SCENE: THE SHINING MOMENT.

The spring rains had brought forth an abundance of flora from the valley floor, the flowers blooming in a riot of color which dazzled the eyes of the two yearling cubs who scampered about through the scented plants, laughing gaily.

Tanabi grinned at Misha as he crouched down among a clump of yellow wildflowers, his tail lashing madly. Giggling, she complied, standing tall and straight, strutting through the greenery as though he did not exist. He sprang from cover, tackling her and sending the two of them rolling down the gently sloping hillside.

Tanabi lost his grip and flew over his friend to land in a heap. He got up, chuckling, but froze when he heard Misha cry out. He looked over to see her emerging from a dense shock of brambles, staggering unsteadily as she favored a paw. "What's wrong?"

She shook her paw gingerly and looked at him, a tear gleaming in one eye. "I can't put my weight on it, Tanabi, it hurts! "

"Lemme see." His stomach knotted as he trotted over to her. His mother had sprained a leg a few months back, and even with Rafiki's a.s.sistance, she was only now returning to her full capabilities. If Misha had done the same, or worse, broken a bone... He sighed with relief as he spotted the problem. "It's just a thorn, Misha. No problem."

She looked at him worriedly. "Can you get it out?"

"Uh-huh. Hold still." Nosing through the fur, he carefully took hold of the edges of the shank with his teeth. With a smooth, gentle tug, the thorn pulled free.

Misha hissed in pain, then relaxed slowly. "Thank you, Tanabi."

He smiled back at her. "You're welcome." He began to groom her wounded paw in smooth, soothing strokes, noting absently how much she had grown recently. Her legs, which were her only vanity, had grown out quite a bit, much to her relief, now rivaling even the older Lisani's in their graceful appearance.

Misha sat quietly, enjoying the sensation as Tanabi cleaned the wound on her foot. Finishing, he raised his head and smiled at her. "All better."

She felt a surge of warmth for her friend. Tanabi was always so sweet. He never played too rough like the other cubs, and if he had something nice to eat, he was always willing to share. Impulsively, Misha leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Tanabi froze for a moment, then grinned. "Back at 'cha! " he said, and kissed her. But he didn't draw away immediately. Instead, he stood balanced on three legs, his attention riveted on Misha's eyes. "M-Misha?" he stammered. "I, uh-"

She laughed prettily and swatted him with a forepaw, sending him to the ground in a heap. "Tag! You're it! "

"Oh yeah?! " He leapt to his feet, grinning, and gave chase. She ran, laughing, dodging through the underbrush from spot to spot, always staying just out of reach as he pursued her across the savanna. They had begun to near Pride Rock when he finally caught up with her, intercepting her gracefully in mid-leap to send them both sprawling in the gra.s.s. The cubs paused there to catch their breath, giggling softly.

Tanabi looked over at Misha again, unable to tear his eyes off her. As she looked over at him and smiled, the sun sailed out from behind a cloud, the brilliant light surrounding her with a golden nimbus as the sun shone off her fur. His breath caught in his throat, and he was unable to speak.

Misha blinked, perplexed. "Tanabi? Are you okay?"

He cleared his throat scratchily. "Uhh, yeah. You ready to head back?"

She nodded. The two made their way towards the Rock slowly, enjoying the warm sunshine and the pleasant breeze that ruffled their fur, sending ripples across the green carpet of gra.s.s that covered the ground.

Misha leaned her head against Tanabi's shoulder companionably, noting absently the p.r.o.nounced bulkiness which had not been there only a month ago. Cool, she thought. I wonder what Tanabi will look like with a mane. She tried to imagine her best friend's visage surrounded by a ruff of hair like Simba's and giggled quietly.

Uzuri pa.s.sed them heading the other way and chuckled. "You two lovebirds been out walking again, eh?"

Misha's ears flattened in embara.s.sment as Tanabi's fur spiked along his back. "Yeah...well, I mean no! That is, we're not-"

The lioness smacked him playfully with her tail as she pa.s.sed. "Uh--huh. That's what I thought." She grinned and shook her head. I always knew you two were made for each other."

Tanabi writhed in total embarasment. "Uzuri! "

She laughed softly and nuzzled him. "I'm just teasing, honey tree. You go ahead on and play, now." The lioness headed away, still chuckling softly to herself.

Misha groomed herself self-conciously. "I, uh, better get back. I promised Malaika I'd help babysit while she went out hunting."

"Okay." Tanabi stared after her thoughtfully. He abruptly turned and trotted up the slope to thw promontory of Pride Rock. Seeing his father, he walked over slowly, uncertain now of what he wanted to say.

Simba was in the middle of taking a report from Zazu when he saw his son sitting quietly behind him. Breaking off, he looked at the cub curiously. "What's up, Tanabi?"

The cub squirmed uneasily. "Uhh, Dad, can I talk to you alone for a second?"

Simba raised an eyebrow. "What about? I'm in the middle of something right now; is it very important?"

"Weelll, sort of." He lashed his tail, embara.s.sed. "It's about...uh, a friend of mine."

Simba's forehead furrowed. "Who? Is somebody in trouble?" He looked at his son sternly. "Have you kids been teasing Uzuri again?"

Tanabi sighed in exasperation. "No, it's about Misha."

Simba's mouth made a soundless "Ohhh, " as he turned to look at Zazu. The hornbill smiled knowingly and cleared his throat. "Well, Sire, that concludes my report for now. I shall return later and inform you should anything else come up."

"Of course, Zazu. Thank you." Zazu flapped off as Simba turned to his son. "Well, Tanabi? What's on your mind?"

Tanabi's brow wrinkled alarmingly. "Dad, I can't get her out of my head! " He sputtered helplessly. "I feel so weird. I want to go play with Habu and the other guys, but I want to go play with Misha, too. I don't want them to come with us, though. She's my best friend, after all, but..." he trailed off, uncertain.

Simba c.o.c.ked an ear. "But...what?"

The cub looked at the ground, embara.s.sed. "I thought she looked looked kinda pretty, today, so... I gave her a kiss."

His father chuckled. "She IS pretty, isn't she. So, was it fun?"

"Was what fun?"

"Giving her a kiss."

"Well it wasn't fun. It was more like... I liked it. I wouldn't say it was fun, though."

Simba drew the cub close to him with a forepaw. "Son, whether you know it or not, you're growing up. There's nothing wrong with wanting to spend time alone with Misha, if that's what you want to do." He rose, stretching, and began to meander up the path to the peak of Pride Rock. Tanabi followed slowly, listening.

"Tanabi, this may be difficult for you to understand, but it's perfectly normal to want to be with a girl at your age." Simba grinned. "I remember when I thought girls were there so I would have someone to play jokes on."

"Really?"

Simba nodded.

"Know any good practical jokes?"

"There is no such thing as a *practical' joke. Not when you get to be my age. I like the kind of jokes where everyone gets a good laugh and n.o.body feels like a fool."

"Oh. Yeah."

Reaching the summit, the two lions padded over to the edge and sat down. "This is just the beginning, my son. Miracles are happening inside you every day, and life itself is a miracle to be appreciated for the wonder it is. These changes used to frighten me. I didn't have someone I could talk to. I want you to remember that I'm not just your father..."

"You're also my king."

"No.... Well yes, but I mean I'm also your friend."

Simba nuzzled his son gently as they stared out over the Pride Lands together. "Son, do you know what day you'll be grown and a lion?"

"When I'm given my mantlement?"

"In the eyes of the Pride, yes. But there is no day in your whole life when you'll wake up and be a totally different person. A mantlement can be pushed up a week for convenience's sake. It can be pulled back a couple of days. It's just a ceremony." He thought it over. "Not JUST a ceremonya"it's very importanta"but still there is nothing sacred about the moment it's held because growing up is a process, not an event." He patted Tanabi on the shoulder. "Son, you're at an age right now when you're a little less of a cub every day and a little more of an adult. That leads to some very confusing feelings. Like the way you felt when you kissed Misha. Fact is, I kiss your mother all the time. Some of the time it feels just like when you kiss me. But there are other times, special times, when you get to be my age. You'll kiss her, but then you feel like there's something else waiting to happen. Like that kiss isn't the end, but the beginning."

"Yeah, " Tanabi said. "That was it. I felt like I was waiting for something to happen." He looked down, embarrased.

Simba said quietly, "Misha loves you, son. One day when you kiss her, she will be waiting for something to happen too. And I know what that something is."

"Kombi said I'm supposed toa" He stopped.

"Kombi is very clever, but he doesn't know everything. If he did, he would know that the love between a lion and a lioness is a holy and beautiful thing." Simba smiled. "Just how many times has Kombi done this thing he talked about."

Tanabi's ears flattened back and he looked down. "None, I guess."

"Then how does he know he's right?" He smiled slyly. "On the other hand, your father is happily married and has a son."

Tanabi looked up and smiled. "Yeah."

Simba nuzzled him. "So who are you going to believe? Your dad, that's who. It's time we put these rumors aside and had a heart to heart chat."

The sky above had faded to the dusky purple of twilight. And as the great kings of the past took their places one by one in the vault of heaven, Tanabi sat quietly next to Simba and learned about love.

SCENE: THE WAITING GAME.

Misha never formally fell in love with Tanabi. As youngest cubs they were the best of friends, practically inseparable. Most pride members never thought of one without the other. They would nurse together at Ajenti or Nala, which was their mothers' way of recognizing the budding relationship, for out of this friendship Ajenti was expecting a new son and Nala was expecting a new daughter someday. Of course by this time they had long since taken to an adult diet and a more adult appearance. And with this came a more mature love that deepened rather than replaced their old feelings.

Ajenti still had authority over her "little girl, " and forbade her to carelessly lead on Tanabi because she was still not a lioness. Indeed, Misha was still her cub despite her feelings, and this would not change until she had become a lioness in the eyes of the pride. As her new feelings for Tanabi grew and deepened, she longed for the rite of pa.s.sage and the freedom it would bring.

Misha was sunning herself on the rocks when Tanabi came by. "Look, Missy, notice anything different about me?"

"Oh yes! It's wonderful! Look, Mom, his mane is one day longer than the last time he asked! "

"That's not very nice, " Tanabi said. "After all, I mainly came by to wish you luck on this evening's hunt. I hear it's your first?"

"You know good and well it is." She smiled. "I talk about it as much as you talk about that stupid old mane--forget I said that; it's not stupid at all. It's beautiful, like you."

Tanabi bussed her cheek with his tongue. "Tomorrow is my mantlement. I guess I've run it into the ground by now, but I delayed it because of you."

"Because of me?"

"Because this evening is your first hunt. I want you to stand with me tomorrow at the ceremony. I want to make an announcement. You will be a huntress and I will be a hunter."

"What will you hunt?"

"I will hunt you."

"Do you think you can catch me?"

"I will, " he said pa.s.sionately. He shuddered and spoke in a near whisper. "The time for talk will soon be over, Missy. My love will be more than kind words."

"I know."

"Tell me the truth. Will your feelings for me come back a lioness, or will they be a cub? I know you are my friend, but do you look forward to this union? Are you sure you will want me?"

She pressed up against his side and walked slowly forward, rubbing along his flank and finally drawing her supple tail seductively under his throat. "I want you now. Once first blood is marked on my cheek, I won't even stop to eat. I'll come right back here and find you. It will be everything you hoped for--I promise."

"Misha, " Tanabi whispered, nuzzling her affectionately. His hot breath on her face was intoxicating. "When you kill, take time to savor the moment. You know I don't become a lion till tomorrow. A foolish, fleeting pa.s.sage of the sun and a few grand words from my father. I hate ceremoniesa"they are so incon-venient."

"And so long, " Misha said. "Keep your speech short. After all, you'll really become a lion when we're alone."

"Oh G.o.ds! " He nuzzled her again, then stopped himself. "Please leave now. I cannot trust myself."

"Sorry, Fuzzy Love." She gave him a brief, chaste touch of her tongue on the cheek. "Love ya."

"Same here. Good hunting."

SCENE: GAME IS AFOOT.

It seemed an eternity until time for the evening hunt. Misha was first at the gathering place in the shadow of Pride Rock. When the other lionesses came in one by one, she chatted nervously.