Chapter 36

There was nothing but silence.

Safiya still stared at him and he knew what she was thinking: 'Tell me, Tayari, you can.'

And he could… right? He wanted to. But once he began, he'd start remembering. And if he remembered – Tayari shivered, ran his tongue over his lips and averted his eyes from hers. "Come on, Ty, you can do this," he thought. "It's time you tell a lioness. You told Kipaji…"

But that was different. Kipaji was old enough to be his father for goodness sake! The only lion who didn't know was Kambiri, and Tayari wasn't sure he could tell the lion he loved like a brother. He wasn't afraid of Kambiri's judgment. The sandy-brown lion didn't have a judgmental bone in his body. Perhaps he could tell him one day, but for now…

He cleared his throat, turned his eyes back to Safiya, and exhaled a breath. "Okay…" he thought again. "Spirits… give me strength…"

This was why they were here lying in the grass. He hadn't been himself all day. Safiya caught on and asked what was wrong. So why was he stalling? He chided himself and tried to speak, then paused, averting his eyes again. Shame surrounded him.

"Tayari…" She spoke his name carefully and before he could object she reached out with a paw, touching his. "It's all right. You can tell me."

Their eyes met again and Tayari knew he couldn't stall forever. He was surprised she wasn't pressing him. But then, she was as her name suggested: Clear-minded. He spoke, slowly. "Okay, Saffy… I wasn't born a rogue; I was born in a pride, a son of the royal line, the second born."

Safiya felt her heart drop into her stomach. He was royalty? The lion who protected her from Adawa was a prince?

He understood the thoughts churning in her mind. "Surprised you, didn't I? I'm sorry, but my old home life isn't something I like to talk about."

"Oh, well, if you don't –"

Tayari raised a paw. "No, it's okay. I can't pretend that I'm not a prince or that something went wrong. Truth is, I was a prince and something did go wrong. I'm about to tell you what happened." That is, if he could get the words out.

Safiya raised her head to the sky. She couldn't see the sun, even with the clear blue. But it was still daylight and she found herself not caring how long it would take Tayari to tell his past. She would stay, they both would. She owed him that much. He'd gone out of his way to help her; she would do the same for him.

He continued. "I grew up in a peaceful realm with my brother. We had no sisters; it was just us, the sons of the king and queen, the princes. My brother was to be king after our father and we were far from being the only cubs in the pride. My mother's brother and his mate were Lord and Lady of the lands, second-in-command to my parents. They had cubs, a son and daughter. Other cubs in the pride were children of the kingdom's guardians. We were all close, but the family bond between me, my brother and our cousins was a bit stronger."

Tayari closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "My parents were good rulers, making sure peace was kept among the animals and among the pride. The guardians protected the lands from malicious rogues. All was peaceful. Once I turned three my father said that I would be the new Lord of the lands when my brother was crowned king. I looked forward to that position and do whatever I could to keep the pressures and heavy duties off my brother's back. I had a bright future." His whiskers twitched.

He really did have a good future, Safiya thought, so what… She couldn't ask that. He would explain.

Tayari licked his lips and looked down at the grass, rubbing a paw. "I had no idea that one night from the caves would change everything. I didn't know that my future would fall apart." He lowered his head.

Safiya chose her words with great care. "Ty… what happened?"

The way she asked was gentle, cautioning. He shut his eyes tighter and felt himself shake. He then rose to his paws, thirsty. He went to the waterhole, drank deeply, and sat. Safiya looked up at him and rose, sitting near him.

Tayari was unable to control his shakes. The next part of his past… the whole reason he was… He bowed his head; his mane fell over his eyes. He gave another look to Safiya. There was concern in her face and eyes. He tore himself from it. Could he? He had to! In order to completely move on, he had to see this through. Telling Kipaji had been hard, but the gray lion loved him like a son. Safiya was… she was a lioness he was beginning to like.

He opened his mouth. "Tamaa," he said. The word, the name, tasted bitter. He wanted to throw up. A lump filled his throat. "A lioness named Tamaa, but not just any lioness. She was my cousin, a princess of the lands…"

Now he would tell her the night that changed his life…

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Prince Tayari had been unable to sleep. The chamber that housed the royal family was located at the far back of the huge den that served as the pride's keep, was stuffy and Tayari wasn't able to keep his eyes closed a moment longer. How long he'd been asleep, he wasn't sure. How many times he'd woken since he settled down to sleep was unclear, but he didn't care. He had to get some air.

He left his sleeping parents and brother, stepped out of the chamber, and made his way through the rows of lions and lionesses. The cool air hit his paw the moment it touched the grass. Then the air hit his face, his body. He stopped and breathed it in. So cool, peaceful, wonderful.

He started walking around, leaving the den behind. He wasn't sure where he was going; just that he had to get away for a while. If anyone would be concerned it would be his brother, the older prince and heir. Tayari had to smile. The kingdom will be lucky to have you ruling, he thought to himself.

He never imagined what it would all be like if it were backwards, if he were the heir. He could never imagine it. Though his name meant 'Always prepared' it didn't mean he'd be prepared to rule a kingdom.

No, he was glad things turned out like they did. He was happy to accept the idea of being Lord to his brother's King. He would be taking the position his uncle was holding now. He would make everyone proud. While he wasn't about pleasing others, this, his future title as Lord, was important. He would be helping his brother.

He lifted his head to the skies. The stars were out. He smiled and looked ahead. A waterhole, just what he needed. His throat was dry. He came up to it, drinking long and hard then licked his mouth, satisfied. He was about to walk on when a voice stopped him.

"Evening, Tayari, what brings you out?"

The voice was female. He'd known that voice since he was a cub. He turned to see a lioness with fur color darker than his approach. This was the only princess of the kingdom his age. This was Princess Tamaa, his cousin.

He dipped his head. "Evening, Tamaa. I couldn't sleep. The chamber was getting warm so I came out here for relief. What about you?"

She smiled. "The same reason as you." She looked up at the skies. "It's a nice night."

"Yes, it is."

He loved Tamaa. She was family. She was skilled in hunting and a good fighter, or that's what he heard from some of the lionesses they grew up with. He had a feeling she would take up the position of hunt mistress, the position her mother, his aunt, had. She'd be perfect for it, he thought.

Tamaa came up and nuzzled him. He returned the gesture. He had a good relationship with her, loved her like the sister he never had. He'd do anything to protect her. Her brother would do the same. Everyone in the pride cared for each other and it would continue when his brother became king.

"We're in for a good future," he thought again, but any other thoughts he had were interrupted when he felt Tamaa's tongue along his cheek. He pulled away, looking at her confused. "Tamaa, what are you doing?" he asked.

Again she smiled, her very light blue eyes shining in the darkness. Suddenly he was terrified. "Tamaa…" His mouth dried. His heart began to beat and he could feel… something flowing over him.

"You're a handsome lion, Tayari," she said, rubbing her head against his, the side of her face buried in his brown mane. "I never realized it, although, maybe I always knew."

Heat coursed through him. He wanted it to go away. This… this was – "Tamaa, stop, this is wrong. We're family."

She pulled away for a moment, staring up at him. Somehow, he found himself drawn into her eyes. She was beautiful. He chided himself, cursed on the inside. Stop it, fool! Yes, she's beautiful, all lionesses are, but she's your cousin!

"We're related. My mother and your father are brother and sister. This makes us related by blood. You shouldn't be –" He was cut off as she nuzzled the other side of his face and licked his cheek. He could feel her shuddering. He shuddered too but not with the passion she seemed to have. "Stop this! Please, stop…" His voice fell as pleasure rolled over him some more. He tried to keep control.

"Come on, Tayari," said Tamaa as she nuzzled him again. She rubbed herself completely around him. She rubbed her head up to his, eyeing him deeply. "You're a handsome lion and you know it. I'm surprised you're not taken."

He wanted to move. Thinking fast, he stepped away. But she followed. "I'm… I-I'm waiting… for the right lioness... that is, one who is not of my family's bloodline. That means you, Tamaa. I do love you, but not in that way. I never could. It's unforgivable. We have plenty of males our age in the pride. Why not choose one of them? I'm sure one would be happy with you."

"So, you don't want me?"

He sighed hard and ran his teeth together. "If we weren't family, perhaps…" He couldn't deny that. It was true.

She nuzzled him again and licked his cheek all the way to the corner of his mouth. Her tongue touched his lips. "Tayari, please… This'll be our secret. I am a lioness. Don't you want this, just a bit? You're not in a relationship with a lioness so you wouldn't be cheating."

Fear swept through him, but so did a small bout of pleasure at her continued touch. And so did common sense. It was wrong, but if he walked away now, she would try again later. Clearly, she was into him, but why? Did he do something to lead her on? When they were cubs, it was different. They loved playing together, now they were grown up, with future responsibilities to consider, not a crazy and inappropriate fantasy.

He tried again to reason with her. "Tamaa, please, don't."

She kissed him again. "No one has to know, Ty. It could be our secret. Please?"

He wasn't sure what to do. He was at a crossroads. He just couldn't! Yet whenever she kissed him, nuzzled him, ran her body along his, his heart raced. He could feel himself slowly fall. He wanted to nuzzle her, kiss her…

She's family, Ty, part of your blood, don't!

He was torn between doing what was right – which was, of course, rejecting her and being pure – or, the other, surrendering to what she was making him feel. He and his father had had that talk. He'd promised his father and himself that he would wait for the right lioness, enjoy an honorable courtship, then marry her if she wanted a lifelong commitment with a prince, and then do what was natural.

But now that promise was slowly slipping the more Tamaa, his own cousin, kissed him and rubbed against him. He sniffed the air. Her scent was intoxicating and unbearable, the former now swimming about in his head, cutting off the promise and his common sense.

"T-Tamaa…" he begged.

"Just give me this, Tayari. No one has to know… Not my brother, not yours, nor our parents."

He watched her, through blurry eyes as she again walked around him, her tail wrapping around his legs and flicking up to his chin. She turned her head back to him and smiled, her eyes glistening in the moon's light. Her name meant longing, but to long like this, and for him…

His legs began to weaken and the rest of him would soon follow. He studied her, unaware that his heart was pounding. His common sense was telling him to leave. His body, however, was telling him to go with her.

He wanted to bash his head against a rock or a tree. He wanted to fall into the waterhole and drown. Drowning would be better pleasure than this!

"Tayari…" She laid her head on his shoulder. "Please…" Again, she gave him a long passionate kiss on the cheek. She looked at him and smiled.

That was it. All his sense of right was gone. He came up to her and they started walking, hiding from the silver of the moon and the stars above.

In that moment Tayari knew he had fallen from every good thing his parents ever taught him.

His promise was broken.

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Tayari expected Safiya to yell, to scream. He expected her to run and wouldn't blame her if she did. He had committed an unforgivable sin. He'd slept with his cousin! But she did none of these things. She didn't yell, scream or run. She was still there, still staring at him with a shocked look on her face. It was neither judgmental nor condemning.

"It was wrong," he said. "I was stupid. I shouldn't have done it…" His voice was quiet, pained. Shivers, tremors and quakes filled him. He hated this feeling, but there was nothing else. "I'm sure you think of me differently, and if you do, I don't blame you. I slept with my cousin and I've been paying for it ever since." He wanted to meet her eyes but he was afraid of what he might see in those beautiful light green eyes of hers. "That night with Tamaa… it'll always haunt me. I barely sleep at night. I'm afraid to sometimes."

She spoke. "Tayari…" Hesitating, she touched her paw to his. "What happened after?"

"The next morning I woke up to find her gone. I was confused and then I thought she left to make it so we didn't come home together. It wouldn't look good and suspicions would rise. I waited for a few minutes and then headed for the caves." He paused. "What I saw when I got there… Tamaa was talking to her father and mine. As I made my way to the den my father looked at me angrily. There was something off with it, and Tamaa looked like she'd been crying. I went inside. The den was empty much to my relief then Father came in and told me something that made my heart stop."

He took a breath. "He told me that Tamaa had told him and her father I lured her out and raped her."

Safiya's mouth fell. "But, Tayari –"

"Hey, believe me, I was about to defend myself and say she came onto me, but I couldn't." She didn't speak. He continued. "I couldn't, Saffy. There were no witnesses. It'd be her words against mine. Then Dad told me that there was only one rightful punishment for rape in the kingdom…"

Safiya nodded lowly. "Banishment," she whispered.

"Yes. At first I thought me not defending myself was foolish. I was the victim, but with no witnesses… Plus it would spare our mothers a trial. I told my father I agreed to the terms. There was a deep pain in his eyes, almost as if he couldn't believe I would do such a thing, that I wasn't defending myself, or both."

She swallowed and considered her next words. "Tamaa's father…"

"He came in with fiery eyes and before I knew it he smacked me hard with his paw. At that my father told him to get out then he came up to me, asked if I was okay. My cheek stung but I nodded. 'I'll talk to him,' he said. After I regained myself, I said that word was going to get around. That Tamaa would… I said it was dangerous for me to stay a minute longer and asked my father to take me to a border and send me on my way."

"What did he say?"

"He was shocked and then he asked about my brother and mother. For that, I had no words, only saying it was for the best, and that, like him, deep down, Mother would know I would never commit such an act. As for my brother, I decided let him have his own conclusion, the pride too." Tayari ran his paws along the grass. "I didn't know what else to do." He looked at Safiya for a moment then turned away. "I suppose that's cowardly."

"It's not, Ty. You wanted to spare the pride a trial and banishment was the best way. Did your father…" She stopped.

"It took him a moment but he agreed, saying he would take me to the eastern border as it was always vacant in the mornings. So we set off and I examined my surroundings since I'd be seeing them for the last time. Father and I didn't speak until we reached the borderline and faced each other. He said he would miss me. I said the same of him, Mom and everyone else. Then he said he wasn't sure whether I was innocent or guilty."

Tayari licked his maw, emotion welling up inside. "I said it didn't matter, that this action was best. I was thinking of them, not myself. I told my dad I loved him, asked him to say the same for my mom and the others. 'You will always be a prince of these lands,' he said. We nuzzled and I turned to leave."

Safiya ran his words in her mind and stared at him. He was no lion who could do such a thing, she knew. Not just solely because he saved her from Adawa, but his character. It was something she'd never seen in a lion. Yes, he'd done wrong but it wasn't his fault entirely. Yet he'd taken responsibility and left everything behind, quietly, without making a fuss. Admiration filled her and she looked down, asking, "Dumaka… where does he fit into this?"

Tayari laughed softly. "Well, once I was out of the lands and found a waterhole, I heard his voice. I turned to see him right beside me. I'll never forget his words." His eyes flickered with amusement. "'You're not gonna continue without me,' he said. After drinking some water he told me how he knew. Apparently my father went to see Dumaka's father, the current shaman after I left. Dumaka was nearby as my father explained everything. When he left, Dumaka and his father got into a fight. Dumaka believed I was innocent and told his father that he was going to leave and join me. 'My place is with you, Ty,' he said. I couldn't say no after what he'd just done, and figured if anything happened to me I would need a shaman. For a long time it was just us, then we met Kambiri and Kipaji and joined them. Three lions and a meerkat… we considered ourselves a team, a family. And now we're here. Your king accepted us, despite having only met Kambiri and Dumaka."

Safiya sighed and sniffed at the mention of her late king. "I wish you could have known him when he was alive, Ty. He was a good king, an amazing leader. He was a father to me." A tear snaked down her face and she ran a paw across her nose.

Tayari rose and sat beside her. She put her head on his shoulder. "I wish Kam and I could have done something," he said softly.

"You did. You brought the king back for a burial. You've been keeping borders safe from invaders." She paused. "You rescued me from Adawa when you could've continued on."

An image of the dark gray lion hitting her flashed in Tayari's mind. He felt anger course through him and breathed it out. He shook his head. "I couldn't have. I couldn't let him hurt you."

"You saved my life that day, Ty." She nuzzled him gently. "Thank you."

He put his chin on top of her head. "You're welcome. I'd do it again."

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Nadia listened to everything Rashid said.

The shaman was suffering just as she was; only her dreams were of Nkosi, her only son, and Habari, her late mate. Her dreams were of the past, when all was right in their kingdom. Rashid's dreams were nightmares.

Would they come true? Would the lands really die without a leader on the throne? Would everything her son, her mate, and the other rulers of their royal bloodline did become nothing but dead grass, dried waterholes, no animals, and a starved pride? Was it possible?

Even as Rashid spoke, she could see it all in her mind. It terrified her, frightened her and made her shake all the way to her bones and cause her soul to ache.

She licked her lips and finally found her voice. "Rashid… if… if what you're dreaming could happen, what can be done to prevent it?"

The monkey rubbed the back of his neck, sighing painfully. Dumaka was beside him who looked down at his feet. His friend didn't have an answer. He hadn't been here that long anyway. No, this was Rashid's problem, and he had to find a solution. There was only one issue… There was a solution but it was heavily opposed. It had been opposed since – Rashid shut his eyes and tried to clear his mind.

Then he opened his eyes and looked at the former leader. "There is only one way, Nadia. Jahzara, your only granddaughter… she must take the throne. She is of royal blood; she is Nkosi's daughter, the king's daughter. To deny her birthright –"

Her eyes snapped and she heard herself growl lowly. "I am not denying her birthright, Rashid. It's the pride! They refuse to see that she is the hope we need! They want Adawa, and I'll be… He'll never get it, I won't let him."

Dumaka, who had been quiet, finally broke his silence, rubbing his hands together. "Is there any way to convince the pride?" he asked.

Nadia thought for a moment then shook her head. "I've tried," she said, speaking to the meerkat softly. "Even I, their former queen, they will not listen to."

"Then… it must come from Jahzara herself," said Rashid.

Again Nadia shook her head. "I don't think so. She… she doesn't see herself as royalty. For three years all she's heard is that her mother seduced the king and because of that she is a…" The old lioness clamped her mouth shut. She refused to speak such an obscenity in front of the shamans. She swallowed and continued. "Because of that she is unworthy to inherit the throne, at least in the pride's eyes."

The older shaman gripped his hands, turning them into fists. He tried to keep his anger in. And the lionesses who were saying these things were some he'd baptized at birth? Outrageous! How could they… He gritted his teeth and put a hand over his face, rubbing it down to his chin.

"So, Jahzara hasn't acknowledged the fact that she is a princess, not even to herself?"

"No. She feels she's unworthy. She's beginning to believe it. She didn't want to stay in the royal chambers after the memorial but I've convinced her to by staying with her. Only, I can't stay in there for long. It's not my place, hasn't been for years. The royal chambers are hers, the throne is hers, the right to rule this kingdom and everything in it is hers! But…"

The pain of her granddaughter's situation caused her to stop and hang her head. She felt defeated. If she couldn't convince a pride she'd lead for four years… the same pride her son lead for three, that Jahzara was meant for the leadership, then there really was no hope. And hope was the meaning of the former queen's name. What hope did she have left? The hope she, the pride and the kingdom needed, was rejected because of her parents' relationship.

Dumaka spoke again. "Rashid, is there a way, you know, a spiritual way, to convince Jahzara?"

The monkey looked down at the meerkat and leaned his ear down to him. Dumaka had spoken his question in a whisper. Rashid was stunned. What a question! One he should have considered a week ago! A spiritual way… He thought about it, mulled it over in his mind, then his eyes grew wide and he looked at Dumaka, smiling.

Yes, there was a way!

He returned his gaze to Nadia.

Nadia stared down at him. His eyes were bright, full of hope and… an idea?

"My lady, I think Dumaka and I may have a plan on how to help Jahzara."

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Radhiya and Kipaji stared at the waterhole. They didn't speak, only watched, but the waterhole wasn't the only thing that caught the gray lion's interest. Beside it, on the bank, was a grass grave. Radhiya said it was the grave of a friend of her and Nadia's, a lioness of their generation.

"She was the mother of Kali, who was a friend of my daughter, along with Nkosi and Nyari. Her name was Masozi…"

"Tears," Kipaji said, speaking the meaning of the dead lioness's name.

The lioness beside him nodded. "Yes… and she wept tears when her daughter died."

He turned his attention back to the waterhole. It looked like an ordinary waterhole, but he knew it wasn't. And if there was a grass grave beside it… His ears fell. "So… this is where it all began?"

She nodded and willed herself not to remember too much, only what she would tell him. "Yes. This waterhole is poisoned, by what no one knows. Not even the first shaman knew. He told the first king who told his pride that no one was to drink from it. They were a small pride and couldn't afford any losses. The shaman told the animals, though some disobeyed and drank anyway. A small few died while others… well, there were bad repercussions. Generations came and went; the Eastern Valley saw many leaders rise to the throne. With each new leader the same message was given to the pride. No one was to drink from this waterhole. They all listened, even the guardians of that time. And with each new shaman, the message from their teacher was passed on to them and they would tell their successors."

Radhiya stopped and Kipaji noticed her shake. He could feel it and he studied her. "But something changed," he said.

She looked at him. His eyes seemed all-knowing, but they weren't. He wasn't. "Yes. It was Habari, Nkosi's father."

"Tradition…"

He did it again! How did –? She shook her head. "Habari refused to believe that the waterhole was poisoned, so he didn't tell the pride. But the lionesses with cubs… we told our children, and Nadia told Nkosi, despite her mate's carelessness. Once we did, we knew they would listen, just as we listened to our mothers." Her ears fell and she turned away from him. "We were wrong, dreadfully wrong."

Kipaji stayed where he was, though it hurt him to see her pained. "Disobedience…" he said softly.

She nodded a little and her head felt like it had been stomped on by a large hoof. "Kali and Sauda drank the water. Nkosi and Nyari didn't, thankfully." A large weight fell on her shoulders, near taking her down. "The cubs were taken home, Masozi and I went to our cubs and Rashid was called. The news wasn't good. Sauda was in a coma and Kali… Rashid told her mother that Kali wouldn't make it. She drank the water too fast, whereas Sauda…"

"She drank slowly," said Kipaji.

Radhiya's her heart sank. "My daughter was in a coma and Kali died in front of us. Masozi was distraught, naturally, and Kali was buried among the dead lions of the Valley on the eastern side. A few days later I heard that Masozi committed suicide. The death of Kali was too much on her so she drank the water that took her child. Nadia told me that." Her eyes fell to the grass grave and she swallowed. Her legs trembled. "Masozi's death served as a true warning to everyone of the Valley that this waterhole was in fact dangerous."

"All this while Sauda was clinging to life…"

"It took her three months to be her old self again, but she wasn't. I didn't care. My daughter was alive, that's all that mattered. Prince Nkosi and Nyari, they were happy, we all were. Then a year later Habari came to me with the idea of betrothing his son and my daughter." She stopped and gathered herself. She could feel tears brim the edges of her eyes.

"You didn't want it, did you?"

Was he able to sense her hurt?

"No. Before he told me, I found out from Sauda that… that she didn't have her first heat. I thought it was nothing, but a few months later she came to me again. She couldn't feel any changes and then I started worrying. I wanted to ask Rashid, but didn't. Not long after, Habari approached me and I couldn't tell him." Radhiya shook her head and walked up to the waterhole. "Those three months, Kipaji… What was I supposed to do? Sauda was my daughter, I only thought of her when I said yes. Nkosi… he treated her so wonderfully when she recovered."

The gray lion spoke at length. "You did what any mother in your position would have done, Radhiya. You were looking out for your daughter. So, Nkosi and Sauda were betrothed…"

"They were, and I wanted Sauda to tell him before the wedding, but she never did. Habari disappeared a few months earlier. Nkosi and Sauda were married and named the new Eastern Valley rulers. In time Sauda told Nkosi the truth. He was angry and after talking with Rashid, and me telling him what I did, with Nadia at my side, Nkosi told us that he would have a cub with another lioness."

"Nyari," said Kipaji, "Jahzara's mother."

"She and Nkosi loved each other deeply. In a way she was his queen, not Sauda." She glanced at him. "You heard what Rashid said about Nyari at the memorial?"

"She died of food poisoning…"

"Nkosi was heartbroken. He lost a part of himself when Nyari died. He dedicated the rest of his life to caring for Jahzara, wanted to make sure she knew her rightful place as the king's daughter, the heiress. Nadia and I helped out as much as we could. I loved Nkosi like a son; I love his daughter like a granddaughter. And I'm… trying to get over the guilt I still feel."

"You can," he said.

She shut her eyes. "How, Kipaji?"

He came up to her. "By telling yourself you did no wrong. Sauda disobeyed you. She knew what she was doing. There's no need to blame yourself, you did your best. I know it. None of this is your fault."

She sighed and thought. It wasn't her fault… Nadia had said the same three years earlier, Nkosi too. They passed no judgment on her and the lion at her side, a lion she'd only known a week had just done the same. Could she stop feeling guilty? Tears seeped out of her closed eyes and she wept. It's not my fault, she told herself. Then she said the words out loud, softly. Then loud enough so Kipaji could hear.

"It's not my fault. I did no wrong." The sound of the words made her feel free, at peace for the first time in seven years. A huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She turned to Kipaji, smiling. Then without warning, she laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you."

Her action surprised him but he didn't pull away. He purred. "You're welcome." The peace and freedom she felt, he did too.

"What about Nadia? She… I know she won't admit it, but she still suffers guilt."

"I can help her," he suggested.

"She needs it."

"I'll do what I can."

She knew he would.

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Jahzara couldn't believe what was happening. While Kambiri was patrolling the borders of the southern side of the Eastern Valley, she was talking with the animals on that side. There were no problems among anyone. Everything was peaceful. Whether they were saying it for her benefit, hiding the truth because there was no leader, she wasn't sure. It wasn't the point.

She and Kambiri were working together, as a team, almost like a…

She stopped the thought cold. No. She wasn't queen and never would be. She was only talking with the animals because they acknowledged her as King Nkosi's daughter. They were still calling her princess, why she didn't know and she wished they would stop. She wasn't a princess! But, it seemed, her father had wanted it known among the animals that the young lioness who looked so much like him, who had his crystal blue eyes, was his daughter and the rightful heir to the throne.

She wasn't sure whether to be angry with her father or happy. Which was it?

While the animals had done what their king wanted, the pride still wouldn't relent. All they could see was what her parents had done. What had they done, really?

They'd fallen in love, sure. They had her and raised her well. What was the problem, other than they weren't married, nor was her mother queen. Her father, though lawfully married to Queen Sauda, did not love her the way he loved her mother, Nyari.

Even after three years Jahzara was still trying to get a grasp on everything. She loved her parents, sure. They loved her back. She was their daughter. Her father wanted the best for her and did what he could to care for her after her mother died.

But now her father was gone, dead, had been for a week, yet to her it seemed only yesterday. She should have been wandering the lands, pondering her future now, but Kambiri's arrival had changed that. Him and his friends' presence had altered even the slightest possibility of Adawa becoming king because he was a male, and had given her and her grandmother the chance to bury her father appropriately.

She found herself thankful to her father for accepting Kambiri and his friends into the pride, even in his dying moments. He'd known what he was doing, though dying. Kambiri was still keeping his promise and for that she was glad. She found herself liking the sandy-brown lion, and why not? All he'd done since he arrived was patrol the borders, and walk to the caves with her, speaking kindly, and he'd saved her from Adawa.

What was there not to like about this lion, if anything? He was the most kind-hearted lion she knew, expect for her father. Now, as she watched a few giraffes and antelope bow their heads to her and depart, she heard Kambiri come up to her.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

She faced him, smiling. "All is well, though, I think they're only telling me that because things aren't well, and they only want to say that to whoever will rule. They're all wondering." She looked down. "And they all think it should be me."

He nodded. "Well, they're right. It should be you."

They started walking and she wanted to avoid the subject. "The borders okay?" she asked.

"They are now. There's no sight or smell of a foreign lion anywhere."

"Good." She finally learned how he knew so much about patrolling. He'd told her where he came from that morning. That he was born in a pride, the son of a guardian. He'd followed in his father's steps and became a guard himself when he came of age.

"I was honored to have the position like my father," he'd said. "My cousin, Makini, also the son of guardians, was too. He has a sister and the three of us were close. I was also close to the princess, the heiress. We loved each other like brother and sister. She and her mate, my other and older cousin, are the new rulers. I left because I found myself yearning for something outside of home. I'm sure that I'm still missed by everyone, including my parents."

His father had trained him well, Jahzara thought. Kambiri was always alert, prepared for anything. It still struck her that he'd been in the area when Adawa was harassing her. But, she'd told herself, the Eastern Valley was his home too. He had every right to walk and patrol if he wanted to, which, clearly he did, more than Adawa.

They continued their walk. The sun was nearly prepared to set. The day was done; it was time to go home.

Kambiri looked at her out of the corner of his eye. She was like her father, he noted. While he knew that her mother wasn't queen, Jahzara was, in every way, a princess. She was her father's daughter. But since he started spending time with her, or she with him, or in their afternoon walks to the caves, when she either stumbled upon him, or he seeing her, he'd never heard her say that she was a princess. But she was. She was Nkosi's daughter. She had every right to step up to the throne.

He'd told himself many times that there was more to it than what his eyes saw or what his ears heard. He wanted to ask, was tempted, but he didn't want to upset her.

Again, the words Nkosi spoke to him before he died echoed in the sandy-brown lion's ears, his mind.

Help my daughter gain the throne…

He could, he would. The question was, how, especially if the pride refused to accept her, and if Jahzara didn't see herself as a princess, much less the heir?

There has to be a way, he thought to himself. But how… a small few pride members and the animals of the kingdom isn't enough. Everyone has to be in agreement, they have to want her as their queen.

"Are you okay?" he heard her say.

He looked at her and smiled. "Yeah, I'm just thinking." He was glad when she didn't ask. Kambiri closed his eyes and yawned.

Jahzara noticed. "Let's make this trek home faster." With that she started running.

Kambiri laughed softly and took off after her.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

By early nightfall, Rashid woke. He wasn't asleep, not the tired kind. He rubbed his eyes with a hand and sat up. Dumaka was near, looking up at him.

"Well, did it work?" the meerkat asked.

Rashid looked around. He was home. This was his tree. He was in the Eastern Valley. Before, he was… Well, it was hard to describe. Where he had been… it was too good for words. He looked down at his friend with a smile.

"Yes, it worked. I was there, on the other side." He slowly rose and stretched. "I met with my old master, would you believe."

"At this point, I'll believe anything." Dumaka scratched his shoulder. "I still can't get over that that kind of fruit exists. Why would…"

"I don't know, but I'm glad it does. This," he picked up a dark-red fruit like the one he'd eaten hours ago and looked at it, "it's how we're going to help Jahzara. You recommended a spiritual way, and this is it."

"Yeah, but it also sounds supernatural. I mean, you went into the afterlife for…" Dumaka looked out. It was night. Rashid had eaten his fruit only… "You've been out since early afternoon. Did it really –"

Rashid nodded. "Yes, it did. Time passed quickly here, but there, it didn't. I had a feeling it wouldn't. My master told me all I needed to know. He will arrange everything up there. While we were talking the Creator spoke to him. I didn't hear anything, but I knew he did. Then he said that the Almighty was all for this."

"Well, at least we know that. And now that we know it works, since you have tested it out, what of Jahzara?"

Rashid moved to his grass bed to sleep. Dumaka went to his. Once he settled down, he spoke. "We go back to the caves in the morning." He felt himself drift. "I have a feeling that once Jahzara is there, she'll be there for a long time."

Dumaka lay on his back, closed his eyes. "If she is, then it is necessary, as is our plan."

The monkey's breathing slowed. "Yes, it is."

One thought churned in his mind as he slept. This has to work. Only this, what she sees up there and who she'll see… it has to convince her, otherwise the future will be bleak.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Author's Note: Tamaa 'Longing'