The pride welcomed Weusi and her cubs, swallowing whole Jabari's story of wanting to find a home for Weusi. It didn't go unnoticed by them, however, that Jabari began to spend more and more time with Ketisha as Weusi began to adapt to pride life once again. They all saw what was happening, but none of them thought of even telling Weusi. It was just unthinkable.

Jabari, on the other hand, wasn't the same story. "Jabari," said Rajua, the king, "I want to talk to you." Jabari followed him, and found that the king had a carcass waiting for the two of them to talk over. "Please, eat," said Rajua. Jabari did.

"So what is it, sire?" asked Jabari after swallowing a bite.

"It's about you and Weusi."

"Has she done something wrong?"

"And Ketisha."

"Ah."

"I'll be frank with you, Jabari. I don't want to see it happening anymore. Weusi is your mate. You need to be good to her."

"I have been," said Jabari. "I brought her here, didn't I?"

"Jabari, a marriage is a sacred thing. You don't just toss it away easily. I know it's not really my business, but I don't want to see a member of my own pride hurt like Weusi will be. I want you to stop seeing Ketisha, for all of your sakes. Please. Weusi loves you very much."

Jabari stared down at the carcass, playing with a little piece of meat on the chest. He didn't say anything for a while. "So, sire," he finally said, "how's your son? The prince?"

It took a moment for Rajua to realize the outrageous thing Jabari was suggesting. "You wouldn't," he whispered.

"I would," said Jabari. "And Daddy would be next. I would suggest staying out of my affairs, sire." He walked away, Rajua staring at him in horror.

oOo

"Shh," said Juveda. "I told you, I don't want no more visitors—who the hell are you?"

"I—I'm Weusi—"

"Don't speak so loud, you'll wake up the cubs."

"Oh, I didn't know you had cubs," said Weusi kindly.

"They're none of your business," said Juveda shortly. "Go away! I don't need sympathy! I'm not meant to be gawked at, thank you!" she said, turning into the cave angrily.

"But I didn't mean it like that," said Weusi. "I'm new here; I just wanted to introduce myself."

"New here?" asked Juveda. "No one's new here. It's the same old shit you get everywhere else. 'I'll be there for you—' Bah!"

"What?"

"What do you care? What do you want from a 'crazy old loon'?" She turned and fixed Weusi with an icy, firm glare. "I'm not crazy," Juveda said fiercely. "I'm not."

"I never said you were," said Weusi agreeably. "I just wanted to meet you."

"Sure you did," said Juveda. "What do you care about someone like me? What does anyone care about someone like me? He didn't stay, why should anyone else?"

"Who?"

"My mate, who do you think? There isn't anyone else to think of, is there?"

"Um . . ."

"Oh, what do you know? Be gone with you!"

"But please," said Weusi, walking into Juveda's den, "I just want to talk."

"What for? So you can go back to all of your little friends and tell them about me?"

"If you want, I won't tell anyone I was here. Except maybe my cubs."

"You have cubs?" Juveda said. "It certainly is nice to know Rajua still hasn't given up the game," she said sarcastically. "I should've married him; he had something to stick around for." She looked up at Weusi and said, "Never get married."

"But why?"

"Why do you think? It brings you nothing but pain! Look at me. Look at Pinduli, she's really happy."

"Pinduli loves Rajua. She's happy—"

"That's what they all want you to think. But up in here—" Juveda tapped her head. "Nothing good up here."

Weusi was having doubts about Juveda's facts, not her sanity. "But I'm married, I'm happy."

"Married, are you? You poor thing. I only hope that it takes as long to get you as it does to get Pinduli."

"What get me?"

"Marriage! You'll get sick of him, or he of you! Mark my words, he's probably off with some girl right now—"

"He's not!" said Weusi angrily. "Jabari would never do anything like that! He loves me just as much as I love him! He's at the den right now, with our cubs!"

"Maybe now, but tonight, or the next night, or the next one . . ."

"Shut up!" said Weusi. "You don't know a thing about Jabari!"

"He's a scumbag, that's what I know," said Juveda. "The royals even tried to push him on me as my mate! You think I don't remember my mate? I'm not crazy!"

"Jabari would never be disloyal," said Weusi firmly. "He has cubs to think about, he has me to think about, and he knows I love him."

"And what makes you think that would stop him? Look what I was left with!" She motioned toward what Weusi had taken to be two little piles of grass. "He left me with cubs! I never forget! And I—oh, be quiet, dear," said Juveda, walking over to one of the little piles. They were indeed grass, but they had been fashioned into cub shapes. Juveda began to rub one gently, as if rocking it slowly. She turned to Weusi and said "Shh."

Weusi didn't know what to make of it. "Um, Juveda . . . they're not real," she said gently.

"Shh! She needs to go back to sleep . . . back to sleep . . ."

"Juveda, it's just grass—"

"No! No, she just wants to sleep . . . just sleep . . . GODS DAMN IT!" Juveda yelled. Weusi jumped back at the sudden outburst. To Weusi's horror, Juveda began to beat apart the little cub she had been rocking. "You left me! You left me! You left me!" Weusi began to back out of the den. Juveda suddenly stopped beating the cub and stared at it, tears forming in her eyes as she realized what she had done.

"No . . . no . . ." Juveda began to arrange the grass again, putting it back into a cub. "Don't worry, Mommy's here . . . Mommy's sorry she hurt you . . . yes, Mommy loves you." Weusi left quietly. Juveda heard her nevertheless. "Yes, we'll help that poor little lioness, won't we? We'll make sure she gets her cubs raised up right, just like you. . . . Oh, you darling little angel . . ."

oOo

Ketisha rested her head on her paws, eyes shut. She could pretend that she was asleep, but she couldn't allow herself to actually enter dreamland. She was waiting for Jabari to come home. She was not willing to tell Jabari everything that was on her mind, but this one she knew she should.

Jabari entered as soon as the sun had completely set and night had entered the lands. He smiled as Ketisha raised her eyelids slightly to get a good look at him.

"Hi Ketisha," he said softly.

"Want to be with me again?" she smiled. "And I'm glad you do. Jabari, I have something you might want to know."

"What's that?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant."

"I thought you would be," was all he said in response.

"You aren't worried, are you?"

"About what?"

"Well I know you probably don't care about what Weusi thinks right now, but what about the rest of the pride? They're not going to approve of this."

"Trust me Keta, there is nothing to worry about. I've taken care of all of it."

"Well—if you're convinced…" Jabari lay down next to her. It had not been the first night that they had spent together. Jabari had tried to convince Weusi that since he hadn't known the cubs too long, that he'd better not spend all night with her while they were around; they wouldn't trust him enough. Really, though, this is all he actually wanted. To have peaceful nights with the one that he really loved: Keta. And nothing, as far as he was concerned, was better than this.

oOo

"See? I told you."

"No . . . no, that can't be . . ."

"Him, and her. There is nothing worse than marriage. Look what it's done. You want to stay, he wants to escape. And he does. And what can you do about it? Not a thing. You are bound to him, and all his immoral acts, in happy, holy matrimony. All you can do is watch. Just watch as he gets farther and farther away from you with every—"

"Oh, shut up! Shut up, you sick, twisted, demented old—old coot! . . . Gods, why? Why Jabari? Why?"

oOo

Weusi lied awake under the stars. No matter how hard she tried to close her eyes and sleep, nothing would work. She looked over at Jabari by her side and felt her eyes become wet. She didn't bother to stop the tears. She looked over at him, seeing his still, sleeping form when her eyes were open, and when they closed, she saw his act of unfaithfulness.

It couldn't be real. It just couldn't be. I can't have seen it right. Jabari . . .

Weusi stared at him, then finally nudged him gently. "Jabari?" she said quietly. "Jabari?" She nudged him again. Jabari groaned. "Jabari?"

"What?" he grunted, obviously not pleased at having been woken up.

"Jabari, you love me, don't you?"

"What?" he asked, completely awake now, startled by the question.

"You love me, right?"

"Have I ever given you any reason to doubt that?" he asked, looking up at her.

Weusi hesitated.

"Well?"

"No, Jabari," she said quietly.

Jabari rolled over, turning away from her. "I'll always be your mate, Weusi. And nothing's going to change that."

"You mean it?"

"Yes. We're married, through good or bad. You know it's for life."

"That—that wasn't what I meant, Jabari."

Jabari sighed irritably. "Couldn't you pick a better time to discuss this? Like in the morning?"

"But Jabari, I'm . . ." She hesitated to say "worried."

"Just leave it till morning," he said.

"Alright," she said quietly. She saw Jabari shift slightly, getting comfortable again. She snuggled closer to him, putting her head on his shoulder and her foreleg across his chest in the way he always had liked. She felt him squirm away from her. She stared at him a moment, then sadly laid her head down, slowly drifting off to sleep.

When morning came, Jabari wasn't there.

oOo

Silence ran throughout the cave. Not a sound could be made if he was going to make it right, the first time. Only a few yards separated the king from Jabari, and now the attack had to be made.

He prepared himself to strike him dead right here, but Jabari had sensed his presence. Soon, the certainty that Rajua had of succeeding in his mission had faded, and the two lions were fighting to the death inside the cave. It was now becoming even more obvious that Rajua was in trouble, because Jabari was almost twice as strong and was easily gaining the advantage. In a matter of seconds he had Rajua pinned down on the floor.

Jabari looked around; there was no one else there, not even Ketisha.

"Where is she?" Jabari asked, turning his gaze back to Rajua.

"Who?" he asked feebly.

"You know who! Ketisha! What have you done with her?"

"Nothing! I haven't even seen her!"

Jabari heard a gasp from behind him and whipped around to see that Pinduli had arrived at the entrance.

"What about you? Have you seen her?" Pinduli remained silent, not willing to say or do anything that would place her mate in any more harm.

"Why is she here?" Jabari asked, turning back to Rajua.

"She was here for . . ." was all Rajua managed to get out. He didn't want to go any further, and Jabari was sure he knew why.

"Right, listen to me, okay. Both of you," Jabari glanced back at Pinduli, "I'm going to get off of you now, but you are in return going to tell me everything you know about what the hell is going on here. And don't lie to me because if you do you're both going to end up dead—and your son," he looked back up at Pinduli to see what she was making of all this, but her expression remained the same as it had before. "Do I make myself clear?" he added, glaring back at Rajua.

"Yes, Jabari." They both looked back up at Pinduli who gave a noticeable nod of the head. Jabari took a step back off Rajua.

"Please, Jabari, don't kill our son, he has nothing to do with this," Pinduli said, rushing in towards her mate as soon as Jabari got off of him.

"Why are you here?" Jabari asked her sternly. "And don't lie to me, I already know that the king, here, was trying to kill me."

"I—I was here for Ketisha," she said, taking a slow step back from him.

"And what did you do with her?" he asked angrily.

"Nothing. I swear, Jabari, Ketisha was not here when we arrived so only Rajua came in, we have not seen her."

"Don't lie to me." Jabari was starting to approach her now, and Pinduli was taking faster steps backwards. Rajua started to run at him as he realized the danger that his mate was in. But as soon as he was at the zenith of leaping through the air to attack him, he was knocked back onto the ground by none other than Ketisha. Pinduli was able to take advantage of the situation while Jabari was caught off guard by the action behind him, and soon the two were wrestling each other on the ground. Jabari was soon able to pin Pinduli to the ground, but Ketisha and Rajua's battle was a close fought one. In the end however, Rajua eventually managed to come out on top.

Both lions now faced towards each other snarling, knowing that they both had the life of their opponent's lover resting in their paws.

A shadow suddenly cast over them though, as the moonlight was blocked from the entrance of the cave by another figure. All of them turned to face the lion that stood there: Bagra.

"Why the hell are you here?" asked Jabari.

"Well Jabari, after seeing you come back for your mate, I figured that I should come back to mine."

"Who . . . you mean you used to live here?"

"I remember you, Bagra." The comment had come from Rajua. "You were Juveda's mate."

"And I still am."

"So you left your mate too?" Jabari remarked. "And then you think you could just take Weusi for yourself."

"I never touched Weusi, Jabari. I came back for Juveda and you should go back to Weusi, it doesn't take a genius to work out that you would rather be mates with Ketisha. But let me ask you this Jabari, where do you think Ketisha was earlier?"

Jabari hadn't thought about that yet. He had believed that Rajua and Pinduli had got rid of her, but here she was, right back with him in their den.

"I needed to go, that's all," said Ketisha.

"Go? What, all the way outside of the lands?" Bagra asked in response. "I left Juveda's cave and you were walking right on by. Believe me Ketisha, I know where you were."

Jabari looked down at Ketisha. If what Bagra was saying was true, then she had been lying to him. But why would she have wanted to do that?

"Rajua," Jabari started, "get off of Ketisha."

"Get off of my mate first."

Jabari looked back down at Pinduli and then took a step backwards off of her. Rajua, in return, got off of Ketisha too.

"Ketisha?"

"I swear, Jabari, he is lying, I just went outside to do business."

"No, that's a lie," said Bagra. "You see, Jabari, once I left Juveda I found a friend just outside of the lands called Lengo. Well, I stayed with him for a few years until we finally decided that it was best that we went our separate ways. That was when I was wandering around for a home that I found Weusi. She told me to stay; I only met her on accident. Anyways, after seeing you come back for your mate, I realized what I must have put Juveda into. She's been crazy I tell you, she even tied some grass together into little figures of cubs to keep her company. Well when I came back, I decided to see if Lengo had gotten anywhere. I found him just next to your borders here, but he told me that he still lived where we used to live together, about a day's walk away from here. He said he was there because he was waiting for someone he was in love with, but didn't think he could live with because she was a member of a pride. When I walked out of Juveda's cave after hearing all of the commotion down here, I saw Ketisha walking away from where I had last seen Lengo, and that's where I put it all together."

"Jabari, don't listen to him, I don't even know who Lengo is, I swear!" Ketisha was desperate now. Jabari didn't want to believe Bagra. Maybe this was all false, and Bagra had once again made up a false story to prevent himself from getting killed. But then why did he even bother showing himself? Jabari looked back up at Bagra.

"Take me to Lengo," he commanded.

Bagra straightened up. "Very well."

"Jabari, do you want me to come?" Ketisha asked.

"I think it's best if she stays, Jabari."

"She asked me, Bagra, not you," said Jabari angrily. "Keta . . ."

"It's all lies, Jabari. He'll try and ambush you or something."

"Hey, I can bring this sucker down in a matter of seconds if something goes wrong. You stay here, okay?"

Ketisha hesitated, "Okay," she finally said.

Jabari turned around and left behind Bagra. Once they were clear, Rajua and Pinduli started to leave.

"Why were you trying to kill him?" asked Ketisha. Rajua and Pinduli stopped. "He wasn't harming you."

"He said that he would kill our son if we didn't leave him alone," Rajua replied.

"Well then you should've just left him alone then!" Anger was starting to build up inside her.

"Keta, it's something you wouldn't understand. Our son has nothing to do with it; if Jabari's willing to take out innocent victims just because something isn't going his way, we can't let him stay around."

"Then we'll leave, okay? Don't go killing us!"

"Ketisha," Pinduli came back down to her, "I don't think you should be thinking of yourself and Jabari as together now," she smiled. "Just wait until he hears what Lengo says; I never saw any trace of you when I was out there, and I was out there a long time."

"You bitch!" Ketisha swiped at her, but she was able to get out of the way in time. Now with Rajua nearer to her, Ketisha knew she had no option but to let it be.

Pinduli laughed, "I never liked you that much either, Ketisha." She walked out with Rajua, leaving Ketisha in the den on her own.

oOo

"Weusi," the lioness came over to her, obviously irritated with something, "you should take more control over your cubs." She whirled around, letting Weusi see the damage that Aushi had caused to her tail.

"Oh, sorry Endela, come here Aushi," Weusi managed to get her off without a fight, but Endela still glared down at the giggling cub. "Yes, I'm so sorry about that, I was trying to get some sleep."

"Yes, well, where's your mate then? Shouldn't he be looking over them?"

Weusi looked down sadly but simply replied, "I don't know where he might be."

"Not very good at this, are you? Where's your other cub, Ruya?"

"Um . . . I'm not really sure . . . Aushi, do you know where your brother is?"

"He went outside, Mommy."

"Oh . . . darn it. Er . . . Endela, would you mind looking after Aushi for a minute while I go and find him?"

Endela frowned at her, "Alright—but this is the final time."

"Yes, yes, I understand," Weusi quickly got up and ran out, yelling "thank you!" as she went.

oOo

"Ruya! Ruya!!" Weusi could've sworn that she had been searching for half an hour, yet it had probably only been ten minutes. She was getting more and more distressed as every one of them passed. She had never been fond of the idea of taking her cubs too far away from the den. She had asked Endela to look after them the previous night when she had slept with Jabari.

She was now approaching the den that she had seen him in with Ketisha the other night. She stopped. Ruya would probably not be in there, but she knew that the only other lion who probably knew where he was could be in that cave. But did she really want to find out if he was? Not that she had much choice. Weusi left her reluctance behind her as she walked on, but step by step she thought of worse and worse things that she might see. She tried to convince herself that Jabari would do no such thing as to be disloyal to her, but she had heard Ketisha say that she was pregnant. Weusi tried to tell herself that Jabari was not the potential father; there could be a male lion around that she didn't know about.

Weusi sighed out of relief when she realized that Ketisha was the only one in there. She could see the entire inside of the den from where she stood, yet Ketisha had not seen her. She was franticly pacing herself throughout the den, obviously bothered by something.

"Ketisha," the troubled lioness stopped pacing and looked up at her, "hi."

"What do you want?" she replied rudely.

"I—I just wanted to know where Jabari was and I figured that he'd be in here."

"What makes you think that?" Ketisha asked curiously.

"I—" Weusi then thought it was best not to answer that question, then hopelessly tried to change the subject, "Well, do you know where he is?"

"Can you answer mine first?"

"Listen, it's really important that I find him as soon as possible, I've lost Ruya—"

"So really you're looking for Ruya, aren't you? Well I don't know where he is . . ."

"But Jabari might."

"He doesn't, I'll tell you that now."

"How do you know? He hasn't been here again, has he?"

"Again? How do you—I mean, what makes you think that he's been sleeping with me?"

Ketisha's attempt at hiding the truth had gone as successful as Weusi's had: not very. "Wait . . . how long has he slept with you?" Weusi said every word with increasing reluctance, and with an increasing desire of how much she wanted to take her question back.

"Long enough."

"You mean—more than one night?"

"A lot more than one night."

"But . . . he loves me."

"Weusi . . ." Ketisha hesitated on her decision to tell Weusi the truth. If it all changed she needn't know anyways, "go and look for Ruya."

Weusi paused for a second, she had forgotten about Ruya. But right now she was insistent to know what was really going on, even if it scarred her for life. "Ketisha—is Jabari the father?"

Ketisha glared back up at her, but her anger fell as her hopes lifted, "No," she said, "Another lion is. Weusi . . . you like Jabari, don't you?"

"Of course I do," she responded smiling, overwhelmed with relief that Jabari wasn't the father.

"Look, I must admit that I like him too, a lot, and—maybe we have done things that we shouldn't have done, but Jabari is not the father. The problem is that he thinks he is. The real father is a lion called Lengo, he's who I really love." Ketisha knew that she had a better chance of convincing Weusi if she pushed the truth a little. "If you come with me, I'll tell Jabari the truth; you can be with Jabari, I'll be with Lengo, and he can join the pride with Bagra when . . ."

"Bagra? He's here?"

"Yes, Bagra's here, but we need to—"

"No, wait. Bagra's here? But . . . he spent all those nights with me . . ."

"He's Juveda's mate…"

". . . and . . . and he never betrayed her. He came back for her. Oh, he is ever such a nice lion." She paused in memory of all the things he done for her, it was then that she had to know the answer. "Ketisha, did Jabari ever, you know . . . say that he . . ."

Ketisha looked at her, the same annoyed look in her eyes that Jabari had so often. "Yes. More than I've bothered to count."

"But—but he loves me . . . he loves me . . ." she said to herself quietly.

"Come on, Weusi, I need you to come with me."

"No, I . . . want to stay here, Ketisha," said Weusi not seeming to realize everything that was going on.

"But—but I need you! We've all got to be there to sort this out. Look, you can get back Jabari, and I can have Lengo, and . . . look if you don't come, this whole thing will all fall to pieces." Weusi continued to look down at the floor. "You need to find Ruya!" she added as a persuasion.

Weusi lifted her head a little, "I'll leave once you've gone."

"Er . . . this is my den," she said still slightly irritated.

"Yes, I'm aware of that."

"Look, Jabari needs you," said Ketisha, her tone becoming plainly unwelcoming.

"I know," said Weusi quietly, staring at the ground.

Ketisha groaned in frustration and marched out of the den. Weusi looked up in alarm. "Ketisha—Ketisha, where are you going?"

"I'm going to save one of my mates from an early death. You can stay or you can leave." Ketisha didn't even look back.

Weusi stared at Ketisha's retreating form, rooted to the spot. She didn't know how long she stayed there, until finally, she headed out into the savannah. "Ruya! Ruya!"

oOo

"Stay here," said Bagra.

"Why?" asked Jabari, a hint of a snarl in his voice.

Bagra looked at Jabari seriously. "You want to get hurt?"

"Do I look like a masochist?"

"Then stay here." Bagra walked down out into the clearing, Jabari staying well hidden in the grass. Bagra called out into the night, "Hey! Lengo!"

A lion walked into the clearing. He was larger than normal, and even from where he was, Jabari could see his muscles ripple underneath his pelt. "Bagra, it's the middle of the night."

"Just looking for you. Where were you earlier?"

"What? You mean you came back?"

"Yeah. I was looking for you. Where were you?"

"I—I was with that girl. You know, the one I told you about?"

"The pride lioness?"

"Yeah, Ketisha." Jabari felt himself stiffen at the sound of her name. Lengo lied down in the clearing. "I love her, Bagra, but she is driving me crazy! I mean, I can't sleep. I nearly got myself killed yesterday hunting."

"My father said that love made animals do stupid things."

"Yeah, well he was right."

"And that lust does that even more."

Lengo looked up at Bagra. "This is love, Bagra. She's coming out here. We can leave this place. She's told me she's tired of that loser she has back at the pride. We're gonna leave together, and make a pride of our own. We've already even got cubs. She's pregnant, did you know that? I'm gonna have to be a father." Lengo chuckled. "Poor little guys. Me, a father. Can you believe that, Bag?"

"It'll be different," admitted Bagra. "But you should do okay."

"Yeah. I got her pregnant, though, right? Never thought that would happen, at least not this soon. Heat hasn't even rolled around yet. But I'll raise 'em right, Bag, I know I will—"

Lengo was suddenly tackled and found himself rolling. He pinned the attacker underneath him easily. Jabari glared up at him murderously. "Those are my cubs, you son of a bitch!"

"Bag?" asked Lengo.

"This—this is Ketisha's lover. Her other one."

"Well, I never thought I'd actually see you. I had pictured someone—you know—a little more—impressive?"

Jabari lunged up at Lengo, only to have one of Lengo's paws swat him down. "I wouldn't try anything," said Lengo.

"She loves me, you son of a bitch, not you! Me!"

"What do you have against hyenas? They're good animals."

"This isn't a game!" yelled Jabari.

"Isn't it? You're not going anywhere."

"Keta is my lover, not yours!"

"Jabari," said Bagra quietly, "I told you this was true."

"You invited him?" asked Lengo. "Are you trying to kill me, Bagra?" He looked down at the lion pinned underneath him. "Jabari, right? Look, Keta is my mate. Maybe not married, but she's mine. She wants me, not you. Why do you think she's been sneaking out here? She's tired of you! She just wants it to end."

Lengo sat back, Jabari staring up at him in disbelief. "That can't be true," Jabari said quietly.

"Every word."

"No!" Jabari suddenly leapt up at Lengo, having a clear shot at his throat.

"Jabari, stop!"

Jabari suddenly froze, recognizing the feminine voice. Both Lengo and Jabari turned to her. "Keta?" said Jabari in disbelief.

"Jabari, don't hurt him," said Ketisha.

"Do you have any idea what lies he's spreading?"

"Jabari, you—you don't need to hurt anyone. I've told you that."

Jabari pushed Lengo off from over him and walked over to Ketisha and nuzzled her. "Keta, the things he said about you."

"Lengo didn't mean it. Not that way."

Jabari stopped nuzzling suddenly. He pulled his head back in disbelief. "You said you didn't know a Lengo."

"I—I lied, okay? I lied to you, Jabari, and I'm sorry, but I just didn't want this to happen! I didn't want you to know that—that I wanted it all to end, and go with him, and . . . and . . ."

Jabari took a step back, staring at her. "I thought you loved me," he finally whispered.

"I—I never said that, did I? I know I never said that. I had to actually work not to."

"But—all of those times we . . ."

"Jabari, I . . . wanted you. That was all there ever was. I like you, really. But—but I just like Lengo more. And—and I thought it could all end nicely. I could be with Lengo, and you and Weusi could . . . could be together again . . ."

Jabari shook his head slowly, staring at the ground. "I can't believe you. After all those times I told you how much I—I hated all of that whining, and pleading . . . Keta, how could you have possibly thought I would have wanted that? Over you?"

"I—I just . . . didn't want you anymore, Jabari."

Jabari stared at her for a long time. He felt a tear slide down the side of his face, but took no notice of it. "So this is what it's been like? For Weusi?" He shook his head. "How could I have been so cruel?"

"Jabari, I didn't want to hurt you!" protested Ketisha.

"I don't want any more of your lies," he said, storming past her. He felt her place a paw on his shoulder as he went by. He shrugged it off and kept going.

"Jabari! Jabari, I didn't want—Jabari!"

Jabari kept walking.

Ketisha rounded on Bagra. "You! You had to tell him, didn't you!"

"It was for the best," said Bagra. He silently left. Juveda would be missing him.

oOo

Jabari stopped, seeing Weusi in the clearing. It looked as if she was giving one of the cubs a bath; Jabari could at least see a tail that looked like the end had been dipped in mud. Ruya's tail. His son's tail. A fresh wave of remorse came upon him. He had been so caustic. So cruel. He had even forgotten why he'd loved her, and married her in the first place.

She made him laugh.

And those lovely, lovely, crystalline eyes.

And how she had comforted him, and left with him, even after the scandal of his father's death.

Why had he cared about giving her what she wanted? She had asked so many times, and he had rejected her almost as many. The dens they'd looked through, the food she caught for him, the streams she found for them to drink from. And she had just wanted to please him, all the way through it. Was it really that bad to want a little bit for herself?

She deserved a better mate than him, there was no doubt about that. She had loved him; he had beaten her. Jabari smiled slightly. If she hadn't been so loving, would he have had any hope of her taking him back now?

He got up and walked toward her. It would hurt, he knew it. But it would come through. He loved her. "Weusi," he said.

Weusi stopped licking Ruya, and after a pause, turned to look at Jabari. "Yes, Jabari?"

Those beautiful eyes. "I—I need to tell you something. Something I'm very ashamed of." He lied down. "Weusi, I've been lying to you," he said slowly, feeling as though he had to tear each word away for the sentence. "I—I've been unfaithful. I've been sleeping with someone else. Ketisha. And—I said some very, very bad things when I was with her. About us. And I am deeply, deeply sorry about everything that I've done. I've seen my mistake, I know that I've been stupid. But I want your forgiveness, Weusi. I want to be your mate again, and I want to love you like you've always loved me."

Weusi looked back down at the cub and started grooming Ruya again. She finally stopped. "I—know," she said.

"You—you know?"

"Yes. I've known for weeks," she said. She looked up at Jabari, her eyes brimming with tears. Her voice was steady as she said, "They didn't want to tell me. But I saw you two. Together. In her cave. And you were on top of her. And—purring. And you—you were making love to her, Jabari. And I knew you were very, very happy."

"Weusi, I—"

"You've already explained, Jabari. I know why you wanted Ketisha. She's everything I've never been. Lustful, and happy, and she never asked you for anything, did she? Nothing that you didn't want. No begging or pleading or beating with her. Maybe it was even exhilarating for you, sneaking out to make love. I don't know.

"But it wouldn't have mattered if you had dragged her in front of me and did it right there. I thought that maybe it was for the best, all of this. You would be happy. That's all I ever wanted, Jabari, to make you happy. I thought I was being a good mate; I only wanted the best for you. And you wanted Ketisha. I could never give you what she does. So I wouldn't make a scene. And you would still love me, and cherish me. And I'd still be your little angel. Remember how you used to call me that? After we were married?

"And it just got so—so wrong. That's the only way I could describe it. You spent more and more nights with her. I'd go to sleep with you, and wake up in the middle of the night, and you'd be gone. And I knew where you went. And in the morning, you'd be back again, as if you were never gone. I thought that was a good thing. You were ashamed of what you were doing; you wanted to hide what you were doing from me because you loved me. And I'd just take care of the cubs, and would accept your excuses not to be with me, knowing exactly what you were doing with her, while I cleaned and fed and cared for your own legacy!"

Weusi's voice had begun to shake, but she took a deep breath, it was steady again. "And I've always been a bit stupid, haven't I? I've never been the brightest one, I knew that, but I certainly didn't consider myself to be as stupid as this. You didn't want me, Jabari, I knew that; you wanted her, but I thought you would still love me, even if I wasn't your choice for sex any longer. Rajua, kind, old Rajua, he's even offered to help me out with that, and Pinduli encouraged him to do that. Just to make me happy. I've been abstinent for months, because I didn't want to be with someone else when I had you.

"But I never did, did I? I never had you. As soon as you wanted to leave me, I should have known that I'd never see my Jabari. You would be her Jabari. But I wanted to believe it was okay. That everything was alright. I wanted to believe that so badly, Jabari. I managed to convince myself that you loved me, even when I knew what you were doing, and I never saw that I was deluding myself because of how much I loved you.

"I wanted you to be happy so much, Jabari. I didn't care if I was, because if you liked it, I loved that you liked it. I was happy for you with Ketisha. How sick am I? I was wanting you to go out and make love to her. If that's what made you happy.

"But I can't convince myself of that anymore. That this is right. It's wrong. So you can go back to Ketisha, Jabari. It takes three to break a marriage vow, Jabari, and Rajua has agreed to be the third. I don't want you to feel any remorse. I want you to be able to give yourself to her fully."

"Weusi, I don't want that. I don't want to do that anymore. I want to be with you."

"Well then, there's a small problem."

Jabari was shocked. She must love him. Now, at least, when he loved her and wanted her back so much. But his shock ebbed away with her next words. "Jabari, you're a very special lion to me. You always will be. So if you want to keep me as your mate, then you can do it. I'll let you. I'll forgive you—the good gods know that I've been doing that for weeks. One more night of forgiveness won't hurt me."

"Weusi, I don't know what to say . . . thank you. I know you have every right to leave, but if you're willing to stay with me—thank you so much, Weusi."

"I'm perfectly willing, Jabari."

"You won't regret this, Weusi. I promise. I'll make things better. Starting now."

"That's . . . ambitious, Jabari. But I'll support you." She began to groom Ruya again.

Jabari smiled. "Thank you. And I'll try to be a better father. Is that alright, Ruya?"

Ruya was silent, something Jabari expected. He lied still in Weusi's legs as she groomed him. "A very good cub, Ruya," said Weusi. "Always still while taking a bath. Here." She picked up Ruya, and laid him down in front of Jabari.

At least his back half.

Jabari stood up in shock and stared at the tail and hind legs in front of him. He stared as blood dripped onto the grass. Ruya's front half was missing entirely. "Wha—how—Weusi, what—"

"Oh, he ran into some hyenas, I'm guessing. I'm not quite sure what they were; by the time I found him, they were running into the grass. He was filthy, of course. He hadn't had his bath yet."

"Weusi, how can you say that?"

"Say what?"

"All of it! Just—just so caustically—and all this time you were bathing this . . ."

"Yes."

"Weusi—what's gotten into you?"

"Nothing, as far as I know. I'm perfectly fine. But this would make me seem wrong, wouldn't it?"

"Weusi . . ."

"I don't know, Jabari. Maybe I am becoming a bit—unhinged. Crazy. Stark, raving mad."

"Oh, gods, Weusi . . . what have I done to you?"

"Oh, nothing, Jabari. I'm fine. Really. I don't think this is really what you'd call insanity. This is more along the lines of desperation. Because I want him to be alive. And I just deny it, don't I? And he's not dead, at least not to me. And he's so happy, because Daddy's going to spend more time with him. And teach him how to hunt, and be a big, strong lion. And he'll be a good little cub, and he'll always do what Daddy and Mommy ask, and we'll love him so much. And he'll grow up, and he'll be so strong, and so brave, and he'll make his parents so proud. And he'll find a nice lioness in the pride, and he'll settle down with her. And he'll have cubs with her. And he'll be so happy, and he'll just squeal with delight. And that's all he can do. Squeal. He never could talk. He couldn't even scream. Not when he wanted to go to the bathroom, not when he was hungry. Not even when they were killing him."

"Weusi, please, stop."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Jabari," said Weusi. "I know how you don't like me to talk on and on, but I'll try to stop that, I really will. But it all just seems a little much now. I don't know which shocks me more really; finding him or you staying." Her tone wasn't rude and brutal; it was honest, the sincerity ringing in Jabari's head, horrifying him.

"Weusi . . . Weusi, please, let's just take Ruya back to the den . . ."

"You don't get it, do you, Jabari? You don't understand at all . . ."

"Weusi, please, I don't want to leave you out here like this. You said you were willing, right? So help me with Ruya. Please."

"But I don't want to."

"What?"

"You never did get it, did you, Jabari? I'm perfectly willing. But I don't want to. I don't want to live a lie, I don't want to have to hold my head in shame, I don't want to be a fraud. I'll be your mate, I'll follow you to the end of the earth, and I'll even jump off if you tell me to. But you're never going to hear those four words again."

"But—but Weusi, please—I love you, Weusi."

Weusi was silent.

"Weusi . . ."

"Jabari, I'm your mate." She walked over him, standing over her dead son's body. She pressed herself against him as she licked him across the face, a kiss that had no love, only lust, and very little of that. "And you're a big, strong lion," she said, a slight note of wildness in her voice.

"Weusi . . ."

"Maybe I am a little crazy. I never asked Juveda how long it takes."

"Weusi, please, stop."

"Of course." She drew her head back from his.

Those beautiful eyes. And now it seemed as if their crystalline beauty was shattered, fractured by something.

"Weusi . . . I love you."

"Then that should make all of this easier for you."

"Please . . . just say it."

"No, Jabari. I don't lie."

"Weusi . . . don't torture yourself like this. Please. Not for me. Not like this. I never wanted you like this."

"Alright." She stepped back, stepping on Ruya. "I'm going to the den to pick up Aushi. And Rajua can get your breaking vow in the morning. He already has mine. I told him to forget it if you didn't say anything tomorrow, though." She began to walk through the grass toward the den.

"Weusi, please, don't do this. Not this way."

"What do you want?"

"I—I want you."

"But not like this."

"No. Not like this."

"And I can't give you anything else."

Weusi continued to walk toward the den. Jabari watched her go, then watched her suddenly stop. Weusi turned around to him, looking him in the eye.

She said slowly, remorse deep in her voice, "I don't love you like I loved you yesterday."

She continued on her way to the den. Jabari sank to the ground, and laid his head on the ground. Slowly, he began to cry.