SCENE:  PARTS IS PARTS


	The cubs watched, spellbound, as the lionesses tore past 
them, pursuing the water buffalo as he blundered along, bellowing 
in panic.  Uzuri bounded in from in front, leaping upon the 
animal's back, her weight throwing it off balance and sending it 
crashing to the ground in a heap.  The bull's limbs thrashed as 
Uzuri fastened her teeth into it's throat, cutting off the air 
supply.
	"Awesome!"  Tanabi looked at Misha.  "How does she do that?"
	Kombi snorted comtemptuously from where he sat with Togo.  
"Idjit.  When you get older like us, you'll see.  It's easy." 
	Lisani elbowed Habusu who sat next to her and shook her 
head.  "Yeah, right.  You guys are so clumsy, you couldn't even 
tackle Timon."
	Tanabi and Misha giggled as the two brothers glared at 
Lisani.  Though they had the gangly look typical of six month old 
cubs, Lisani had retained the slim and graceful look she had 
posessesed since she was a cub.  Misha sighed as she looked at her 
own forelegs.  At four months old, they had lost the stubby 
cuteness of babyhood and were lengthening out nicely, though she 
still thought her paws were way too big.  She prayed that she 
would  also be blessed with Lisani's luck, but she doubted it.
	Their thoughts were interuppted by Ajenti's voice.  "Come 
on, kids, time to eat!"
	The six cubs tumbled out of the grass where they had been  
told to remain hidden and gamboled down the hill merrily, 
laughing.  They quietened, however, as they approached the downed 
animal.  Uzuri lay crouched over the forequarters, her fangs 
buried in the bull's neck.  Satisfied that it's struggles had 
ceased, she slowly released her grip, a wary eye on the animal in 
case it was still capable of flight.
	Isha nosed her way along the animal's flank until she found 
a suitable spot.  Nodding to herself, she cleared her throat, 
pausing until she had eveyone's attention.  The others followed 
suit as she bowed her head.  "Aiheu abahami," she spoke.  "Aiheu 
provides."
	"Aiheu abahami," they repeated.  This was not a simple rote  
recital, for each lion spoke from the heart, thanking their Lord 
for the food recieved, as well as asking for protection from 
injury on future hunts.  Any lioness who knew her craft was well 
aware of the evil spirits who plagued the hunt, waiting to turn a 
chance mishap into a fatal injury.
	The blessing said, Isha raised her head eagerly.  Seizing 
the spot she had previously selected with her incisors, she pulled 
sharply, opening the belly.  She growled sharply, fighting for her 
position as her companions surged forward expectantly.
	Ajenti pushed in, burying her head in the carcass, her jaws 
working as she bolted her food greedily.  Grumpily, Isha slid 
aside-barely; any lioness who was too timid at dinnertime would 
invariably go hungry.  Uzuri crowded in from the other side, 
dexterously ducking her head in and snatching away a huge chunk of 
flesh, which she swallowed whole.  She growled slightly at Togo 
and Kombi, who were sidling a little too close for her liking.
	Unpeturbed, the two cubs continued to edge closer until they 
were able to snatch away a sizeable piece for themselves, which 
they ran off with, each carrying one end whilst simeltaneously 
trying to yank the whole piece from the other's grasp.
	Ajenti paused to grip the haunch of the bull between her 
teeth.  Muscles bulging with the effort, she pulled it away from 
the body with a sharp popping sound.  She dragged it to one side 
and dropped it, turning to the others.  "We'll save this for Nala, 
since she couldn't come."
	Uzuri nodded.  "A good choice.  Too bad she had to pull her 
leg like that; she'd have enjoyed this."  She jerked back and 
growled in annoyance as Isha surged forward, burying herself up to 
the shoulders in the carcass.  "Isha, what are you doing?!"
	Isha emerged, face stained crimson, but smiling in triumph 
at what she held in her jaws.  "Hunter's choice, Uzuri.  The 
heart; you brought the bull down; it's yours by right."
	Uzuri grinned at her.  "Thank you, sister."  She snapped up 
the tender morsel in two bites, closing her eyes in ecstasy.
	Isha turned back to the carcass to discover Lisani crouched 
calmly in her place, gorging herself for all she was worth.  "Hey!  
What do you think you're doing?!"  The young female smiled up at 
her aunt, but didn't move; she had found a good spot to feed from 
and evidently intended to keep it.
	Ajenti chuckled around a mouthful.  "Isha, you taught her 
too well, I believe."  She moved aside to give the cubs enough 
room to eat.  "C'mon, kids."
	Misha and Tanabi edged forward tentatively, uncertain.  
Experience had taught them to wait their turn until the adults had 
satisfied their hunger before trying to take their place at the 
carcass.  Seeing the lionesses chatting amiably, however, Tanabi 
concluded it was safe enough for him, anyway.  He paced over to 
the eviscerated animal and nabbed a short length of intestine.  
Picking it up, he staggered off comically, the ends dragging 
behind him.
	Kombi saw him passing and snorted.  "Naw, dummy, you ain't 
doin' it right."
	Tanabi stopped and glared.  "Oh yeah?" he mumbled around the 
mouthful.  "Who says?"
	"I says."  Kombi trotted over next to Misha, who was 
apparently having trouble detaching her piece from the body.  
"Watch."  Picking up the severed length of  intestine she had been 
worrying, he pulled it free with a muffled snap.  The cubs watched 
him carefully as he grasped  it between his front teeth.  He 
paused, savoring the attention.  "Here's the trick.  Ready?"  
Tanabi and Misha nodded energetically.  Grinning, Kombi pursed his 
lips.  With a loud slurp, he sucked the innards into his mouth, 
the end giving a final little wiggle as it disappeared into his 
maw.  He sat back and chewed serenely, a look of utter bliss on 
his face.  "Mmmm."
	Lisani looked over and shook her head despairingly.  "Slob."
	Tanabi and Misha gaped delightedly at the older cub.  
"AwwweSOME!"  Tanabi said.  He immediately bent to his own piece 
and gripped it in like fashion.
	"Now, hold on," Kombi said.  "The secret is to-"
	Tanabi ignored him and sucked mightily.  The innards 
suddenly leapt off the ground, seeming to come alive as they 
wrapped around his head, smacking him wetly on the cheek.
	Misha fell back, shrieking delightedly.  "Oh, GROSS!  Do it 
again!"
	Ajenti shook her head as she passed by, her stomach bulging 
alarmingly.  "You'd better quit playing with your food and go eat, 
hon; there won't me much to pick from when Simba gets here."
	Isha, following behind, snickered.  "Amen to that.  Now 
there's a lion who appreciates his food!"  Chuckling, the two 
lionesses wandered a short distance away, flopping to the grass 
comfortably as they began to groom each other, clearing away the 
crimson stains on their faces.
	Shaking the offending entrails away, Tanabi bounded over to 
the carcass, Misha alongside.  They slinked past Uzuri, who was 
still busying herself with something inside, and made their way 
over to the remaining haunch, where Habusu sat quietly, chewing 
his meat and looking out over the savanna reflectively.  "Hey, 
Habu, what's up?"
	Tanabi batted his friend's face playfully, the larger cub 
grinning down at him as he accepted the blows good-naturedly.  
Tanabi's little swipes were always done in jest, unlike Togo and 
Kombi, who evidently felt the need to bludgeon everything they 
laid their paws on.  Habusu returned the playful cuffs gently, 
then jerked his head toward the huge hunk of flesh he had been 
dining on.  "Come on, there's plenty left here.  Besides, I'm 
almost full."
	Needing no further encouragement, the cubs attacked it 
hungrily, enjoying the chewy tendons on the back of the leg.  
Yawning, Habusu sat down and began to groom himself contentedly.  
Finally satisfied with his efforts, he closed his eyes drowsily 
and rolled over on his back, splaying his gangly legs in the air.
	Misha looked over, curious, as Uzuri chucked something aside 
with a disgusted grunt.  The round sac sailed a short distance 
away before coming to rest.  "What was that?"
	Uzuri shook her head.  "That was full of grass, hon.  It's 
not very tasty at all.  Now this," she said, motioning with a 
forepaw, "is downright good eating."
	Misha peered inside, squinting.  "That big brown thing?"
	Uzuri nodded.  "Mm-hmm.  Here."  She arched her neck and 
leaned in, tearing the item away with her teeth.  "Try a piece."  
She watched, intrested, as the cub bit off a tiny section.  "Don't 
worry, 'ol Uzuri won't steer you wrong."
	Misha chewed thoughfully.  "Hey, that is pretty good."
	Uzuri chuckled.  "Don't eat too much of that until you get a 
little bigger; it'll make you sick if you do."
	Misha glanced down the length of the animal, towards the 
hindquarters where Tanabi sat, still gunning away at the haunch.  
Suddenly, her face twisted up in confusion.  "Auntie Uzuri, how 
about that?  Is it any good?"
	Uzuri looked over to where the cub was staring and grimaced.  
"Uh, hon, that's...kind of difficult.  You'd have to be a little 
older before I could explain."
	"Huh?  But I'm already four moons old-"
	"-and that's not enough."  Uzuri looked at her sternly.  
"Now hush up and eat before the meat stiffens."
	


SCENE:  JOKE'S ON YOU


	Misha stared, enchanted, as the little cubs squirmed 
sightlessly at their mother's belly.  "They're so tiny," she 
whispered.
	Malaika smiled gently at her.  Her labor had been fruitful; 
three healthy cubs lay suckling at her belly, their eyes shut 
tightly against the world.  "You were smaller than that, as I 
recall."
	"Really?"
	Tanabi sat at the entrance to Malaika's cave, squirming 
agitatedly.  "C'mon, Misha, let's go!  Togo and Kombi are waiting 
for us."
	"Shhh!"  Misha glared at him.  "You're gonna scare the 
babies!"
	Tanabi looked skyward and rolled his eyes in frustration.  
"Aww, man...c'mon, Misha.  Please?"
	She shook her head.  "Nope.  I want to stay here and help 
Malaika."  She looked at the lioness adoringly.  "She's going to 
show me how to take care of the cubs."
	Her playmate shook his head disgustedly.  "Sissy stuff.  
Fine then!  Stay here and watch your old babies!  I'm gonna go 
have fun."  He spun and stalked off, his lower lip stuck out in an 
enormous pout.
	Malaika stared after him, a frown on her face.  "Honey tree, 
you don't have to stay here.  Go play with your friends; I'm 
fine."
	Misha shook her head.  "Uh-uh.  I really want to help, 
Malaika.  Please let me stay."  She glanced over her shoulder at 
Tanabi's retreating form.  "All he wants to do is go play with 
Togo and Kombi, anyway." 
	Tanabi swatted angrily at an offending pebble in his path.  
He had been looking forward to this afternoon; he had planned to 
show Misha the neat joke Togo and Kombi had come up with to play 
on Uzuri.  And now...he sighed, depressed.  It had seemed funny at 
first, but now the whole joke seemed pointless.
	"Phooey," he said, disgusted.  "Uzuri's no fun to tease, 
anyway."  He started to turn, intending to head back to the main 
cave and take a nap, when something landed on him, bearing him to 
the ground with a startled "OOF!"  Gasping, he rose to see Togo 
looking down at him with a mixture of amusement and disdain on his 
face.  "Tsk tsk," he clucked sadly.  "Fell for it again, kid."
	Kombi trotted out from behind a rock, yucking it up for all 
he was worth.  "Sucker!  How many times are you gonna get 
flattened before you figure it out?"
	"Shaddap!" Tanabi snapped, startling them both.  "Why do you 
always keep pouncing on me like that?  You know how much I hate 
it!"
	"Sheesh, calm down, willya?"  Kombi peered at him, 
intrested.  "What's got your fur on end today?"
	"Misha."  Tanabi cut his eyes away, suddenly embarrassed.  
"She won't come and see the joke we were gonna do."
	Togo's eyes widened.  "You mean the one we were gonna pull 
on Mom?!"  He shook his head vehemently.  "Naw, man, we can't pass 
this one up.  It's the best one we've come up with yet!"  He 
looked at Kombi worriedly.  "C'mon, Tanabi, we gotta do this one!"
	Tanabi looked at the ground.  "Nah.  I really don't feel 
like it.  You guys go ahead without me."
	Kombi shook his head.  "We can't, remember?  You have to 
distract Mom for us; that's why we showed it to you.  You've gotta 
come."
	"Why don't you take Habu instead?  He's a lot quieter than I 
am, anyway."
	"That dweeb?"  Togo snorted derisively.  "He's no fun.  Come 
on, T.  Let's go."
	"He's not a dweeb, buzzard brains," Tanabi said sharply.  
"He's just not into jokes, that's all."  The prince got up, 
shaking himself vigorously, and turned to leave.  "Sorry."
	"Wait a minute, here."  Kombi squinched up his face in 
thought, an expression rarely seen from him.  "If Misha DID come, 
would you go with us?"
	Tanabi looked at him suspiciously.  "Well, yeah, I guess so.  
But she's helping Malaika babysit her cubs.  I already tried 
talking to her; she won't leave."
	Kombi grinned at him.  "No problem!  We've just got to get 
Malaika to make Misha leave her alone; then she can go with us!"
	Tanabi rolled his eyes and snorted.  "Oh, brilliant.  And 
just how, pray tell, are we going to get her to do that?"
	"Simple.  Ask her."
	The young prince rolled onto his back, laughing.  "Oh, now 
that's rich.  You're going to go up to Malaika and say, 'Gee, we 
really want Misha to come and play with us; would you tell her to 
buzz off?'"
	Kombi's smile spread into a predatory shark's grin.  "Nope.  
You are."
	"Okay, let me get this straight.  You want me to tell the 
girl I don't want her to help me?  Ridiculous."  Malaika shook her 
head.  "She's invaluable to me.  Besides, I couldn't do that to 
her; it would break her heart."
	"Aww, please?"  Tanabi dredged up his most pitiful 
expression and turned it on full force.  "It's no fun playing tag 
without Misha, Auntie Malaika."
	Malaika raised an eyebrow.  "You and Misha are going to go 
play 'tag' with those two?  Right."
	"Honest, we are!  No fooling."  Tanabi was secure in this 
fib; the prank on Uzuri DID involve them distracting her with a 
fake game of tag, so technically he wasn't lying.  Well, sort of, 
anyway.
	Malaika turned the matter over in her head for a minute or 
two, then appeared to come to a decision.  "Oh, all right.  I'll 
get her to go with you."
	"Yeah!"  Tanabi bussed her cheek.  "Thanks, Malaika!"  He 
scampered off, eager to inform his friends of the good news.  The 
lioness stared after him, a faint smile on her face.  "Misha, 
dear, did you catch that?"
	"Uh-huh." The cub popped up from behind the lioness's bulk.  
"I don't wanna play with Togo and Kombi; they're always being mean 
to someone!  Tanabi's always so nice to Habu and me; I don't know 
why he wants to hang out with those two."
	The lioness looked at her thoughtfully.  "You know, hon, 
I've got an idea that might just solve all our problems."
	"Really?"  Misha looked slightly perplexed.  "What?"
	Malaika laughed.  "We're going to give them a taste of their 
own medicine, Misha."  She bent to the cub's ear, whispering.
	Several minutes later, Tanabi looked at his friend in utter 
shock.  "She said WHAT?!"
	Misha sobbed uncontrollably.  "M-Malaika s-said I wasn't 
paying enough at-t-t-tention to the babies, that I kept ru-running 
off and playing with you guys instead of watching them."  She 
collapsed on the ground and held her head in her paws.  "S-She 
told me I'm not allowed to see them anymore..." her voice trailed 
up and away into a wail.
	Togo looked at Kombi and grimaced.  "Oops."
	Tanabi patted Misha on the cheek worriedly.  "Uhh, calm 
down, Misha.  I'm sure she'll let you see them again; she's just 
sore, that's all."
	"But I didn't DO anything!"  Misha cried angrily.  "I DID 
watch them, real careful.  I did everything she said to do, 
Tanabi; what did I do wrong?"  She buried her face in his chest, 
her tears soaking the fur.
	"Aww, man..." Tanabi glanced at the brothers angrily, as if 
looking for support, but the two had suddenly found something 
fascinating about their toes, for they studied them intently, 
avoiding his gaze.  He turned back to Misha and rubbed cheeks with 
her reassuringly.  "Well, since you're not babysitting, do you 
want to go see our joke?"  He smiled halfheartedly.  "Maybe it'll 
make you feel better, anyway."
	"Oh, PHOOEY on you and your stupid joke!  You don't even 
care, do you?"  Misha's eyes blazed with anger.  "What's my mama 
going to say when Malaika tells her I'm not even fit to look after 
newborn cubs?  I'm worthless!"  She fell back, tears streaming 
down her face.  "I thought you were my friend, Tanabi.  I guess I 
was wrong, wasn't I?"  She turned and began to walk away.
	Tanabi stood frozen, unable to speak as Togo stepped down 
and joined him.  The older cub elbowed him and snorted.  "Boy, she 
can't take a joke, can she?"
	The tendons in Tanabi's neck creaked as he turned to face 
him.  "Get away from me,"  he said icily.  Togo shrank back as 
Tanabi  leapt up and sprinted after Misha, calling her name.
	He raced around a granite outcropping and nearly blundered 
into her.  "Misha, wait."
	She stopped, but did not turn.  "What do you want?"
	He circled around her until he was face to face with her.  
"I-I have to tell you something."  He cast his gaze down to the 
ground, unwilling to look her in the eye.  "It-It's my fault 
Malaika kicked you out."
	"Huh?"  Misha cocked an eyebrow at him.  "What're you 
talking about?"
	His right ear began to jitter nervously.  "I asked Malaika 
to get you to come play with us," he said in a small voice.  "I 
didn't know she was going to freak out like that, though.  I 
thought she'd just, you know, maybe let you take a break for a 
couple of hours, or something."  He finally looked up and met her 
gaze miserably.  "You aren't worthless, Misha; I am.  I shouldn't 
have tried to make you do something you didn't want to. You're my 
bestest friend in the world, and I just wanted to spend some time 
with you, that's all."  His eyes began to water and he rubbed his 
nose with a forepaw, sniffling. "I'm really sorry, Misha.  Please 
don't hate me."
	Misha stared at him silently, looking into his sad face.  
Abruptly, she grinned, and leapt through the air, tackling him.  
Caught off balance, the startled Tanabi toppled, again giving out 
a healthy "OOF!" as his bruised back once again made an 
aquaintance with the hard rock.
	"You dimwit, your head must be full of dead grass."  She 
laughed joyfully.  "Of course I don't hate you!  Malaika didn't 
throw me out; we planned this!"
	Tanabi gaped up at her.  "W-What?  She knew?!"  He laughed 
shakily.  "Ohh, man, you had me going, Misha."  He scowled 
suddenly.  "That was a dirty trick!"
	"So was what you had planned for me, young prince."  Tanabi 
cringed at the familiar voice.  Craning his head back, he saw the 
inverted form of Uzuri pacing nonchalantly toward him, her wayward 
cubs following her meekly.  She stopped, her huge form looming 
overhead.  Tanabi was utterly flabbergasted as he saw the serene 
smile on Uzuri's normally stern features.  "By the way; it 
wouldn't have worked, Tanabi.  I'm the hunt mistress, remember?  I 
can spot an attack pattern a mile away, especially one I 
invented."  She clucked disdainfully at her children.  "Really, 
kids; you've GOT to learn to invent your own stalking patterns."  
The lioness chuckled and meandered away, with Togo and Kombi 
following reluctantly.
	Misha put her paw under Tanabi's chin and shut his mouth 
gently.  "You're drawing flies, T."  Laughing softly, she rubbed 
up against his side.  "Did you really mean what you said about 
wanting to spend some time with me?"
	"Of course."
	She grinned as he fell neatly into her trap.  "Great.  
C'mon.  I'll show you how to babysit."
 


SCENE:  THE SHINING MOMENT


	The spring rains had brought forth an abundance of flora 
from the valley floor, the flowers blooming in a riot of color 
which dazzled the eyes of the two yearling cubs who scampered 
about through the scented plants, laughing gaily.
        Tanabi grinned at Misha as he crouched down among a clump 
of yellow wildflowers, his tail lashing madly.  Giggling, she 
complied, standing tall and straight, strutting through the 
greenery as though he did not exist.  He sprang from cover, 
tackling her and sending the two of them rolling down the gently 
sloping hillside.
        Tanabi lost his grip and flew over his friend to land in a 
heap.  He got up, chuckling, but froze when he heard Misha cry 
out.  He looked over to see her emerging from a dense shock of 
brambles, staggering unsteadily as she favored a paw.  "What's 
wrong?" 
        She shook her paw gingerly and looked at him, a tear 
gleaming in one eye.  "I can't put my weight on it, Tanabi, it 
hurts!"
        "Lemme see."  His stomach knotted as he trotted over to 
her.  His mother had sprained a leg a few months back, and even 
with Rafiki's assistance, she was only now returning to her full 
capabilities.  If Misha had done the same, or worse, broken a 
bone...  He sighed with relief as he spotted the problem.  "It's 
just a thorn, Misha.  No problem."
        She looked at him worriedly.  "Can you get it out?"
        "Uh-huh.  Hold still."  Nosing through the fur, he 
carefully took hold of the edges of the shank with his teeth.  
With a smooth, gentle tug, the thorn pulled free.
        Misha hissed in pain, then relaxed slowly.  "Thank you, 
Tanabi."
        He smiled back at her.  "You're welcome."  He began to 
groom her wounded paw in smooth, soothing strokes, noting absently 
how much she had grown recently.  Her legs, which were her only 
vanity, had grown out quite a bit, much to her relief, now 
rivaling even the older Lisani's in their graceful appearance.
        Misha sat quietly, enjoying the sensation as Tanabi 
cleaned the wound on her foot.  Finishing, he raised his head and 
smiled at her.  "All better."
        She felt a surge of warmth for her friend.  Tanabi was 
always so sweet.  He never played too rough like the other cubs, 
and if he had something nice to eat, he was always willing to 
share.  Impulsively, Misha leaned over and planted a kiss on his 
cheek.
        Tanabi froze for a moment, then grinned.  "Back at 'cha!"  
he said, and kissed her.  But he didn't draw away immediately.  
Instead, he stood balanced on three legs, his attention riveted on 
Misha's eyes.  "M-Misha?" he stammered.  "I, uh-"
        She laughed prettily and swatted him with a forepaw, 
sending him to the ground in a heap.  "Tag!  You're it!"
        "Oh yeah?!"  He leapt to his feet, grinning, and gave 
chase.  She ran, laughing, dodging through the underbrush from 
spot to spot, always staying just out of reach as he pursued her 
across the savanna.  They had begun to near Pride Rock when he 
finally caught up with her, intercepting her gracefully in mid-
leap to send them both sprawling in the grass.  The cubs paused 
there to catch their breath, giggling softly.
        Tanabi looked over at Misha again, unable to tear his eyes 
off her.  As she looked over at him and smiled, the sun sailed out 
from behind a cloud, the brilliant light surrounding her with a 
golden nimbus as the sun shone off her fur.  His breath caught in 
his throat, and he was unable to speak.
        Misha blinked, perplexed.  "Tanabi?  Are you okay?"
        He cleared his throat scratchily.  "Uhh, yeah.  You ready 
to head back?"
        She nodded.  The two made their way towards the Rock 
slowly, enjoying the warm sunshine and the pleasant breeze that 
ruffled their fur, sending ripples across the green carpet of 
grass that covered the ground.
        Misha leaned her head against Tanabi's shoulder 
companionably, noting absently the pronounced bulkiness which had 
not been there only a month ago.  Cool, she thought.  I wonder 
what Tanabi will look like with a mane.  She tried to imagine her 
best friend's visage surrounded by a ruff of hair like Simba's and 
giggled quietly.
        Uzuri passed them heading the other way and chuckled.  
"You two lovebirds been out walking again, eh?"
        Misha's ears flattened in embarassment as Tanabi's fur 
spiked along his back.  "Yeah...well, I mean no! That is, we're 
not-"
        The lioness smacked him playfully with her tail as she 
passed.  "Uh--huh.  That's what I thought."  She grinned and shook 
her head.  I always knew you two were made for each other."
        Tanabi writhed in total embarasment.  "Uzuri!"
        She laughed softly and nuzzled him.  "I'm just teasing, 
honey tree.  You go ahead on and play, now."  The lioness headed 
away, still chuckling softly to herself.
        Misha groomed herself self-conciously.  "I, uh, better get 
back.  I promised Malaika I'd help babysit while she went out 
hunting."
        "Okay."  Tanabi stared after her thoughtfully.  He 
abruptly turned and trotted up the slope to thw promontory of 
Pride Rock.  Seeing his father, he walked over slowly, uncertain 
now of what he wanted to say.
        Simba was in the middle of taking a report from Zazu when 
he saw his son sitting quietly behind him.  Breaking off, he 
looked at the cub curiously.  "What's up, Tanabi?"
        The cub squirmed uneasily.  "Uhh, Dad, can I talk to you 
alone for a second?"
        Simba raised an eyebrow.  "What about?  I'm in the middle 
of something right now; is it very important?"
        "Weelll, sort of."  He lashed his tail, embarassed.  "It's 
about...uh, a friend of mine."
        Simba's forehead furrowed.  "Who?  Is somebody in 
trouble?"  He looked at his son sternly.  "Have you kids been 
teasing Uzuri again?"
        Tanabi sighed in exasperation.  "No, it's about Misha."
        Simba's mouth made a soundless "Ohhh," as he turned to 
look at Zazu.  The hornbill smiled knowingly and cleared his 
throat.  "Well, Sire, that concludes my report for now.  I shall 
return later and inform you should anything else come up."
        "Of course, Zazu.  Thank you."  Zazu flapped off as Simba 
turned to his son.  "Well, Tanabi?  What's on your mind?"
        Tanabi's brow wrinkled alarmingly.  "Dad, I can't get her 
out of my head!"  He sputtered helplessly.  "I feel so weird.  I 
want to go play with Habu and the other guys, but I want to go 
play with Misha, too.  I don't want them to come with us, though.  
She's my best friend, after all, but..." he trailed off, 
uncertain.
        Simba cocked an ear.  "But...what?"
        The cub looked at the ground, embarassed.  "I thought she 
looked looked kinda pretty, today, so...I gave her a kiss."
	His father chuckled.  "She IS pretty, isn't she.  So, was it 
fun?"
	"Was what fun?"
	"Giving her a kiss."
	"Well it wasn't fun.  It was more like...I liked it.  I 
wouldn't say it was fun, though."
	Simba drew the cub close to him with a forepaw.  "Son, 
whether you know it or not, you're growing up.  There's nothing 
wrong with wanting to spend time alone with Misha, if that's what 
you want to do."  He rose, stretching, and began to meander up the 
path to the peak of Pride Rock.  Tanabi followed slowly, 
listening.
        "Tanabi, this may be difficult for you to understand, but 
it's perfectly normal to want to be with a girl at your age."  
Simba grinned.  "I remember when I thought girls were there so I 
would have someone to play jokes on."  
	"Really?"
	Simba nodded. 
	"Know any good practical jokes?"
	"There is no such thing as a `practical' joke.  Not when you 
get to be my age.  I like the kind of jokes where everyone gets a 
good laugh and nobody feels like a fool."
	"Oh.  Yeah."
	Reaching the summit, the two lions padded over to the edge 
and sat down.  "This is just the beginning, my son.  Miracles are 
happening inside you every day, and life itself is a miracle to be 
appreciated for the wonder it is.  These changes used to frighten 
me.  I didn't have someone I could talk to.  I want you to 
remember that I'm not just your father..."
	"You're also my king."
	"No....  Well yes, but I mean I'm also your friend."
	Simba nuzzled his son gently as they stared out over the 
Pride Lands together.  "Son, do you know what day you'll be grown 
and a lion?"
	"When I'm given my mantlement?"
	"In the eyes of the Pride, yes.  But there is no day in your 
whole life when you'll wake up and be a totally different person.  
A mantlement can be pushed up a week for convenience's sake.  It 
can be pulled back a couple of days.  It's just a ceremony."  He 
thought it over.  "Not JUST a ceremony-it's very important-but 
still there is nothing sacred about the moment it's held because 
growing up is a process, not an event."  He patted Tanabi on the 
shoulder.  "Son, you're at an age right now when you're a little 
less of a cub every day and a little more of an adult.  That leads 
to some very confusing feelings.  Like the way you felt when you 
kissed Misha.  Fact is, I kiss your mother all the time.  Some of 
the time it feels just like when you kiss me.  But there are other 
times, special times, when you get to be my age.  You'll kiss her, 
but then you feel like there's something else waiting to happen.  
Like that kiss isn't the end, but the beginning."
	"Yeah," Tanabi said.  "That was it.  I felt like I was 
waiting for something to happen."  He looked down, embarrased.
	Simba said quietly, "Misha loves you, son.  One day when you 
kiss her, she will be waiting for something to happen too.   And I 
know what that something is."
	"Kombi said I'm supposed to."  He stopped.
	"Kombi is very clever, but he doesn't know everything.  If 
he did, he would know that the love between a lion and a lioness 
is a holy and beautiful thing."  Simba smiled.  "Just how many 
times has Kombi done this thing he talked about."
	Tanabi's ears flattened back and he looked down.  "None, I 
guess."
	"Then how does he know he's right?"  He smiled slyly.  "On 
the other hand, your father is happily married and has a son."
	Tanabi looked up and smiled.  "Yeah."
	Simba nuzzled him.  "So who are you going to believe?  Your 
dad, that's who.  It's time we put these rumors aside and had a 
heart to heart chat."
        The sky above had faded to the dusky purple of twilight.  
And as the great kings of the past took their places one by one in 
the vault of heaven, Tanabi sat quietly next to Simba and learned 
about love.



SCENE:  THE WAITING GAME


	Misha never formally fell in love with Tanabi.  As youngest 
cubs they were the best of friends, practically inseparable.  Most 
pride members never thought of one without the other.  They would 
nurse together at Ajenti or Nala, which was their mothers' way of 
recognizing the budding relationship, for out of this friendship 
Ajenti was expecting a new son and Nala was expecting a new 
daughter someday.  Of course by this time they had long since 
taken to an adult diet and a more adult appearance.  And with this 
came a more mature love that deepened rather than replaced their 
old feelings.
	Ajenti still had authority over her "little girl," and 
forbade her to carelessly lead on Tanabi because she was still not 
a lioness.  Indeed, Misha was still her cub despite her feelings, 
and this would not change until she had become a lioness in the 
eyes of the pride.  As her new feelings for Tanabi grew and 
deepened, she longed for the rite of passage and the freedom it 
would bring.
	Misha was sunning herself on the rocks when Tanabi came by.  
"Look, Missy, notice anything different about me?"
	"Oh yes!  It's wonderful!  Look, Mom, his mane is one day 
longer than the last time he asked!"
	"That's not very nice," Tanabi said.  "After all, I mainly 
came by to wish you luck on this evening's hunt.  I hear it's your 
first?"
	"You know good and well it is."  She smiled.  "I talk about 
it as much as you talk about that stupid old mane--forget I said 
that; it's not stupid at all.  It's beautiful, like you."
	Tanabi bussed her cheek with his tongue.  "Tomorrow is my 
mantlement.  I guess I've run it into the ground by now, but I 
delayed it because of you."
	"Because of me?"
	"Because this evening is your first hunt.  I want you to 
stand with me tomorrow at the ceremony.  I want to make an 
announcement.  You will be a huntress and I will be a hunter."
	"What will you hunt?"
	"I will hunt you."
	"Do you think you can catch me?"
	"I will," he said passionately.  He shuddered and spoke in a 
near whisper.  "The time for talk will soon be over, Missy.  My 
love will be more than kind words."
	"I know."
	"Tell me the truth.  Will your feelings for me come back a 
lioness, or will they be a cub?  I know you are my friend, but do 
you look forward to this union?  Are you sure you will want me?"
	She pressed up against his side and walked slowly forward, 
rubbing along his flank and finally drawing her supple tail 
seductively under his throat.  "I want you now.  Once first blood 
is marked on my cheek, I won't even stop to eat.  I'll come right 
back here and find you.  It will be everything you hoped for--I 
promise."
	"Misha," Tanabi whispered, nuzzling her affectionately.  His 
hot breath on her face was intoxicating.  "When you kill, take 
time to savor the moment.  You know I don't become a lion till 
tomorrow.  A foolish, fleeting passage of the sun and a few grand 
words from my father.  I hate ceremonies-they are so incon-
venient."
	"And so long," Misha said.  "Keep your speech short.  After 
all, you'll really become a lion when we're alone."
	"Oh gods!"  He nuzzled her again, then stopped himself.  
"Please leave now.  I cannot trust myself."
	"Sorry, Fuzzy Love."  She gave him a brief, chaste touch of 
her tongue on the cheek.  "Love ya."
	"Same here.  Good hunting."



SCENE:  GAME IS AFOOT


	It seemed an eternity until time for the evening hunt.  
Misha was first at the gathering place in the shadow of Pride 
Rock.  When the other lionesses came in one by one, she chatted 
nervously.
	In fact, lionesses loved to talk when they were gathering 
for a hunt.  It was therapeutic to get all of it out of their 
system before the silence of the stalk.  And so Misha ended up 
with a lot of free advice on everything from hunting to raising 
polite, well-behaved cubs.  In fact, Isha even asked if her mother 
had had The Talk with her.  She said yes, shyly.
	"Isha, what is it like to be with a lion?"
	They laughed.  Malaika said, "Get her talking about that, 
Honey Tree, and there won't be ANY killing tonight."
	"I could tell you some stories," Isha added, giggling.  
"Remember Taka?"
	"Taka??  You and Taka??"  There was more laughter.
	"No!  Not in a million years!"  She feigned indignation, 
then added in a low voice, "But I heard on good authority that he 
and Elanna used to sneak out to the...."
	"Watch what you say about my sister!"  Sarabi let a little 
fang show.
	Isha looked at Sarabi and added soothingly.  "Come on, 
Sarabi.  Aren't you the least bit curious?  You said yourself you 
didn't know what Elanna saw in him.  I did too, so I went straight 
to the source.  El' didn't hold back, not one little detail....."
	Sarabi's jaw hung slack.  "No, you don't say!  She hasn't 
told me anything."
	"Well I'd imagine not.  Some things you won't tell a sister, 
like `What is it this time, naughty bunnies or the wildebeest's 
revenge?'"
	The lionesses giggled and drew closer together, expectantly.  
"Naughty bunnies?" Misha asked, worried.  "Mother never told me 
about that."
	"Hush!" Uzuri said.  "Misha's still a child for now."  Uzuri 
was the hunt mistress, and they obeyed her at once.
	"You don't need naughty bunnies," Uzuri purred.  "The love 
between a lion and lioness is a beautiful thing when it begins in 
the heart.  Tanabi will look in your eyes and plead for you to 
love him.  You will come willingly, gladly.  And when your love is 
bright as the eyes of Aiheu, he will share with you the comfort of 
his body and you will become one.  Love is nothing to be 
frightened of, or ashamed of. "
	Sarabi added, "At times he will be stubborn, irresponsible, 
an overgrown cub.  He will make you angry with his foolishness.  
You will start to cuff the life out of him, and then he will turn 
to you and need your forgiveness as dry grass needs the rain.  And 
you will rush to forgive him for you love him so.   To make love 
is good, but there are many ways to feel love.  Mostly I remember 
how safe I felt with Mufasa's strong and beautiful body next to me 
all night long.  When I would awake at high moon, I would stroke 
his mane.  He would not wake up, but he would purr softly."  Her 
lower jaw quivered.  "I'm sorry.  Listen to the foolish old 
lioness living in the past."
	Misha said,  "Don't say that.  You're NOT foolish."
	It was not Misha's first hunt.  Her mother had taken her out 
alone on several occasions and showed her how to hunt small prey.  
Once Ajenti had even tackled an antelope, and on its body 
demonstrated all the right holds.
	But this was Misha's first time to go out with the other 
lionesses.  That warm life that she would take in her jaws would 
fight to live for one more hour, even one more minute.  She would 
have to be firm, but when possible she would be quick and 
merciful. The thought took her mind off Tanabi long enough to 
sober her up for the ritual ahead.
	"Time, sisters," Uzuri said.  "Isha, Nala, you will flank 
me.  Malaika, you will lead the left flank.  The rest of us will 
follow her, except for you, Misha.  You will come with me.  Now 
silence!"
	They wouldn't speak above a whisper from this point on, and 
words were few.  They fanned out to form a clamshell formation in 
the tall grass.
	Indeed, there was no need to discuss the angle of attack, 
for Uzuri's quick, subtle gestures of ears, head and tail spoke 
volumes.  She headed the group toward the watering hole from the 
grassy side, heading into the wind.  It was a simple enough plan, 
one more geared toward easy, small prey than the large animals 
needed to satisfy the Pride's hunger.  It was meant to be Misha's 
moment, a passing on of the heritage that had gone down endless 
generations, and would go to her daughters as well.
	Something had always been missing from Misha's life.  For 
her many friends, she still had no idea what happened when the 
hunting party left.  Even in the enforced quiet of the stalk, 
there was a feeling of sisterhood and singleness of purpose that 
she would not--and could not--find anywhere else.  Not a lioness 
breathes that cannot recall their first kill as if it were 
yesterday.  The only thing that changes over the years is the size 
and swiftness of the prey.  First kills often get better with age.
	In the quiet, calculated tread of stalking, they heard the 
buzzing of insects, the singing of birds, and only the faintest 
folding of grass blades beneath padded feet.  Misha had used her 
skills in play, stalking and wrestling Tanabi in laughter-filled 
bouts beneath the acacias.  It was now put to serious use.  
Sometimes she would let Tanabi win, because she loved him.  Now 
she must win at all costs because she loved him.  And yet as much 
as she loved Tanabi, she resented the pressure that her feelings 
were putting on her first hunt.  "I must win," she thought.  
"Concentrate!"
	Through the grass, Misha could barely make out the Thompsons 
Gazelles they were stalking.  What luck!  The same species she'd 
been shown by her mother!  She knew where to strike and what to 
do.  The gods were with her!
	The watering hole was the great common denominator.  The 
tall and the small, the weak and the strong all had to drink.  
Some creatures, like lions, took the water for granted.  Others 
treated it like a prize which must be stolen by a skillful thief.  
The gazelles were among the best thieves, but they were not 
infallible.  And that evening they were letting their guard down 
ever so slightly.
	Uzuri played a cagey game.  From time to time one of the 
gazelles would look up nervously, scanning the horizon for signs 
of trouble.  At that moment, all the lionesses would stop without 
need to say a word.  They were approaching from downwind so they 
could not be smelled.  They would succeed if they took as much 
time as they needed to do a good job.  Too much time, and the 
Gazelles would finish and be gone--they didn't hang around 
watering holes longer than necessary.  Uzuri could size up that 
window of opportunity like no other, and she was exploiting it 
well.
	The tension was great.  Misha held herself in check.  There 
could be no sudden movements until the signal, and no sounds.  
Even the charge had to be silent, for that extra fraction of a 
second, or maybe a precious whole second, before they were spotted 
may make the critical difference.  Misha watched the head lioness' 
ears and tail tip, waiting for the signal.
	Suddenly, the ears went up and the tail lashed.  At once 
several missiles of golden fur sprang toward the herd which 
hovered in a moment of disbelief, then blossomed like a tan flower 
in all directions.  The earth rumbled like a living thing.
	The party turned to the right.  For a moment the gazelles 
acted as one large beast, keeping in tight formation like a single 
life.  However, one of the gazelles fell behind the rest, and 
Uzuri headed for him, sparing Misha the decision.  The other 
lionesses began to focus on the hapless tommie as the distance 
quickly narrowed.  Then the others fell back and Uzuri said, 
"Misha, take him!"
	Her heart pounding, her nerves strained to the limit, she 
closed the distance.  The gazelle turned, which slowed him for a 
half second.  Misha's gut reaction paid off, for she had expected 
the turn.
	Misha sprang.  Her powerful arm reached over the neck, and 
with an electric tingle her paw gripped the heaving, furry target, 
bringing her snapping jaws to--empty air.  She fell back, and got 
a vicious kick in her shoulder from the fleeing antelope.
	She rolled over twice, but she quickly recovered and started 
to run again.  By then he was far away.
	"Misha, come back!  Stop!"
	She obeyed Uzuri, but looked back crossly.  "I need this 
kill."
	"You lost this one," Uzuri said.  "That's life."  She came 
to Misha and looked at her shoulder.  "Can you walk?"
	"I'm fine," Misha said, bitterly disappointed.  She walked 
about.  "I'm just a little sore."
	"You're not bleeding," Uzuri said.  "You'll be all right, 
but we should head back now."
	"We can't head back," Misha said, horrified.  "We just 
can't!  Please, I'm fine!  Really!"
	"We will hunt again two nights from now.  If you are fine 
then, you will be welcome to come.  It was my fault, really.  I 
should have reviewed your training and helped you more.  I know 
you have a male waiting for you, and I'm sorry."
	Just then from the bush, a young rabbit that couldn't take 
the suspense anymore darted toward his hole.  An alert lioness 
sprang for him and tore him in her teeth.
	"You should have let Misha try," the Uzuri said crossly.  
Then she changed her expression.  "Sisters, perhaps it is not too 
late."  She dipped her paw in the blood and said, "Misha, come 
here."  
	Misha obeyed, and the head lioness tried to touch her cheek 
with the blood.
	"Please don't," Misha said, backing back.
	"They won't tell," Uzuri said, glaring at the others.  "Will 
you?"
	"No," the others replied.  "Certainly not."
	"But I will know," Misha replied.  "Every time my husband 
touches me, I will think of this.  They say you never forget your 
first kill, and I'd have to live with this for the rest of my 
life.  Please, Uzuri, don't tempt me."
	Uzuri gravely nodded.  "Wisely spoken."  She nuzzled Misha 
affectionately.  "You have honor, like your mother."

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