"No, I wouldn’t laugh at you."

"Daria is crazy about me. If I would say hello to her, she would melt like dirt in a good rain. But I don't really care--you know--and it's sad that she wants what she can't have, and so do I. Maybe Daria and I are more alike than I realized. I mean, we both are grabbing at the wind, and we'll never catch it."

She looked at him intently. "You know, I believe that somewhere VERY DEEP DOWN INSIDE you really do have a thoughtful side."

"Thanks--I guess." He started away. “Don’t worry, I promised I wouldn’t bother you again, and I won’t.”

"Wait." She came, nuzzled his sad face and said, "I'm sorry I laughed at you. I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings. I’m not really a mean person."

“Aw, no problem.” He nuzzled her back. "Does this mean I can see you again?"

"Why not. Maybe tonight."

"I'd like that. Heck, I'd love that. I feel like I can talk to you. I could tell you things I wouldn’t share with another living soul. But Wajanja, if you laugh at me or you tell anyone else what I say, I’ll just die!"

“I’d never do that!” She looked into his sparkling eyes and smiled. “I’ve misjudged you, Kombi. You’re really very sweet.”

He smiled back. “Do you think so?”

“No, but I’ll still see you tonight.” She reached over and kissed his cheek.

He walked away, a blissful, innocent smile on his face. Togo met him behind the bushes. "So, did you pull the old 'grabbing at the wind' story on her?"

"Yep. Works every time!"

Togo nudged him and grinned. “The Love Doctor strikes again.”

He rubbed his cheek where she kissed it. “I wish you wouldn’t put it that way. I’m going to see if she’ll come with me. This is serious.” He looked off into the distance for a while, then rolled on his back in the grass. Togo joined him.

“So, Togo, have you narrowed down the field?”

“Who, me?” Togo had an embarrassed grin on his face.

“Who is she? Don’t hold out on me now.”

“You’d laugh at me.”

“No I wouldn’t.”

“Well, it’s Lisani.”

“Miss Priss??” Kombi giggled.

“There you go laughing at me!”

“I’m sorry,” Kombi said. “Really I am. But you and Lisani? You know she’s stuck on Habu.”

“So is Wajanja. But that doesn’t stop you from trying. I guess we’re grabbing at the wind.” Togo took his paw and ruffled Kombi’s mane. “Hey, I hope you catch it, you dog.”

“What the heck. Why don’t you hit on Lisani? I mean, maybe one of us will get lucky.”

“You don’t ‘hit on’ a girl like Lisani. And I don’t suggest trying it on Wajanja if you want her to marry you. ‘Get lucky’ indeed!”

CHAPTER: PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

Togo and Kombi were showing changes in their maturing bodies. They lost that long-legged look that once made them appear awkward. Their manes were filling out nicely, their chests were broadening, and one day out of the sheer will to make a grand noise, they both let out with a roar that would have made Ugas quite proud.

Uzuri would look at them appraisingly, and some of the time she was proud of the fine lions they were becoming. Other times she would mourn the loss of their cubhood and the approach of their commoner’s mantlement. She would eventually have to tell Simba that they were sons of a King and entitled to a royal mantlement hosted by their father. And doing so, she would also be saying her farewell to her old life and old home. Uzuri loved Ugas and longed to be by his side, but his words came back to haunt her. It would never be easy to leave old friends and old haunts and start again. But if Togo and Kombi could do it, she could too. When she was depressed, she would close her eyes and look inward at her dream--Ugas by her side as Togo and Kombi stood on Pride Kopje and surveyed their kingdom.

She had not discussed this with her sons yet. She could not risk either of them making an indiscreet remark. Uzuri had planned out what she would say and how--she did not want her departure to be spoiled by misunderstandings or hard feelings.

And so knowing nothing of their mother’s plans, Togo and Kombi spent much of their time fawning on Simba, trying to ply him with favors. Simba was utterly surprised when they stopped calling him “big guy” and started calling him “Sir.” Kombi brought him a hare Uzuri had caught for him to eat, and Togo even dragged part of a gazelle for him clear up Pride Rock so he could wake up to a surprise breakfast.

Privately, Nala asked Simba if there was a way to let them remain. “They’re trying so hard to please you. There’s is no hate in them--they will not turn on you the way your Uncle did.”

“That’s not the problem,” Simba replied. “I’d trust them with my life, if it came to that. They’re afraid of their destiny, Nala. I don’t blame them, for I know the ways of the ‘big world,’ and they have reason to fear it.” He sighed and glumly ate the haunch.

Later that same day, Togo and Kombi offered to help him with the border patrol. “You have no brother to help you,” Togo explained in what sounded like a prepared statement. “Without a Prince Consort, you have to go around doing everything for yourself and have so little time to spend with Nala.” Togo looked over at Kombi who subtly nodded approval and he continued; “We insist on taking the Western Plain.”

“But that’s very hot and dry,” Simba said. “And it can be very dangerous.”

“We don’t mind, Sir,” Kombi said, bowing with respect. “Danger is our life.”

“And what would you like in return?”

Kombi looked shocked and scandalized. “Sire, we’re just trying to be nice.” He looked casual, but his tail twitched nervously. “Since you asked, I wish we could go on being friends forever.”

Simba sighed deeply. “I know you do.” His heart was not into having them become rogue lions, bachelors on the open fields having to support themselves with marginal hunting skills, being driven from pride land to pride land by a succession of males. Despite their routine truancy, Simba had grown to love them, and he saw in them some of the basic goodness that was in their mother.

Uzuri would be the real problem. Next to Sarabi and Nala, Simba loved Uzuri the most, and he would steal glances of her private grief that weighed on him like an injury. And despite himself, Simba had grown extremely fond of Togo.

The brothers watched him carefully to see how he would react. Simba scratched his mane uneasily and said, “You want the Western Plain, eh?”

“Yes sir.”

“Fine. We’ll start there in the morning.” Simba rose and stretched.

Togo glanced at Kombi quickly, his eyes widening. “S-Sir?”

“You heard me.” Simba looked them up and down. “I’m glad to see you taking on some responsibility. However, a responsible lion also knows his limits, and I’m afraid you aren’t yet up to the challenge.”

Kombi looked indignant. “What do you mean?!”

“Your heart is in the right place, but you’re too soft to go out there.”

Togo sucked in his stomach self-consciously. “We can hack it, sir.”

Simba shook his head. “No.”

“We can take care of ourselves!” Kombi grated. “I’ll beat up any lion who dares challenge our border!”

“Really?” Simba looked at him. “Knock me down.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Knock me down.” Simba looked at him. “Or can’t you even handle that?”

Togo flicked his eyes to Kombi, who was staring balefully at the king. “Kombi, give it up.”

“Yeah?! Watch and learn, Togo!” Kombi gathered himself and leapt towards Simba, intending to tackle the other lion full force. Simba sidestepped neatly and wrapped his forepaws around Kombi, seizing him in mid-air and wrenching him around to bring him crashing to earth, Simba’s weight holding him fast. Kombi gasped for breath, humiliation in his eyes as he looked up at the sad face above him.

“Had this been a real fight, your mother would be mourning your death.” Simba nuzzled him gently. “I’m sorry, Kombi. You and Togo have one month left to you in which to do something.”