Throughout our long conversations, the two cubs had sat quietly in Sarafina's lap, trying not to be noticed. My eyes fell upon them for the first time. Sava looked away in fear, but Tanabi stared back, little red eyes rubbed and marked with grief. He didn't say anything, but he clambered out and came to see me, climbing in between my front paws and resting his head on one of them. He said nothing, but gradually faded into a light sleep. I became aware of how tired I was, and yawned loudly. Nala said to me that I deserved a rest, and I lay down my head too, desperate to escape this world of pain and misery that I currently lived in.

When I awoke, no one seemed to have changed their position. The three lionesses were sitting around looking worried and worse for wear, whilst Tanabi lay with his head still resting on my paw, though I realised from his breathing pattern that he was no longer asleep. I raised my head, and yawned, before lying back in an upright position. Still no one spoke, or made any movement.

Tanabi climbed up my front leg, and came close to my ear, whispering in it, "Can we go for a walk, Dad?"

I obliged, rising onto my four feet and heading out of the cave. Again, no one questioned where I was going, such was the mood inside the cave.

Tanabi and I exited, being careful no one could see us leaving so as not to give away our 'hiding' place. We headed out into the Serengeti, where the afternoon sun had just cooled, and it was making its way towards the evening. I waited for Tanabi to say something first.

"Has Aunt Usiku really gone?"

"Yes, Tani. I said she was worried, didn't I? Seems like she was right to be."

He didn't look too happy. "I was wrong, saying that there wasn't a problem, wasn't I? I'm going to be a terrible King."

"Don't worry, son. We all make worse judgements sometime in our lives. Besides, it was my fault for leaving her alone."

"But it wasn't your fault," he insisted, "and it wasn't hers either."

Suddenly some thought struck me.

"Tanabi, do you know something that we don't?"

"Sort of…"

"Spit it out. Please."

"Well, when Sava and I, we were hiding from Ella, in a game. See, no one knew where we were. So the lions that came didn't make any move for us. But we saw them move towards Usiku and Ella."

"Didn't you warn them?"

"We didn't know they were there to hurt anyone. Besides…" he hesitated.

"Yes?"

"I thought I recognised one of them."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I'm sure I saw Shuku there."

My mouth fell open. Every moment, the plot was thickening. Yet at the same time, I was strangely surprised that Usiku neglected to mention Shuku's presence.

"Did Shuku actually kill Ella?"

"No. She didn't do much at all, she seemed to be keeping look out. I stayed hidden to watch her, whilst Sava crept back to Usiku and Ella to tell them what had happened."

"Really… So Shuku was keeping a guard out. How long did she stay there."

"Well… I don't actually know. I ran back when I heard Usiku shouting and another lioness screeching."

"What did you see when you got back?"

"Two lionesses leaving, and one staying talking to Usiku. Me and Sava, we stayed hidden cos we thought that would be more use."

"Could you hear what they were saying?"

"No."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, though not at Tanabi.

"Did you notice anything else?"

"Well, we thought the other lioness could smell us at one point, so we went to hide. When we next came out, it was when you were back."

"OK. Thanks, Tani."

We'd been walking slowly. He stopped and looked at me.

"I can't believe I'm never gonna see Ella again," he said, voice wavering.

"You will, Tani. She'll never truly leave you, remember? She'll always be inside you, like all the ones you love. When you next look at the stars, Tani, imagine one of them is her, looking down on you, and take heart from it."

He looked downcast, but said, "I will, Dad," bravely.

By nightfall, I was feeling tired again, but rather than staying with Nala and Tanabi, decided I had to return to Pride Rock and try and quell any bad feeling or worry there. So, after returning Tanabi back to Nala, I reluctantly made my way up to the collective cave, wondering what I'd find.

What I'd not expected was to see Shuku addressing the Pride as one, as if to take my place. I appeared from behind her, and the other lionesses caught my gaze first. Gradually, as she became aware that less and less people were listening to her, she span round to face me.