Vianga dissolved into giggles. “Wow! He’s smarter than I thought!”

Togo and Habu looked at each other. “What??”

She giggled again. “Boy, he really pulled a fast one on you. He’s so clever, you have to think twice before you go up against him!” She batted her eyes and sighed deeply. “What a lion!”

Desperate times called for desperate measures, Togo decided. He made off purposefully through the grass, and before long was sitting before the pride’s shaman, parading his woes before the mandrill. Finally, Rafiki shushed him. “What do want ME to do about it?”

Togo squirmed uncomfortably. “Uh, well, uh...can’t you, like give her something to make her love ME instead?”

Rafiki’s eyes widened in surprise. “Tell me young buck, if I DID have such a thing, would it be right to use it on her when she is already in love with someone who loves her back? How would your brother feel?” Rafiki peered at him, interested. “And could you REALLY enjoy a love from someone that comes from a drug instead of their heart?”

Togo wilted. “I guess not.”

Rafiki patted the young lion and laid an arm across his shoulders comfortingly. “There, there, son. You’re going through a difficult time right now. Believe me, Rafiki knows.” The mandrill chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment, thinking. “Has your mother talked with you yet about...lionesses?”

“No, she hasn’t.” Togo frowned deeply. “She probably thinks we’re still too young.”

“I can’t imagine why,” Rafiki said, smiling at the cub whose mane was little more than a shaggy ruff around his neck at the moment.

“Yeah,” Togo said, not seeing the amused look on Rafiki’s face. “At least Isha told us the truth about it.”

Rafiki’s smile froze. “Oh?” Visions of the sultry lioness having a heart-to-heart with the two cubs about the facts of life made his heart skip a beat. “And what did she tell you?”

Togo recounted the somewhat vague details Isha had given him, and Rafiki relaxed as he mentally chastised himself for having so little faith in her. Clearing his throat, he stroked the thin mane on Togo’s shoulders as the afternoon crept gently past, and began to speak, slowly revealing the wonderful secrets that life held for a lion, the things Ugas would have told his sons had he been able to.

At last he sat back, sipping at a bowl of water to soothe his dry throat. “Well?”

Togo gazed thoughtfully out at the grassland. “Wow. That’s really...something, Rafiki. Thanks!”

“Of course.” Rafiki sat back and smiled. “Anything else?”

“We-ell...”

“Come on, out with it.”

Togo glanced at him. “Is there REALLY any such thing as a love potion? I’d really like to know.”

Rafiki sighed. This WAS Ugas’ son, after all. Reaching into a small alcove in the side of the baobab, he withdrew a small leaf wrapped tightly around something. “Here. I believe this is what you want.”

Togo’s eyes grew large. “Awesome!” He bent to pick the bundle up.

“Listen to me carefully, son. I’m giving you this as a special gift. I want you to keep it, not use it.”

Togo drew a puzzled frown at that. “Huh?”

“This is to keep you honest, my boy.”

The young lion drew back indignantly. “Who, me?! I’m always honest!”

“Of course,” Rafiki said dryly. “That’s why I entrust this to you. Because I know that every time you look at it, you’ll think better of meddling in the lives of others.” Rafiki laid a hand on Togo’s head. “You’ll never use it. Every time you see it, you’ll feel proud of yourself for doing the right thing.”

Togo’s chest swelled with pride and purpose. “You betcha!”

A short while later found the adolescent lion proudly laying the wrapped bundle before Vianga. “Look what I got for you, Vivi!”

She eyed the leaf warily. “What is it?”

“A treat...a sweet treat for a sweet girl.”

She giggled shyly. “Thanks. Even if you did slobber on it.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s okay.” Sniffing the concoction, she picked it up delicately, chewed, and swallowed.

Togo eyed her apprehensively, heart pounding. “How’s it taste?”

“Okay.”

“How do you feel?”

“Fine.” She stared at him because he seemed to be waiting for something else. “It was very nice, Togo.” She looked into his searching eyes. “Thank you very much?”

“Is that all you feel?” He looked disappointed.

“Oh, you want a kiss?” She gave him the briefest lick and said, “There. I hate to run but I have a date with Kombi.”

She started to walk away. Then she looked back. “What was in that thing?”

“What does it matter? It didn’t work.”

“Where did you get it?”

“From Rafiki. He told me it was....” He looked down.

“A love potion?”

“Yeah.”

“That explains it. Gods, that’s strong stuff!” She fell at his feet and pawed at him. “I’m ready, Togo! Take me!”

“Take you?? Where?”

“Make love to me! I’m on fire!”

Togo backpedaled madly as Vianga nuzzled his face and chest vigorously, prostrating herself before him. "Love me, Togo! Love me quick or I'll kill myself!"

"Well, I...." He closed his eyes tightly as if it could make her go away. “We’re not old enough. Do you know what they’d do if they caught us??”

Her passionate kiss made his eyes fly open.

"Run away with me. So what if we're not old enough. We'll hack out a living in the wilderness, just you and I facing danger and hardship together, but we'll have our love. Our love, Togo!"

"But Vianga...."

“We’ll make love morning, noon and night! I’ll live for your touch--your closeness--your beautiful body next to mine as we climb to the skies together and cry out from the dizzy heights of passion!” She began to writhe sinuously before him.

“Vivi, get a grip on yourself!”

A burst of uncontrolled laughter erupted from a nearby bush and Kombi tumbled out, staggering weakly. “You dope!” He walked over to Vianga and nuzzled her cheek, grinning as she returned his affections.

“Hey!” Togo said. “What’s the big idea!”

Kombi rolled on the ground, laughing. "Let that be a lesson to you, brother. You're messing with MY girl. She and I have this special thing, see, and you can't be a part of it. Did you think that was a love potion or something?? That was only cough medicine."

"It was?" Embarrassed, Togo squirmed and tears began to roll down his good-natured face. “You let me make a fool of myself?? How could you do that to me, Kombi! How could you be so cold!”

"Love potion! How could you be so stupid! You should know I'm her honey tree. She doesn't even know you exist. It’s not your fault-- you didn’t have a chance with me around. I’m the love doctor!"

Vianga frowned. “Beat it, love doctor. I want a second opinion!” She pushed away Kombi and nuzzled Togo, wiping his eyes with her paw. “I’m glad I found out who the real love doctor was before it was too late. I’ll follow you anywhere--all you have to do is ask.”

"The joke is over," Kombi said, incensed. "This isn't funny anymore."

"Who asked you??" She looked penetratingly into Togo's eyes. "Who needs him? He's so conceited he's swelling up like a carcass in the sun. He’s not gentle and sweet like you."

"Don't try to pull the same trick on me," Kombi said. "I'm wise to you."

"Put a paw in it!" she shouted. She turned to Togo and nuzzled him again. “I’m sorry I came on to you like that. It was a nasty little joke and I’m sorry. You tried to trick me and I just wanted to teach you a lesson.”

"You sure did. If you'll dump him that quick, you'd dump me too. Vivi, you’re very pretty, but you’re a shameless flirt, and that's not what I need." He took in a deep, cleansing breath, let it out and smiled broadly. “It doesn’t matter one way or the other ‘cause I’m cured of puberty! No more symptoms at all! See, I can look right at you--nothing happens! I can kiss you!” He jumped down and gave her a lingering, passionate lick. “Nothing happens! I feel so much better, I ought to thank you! I don’t know about you two, but I’m going to play tag with Habu.” He turned and left.