Chapter Three Mufasa's Recovery

It took six months for Mufasa to recover. He had started out taking small walks around his room, then there was physical therapy. Some of the lioness healers would twist his limbs this way and that. Then they would give him exercises to do. He also went to the sulphur spring baths once a week. He then started taking short walks around the hospital and outside on the hospital grounds. After six months he was able to join on hunting parties with members of the Medicine Pride who were not healers.

Queen Matimba told him in just a few more months he would be physically fit."You can stay with us if you like. I could use someone to organize this hospital and the healer school. And you could also become a junior healer. This is a course for lay lions like yourself or you could become a full fledged healer if you wish. Please stay with us, Mufasa."

Mufasa consented to stay with the Medicine Pride. He became a junior healer. He also became an adept administrator. He organized the healer school and the hospital into two separate entitites. The healers school became a teaching hospital and regular hospital stayed a regular hospital and was a place of internship for new healers. Mufasa became part of the staff of the teaching hospital and became its president. He also learned the healing arts. The two hospitals were organized at different parts of the jungle was almost two years since Mufasa had had his accident. Mufasa also found himself with an unexpected companion. A young healer lioness named Kanya quickly became his friend. Kanya was the daughter of Queen Matimba, but she was not the heir. Her sister Keri was being trained to take Matimba's place as queen. Kanya was a dark brown lioness with green eyes. Kanya was main trainer for the healers. She wanted to be the top administrator of the hospital. She excelled at management and became Mufasa's protege. He promoted her to assistant administrator of the hospital and dean of healers. The two often would eat together on kills and take long walks in the evenings. Sometimes they would discuss problems at the hospital. Today, They had a particularly prickly problem to get rid of. Kanya discussed the problem with Mufasa. "One of our apprentice lionesses just gave birth. The father is not around and she want to keep the child. If she does this she will not be able to finish her course. I suggested she place the cub in our orphanage. We could train it to be a healer but she says no. Perhaps you could talk to her, Mufasa. She is a great healer and I would hate to see her give up her career just to take care of an illegitimate cub. I also tried to get her to put it up for adoption but she refuses to do so. Maybe you could talk some sense into her?"

'"Kanya, this falls into the realm of your duties. I can give you some advice though. Why don't you tell her to leave the cub with relatives? They could take care of it while she finishes her training."

"That is an excellent idea, Mufasa. Why didn't I think of that? We make a good team, Mufasa." Kanya nuzzled him.

"Please do not do that, Kanya. I am just not interested." Mufasa said. He turned away from the brown lioness . She was a good administrator but he did not like her that way. She was only a colleague to him.

"I will back off for now, but I hope to win your heart Mufasa." Kanya replied. Mufasa just shrugged. A year passed. Kanya and Mufasa became colleagues but she was too obsessed with him. He did not want her to be his mate at all.

Rafiki came to see Mufasa and told him about Simba becoming king. He had not been to see Mufasa for a long time because he was trying to teach Simba to become King and he could not get away. Mufasa was overjoyed. He wanted to return to Sarabi and see his son. "I am sorry, Mufasa but Sarabi is dead. When Scar was King, the lionesses did not have much to eat and were terribly thin. Sarabi caught tick fever. I tried to help her but she could not fight the disease off. She did not even want to live. And she was also upset with Simba because he did not marry Nala. He sent Nala away because Scar forced himself on Nala and she became told Nala she would have to give up her cub and then return to him to become queen. Sarabi tried to get Simba to accept Nala's cub. He refused to. Simba is not merciful like you, son is different. He is bitter. I do not know if he should marry Nala. I am afraid that he will never make her forget that she bore Scar's offspring."

Mufasa was horrified. He had always adored Nala and thought she would make a fine mate for his son."Where is Nala, now?"

"Nala is here, old friend. . She came here to become a healer. She studied until she gave birth. She let her brother adopt the cub and raise it as his own. Then she continued with her studies. She is almost finished with her course and she will graduate. Maybe you can wait and return to the Pridelands with Nala. Nala and Simba can then set the date for their wedding."

"Rafiki, why did you not tell me this sooner? I could have helped Nala through this. I could have been there for her. I need to see her immediately."

"Calm down, Mufasa. She will finished with classes for the week in two days. You can see her then."

Besides she is going to be the class valedictorian. You are going to be meeting with her anyway."