III. LIGHT

As Sarafina had promised, the next day was considerably better for young Mheetu. The sun had finally broken through the clouds, and the light seemed to lift everyone's mood a bit. There was still sorrow and tension hanging thick in the air, especially now that his father had allowed even more hyenas into the Pridelands- but the lionesses were smiling and laughing with him again, just as they had before the incident.

The one lioness he really wanted to see, however, had eluded him for most of the morning. He had found all of the adults, lounging and talking on the sunny rocks that overlooked the vast savanna below, but his sister still remained missing. He searched high and low, his little cub body squeezing into every nook and cranny of Pride Rock. He went to her favorite hiding spots from their games of Hide and Seek, but she wasn't there. Her favorite tree at the base of the rock was occupied only by some noisy birds. Even her sleeping-spot in the large, hollow den was abandoned.

Just as he was about to give up, turning to leave the cave to join the females in basking in the sun, he spotted her. She was standing at the entrance to the cave, the sun gleaming off her fur as she peered into the darkness. He stared at his older sister in awe as the light glowed around her, a halo of pure, soft golden light forming around her body as she quietly padded into the den. As the light faded into shadow, his wide eyes remained mesmerized by the sight until she had come to stand directly in front of him.

For the first time in what felt like seasons, Nala smiled at him.

"Why aren't you outside in the sunshine, Mheetu?"

He blinked, shaking off the surreal experience, before grinning brightly and bounding up to place his paws on his sister's shoulders.

"I was looking for you! I looked all over, up and down and everywhere, and I just couldn't find you!"

She tossed her head back and laughed before playfully tackling him, being careful as always not to hurt him thanks to his much smaller size.

"Well, I'm here now. And since I'm here... Tag! You're it!"

Mheetu let out a shrill peal of laughter as his sister pranced off, her tail held high. Quickly, he rolled to his feet and began the chase, the other lionesses all smiling as they watched the two siblings play together. For the entire day, brother and sister played together, until the only light left for them to bathe in was the clear, crisp light of the savanna moon.

As they turned in for the night, Mheetu nestled up against his sister.

"Nala, can we play like this every day?"

"I guess so," she responded quietly, her voice distant once more.

"Don't you like playing with me?"

She frowned, her ears drooping as she rested her chin on her brother's back.

"I like playing with you a lot, Mheetu. It's just... I really miss Simba. He was my best friend."

The last syllable nearly got stuck in her throat. As he looked up at his sister, Mheetu noticed her eyes were squinched up and watery. She was trying not to cry.

"I can be your best friend, Nala," he muttered, lightly patting her face with his paws.

She said nothing; the only response she could make was to hug her brother tightly as she finally broke down once more.

Inside the den, the light was gone.