Solving the problem

With a mixture of disbelieve, anger and disappointment Ushindi glared at the two lions sitting in front of him. In their faces he was sure to see guilt and shame for what they had done, but no matter how honest their remorse was, the damage had already been done. Looking down on her, he put one of his forelegs around Heba, who sat next to him sobbing against his shoulder, her face buried in his mane. She hadn't recovered yet and he could feel her still trembling all over her body.

Somewhere to his right was Chagina. Shindana was with her to aid her with cleaning all the scratches and cuts that covered her left shoulder and flank. On the other side sat Ruya. Shauri was right next to her, keeping a close eye on her half-sister, afraid she could either collapse or lose it and attack.

After what he had just heard, Ushindi couldn't blame her. This whole situation was their fault and now it was up to him to deal with them. His eyes went back to Askari and Tekelea. Suddenly he wasn't sure if it was a good thing that Weupe's father had decided to let them solve this issue intern. It had never been said and actually he had never really felt like that, but now it couldn't be denied. Everyone in his group thought of him as their leader and expected him and no one else to judge. Heck, two of them stood there, right in front of him, waiting for him to judge over them!

He tried to meet Askari's eyes, but the lion kept his head low, staring at the ground. Since he and Teke had confessed being responsible for what had happened, he hadn't left this position. It was only seconds ago, that they had stopped talking, but for Ushindi it already felt like an eternity. Who was he to judge? He had never been trained for a situation like this or for any royal duties at all actually. He possessed no grater knowledge of the laws. He wasn't even sure if the laws he knew applied to them, being rogues and in a foreign kingdom. But what made him most uncomfortable was the fact, that even if he didn't feel like it, he actually had the authority to pass judgement. He had always seen Askari as his best friend, possibly even as a brother. He had seen him as an equal or due to his abilities – even if he had never admitted it – as superior. But now things had changed…

"So…", he slowly started to speak. "You admit that you lied to Jino and used Heba as a bait to convince him to fight you." It was more a short summary of the events than a question. "And after you defeated him, he felt humiliated and betrayed, so he followed us to nevertheless get his… price. You willingly risked the wellbeing of Heba in exchange for a brawl." He felt himself getting angrier, now that he had said it. And there was something else… a strange feeling, as he looked down on the two, looking all miserable. He swallowed his anger. They were still his friends and willingly submitted to his judgement. "But none of you could have known that and surely you didn't intend putting her in danger."

"Wait a second!" Growling, Ruya glared at him. "Don't you dare letting them get away with it! Do you even understand what their stupidity and carelessness caused? What that monster nearly did to poor Heba?"

"Yes, I do!", he said, calmly, hiding his anger about her interrupting him. "And I hope you understand, that neither Askari nor Tekelea wanted this to happen and clearly feel bad for it. But…" He raised a paw to cut her off before she could say more. "Yes, I see that they still deserve some sort of punishment for their actions, if it's that what you want to hear. So, I suggest the following." He focused his eyes on Askari and Teke. "None of us is deaf. We all heard Jino's words and I think we can all agree that the threat is to be taken seriously. He'll try again. You two will take care of that threat. I do not care how you do it, but you will ensure Heba's safety. You will leave tonight and will not return until you have done so." He loosened his eyes from the two. "Is that ok with you?"

"No, it's not…"

"I did not ask you, Ruya!", Ushindi growled, while Shauri tried to calm her friend. Then he shifted his weight and looked at Heba. "Is that ok with you?"

A little startled, the young lioness stared up to him and then at Askari and Teke. With a paw she wiped some tears out of her face and hiccupped.

For a brief moment, Ushindi was afraid, she wouldn't agree, but then she turned back to him and nodded.

He smiled at her and gently rubbed his head against hers, to advocate her in her decision. "Then so be it!", he said loudly. "Askari, Tekelea, you may not rejoin our group until you can confirm that the threat towards Heba has ended! You will leave us by sunset!"

It was a short goodbye. When the sun finally set, Askari and Tekelea simply nodded at them. None of them said a word, the looks on their faces were enough. Ushindi stood there, nodding in return. By now he had no doubts at all, that their guilty conscience was actually punishment enough. There was no way one of them was faking it. But still they had to leave. It was better for everyone. Ruya wouldn't calm down whit them staying and Heba wouldn't recover while threatened by Jino.

Later, after the two has disappeared into the night, he lay on his back side by side with Weupe sharing these and other thoughts with her.

"I think it was a good decision. You really have proven to be a great leader today", she said and smiled at him. "I have to admit, I didn't expect Askari to simply accept your authority."

"Well, he's strong and the most skillful fighter I've seen so far, if that's why you thought so, but he knows his place", Ushindi explained, maybe exaggerating a little in an attempt to impress her. "The lionesses followed me, not him, when we left our home. He knows that. And actually, I think he likes it this way. Not being the first in command, you know? He trusts me to lead us the right way, as long as he gets to do his fighting stuff."

"Just like… you would be the king of your pride and he the guard."

"Oh, I'm far from being a king and we're not a pride. Those things require a kingdom we could call home."

"But you and your friends behave like that." She tilted her head and looked him in the eye. "Can't you see that? They follow your command. You simply have it in your blood. My prince." She chuckled as she said the last words.

He returned her smile. "Well, it still is not meant to be. The curse of the younger sibling. As sad as it is, I wasn't meant to be king just like you weren't meant to be queen."

"Yeah", she sighed. "But well, you never know…" She stopped, as she noticed his tail curling around her own. "Hey!"

"Enough of this, ok?" A grin appeared on Ushindi's face. "How about, we change the topic to something… more pleasant?"

AN: Now it is said. Ushindi is the leader of this group, not Askari or both of them. What do you think? How did he handle the situation?