I returned to the cave in pride rock, thinking. I lay down next to Nala, whilst she gave Tani a bath. He wasn't complaining this time because it was late and he enjoyed sitting in his mother's paws, feeling the warmth of her tongue soothing him softly into sleep. Even if he tried to deny it, his contented soft purring gave him away.

When he'd nodded off, Nala smiled at me gently. It had been a long time since we'd had the opportunity to be alone together, and in some ways I craved to go out to the top of Pride Rock again, just as we'd done before, away from everyone else. I called over Usiku, and asked her to watch over Tanabi for a little while, til Nala and I returned. She agreed, and lay down next to Tanabi while he curled up next to her, and Nala and I stepped out into the evening.

"Things are going OK," she said, smiling the same infectious smile she had smiled inside.

"Yes, just about," I said, encouraging her to follow me to the top.

"So what's the matter?"

"Nothing really. I just…needed an honest talk."

"About what?"

"Everything. How do you think Usiku's going?"

"Good. The lionesses like her, and she even came into our cave today!"

"Yes, I had just a little say in that."

"Really?"

I nodded.

"I'm impressed. I think it's just what was required. She needs to feel wanted and loved, Simba. That's what she's been missing all her life. Here's the only place she'll ever get it."

"I think so too. That's why I talked her into it."

"Just like your father, honourable, truthful and kind," she replied with admiration.

We spent a few moments in silence, nuzzling each other lovingly, not worrying about time, place and circumstance. We discussed the passing of my mother, Tanabi growing up every day and Timon and Pumbaa's feeling of rejection. When we'd finished she laughed and said "It's not easy being a King is it?"

I conceded – No, it wasn't.

A new day dawned on the African plains a few days later. My meeting with Timon and Pumbaa for 'old times sake' turned out to be a bit of a waste of time, but it appeased them suitably to lay off for a while (there are no other details to give about that really). The Pride's unity was strong as ever, and all felt right. On that morning, I went out on patrol, and agreed to take Tanabi, Ella and Sava for a walk. They were getting along fine, I was pleased to see, and whilst Tani and Sava went running onwards, Ella remained behind to talk to me.

"Is it really true, all the stories that Tanabi tells us?" she asked.

"Well… Some of them. It depends what stories."

"He's told Sava and me loads. I don't believe all of them", she said defiantly.

"Oh? Which ones do you believe?"

"Well, er… some of them, like the one about the lion who never gave up."

"Of course," I smiled, "that all?"

"I don't believe the one about his great, great, great grandfather taking on an army of leopards single-handedly."

"No?"

"No," she said confidently, then, rather more unsurely, "its not true, is it?"

"Not exactly. Let me tell you the real story…"

Ella was an exciteable young cub, albeit not so much as Tanabi, and she revelled in the attention that she was given alone. Having a twin sister meant they did a lot together, but rarely was one apart from or in a different place to the other, and they therefore often lacked individual attention, like Tanabi got daily. Both of them, I thought, showed strong qualities for lionesses – friendship, kindness and determination, that would serve them well while they remained in this pride.

We continued our walk round, and Tanabi and Sava joined us when we rested on a rock at the half way point for another story. Ella seemed to have taken a shine to me after the truth about the lion and the leopard army, and held a look of superiority over both Tanabi and Sava, as if to say, "I'm right, you're wrong". None of that bothered the other two though, who merely thought it was a game and rollicked around in the grasses playing pouncing games. Despite this, the three listened attentively to my story, ever eager to listen to the one person they looked up to above all others.

On our return, the three remained close to me the whole way back, eager to show to me how keen they all were. Tanabi, inevitably, couldn't resist showing off to his friends, though he was soon shown up when, after stalking a colourful bird, it turned its head and nipped him with his beak on his nose. Though he wasn't hurt, he rushed back to me squealing. I could understand his pain – nothing hurts more than wounded pride! Ella and Sava delighted in this however, and laughed at him for a long time. Tanabi became rather upset, so I tossed him on to my back where he rode for some of the rest of the way with a look of superiority on his face. The two cubs didn't seem to notice, or care, so he soon stopped.

By the time we returned, the lionesses had been out and got a kill for the morning, catching a large zebra. As was custom, the King was given first choice, though on this occasion, I was happy enough to share the choicest morsels with the three cubs, who greedily accepted my invitation and gorged themselves on the fresh meat. Apparently, the hunt had been so successful that there had been no trouble whatsoever with hunting down this zebra, thanks in no small part to Usiku, as I understood. Contented and full-bellied, Nala, Mtifu and the cubs and I went for a siesta in the sun in a nearby field. Tanabi somehow also convinced Usiku to come, though she had always insisted that this was not really her thing.

Leastways, we did indeed make use of the afternoon sun, and began one of our regular discussions while the cubs played in the rock maze where I'd met Timon and Pumbaa a few days earlier. The moon in which the pride had granted Usiku to prove her worth had been used up, and I had noted with interest the way in which it was not mentioned, such had the pride become used to her presence. Such a point had not escaped the notice of Nala and Usiku either, who gleefully discussed the matter on the way to our usual field. The sun was shining, life was improving, and best of all, there had been no sign of the River Pride at all regarding the mysterious disappearance of one of their members. I saw this only as a good thing, though perhaps on reflection that was unwise.

Expecting nothing out of the ordinary, therefore, I lazed about on the plains as lions are wont to do, enjoying the heat of the sun on my back. The cubs played around us as usual, and took great delight at one particular moment where I had a big yawn and they saw right into my mouth – not something I would recommend trying, but cubs just can't be told! Again, Ella stuck relatively close to me, eager to find out new things, always keen to show me how dedicated she was to becoming a 'good' lioness. She was doing a good job. A very sweet little cub, she appreciated it immensely when I gave her a little scratch round her ears and purred as if to prove this.

Meanwhile, Tanabi and Sava were getting along swimmingly in their favourite rock maze playing a game of hide and seek, though in truth it wasn't Tanabi's strongest game, given his inability to keep himself from giggling every time a 'seeker' got anywhere near. Still, we can't all be good at everything (and I'm still willing to bet he could easily beat Timon and Pumbaa in such a game!). Whilst this continued, the three lionesses spoke in quiet whispers to each other as they often do, and I was content to lie still and watch them do so.

Ella was curious at this custom.

"Don't you find it strange when all the big lionesses do that?"

I shrugged, "not really. It's their privilege after all."

"Is it?"

"Sort of, I have enough of my own, like first choice of the kill, so its kind of fair I suppose that they get time to themselves now and again."

"But they don't talk about anything interesting!"

"Don't they? I've never really been allowed to find out."

"Yeah, they let me stay if I want, but its really, really boring. I even tried to stay interested once."

I laughed inwardly at the thought, "Yes, well. Cubs always no best, I used to think just the same as you – why do adults always spend all their time lazing about when there's so much exploring to do?"

She agreed, "Yeah, that's just what me and Sava think."

"Not Tani?"

"He doesn't always think that much at all really…"

I laughed again at this honest truth about what Ella really thought of the future King, and wondered if she'd change her tune when Tanabi grew a mane and began to look rather more attractive to her than he seemed now. I kept such a thought quiet though, not wanting to entertain thoughts of a Queen when I'd left Tanabi to make the choice himself.