Fabana opened her heart to the possibility of home and old friends. Tears began to flow like falling rain, and the burden on her heart melted away. “Oh gods, I’ll do it!”

She awoke with a start. Went and kissed her daughter Shenzi. “Don’t you look beautiful today, my daughter!”

“Say what??”

“No, really you do. Sometimes you need to be told.”

“Well, uh, thanks. You seem to be in a good mood today. What happened?”

“I discovered something about myself. Something that really makes me feel better. You see, it is not my fault that your father died. It’s not my fault that the false Roh’kash deceived us. It’s not my fault that Taka died, and it’s not my fault that you are selfish.”

“Huh??”

“Maybe with a father to give you some guidance, someone who knew more about the ways of our people, you would have turned out differently. That’s not your fault, mine, or Jalkort’s. Things sometimes happen like that. But I’m leaving you now. You’ll be fine without me, I’m sure. I need a little more happiness before I die. I’ve found a fresh trail, and I’m going to follow it before the scent gets cold.”

“But muti, you just can’t!”

“Do me one favor, Missy: don’t tell anyone that I didn’t love you. I’ll always love you, even when you don’t deserve it. So good bye, Hon, and Roh’kash be with you. I will pray for you.”

Shenzi’s jaw dropped. “Is that it??”

“No, say good bye to Ed for me.”

“Muti, I....”

“Yes?”

“Well, I....”

“I know. You love me. Don’t think I don’t appreciate it. But that does not change things.”

“So are you just going to run out on us? Just like that? How can you do this to me??”

Fabana thought a moment. “How can I do this to YOU?? Hah! That’s rich, Missy!” And with that, Fay turned and trotted off into the bush.

CHAPTER 71: OLD FRIENDS

Old Fabana was watching some lion cubs playing from the shade of a friendly acacia. It was nearly mid-sun, and she slowly, stiffly got to her feet. “Come on, children! Time for your nap!”

“Oh Auntie Fay, can’t we have a little longer?”

“No, Lakayla. Your growing body needs its rest.”

Slowly, but with a proud bearing, Fabana led the lion cubs to the cave.

“Where did your other eye go?” Lakayla asked.

“I must have forgotten it. Oh, it will turn up one of these days.”

Lakayla laughed. “I’m serious.”

“I was attacked by a large animal. A dog.”

“They’re fierce creatures that just want to kill for the fun of it. That’s what mom says.”

“Your mom is wrong.” She looked back on Fielder with the wisdom of age. “Dogs are vulnerable, just like us. They have feelings that can be hurt, and they can want things so much that they can go too far and do something they regret. Then they feel bad--just like us.”

“You mean you don’t hate the dog?”

“Once I did. Now I feel sorry for him.”

“What did he want?”

“Something I couldn’t give him.” Fay nuzzled her. “Run along now, and don’t ask so many questions.”

Fabana settled to the cool floor of the cave, and the other cubs piled on her one by one to form a large heap.

Tanabi eyed her and smiled. There were times he forgot she was a hyena and thought of her as just another one of the pride sisters. She stayed behind with the cubs when the lionesses went out to hunt, freeing up another lioness to gather food.

Though she was rather frail with age, none of the cubs dared to challenge her authority, even those larger and more robust. She could even make Marli’s cubs behave.

Of course Roh’mach Bashak and his family would always greet Fay affectionately when they’d visit Simba. When this happened, invariably some of the lions--usually the very young--would ask Fabana why she didn’t live with her people.

“But I do. My people are the ones that love me. Some were hyenas, like Jalkort, my parents, and Ber. Others like you are lions. It’s all in what you call family.”

EPILOGUE:

Melmokh was wandering the Pride Lands. He looked at Pride Rock, bitter because of the setbacks he had endured, but still hopeful that he would achieve his dreams.

He was attracted to those who suffer. And though tired and empty inside, he was stalking a grief, an angry grief. He had no idea that it would lead him to the cave atop Pride Rock, the home of the King himself!

The lionesses were gone, and the cubs were playing in the field. But what luck! King Tanabi’s twin sons Imani and Watanga were experiencing the grief that only one would inherit the kingdom, and it would be Imani.

Watanga was confronting his father bitterly over the decision. Tanabi and Misha listened to his outpouring of ire and hatred with absolute consternation. “How can you speak of us this way?” Misha said. “How can you say we don’t love you? Watanga, how can you put this thorn through our hearts?”

“Love, you say? If you’d just given me half a chance to prove myself--just half a chance! I’m as good as Imani. Maybe even better. But you never gave me a chance! And let me tell you about thorns through the heart: every time I wanted to play, you would tell me to study if I wanted to be king someday! You knew all the time! That’s why you called me Watanga, ‘cause I’d never be anything but a wanderer!”

Melmokh watched with glee. What an opportunity! He went to touch Watanga to influence him, when Watanga turned around.

"Melmokh, have you learned nothing?" The cub spoke in a deep and powerful voice totally unlike his own.

"How did you see me? How did you know my name??"

"I see all and know all."

Melmokh tried to look into the cub's eyes, but he saw in them an overwhelming goodness and righteousness which burned him like fire. He quickly looked away. "Aiheu! You tricked me!" He backed back till the wall of the cave stopped his progress. Swallowing heavily, he could almost feel the walls closing in on him. "Aiheu, have mercy! Have mercy!"

"You have made no progress, though I have extended you the benefit of the doubt and shown you great patience."

"Don't kill me! I'll do anything you ask, but don't kill me! I’m a miserable wretch who just wants to be left alone! I’ll go away, far away!"

He turned to flee, but found that Tanabi and his Queen had vanished. In their stead were the brilliant forms of Mano and Minshasa. He was trapped.

"No! Don't!" He fell before the cub and with his eyes tightly shut began to kiss his feet. “My life is not worth living, but I’m afraid to die! Don’t hurt me, Aiheu! Please!”

Aiheu looked on him with pity. "Since you cannot escape me this time, let me tell you what's about to happen so you won't be afraid."

"You're going to kill me! How can I not be afraid??” He began to rub the cub’s forearm with his paw. “Like all living things, I'm part of your spirit! If you kill me, you would decrease! You would only harm yourself!"

The cub shook his head. "Your spirit will go on living, but in a real sense, you will die. Everything that made you Melmokh will perish along with your past."

Melmokh cowered down. "All of it?" He whined and pawed at Aiheu. “Will nothing be left?”

“If there were, the memories would only torment and sicken you. It is best that you remember nothing.”

“For my own good? Even the wisdom it took me centuries to acquire?”

“It did you no good, Melmokh. You attained much knowledge, but acquired so little wisdom. You don’t even know how to love! What else is worth knowing when your heart is desolate?”

Melmokh said, “But it is not my fault! I have tried to love! Really I have! And if I were a rock or tree that didn’t care, that would be different, but I can hurt. Hate, jealousy, fear, these all come easy to me. They are as unpleasant to me as they are to Mano and Minshasa, yet I have drunk only from those streams. Must I die never knowing love? Never knowing happiness?”