HOMECOMING

A Story of the lioness Shingalana

by David Morris, Mirco Zacher and John Burkitt

LEGAL NOTE: This original copyrighted work contains elements taken from the feature film "The Lion King," which are the property of The Walt Disney Company. "Homecoming" is distributed free of charge excepting reasonable distribution costs. Quoting passages from our work, writing original pieces based on our work, or using characters we created is fine as long as you secure prior approval. That begins by sending either of us a copy of the work. Our e-mail addresses are:

David A. Morris: damorris@wilmington.net

Mirco Zacher: kublia@hannover.sgh-net.de

John Burkitt: john.burkitt@nashville.com

FOREWORD BY THE AUTHORS:

This is the story of Shingalana, a lioness who had a hard destiny. And it's how I imagined a sequel to Disney's "The Lion King" might go. Also, it's the story of many lives which have changed, such as John Varty and Gillian van Houten who raised her, and a Lion King fan sitting somewhere in Germany who was unable to forget the lioness he just saw on television.

Before you read the story, you should know about Shingi's real life....

She was a tiny quivering blue-eyed furball when John Varty heard her hungry little roar. He found her hidden behind a rock in the Londolozi Wildlife Preserve at the northern border of South Africa, just a few hours old and left behind by her mother. John was an experienced animal cinematographer, so he was searching for lionesses in the vicinity. But her mother had obviously gone, so he decided to take her home.

Gillian van Houten was a well known Dutch journalist with the promise of TV stardom, until she left everything behind and bought a ticket to South Africa. A few days later she found herself in Londolozi where she met John.

In the first few months Shingi grew up in their house. Later, she had to learn how to survive. She was so used to domesticated life that she didn't even know how to drink from a water hole!

At an age of 18 months Shingi was brought to Zambia in an area far from human settlements so she could find a pride and live as nature intended.

In the vicinity of the camp there was a lion pride. The male sometimes visited the river where Shingi and her human parents were playing and practicing hunting every day.

She was in season for the first time at about 18 months. She tried to mate with the lion, but he was always accompanied by two of his jealous lionesses who injured her and chased her away. After the first attack Shingalana was so frightened that she wouldn't leave the camp for two weeks. But the wounds healed, and her confidence returned. Finally, one night when she was 27 months old, she met that male lion again and he was alone.

They were mating when five lionesses came in. They attacked Shingi and her mate. He tried to defend her but he was wounded and Shingalana was killed.

On the day I saw the last part of the documentary I also finished reading John Burkitt and Dave Morris's "Chronicles of the Pride Lands," the end of which dealt with Sarabi's death.

I was totally down for at least a week. I tried to banish it from my mind, but I failed. I refused to accept her death.

That was in August 1996. One month later I wrote my very first e-mail to Dave Morris. A friendship started and I told him about Shingi and my wish she would have lived on somehow, along with completely joining the TLK fandom. Then he started to write a story as a surprise for me, because he realized what Shingi meant to me.

Before that, he asked me if I had ever tried to write. I never had, even not in my native German. But then I tried to write a chapter.... Dave liked it and I found the courage to continue.

In the following weeks Homecoming got to be much more than Dave had expected. I saw myself with wondering eyes taking over control of the story line slowly, getting more and more ideas, and coming to the surprising realization that all the emotions in the pages are a mirror of myself. Before seeing TLK I would never admit to having feelings like that....

I owe Dave Morris much: help with my English and my ability to express myself through fan fiction. In short, Homecoming would have been impossible without him. His investments of effort and time on this project have meant much to me. The same is true for John Burkitt's efforts, who helped Dave and I with his creativity at a time when we really needed him. It really looked it would take another two to three to finish this, since Dave's workload did not allow him to do as much for Homecoming as he had wanted. With John's work Homecoming got another very special emotional trace which I appreciate very much.

Now you have this story before you. It starts shortly before her 'death,' but it never ends. No one's story ever does.

--- Mirco Zacher, Hannover, Germany, July 1997

It's funny...I remember sitting down and writing out the first few paragraphs of what was intended to be a snippet of a story; a present of sorts for a friend of mine. I saw how much Mirco cared for this one lioness, and decided that, if nothing else, I might be able to give him a view of what might have happened had Shingalana not died.

Surprise to me when I check my e-mail one day and discover a new chapter

to my own story written by the very person I was writing it for! This

intrigued me to no end...I nodded, added the scene in, wrote another

chapter and sent it back to him, and asked: "What else do you have?"

I found out soon enough. I was lucky enough to enjoy the addition of my

longtime friend John Burkitt into this story, and he added his own touch to Shingalana's story, something for which I am very grateful. Without him, this work would not have reached it's full potential, and I thank him deeply, for while this work serves as a possible sequel to "The Lion King," there's much more to it than that. These characters have their own unique fears, worries, and dreams...and you'll find that many of them are quite similar to your own.

There's a drama being played out here in the Pride Lands tonight. The

players are ready, the theater's full now...but I have a ticket here for

you too, and I've held your seat for you.

The curtain is rising...shall we begin?

--- David A. Morris, Wilmington, North Carolina, July 1997

My concentration had been solely on the Chronicles of the Pride Land series for seven full length works, and an eighth one was under construction when Mirco asked me to step aboard his project. It was something I did with great hesitance, for I had become comfortable with the Chronicles universe. This story posed a unique challenge--it differed from my usual pattern and it had already progressed quite far. I resolved that I would try not to impose too much of my style on it. Rather I would try to help Mirco express his unique vision in the idioms and flow of a native speaker of English.

So much for my self-effacing good intentions. Shingi worked her spell on me, and not without consequences. So I stopped editing and started writing....

That being said, Mirco's love for Shingalana touched me in ways that I did not expect. It reminded me of my tears as a child when I read of Elsa's death of babesa. I realized I was looking at the very same thing all over again with a different lioness and a different me. How could I not help him any way I could?? I had no one to help me express my grief. Perhaps I could ease his own grief! Of course with the completed work before me, I realize that Shingi is still among the stars looking down upon us. Does she know that this work lovingly crafted to honor her was written in her honor? I like to think those spirits feel warmth and joy when they are remembered fondly by someone that loved them. Shingi, honey tree, this one is for you!

--- John Burkitt, Nashville, Tennessee, July 1997

CHAPTER 1: NO TIME TO REST

The campfire glowed from within, the red-orange embers waxing and waning, pulsing with their own life as Moto the flame made burning love to Kuni the wood. His ardor would eventually consume her, but in the meanwhile the soft light was reflected from deep within the eyes of the lioness Shingalana as she lay on her side, staring into the light. Most nights, long before Kuni lay still and gray, Shingi would be peacefully asleep.

But not this night....

Heaving a deep sigh, she drew her legs under her and sat up, stretching for a moment, then turned and padded slowly into the darkness surrounding the camp. Her ear twitched absently as she passed John and Gillian's tent, tuning out the snoring that she had learned to accept along with human companionship. But she was in search of a different companionship that night, called by the same voices her mother and grandmother heard.

Nosing through a gap in the wood boma surrounding the camp, she hunched down and squeezed between the rough limbs, wriggling slightly until she was able to squirm through and stand up. Smiling slightly, she took a deep breath of the fragrant night air, inhaling it deeply into her lungs as she tested the wind. The light breeze tickled her whiskers, calling her onward.

She padded slowly and silently through the underbrush, driven by an impulse as old as time itself, a silent summons which she was powerless to refuse. She loved John and Gillian and hated to worry them, but she was restless, ready to leap out of her own skin. Either she got away for a while or she would burst!

But what exactly was she seeking? That she did not know, for her only contact with her own kind was through a few hazy cubhood memories.

Sighing in exasperation, she shook away the gloom. For whatever reasons, she was away from camp with its bland, predictable rhythms. She was someplace where anything could happen at any moment. She was a lioness on the prowl and she intended to enjoy herself.

She walked to an acacia tree, sank to her belly and rolled over on the cool grass, gazing absently up at the heavens above through its branches. The night was moonless, and the stars delighted in their freedom, brilliantly flickering as they played hide and seek among the leaves.

Shingi tried to remember her mother. With every passing moon, her sweet face grew more and more dim. The one memory that was clear and sharp was the sadness and helplessness in her mother's tear filled eyes. "There is nothing I can do," her mother had said. "I have to go. There is nothing I can do."

Such words of grief! It was the last time she saw her mother. Thank Aiheu for John and Gillian who came in her moment of greatest need and offered her every good thing they had.

But there were things they could not give her, things Shingi sorely missed though she could not describe them. She only knew there was a feeling of emptiness which plagued her from time to time and robbed her of contentment.

Somewhere among the stars were the spirits of her ancestors. Perhaps her grandmother was there. Perhaps the bright one in the east was her mother? Why else would she have left, never to return? In a morbid way, Shingi struggled between the desire for a mother who died with nobility, and the desire to find her well someday. Other than John and Gillian, the beacons studding the sky were her only family, and she treasured them all the more.

She had given some of the brighter stars names and on her nocturnal jaunts she would talk to them. "Hello Glory! Hello Sparky! I wish you could be with me tonight. I have so many questions, and you would know the answers." The two stars seemed to twinkle in reply, and she smiled. "You shine brightly, my friends. You must be happy tonight."

"They are. Beautiful, aren't they?"

She gasped and quickly struggled to her feet. Shingalana stared fearfully in the direction of the sound until she spotted a shadowy form standing at the edge of the bushes. She began to shiver, her eyes darting about seeking an escape route. "W-Who are you?!"

"I'm sorry, dear. I didn't mean to startle you." The form moved slightly, nosing aside the leaves of the bushes to reveal a lean but rugged face. Whiskers curled upwards in a smile, the starlight gleamed dimly from eyes which followed her with slight amusement. "Are you always so jumpy?"

"What??"

The form moved again, emerging into the open this time, and Shingi stared at the newcomer in mixed fear and fascination. "You're a lion!"

"How perceptive of you." He chuckled lightly, the dark fur of his mane floating softly in the breeze. "Are you a stranger? I'm new here myself. It seems my old pride wanted a change and pushed me out."

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, please don't be. Fate whisked me away, and now fate has brought us together, perhaps for a reason." He closed his eyes and inhaled her fragrance. To him, the reason for her restlessness was clear. He moved closer, meeting Shingi's eyes with a look that made her tremble inside. "I could use a friend like you. It's so lonely out here."

"I know." She sighed wearily. "Believe me, I know."

"You? Lonely?" He smiled as if the idea was laughable. "Either you did something awful, or the lions here are blind. I'm not blind, my dear--my eyes are in seventh heaven right now. They're telling me all kinds of wicked and wonderful things. If they stare, it's only that I don't have the heart to close them even for a moment."

She giggled slightly in spite of herself. "You silly fool!"

He drew back a step. "I beg your pardon?"

"I'm sorry--don't be offended. When I said I was alone, I meant it. I've never been this close to a lion before and I don't know how to behave."

"Really?" The lion purred. "I could get a LOT closer if you like."

Now it was Shingi's turn to be surprised. "How close?"

"Closer than you think."

The lion walked slowly to her side. Then without warning he nuzzled her with a low grunt of satisfaction and rubbed her full length, dragging his tail sensuously along her cheek and batting her with the tuft on its end. His closeness awakened feelings in her that confused and alarmed her, but which also cried out for more. The restlessness that had plagued her reached a fever pitch. Somehow it involved him--somehow it always had. Shingi opened her mouth to speak, but only a timid whisper emerged as she shuddered under his touch. "Oh gods!"

He sat back and looked at her. "You're trembling!"

"I am?" She looked down at her forelegs, which were indeed shuddering slightly. "So I am!" she said with a nervous laugh.

"Do I scare you that much?"

"No! I mean yes...but it's OK." She looked thoughtfully at him for a moment. "Oooh, I'm tingling all over! Do it again!"

He smiled pleasantly. "In good time--the night is young. My name is Ingama. And what is yours, my dear?"

"Sh-Shingalana."

In his deep, rich voice, he said, "Shin-ga-la-na!" He closed his eyes and breathed her fragrance in, then let it out slowly. "It's the sound you made when I rubbed your beautiful body. Shin-ga-la-na...."

"Oh you!" She started to laugh, but it froze in her throat as he nuzzled her again, leaning into her and rubbing down her side slowly. He set her receptive body on fire with his soft musky pleasures. Gasping, she shook perceptibly as he faced her again.

"How about that?" he purred.

Wordlessly she nodded, her chin trembling. She pawed his cheek gently, then shrank back at her own boldness.

He came close beside he and kissed her gently. "Don't be afraid. I'd never hurt you. I feel as you feel, all warm and tingly inside. Is it so strange that I like the things you like, and I want the things you want? Believe me, I want to please you."

"I-I believe you."

"Do you also trust me?"

"Yes. I have to." She silently cursed the inexperience that made her look so foolish. "What happens next?"

"That's all up to you, Shingalana. But are you open to suggestions?"

"Yes. Please."

He drew close to her ear and whispered. "I want to make passionate love to you. I want to fill you with giddy pleasures. I want you to cry out with joy like you were born to do. Say you will crouch for me. Say that you want me, Shingalana. Have the courage to say, 'Ingama, make love to me.'"

She was both excited and terrified. She ached for his attentions, but she also felt foolish and awkward. Could she mate with him? Would she disappoint him? Would he be angry, or worse would he LAUGH at her?

The question had been posed. It was time to decide, and she did not have long. She closed her eyes in an agony of indecision. "If I pass this up," she thought, "then I deserve my miserable solitude. But am I ready? Do I have what it takes?"

Then as if he could hear her thoughts, his planted a warm soft kiss on her cheek that broke the tie. The words came tumbling out of her with cublike enthusiasm. "I want it! Ingama, make love to me!" She added timidly, "It is my first time. I'm scared."

"Don't be frightened. I'll be gentle." He kissed her again. "Oh you are so desirable, Shingalana! I want to immerse myself in you, to lose myself in you." He put his paw on her shoulder, and she closed her eyes, purring deeply.

"Crouch for me," he whispered.

Nervous but elated, she stepped forward a couple of paces, then settled into the soft grass. "Is this all right?"

"This is fine. Just move your tail to one side. And don't worry--I will help you through this."

It was too late to back out. "Oh John and Gillian, if you only knew what your little girl was up to!" She smiled timidly as her ears heard his light tread in the grass and felt his strong but careful jaws kiss her, then caress her throat.

He was as good as his word. Tenderly, patiently, he coaxed her dormant pleasures to full wakefulness. She had never known such feelings lived inside her. Under the spell of his gentle lovemaking, her fears were soothed away and all that remained was love. High above, the stars shined ever more brightly, and they reflected in Shingi's soft hazel eyes.

CHAPTER 2: SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE

Later that night, the lioness Nieti glared at her sister Mgani, her eyes gleaming balefully in the darkness. "You're lying! You're just saying that because IT happened to ME FIRST!"

Mgani groaned. "Oh come on, Sis! Give it a break! I can't fake this!"

Nieti lashed her tail in annoyance. Mgani was right--she was clearly coming into her receptive period at the same time.

Nieti sighed in frustration. "Remember what we all agreed to!"

"Indeed I do," their mother Mgoma said firmly. "Calm down, Nieti. You'll go first because you came into season first. Next time, Mgani will get her chance."

"But Momma!" Mgani shouted. "It's not fair!"

"Enough!" Mgoma snarled. "It's fair and you know it. Keep it up, and I'll banish you to the plains for a week, understand?"

Mgani's ears flattened back. "Yes, Momma."

"That's better. Besides it will be Nieti's first time. You've had experience." Mgoma yawned and lay down comfortably.

Nieti looked at Mgani. "I'm sorry, Sis," she said meekly. "Don't be upset with me....you go ahead and mate with him this time. I'll get him next time."

Mgani shook her head. "No, you're first. It was spiteful of me to pick at you like that." She smiled sheepishly. "Peace, Sis?"

"You...you mean it?"

"Sure. Go ahead." Mgani padded over to her mother and settled next to her. "Just be gentle with him. He's a bit fragile, and I don't want a broken shell when my turn comes!" She smiled and winked at her sister.

Nieti laughed. "Yeah, right. Listen to YOU, 'Wild Thing.'"

Mother Mgoma burst out laughing as Mgani's ears flattened in embarrassment.

"Oh gods, is ANYONE ever going to forget that??" Mgani said.

"I doubt it," Nieti snickered. "I'm sure that rogue hasn't!" She sat back on her haunches and batted her eyes. "Oh Wamagi, the night is still young! This is no time to rest!"

Kichi and Ngmogawa, who had been trying to sleep, gave up and joined in the laughter. "Oh yes!" Kichi giggled. "I remember him! All night and all day for four whole days! I thought he'd wear the all fur off your neck!"

Ngmogawa said, "Yes! I bet he still has trouble sitting down!"

Mgani lashed her tail frenziedly as she bore a timid smile. "All right, you two! Stop it before you TOTALLY shame me!"

Nieti purred and nuzzled her sister affectionately and padded off into the dark, still giggling slightly. Nosing her way through the bushes, she wondered what Mgani had seen in the rogue Wamagi. Yes he was handsome, but gods, he was the STUPIDEST lion on the face of the earth! Thank Aiheu she had no cubs by him! She thought of the little darlings bumping into rocks and trees, rubbing their little noses with a paw and saying, "Excuse me!"

Their new male, on the other paw, had little of Wamagi's outward beauty left. But what lived inside was still glorious in its ruins. She still remembered the day they had found him lying weakly by the edge of the creek, lapping at the cool water. His ribs had been quite prominent, his fur dull and lusterless. They had paused uncertainly, and Mgoma had been ready to order them away when he stirred and spoke to them.

Nieti shook at the memory. How rich his voice was, even hoarsened by his weakened state! And the scuffed and scarred hide could not conceal the intelligence that shone from within his eyes.

They had listened in horrified sympathy as he calmly explained how without a son or brother to defend him he had been thrown out of his pride by a younger lion. Such things were, of course, part of life, but the painful fall from monarch to nomad had claimed a splendid lion. They could not help but pity him who must have once been a mother's pride and joy.

"Ingama" he had called himself, but he didn't look about right away when called and they knew it was probably not his true name. Many rogue lions ashamed of their fallen state changed their names, and how far he must have fallen! Never mind, they would love him as Ingama and show him the pity his appearance inspired.

Nieti smiled to herself as she padded under a low branch, remembering how she and Mgani had pleaded with their mother to let him join the pride. They had no king and their chances of finding a decent one in the area were slim. Further, Mother Mgoma was to proud to go asking for another pride to take her in. So at last Mgoma gave her consent.

Over the next few weeks it became clear Nieti's first impressions were just--he would never be considered sleek, but at least he wasn't a walking skeleton anymore. And his fighting skills were more than adequate; Ngmogawa had challenged him to a contest and he had wrestled her to the ground in the space of a few heartbeats. He was nothing if not determined.

As Nieti neared a tightly knotted hedge, she caught the faint musky scent of his rich dark mane. Nieti took a deep breath, her heart beginning to race. She had always longed for him, dreaming of the moment when he would turn his attention to her. Soon she would be wrapped in that dark mane, trembling as her lover breathed her name in the throes of passion. "Love me, Ingama!" she cried. "Fill me with cubs! I want to feel you shudder!"

She leaped lightly over the hedge, landing a few feet away from his huddled form.

CHAPTER 3: THE SURPRISE PARTY

What Nieti saw struck her like a cuff to the face. The object of her desires was making love with a stranger! Her passionate reverie had been shattered.

"Ingama!! What the hell are you doing??"

He whipped around to stare at her. "Nieti??"

Shock gave way to tears as she looked at him. "Weren't we good enough for you?? We nursed yourself back to health, and you're showing your appreciation by crouching with this--this HUSSY??"

"NO! It's not like that! I'm grateful to you all! Really!"

Mgoma looked into the clearing. "You have a strange way of showing your gratitude! Pardon me if I can't discuss this with you down on top of her." She showed her fangs. "Lover boy, get off her back--NOW!"

"Yes Ma'am." Ingama retreated from Shingi, his ears flattened as he looked at Nieti piteously.

Mgoma emerged from the hedgeline, followed by the other three lionesses standing shoulder to shoulder and taking up aggressive stances beside the now-sobbing Nieti.

"You still want him, Honey tree?"

"No, Momma! He can go straight to hell as far as I'm concerned!"

"Same here," Mgani said.

Shingi stared at them in obvious fear. "Ingama?? Who are they?? What's wrong??"

"SHUT UP!" Nieti bellowed. "You've ruined EVERYTHING!"

With a roar of rage, she pounced upon Shingi, clawing her furiously. Shingalana had no idea how to defend herself, and she tried desperately to cover her face and belly as their blows etched crimson lines in her flanks.

Ingama tried to help, but he was knocked sprawling as Ngmogawa slammed into him, her eyes flashing with rage. Mgoma and Kichi joined her, slashing and tearing at him with lightning strikes of their paws.

In his weakened condition he fell back, dodging rapidly as he fought to keep his balance, feeling their claws catch and tear in his mane as he snarled and bellowed almost incoherently. "Oh gods, this is insanity! Let us go! For Aiheu's sake, let us go! Exile us, but let us go!"

"We'll exile you, all right!"

A set of fangs dug into his back and he screamed in pain, feeling the muscles in his shoulder separate, hearing a dull grinding sound as the teeth grated against his spine. Stumbling, he crashed to the ground and lay silent.

Shingalana cried out in agony as Mgani buried her fangs in her shoulder while Nieti's weight threatened to pull her to the ground. Mgani spat blood away and snarled at her as Shingi's claws caught her across the muzzle with a lucky blow. Nieti wrenched at Shingi and she fell over, bucking against the terrible weight of the lioness on her back. She felt another set of claws rake her across the belly and cried out again at the burning in her stomach.

"Oh gods! Ingama, help me!"

A flailing paw struck her in the throat and she gagged.

"Enough, sisters!" Mgoma pushed them away roughly. "Our little boyfriend has crouched with his last honey tree." Mgoma looked down at Shingi coldly. "Go ahead, dear, help yourself to what's left of him, but you'd better hurry."

Growling, she slapped a pawful of dirt into Shingi's eyes and stalked away, the rest following slowly.

Silence descended again, broken only by the occasional low moan as Shingi shuddered in pain. She tried not to make a noise for a while, hoping the lionesses would not come back to finish the job. Then she called out fearfully, unsure if her lover was alive or dead. She feared the worst.

"Ingama," she stammered brokenly. "Ingama! Oh gods, answer me!"

Across the clearing, a pair of eyes opened slowly, glazed by pain and shock. The male rose slowly, grunting in pain as he felt the ends of two ribs grating together.

He gasped out, "Shingalana, forgive me." His face was drawn with agony but did not take his eyes from her.

"Ingama," she called. "Don't leave me! I can't move!"

"I won't leave you." He stumbled over to her and nuzzled her, horrified at the gashes on her once-beautiful face. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry! I wasn't much help, Honey tree--I don't guess I'm much of a lion after all."

"Don't say that," Shingi stammered, her face gathering in pain. "It was good while it lasted. You and I were meant to be together. Destiny, remember?" She smiled weakly. "No regrets, my darling."

Just then the ground began to tremble slightly, and the air brightened perceptibly. The lion muttered, "Damn, its a stinking malori! Of all times...." Panic surged new strength into his muscles, and with a stifled cry of pain, he began to stagger off."

"Ingama! Don't leave me! It's just a Land Rover!"

"I'm sorry," he said, looking at her with eyes of sadness. "I must go. There is nothing that I can do."

She did not think she could be hurt anymore than she had been. But she vividly remembered that phrase. He would not be back--like mother, he would disappear when she was helpless. She had to pray for another miracle....

One forepaw dangled uselessly at his side as he vanished into the darkness.

CHAPTER 4: THE MALORI

What Ingama had called a "malori" and feared greatly, she knew as a "Land Rover," a simple machine. "Land Rover" was one of the few phrases she understood from the human tongue. Many times she had hopped in the back of one and experienced the thrill of moving two or even three times as fast as she could run, jolting over the rough dirt paths or even the great black trail that stretched from horizon to horizon.

A pair of harsh white lights split the air, flooding the clearing. Brakes protested tiredly as the vehicle lurched to a halt, two figures leaping from the car and running to the torn form lying in the dirt.

"Oh God, it's Shingi!!" a woman's voice wailed. The man bent above her, examining her, pressing her stomach gingerly.

Good old John and Gillian! They would make everything all right! Oh, if only Ingama had stayed, they could have helped him too! Poor foolish Ingama! How quickly the height of their joy had been turned to sorrow!

"Claw marks," John said. "She was attacked by lions." He looked about warily, feeling the darkness pressing upon him with new weight. Slowly, he looked back down and swallowed heavily. "She's hurt bad. There may be internal bleeding."

"We have to help her!"

"It's too late, Gill. There's no chance." He looked at the lioness, then at Gillian's face. It was all he could do to keep his composure. "I don't have a gun," he said. "Dear God, I wish there was something I could do to shorten her suffering."

Horror dawned in Gillian's eyes as she realized what he was saying.

"NO!! Shingi!!" Gill fell to her knees, embracing Shingi's neck. Shingi felt tears seeping into her fur but was helpless to do more than grunt softly.

"There must be something we can do! There's a medic kit in the truck."

"It's over, Gill."

"I can't leave her!" Gillian protested. "The last two years... She was my child!"

"She was mine, too. But it's too late! Remember her as she was, not like this!" A roar echoed in the distance and he looked about. "We MUST go!" Then he looked right in Shingi's eyes. "There is nothing I can do. I'm sorry, Shingi. I must go."

Shingi did not understand everything John said. She did not have to. His eyes had the same sad look of resignation.

Gillian drew her fingertips gently down an unscarred part of Shingi's muzzle. Shingi parted her lips and gave Gill's fingers a gentle squeeze, touching her with her tongue. Then Gill wept and lowered her gently to the ground. "Good bye, Shingi."

Shingi knew those words well. She wanted to cry aloud. "I want to live! I want to live! Oh gods, please don't leave me Gill!" No sound came out. She heard steps, slowly receding...then the roar of an engine. It picked up, then faded. The malori was gone, and with it her last hope. With a Herculean effort, she opened one eye and twitched a paw in a pitiful effort to rise.

"Oh Aiheu, please don't leave me like this! Please??"

CHAPTER 5: BY THE WAYSIDE

Pain!

She drifted through dark layers of agony and fear. The only comfort she had was a poorly-remembered cub prayer that her mother had once taught her:

Oh Aiheu, though I'm very small

Your love goes out to one and all

And if I grow up tall someday

I'll try to please you every way

But if I die before I wake

I pray my Ka your paws will take

Tears came to her eyes. "Please don't let it end like this! I'm afraid! Aiheu, I'm afraid! Oh gods, somebody help me!"

In what dim awareness that remained to her she realized she was cold....so very cold. Her friends had departed some time ago, believing her dead. They weren't far wrong. Her entire body cried out in alarm, each bruise and wound screaming for attention until they joined to form a concerto of pain which was all the feeling she had left, now. Sighing deeply, she settled into its deadly embrace, feeling a warm numbness begin to steal over her. Maybe death was nothing to fear after all. Maybe she should welcome it, for all other hope had abandoned her.

A sharp crackling noise took her attention from the pain. With enormous effort, she wrenched her eyes open and tried to focus on a line of scrub a few feet away. A small acacia bush rattled noisily, accompanied by a grunt of exertion. Something was bulling its way through the hedge....

A new feeling joined the pain--fear. Adrenaline surged into exhausted limbs, exhorting her to run, to flee. But a small twitch of a forepaw was all she could manage. Her injured muscles had stiffened. She was in shock, her body had been horribly abused, and if whatever was coming wanted her, there was little she could do.

"Oh Gods, please don't let it be hyenas!" She trembled. "Anything but that."

The thought galvanized her into action, and she wrenched herself to her feet, crying aloud as the voices of pain rose to a shout. She gasped for breath. "I may be hurt, but I can still take some of you with me!"

It was a bold boast. As if in answer, the bushes thrashed more urgently, as if the unseen intruder was aware that its prey was escaping. But the lioness managed perhaps two steps before she crashed back to earth in a bloody heap.

"End it then," she thought tiredly. She closed her eyes tightly and began to gasp for air. Small footsteps padded slowly across the clearing where she lay. A faint scent reached her, but the claw marks on her nostrils had filled her nose with the scent of blood. There was no telling what creature was coming for her, and she did not dare look.

She jerked as she felt a delicate touch on her forehead, and she uttered an involuntary whimper of fear and pain. "Be quick."

"Shhhh," a voice whispered. The touch turned to a caress, smoothing out the fur on her brow where the blood had matted it. Something rustled, and there was a touch on her lips. Something firm but pliant was forced between her teeth, and cold liquid suddenly gushed into her mouth, shockingly intimate.

She swallowed quickly to keep from choking and opened her eyes in surprise. As the liquid eased down her throat, her vision began to swim quickly, but in the deep darkness she was able to make out the wrinkled face of an old mandrill, his painted features clear in the dimness. He drew back a soft leather bag with a nipple on the end and nodded, uttering a satisfied grunt. "Good girl. That's right--you rest now. Old Rafiki will keep watch."

As the liquid warmth seeped through her and began its work, she felt the pain fade away slowly. She looked at her companion blearily, her eyelids starting to close of their own accord as the medicine did its work. Maybe luck had not failed her after all. The moon sailed out from behind the clouds, haloing the old monkey in its silver light. He smiled and stroked her again. "Sleep, my child. Everything will be all right."

"Why?" she managed to utter, as if all the questions she had were wrapped up in that one word. "Why?"

He drew close--very close--and whispered, "Because." His lips brushed her cheek with the gentlest of kisses. "It's the least I can do. You can make it, Honey Tree. You must."

She sighed gratefully and his kindly face was the last thing she saw as she lapsed into unconsciousness.

CHAPTER 6: A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND

Some time later, Shingalana awoke to the sound of thunder.

She sat up quickly, groaning as her head thudded sickeningly with pain, and laid down again slowly, sighing with relief as the feeling abated somewhat. She blinked, eyes focusing on what appeared to be a gray-green sky overhead, constantly moving. The gentle motion made her queasy, and she shut her eyes again.

"Ah! Up already, I see."

She raised her head--slowly, this time--and glanced over to see the same monkey she had seen in the forest, the one that had relieved her pain and bade her rest. Clearing her throat, which was terribly dry, she spoke with a raspy voice.

"Is this heaven? Are you a Nisei?"

The monkey blinked in surprise, then laughed heartily. "Oh, heavens no! I'm just an old mandrill shaman." He peered at her warmly. "You looked like you could use help."

She nodded slowly, wincing as her head throbbed again warningly.

He sat up and meandered over, stroking her head gently as he examined the wounds. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't give you any more painkillers for a while. You've had more than enough for a whole pride." He sat back and smiled warmly. "Lucky you have such a hard head, eh?"

Shingalana grimaced. "Thanks." She touched his hand with her pink tongue, then glanced about warily. "You mean I'm not dead?"

"Do the dead ache all over?"

She paused. "Well...no."

"That's the way things work here."

"Where's here?"

"We're in the Pride Lands. My home." He swept an arm expansively to one side. "You see?"

Shingalana sat up carefully and felt her breath catch in her throat as she peered about at the broad expanse of savanna. She did not know where she was, only that she was lying under a large baobab. The wind caressed her face, sending ripples floating across the sea of grassland which lay before her.

"Welcome to your new home."

Shingalana shrank back, shaking her head rapidly. "I can't stay here," she whispered frantically. "I don't belong here, I have to find Gillian and John!"

"Who?"

"I have to go HOME!" Shingalana struggled to her feet, fighting the dizziness, and took a couple of trembling steps.

"Lie down, please! You'll hurt yourself!" Rafiki eased her to a sitting position. "My dear, you were all alone when I found you. There was no one there at all."

"They wouldn't leave me! They're my family!"

Sudden realization struck Rafiki as he realized she was referring to the two humans who had showed up and raised such a ruckus. "They probably thought you were dead. And you nearly were. A few more minutes and you would have seen a REAL Nisei." Rafiki sighed. "Besides, you know how humans are."

"How HUMANS are??" Her eyes blazed defiantly. "How about LIONS? Humans are the reason I'm alive, and lions are the reason you found me like this!" She sighed. "All I wanted was a friend!" She slumped to the ground, tears shining in her eyes. "I needed someone to be with in a way Gillian and John could never be." She looked at him miserably. "When I saw Ingama, he was everything I'd hoped for. He made love to me, and it was wonderful. Then the others came...oh gods, they tried to kill me. Ingama was bitten and clawed. The Land Rover--you call it a malori--came and he wandered off to die." Her voice cracked and a hoarse sob escaped her. "It was so awful!"

Rafiki took her head in his arms and hugged her gently. "Easy now." He sighed deeply. Doubtless the other lionesses had sensed she was an outsider, and she was mating with their pride male. This lioness had much to learn about the law!

"How did I get here?" Shingi asked. "You didn't carry me, that's for sure."

Rafiki laughed. "No, my dear. You walked. As strange as it sounds, you had enough Alba and Erythrochlorum in you to make the journey on foot. That's why you're so unsteady now. Till the drug leaves your system, you'll have a hard time walking straight. So you don't remember a thing about it?"

"I remember you. You gave me something for pain and I fell asleep."

"That you did, Honey Tree. You did a lot of things that evening. You said a lot of things too."

"Like what??"

"Oh, you talked about Ingama. Some of the things he did." He looked at her expression of consternation and said, "Don't worry. Nothing I haven't heard before from Isha."

"Who's Isha?"

"I was just getting to that." Rafiki patted her head again. He smiled gently at her as she raised her tear stained face to him. "You rest here today. Tomorrow we go visit some friends of mine, eh?"

"More monkeys?"

"I'm not a monkey, I'm an ape. But these friends are lions. Good hearted lions. I think you'll like them, and I know they'll like you."

"You really think so?"

"Of course. Old Rafiki would not lie to a friend. And you are my friend, dear heart. But there is only one problem."

"What?" She looked fearful and ready to bolt.

"I don't even know your name!"

"Oh!" The lioness thrashed her tail embarrassed. "My name's Shingalana. But my friends called me Shingi."

"May I call you Shingi?"

For the first time in days, a small smile appeared. "Yes, my friend." She reached out carefully and pawed his cheek, and he took her paw and gave it a little squeeze.

CHAPTER 7: A GOOD REFLECTION

The next morning, Shingalana still felt a sting from her wounds, but she was alert once more. Rafiki had rubbed balm into the cuts to ease their discomfort and keep her skin soft and pliable. As he rubbed the welts gently to ease her swelling, Shingi looked into his eyes worshipfully and occasionally paused to nuzzle and kiss him. Still the question puzzled her. Why was he doing all this? Once she wondered the same thing about the tall, hairless creatures that took her from the savanna.

"How can I ever repay you?" Shingi said.

"Oh, I'll think of a way," Rafiki answered, smiling.

"No, I'm serious. Maybe I could hunt for you. What creatures do Mandrills eat?"

"Mainly fruit. But some of us like a little jerky once in a while. My old teacher Busara gave me his recipe."

He took a few large strips and dangled them alluringly before her nose. Hunger gnawed at her fiercely, and she couldn't refuse his offer.

The robust goodness of the spiced meat strips made her close her eyes in pleasure. She swallowed, licking her lips to catch the last of the enchanting scent. "That was heavenly!"

"I don't have much left, but it's yours if you want it."

She nosed him and pawed his cheek. "I love you, Rafiki. You're my little Nisei."

"Is there any water here?"

"There's a pond nearby. I'll go draw some water for you."

"No, please. I want to go to the pond myself. Is it calm? Can you see your reflection in it?"

Rafiki looked agitated. "I really don't think that's a good idea just now."

"I have to see. Now is as good a time as any."

Somberly the two of them headed into the edge of the trees. A small stream fed pond made a perfect reflecting pool--perhaps too perfect. Shingi drew near to the water and looked into the awful truth.

Her chin trembled and a deep sob made her stomach heave. "Oh my gods! Oh my gods!" Her falling tears made little rings spread across the cruel image.

"Shingi, dear, it will get better with time!"

The lioness collapsed next to the water and rolled on her side. "I'm ugly! Why didn't you let me die! Why did you come for me??"

"Because your beauty comes from within, and you could never be ugly to me." He stroked her softly. "I will do what I can to reduce scarring. You will never look exactly the way you did, but you will look good. I promise you will."

CHAPTER 8: FIRST CONTACT

Shingalana paced slowly behind the mandrill as they followed the worn trail through the grass, her ears twitching nervously at every sound and her eyes glancing at every movement.

The monkey had told her they would meet some friends of his today. Initially excited at the prospect, she had been somewhat reluctant to leave the safety of his home that morning, and now she was rather nervous.

OK, she was terrified.

The last time she had met a pride, she had been badly mauled. But with only three true companions to count on in the world, and two of those apparently gone for good, she didn't have much choice. Sighing, she glanced resignedly at the mandrill's back. "I suppose it wouldn't make much sense to save me just to have me destroyed again." She smiled to herself slightly. "He said they were his friends. Lighten up, girl."

A pain stabbed into her paw. "Oh!"

Rafiki stopped and looked, alarmed. He relaxed slightly when he saw her waving a paw gingerly in the air. "Muscle cramp?"

"No, I think I stepped on something." Shingi sat and lifted her paw to her face as he ambled over. Eyes narrowed, she peered at the pads on her foot, searching. "Ech! There it is."

Rafiki peered close, and saw the end of a thorn embedded deeply in one of the pads on her foot. "Mmh!" he grunted sympathetically. "Hold on; I'll get it."

To his astonishment, she waved him away. "It's okay, I got it." She bent her neck gracefully, licking the paw gingerly to clear away the blood obscuring the wound. Peeling back her lips, she exposed her fangs, bright and deadly looking in the sunlight, and did something that amazed Rafiki. Pressing her front teeth against the pad of her paw, she gently gripped the thorn in her teeth and pulled it free with a slight grunt of discomfort. Turning her head, she spat daintily, sending it flying, then licked her sore foot. "Better."

"In all my years, I've never seen a lioness do that," Rafiki breathed. "Who taught you to do that?"

She peered at him curiously. "No one, really. John used to do it all the time; he'd get acacia thorns and splinters in his hands and he'd just do that to get rid of 'em." She laughed softly. "What's the big deal?"

"If the lionesses I know learned how to do that, it would take away half my patients!" Rafiki leaned back and laughed into the clear azure sky. "Shingi, you are amazing."

Now she did smile. "Really?"

"Yes, really," came a new voice, low and strong. The grass parted and a lion stepped onto the path before them, blocking their way. "Well, old monkey, treating a new patient? Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Shingalana froze in fear, but the mandrill strode forward and screeched loudly. "Old monkey?! Who are you calling 'old', you overgrown furball??"

The lion laughed, deeply and wonderfully. "You! Who else??"

"Penda Simbadogo!" Rafiki said affectionately. He came forward and buried his arms in the deep russet mane, uttering a low grunt of pleasure. "Habari, Incosi?"

"Mpenzi, Rafiki." Simba touched him with his pink tongue. "Now, who's your friend?"

"Shingalana. I think it would do her good to meet the girls." Rafiki motioned to her. "Come here, Shingi, it's OK. This is Simba."

Shingalana trembled. This male was HUGE.

He smiled disarmingly at her. "Hello, Shingalana. Do you mind if I call you Shingi?"

She growled low in her chest. "Go ahead, Simba. Let's just make one thing clear--no matter how much you flatter me, I'm not going to crouch for you, understand?"

"I'll get over it somehow," Simba said with a nervous laugh. He glanced at Rafiki. "Not one to mince words, is she?"

"She's had a bad time, I'm afraid. The first group of lions she met attacked her, and I found her near death." Rafiki saw the look of concern on Simba's face. "Look, my friend, I know you can't go taking in every rogue lioness, but she is a fine lady, and she deserves a second chance."

Simba looked at her scarred body. "You will get it," Simba said to her. "I'll take you to see the pride, and somehow I'll manage to resist temptation. If I have any impure thoughts, I'll keep them to myself, OK?"

She saw his playful, kindly smile and sensed he was amused by her attitude. She had to smile back. "OK."

CHAPTER 9: IT'S A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The lioness Sarafina stretched languidly as she lay upon the rocks, soaking up the sun with undisguised bliss. She rolled slightly to allow her cream colored belly to catch the warmth, her features lit with a contented smile. One eyelid flicked open to focus on the cub balanced on the rocks above her.

"Don't even think about it."

"Awww, Auntie!" Shani pouted. "I was just playing!"

"Not on my stomach, you don't." Sarafina yawned hugely. "Why don't you go try it on your Aunt Sarabi? She likes that sort of game."

Shani's eyes widened. "Really??"

"Mm-hmm."

Sarabi's head poked up from behind the rocks. "Funny no one ever told ME about it."

Sarafina grinned. "Why of course they have! You've just become forgetful in your old age!"

"Remember you'll be old someday, you hussy." Sarabi ambled over and plopped down rather ungracefully alongside her.

Sarafina snickered. "And fat too?"

"What??"

Shani sat happily, enjoying the spectacle.

Sarafina watched the cub, a wistful expression on her face. "I can't believe how big she's getting."

"Fini, the joke has gone too far!" Sarabi smacked her friend with a paw. "I am NOT fat!"

"Not you, HER." Sarafina motioned to Shani. "Look how big she's grown."

"Oh!" Sarabi smiled. "I know...what is she now; two moons old?"

"Two and a half." Sarafina began to groom Sarabi's ears absentmindedly, lifting her whiskers irritably as Sarabi began flicking her ears rapidly. "Hold still, darn it!"

"Fini, LOOK."

Sarafina leaned back, tilting her head to see what Sarabi was looking at. Across the open plain of grass in front of Pride Rock was Simba, standing to one side of the path they used to go to and from the water hole. Rafiki stood on the other side, holding the grass away for a lioness emerging from the path, eyes flicking nervously from one side to the other as she took in the sights. Sarafina raised an eyebrow as she saw how young the newcomer was, and how pretty she looked in the bright afternoon sun.

She shook her head. "Oh my, Nala isn't going to like this at all."

Shani avidly observed the goings on that had captivated the lionesses. In their excitement, they had totally absorbed themselves in watching the strange lioness. Naturally, Shani decided to take it upon herself to personally examine the newcomer and find out what all the excitement was about.

Peering at her father as he emerged from the grass, her eyes grew large as he saw the guest that padded up alongside. Eyes wide with excitement, she gamboled down the rock face, stumbling once in her haste but catching herself and continuing on.

With every step Simba and his companion took as they neared Pride Rock, the curious chatting of the lionesses became louder and louder, chatting about the stranger's beauty and elegance. The only one missing from the discussion was Nala.

On hot afternoons, Nala and Simba normally enjoyed the pleasing coolness of their cave, but Simba wasn't there that time, and without him she just nodded off, dreaming absently of past and future hunts in the twilight world of sleep.

Finally, the chatter outside stirred her, and she rose, flexed her claws, stretching as she hunched her back and yawned so widely that even an elephant would've run away from the fearsome expression. After enjoying her typical wake-up routine she left the cave to see what was happening, the discussion of the lionesses around her trailing off as she approached. "What's going on?"

The lionesses stepped back. Nala realized that some of her sisters were still looking over the edge. They seemed to observing something down below. Nala stepped slowly forward, peering over the edge of the promontory to see Simba, accompanied by a lioness.

"Oh Aiheu, isn't she beautiful!" Nala thought, so engrossed in examining the newcomer that she didn't notice Sarabi and Sarafina approaching her from behind. Inside of Nala there was an ocean of uncontrolled feelings that pushed her around between jealousy and anger. She needed all her powers to suppress the jealousy that stirred within. Growling, she cuffed at the rock face, her claws scoring the ground.

Sarafina nudged her. "Nala, my child, be careful now. Don't make mistakes you could regret later."

Sarabi nodded. "We don't know why she is here. And Rafiki is with them."

Nala nodded slowly, but kept her eyes fixed on the stranger below. "Simba will explain everything, I'm sure." She added, tight-lipped, "He'd BETTER!"

Down below Shingalana, Rafiki and Simba continued their way through the grass. Shingi's ears flickered nervously in various directions as the neared the rocks where the pride made its home. Snatches of words were picked up here and there, making her tremble.

"..beautiful girl..."

"...but look...scars..."

"Who are they?" Shingi asked, a tremor in her voice.

"We have patrols all over. They won't hurt you."

Something golden brown flew out of the grass towards her, startling her as it crashed into her flank, falling down with a dull THUMP! She turned around, seeing a cub on the ground, rubbing it's head. Shingalana couldn't help but smile a little. "Who are you, little one?"

The cub crouched low, took a deep breath and uttered a shrill..."RrrrROW!"

The immature roar was so disarmingly harmless that Shingi had to chuckle. "Come on, my little honey tree. What's your name?"

"I'm not your little honey tree. I'm Shani, future QUEEN of the Pride Lands!!!" the cub said, insulted, her big hazel eyes looking directly into Shingi's. "This is MY Kingdom, so WHO are YOU?"

Simba recognized his daughter's voice. "I thought I was still in charge around here." She froze as he bent over her, his voice filled with mild reproof. "And didn't I tell you to stay with your Aunt Fini?"

"Oh. Sorry, Dad."

"It's OK," Shingi said, glancing through the grass stems at the lioness escort that shadowed her. "I have to survive," she thought. "Oh gods, watch out for me! Let them accept me! I'm too weak to fight, but I'm too tired to run!"

"What's the matter?" Shani asked Shingi.

Simba noticed her fear as well. "You OK?"

"I'm fine," Shingi said. "Just a little nervous."

"It will be all right."

Rafiki patted her shoulder comfortingly. "At ease, my dear. No harm will come to you here." He chuckled as Simba's daughter trotted over to them, cross now that she was no longer the center of attention. "And what can we do for YOU, princess?"

Shani goggled up at Shingalana. "What's your name?"

"Shingalana."

"Shen-guh-lah-na?"

"Close enough," she chuckled. "Call me Shingi."

"Okay, Shingi." The cub peered at Shingi's neck. "Cool! How'd you get those scars? Didja fight a wildebeest? Huh?"

"Shani!" Simba glared at the cub. "That's not polite. Come on now, let's go see your mother."

Outraged, the cub plopped down in a heap. "My legs are tired," she said petulantly. "Somebody'll have to carry me."

"You're too old for that."

"Am not!"

Simba looked beseechingly heavenward, then back down to his daughter. "Come on, Honey Tree."

"I want a ride!"

Rafiki snickered behind a hand at his friend's predicament. "Just WHO did you say ruled around here, Simba?"

"Don't YOU start!"

Before either of them could say anything, Shingi padded up and picked Shani up in her jaws. The cub giggled as she swung gently by the nape of her neck, her eyes twinkling with merriment as she gazed at her father.

Simba sighed. "All right, you win. Let's go."

High above, Nala, Sarabi and Sarafina still sat observing the scene. Nala frowned deeply. "A cub!! Now whose is that stranger...."

She turned her head to where Shani was playing...or HAD been playing. Sudden understanding swept her, followed immediately by a rush of fear and anger.

"She has my daughter! Sarabi, Mother, follow me!" She sprang down the stone throat that led to the savanna below, Sarabi close behind her, glancing worriedly at Sarafina as they ran.

CHAPTER 10: COURAGE UNDER FIRE

Shani swung pleasantly from Shingi's mouth as she observed the scenery pass by slowly. She was puzzled about Shingi's fear. Shani felt safe with Shingi. Obviously the lioness liked her. But she could feel it radiate off the lioness in waves. Curiously, the cub reached up and felt of the lioness's muzzle. "Shingi?"

"Yff?"

"Whatcha scared of?"

Shingi stopped and closed her eyes a little, looking down at the ground without answering. She was glad to have the cub in her mouth--it gave her the excuse she needed not to speak.

"Dad, what's wrong with her?"

Simba glanced over and frowned. "She's just a little nervous. She wants to make a good impression."

Shingi set the cub down and released a breath as soft as the west wind. "Let's just say I was mauled, Hon, and leave it at that. Some lionesses attacked and nearly killed me."

Shani's voice quivered with outrage. "Why would they do that?? That's so mean!"

Simba nosed his daughter lightly. "Not all lions are like us, Shani. Remember what we told you about Scar?"

Shani recalled her lessons and flattened her ears. "Yeah...." She nuzzled Shingi, kissing her nose, and Shingi calmly picked her back up to resume walking.

An uncomfortable silence fell between the lions, with Rafiki wisely deciding to hold his counsel. Shingi wondered idly who this Scar character was. Somebody important from the sound of it....

There was a thundering in the underbrush and an angry snarl. Shingi fell back, her limbs trembling in fright as she saw golden death fording the savanna grass.

Shani saw it too and shrieked. "No, DON'T!"

Nala's golden body broke into the clearing, followed by Sarabi and Sarafina. Nala skidded to a stop, her breath a hot torrent as she bared her fangs at the stranger. "I am Queen Nala, daughter of Ugas and Sarafina. Drop my child or I'll kill you!"

Shingi put down Shani, then collapsed and balled up like a desperate cub, covering her face with her paws. "Oh gods! Oh gods! John! Gillian!" she sobbed. "Oh Aiheu, though I'm very small, your love goes out to one and all. And if I grow up tall someday...." She whimpered. "I pray my Ka your paws will take! Oh Aiheu, don't let them hurt me!! Please don't let them hurt me!!"

Shani squirmed forward, stepping between Shingi and her mother. "Mama, no! She's a nice lady! See?? She didn't hurt me!"

Sarabi darted in quickly and snatched the cub away, hurriedly trotting out of reach. Nala glanced at her momentarily, then back at the stranger who was cowering like a desperate cub.

Rafiki fell over Shingi's body protectively. "You'll have to kill me first! She's my patient, and she's my friend! I won't let you hurt her!"

Shani tugged against Sarabi's restraint and shrieked, "Mommmmy! Please don't kill Shingi!! Pleeeese!!"

"Gods," Nala thought, "I've never seen such fear before!" The strange lioness was covered with fresh wounds all over her stomach, sides and flanks. A cruel run of parallel welts covered one cheek. Suddenly, Nala felt shame and she was filled with an overwhelming pity for the whimpering ball of misery.

Nala was about to speak when suddenly something remarkable happened. Shingi uncurled, struggled to her feet, and sniffed back the tears with what dignity she could gather. Her teeth bared and a low growl escaped her. "Enough of this. I've had enough of shame. If I must die, let me die like a lady, fighting back."

Nala stood frozen, her chin trembling. She felt a wave of shame as hot tears welled up in her eyes. "No one is going to die," she said quietly. "I thought you were stealing my daughter. It was a mistake. I'm sorry."

"Come, child," Sarabi said soothingly. "Don't be afraid."

For a moment, Shingi thought she was addressing Shani. But the elderly lioness came and nuzzled her as her own mother might have done. Shingi's face softened, and she burst into tears, touching Sarabi with her warm moist tongue and nuzzling her desperately.

"You have a kind face, Ma'am. I haven't eaten meat in days. Do you mind if I hunt here before I move on?"

Sarabi's voice shook with emotion. "Honey Tree, there is water by the rock, and a kill. Accept our apologies and our hospitality."

Shingi looked up into Sarabi's gentle eyes. It was a sad sort of kindness that had once looked down on her in her in a distant memory.

"Are you my mother?"

"No, Honey Tree. I'm Nala's mother. Nala's a good girl. She won't hurt you...." She looked over at the queen. "....will you, Nal?"

Nala came over and nuzzled Shingi. "Of course I won't! Who are you?"

"Shingalana. My friends call me Shingi."

Nala looked at the beauty that still showed beneath the scars. Shingalana had been brutally mauled, and brown crusty stripes covered much of her body. "What happened to you?"

"I'm not really sure," Shingi said. "My new mate Ingama was making love to me. We spent much of the night together, and then these five lionesses came...." A pained look crossed her face, and with a slight gasp, she started a trickle of tears down her cheeks. "I thought he was alone like me! Oh gods, they just kept slashing at us. I don't know how long it took. It may have been a minute. It may have been an hour. All I could do was cover my face. Oh gods, the pain!" She looked down, her tears splashing on the grass. "When I saw you coming, I thought I was going to die! It was the same look!"

Nala kissed away her tears. "I saw a stranger carrying my little girl. I panicked."

"I understand." Shingi fought the tightness in her muscles and walked alongside Nala and Sarabi toward the vastness of Pride Rock.

Simba stared after them, then glanced at Rafiki in wonder.

The old ape nudged Simba and pointed. "She has courage, that one. It's buried under a lot of pain, but it still shows." He leaned on his staff and eyed the lion in front of him. "Give her time."

Simba looked again at the departing lioness. "Do you think she'll ever be set to rights again?"

"Sure she will. I've seen worse turn out just fine."

"Who, for instance?"

Rafiki chuckled and hugged Simba's neck. "Go look in the water hole. When the wind is still, you may catch a glimpse of him."

CHAPTER 11: SISTERHOOD

The stars were shining bright and clear by the time they reached Pride Rock. The other lionesses were already waiting for them. They stepped back, building an alley as Sarafina joined them, along with Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Shingi and Sarabi sitting in front of the whole pride. The lionesses murmured quietly until Nala stepped forward, clearing her throat.

"We have a stranger in our midst." Nala motioned slightly to Shingalana. "She is a jambazi, a wanderer with no name, for there are none to speak for to her."

Shingalana glanced about nervously until a comforting hand patted her shoulder as Rafiki moved alongside.

"She is a friend," Rafiki said. "I have known her company."

"She is a huntress," Uzuri said. "I have seen her bravery."

"What is her name?" Nala asked.

Uzuri went to Shingi and Shingi whispered something in her ear. Then Uzuri whispered to Isha who whispered to Yolanda. Gradually, the message spread about the circle.

"Yes, who is this lioness that stands before us?" Simba bellowed abruptly. "Tell me her name or ask her to leave."

The pride shouted in return. "Shingalana, our sister!"

"You may touch my mane, Shingalana," the lion said. Shingi approached and stroked Simba's russet mane--it was soft and sincere, and Simba smiled comfortingly.

Nala went to the cave, vanished and returned a few seconds later, a piece of meat in her mouth. She dropped it in front of Shingi and said, "Eat of the Pride's food."

Shingi took the meat, her heart full. She looked about the circle at her new pride sisters. Once she had a great emptiness. When Ingama made love to her, part of that emptiness had been filled. Still she had been lacking something in her heart. Still there had been an emptiness. As she minced the meat in her teeth and felt the warm goodness of it disappear down her throat, the lionesses and cubs came up one by one and nuzzled her. Her remaining emptiness had vanished.

CHAPTER 12: ROOM WITH A VIEW

Kako was the last lioness in the circle to nuzzle Kako. Rubbing her head very long and intensely, she looked into Shingi's eyes. "I was a stranger here, too. Anytime you need help, tell me." Kako purred. "I'll show you the cave where we rest. You look tired, my dear."

Indeed, Shingi was tired. Her body had not fully recovered, and it had been under enormous stress. Grateful for a safe place to go, she followed Kako up Mano's trail to the cave. Before she went in, however, she glanced over her shoulder at the stone promontory that jutted out into space. "Oooh, is it OK to go out there?"

"Sure it is," Kako said. "Take in the view."

A little uncertain of her footing, Shingi walked the path that generations of lions had traversed, feeling giddy as to either side of her the savanna fell further and further away.

Trembling, she managed to stand on the lectern spot, the very tip of the rock where once young Mufasa had been lifted up to the adoring crowd.

"Gods! I'm an eagle! I can see the whole world!"

"Yes, you can."

Shingalana gasped, looking around. "Don't sneak up on me like that! Kako, do you think it's a good idea for both of us to be out here? I mean, this thing could tip over."

Kako laughed loudly and wonderfully. "Honey Tree, the whole pride could jump up and down on it. It's not going anywhere."

Still, as the two lionesses headed back down, Shingi treaded softly, trying not to shake the rock.

The cave itself had a good, honest smell of lions from generations of tenants. Kako laid down and patted her paw. "Right here, Hon."

Taking what was to her a great liberty, Shingi laid down behind her new friend, her back against the soft warmth of Kako's. It felt wonderful! At last she was truly home, and she soon fell into an exhausted sleep.

CHAPTER 13: THE BOUNDARIES

"No, let me go!!!" Shingi muttered. "Don't kill me! Oh gods! Ingama, help me!!"

Shingalana's legs and tail quivered. Kako shook her with a paw. "Wake up, Honey Tree! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!"

She opened her eyes slightly, looking at the cave's entrance. The bright light of a beautiful morning hurt her eyes. She could merely see a huge shadow coming closer.

Frightened, she jumped on her feet, but a soft, warm mane brushed her face. "Calm down, Shingi! It's all right."

She recognized Simba's voice and was relieved. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the daylight.

"If you'd like, I'm headed out on patrol. I can show you the Pride Lands."

"Thank you. Everyone has been so kind to me. I'll try to be a good pride sister. Really I will."

"You'll do just fine." He glanced out at the promontory. "Caught the view yet?"

"Yes, thank you. It is beautiful."

"That it is. But life in the Pride Lands is not always easy. You are a member of the Pride now, but to share fully in the sisterhood you seek, you must be able to hunt. Follow me and I'll take you about."

"Are you sure it's OK?"

"Honey Tree, it's fine."

Nala saw them leave together and merely nodded. Shingi was past her receptive period, and clearly after the way she had been brutalized she deserved a little trust.

Shingi started out in an upbeat mood. She was walking the boundaries of her new territory. She had never owned anything more important than a soccer ball and a rubber tire swing. Now she was headed through the savanna learning the landmarks that enclosed her realm.

Still, she was weak, and the sun drained her strength quickly as she forded the grassland. Simba saw that Shingi was having problems keeping up, and he made polite excuses to stop often, drinking from every source of water and sniffing of imaginary marks. In doing so, he took much longer to make the rounds and became rather exhausted himself. It was hard being leisurely for he had to drop out of his efficient trot.

She learned a little Pride history as she made the rounds. She saw the burrow where Taka had been mauled by the white badger. She saw the sandy lugga where Nala had made her first kill, and the stream bank where Rafiki's wife and child had died. That last place was of special interest to her as she struggled to understand the depth and purity of his great kindness to her.

"Having no mate and child of his own, Rafiki has given his love to all of us," Simba said. "We are his family."

Shingi nodded. "And he is my family."

By the time they got back, it was already evening. She was raw and panting, and all the lashing of her weary tail would not keep flies off her wounds. The sun was still merciless.

The lionesses had returned from hunting, taking a little rest. Shingi stumbled to them and collapsed belly up, watching excited Shani playing around.

"Oh Aiheu, are they that full of energy all the time?"

"Yes! All the time!"

"Oh gods, I'm aching in muscles I didn't even know I had," she said.

Sarabi looked about. "Start easy and work up gradually. You're soft, Honey Tree. That and rather cut up. Rafiki has some herbs that...."

Suddenly, Shani ran towards Shingi, jumping on her stomach. "OUCH! OUCH!

Darn it!" Shingi groaned. Surprised, Shani extended her claws. "YEOW! But I love her even if she KILLS me." Shingi continued.

The lionesses grinned broadly.

Sarabi said, "Now that we're talking of killing, will you hunt with us this evening?"

Shingalana was thoughtful. Her body protested, but she thought about solidifying her membership in the Pride Sisters with a kill of her own. "Yes, I want to come!"

CHAPTER 14: THE HUNT

Evening came, and five golden bodies voyaged through the sea of grass.

Sarabi whispered, "Ever make prey?"

Shingi replied, "Yes, a young gazelle."

They were close to the water hole. A few springboks were drinking alongside some warthogs and zebras. One springbok was standing alone, two hundred feet from the water. Nala said, "This is YOUR chance, Shingi. No need to encircle them."

Shingalana crept closer. She struggled to remember the last minute advice she had been given. "Don't twitch my tail. Don't get too anxious. Don't lose eye contact. I can't afford to botch this one up!"

A twig snapped. Shingi did not wait to see if her prey noticed--by then it would be too late. She launched out of her cover after the springbok.

Her prey fled in panic, desperately changing its direction to throw her off. Still Shingi came closer and closer. "I have to get it!" Her legs were stiff and sore, but her iron will drove her forward through it all.

She was close enough to smell the sweat, ready to jump and fold it in a final embrace, when the springbok made another hook and Shingi shot past, claws and teeth bared.

"Damn!!"

Straight ahead she saw a warthog, drinking at the water hole. "Springbok or warthog, it doesn't matter! I'll have blood on my cheek tonight!"

She ran on.

The warthog turned his head towards her. "YEEEEEE! She's gonna EAT me!!"

Shingi pounced at the warthog, her forepaws at his back. She hesitated for a second to bite into its neck to kill it.

A nerve-shattering roar made her shrink back, and a huge lion pounced at her. Shingi was thrown to ground, legs up. The lion roared, forepaws on Shingi's underside: "Stop that! He's my friend!" Then he looked more closely at her "Shingi??"

"Simba??"

From behind, the other lionesses approached, a muddy Timon on Nala's back. Nala grinned mischievously. "Pinned ya! Congratulations, my dear, your FIRST time".

Simba flicked his tail embarrasedly. Shingi and Pumbaa rose.

"Who is that?" Shingi asked.

"That's Pumbaa. Without him and Timon I'd be dead."

Shingi looked about exasperated. "How am I supposed to know who to hunt and who not to hunt?"

Simba nuzzled Nala. "Look, Honey Tree, I'm no expert on these things, but if I were you...."

"....I'd be King of Pride Rock and you'd be nursing Shani," Nala quipped.

"That's not what I meant. Good one, though." Simba looked down at Pumbaa. "I think it's pretty clear that she captured him. He didn't get away if it comes down to that. Come on, girls, she said she killed an antelope once. How about it, Uzuri?"

"I'm satisfied." Uzuri spat in the dust, rolled her paw in the mud and put a muddy paw print on Shingi's cheek. "I'm declaring Pumbaa officially dead."

"Is that in the custom?" Sarafina asked.

"It is now," Uzuri said. "Pardon me if I don't give you the huntress' portion. I think he'll need to hold on to it for a while."

CHAPTER 15: QUESTIONS

Shingi awoke early the next morning somewhat stiff but greatly improved. The lionesses were lying around discussing the hunt last evening.

"I'd be afraid to eat that warthog," Uzuri quipped. "You know, girls, in that cave every noise sounds louder, and there's not much of a breeze."

Sarafina laughed merrily. "Are you expecting an ill wind from the south?"

"And he lives on bugs!" Uzuri said. "Ugh! What DID Simba see in them??"

"That's not nice, Zuri." Isha rolled on her back. "Thank Aiheu someone took charge of Simba. Though I wish it had been a leopard. I think I'd like to rub flanks with him."

"Why?"

"You know what they say about leopards!"

"Oh, come on, Isha! That's an old monkey's tale."

"No it's not! Have you ever heard a pair of them get down? Well I have. Girl, you don't make noise like that unless you're really...." Sarafina looked about and saw the cubs nearby. "Let's just say he, I an some tall grass. We could settle the question once and for all."

"Shame on you!"

Uzuri saw Shingi awake and grunted, motioning with a paw. Shingalana came and laid by the lioness that marked her cheek.

Belanna was being chased by Shani. He looked back and taunted, "You'll never get me! NEVER!"

"Will getcha, will getcha!" said Shani, nearly exhausted. She had nearly given up hope when Belanna stumbled over Shingi's tail, falling down.

Shani pounced, but Belanna rolled over. So Shani's bared needle claws hit the offending tail.

"OW!! That was MY tail, furballs!" Shingalana protested.

Shani came closer to rub her face and apologize, but the lioness began to groom her.

"No! please stop that!" Shani rolled on her back and tried to push Shingi's head away.

Belanna was proud like a king. "Missed me!" Shani jumped to her feet and pounced at Belanna again. "Gotcha! Pinned ya!"

Sarabi couldn't help herself. She laughed, saying: "No doubt, Nala, she's your daughter."

Shingalana looked up from her grooming. "Nala, how could Timon and Pumbaa save Simba's life?"

Nala didn't know where to start. "You know, Simba was a small cub at this time. They found him nearly dead in the desert." She paused, wondering what to tell next that would not embarrass her husband.

"How did that cub come into the desert?" Shingi asked. "Please, Nala, can we talk alone for a moment?" She released the struggling Shani and walked with Nala Shingi into the den. "Yesterday I was on patrol with Simba. He said he went through some bad times, but he won't discuss them with me. He's a king now, and I suppose I should accept that everything worked out for the best. It shouldn't bother me, but it does. One minute he was a king, and the next minute, he seemed to...well...look like a whimpering cub. When I was with Ingama, he could be so lordly, so powerful, so confident. Then I asked him about the cuts on his cheek and his eye, he actually trembled like a frightened child. Are they all like that?"

"No, Shingi. It's true that males never grow up the way we ladies do, they just grow bigger. Still, they have a certain confidence that hardly ever lets them down. Mufasa and his father Ahadi never brooded or jumped at words like they were wild dogs. Simba you have to be careful with. There are certain things you don't say to him, but he has a good heart, a strong heart, and his love is worth any price."

"I don't want to offend him. If I shouldn't ask about his past, I won't."

"I wouldn't say don't ask him. But do give him time. I'm sure there are things about your past that you are keeping to yourself. I'm not pressuring you to tell before you are ready. But when you are ready, do tell me."

Shingi had a very uncomfortable feeling about that as she watched Nala turn and leave the cave slowly.

CHAPTER 16: GOOD AND BAD

Nala glanced idly over at the lioness who padded along slowly beside her. The moon, barely visible when she had arrived, now gleamed down upon Shingalana's form as she moved through the grass.

Since Shingi's arrival at Pride Rock, the lionesses had gone out nightly with to introduce her to the terrain and instruct her in their typical hunting areas, migration patterns, and so on. The lioness had learned fast, and it was not easy for Nala to believe Shingi was raised by humans. There were a lot of things about Shingi that Nala was having problems believing.

As a tactful queen there were certain things Nala would not confront Shingi with. What she knew about Shingalana's past led her to believe that a deep heart to heart might hurt Shingi too much. But that evening curiosity won out. Nala, following the group a few steps behind, lengthened her stride until she came alongside Shingalana. Nala cleared her throat softly. "Sister, we need to talk."

The tone of Nala's statement made Shingi's skin tingle, and she mentally braced herself. "About my past?"

Nala nodded. "I know what I said earlier about waiting on the past. But dear, I am a queen, and I have to make decisions based on what I know."

Shingalana nodded slowly. "I can't keep all of that inside forever," she thought. "Best to get it out now before rumors start to grow." She said, "Yes, it's true that humans raised me. I lived with John and Gillian in their house."

"Their what?"

"House. It's like a tent but stronger."

"A tent?"

"You know, a tent...." With gestures of her paws, Shingi tried to indicate a sloping roof and walls, but it only confused Nala further. "It's a kind of cave that humans build."

"Oh." Nala blinked. "I remember Simba said he once saw something like that, but I thought he was kidding me."

"Humans seem strange at first," Shingi admitted. She smiled thinking about John leaving the shower with a towel around his waist. "Strange, but still they have good and bad qualities just like us. They tried to raise me well. They gave me everything they could--love, food, and even some basic skills. They don't hunt like us, you know. They eat food that comes out of metal cans and boxes. I've never seen them lying around. But they ride in on the Land Rover--the malori--carrying lots of them in all at once."

"Do you think they grow somewhere far away?"

"I don't know. The peaches were very good."

"Peaches?"

"It's a sweet fruit. And the Vienna sausages were even better."

"Vee-ah-na so-sa-ji?"

"Small hairless animals without bones that come in cans."

"In cans?"

"Hard things like the husk on some kinds of fruit. You have to open them with a can opener."

"Can opener. How do they crawl into these--cans?"

"I don't know. There's no door till they open them with the can opener. Hey, I didn't even see where they live. They were all dead by the time I got them!" Shingi sighed in frustration. "It was hard for me growing up with them, but I'm sure it was even harder for John and Gillian. Gillian used to cry sometimes out of frustration."

"It's just hard to see a human caring for a lion."

Shingi replied, "You can see a meerkat and warthog caring for a lion, but not a human? John and Gillian would look like odd little hairless creatures to you, but to me they are beautiful just like Rafiki is beautiful. And they loved me, just as Rafiki loved me. If they knew I was alive, they'd come back for me."

Nala said, "We don't know much about them or the strange maloris they ride in. But if you say they can be kind, I'll believe you."

"Everyone can be kind if they want to be," Shingi said. There's no great secret to it."

"Shhh!" Suddenly, Sarafina's ears began to flip nervously. Nala raised her head above the grass carefully.

"Zebras! Down!" Nala looked at her companions. "A herd with three stragglers. Uzuri?"

The hunt mistress peered carefully over the stems of the grass. "Two adults and one foal." She spoke without turning. "Sarafina, Nala, sneak between the herd and the stragglers. I need you to chase the herd away. Sarabi, approach them from the left, leave them no way to escape. Shingi, you and I make the primary attack. They are OURS!"

The lionesses arrowed away silently, gliding unseen through the grass, their tawny coloration blending perfectly. Half an hour passed by unnoticed as they stealthily approached, checking the direction of the wind as they closed the distance. Shingalana and Uzuri were a half-dozen lengths away when at last Uzuri gave the signal to strike.

"NOW!"

From her flanking position, Sarafina roared at the herd, panicking the animals and forcing them to run eastward. Uzuri kept track of the stragglers, watching carefully as Sarabi maneuvered quickly to prevent them from joining the herd, checking their flight and turning them west. The trio was confused for a moment, giving Uzuri and Shingi the opportunity to come closer.

Barely a body length remained between them when Uzuri stumbled over a stone concealed in the grass, rolling over in a shower of earth.

"RUN!" she bellowed. "RUN, SHINGI! Forget the foal!"

Uzuri was too far behind now to get one of the zebras, but Shingalana came closer. Nala angled in from the side and ran after them, taking up a support position.

Shingi's muscles became heavy, her will driving her on despite the shouts of fatigue from her straining muscles. Her instincts drove her forward. Shingi jumped, the claws of her forepaws digging into the zebra's back, her bared teeth finding purchase in the striped neck. Shingi strained to still the panicked animal, paws scrabbling in the dust as she lost control of her footing. The zebra fell down under the lioness's weight, sending her flying over her prey. Shingalana fell to ground heavily, crying out in fear as she collided with the other zebra's legs. Hooves thumped off of her barely healed ribs as the second zebra stumbled and fell over her bulk.

"AAAAAAHHH!" Shingi couldn't roar for the pain that took her breath away. Her jaws flexed spasmodically, grinding down with terrible force upon the first zebra's neck and ending its struggles for good.

Nala followed Shingi's lead, approaching the second zebra who lay struggling, it's leg broken due to the fall. Nala gripped it firmly by the throat, silencing it as well. Minutes later, Nala released the animal and walked over to Shingi, her sides heaving in exertion as the other lionesses joined them. The hunting party stood around Shingalana who was still gripping her prey's neck, breathing heavily through her nostrils.

Sarabi smiled at Shingi. "Hon? You can let it go now. It's dead."

Nala grinned. "You DID IT!"

Shingi opened her blood covered mouth. Staring down, she quivered. "I made it!" she said quietly, unable to believe what she had just done.

Nala nuzzled her shoulder. "You took them BOTH down! Great Aiheu, it's a miracle!" The sisterhood raised their heads and roared "Aiheu abamami!!"

Sarabi sat next to the stunned lioness. "Now you're really at home and an adult lioness! As the lioness who took them down you may take the piece you'd like to have. Of BOTH of them!"

"Such is the law," Uzuri affirmed. "Hunter's choice."

The small patter of hooves interrupted their thoughts, and the huntresses turned to face it. A little zebra foal approached them heedlessly, eyes wide as they stared at the form at Shingi's feet. "Mum!"

Nala tensed and started to turn towards the foal. A paw blurred through the air and knocked her sideways, making her stumble. Shingi's angrily snapped, "Don't you DARE touch him!" Shingi glanced at the stunned foal and lowered her voice. "Go on back to your herd, child. Your mother is with Aiheu now."

The foal looked at her, blinking, then retreated, snorting in fear and exploding away in a flurry of spindly legs as he made off towards the herd which was regrouping some distance away.

Nala sat up, staring at Shingi.

Sarafina snarled, "I hope you have a good explanation."

Shingi glared at her. "We have enough meat for days! Killing more than we can eat is murder!"

"You think we don't know that?"

Shingi blinked. "But you were going to--"

"I was going to tell him the same thing you did," Nala said slowly. "We aren't barbarians. Why did you think we gave the blessing after your kill?"

"You did?"

Uzuri nodded solemnly. "Honey Tree, you had one bad experience in your short life, but you're letting its shadow fall on everything you see." She added in a lower voice, "You don't have to be raised by humans just to have fairness and decency."

Shingi looked at the hunt mistress and saw the conviction in her eyes. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, and she rolled over, exposing her belly. "I'm sorry, Nala."

Nala smiled and licked her cheek. "For what? You did remarkably well, Shingi!"

Shingi smiled timidly. "Thanks."

Nala's smile widened into a grin. "For an amateur, anyway."

Sarafina laughed as Shingi giggled in embarrassment. "Na-LAAA!"

Sarabi chuckled low in her throat and purred softly. "Just to make it extra special, let's give her the blood."

Uzuri said, "You are a lioness, Shingalana." She took zebra blood and anointed Shingalana's cheek.

CHAPTER 16: WEIGHT PROBLEMS

A couple of moons had passed. The lionesses just returned from their morning hunt and had laid down to enjoy the sunrise. It was not a very successful morning, for they only had a warthog to show for their efforts.

Uzuri grinned. "Nala, I only hope it wasn't Pumbaa!"

Nala flattened her ears. "Every time I kill a warthog someone starts to tease me with THAT!" She rose and stepped slowly toward Uzuri, rubbing heads. "Don't forget I'm the Queen, right Shingi?"

"Huh?"

Nala realized Shingalana had said almost nothing for the whole morning. Shingi peered insecurely at Nala, her tail lashing nervously.

"I..I know, without me you'd have a whole wildebeest. I did so well that first night. Now I'm always in the way!"

Uzuri rose too. "No you're not! You made a little mistake. That could happen to anyone."

Tiny Nyota was being nursed by another lioness, so Shani had no one to play with. She strolled over to Shingi and consented to be groomed by her.

Shingi looked at Uzuri and said, "I felt sick tonight. I've felt sick for a few days and somehow I'm getting slower and slower."

Shani interrupted her, looking at Shingi's belly with a grin. "No wonder! You're getting fat!"

Shingalana put her ears straight up, rolling on her back and peering through her forelegs.

"Maybe just a little," Shingi replied. Uzuri and Nala chuckled.

"No! More!" Shani insisted. "I know. I pounce on your belly all the time and it's getting big."

Shingi squirmed with embarrassment. "Your daughter is really TASTEFUL for a future Queen," she said, glancing at Nala a little insulted. Then she wrinkled her nose and moaned, "Oooh!"

Sarabi stood behind her, curious. "I think we have a situation developing here."

"Are you certain, Sarabi?" Nala asked.

Simba's mother peered at the newcomer's belly, her ears flipping nervously. "Hmmm...the pain--how did it feel?"

Shingi was puzzled. "Like something kicked me."

"From inside?" Sarabi said.

"Yes! How'd you know?"

Sarabi's mother studied Shingi closely, suddenly grinning. "Yes! She has the light in her eyes!"

Shingi started. "The light in my eyes? You mean I'm pregnant?? ME?? No way!"

Nala's face darkened. "Simba?? No, you wouldn't dare...." She tried to banish that idea from her mind.

Shingi slumped. "Let me sleep a little. I'm sure I'll be fine soon, just ate too much zebra."

Sarabi saw Nala's sad face and knew what she suspected. "I think we all need some sleep."

Nala lay next to her mother and put a paw on her shoulder. It was a comfort to her to feel the closeness she had known since early cubhood once more. "It must be the rogue male," she thought silently. "She was just leaving her period when she came. There would not have been time. But gods, I must see the cubs! I must be sure! Simba, surely to Aiheu you would not crouch with a stranger!" Still, the thought raced through her mind. "What if he only SAID it was the first time he saw her? What if he got her pregnant? What if it was her husband that attacked her? Maybe Simba ran away and escaped unharmed! How do we know there is a rogue--who else saw him but her?" It was sheer torment.

It was already afternoon as the lionesses woke up, except Shingi. Simba returned from his stroll, accompanied by Rafiki. The monkey walked over to Shingi, waking her carefully. The lioness opened her eyes blinking. "Rafiki, old friend," she said with a sleepy smile, "why are you here?"

Rafiki embraced her lovingly. "Simba thought you may be sick or sad. And for both cases I'd be the right one for you."

Shingi sat up slowly turning to face Uzuri and Sarabi. "Those chatterboxes said I'm pregnant. I just felt a little sick to my stomach the last days. But I'm really fine." Her voice didn't sound convincing. Rafiki rushed over to Simba who was watching the scene.

"I know it!" He uttered a high laugh.

"What?"

"Just look at you, my beautiful girl!"

"I already did."

Shingi looked at Simba, then glanced back to Rafiki. "Don't tell me I'm really...."

He moved to stand beyond Simba. "Come over here."

Obligingly, she rose, grunting with the exertion, and padded over to where Rafiki stood. She glanced behind to see Simba grinning also. "Okay, WHAT'S the big joke?"

"And you don't know?!" Rafiki hugged her. "Dear lioness, I have seen this too many times to be mistaken. I can see it in your walk. You have the light in your eyes, Shingi! You will soon bear your own children!"

The look of startled wonder on her face was dazzling. "Oh thank you!" She turned and embraced Simba with her forepaws, kissing his cheek.

"Hey, thanks, but I didn't do it!" He grinned.

From behind, Nala looked angrily at Simba. "Hah! Wasn't you...."

Shingi said, "I don't care. You took me in. I'll be happy to have my children grow up in this pride."

"And I'll be happy to watch them do it," Simba added.

Nala's jealousy grew. She couldn't stand it anymore, her tail lashing rapidly and ears flattened as she pushed Shingi away from Simba.

Shingi was frightened. "It was not him, I swear.."

Nala growled. "So who WAS it??"

"His name was Ingama. He was skinny and dark maned. I didn't know he had lionesses. They were jealous--that was why they nearly killed me." Shingi drew closer. "Look at me, Nala! Look closely! Do you think your husband could look at my scars and think of making love? I was so beautiful once! Everyone said so!" Tears began to run down Shingi's cheeks. "No one will ever want me that way again! This litter has to live, Nala! They are my only hope of having children! Please don't hate me, Nala! I couldn't bear it!"

Nala's tail calmed down. "I nearly made a fool of myself again. Sorry. Look, Shingi. The scabs will go completely away, and the fur will hide most of it. You will be pretty again."

"Do you really think so?"

"I really know so."

Shingalana looked pensive. "I don't know how to take care of a cub, though. I'll need help." She added shyly, "Will it hurt?"

"Yes," Nala said, "but not for very long. Just how long depends on how many cubs you'll get, but still it will be the most beautiful moment of your life!"

Shingi lay down, rolling on her back again. Watching her growing belly she smiled at it lovingly. "I'm really looking forward to see you."

Shani's big amber eyes smiled at the future mother. "Imagine THREE cubs! Maybe FOUR!"

Shingi's eyes widened and she nearly fainted, covering her eyes with a forepaw. "Aiheu give me strength!"

CHAPTER 17: THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

That morning, Shingalana was the last one to leave the den. Her walk was stiff and lumbering. Nala could see the pain in Shingi's eyes and asked, "What's wrong with you? You look like yesterday's prey!"

Shingi chuckled sarcastically. "Yes, exactly, after eating it! I couldn't sleep at all last night." Suddenly, her eyes widened, seemingly without any reason. "Oh gods--not again!!"

Nala looked past Shingalana's head, watching her belly, which started to contract for a second.

"Mum! Sarabi!" Nala shouted excited. "Take Shingi back to the cave! It's time, Shingi! You'll bear your cubs soon!"

"I'll get Rafiki!" Simba nearly roared from behind.

Turning around, the four lionesses vanished. Shingi was brought to a rarely used edge of the cave.

Shingi laid down. Shingi didn't know what would happen. Another wave of pain was rushing through her body. "Sarabi, I'm scared... It HURTS...."

Sarabi looked at the tortured lioness. "The more the pain hurts, the greater your love for them will be. Lie on one side, my child. It will be easier then."

Shingalana followed Sarabi's suggestion, flattening her ears as new pain grew in her belly. She began to groom herself under her tail, cleaning the fur for the birth.

Rafiki hurried as fast as he could, but it still took him a long time to get to her side.

Shingi's pain made the world swim before her eyes. Repeated contractions seemed to tear her into pieces inside, making her wish she had died by the wayside. "Oh gods! Somebody help me!" Blood began to emerge, and the sight of it made Shingi panic. "I'm bleeding! I'm bleeding!"

"That's natural," Sarabi said. "Just be calm."

Something gave way inside her. Clear fluid began to run freely from her body. "Be calm?? I'm coming apart at the seams!"

"Your water broke, that's all. It means things will start happening quickly now."

"Quick is good," Shingi said, panting with exertion.

Just when she thought she would never get better, she felt a cub emerging.

"Come on, girl!" Uzuri said. "You can do it!" Uzuri kissed Shingi's cheek. "Push, Honey Tree! Push!"

Shingi raised her hind leg, and with a last pressing jolt the lioness felt the cub slipping out of her, seemingly without any effort. A new life had arrived in the dim light of the cave.

Rafiki touched her stomach. "That's it, pretty much."

"Pretty much?" Shingi said.

"You just had one cub this time. It's your first litter, and you were under a great deal of stress. Any time now you'll clean out."

She was about to ask what THAT meant, but with one last moderate push the afterbirth was expelled. "I see what you mean."

Now that all was over, tears of happiness ran down her cheeks. With her last powers, she managed to turn around and start grooming the tiny wet newcomer. "Ingama's little child. I hope somewhere, somehow he knows he's a father."

"I'm sure he does, Honey Tree."

A few moments later she had to lay down, exhausted by her enormous efforts. Nala continued to lick the child, severing the last physical connection between cub and mother.

Rafiki stroked her, whispering gently in her ear. "How do you feel?"

"Happy! Oh gods, who thought someone could go through that and feel happy?"

"The pain is over--the worry begins. You will be tired and your nerves will be frazzled, and Aiheu knows there are times you will want to scream. Then you will feel your little child nursing quietly and love will overwhelm you."

"Is it a boy or a girl? I didn't look.."

Rafiki took the cub gently, looking thoughtfully. "Here is your first son."

"A son," she purred. "A little Ingama!"

Sarabi stepped forward. "Do you know name for him?"

The ape sat the cub in his mother's forepaws. Shingi looked down at her son, smiling lovingly. "You are as helpless as I was," she purred, "but I will never abandon you." She looked up at Rafiki and said, "Kovu. His name is Kovu."

Nala stepped forward quickly and looked of the cub, testing his scent. She looked at Shingi and back at the cub. "He has his mother's eyes. But he has his father's chin, I'd say."

It was not the strong, deep chin of Simba but a more finely chiseled look. The cub was handsome, but did not look a thing like the King. Mixed relief and joy almost made Nala weep, but she concealed her emotions. "It was foolish to think it at all," she thought. "Simba loves me!"

Shingi gently took little Kovu by the nape of his neck and placed him close to her belly.

"Ko.. Ko.." he stammered, stumbling unsteadily closer to his mother's underside.

Shingi had to giggle as her son began to drink for the first time and little paws began to press her softly. "Oh gods, I love him! I love him!"

Nala, Sarafina and Sarabi were smiling and nuzzled each other in their joy.

"Enough for now," Rafiki said. "She needs some rest."

The lionesses left the cave. Shingi and Rafiki heard Simba roaring, announcing the arrival of a new pride member.

CHAPTER 18: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Shani was running around nervously the whole morning. She stood up, walked around and laid down again to be groomed by her mother. Nala was wondering why Shani kept looking toward the cave entrance and didn't pay attention to Nyota. "What is wrong with...."

SNAP!

Shani rose abruptly, hitting Nala's chin with her back. The queen nearly bit her own tongue.

"Enough Shani! What's going on with you?" She pressed Shani gently down with her forepaw.

Shani flattened her ears and her tail twitched nervously. "Mum, it's been a whole moon since Kovu's was born and I haven't seen him at all. When can I go see him? You promised!" The cub's head turned over to the den again.

Nala chuckled. "OK, visit him. I think he's old enough now."

"YEAH!!!"

Shani knew where she could find Shingi and her cub. They were in a part of the cave that was normally not used by the pride. It was where the mothers and their newborns stay for the first couple of weeks.

Shani's eyes adjusted to the dim light. She sneaked around corners and suddenly she saw the lioness. With her tail raised in excitement, she ran smiling towards her friend. "Shingi! How are you? Where is Ko....OW! OWW!!"

Shani closed her eyes as sixteen little needle claws dug painfully into her back.

"Don't say it. I found him." She struggled as the young Kovu giggled giddily at his little trick. "Leggo, leggo, DARNIT LEMMEGO!"

Shingi did her best not to burst out in laughter. "Stop it, Kovu, you're hurting her!"

Kovu retracted his claws and Shani shook herself violently, sending him flying over her head.

He landed paws up. Shani used the opportunity to put her forepaws on Kovu's belly, fully covering it. The little male struggled with all fours. Shani smiled at him. "PINNED YA!"

Kovu looked angrily. "Hey, go down from me! I'm a really dangerous LION!"

Shingi couldn't help but giggle about the tiny furry bigmouth. "Help! A lion!" the Shani said, releasing him and running about in circles. "I want my Mommy!"

Kovu rose insulted.

"Now, dangerous lion, guess what I AM!"

Shingi interrupted the battle of the beasts. "Yes, Kovu, try to guess what she is."

Kovu had no siblings. It was the first time he'd seen another lion cub. He went to Shani, very quietly this time, and sniffed of her. "She's a lion too!"

"Yes and no," Shingi said. "She's a lioness. She's getting bigger like you are, but when she grows up she will be a mommy like me. You will be a daddy like Simba. You remember Simba, don't you?"

"Yeah. He had all that hair."

"That's his mane. Someday you'll have a mane too. Then everyone will know you're momma's big dangerous lion."

"Tomorrow?"

Shani laughed. "He doesn't know much, does he?"

Shingi looked at her with mild reproof. "You still have a lot to learn too, little girl. When is the last time you made prey?"

Shani did not apologize, but she did nuzzle little Kovu, and restricting her greater strength, she wrestled with him. It took a great deal of effort on her part, but through sheer determination and cunning she managed to lose. Laughing she fell on her back while the small lion cub put his paws on her stomach. "Gotcha good!"

"OK, you win!" After a moment, Shani said, "You won. You can let me up now!"

"Gotcha good!"

Shani reached up and gave him a slow wet lick right on the end of the nose.

"EEW!" Kovu scrambled off of her, wiping his face with a paw. "Momma, she kissed me!"

"I know." Shingi's pink tongue quickly put his ruffled fur to rights. "Kovu, since you're acting so big and strong today, I think it's time you saw the world outside."

"Neat!"

That meant the restrictions were off. Kovu had the whole cave before him, and beyond that, the bright blue something that hovered outside the door of the cave. He paddled forward with unbridled joy, then suddenly realized how far he had gone--how awfully far. He looked back for reassurance, and was glad to see his mother and his new friend behind him.

The whole pride was waiting for them. Kovu's eyes blinked, nearly blinded by the light. Shingi and the cubs were surrounded by the lionesses, and Simba was standing directly in front of Kovu.

Shani pushed him, whispering proudly, "This is my father, the King!"

Kovu smiled. "That's not the King! That's Simba!" He trundled to the large lion. "Are you my daddy?"

Nala grinned maliciously. "Maybe..."

Simba peered at his mate reproachfully. "Not even in jest!" Simba looked around at the lionesses and the curious murmuring died suddenly. "Step back. Let Kovu see the Pride Lands."

Kovu was visibly impressed by Simba's low voice. The cub stepped forward to the edge of Pride Rock.

For the first time the eyes of a young life were touched by the beauty of the seemingly endless savanna. It was at once inspiring and horrifying. So much left, so much right, so much up and down. So little cub.

CHAPTER 19: NOTHING BUT TROUBLE

Shingalana looked into the blood-red setting sun. She had come full circle from a helpless cub to the mother of a helpless cub. Kovu nursed her, bringing a smile of contentment to her face, but as her thoughts wandered to John and Gillian, Shingi's smile vanished.

There were really two Shingis in her one skin. The first one loved John and Gillian and longed to have their odd but loving furless arms wrapped gently around her neck once more. The second one bore the bloody pawprint of Uzuri on her cheek which tied her Ka and Ma'at to the family that had adopted her. This was the huntress of the open savanna that wanted to shield Kovu from the pains she had gone through. John and Gillian were strong. Kovu was weak--he needed her more right then.

Nala saw Shingi's wistful sadness and asked, "Your parents?"

Shingi nodded slowly, still watching the sunset.

"We love you, Shingi. This is your home now."

Shingi flattened her ears in embarrassment. "I know." She looked down at Kovu, who was sleeping gently between her forep