CHAPTER: CHOOSING A PATH

The next morning, Rafiki dropped by cheerfully but a little stiff. “How did you sleep?”

“Fine.”

“Uh huh....” He looked at her dusty, disarranged fur. “That’s nice.”

Makaka took Rafiki aside. “No. She moaned and tossed all night. She’s not happy here. I heard her crying. Rafiki, I want to go home! I have some friends here, but this place is not good for us.”

Rafiki sighed and made his way back to her. “So, my dear, how do you like it here?”

Uzuri looked pensive. “Fine. But do you think I’ve left my sisters in the lurch?”

“No. They’ll have to adapt, if you really want to stay. Admittedly, it won’t be easy.”

“So you think it’s wrong my being here?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Well, what DID you say?”

“I said--and I will say again--I cannot choose your path. You must go where your heart leads you.”

She shuddered. “I hope you won’t be disappointed, but my heart is leading me back to Pride Rock.”

Rafiki sprang to life. “I’ll get my things!”

“But I have to say good bye.”

“Of course you do. But if we do it quickly, we can make it back in time for tonight’s hunt.” He hugged her tightly. “We can’t have you unhappy, my dear!”

That afternoon, an article of her faith became very real to her. Pain was indeed the brother of pleasure, and in loving Ugas and his pride, she had opened herself to the pain of farewells. Adhama and Amara were dear friends and she would miss them terribly. And there were her sons who must remain behind in the kingdom of her dead husband. But as Aiheu had told all who dared to love, the pleasure was worth the pain--it gave her nobility and inner beauty that shone brightly from her hazel eyes.

Makaka was impatient to leave, hopping from foot to foot at the delay as Uzuri and Rafiki nuzzled each cub and spoke to each of the lionesses.

The brothers insisted on escorting them back to the border, and Uzuri was glad of the company.

“You will visit us, won’t you?” Togo asked.

“Of course I will, if the King permits.”

“The King insists,” Kombi said. “Oh look, I can see the stream from here.” The sadness behind his smile was obvious to her and she nuzzled him.

“There’s no stream deep enough or wide enough to keep us apart,” Uzuri said.

Reaching the bank, she couldn’t help but feel her heart sink as her sons stopped short of the water. She kissed each of them on the cheek, inhaling their scent and holding it in her memory. “I’m so proud of you both! Your father is too, I know it.”

Kombi nuzzled her one last time, then stepped back. “Aiheu abamami, mother. Take care.” Togo bid her farewell, and then joined his brother as they turned and headed back home. Uzuri watched them leave, then slowly turned towards her own home that lay shimmering in the distance like something out of a dream.

The three splashed through the water, then stood once again on their old ground. Without looking back, Uzuri led Rafiki and Makaka past the spot where young Sarabi and Taka used to play. They went through the field where Ahadi lay his feverish body to die with his beloved Akase. She passed the spot where Misha had made her first kill and first made love with Tanabi. And she saw the spot where Pipkah crawled away to die after the great battle. She half smiled when she thought about the tricks she pulled on him. Maybe he learned a little humility at the end--maybe he’d even found peace.

They arrived at Rafiki’s baobab a little before sunset. The reddish hue sparkled from his cheeks as he reentered his old home, each limb and notch calling to him like an old friend. Reaching up, he ran his fingertips gently along the runes painted into the trunk, tracing gently over the Eye of Aiheu with one hand. Making his way to the hollowed alcove where he stored his things, he reached in to put his medicine pouch inside--and stopped, pulling out an ivory tooth, well worn and familiar as his own.

Rafiki clutched the tooth in one palm, feeling warmth steal over him as Ahadi’s voice rang gently in his ears. "Where have you been, you old rascal?"

"In misery," he said. "But I'm back to stay." He shuddered in a deep breath, the smell of wild honey enveloping him as he knelt and gave thanks.

Presently he rose and wandered over to where Uzuri sat. He joined her, reaching around and holding her to him as they gazed across the land at the dim silhouette of Pride Rock. Uzuri looked at him, a smile touching her face as she saw the look of peace in his features. “I think we did the right thing.”

“I for one can not disagree.” He grinned. “But you’d better hurry; it’s time for the hunt, isn’t it?”

“Oh!” She purred, rubbing her cheek against his. “Thank you Rafiki!” Descending carefully, she bounded off, the years seeming to fall away as she loped through the grass happily, each landmark that went by stirring new feelings of happiness inside her heart. As she drew near her home, she detected a familiar scent and rushed toward it, a beatific smile beaming from her features. Breaking clear from the grass, she leapt upon a lioness who had been sniffing the ground nearby, knocking the startled creature to the ground. “Fini!!”

“Uzuri?! Oh gods! You’re back!” Sarafina embraced her sister with her forepaws, nuzzling her amid joyful laughter. “Praise Aiheu!”

Uzuri bounded up and smoothed her fur back into place as the other lionesses emerged around them, exclaiming at her appearance. “I feel like a good hunt. Is it too late?" She peered around at them, seeing the happy faces from her childhood, the old friends who had hunted by her side, her gaze finally coming to rest upon one she had trained from a cub. Uzuri nodded at Misha. “Would you have me? I’ll help out in any position you want me in.”

Misha shook her head. “There is only one position I can give you tonight. She padded over to the decimated remains of the pride’s last kill, tearing off a small section of hide. She laid it at Uzuri’s feet, then pressed her paw to the inside of the skin, wetting it with the blood that remained.

Uzuri’s eyes stung with tears as Misha placed her paw upon the older lioness’s cheeks. “I’d give you my most cherished possession, but he’s pledged to me. So I’ll have to give you this.” Kissed her. “Welcome home, hunt mistress.” She sat back and looked at her attentively. “Where will you have us?”

"Eastern meadow," Uzuri says tersely. "Crescent maneuver, Isha on the left, Sarabi on the right, and girls, give us support from the wadi from the north. It’s good to be home...."

She was in rare form. They killed a water buffalo and feasted royally, heading back home in the small hours of the morning with full swinging bellies and contented smiles all around. As they settled in to sleep, Uzuri heard Simba utter a final roar as he proclaimed his rule once again. And in the distant night, she heard her sons answer, their proud call bringing a smile to her face as it followed her down into peaceful dreams.