her tired, gaunt body, so much like her own. "You have me. I'll help you."

Mgoma looked up, her face still pained but grateful. "Would you do that for me? A stranger?"

"That all depends. You wouldn't be part of the pride here, would you?"

"No. I was about to ask you the same thing," Mgoma said. "Aiheu must have heard me. Are you a rogue too?"

"Yes. My name is Mkiwa. Who are you, Honey Tree?"

"Mgoma. I'm from…" Mgoma yowled with pain.

"You have to bear down, girl. Don't fight it."

Mgoma panted. "My mother is dead. She promised to be here with me when I gave birth. Will you help her keep that promise? Will you help me, Mkiwa?"

"Of course. Bear down, Honey Tree. Go ahead and scream if you want to--I will protect you."

"I'm scared," Mgoma said.

"I told you I would be your friend. Don't be frightened."

"Not of you. I can see the goodness in you." She yowled with pain again. "I'm scared for the cubs. I was so glad when I missed my first period. I wanted to have cubs, but I didn't want to bring them into this. Poor innocent things born without a chance."

"They DO have a chance," Mkiwa said softly. "You're looking at it. They will be safe and they will know love. In return for my help, you must promise not to leave me. I've known such loneliness. I can't stand it anymore."

"I'm lonely too," Mgoma said, tears brimming in her eyes. "All alone in the world."

"You're about to be a lot less alone. Bear down."

"I'm trying. Really I…."

"Stop TRYING. Start DOING."

Suddenly Mgoma's water broke. As her breath came rapidly and unevenly, she brought out a tiny daughter. She paused for a moment, admiring her little child, then another wave of contractions started. With a long, protracted yowl of pain tempered with excitement, she expelled another tiny body. "Oh gods, I think that's it! Help me, Mkiwa! Get the sac off."

Mkiwa pulled the tissues away and began to vigorously clean off the second cub. "Another daughter. It seems like we're an all-girl team here, Mgoma. And isn't she beautiful, just like her mother!"

"You're beautiful too, Mkiwa. More than you know."

***

Mkiwa was a fellow sufferer with her own story of woe. Though Mgoma was far more beautiful, Mkiwa had a pleasant enough face with a warm, sincere smile for the one-time princess. She was still cub-spotted along the legs. Remaining spots in older age were often taken as a sign of romantic prowess, and in hers case it was true. She spoke lovingly of three daughters and two sons she left behind and the two lions that fathered them.

Death had come to her last suitor. An angry elephant at the water hole had stove him through with ivory spears. She did not have long to grieve before some males came to fill his position. The three lions were young and haughty and did not meet with Mkiwa's approval. She left as the once closely-knit sisterhood of the old pride broke up.

Mgoma bared her soul to her new friend, telling her all her woes. Misery felt better in company, and somehow Mgoma's heart felt better to see that her parents' memory would be kept alive in Mkiwa's heart. She asked Mkiwa to help her find news of her sister. To her credit, Mkiwa risked the wrath of Machuti and combed the area where Tani had been left. There was no sign of the cub, and in the grief Mgoma felt--made worse by not knowing the whole truth--Mkiwa gave her comfort.

Mgoma considered for a moment naming one of her daughters Tani in memory of her little sister, but the shame of her failure was too great and she could not speak the word. Therefore she named her daughters Nieti and Mgani after two of her former pride sisters that had been especially good friends.

The cubs were beautiful like their mother and their grandmother. Though their life as rogues was harsh, Mgoma loved them dearly and did not neglect them, finding time to teach them the stories of her people. Mkiwa was as good as her word, protecting them and showering them with affection, something that only strengthened her ties to Mgoma. There was no question that the two lionesses would ever part company. They were of one ka, one family, one destiny. Indeed, all went as well as could be expected in the bush without a male.

================================================================

ACT II: 25 MONTHS LATER

================================================================

CHAPTER 13: A PROMISED GIFT

Mgoma coped as best she could with the uncertainty of life as a rogue. Her life was not all bitterness--Mkiwa was a great storyteller and had a special skill at giving warm nuzzles and playing games just when she was needed the most. Once Mgoma found a watering hole surrounded by thousands of butterflies, many of them irridescent blues and greens. She pounced and watched a moving bed of flowers dance in the air about her. In the bleakness of exile, small pleasures took on a whole new importance and Mgoma took nothing for granted.

Mgoma's daughters were her treasures. Mgani's temperment and finely-chiseled face was just like her mother's. Nieti was a charming blend of her mother's wisdom and temperment and her father's exhuberance. She had some of Mbogo's more flattering features, including his quirky smile that provoked Mgoma to laughter.

Mgoma found joy in an unexpected place, a dark maned male who called himself Ingama. He was weak and battered, but he was also kindly and charming. Ingama had expected a few moments of civil conversation to lighten the loneliness, but his tale of woe marked him as a fellow sufferer. Mgoma took pity on him and undertook the long task of nursing him back to health.

Ingama had started out as a wild-eyed fugitive who trembled at a mild frown. He had appeared little more than an object to be pitied and tolerated. With the care of the solicitous lionesses he began to regain some of his composure and dignity. In one moon of their care, his limbs ceased to tremble, and the caked blood in his mane was worked away, revealing splendid ebony tresses. The sparkle came back to his emerald eyes, and once again he could meet their glances rather than looking down. With these changes he also became more attractive as a male, an issue that became more and more pronounced as time passed.

Ingama was kind to Mgoma's daughters, something that pleased Mgoma highly. Indeed, the lioness went to great lengths to interest him in her twins.

Once as Ingama drowsed between waking and sleeping in the heat, Mgoma came to him privately, lying next to him and saying, "I need a word with you."

"I was waiting to hear you say that," he replied, a smile spreading across his face as his eyes fully opened. "I also need a word with you."

"Me first," Mgoma said quickly. "We have rescued you and for that asked very little. Indeed, you may find the reward I ask of you a sort of gift, one you will be glad to give. My daughters need a consort, a good lion that will please them and father strong cubs."

"You mean Mgani or Nieti and I? Mgoma, I would be honored!"

Mgoma nuzzled him. "I had hoped so. Understand that my daughters mean a great deal to me. Indeed, they are all I have left from my old life. I would do anything to protect them and ensure their happiness. Anything."

"I understand." He nuzzled her back. "Which one did you have in mind for me? Or do I get to choose?"

"About that," she said quietly, "Both my daughters will need a male, and I cannot afford to have one jealous of the other. This is not a large pride, and it would be well for us if we all could raise strong cubs. Perhaps Mkiwa will come to you as well. Surely you are handsome enough."

"You flatter me again."

"No. I observe you again."

"And yet you do not want me? Sweet, beautiful Mgoma whom I love the most?"

"Maybe later."

CHAPTER 14: THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE

Mgani and Nieti had been looking at Ingama for some time with different eyes. Once he had seemed like an uncle--or even a father--but their feelings, along with their bodies, went through a transformation. Ingama had become to them first and foremost a lion, and since their mother told them of her plans they began to watch him with increasing interest. A whole new dimension of beauty and desirability emerged from his finely-chiseled face and ebony mane.

Ingama also noticed the emerging beauty and desirability of the twins. Still it was Mgoma's beauty that showed in them. Ingama's heart belonged to Mgoma from the very beginning.

Where Mgani and Nieti were anxious for Ingama's attentions, Mgoma was only beginning to recover from the crippling emotional backlash of her rape. It took her time to trust a male, though Ingama's gentleness soothed her spirit. Over the past moon he had pursued her, at first timidly, then passionately. He had a hard job in winning her, but the greater the challenge, the greater his zeal. His combination of patience and persistence gradually wore down her defences, and he won the privilege of touching her; nuzzling her and stroking her and even touching her cheek with lion kisses. She had loved the attention, but she had never agreed to be more than just a friend.

Then one day he came to her as her season was upon her. He started to speak to her, then sighed. "Machuti took away your mother and your father. He took away your sister. He still takes from you. From both of us."

"Both of us?"

Ingama nodded. "When you first met me, we both suffered in our own way. Now I am healed of my wounds, but you suffer still. Whose injury was worse?"

"Don't pity me, Ingama."

"I cannot help myself. I see your daughters so full of life and joy. I can't help but think you were once like that. A happy, laughing, carefree cub."

"Cubhood ends," she said shortly.

"Indeed it does. But what comes to replace it? Where is the heritage of your mother? Where are your joys? You need a lion to comfort you in your time of need. You need to be told how beautiful you are. You need to be loved often and well."

He nuzzled her softly but she turned from him. Still, he nuzzled her again, asking, "Were you ever happy making love? Did you love the father of your cubs?"

"Yes. He was a rogue. He was very handsome and he pleased me."

"You can love a stranger. Can you love an old friend? Can't you tell I'm no Machuti? I would never take what is not freely offered. How about you? I freely offer you my love, no conditions attached."

She looked into his emerald eyes and touched his broad nose gently with her tongue. "I believe in your love. But you will have to love enough for both of us. I am not sure of myself."

"I will make you feel joy again. I promise."

"Don't promise what you might not deliver."

"Come, Mgoma. Let us find a place away from prying eyes."

CHAPTER 15: AN ENCOUNTER TO SAVOR

Four days had passed since Mgani had seen her mother. Then as she was drinking at the watering hole she heard a cheerful sound, the sound of a lioness singing. At first she thought it had to be Mkiwa, but she realized that it was her mother.

Soft and sweet are the nighttime voices, clear and bright as the stars above

Speaking low of a bright tomorrow, full of promise and full of love

Hey up, you old sun! Spirit of life! Shine on the triumph! Shine on the strife!

Hey up, you old sun! Spirit of light! Drive out the darkness! Set the world right!

Mgani bounded over to Mgoma and nuzzled her. "Well aren't YOU looking cheerful today! I don't think I've ever heard you sing before."

"I sing when I'm happy," Mgoma said.

"I thought you've been happy lots of times. Don't I make you happy?"

"Of course you do," Mgoma said. "I just haven't felt this good since…." She paused: she had never told her daughters about the rape or how her mother died. "….since your father left. I thought I'd never feel that way again, but now I'm deeply and hopelessly in love!"

"With Ingama?"

"With the world! With life! And yes, with Ingama!"

Mgoma crouched low, then batted at Mgani. Her daughter took up the invitation to play, springing at her mother and trying to wrestle her to the ground. Nieti heard the commotion and came running over, frisking playfully as a cub as the two lionesses giggled and pawed each other in a show of high spirits.

Finally when mother and daughter had fallen on their backs panting in the grass, Nieti drew close to her mother and nuzzled her. "Well, good morning!"

Mgoma reached up and softly pawed her face. "It is a good morning. How are you, sweet thing?"

"Curious. Is all this brought on by Ingama?"

Mgoma sighed. "He's wonderful! And he makes me feel wonderful just being with him!"

"Will I feel wonderful when I'm with him?"

The look on Mgoma's face sobered for a moment. There was a long moment of silence. "Yeah. Sure, Honey Tree. That was the plan, after all."

Mgani came over. "Look, Momma, if you want to be his queen, I'll find me a rogue. I want you to be happy."

"Me too, I guess," Nieti said, but with a little less enthusiasm. "If you really love him, maybe we should just bow out. We knew it was you he loved. It's so obvious you're his sun and moon."

"You're very sweet to say that," Mgoma said, fondling her daughter's finely wrought face. "I can share him with you because I love you too. Besides I will always be his queen. He told me so."

Just then, Ingama strolled leisurely by, looking at the three lionesses with a mischievous wink. "How are my girls this morning?"

Mgani and Nieti giggled shyly and turned to leave the couple alone.

CHAPTER 16: SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE

Mgoma felt that she was Ingama's lover and that he was hers. He had taught her much about life and about herself. It had not prevented her from sharing him with her best friend Mkiwa. She had also decided to share him with her daughters as well. She was not jealous--not TOO jealous--for deep inside she knew his heart was hers alone. After he had been with Mkiwa he returned to her and said, "No matter what happens, you will always be my queen." He stroked her with his paw and smiled so tenderly that she could not be unmoved. Indeed those nights together after he returned were every bit as good as the sex, maybe even better. She would lay next to his dark maned body and he would drape a paw across her and hold her all night long. With his warm presence, she could sleep without nightmares.

Mgani and Nieti had begun to come into season at the same time. It was a difficult time when passions were aroused and a restlessness came over them but they were not yet ready to mate. The "waiting days" were a chance to prepare for what lay ahead. Mgoma chose Nieti who had never gone with a lion before to be with him. She felt she had the right to choose how she would give away her lover, and she remembered how Mgani had sneaked off one night to throw her virginity at the feet of a foolish and clumsy rogue. Mgani would have to wait until her next season to be less unworthy of his attentions.

Nieti ate ravenously. She would be fasting soon enough, living only on love. Though Mgani reassured her, Nieti was a bit nervous at what she would find when she went in to Ingama.

Mgoma was nervous too. Her little cub was a grown lioness now, doing what a lioness does and possibly about to make her a grandmother. She spoke with one of her newer friends, a lioness named Ngmogawa but whom she simply called Gawa. Gawa had never been with Ingama and somehow that made it easier for Mgoma to speak freely about her feelings with her.

Gawa smiled and kissed Mgoma. "Honey Tree, it's so hard to let go. You want to tend to them forever, but there comes a time when you have to let them go as your mother let you go."

Mgoma's chin trembled as a sudden rush of grief caught her off guard.

"Mgoma, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry!"

"My mother never got to let me go." Tears ran down her cheeks. "She promised to be here when my cubs are born. I'm sure she wanted to, but you don't always get what you want in life. At least I will be here for Nieti and Mgani. If I have to fight death one-on-one, their cubs will have a grandmother."

Nieti came by and saw them talking. "Momma, I'm ready."

"Are you sure?"

"I think so. This is my first time."

"Let me check," Mgoma said, circling around behind her.

"Oh Momma! Don't do that!"

"Sweet thing, there's no part of you that I haven't groomed and seen a hundred times. Now move your tail--it's all right."

A moment later, though it seemed like ten to Nieti, her mother circled back around. "It's indeed time. Remember everything I told you. And above all remember one thing."

"What's that?"

Mgoma took her forepaw and touched Nieti, then nuzzled her softly. "Enjoy yourself."

Nieti had an escort as she headed to the stream where the tall shrubs grew and love waited her. At a dozen lengths away, Mgoma suddenly stopped. The others stopped behind her.

"What's wrong?" Nieti asked.

"What comes next is private. You're on your own now."

Nieti kissed her mother, then took her first hesitant steps. She caught the faint musky scent of her lover on the breeze and her heart began to pound. She remembered the foolish little quips she had exchanged with her sister about seeing him aroused in his sleep. It was not a joke now, and she would be showing him her own privacy and wrapping herself in his passion.

She looked around. Her mother and the others had retreated a respectful distance. Gaining some courage, she allowed the strength of her growing longings to be expressed aloud. "Love me, Ingama! Fill me with cubs! I want to feel you shudder!"

She leaped lightly over the hedge, landing a few feet away from Ingama. Nieti gasped--there was a strange lioness huddled beneath him where she should be! He looked around and cried, "Nieti!"

CHAPTER 17: MAKING ADJUSTMENTS

Rage had driven the pride sisters to maul Ingama beyond recognition and to batter his partner in infidelity. As far as they knew, Ingama was dead. The rage was spent and all that was left was the terrible gap he left in the pride.

Mgoma's anger gave way to grief. She was inconsolable on the first day, falling on the place where he had lain beside her the night before, drinking in his fragrance and finding a small strand of his mane left behind on the ground. Then she rose, shook herself off, and told her pride sisters that she needed some time alone. "I will return when I am ready to face things."

One day she was away, and that turned to two, then three. By the fourth day Nieti and Mgani were worried. It was only by the fifth day when Mkiwa began to panic that the awful possibility was first spoken aloud. "Maybe she's not coming back."

On the sixth day, Mgoma returned, looking for all practical purposes as if nothing had happened. But to her daughters and her closest friend Mkiwa a little bit of the innocence in her eyes had vanished. A little bit of the romance had left her heart. A little piece of her had died.

The absence of Ingama led to lean times as their brief flirtation with having a territory of their own was shattered. Soon the loss began to show itself in ways that went beyond grief. Other lions and scavengers felt more bold in poaching their lands. Without Ingama's vigilance, the extra burden of defending the pride lands took away from their hunting time. They were tired and hungry and lacking in hope. All of this misfortune made Mgoma's icy resolve all the more frightening. She would never speak of failure and would not allow the others to do so.

***

Mkiwa lay in the sand. She, Mgoma and all others were hungry, their fur unable to hide the terrible emptiness in their stomachs. The vengeance that had burned so hot once had wrought a terrible price. The weakest and most helpless suffered most. Poor gentle Mkiwa who had helped Mgoma in her despair and protected her cubs herself had a daughter, small and gaunt for her age.

"Mom, I'm so hungry."

"Yes, Honey Tree. I know you are."

Mkiwa knew there was no hope for the tiny cub that nibbling on one of her claws.

Through this, Mgoma was sympathetic to her best friend, but her comfort was limited. Mkiwa saw her daughter dying before her eyes but she could not mention it. She had to suffer alone.

CHAPTER 18: KOPA'S ENCOUNTER

Six moons had passed since Mgoma's group had a pride male. By Mgoma's command the name of Ingama was never mentioned. She had a new "That Lion" to despise, and while she did not hate him as badly as she hated Machuti, she refused to speak of him or the time they spent among the reeds. It was as if Ingama had never existed, a ruse made awkward by the presence of his three month old son Kopa.

Nieti had indulged her frustrated passions by following her sister's example, crouching for the first rogue to come along. Mgoma severely chided her for they were running very low on food and had no need for new additions. Fortunately Nieti did not get the light in her eyes, but it still opened a source of resentment between them that only added to the dismal lack of morale.

The territory that Mgoma had managed to eke out of a corridor or two was nothing spectacular. Indeed, most corridors formed because the land was not worthy hunting ground. For three years she had managed to hold it, and despite losing Ingama, she was not about to give up her independence. Mgoma had little use for males, an attitude reflected in her relationship with her son.

All around her were males. Though the desperate rogues in search of a home frightened her the most, there was a nightly call from a pride male that chilled her blood. Coming strong and deep through the trees that rimmed her land came the traditional shout, "This land is mine, mine! King Simba!"

She wanted to shout back, to declare her independence, but instead she huddled silently, sullenly and allowed herself for a moment to miss Ingama's strong embrace.

***

Nieti and Mgani had killed a pathetic zebra which Mgoma dragged under the shade of an acacia. That would have to supply their needs for a while, but there was no denying some were going to go hungry. Kopa sighed deeply--he smelled the fresh warm tang of blood that made his empty stomach churn. It was a cruel taunt of nature to smell fresh food and know there was not enough for him. His older sisters would eat well, no doubt. Maybe there would be something left to gnaw upon. Maybe….

Patiently he waited until Mgani and Nieti were finished. He had given up a long time ago. He was sick of trying to press his body through the forest of legs, of being kicked or even stepped upon. His back was covered with scratches. One of them on his neck had become infected and he could not reach it for grooming. He clamored for attention from his sisters who by and large ignored him. His mother would occasionally give him a half-hearted bath, but he still felt pain from the wound, and flies bothered him unmercifully.

He went to the carcass after the others had left. He began to prod around the blood-stained skeleton looking for some remnant of food. Everything he liked best was gone. Things he could tolerate were also gone. Sadly enough, even the things he thought he could force down were missing as well. He could not live on hair, hide and bone.

Kopa tasted the blood from one of the bones. Desperately he began to lick the fresh blood from the grass and hide, trying to find relief for his aching stomach. For three days he had been without meat.

He padded over to Mgoma, laid down, and pressed her belly gently to start milk flowing.

Mgoma raised her head. "I don't have any milk anymore," she whispered sadly, eyes half closed.

Kopa began to sob. He raised and walked over to look into his mother's eyes. "I'm so hungry! Please, Momma? Help me please!"

"Kopa, let me rest. I am so tired, my son. We will try again tomorrow."

The cub's green eyes stared at the lioness. She fell silent. Kopa was despaired, and every growl of his rarely more than half filled stomach drove him deeper in sadness.

Completely at a loss he ran toward the border of the territory. What exactly he expected to find there, he did not know. His heart longed just to hear the words "Please stay," or just an angry, "Stay here!" There was nothing--they did not seem to notice him at all.

Kopa had already crossed the dirty creek that was leftover from the once large river. He pushed through the reeds that grew along the bank and as the last green stems parted he caught his first sight of Pride Rock. It was big, bigger than the trees and it seemed to touch the sky. It nearly took his breath away.

A puckish desire overcame him. He wanted to climb it if he could. The only thing more exciting than the view from the bottom must be the view from the top! And while he had no ambition to climb to the top of Eagle Nest Point, where no lion had ever been, he did want to reach the tip of the promontory and look back at his home. It never occurred to him that there were other lions out there just beyond the rim of his territory. He'd never seen a grown male lion before. The closest he'd come was scenting some pawprints in the mud.

Not far away from him the grass was rustling. The dizziness in his head kept him from noticing the giggling and the happy "GOTCHA!" emerging from someone's muzzle close to him.

A young lioness poked her head through the grass, her teeth holding a springhare in its death struggle. A sharp CRACK ended the torment.

"Who are you?" Kopa questioned puzzled

"Mpfhgh!" she uttered.

"What?"

She dropped the springhare and took a deep breath.

"Well, I am Shani, the Queen of the Pride Lands. Who are you?"

Kovu grinned weakly. "Queen? You're too young to be a queen. Who's your mate?"

Shani's ears fell back. "Well I...oh I meant to say future queen. Still, future or not, you are a stranger and you should bow."

Kopa's quivering legs did not hold him anymore, exhausted he slumped to the ground.

"Now YOU are exaggerating," Shani said with a forced laugh. "Still, if you'd rather my DAD ask your name, I can go get him."

He had only heard ill spoken of adult lions, something he did not fully understand since he was male himself and did not feel evil at all. "Don't let him hurt me," Kopa said weakly. "Can't you just pretend I wasn't here? I'll go home."

"Hey, half pint. You OK?" Shani pushed him gently with her forepaw. The skin felt loose and the impression her paw made remained for several moments. "You look awful! "

"I'm so...so hungry."

The little lioness picked the springhare up and dropped it in front of Kopa. "Here, take this."

"Really? I get to go first?" Without even a word of thanks, he started to rip pieces from the hare, bolting them down.

Shani watched his undignified, desperate display. Obviously he was telling the truth. She approached the dark brown cub from behind.

Kopa put his paws over the springhare and snarled. "You said I could have it!"

"Relax! I was only going to look at that scratch. It's really nasty, you know."

"I wouldn't know. I can't see it, but it is driving me crazy."

He went back to eating when it was clear she was not going to steal the food. As she began to groom the spot, he tensed up, then relaxed as the stimulation eased his circulation and the dried blood was softened and lifted away.

"Oh, that feels good," he said at last, snuggling into her warmth. "Thanks for everything. By the way, I'm Kopa."

"Kopa is a nice name," she said, then renewed her grooming with more pressure.

"Ow, careful!"

"I'm sorry. I have to get the old scab off. It's caught in your fur. Then it can come back clean."

"Whatever you say--I guess you know what you're--AIHEU'S WHISKERS! OWWWWW!!"

"Sorry. It's over now. Just eat and I'll clean it out."

Kopa relaxed. "OK. It hurt like hell but it's better now."

"Watch your language!"

"I'm sorry."

Shani looked at him carefully. "You look like another cub I know. The same green eyes and dark fur. But he's pestering. And he is not so--skinny. Are you lost??"

Kopa started to sob again. "No. Momma doesn't want me because I'm useless! I'm too small to hunt, and there's no food! I wish I could just go to sleep and never wake up!"

"Nobody is useless! You shouldn't want to die. That's wrong."

"I don't know what's right anymore."

"Well, I like you. I think that's right."

Kopa looked at her piercingly in the eyes. "When I grow up, you want to marry me?"

"Marry you? We just met!"

"You're the only one that's ever been nice to me! Probably the only one that ever will! I wish you lived in my place. Shani, I want to marry you 'cause you're the nicest girl in the whole world!"

"Even nicer than your mom?"

"Much nicer than my mom. You have no idea what she's like."

Shani felt stirred by his plight. She lay down, comforting and grooming him.

As his full stomach began to make him drowsy, he purred and relaxed, closing his eyes.

CHAPTER 19: CHILD OF SADNESS

Shani was at a complete loss. For a cub to be tinged with a sadness as deep as Kopa's was new to her. Still the longer she thought about it, his mood reminded her of Simba's dark moments. Once she sat hidden in the reeds and watched Simba lying by the cistern alone. From then on when she heard her father was gone, Shani knew how to find him. He would be lying by the cistern, softly sobbing. Once--only once--she came to him tearfully and began to kiss him frantically, nuzzling him and touching him with her pink tongue. He scolded her for spying on him and even when she persisted he would not reveal the source of his deep agony.

Kopa was somewhat less mysterious, though the look in his eyes was the same. He was more honest about his pain and he seemed to invite her consolation. For the moment he laid peacefully beside her. She reached with her paw and stroked him softly. "Poor thing," she whispered. "I wish I could make you feel better."

"You do," Kopa said, opening his eyes.

"I thought you were asleep," Shani said sheepishly.

"I know. I didn't mean to make you sad. I just don't understand why you're so nice to me. My mom doesn't clean my sore and she's my mom. I didn't get fed today. You're a stranger, and you fed me and cleaned me. Why?"

For a moment Shani lay silent. Then she said, "Why not?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything." He thought a moment. "No, I know one thing. I want to come home with you. I want to be your brother."

"I thought you wanted to marry me."

"If I try to wait that long, I'll die."

"You shouldn't say such things!"

He looked at her, his gaunt face speaking far more of his troubles than any words he could utter. "Why not? It's true."

"I guess we could ask my dad. He's king, you know."

"Would you??" Kopa looked positively radient.

Just then a lioness called from the trees. "Kopa, get your butt back here before I come after you!"

Kopa looked at Shani, a desolate, empty look. "It's Mom. I have to go."

"Come with me, quickly. We'll go to the rock. You'll be all right."

"Kopa! I'm warning you!"

The male's small face looked like it would soon be covered with tears. "She would never lose anything that belonged to her. She'd track me down like an antelope." He touched her with his pink tongue. "I love you, Shani. But I have to go."

Shani nuzzled him softly. "Don't get in trouble for me," she said. "Come back if you can! I'll be here!"

Shani, whose parents had only shown her love, was at a loss to see a cub so deep in dispair, a mood she had found in her father on his bad days.

The lion princess watched Kopa vanishing in the grass, heading home.

CHAPTER 20: A TASTE OF LOVE

Kopa had always had a certain distant look about him as if he had lived in a world of his own. But he found himself totally wrapped up in a dream of love. It was not a romantic love but the simple desire to need and be needed. Every step he took away from Shani he experienced a new kind of hunger--a hunger for love that burned hotter than the noonday sun. The emptiness in his heart rivaled, then surpassed, the void in his belly. Secretly he planned to sneak away in the night. Perhaps he could run a circular trail and confuse his tracks enough to make good his escape. He would find his place next to Shani and know true happiness.

Close to the place his 'pride' had chosen the resting place for the day his ears heard the familiar voices of his sisters and mother.

Curiously he poked his head through the bushes. Mgani and Nieti were obviously comfortably lying on the ground, Nieti's paws up in the air, warming her belly. Close to them was Mgoma sitting. The serious expression on her face was no good omen.

"We have to find a male to protect us or it's over with us. Maybe we'll hang on to this land until Kopa is grown," Mgoma said.

Nieti looked at her mother, not understanding what she was aiming at. "Why?"

"Because he can be our pride male then. Even if it's against all traditions." Mgoma continued.

Mgani rose suddenly. "You can't be serious, Mom! Taka's son? I only wish we could have killed him twice, the lousy no-good two-timing neck nipper!!"

Mgoma's glance grew icy. "I told you never to mention that name! Kopa thinks his father's name is Ingama!"

"You never let us use THAT name either! "

"And NEVER tell him we killed his father! Do you have any idea what he might