I.
"Ruendi," Simba looked down at his primate friend.
"Simba," He said uncertainly.
"If you need a moment…" Dakarai suggested.
"Please," The lion spoke seriously.
She turned to the baboons at either side of her flanks and nodded. They grunted and went back into the tall grass surrounding them. Ruendi looked up as Simba tried to smile now.
"Simba…" He said.
But he only stared down at Ruendi; this would be the second most difficult thing that the young lion had ever done. Sighing softly he said, "I'll never forget you Ruen. I'll, I'll…"
"Simba." Ruendi reprimanded slightly.
"Yeah?"
"I'm supposed to get upset." His voice and eyes got heavy.
"Yeah, I know." The lion admitted. "But this is where I let you go, right?"
Ruendi stood upright like he had seen his sister. Simba backed up a bit, surprised now to see his friend trying to walk on only two feet. He took a few awkward steps forward only to fall back onto all fours. Simba walked forward, smiling with a stifling breath near him.
"You're a lion, Ruendi." He said with a chuckle. "You can't deny it any longer."
But the monkey lion stepped away from him.
"Ruendi-" Simba tried to get to him but he only continued stepping away.
Wordlessly, and very quickly, he closed the space between him and Simba in one bound and clutched onto his mane. His little chest heaved with each breath he took, "I'll never forget you either, Simba," the lion raised his paw and hugged him back, "I love you…"
"You're my friend, Ruendi, and a lion. Nothing's ever going to change that."
"I'll miss you."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Simba. Thank you."
And when Simba looked up again, he was gone. The lion checked around his paws and saw with an astounded expression that he was all alone. Stricken, Simba downheartedly started to move to leave when he heard noises up in the distance trees – they were happy.
II.
"Dad, I see someone coming."
The lion with the whitening mane and aging face stepped up to the young, impregnated queen. He had taken a ceremonious leave (as was always custom) and had bowed out of his kingship. "Well, let's see then." Simba assured his daughter – Kiara had been moody.
"They look like they've traveled a long way."
He felt his breath suck in. "Dakarai."
…
