Umande said, “This time, let’s see YOU find the markers.”

Baba looked around, wide eyed. “Again??”

Baba came home in the evening as the stars were just appearing; quite worn out from walking the beat. He groaned as he flopped to the grass, idly wondering just HOW the King did that every day. His mind kept wandering back to Isha. What was she doing tonight? Out on the hunt with Uzuri and Sarafina and Mom? He thought about Taka who had driven him out, and wondered what he meant when he whispered, “It’s for your own good.” He could not conceive of Taka not loving him, and in this he was right. Isha’s sweet voice came back to him, intoxicating with its subtle nuances of passion as she told him the words he wanted to hear all his life. “Let us make love....”

Umande glided over and settled herself next to him.

"Tired, Baba?"

He nodded and sighed deeply.

There was more than physical pain marking his face. Umande sensed that and was drawn to it. She nuzzled him softly. "Poor dear. You're worn out."

Baba was covered in dust and sweat. Umande began to groom him gently, licking his shoulders and mane, brushing his ears, and cleaning his face.

Baba could feel in her care an echo of his mother’s gentle touch. It transported him back to a simpler life he once lived in the shadow of Pride Rock. He half closed his eyes and purred softly.

“Do you like me, Baba?”

“Of course I like you, Mandy.”

“I like you too. I feel like I’ve known you all my life.”

“That’s nice,” he said, grunting with pleasure as she groomed behind his ears. “Oh that feels good.”

She passed her paw across the tops of his shoulders and along the ridge of his back, fondling his strong but aching muscles. “Oh yes!” he said, taking a deep breath and letting it out in a deep sigh. She kneaded the small of his back and nosed a couple of small abrasions he got in the reeds. It felt heavenly.

Then, without warning, she nuzzled him in the fold of his thigh, touching one of his rudimentary teats with her tongue. His eyes flew open and his ears sprang up. “Mandy?”

“Yes, Baba?” she purred, fondling his buttocks.

“Hey, what are you doing??”

“Doesn’t it please you?”

“That’s not the point!” He got up and walked a couple of lengths away, then turned to look at her, his tail clamped tightly down.

“I’m sorry if I was too forward. I’ve never been with a lion before.” She looked at him contritely but still passionate. She came to him and rubbed him full length. "Let me comfort you tonight. I want to feel you close to me.”

“Umande, please!”

“I want to worship your beautiful body. I want to make you supremely happy. Baba, tell me what pleases you. Love me, Baba! Love me, please! Don’t you think I’m beautiful? Don’t you want me?”

Baba trembled. He struggled to remember Isha and blot out the temptation before him, but Umande was there, alive and warm. He remembered what Isha said about finding another. He also remembered how he replied. Now if he could only wait till things were better, he could come back for her--if she still wanted him.

“You are indeed beautiful,” Baba said. “Everything about you pleases me to the bone. God help me, I want you despite myself.”

She pawed his face softly and kissed him. “From the moment I saw you, I longed for you. Now I’m in the season when my blood burns like a brush fire. Let my fragrance fill you with desire. Everything I am or ever will be I willingly cast at your feet.”

The racing of his youthful passions did not blind him to his responsibilities, and he took in a deep breath and let it out. "I would take you here and now and never let you go. But I am pledged to Isha and I have made love to her. She may even have my children. Do not take advantage of my pain." He bent and kissed her cheek warmly. "I have loved Isha since I was a cub, and someday I will bring her here to live. I love her, and I hope you will be her friend. I hope you can still be my friend as well."

He turned and stalked away silently. She stared heartbroken at him as he vanished into the night. “You could change your mind! I will wait for you, Baba! Love will prevail, and don’t be ashamed to admit it.” Tears filled her eyes and she collapsed on the ground.

Then she heard a step behind her. King Mabatu came forward, his face tight and set. "Umande. I would speak with you."

"Yes, Father?"

"Tears, my darling daughter?” He kissed her. “What you seek can never be.” Gently but firmly he said, “I want you to leave him alone until your season is over. Is that clear?"

"Why, father? I’ve done nothing wrong!"

"I know...and I wish it to remain so."

"Why? He's the first lion I've ever known that I feel safe with, and he needs me--I can feel it!"

"THAT is why you must remain aloof." Mabatu sighed. "There is more at stake here than you realize."

"Are you saying he's bad?"

"No, honey tree. He's very good."

“Then are you saying I’M bad?”

“No, heavens, no, honey tree! I’m so proud of you.”

"Then tell me why it’s so important I leave him alone! What would possibly be at stake? Don’t I have a right to know?"

Mabatu settled to the grass beside his daughter. “You must not breathe a word of this to Baba. If it ever got out, there would be dire consequences from the gods themselves.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Mabatu took in a deep breath, shuddered, and let it slowly out. “I know you love him, but you must not mate with your own brother.”

Umande gasped. “My brother? Him?? Oh my gods!” She began to sob, and Mabatu put a paw across her shoulders, pulling her face into the softness of his mane and kissing her. “Why didn’t you tell me??”

“It is a long and painful story. Every time I tell it, a small part of me dies.”

“Then don’t tell me.” She kissed her father and nuzzled him.

“No, Mandy. I think it’s time you knew the truth about your mother. I owe you that much.”

When Isha’s time had come, she had three cubs. Her son looked like the newborn Mabatu, and so she called him Habusu. Maybe he would meet a good lioness who would love him the way she loved her Baba and be a prisoner to her love. The daughters were named Minshasa and Jona after her favorite lionesses in star lore.

Rumors had circulated about the father of the cubs. While it was still uncertain, most of the lionesses would have bet their whiskers that she had mated with Mabatu before his mantlement. Some of her pride sisters filed by to see them, more out of curiosity than of joy. They looked for familiar features in their face. More than a couple stared at Habusu and commented on how familiar his face was. Significantly, Kako did not even show up.

While Isha was not a social outcast, there was tension and a feeling of disapproval in the faces that filed past her. They would say something pleasant only to go outside and gossip. And with Isha’s excellent hearing, there was no doubt she heard many hurtful things before the day was over.

Yolanda said, “She will be a devoted mother. She has SUCH a way with KIDS.”

Ajenti nuzzled her mother and laughed. “Talk about robbing the litter!”

Sarafina said in a quiet voice, “How did he get her in trouble? I mean, I didn’t think at his age they could...well, YOU know.”

“Carry through with it?” Ajenti said. “When those things aren’t on their mind, they wouldn’t think of trying. But when someone puts ideas in their head, you’d be surprised.”

Sarafina was shocked. “Are you saying she led him on?”

“I’m saying if those cubs were a reflection, Mabatu would be standing by the water hole. That’s all I’M saying.” Ajenti winked and walked away smugly.