“I love you too.”

Kako was dubious about Taka’s care of her son, but she adored Isha and looked forward to her visits. Isha had endless patience with the boisterous love Mabatu gave her, stoically enduring his pounces at her tail, his tugging at her ears and his snapping at her heels. She knew when the rough play was over he would look to her with unadulterated love. Then she would hold him close with joy, kissing his small face and fondling him with her paw.

One day when Isha came to take care of Mabatu while Kako went to see Rafiki. Kako told Isha, “You’re the sister I never had. What wonderful thing did I do to deserve you?”

Isha nuzzled her. “I was just wondering the same thing.”

“That’s the third time this moon you’ve taken care of Mabatu for me. There must be something I can do in return.”

“I love the little fellow. I enjoy every moment we spend together. That’s my reward.”

While Kako was gone, Isha settled down to watch him play until he was ready for sleep. But he was in high spirits and kept challenging her to a fight so they wrestled instead. Mabatu had a size disadvantage, but he’d learned a new move, and he grabbed for her hind leg, pulling her off balance. When she toppled easily, he pounced on her stomach and giggled. “Gotcha!”

“What a little stinker!” She crawled out from under him, dusted herself off, and said, “I’ll get you next time, you little rat fink.”

He reached up and kissed her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

He smiled. “Are you married?”

She laughed self-consciously. “No. But maybe someday the right lion will come along.”

He kissed her again. “When I grow up, I want to marry you.”

“Oh, Baba!” She pawed him and giggled. “What am I going to do with you!”

“Please don’t laugh at me. I meant it.”

She paused and looked at the very sincere, sensitive look in his eyes. Indeed, he meant it.

“I wasn’t laughing at you. It was just such a sweet thing to say. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all.”

“You’re not mad?”

“No.” She kissed him and rubbed his cheek with her large paw. He looked at her with absolute love and touched her paw with his. A deep warmth spread through, and her eyes shone like stars. “That was the nicest proposal I’ve ever heard, and I’ve heard quite a few.” She pulled him over with her paw. “Time for your bath, squirt.”

Mabatu meekly submitted to the ritual without the usual objections. As she cleaned his fur, he purred quietly and looked deeply into her eyes. Even his own mother could not get him to behave while she bathed him, much less force him to enjoy it.

Mabatu was sorry to see his mother come back from Rafiki’s appointment so soon. He greeted her affectionately, but was loathe to let Isha go. Isha kissed him more than usual and nuzzled him. “I love you, my special little boy.”

“I love you too.”

Later that day as the lionesses gathered for the hunt, Uzuri came to Isha with a broad smile on her face. “Congratulations!”

“On what?”

“On the big event. Mabatu just told me the good news.” She laughed merrily.

Embarrassed, Isha asked her, “Who else did he tell?”

“I don’t know. But I’d catch him quickly if I were you.”

“I’ll have a little talk with him.” Isha thought a moment and burst out laughing. “He asked me if I was married. The little rat fink, I should have known what he was up to!”

Isha did not know if Kako had heard any of the snide remarks. She grimaced with embarrassment as she went to see Mabatu’s mother and clear things up once and for all.

“Isha!” Kako said with her usual sunshine. She nuzzled Isha and patted her shoulder with a paw. “You’re so sweet taking care of my Baba. He had such a good time last night, he was talking about it on and on!”

“Oh?” Isha smiled timidly. “Anything I should know about?”

Kako’s ears twitched, but she made nothing of it as if she didn’t hear the question. Isha was not about to ask it again.

Baba saw her and came running up, eyes shining. “Isha! Isha!” He pounced on her, kissing her with his soft, warm tongue and rubbing her face.

“Hello, Rat Fink!”

He smiled broadly. “Hello, Isha!” Sitting next to her, Baba looked at his mother and said, “Guess what I’m going to do when I grow up!”

“I like guessing games,” Isha said quickly. “Baba, I have a little secret for you if your Mom doesn’t mind.”

“A little secret?” Kako said with a grin. “Ooooh, sounds serious!”

“Oh it is,” Isha said slyly with a wink and a smile. Gently but urgently, she nudged the smiling cub around a few rocks and bushes, then said as calmly as she could, “Baba, I don’t think you should tell your Mom about us yet. In fact, you shouldn’t tell anyone.”

Mabatu’s ears sagged. “Oh.”

“Honey Tree, getting engaged is a big step. At your age, you could still change your mind.”

“But I won’t!” He nuzzled her. “I love you, Isha! I’d marry you right now if they’d let me.”

“I believe you, Fuzzy Love.” Trying not to hurt his feelings, she nuzzled his small body and kissed him. “Just follow my advice and hold off until you get older, like when you’re approaching your mantlement. Then when you say it, they will understand it the way I do. You see, if you DID happen to change your mind....”

“But I won’t! I love you! I really do!”

“I know. But let’s just say IF you did, you wouldn’t have to make it up to me. And I’d understand.”

“You DO love me back, don’t you?”

“What do you think, Baba?” She lay down and with her paw easily scooped her small suitor to her side. Fondling him with a paw, she purred, “You’re a special part of me, and if you were taken away, it would leave a wound that would bleed. You’re my little golden treasure.” Mabatu began to grunt with pleasure at her touch. “If you really love me, it won’t be a long two years. The days will speed past, but don’t wish them away. Once you cross that threshold and become a lion, all your free and easy days of cubhood are gone forever. Understand me, Rat Fink?”

“Yeah.” He pushed out from under her paw and rubbed his face against hers. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Only two and a half months after Elanna married Taka, she began having contractions. She was in danger of having a miscarriage, or at least that’s what Kako could gather from a few snatches she overheard. The hyena guards would not let her too close to Taka’s cave, and they would not give her a straight answer.

An old mandrill was escorted quickly to the cave, his hyena guard supremely impatient with his unsteady, lumbering gait. Kako had heard of Rafiki. Whisperings from the hyenas and a few disparaging remarks from Taka would lead her to believe that some evil sorcerer was being confined in the baobab. The other lionesses, however, told a different story. She did not know what to believe.

Rafiki passed close by Kako. He paused and looked at her. In a kind and bashful voice, he said, “My dear, I don’t believe I’ve seen you before. Has it been that long?”

The mandrill yelped as one of the guards nipped his flank. Quickly he drew his fingers in blessing across her cheek and started on before he could be bitten again.

Kako was watching and listening, but was in a poor position to tell what was going on. She would have to ask Uzuri later. The conversation was anxious and rose and fall, but she could make out very little. Then she heard very clearly, “Rafiki! Do something! Anything! My son, my son!”

A few moments of near absolute silence went by. If this mandrill was really a great sorcerer, he would perform some great spell, probably in exchange for his freedom. That was the plan, wasn’t it? “Aiheu,” she whispered, “give him the power. Give him the power.”