"Right next to the Pride Lands! They took over the eastern kingdom when Ugas died. How about that! Now you can sneak down and see them whenever you want."

"Yes," she said, her heart almost stopping. “I see.”

"I knew you'd be thrilled."

"Yes, of course." Uzuri's jaw began to tremble, and tears filled her eyes. “Thanks.” She looked away before he could see her cry.

Ugas’ voice came back to her across the void. “I’m old, and when I’m dead, all the tears in the world won’t bring me back.” For a few moments she was paralyzed with grief and guilt. But as soon as soon as she could move, she hurried across the savanna for Rafiki’s baobab. It was the only place she could safely express her feelings.

Rafiki was scrying the future. Without even looking up, he said, "Come in, Uzuri. I've been expecting you."

She looked at the bowl of water. "Just how much do you know?"

"I knew you would come by."

"And how about Ugas. Is he?"

"Yes, he is." Rafiki fondled her cheek and wiped a couple of half-dried tears from her eyes. "So you found out today, did you?"

"Habusu told me." Trying to keep her composure, she sat stiffly, her jaw held so tightly that her chin could not tremble. "I want you to help me. Ugas, my husband, must be mourned.”

“Of course.”

“I want you to come with me. My heart is heavy, and I have no one I can tell. I need someone, Rafiki, as once you needed me."

“What an honor,” he said, giving her paw a squeeze. “Uzuri, Ugas was my good friend. He spoke often of you. He would ask me about Togo and Kombi. Too bad he never met them--his own sons."

"It was too bad."

Rafiki wanted her to release her pent-up grief. It tortured him to see her like that. "Where do you want to hold the ceremony?"

"Our special place. The bank of the stream that runs along the border of our kingdoms. There is a patch of reeds there. We would meet there at times."

"I know."

"He told you? Did you know him that well?"

"Very well. I’ll keep your secret, but you must keep mine. I have a little something for you."

He reached in a gourd and pulled out a lock of golden fur. "I brought this back for my shrine." He watched as she sniffed of it and took in the old fragrance.

She stroked the lock of his mane. Her eyes welled up with tears and she bent to face the ground. "Ugas! My beloved Ugas!"

Rafiki put his arms around her neck and held her to his heart. "Uzuri, how it breaks my heart to see your grief. I know what it’s like to lose a mate. I will pray for you day and night."

"You're a good friend. I knew you would understand."

Rafiki gave her a little squeeze and patted her shoulder. "You were always a queen to me. You always will be."

Uzuri sniffed and dried her tears with a paw. "Until high moon." She took her grief and locked it away inside, then walked out of the baobab with what dignity she could summon.

CHAPTER: ALWAYS ROOM FOR ONE MORE

Rafiki knew Ugas well. Too well to think that there would be no problems caused by his death. Habusu had unknowingly unleashed a thunderbolt into dry grass, and the news would spread like a brush fire.

Isha quietly poked her head inside the baobab. “Rafiki, do you have a moment?”

“Yes, dear.” He looked into her large, sad face. “I bet I know what you’re here for.”

“You’re very perceptive,” she said. “Did Ugas tell you about us?”

“That he did. He always called you ‘blossom.’”

“There is a story behind that name,” she said. Rafiki had a strong suspicion that he was going to hear it, and he settled back while the anguished details came pouring out, punctuated by fits of sobbing. He was genuinely interested, but prayed that she would hurry up and leave before someone else came by.

“And we used to meet at our special place by the river,” she continued. “There was a patch of jasmine there. He would tell me that I was the prettiest blossom of them all. The name stuck.”

“You will pray for him tonight, I trust?”

“More than that,” she said. “He deserves so much more. But I can’t tell the other sisters. I mean, none of them knew I was seeing another lion. They would look down on me.”

“I understand.”

“At midnight, I was hoping that you and I could meet at our special place by the flowers. You understand, don’t you? I mean, I can’t let that poor, dear lion go to the stars without someone who understands what he meant to me hearing a few good words.”

Rafiki put his arms around her neck and gave her a hug. “You poor, dear lady. We’ll see what we can work out.”

Just then, Ajenti stuck her head in. “Oh, you’re with someone else. I just have this thorn in my paw.”

“My shoulder was stiff,” Isha said. “It feels much better now. Come on in.”

Limping as well as she could, Ajenti waited until Isha was out of hearing range.

“Oh Rafiki!” she said, bursting into tears. “Isn’t it awful about Ugas! Surely he told you about me?”

“Yes, my dear. He was Misha’s father. He used to call you ‘Squirrel.’”

“Indeed. There’s a story behind that name. The first time we were together, there was this squirrel in the acacia tree, and....”

Just as Rafiki was settling down to hear another story of love’s labors lost, Sarafina pushed her head in.

“Oh, you’re with someone. I can come back later.”

“No, it’s fine,” Ajenti said. “He just pulled a thorn from my paw.”

“You’re lucky,” Sarafina said. “I have this pulled muscle in my shoulder.”

Ajenti started to leave. “If you want to check on me at mid-moon, you know where I’ll be. Please see if you can be there.”

Rafiki sighed. He knew exactly where she would be at mid-moon. She would have a bigger thorn in her heart than in her paw when the truth came out.

Sarafina watched until she left. And when all was quiet, she fell before Rafiki. “Oh gods, you have to help me!” she stammered, tears running down her cheeks. “I’ve kept this thing bottled up inside me and If I don’t get it out, I’ll just die!”

“You just found out about Ugas? I didn’t think it wise to tell you, knowing that you and he were close.”

“I knew all along!” She covered her face with a paw and sobbed. “Why didn’t you tell me he was Uzuri’s husband! Why did you let me make such a fool of myself! This is all my fault!”

“My dear, don’t be so hard on yourself! Nothing is your fault.”

“But it is, don’t you see??” She looked him piercingly in the eyes. “It’s all my fault!” She added in a weak whisper, “We were making love at the time!”

“Oh my gods!”

“And when he was dying, he thought I was Uzuri. He said, ‘Forgive me, for I’ve been unfaithful to you. It’s only you I loved!’”

Rafiki bowed his head and tears streamed down his cheeks. “Tell me he didn’t say that!”

“He did,” she said, her heart crumbling. “Oh gods, I feel like such a wretch! My own sister’s husband! And I killed him!”

“You did not kill him! Age killed him. Old age, Fini! At least he died with someone who cared by his side.”

He reached down and kissed her cheek, lovingly stroking her face and ears. “Don’t believe his little confession. He wanted Uzuri to feel good, but I knew that lion. He spoke highly of you, and used to brag that your daughter had your lovely eyes. He loved you, Fini.”

“He said that?”

“Yes, I swear.” He stroked her gently. “You and your sister Uzuri are both beautiful and sweet and intelligent, and so wonderful. He was lonely because Uzuri would not stay with him. Maybe he saw in you the things he loved in her.”

She looked at him perceptively through her tears. “I know how you feel about her. That’s the nicest thing you could have said to me.”

“I meant it, Honey Tree. Every word.”

She reached up with a paw and stroked his face. “I can hardly bear to look at her, knowing what she’s going through. Can you meet me at mid-moon by our special place? Maybe Aiheu will be merciful to me and help me find inner peace. My life has not been worth living for weeks now.”