It had been another hour when someone else appeared. Nala trotted up to me, concern on her face.
"James, have you been standing here this whole time?"
"Didn't want to break Simba's trust." I winced when my skin protested my movements. "I'm regretting it already."
"Let's get you inside."
"Did they find the cubs?"
"Be more concerned about yourself!" She shoved me from behind to get me moving. "No one should be in the heat that long!" I felt slightly dizzy when we began walking.
'Just can't catch a break, huh bud?' I mentally passed to my Bey. Leone grimaced in agreement, having picked up on my pain. Nala finally got me into the cave.
"I'll go get Simba." She padded off. I didn't argue as I sat down and leaned against the wall.
I lifted my head a few minutes later to see Simba approaching.
"Did you find the cubs?" He nodded. I slumped, relief filling me. "None of them are harmed?"
"Kovu was a little tired from the heat, but they'll be okay."
"That's good."
"…Why is your skin red?"
"Sunburn." He tilted his head. "Exposed skin can be burnt by the long exposure to sun. Humans are at a higher risk because we don't have fur like you." His mouth dropped open and his eyes widened.
"I, I didn't know! I mean," I cut him off.
"It's okay, I'll be fine." He only looked more saddened, his ears hiding in his mane. I reached out and put a hand on his head. "I've been through worse."
"That's not comforting," He muttered, ducking from under my hand.
"Yeah, well, it's the truth," I said casually.
"You need to rest."
"Okay, okay!" I huffed. My sleeping pad was even cooler than the air and felt amazing on my limbs. I let out a relaxing breath through my nose before eyeing the worrying king in front of me. "Simba, honestly, I'm okay."
"I don't believe you," He said flatly.
"Well, you're going to have to." I laid back more, wincing when my neck touched a rough strap on my bag. "Don't hover. You have responsibilities." I felt his gaze on me for a short while longer as I hid my pain. I heard him leave and let out a tense, slow breath.
"You may have him convinced enough to leave you alone." I jumped at Sarabi's voice. "But not me." I looked past my bag to see her lying a few feet away, an unimpressed look on her face. I chuckled sheepishly when she raised her brows.
"Honestly, do you like rejecting help when it is offered?" She asked with exasperation.
"I don't want to be a burden," I said, ducking my head a little.
"I assure you, that is the last thing you are." I squinted an eye at her.
"Even so, there's not much any of you can do about this. I will heal on my own."
"There's nothing to ease the pain?" I thought about it.
"Not unless there are aloe plants in the area."
"What are those?" She tilted her head. After I explained them, she was out of the cave before I could stop her.
««{{}}»»
She set a mouthful of different plants at my feet. I picked up one of them.
"These. I didn't know they grew around here."
"How does it work?" She asked, sitting in front of me.
"Like this," I picked at the edge of the plant where she broke it off and peeled part of the leaf back. I dipped a finger in before holding it up, "You take this clear gel and put it on the burn." I shivered at the cool feeling, even with the plant being warmed by the sun.
"Man that's cold," I said as my hair stood on end.
"It works that fast?" I nodded and held up my right hand.
"Here, let me see your paw." She placed it in my hand and I wiped some on her main foot pad. "Don't lick it, I don't know if it's safe for lions to eat."
"It is cold?" She sniffed it, confused.
"It pulls the heat from whatever is in contact with it." I spread more of it over my arms and legs.
"How does it do that?"
Not going to explain a science I don't fully understand to a lion…
"Similar to how water cools you off, I guess. I just know that it works really well to heal sunburns." While I finished off the gel, Sarabi took the other plants back outside. She came back to find I had a blanket draped over my shoulders.
"You're shivering?" Seeing such a drastic change in my demeanor, she had stopped with a paw in the air.
"Better than the alternative," I said right before a harsh chill ran up my spine. I shook the chill out through my hands and pulled my knees closer to my chest.
"Humans are strange," She noted with a smile. I returned it.
"I'm not exactly normal when it comes to humans. Hope I'm leaving a good impression." She laughed and stepped around behind me, laying down and pressing her belly against my back.
"Allow me to help." I felt her body heat penetrate through the blanket and the chill in my spine began to fade.
"That does help. Thank you, Sarabi."
"There's not much this old lioness can do now. I help when and where I can."
"Oh don't say that. I'm sure you've still got many years left." She looked at the ground, a half-smile on her muzzle.
"I hope to see Kiara fully grown. But," She became crestfallen, "I also wish to see Mufasa again." My heart went out to her. I leaned back, pressing against her a little more.
"I can't imagine. I'm sorry." She was silent for a while.
"…When I heard that you saw him, I thought maybe his death had been a bad dream. Maybe he had been off, like Simba had, and he was only just returning." She closed her eyes and her breathing became heavier. My sunburn became the least of my worries. I wiped the aloe off of my arm and wrapped it over her shoulders.
"I never meant to bring you pain. I'm so sorry." She shook her head before looking at me through her tears.
"Don't blame yourself. It was nothing more than the delusions of an old lioness." I used my thumb to gently wipe a tear from her cheek.
"It is not a delusion," I gently chided, "To wish to see our loved ones that have passed. We all want to see them. We all miss them. Your time to see him again will come."
"It still hurts." She choked back a sob.
"It might till the day you pass on." I ran my hand along her head, the action soothing her.
"I don't want to worry Simba by telling him," She said after a minute of silence. I breathed a kind laugh through my nose.
"He's going to worry whether you tell him or not. That whole hakuno tomato shtick him and the other two go on about never lasts." She laughed around her tears, setting her head down.
"I suppose you're right."
"How about we take a nap? It's been a long day and it's barely after noon." She agreed and we settled down, me on my back with her stomach pressing against my right side.
"…James?" Came her voice a few minutes later. I lifted my head, meeting her gaze.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for talking with me. It…did help." My heart swelled and I smiled. I turned onto my side and draped my arm over her back.
"You're welcome." We both dozed off lightly.