Isha knew that the best time for stories was in the early evening, shortly before the hunt. For her it was a peaceful moment before the toilsome job of finding food. For her cubs it was a warm moment with Mom before she left them with the cub-sitter.

Isha was settling down on the rock where she had slept so many nights with her young ones snuggled against her side. Habusu her son and Lisani, her sister Beesa’s child, were settling in for their story. Habu sat close to “Miss Priss” whom he loved greatly and often referred to as his ‘fiancee’ despite her young age.

Isha felt Lisani cuddle under her chin and she purred deeply, settling her paw on Lissie’s small chest and feeling the tides of her life. Habu sat upright, watching the tuft on the end of Isha’s restless tail. He was getting a little old to be pouncing on tail tufts, especially with his sharp teeth, yet there was no law against WANTING to do it. The moment Lisani grunted and winked at him, he came and settled next to her and pushed his face against hers in that endearing way that always made Isha smile.

Isha drew in a deep cleansing breath through her nose, held it a second, and let it escape through her mouth. “In the first days, all living things that were made were made from the mud by Aiheu’s own paws, and into them he breathed life that the restless spirits of the Dream Time could be flesh and blood and experience things rather than just thinking about them.

“Love they knew, for wisely Aiheu chose the bodies for each Ka, that he should pair those whose love for each other would be great and beautiful. And so the first Lion Baba and the first Lioness Mamaan looked in each other’s eyes and knew they were made for each other and their love was great and marvelous.

“Now when Baba breathed upon the cheek of Mamaan, she kindled new life.”

“Not so close!” Lisani told Habu with genuine fear. She rubbed her cheek. “He breathed on me! Aunt Isha, make him stop! I’m too young to have babies!”

Isha looked at her, first with grim surprise, then with a painful attempt to keep a straight face. She looked away, and a half-stifled giggle came out. Isha in desperation bit her own paw. Tears streamed down her face from the sting, but she rolled over on the ground and began to howl with laughter. “Oh gods, Lissie, it’s too much! I’m sorry, but really!”

Lisani looked at her crossly. “I’m just trying to look out for myself. Isn’t that what you taught me?”

Isha laid down and covered her eyes, then she glanced at Lisani cautiously. She began to laugh again and it was several moments before she came to herself.

“Look here, Lissie. It’s an EXPRESSION. Like the time I told Kombi not to get a knot in his tail. An EXPRESSION. You could jump down his throat and you would not have cubs!”

“Oh.” She looked over at Habusu whose ears were lowered with supreme embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Habu. Really.” She nuzzled him, kissed him, then nuzzled him again. Then she lay her head on his shoulder and purred. “Someday, when we’re both ready, I’ll be proud to bear your cubs.” Habu’s ears perked back up.

“What happened next?” Habu asked.

Isha took a moment to pick up where she left off. “Well, after Baba and Mamaan did that special thing that married people do when they love each other, she kindled new life. After two moons, she began to show, and they did not understand the light in her eyes.” Isha cleared her throat. “That’s another expression, by the way. It means expecting cubs. So as I was saying, after two moons, she began to show. In fear, Mamaan called upon Aiheu to heal her, for she thought she was sick.

“Aiheu only smiled and said, ‘Surely you will not die. Be of good cheer, for you will bring life into the world.’

“Baba and Mamaan did not understand, for there had been no cubs before. But their trust was in God, and they endured the suffering of birth expecting what the Lord had promised them.

“And when the two were born who were the firstborn of lions, they gladdened the hearts of their parents. The male was named Huba, for he was born of love. The female was Rajua, for she was the promise of hope.”

“A boy and a girl,” Habu said. “Just like us.”

“Indeed, just like you!” Isha nuzzled him. “You were born of love. And Lissie is the promise of hope.” She kissed Lisani too.

“What is that special thing they do?” Habu asked with concern.

“If I told you now, it would spoil your mantlement. There is a proper time to know these things, and your father will speak with you--I hope. I don’t want to take that away from him if I can help it.”

“But I don’t want to do the wrong thing. I mean, I’m too young to take care of kids.”

Isha smiled, and this time without amusement. “Without a mane, it’s not going to happen. Trust me, Habu. You really should speak with me on this, and not even trust your close friends. Once when Ajenti and I were little cubs--and that may be hard for you to imagine--Ajenti thought she would tell me where babies come from. She said that the father plants a little seed and that over time it grows into the child. That was another expression, but I didn’t know that.” She looked down and in a half whisper said, “So one day I put a mango seed under a rock. I waited a whole week to see what would happen.”

“Nothing happened,” Lisani said. “That’s silly.”

“Oh really?” She looked at them both intently. The suspense was thick enough to touch with a paw. “I lifted that rock and out ran this mouse! Eek eek!” Isha laughed and patted her head. “I spent the better part of the day trying to catch my child and find out if I had a boy or a girl! Needless to say, when my Mom found out about it, Ajenti got a good cuffing!”

Habu cried, “Eek eek!” and sprang on his mother. Lisani joined him, and giggling, Isha wrestled with them, once in a while shouting, “Claws in! Claws in! I’m not as young as I used to be!”

After Isha ended up flat on her back and cried, “Uncle!” she rose, stretched her aching joints, and kissed the two cubs. “Well, let’s finish this thing before sunset.”

Habu nodded at Lisani and they settled to the ground like proud sphinxes to listen.

“Aiheu came to see the cubs and to teach Baba and Mamaan the ways of parenthood. He also strictly charged them that what he taught should be passed down through the generations, father to son and mother to daughter. And so it is done to this day according to the will of God. And I speak the words of Aiheu the Beautiful who breathed into our nostrils the breath of life: Come, let my children grow in grace and stature, and let my gift of life endure from generation to generation as long as the sun shall rise and set. And I place a sign among you that my favor endures forever.

“When the mane comes forth the gods expect certain things of a lion. He shall be tested by the wilderness, and if he is found worthy, he shall become a King.

“And among the children of Baba and Mamaan were Amalkozi who was great among lions. Also King Ramallah, whose sons N’ga and Sufa watch us from the stars. And there was Malawi, the father of Lord Mano whose name is blessed forever.”

“Is that it?” Lisani asked.

“No, Miss Priss. But if I told you all their doings, we would be here till the next rains.”