Sunrise over the African wilderness. Animals walked across the land from their homes. Among them were antelope, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and zebras. Birds flew in the blue sky above. Among them was Zazu, the yellow-billed hornbill who served as a messenger. They were all heading towards the silhouette of Pride Rock. Every herd had all heard the news. The cub of Nala and Simba, the lion king, was born.

And what great timing, too. The land was now full of green grass and healthy trees. During the reign of Scar, Simba's uncle who had murdered his father Mufasa, all of the vegetation had died out. There was not enough food for the animals, so they moved on, leaving nothing for the hyenas. Though they initially helped Scar become king, their hunger was enough to betray him after his defeat at Simba's paws.

Everything looked wondrous once again. The cub had been born into a great home. When all of the herds stood in front of pride rock, they saw the mandrill-baboon Rafiki, a friend of Simba's family. A couple of other friends, a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa, were trying to get through the crowd.

"Move it, people!" Timon said. "We're royalty. Don't make me use this warthog's behind on you again!"

All of the animals moved aside hurriedly.

"Uh, technically the lions are royalty," Pumbaa said.

"But we hang out with Simba, and that makes us royal. How you doin', my old monkey friend?"

"I see that you still have not learned to be polite," Rafiki said. "I have a cub to see."

"We want to see, too!" Pumbaa said.

They followed Rafiki as he got onto Pride Rock and hugged Simba just as he had hugged Mufasa years earlier. They entered the lion's den. The cub was lying down next to Nala. Mufasi put various things he found from nature on the cub's head. He picked him up and carried him outside. Nala, Simba, Timon, and Pumba followed. Zazu circled around them. Rafiki raised the cub up. The golden-furred boy. He looked at everything that the light touched. He dreamed of a day that this could all belong to him.

Till we find our place

On the path unwinding

In the Circle

The Circle of Li-i-i-i-i

Circle of Liiiiiiife