A few months later, Monwa was fully recovered; except her front right paw, that is. Despite numerous trips to the sunning rock (Uru's treatment) and Rafiki's medicine, the bone had not fully healed and gave Monwa frequent cramps. She could run only short distances and walked by limping every so often. But despite all of this, she was still a great lioness who always had time for Uru and Ahadi.

The two cubs became best friends and were inseparable. They would chase each other around the den, pouncing on each other and play fighting. Ahadi's mane had grown into a miniature adult's mane; from the top of his head, around his ears and around his neck.

When the day was clear and the breeze was blowing softly, Monwa would bring the young lions out for hunting lessons. Even when Monwa couldn't demonstrate visually how to crouch and pounce; her words alone was a clear enough picture for the young lions to learn.

"Do you hear that?" whispers Uru to Ahadi as they crouched in the tall grass. "Sounds like a mouse."

"It sounds more like a small antelope," whispers Ahadi back.

"Unsheathe your claws, you two," says Monwa quietly as she watched them from a few paces away. "Keep you ears perked and your bodies low."

The two young lions got ready to pounce as they heard the animal calm down. They leaped out of the bushes at the same time and both landed a paw each on the navy-blue bird's tail feathers.

"Hey, watch it!" he yelled. "It took a long time for me to..."

He stopped in mid-sentence as he saw the two adolescent lions.

"Ah, hehe," he said nervously. "Um, I'm sorry, Princess. I didn't think it was you."

Uru and Ahadi were confused. How did this bird know that Uru was the princess?

"Hey, what did you find over there?" calls Monwa. She limped over and found the pair staring at the navy-blue hornbill.

"Monwa! Good to see you again," exclaims the hornbill. "I was just soaring over the lands when I thought I saw a pretty lady around here. "

"I think you just saw Zuzu, Kigeni," laughs Monwa as she saw the hornbill blush. "I can take you to see her if you like."

"Ah, yes, but my love life can wait, Monwa," chuckles the bird a bit nervously. "I come here on more important matters though."

"You are the Majordomo of the Kusini Pride, right?" says Monwa. "Yes, I remember you from one of my journeys there before we had Zuzu."

"Well, the Kusini Pride you see, their lands experienced a terrible drought," starts Kigeni. "The rivers and waterholes are completely dry; as in, the sand isn't even wet anymore. The grass has dried up and died and the trees are nothing but shriveled twigs! I come here on behalf of their Pride Leader Kusini. He asks if his pride could stay here for the time being until he finds a new place to stay."

Monwa nodded her head. "I'm going to ask the King about this. Don't worry about a thing."

With a flick of her tail, Monwa ordered the young lions to follow her back to Pride Rock.

"That sounds terrible," mutters Uru. "About the drought I mean. I hope dad would help them out."

"Well, once you're the Queen of Pride Rock you will have the choice in helping others as well," says Monwa. "But there are times when you have to be on your guard. You also have to be considerate about our lands. For example, if the pride that requests to stay here is actually a very large pride who had lands which were abundant with prey before, they might not know just how much to hunt. They might end up over hunting in our lands. Understand?"

Ahadi and Uru were silent for a while.

"That sounds pretty complex," says Ahadi. "But I'll be right there when that happens."

Uru smiles at her best friend's words. "Thanks, Ahadi."

A/N: Reviews will be much appreciated!