Chapter Seven Hunting Party and Mufasa's Injuries
Two weeks passed. Nala was slowly getting used to performing her duties as queen. Kanya seemed to be doing all right with the patients but she refused to do surgeries because the techniques were too new. Nala was alarmed about this and tried to talk to Simba but her brushed her off. She still kept taking lessons with Mufasa. Again he asked her to spend the night with him on the savannah. He talked to her about hunting techniques. "I insisted on learning how to hunt. And I must say I was quite good at it Sarabi taught me. And when I was with the Medicine Pride I did some hunting for them after I got well. I would like to go hunting with you and the lionesses tomorrow, Nala" Mufasa chuckled.
"Mufasa, we are going to try to bring down some rogue buffalo. It might be dangerous.'
"I hunted buffalo with the Medicine Pride. I am sure I can help you."
"Well then, I will ask Simba tomorrow morning. But I don't want you to get involved until all of us bring the buffalo down. I want to see you at my wedding, Mufasa." Nala hugged Mufasa.
The two spent the night on the savannah. Nala asked Mufasa how she could contact the great kings for guidance. He told her to ask them for guidance but that they would not always answer by talking to her directly. Mufasa told her that the great kings would sometimes speak through nature. They may send something as simple as a ray of sunshine or a wind, but she would know when they were trying to communicate with her. After that the two of them lay on the grass and looked up at the stars. They were not close to each other but felt comfortable in each other's prescence. Nala told Simba she would be sleeping on the savannah to night. Both Mufasa and Nala fell into a restful was glad to have nala so close to him. He wanted to nuzzle her but put those thoughts out of his head. He was as bad as Kanya. He should not be thinking about his prospective daughter-in-law that way.
Nala got up early and stretched. She went to the watering hole then waited for Simba to wake up. When Simba woke, she asked him if Mufasa could accompany them on the hunting trip. Simba said yes that he had nothing for Mufasa to do today.
The lionesses and Mufasa went to the eastern half of the kingdom and found the herd of rogue buffalo. They picked a lame cow. Kanya decided to accompany the hunt today in case anyone got injured. They surrounded the cow. One of the lioneses jumped on the cows back The others sunk their teeth in the naima's hide to bring it down. The cow yelled. Then several other cows cames towards the pride. The lionesses had the cow on the ground. Mufasa was about to join another lioness in biting the neck of the cow .When he was grabbed by another buffalo and thrown into the air. He landed on the ground. When he looked up two buffalo were near him . One kicked the old king and the other slashed Mufasa's side with one of his horns. Nala saw this and chased both buffalos off the lion. Two other lionessess charged the buffalo and they ran away.. The old cow waskilled by the lionesses. Nala shouted for Kanya. "Kanya, come over here. Mufasa is hurt." Mufasa was lying on the ground bleeding. There were bruises and a long gash on his side. Nala and Kanya stopped the bleeding with a wrap. Nala ordered two lionesses to carry Mufasa Two lionesses carried the wounded king on their backs. The other lionesses brought back the buffalo kill.
Nala was very worried about Mufasa. He kept moaning. She made sure she was by his side but Kanya kept pushing her away. "If Mufasa dies, I will hold you personally responsible, " the healer said. Nala did not say anything but decided to deal with the healer later. She still stayed with Mufasa and made sure he could see her. Mufasa was taken to the medical caverns at the back of Pride Rock. Nala accompanied Kanya and Mufasa to the cavern. "You do not need to be here, Nala, " Kanya said. "I will treat Mufasa."
"I am the queen and I can be whereever I want," Nala replied. "I will make sure Mufasa gets the best medical care. I simply do not trust you."
"Very well. I am going to use conservative methods. The gash does not seem to be bleeding. We will keep it open."
"Kanya, that gash is still deep and Mufasa needs to have the wound closed. You need to close it up with stitches. He will bleed to death or get an infection. "
"He seems fine now". Then suddenly Mufasa moaned. He complained the gash hurt and it was bleeding. Then he lost consciousness. Kanya and Nala rushed over to his side. He was clammy and blood was seeping through the wraps.
"Kanya, we have to close that wound. Mufasa will die if we don't perform the surgery. You need to get a porcupine needle ready."
"I am truly sorry. I have never performed surgery. I was always more of a medicinal healer. I can't do it.
"I will perform the surgery then. And you will help me and get two of the lionesses in here as nurses.
"Are you sure you can perform the surgery? Have you ever done it before?"
"I did it once. I will do it again." Nala was scared but she had no choice. She started barking orders. Two lionesses were set to fetch her medical kit. She went over to Mufasa and he was conscious.
"How am I?" Mufasa asked her."Am I going to die?"
"Not if I can help it,"Nala replied. 'Mufasa, I will need to close that gash with stitches. If I don't you could bleed to death. May I have permission to perform the surgery?"
"Yes, Nala, go ahead. I have faith in you. I could not be in better hands." Mufasa said.
"Mufasa, I am going to give you something to put you to sleep. You will not feel any pain." Nala told the large lion. She filled a gourd with liquid and helped Mufasa drink it. All too soon. Mufasa fell was carried to the surgical area. He was placed on a large platform then performed the surgery. She threaded a porcupine needle with antelope hair and stitched up the wound. It took an hour to close up the gash. Kanya changed dressings and controlled the bleeding. Two lionesses who were nurses assisted Nala and Kanya. They provided what ever medical supplies were needed. Another lioness was sent to inform Simba about what happened. Simba was quite angry about his father getting injured. He stormed into the surgery just as Kanya and Nala were placing dressings over the stitches in the surgery had been successful.
"What is the meaning of this Nala? How is my father? How did he get hurt? If he dies I am holding you responsible."Simba roared.
Nala finished wrapping the dressing then she went up to the young continued caring for Mufasa. "Simba,you need to be silent or you will have to leave immediately. Your father came through the surgery okay. He is very strong. But he needs quiet and rest. I will tell you what happened on the hunt when I am finished taking care of him. I will not have you yelling at the medical staff and disturbing your father's rest. I am the main healer here and I have the authority to throw you out even if you are the king. Now if you are willing to be quiet you can stay with your father for ten minutes after I move him to a patient bed." Simba nodded but did not say anything and left the surgery.
Mufasa was placed in an area reserved for surgical patients. He was placed on an antelope skin and covered by another antelope skin. He was sleeping. Simba stayed with his father for ten minutes. Nala then told him to leave. When Nala was alone with Mufasa she went over to look at him. He was sleeping peacefully but he still looked ill. She touched his mane with her paw. Then she lay next to put her head in his mane and cried "Mufasa, Mufasa".
Nala tried to care for Mufasa for the first four days of his healing. Then Kanya and the nurse lionesses took over after two days.. Mufasa slept the first two days but he was able to sit up on the fourth day. Nala also decided that she would send for Rafiki. She did not want Kanya removing the stitches from the old king. Nala decided to see Mufasa. When Nala went into the area Mufasa's bedside Kanya was talking to Mufasa. Kanya told Mufasa that he would be able to walk in three more days but he would have to be careful. His stiches would be removed tomorrow. Kanya left Mufasa's room but insisted on speaking with Nala. "Mufasa would not even be here if you had not insisted that he come on the hunt. It is your fault he got hurt. As a queen you are irresponsbile. And I don't like the way you insist on being around Mufasa all the time. I see the way you spend time with him at night on the savannah. It is disgusting. You are going to marry the King and you are trying to have an affair with his father."
"That is enough Kanya. My relationship with Mufasa is none of your concern. And let me point out that I had to perform surgery on him because you were unwilling to do so. I plan on speaking to the King about that. You need to learn the newest techniques for healing or I will send you back to your mother. I will not put our pride in danger. Now get out of here and let me speak to my prospective father-in-law" Kanya glared at Nala and left. Nala went to see Mufasa and asked how he was feeling.
Mufasa said he was fine. "No, you are not fine Mufasa. You do not look well. And you are still in pain aren't you? Nala remarked. "You know better than to lie to me."
Mufasa knew he could not hide anything from Nala. "I am in pain and I am not feeling too hot but I will survive. And I want to thank you for saving my life. If you had not performed the surgery , I do not think I would be talking to you."
"Mufasa, I would do anything for you. I just wish you had not gotten wounded on the hunt. Kanya and I were both upset you were wounded. Do you think maybe you can leave the hunting to the lionesses?"
"Yes, I will do that." Nala looked at Mufasa. His eyes were gentle and filled with pain. She had almost lost him and it was her fault She allowed him to go on the hunt. What kind of queen was she? Tears started streaming down her cheeks.
"Mufasa, I owe you an apology. It was my fault you got hurt. I should have prevented you from going on the hunt. I almost lost you." By this time she was crying.
"Nala, come closer please. Sit next to me"Mufasa said in his baritone voice. Nala sat next to Mufasa. 'He Put a foreleg around her shoulders and drew her into a hug. "Nala, please do not blame yourself. I chose to go on the hunt. It is not your fault at all. Please don't cry."His baritone voice was soft and his ruby orbs were gentle. His touch felt so good. She leaned her head into his red mane. He then licked her on the cheek and she licked him back.
"Excuse me," a voice said. It was Rafiki. " I came here to look at the King's Wounds. Tomorrow I will take out his stitches. " Nala and Mufasa broke apart. Nala told Rafiki she was glad to see him. "I will see you tomorrow Mufasa, " Nala said. Then she hurriedly left Mufasa's room. She was embarassed at being caught kissing him.