As we approached the rock, nothing seemed different to usual.  We rose up the sides, and headed towards the cave, where we expected to find the other lionesses bathing in the evening sunlight.  The sight that met our eyes was a good deal graver.  There, lying wounded was a lioness.  Not only that, but it was one of my mother's great friends, Yaya.  As I rose above the overhang and came into clear view, some of the lionesses began to meet my eyes.  I walked right up to my mother, "What happened?"  I asked.

"Just a simple hunting error," she sobbed, "she was chasing a wildebeest, and without realising, chased it into the Riverlands."

I gasped, realising I must have been over there that very same time with Zazu.  Speaking of Zazu, where was he?

My mother continued. "Well, before she realised where she was, and had time to return, she had been surrounded by the river pride, and..."

I could tell that whatever she had to say would cause greater pain, and didn't want to put her through it.  I quietly nodded to show I understood, and comforted her with a quick nuzzle of my head.  She sobbed freely.

"Is Yaya..." I began.

"No, son, not yet.  We managed to fend the River Pride off for long enough to get her back into the Pridelands.  But she was badly wounded, I don't think she'll make it," she whispered to me privately.

I walked over to Yaya's still body.  The same lioness who had comforted me as a cub lay there, a mass of congealed blood and a sorry looking face.  The sight made me feel glum, when a few minutes previously I'd been so hopeful and positive.   Yaya looked up at me and forced a smile.  "Hello, my little prince," she croaked, "You know I taught you to be a great and strong fellow for when you grew up?"

I nodded, bending towards her and trying to clean some of the blood off her once beautiful golden coat.

"I think now might be one of the times when you have to show that bravery," she said, "Give my love to the rest of the Pride."

And with that, she lay her head down, and breathed her last.

A shocked silence fell upon the Pride, as we gazed sorrowfully down at the limp, lifeless body.  With a shudder, I realised I was responsible for the next move.  I called over one of the younger lionesses who I didn't recognise, "My dear, what is your name," I asked.

"Mtifu," she replied.

"I want you to go to the great baobab tree, and fetch Rafiki.  Yaya will need the proper funeral rites."

Mtifu obediently left Pride Rock in the direction of the great tree, and I turned to the rest of the pride and announced that everyone should spend their evening reflecting on Yaya's death.  It also occurred to me that I needed a full story of what had happened on the Eastern border, so I called together a small group of the lionesses to discuss it.  After what Zazu had told me earlier about the River Pride, I called for him too.

"ZAZU!!"

From overhead, I saw a figure gliding down towards me.  It answered, "Yes, Sire?  Oh, I am terribly, terribly sorry about Yaya, I didn't know what to do.  Oh dear, yes, oh dear.  It's all my fault, yes, I'm to blame I know it.  I should have been there to..."

"Zazu, please quieten down.  Nobody's blaming you," I said.

"Oh, well –er, that's good then.  I'll be off then, shall I?" he said anxiously, hopping from one foot to the other.

"No, there's something I want to ask you," I began.  "About the river pride."

"Oh yes, sire.  I know all about the history of them, any question you like, oh certainly."

"When we were out and about, you told me they keep themselves to themselves, didn't bother us," I explained, "but it seems they have bothered us.  Significantly".

Zazu sighed.  "I'm afraid this may have to be rather a long lesson in history Sire."

There were a few groans from the surrounding lionesses, but I shushed them with a growl.  "This is important," I told them.