“Fine.”

“The cough all gone, I take it?”

“Yes, Rafiki. I made sure he took all his medicine. None of that hiding the herbs under his tongue and spitting them out when I’m not looking.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I rubbed his throat till he had to swallow.”

Rafiki laughed. “He’s just a big cub. And Sarabi?”

“Oh, she’s fine.”

Rafiki looked surprised. “Whoa there! Your pulse is jumping like a Springbok! ” The mandrill looked Muffy in the eyes. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had the fever.”

“The fever?”

“Lioness fever.” Rafiki rubbed his chin whiskers. “And you got it from Sarabi, I can tell. Does Taka know?”

“No, uh--I mean....”

Rafiki shook his finger at Mufasa. “Don’t hide from me behind those little lamb eyes. I know what I see.” He looked in Muffy’s eyes and sighed deeply. “You got it bad, son.”

Mufasa glanced away. “There must be a cure for it. I won’t betray my own brother. You must have something for falling out of love.”

“I don’t even have anything for falling IN love. But tell me, does Sarabi love YOU?”

“Well she’s my friend. Of course she loves me.”

“You know what I mean. I mean lion fever. Has she ever given you those little hints? You know, the feeling that you’re being stalked, and any minute she may decide to charge?”

“No. I—well she—no. No. She’s so struck on my brother. Oh Rafiki, sometimes I get the feeling I wish I were an only child. I love Taka, really I do, but Sassie is on my mind all the time. I can’t be weak, not with my brother’s girl. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do?”

“Maybe a nice swim in the cold spring.” He popped Muffy on the flank. “There’s nothing wrong with you that your own conscience and a little time can’t fix. But keep your eyes open. You must also be fair to Sarabi. What she wants is important too. And I think you are selling yourself short that way.” He smiled toothily and added in a whisper, “If you can’t give both of them what they want, choose the girl. What she don’t got, you don’t need! ”

Six moons had passed since Muffy’s chat with Rafiki. He and Taka had grown in strength and size. This miracle was made all the more evident by its speed. There was no difference from day to day, but a clear, sharp memory of passing under a low branch was no insurance against a bump on the head. The brothers, the sons of the King, were attracting the attention of the others with their strong, comely appearance.

Mufasa's pride was all out of proportion to the straggly pioneering hairs that made his head and throat look somewhat shaggier than the rest of his body. But that was matched by the pride of his parents Ahadi and Akase. Ahadi insisted that he was equally proud of Taka, and Taka wanted desperately to believe it.

Taka had a dark mane, something most lionesses consider very attractive. Often his mother Akase told him that happiness was more important than power, and if he had to choose one, go with happiness. Taka saw the sense in this. He was often unhappy, but he believed in his mother and in her love. And to a degree, he believed Sarabi loved him though they were more prone to more arguments than talks in recent days.

The Mantlement Ceremony is all that Ahadi and Akase seemed to talk about--all everyone seemed to talk about. That first trace of mane is for many male cubs a sign that they are about to venture out into The Big World, and brings as many fears as it does hopes. It is the wakening of their interest in lionesses as more than playmates. For Mufasa, it was a step closer to the kingship--the Prince was growing up. No one expected the brother of Mufasa to go out into The Big World, and he, like Mufasa, would be honored by all subjects in the Pride Lands as Prince Consort.

And yet there was no doubt that everyone of every species would be staring at the future King. Taka's Mantlement was the last big step that the public would take interest in, and he had to endure it in the huge shadow of his brother.

Immersed in this thought, Taka sat alone on the point of Pride Rock and looked down on the wide savanna below, now occupied by a few wildebeests, but soon alive with bowing and scraping subjects looking on their King-to-be. And that what's-his-name brother of his--the one with the scar. Only recently had the other lions begun to talk to him without staring at the eye. He'd long passed the stage where those who were dying to know more about it could ask, "How are you feeling?" or "Can I help?" Now it was as healed as it would ever be, and they had gotten used to it. But along with the familiarity came the rumors--mostly true--about how he was marked, and the nickname Scar. Oddly enough, no one blamed Mufasa in the least for what had happened to Taka's eye. Instead they wondered who would be stupid enough to go into a badger's hole in the first place. Everyone knew how badgers act--that is, everyone with common sense.

"Hey, Taka! " said Mufasa, sitting alongside. "Thinking about the big day tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Well, you don't look too happy about it."

"I'm just fine, " Taka said firmly. "I can't help the way I look."

"Yeah, right." Mufasa hopped up lithely and sat on the other side of Taka to look him in the eyes. "What's your problem? I mean, it's your big day too. Everyone who's anyone will be there to look at your new mane. Besides, the babes dig it! I mean, without a mane you're just another kitten."

"You must think I'm really stupid, " Taka said. "Who's going to care about me? Half of them don't even know who I am. I'm just that kid with the funny-looking eye."

"You help protect the Pride Lands, " Mufasa said. "That's important. And hey, if something happened to me, you'd have to be King." He made a sweeping gesture with his paw over the empty savanna. "They all know that. And they know they better treat you with respect, or they'll have to answer to me."

Taka stared at Mufasa right in the eyes, something that made his brother feel uncomfortable. Mufasa could almost feel Taka looking right through him, examining his bones and sinews. He was looking for something he could remember from long ago, from days when friendship could be taken for granted in the innocence of early cubhood. "Would you miss me if I died?"

"Of course I would, " Mufasa said, a little irritated. "What kind of stupid question is that?"

"Don't call me stupid! I hate it when people call me that! "

"I didn't call you stupid, " Mufasa said, backing back. "What is your problem, anyway? Go ahead and sulk--that's all you ever do now. But you watch yourself tomorrow. You're the son of the King, and you act like it. I don't want you spoiling my Mantlement, understand?"

"I understand clearly. I won't spoil YOUR Mantlement, brother."

On that word, Taka left the point of the rock and headed down quietly.

Sarabi was lying half-asleep in the shade of an acacia tree when Taka walked by. Her keen senses were stirred by the light tread in the grass. She looked up quickly, then relaxed her ears. "Oh, it's only you, Taka."

"Only me?"

She frowned. "Not another one of those moods again. Get a little fuzz on your neck and you lions take yourself soooo seriously." She took a half-hearted swat at him. "Tell me, Taka, will you be like that when I get you alone? Smile if you think wicked thoughts."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Smile if you think I'm sexy."

He looked away. "Cut it out, will you?"

In a sultry half-purr, she added, "Smile if you think you'll live through the honeymoon."

He broke into an embarrassed grin which he tried to hide behind a paw.

"Optimistic little devil, aren't you?" She nuzzled him affectionately. "I like that much better. I hate it when we fight."

"So do I, " Taka said. "I should let you have your way more often."