The night passed slowly; the chilly air seemed numb with anticipation. The new queen sat in silence, watching as Rehema mixed herbs and applied them to Daren's wounded body. Nearby, Azmera sat with Lisha, the silent lioness. Although she didn't speak a word, the lioness seemed to calm Azmera. As she glanced at the two trailing scars on the lioness's neck, Azmera wondered what horrors she had been through. Turning to glance out across the lands, she noted the lionesses of the Black Pride, surrounded by the floxes. The rain continued to fall, washing away the strange black stain forever.
Finally, Rehema stood and nodded to Kianga. The young queen leapt to her paws and quickly padded over to Daren. His eyes remained closed – his body still. Glancing frantically up at Rehema, Kianga opened her mouth to speak, her heart racing. But the healer interrupted her.
"Your highness," she whispered, "he will be fine. He just needs his rest. It would be better if he was out of the rain, but we cannot move him."
Kianga nodded, looking thankfully at Rehema. "Thank you," she said. Then, she remembered the black lionesses. Glancing around, she found them under the safekeeping of the floxes, far below. Turning to the young flox near her, she smiled.
"Obsieron," she called out softly. The flox made his way towards her, his father at his side. Both bowed their heads as they approached the queen and she smiled.
"Thank you so much," she told them, the look in her eyes describing her feelings better than words. The floxes smiled, and Obsieron brushed his head against her leg. Taking a breath, Kianga continued. "Please, may I ask a favor of you?"
Jayson nodded. "It would be our honor to serve Daren's mate."
Kianga glanced down to the lionesses of the Black Pride. "I wish for them to remain here until Daren has healed. It is his right and his alone to deal with them."
"I understand," replied Jayson. "We will keep them under guard." Turning, the floxes made their way down the rocks.
Kianga turned back to Daren and lay down on the stony ground next to him. Pressing her body against his, she laid her head on a paw. Her gaze drifted up towards to stars and she sighed.
"And thank you Kimoni," she whispered, tears pricking her eyes. The Great King had given her the strength to forgive Rehema, and beg for her help. Without it, her mate wouldn't have survived. As if in answer, the clouds parted again, and a pale, slender beam of moonlight shone down on the pair. Lifting her head, Kianga smiled. Around her, the lionesses started to drift off to sleep – Azmera and Lisha together and Rehema nearby. Far below, the floxes arranged watches under the instruction of Jayson, and the once black lionesses lay down to sleep, having given themselves up entirely. They had lead lives of wickedness and destruction and now, each of them knew that it had been wrong. The visit from the starry lion had changed them. They no longer possessed the evil, blood lusting nature many of them had been raised with. Instead they were filled with compassion and worry for the fallen lion above them. And rather than wanting to run from the consequences of their actions, they were prepared to pay the price.
As the morning rays began to break over the land, Kianga opened her eyes. Suddenly, she realized that Daren was no longer lying next to her. Rising to her paws, she glanced around, her eyes wide with anxiety. Where was he?
Around her, the lionesses were still sleeping and below, the floxes had kept watch over the Black Pride well. Glancing up, Kianga recognized the rusty coat of her mate, standing at the very peak of Pride Rock. Sighing with relief, she began to make her way up to rocks to join him. As she stepped onto the peak, she gasped. A jagged black line made its way across the surface and large chunks of rock had been torn away. The damage from the lightning seemed so much greater in the daylight. Kianga felt a sudden rush of gratitude that the lightning had missed Daren. Then, thinking for a moment, she realized it had not been mere chance. Surely the Kings had sent it to free Daren's kingdom. Nothing ever happened by coincidence.
Making her way towards Daren, Kianga frowned, wondering where Redeye's body had gone. As if in answer, Daren spoke as she approached.
"I don't know where Redeye went. But I know he will never be able to threaten the living again." Then, the king turned and his eyes met with Kianga's. There was a moment of silence, and then both threw themselves against each other.
"Oh Kianga," murmured Daren, "how do you have such faith?"
The queen smiled. "Just because you do not see something, doesn't mean you don't believe in it. Faith is knowing."
Daren nudged her. "You sound like a Great King."
Kianga merely chuckled. Glancing down at the lionesses below, Daren frowned. "I suppose I should go deal with them," he said.
Kianga placed a paw on Daren's. "Before you do, there is something that you must know. You almost died last night. Rehema – Blacksoul…she healed you."
Daren stood in silence for a moment, suddenly bewildered. After so long spent preparing to free his pride and punish the lionesses that had brought them such pain, one had saved his life? How could he justify punishing her now?
Kianga saw his troubled face and licked him gently. "Ask the Kings for guidance," she suggested. "After all, it was your father who told me to forgive her." Turning, she left the astonished king and departed down the rocks.
Daren stood in silence for a moment, staring after Kianga. Then he turned to look up at the bright sky. Thinking of what his father would do, Daren realized that there was more to life than just revenge. Kimoni had taught him many things in their short time together, and the king knew that giving pain back to the Black Pride wouldn't solve anything. Daren smiled. Surely if he had enough faith in the Kings, everything would work out fine.
Making his way down the rocks, Daren stepped out and called his kingdom to him, just as Simba did when he exiled Kovu. As the animals gathered, Daren's lionesses stood strong behind him, ready to support whatever decision he made. Finally, Daren stepped forwards and drew a breath, staring down at where Rehema stood with the members of the Black Pride. With a loud voice, he addressed them, speaking of their crimes. As he went on, the lionesses began to bow their heads, the tears falling fast like rain. And then something incredible happened.
The king's voice softened and he spoke of the Circle of Life. He told of how the land was built on love – not bloodshed, and that to continue to fight would not only be pointless, but would continue to haunt them and cause never ceasing pain. All around the animals began to nod their agreement and far below, the lionesses looked up at the king with hopeful faces. Finally, Daren did what never would have been accepted in the past, but was now cheered for by his kingdom. He gave the lionesses of the broken Black Pride a royal pardon and freed them to journey to wherever their paths might take them. Looking up at the regal lion, crowned by glittering sunlight, the lionesses bowed their thanks and went their separate ways.
All but one.
Far below stood Rehema, her belly swollen and her head still bowed. Daren remembered Kianga's words and thought to himself for a moment. Finally, he came to a decision, and slowly began to descend the rocks. The animals parted, making way for the king as he approached the humble lioness. Halting as he reached her, Daren moved his head close to hers.
"Rehema," he said softly, "you healed me, and for that I owe you my life. Stay here in my lands and you will have a family for the rest of your days."
Rehema barely dared to breathe. Looking up, she saw that the king was sincere. Slowly, she nodded. "Thank you sire."
Together, the pair climbed back up Pride Rock, where Daren introduced Rehema to his pride. Kianga watched with a smile on her face. She could hardly recognize Rehema as the same conquering lioness from before. As Rehema slowly made her way through the lionesses, they exchanged words with her and things of the past were forgotten. When the lioness approached Azmera, a silence fell over the pride as they watched to see what the old queen would do. However, trusting the judgment of her son who had risked all to save them, Azmera stepped forwards and offered her forgiveness. It was difficult, but as she did so, she felt the comforting strength of a Great King beside her and knew she had done the right thing.
That evening, as the moon rose bright over the Pride Lands, Rehema approached Daren and quietly asked a question. The king nodded his approval and wished her success in all things. The next morning, he named Rehema the new healer of the Pride Lands.
As the days passed, the packs of floxes remained in the Pride Lands. One morning, as clouds lay low across the sky and a soft drizzle fell upon the grasses, Rehema lay down in agony, as the final moments came for her to bear her cub. The birthing was long and painful, and Rehema was kept company only by Kianga, who she trusted with all her heart. Finally, Rehema sighed with relief and lay her head down in the damp grass. Kianga leaned forwards to lick the cub, but she stopped, her face full of sorrow. The cub was still. Shaking her head, she moved to sit next to the exhausted lioness, who, taking one look at her face, knew the terrible truth.
"I'm so sorry Rehema," whispered the queen, her eyes full of pain for the other lioness. But Rehema just smiled sadly.
"Living here has taught me so many things. Your belief in the wise Kings above you gives me comfort." Lowering her voice, she continued. "I believe that they have done this for a purpose. You see…Redeye…" she paused for a moment, the memories from before haunting her. "Redeye once told me he was a descendant of a truly murderous lioness. Her name was Zira and she always thirsted for revenge. She hated those that lived in the Pride Lands and swore to one day kill them all. This cub will be the last in that long line of murderers."
Kianga nodded, listening quietly. It did seem to make sense although it sounded rather painful and heartless. "Perhaps he would not have grown up that way," she told Rehema. "You could have taught him differently."
The lioness shook her head. "Some things, my queen, cannot be healed."
Together, the lionesses got to their paws. Finding a beautiful spot close to the water hole, they buried the still born cub. Sitting in silence, Rehema finally turned to Kianga.
"Thank you for your words of kindness and comfort," she told the queen.
Kianga smiled. "That's what a Pride is for," she said softly, standing and starting to walk back to Pride Rock. Rehema nodded to herself and smiled as well. This is what living in a pride should be like, she thought. And with that, she leapt to her paws and bounded off after Kianga.