Pity for Taka filled her. She strained to tell the difference between pity and love. Was there really such a gulf, that her heart so quick to cry at his bumps and scrapes could not beat in time with his? Is it really so different to be with one lion or the other? Can she not learn to love when her wild heart is tamed with vows? Can she feel the heat his ardor and not be warmed?

She tried to think of Taka coming to her in the shadows, flush with the expectations of his wedding night. She heard his quiet voice with an edge of passion asking, “Are you ready, beloved? Are you ready?” She imagined herself looking into his eyes the way they looked the last time he saw her, deep and longing. “I am ready.” Her heart raced, but it was fear, not desire. “No, I’m not ready! ” she said aloud. “I don’t want him! Not that way! Oh gods, he would know! ” She collapsed in the grass, sobbing. "Aiheu help me, I love them both, but I don’t want to marry Taka—I’d almost rather die! " She opened her eyes, seeing the savanna through a blurred film of tears. She blinked as a shadow passed overhead. Looking up, she saw Ahadi's majordomo gliding by.

She hunched over, praying he wouldn't see her down here, crying like a hungry cub. With relief, she saw him heading away towards the river. She felt lucky; his sharp eyesight rarely missed anything on the ground.

She started to head back home, but paused, thinking. His sharp eyesight rarely missed anything, even Taka! He could find Taka! Galvanized into action, she burst from her hiding place and sprinted after him, trying to keep him in sight. "Zazu! Wait! "

High above her, the hornbill sped toward the river, the wind whistling past his ears dulling any sounds that might have reached him. Gliding down to a smooth landing, he paced over to the river's edge, eager to begin his noontime ritual. In a quiet spot in the shade of the reeds, he took in a deep breath, stretched his wings, and dipped one foot in the water. “Sheesh! ” He pulled out his leg quickly. “Perfect.”

He backed up a few steps, took a flying leap, and after a few powerful strokes of his wings, folded and dropped like a stone into the cold water.

“Ooo-hoo-HOOO! ” He splashed about until he got used to the frigid tide. It felt good in the oppressive heat. Singing, he splashed about, soaking himself from his primaries clear through to the down.

A goose with her goslings watched with harmless amusement. One of the goslings swam over and had to stare a little more closely.

“What’cha doing?”

“Who? What?” Zazu shook off his head and looked at the youth. “Oh, I’m just tidying up.”

“I thought you were in trouble.”

“Hardly.” Zazu laughed.

The small ball of feathers looked back unblinking.

“Was there something else?”

“Gee, that’s a big beak. What are you?”

“I’m a hornbill.”

“I like hornbills.”

“Thank you.” He smiled. “Best run along or you’ll get splashed. Hornbills do a lot of that”

Pushing along the bottom with his feet and flapping his wings, Zazu made it back to the bank with a great deal of effort. He fanned his wings to shake off diamond droplets, and began to use his beak with surprising finesse to preen his feathers. The show was over, and the gosling went back to its mother to fish for prawns.

It was nearly time to gather the mid-day news for Ahadi. In return for his services, Zazu lived a safe life. He could pick the choicest fruits from the trees where predators made their stealthy living, for he was corban--off limits--to all who would enjoy a well-fed hornbill.

When he was nearly dry enough to take off, a lioness came out of the bush. “Zazu! Thank heavens you’re still here.”

“Sarabi! Good morning.”

“It’s NOT a good morning, ” she said with distress. “When you make your rounds, tell me if you see Taka. He’s run off, and I’m worried about him.”

“Run off, you say? That whining little imp? I didn’t think he had the nerve.” He rubbed his eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about him. He’ll come back when he’s had a taste of the bush.”

“Zazu! I know you don’t like him, but you do like me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. I value your friendship highly.”

“And you like Mufasa, don’t you?” She didn’t even wait for an answer. “Listen, it’s important for Muffy and I to know where he is. Besides, that would be some real news for the King. Akase is going crazy worrying about him.”

“I’ll get right on it.”

Zazu spread his wings and in a moment he was up beyond the tops of the trees, headed off to make his rounds.

“Good luck! ”

The next morning, the green plain of the Pride Lands was covered by zebras, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, and many other peoples who pushed and shoved for the best position. Zazu, the King's majordomo, strutted about nervously. He had never spoken before such a huge audience before. King Ahadi looked drained, though he kept up appearances. Queen Akase had a difficult time sitting still beside her husband. She stared into space.

Sarabi and Elanna were wards of the queen, and were invited to sit with the royal family. It was especially a comfort for Sarabi to be next to Akase and smell the familiar smell of her milk mother.

“Zazu, ” Sarabi asked quietly, “Have you seen Taka?”

“I’m sorry. I’ve put out word all over, but I’m afraid he’s long gone.”

“Oh.” She bowed her head.

“Even Gopa the stork hasn’t seen him, and nothing escapes Gopa. But I can fly out past the boundary if you wish. After the ceremony of course.”

“It won’t be necessary.”

Akase motioned her over and nuzzled her affectionately. “You are such a comfort to me. You were his milk sister, and how many times as I nursed you I thought of you as my own little girl, as if I had carried you.”

“I felt it, ” Sarabi said, resting her head on Akase’s shoulder. “Tell me the truth--should I have gone with Taka?”

Akase purred. “No, my child. It is sad enough to lose a son without losing a daughter. And I feel you will be my daughter before the day is out.”

Mufasa got the nod from his father, and started out toward the end of the spur to meet the crowd. But first he paused by Sarabi and smiled to see how gentle she looked leaning on Akase. “My last cubhood thought will be of you, ” he said. “And the first thought as a lion will be of you. Sassie, would you rest your head on me some time?” She looked deep into his eyes and her chin trembled. “Muffy, ” she purred, “My beloved.”

Mufasa walked to the end of the promontory. A brief, dim memory came back to him. “Old Makedde, ” he thought. “Was I so small that he could hold me up?” He smiled, and looked over the crowd. It was good to be back where it had all started.

Zazu shouted, "Long live Prince Mufasa, son of King Ahadi! "

The crowd bowed and scraped. Zebras whinnied, elephants trumpeted, and antelopes stomped their hooves. It only stopped when Zazu spread his wings.

The King met his son at the tip of Pride Rock. "Let all within the sound of my voice know that my son is coming fast on the path of his forefathers. Look, he bears the sign."

Akase took Ahadi's place. "Look down o gods and bless my son who is now a lion." She shuddered visibly. "And bless my son Taka, wherever he is. Hear a mother’s prayer and have mercy on him."