Chapter 12 Recovery and a New Beginning

Nala woke up a two days later. She was in the healing cave of the Pridelands in the same place where Mufasa had been recovering from his wounds. She had a leaf wrap on her shoulder and salves had been placed on her cuts. There was another leaf wrap on her paw.

"Nala is awake!" Rafiki stated. Nala tried to sit up. She hurt all over. She lay back down again. Her mother Sarafina came and sat beside her. She put a paw on Nala's paw, "Nala, you must rest. You have been through a lot."

Nala raised her self up and started talking. She felt like such a fool. She was embarassed at facing Mufasa and Simba. Would Mufasa even want to talk to her again? Her eyes filled with tears. "How did I get here?' she sobbed. "I was fighting hyenas. Mufasa was there. Mufasa and that little meerkat and warthog saved me from the hyenas. I was trying to leave the Pridelands. Is Mufasa all right? Where is Mufasa? Is Mufasa angry at me? Isn't Simba going to cast me out, mother? I am so ashamed. Why was I taken back here? I am no longer queen."

Suddenly Nala started weeping. Sarafina licked the tears off her daughter's face.

"No one is angry at you Nala. Mufasa went after to you to see if you were safe. Simba sent Pumbaa and Timon after both of you. You were wounded and bitten by a cobra. Mufasa and Rafiki treated you for the snakebite. Then Mufasa carried you back here so Rafiki could treat your wounds. You are part of our pride. You could have died from infection if you were not brought back here. Mufasa and Simba are not angry with you. In fact, Simba is relieved that you are not going to marry him. He celebrated his engagement to Kanya. Their wedding will be next week. Now you need to rest for awhile. Mufasa is also fine. If you rest for a few hours, you can talk to him. In fact he would like to see you." Nala turned over and fell asleep. She was afraid to talk to Mufasa but she wanted to see if he was all right.

Nala continued to sleep. She felt a rough tongue lick her face and a huge paw rub her back. A large furry body lay next to her. She was probably dreaming. She woke again hours later and faced Simba.

.

Whe Nala woke, she saw Simba's red mane. She really did not want to face Simba but it was wise to find out what her fate was going to be. She raised herself up and found she could sit up with only a little pain. But Simba was not alone. Kanya was with him.

She looked at the two of them and wondered what her punishment was going to be. But the two of them only had eyes only for each other. They stared at her in unison as if they were one. Finally Simba spoke "Rafiki says you should be up and able to hunt in two more days, Nala. Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, Simba. I am sorry about the wedding. I should have told you I did not want to marry you.I will leave the Pridelands if you want me to."

"I'm not sorry for the wedding being called off. IAM SORRY FOR EMBARASSING YOU. That was inexcusable and I hope you will not hold it against me. I have learned my lesson. It will not happen again. Breaking up with you is the best thing that ever happened to me. I have found my new girl and she is just the one I want and love. In fact, when we get married I insist you come to the wedding. Besides, we need a new Chief Medic. My new queen does not have time to be a medic and she needs to learn her duties. You might as well stay here and be our healer. The lionesses have faith in your medical ability. So don't leave, Nala. We are all friends here and Kanya and I want you to stay."

Nala smiled at Simba"Thank you, Simba. I accept your apology and I thank you and Kanya for letting me stay in the Pridelands. I would be happy to become Chief Medic."

Nala looked at Kanya. "Kanya, I am sorry I fought with you so much.. I think it is wonderful you are going to marry Simba. I think you will make a good queen. I am looking forward becioming chief medic. I just hope I can go to the medicine pride every year to learn new medical procedures.."

Kanya looked down at her and smiled. "Simba and I want you to learn new medical procedures, and as for Mufasa,I thought I loved him, but I really love Simba. " she purred. "I am glad you jilted the way it's okay with me and Simba if you want to have a relationship with Mufasa."

"Yes Nala," Simba agreed. 'I think it's great you love my Dad. He needs somebody. You will be a great Chief Medic. You are the best. And we may have an idea hat will appeal to you. We are thinking of turning the elephant graveyard into a physical therapy and healing center. Maybe you can help with that and my father could assist you." Nala nodded. It was a great idea. Simba and Kanya had the makings of a responsible King and Queen..

Simba added, "Also, my father is anxious to see you. He was really worried about you.. He stayed with you for hours yesterday. Can he see you now?" Nala nodded. "Okay Nala. In two days, you can do your medical duties but Rafiki wants you on light duty until next week. I will send my father into you now. Goodbye, Nala." Simba and Kanya left.

Nala raised her self to sit with some dignity. What was she going to say to Mufasa? She did not hide her feelings very well. Kanya and Simba knew she loved Mufasa but did Mufasa know? Mufasa came in and sat in front of her. He looked down at her with his gentle ruby orbs. Her heart leaped when she saw him. He closed the distance between them and rubbed his magnificent red mane next to her head. She rubbed her head in his thick mane again. Then he carefully put his paws on her shoulders and brought her head next to his chest. She laid her head next to his thick red mane. They did not say anything for awhile. They did not have to. Finally he pulled her back from him and tilted her face so that she could look into his eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me how you felt , Nala?" Mufasa asked. "I would have understood.!"

Nala looked up into the face of her beloved. "I thought you still loved Sarabi and needed more time to get over her death. And then you were with Kanya. I did not want to pressure you. I felt that I had to marry Simba because he was your son and I could not come between you. Then I couldn't marry Simba because I love you! I ran away because I thought I had lost you!"

"You would have saved me, Simba, and yourself a lot of heartache if you had told me this, Nala. Sarabi will always have a special place in my heart but that does not mean I cannot love another. Kanya was only a colleague. She really annoyed me. I have never loved her. She belongs with Simba. I am lonely Nala. I want to love again and have another family. I love you. Since, I have come back here my feelings for you have grown. You make me happy Nala. Will you marry me even if I may be too old for you?"

Yes, Mufasa. I will marry you and I will be more than happy to be your wife. And your age does not matter. I love you just the way you are." The two of them embraced and Mufasa kissed Nala.

Simba and Kanya married and produced a son and daughter. Mufasa and Nala got married. Nala thrived as Chief Medic and Mufasa and she opened and ran the new physcial therapy center in the elephant graveyard.. Mufasa became his son's chief adviser. Every year Mufasa and nala would visit Tau, nala's son. He was being groomed to be King of his pride. Within a year Nala gave Mufasa boy and girl twins. The twins would be raised to take over the jungle oasis where Simba had spent his childhood.

Mufasa and Nala had many happy years together with their family. Simba became a just king. He followed the advice of Mufasa, Chief Medic Nala and Queen Kanya and the Pridelands flourished under his rule.

THE END.