In the next day, not too long after I left the guest house, I headed for Sayde's home on the same route as usual. Judging by how many times I went down this path, and the distance since I recognized a few spots here and there, I'm probably already halfway there. 

With one limb, as the other carried my long barreled firearm of protection, I used it to wipe a few droplets that had already formed on my head. It was hot again already, like all the earlier days I wandered outside. I shouldn't be surprised, but sometimes it shocks me that sweat has already developed not too long after I start travelling out in this bare landscape. I also sorta noticed things haven't been raining around here still. Not ever since I began staying in this country. I'm shocked that everything around these parts has not gotten VERY dry quite yet. But I shouldn't complain internally about the weather. I never had the guts anyways since I love this country. Sayde and all the animals here live in this daily...They don't ever complain with living like this. Least I don't think.

Then again, someone I come across might. Who knows?

I gaped towards the direction I'm heading to, thinking of how far that wall of rock is. But I guess I can complain about one thing...How old walking to Sayde's home is starting to get to now. It makes me wish I had some wheels, so that way I could get over there a bit faster. Sayde probably thinks the same thing whenever she's thinking about me while waiting for my butt to arrive. Plus it'll give me some cool air so that way I won't be sweating like a pig every time I meet her. Then again...She probably wouldn't care about that. Big cats like her probably don't care about personal hygeine. Animals usually don't.

I should know. I know that from experience.

I chuckled at myself when I thought about it, then huffed as hot air continued to engulf my form from around every direction. Even that probably makes my family wonder if I should even have a car to drive. But we all know that Gabe doesn't have a spare one for me to have. All he has is his jeep that he gets around for his job as game warden. Then an idea struck me just like the very humid weather. I wonder if his ranger friends have a spare vehicle for me to get? That might be a possiblity. Maybe I should ask him if anybody at the station has a truck or car to loan me. I don't think anybody would mind sharing with a brave tourist that likes to travel a bunch like myself.

Then I shortly started thinking about last night, like I did earlier today. I smiled a bit. I couldn't believe I went against my word about not having Sayde stay inside the guest house again. But I did. At least it wasn't as bad as the last time. I mostly cannot believe that I was watching a movie with a exotic animal. A lioness. And we were watching a movie about lions no less.

I'm pretty glad I brought The Lion King with me from home. It was a great a idea I made. That movie literally won her over, frankly impressed her. And now, she is more curious about the 'stories' my kind makes now more than ever.

I'm happy to know that.

When I was thinking about it, a grieving face appeared now on me. Watching a movie with Sayde...Reminded me of...Gypsy. I remember all the times I watched movies with her through the years...Before she died.

I haven't watched a movie with somthing like her for a long time...

I let out a trembling sigh, as tears threatened to come out of me. But I took a deep breath and forced them down. Oh, Ryan. I smiled a bit, then wiped my eyes with my fingers just in case something was about to roll down my cheek. Luckily I did not feel any thing else besides my sweat. There's no need to cry right now. Haven't you already shed a few tears after Sayde left last night? Besides, you know Gypsy wouldn't want you to do that. She'd want you to have fun today! Now quit that! Do you want the princess you're friends with to worry about you?

Nope...I do not.

I wandered across the grass, dirt and dust for a bit more till I heard somebody yelling from afar, "Help! Help!" I stopped right where I was with a wide face. What the hell? I snapped my gaze to my left. All I can see from where I am standing was a bit of a tall tree. The voice cried out again, "Help! Somebody, help!" My body turned itself to fully face that direction. I distinctly figured that it was a child's voice. Was somebody in trouble? I think somebody was stuck in that tree. I'd better go check it out.

I immediately paced for that tree, not thinking about doing anything else at the moment. I wasn't going to Sayde's till I resolved this. I wouldn't get this out of my head if I don't help out. It didn't take me long for me to get near the thing. Right away I found a lion cub stuck high up on a tree limb. I wasn't too sure if it was a boy or a girl but I assumed it was a boy. His tail curled around himself, as he sat down with his back real close to the bark, looking scared. He ddin't see me yet. He was just staring out at possibly where he was from. I figured that cub belonged in Sayde's pride. I smirked a bit even though I shouldn't. Looks like I was right. Poor thing. How the heck did he get up there? That's pretty insane!

I remember trying to climb on trees years ago when I was a kid, but I never did make up ONE FOOT off the ground. I'm sure I can do fine now since I ain't a timid little shit anymore. But like I said...That's insane!

The cub hollered for someone once more without moving a dang muscle, "Help! Help!"

I recalled the moment when I attempted to mingle with some cubs yesterday, only for that to turn into literal disaster. I wondered if the little guy will actually let me help him. Would he let me touch him? But I gotta do something, I can't leave him up there. I decided to go ahead and announce my presence, "Hello there!" The cub gasped since he didn't notice me at first. He looked down over the side. I was waving from down below, "Everything all right up there?"

The lion cub actually screamed at the sight of me, "AHHHH!!!" He almost accidentally fell off the tree to my horror, but thankfully he firmly regained his balance. He attempted to scream me away like any child would, "Get away from me!"

Knew that was gonna happen. I better calm him down before he calls for his mother frantically...And then I'll probably be in REAL trouble. I was waving my hand as I tried to tell him, "Hey, calm down! I'm not gonna hurt you!" Then I thought of the gun in my hand and decided to lay it on the ground to lower his fears. I held up both my hands, showing I had nothing. I tried this again, "Look, see? You're safe with me! I came to help you! Please, little guy! Calm down!"

After staring down at me with fearful eyes for a long time, he finally responded, "Are you sure?"

I swore, lowering my arms and throwing him up a truthful smile, "Sure I'm sure! I swear!"

The cub's fear did seem to subside somewhat. He asked, tilting his head to the side in curiosity, "Wait...Are you the two legger that's been showing up at my home a lot?"

Looks like I was right about that too. I answered, "Yeah! That's me! Would you mind telling me what the heck you are doing up there? You're pretty high up!"

The cub responded to that, his form twitching in fright again, this time from the height, "I know! I can't climb down!"

Tell me something I don't already know, kid. I nodded, walking forward to the tree. I hollered as my hands grabbed ahold of the lowest tree branch, "Hang on, I'm coming up!"

The cub tried to tell me off, "I don't want your help! I'm waiting for my mom!"

But I chose to ignore that. I jumped up, being above ground upside down below the branch with my arms and legs tucked around it. I finally replied to him while I was hanging on, "I think she's a little late, little guy." I swung my form over to finally be on top of it. I steadied myself with a hand on the tree as I stood on the branch now. It kinda shook and quivered under my feet, but it did hold my weight. That was a good thing. Those branches don't seem like they're too strong to hold something VERY heavy.

The cub shot back in a nervous tone, "But- But you don't have to come up! She's probably on her way!"

I shot a glance upward. I made a playful question, "What if I told you she sent me to rescue you?"

The baby lion narrowed his eyes at me, "No she didn't! You're lying!"

I chuckled, then admitted with my head shooting to the side, "Yeah, alright, you caught me. But I still want to help you down."

The cub told me, "But my mom told me to never trust two leggers! They're bad!"

I stated another question, "What makes you say that?"

He replied, "Because I got attacked by A LOT of them one time! I went to their home...I forgot how long that was and they were chasing me! I didn't do anything to them! They were scary, and bullies!"

I think he must've snuck into a village somewhere nearby where a lot of people lived, and that's what he was talking about. No wonder they were chasing him. I remarked, "Well I ain't one of them. I'm not going to bring you back to those guys."

The cub accused, "Yeah right! You'll kidnap me and take me away from home when you grab me, like all you guys do to everyone else!" The little guy actually let out a cute little roar probably to show how tough he was.

I almost laughed, but I held myself together. I was laughing on the inside though. I figured with the way he was describing that part now, that he thought I was secretly a poacher waiting to make my move on somebody in his pride, other than just dangerous. I wasn't surprised when he said that, that was probably a common thought with everybody around here. I replied back, "Aw, come on, didn't your mother ever tell you that you judge too harshly?" The cub just blinked several times. I began to climb again when I didn't get an answer. I groaned while I pulled myself up, "Just wait right there. I'm coming." I scrambled up further till not too long later my upper half of my form reached for the branch he was on while the other half was standing on another branch below that one.

The cub was staring timidly right at me. I reached out my hand for him, "Come on...Let's go." But he swiped it away with a frightened paw. I pulled it back slowly, shaking my head. I warned, "Look...You know you can't stay up here forever. And I have a feeling we both know she ain't coming. She probably hasn't heard you hollering for her. You're probably too far away for her to hear. I'm the only one so far who did apparently." I held out my hand for him, "Please, give me your paw."

He eyed at it for a second, then brought his gaze back to my face.

I went on with this more sympathetically as my limb was still held out, "Hey...I understand how you feel. I get that. I understand when your mommy tells you to do what she says, you do what she says. Usually it's good to listen to her. I have a mommy too, you know. But I'm not like the bullies. She isn't either. We're not like the ones you met. You probably saw me more than once when I arrive at your home that I haven't done anything like that. I never planned to...And I never will. I treat everyone with respect. Heck I treat a certain lioness with a whole lot of respect. You know who I'm talking about, don't you? We're actually best friends. I bet she tries to tell you differently than your mom...If she did. Hey if not me, then...Remember what Sayde has told you. Trust what she is saying than your mom. Do that just this once. Ok? I seriously want to help you. Just give me your paw."

The little cub gazed at me still for a long time. I thought he was still a bit nervous even after all the things I said. But then, he actually had his little paw over my hand. Then both of them. Then I took the initiative and grabbed his entire body off the branch, and held him close to my chest with one arm around him. I commanded, "Hold on tight to me, alright?" I grunted with a winced face when he had his front paws around over my shoulders. He had dug his little claws into my fabric and skin, trying desperately to hold on to me. I had a feeling he'd leave some blood behind, but that didn't matter. I finally began to climb back down with him in my grasp. It was slow going due to wobbly branches, not to mention holding onto a clutching cub with only one arm wasn't very easy either, but I did manage to make it all the way back to the bottom of the tree with the cub without dropping him.

I lowered the little rascal to the earth, huffing out from bit of exhaustion from all the climbing. I checked the back of my neck, wondering if I had some scratches he left behind. My fingers did show some red, but not so much. I wasn't too hurt, I probably wasn't bleeding so much, but I did wonder in the back of my mind whether or not anyone that is human would notice them. When I looked down at the cub staring up at me after he backed up a bit, I pushed that worried thought aside, thinking that didn't matter now. I have actually rescued a cub from a tree!

Man, first I saved Sayde from poachers, now this happened. And I did this all by myself without Tony beside me! 

If Gabe and the rangers knew about this...They'd be impressed.

I stated happily, lowering my arm down to the side, "Well...Mission accomplished."

I can tell he didn't know what I meant by that by the look in his eyes. But he did reply, "Um...Thank you."

"No problem. You did great."

Then he was grinning with a small flick of his tail, seemingly impressed with himself, "I...I guess I did."

I let out a long sigh, "Ok...Enough out of this." I went and picked up my gun off the ground. Then I turned back to him and said, "Come on, little guy, I'll take you home." The cub eyed at my weapon suspiciously. I shot a glance at it by my side and then shot it back at him. I assured, "Hey, don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?" He inquired, "You won't use that loud thingy on anyone at home?"

I just smirked and stated, "Wouldn't I have done that by now? C'mon...Cut me some slack."

Then the cub's lips smiled forth again. He yapped, "Well, alright!" He spun around and then eagerly ran off, "Let's go!"

"Hey wait up!" Speedy little booger isn't he? Least he isn't running away screaming his head off. He did slow down for me to catch up, then we went our way for his home together.

We were walking in silence for a bit before the cub cut through it, "Hey...Mister two legger?"

I looked at him and said with a smile, "Call me Ryan, little shorty."

He giggled, "Okay. Um...So, you're best friends with Sayde?"

I replied with a nod, "Yeah."

He said with a bit of a quirked playful brow, "She shouldn't be with you."

That sorta caught me off guard, but I was responding to that a bit playfully, "Oh really? How come?"

"Because she got scared off by others like you before. She ran fast like me."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Eh, I must have a talent for winning you lions over." I chuckled at that before I made a more truthful statement, "Actually it wasn't that easy compared to you. Before we became pals she literally wanted to RIP MY THROAT OUT. She wasn't afraid to say it RIGHT to my face either."

He pointed the obvious thing out, "She does have an attitude."

I agreed with that, "Tell me about it. Believe me, I took my time with her."

The little cub continued to smirk when he said, "That's weird...I thought maybe you were RUSHING it."

I responded after a giggle, "Now you're making assumptions again."

"I don't think so." He brought this up, "I did remember you showing up the first time and the pride had you trapped you in a circle and you were about to be eaten alive before Sayde stopped it...And I heard it was because you were LOOKING for Sayde."

I stared at him before I merely said when raising my brows, "You saw that."

He rolled his eyes, "Sheesh you're dumb! EVERYBODY saw that."

I let out a tiny laugh. Then I said, "Fine...You caught me again. Yes...I did KINDA rush it, but hey...I guess I wanted to know where she lived." That wasn't the whole truth obviously enough, but he didn't have to know. I ain't telling him that I had Sayde trapped in a pen before I let her out and wanted to see her again afterward to see if she was all right. That's too much serious info for a little guy.

The cub remarked, "You sure did! I remember you made my mom angry! She wanted to eat you up!"

I remarked, "Wouldn't surprise me none." I'm imagining her face, being inside the circle of the pride during the time that happened. Jesus christ I still never forgot my close call with all them. I hope she'll understand that I rescued her son and that she won't want to eat me. Then I talked about Sayde, "Anyways...Sayde's a good friend. She's honestly not like everyone else."

The cub concurred, "Yeah..." He gazed downward as he told me all about her, "I like Sayde. She is really fun and nice to me and my friend Asha. She's pretty funny too, and kinda devious. She's kinda more funner than the other cubs that I know. We...All three of us were best friends too."

I was kinda surprised by that statement. I thought she never had friends in the pride. Apparently she somehow managed to have a few. I said with amusement, "No kidding? I didn't know Sayde has friends."

The cub mentioned, "She usually doesn't. She kinda doesn't get along with the pride. We were friends...But...We're not anymore."

I wrinkled my brow with eyes filled with concern, "Why's that?" I'm gonna like this...

He answered, "Well...My mom and her don't get along either. They hate each other."

I responded, "So I figured."

He further explained, "She thinks Sayde is the most irresponsible lioness she's ever known, and that she's a bad influence on me. But she's not, I definitely know right from wrong. She even thought Sayde almost got me and Asha killed one day, and...That's when everything changed." My eyes widened. Holy shit. She did? What the hell? He looked at me, showing some sadness behind his eyes, "Me and Asha haven't been able to hang out with her much after that. We're not allowed to talk to each other again since it happened. We tried to tell our moms what really happened, we tried to tell them that Sayde isn't bad, but they didn't want to listen to us. We did sneak around and talked to her behind everyone's backs, but...That only happened once. We've been trying to find a time to do it again, but...It's kinda hard. I think our mom's know we were up to something that day, but...I don't know."

Wow...I wonder what made all that happen? I'll have to ask Sayde about it later. I apologized, "I'm sorry to hear that."

The cub formed a little smile for me. He said as his little paws still carried him across the ground, "It's ok. I...I just miss being around her."

Then I said, "I'm just sorry that I STOLE her away from you guys."

He giggled, then cracked, "You should give her back to us. She was OUR friend first."

I sorta promised with a small grin, "I'll try to find a way. She's kinda stuck with me right now."

Then he called me a name, "Thief."

I laughed. Then shortly, I frowned. I started to say, "By the way, uhhh..."

The lion cub finally introduced himself, "I'm Kweli."

"Kweli...Okay." I asked, motioning my free hand towards him, "I've had this question on my mind since we left the tree so here goes...What the hell were you doing up there anyway? I don't think someone like you should climb like that yet. It's kinda dangerous. I mean, you were kinda high..."

Kweli explained, "You want to know what happened? I was stuck in a tree once, and I was scared to death. Then I thought, 'okay, maybe if I try to climb up one by myself, and then get down by myself, I wouldn't be afraid anymore'. So I was sneaking away from my mom and everybody, ALONE, so they wouldn't know what I was doing and then found me a good tree to climb. I went as high as I could and...That's what happened."

"Are you freakin kidding me?" I let out another laugh then cried, "That's dumb!"

He glared, "I ain't dumb! I'm not dumb like YOU!"

"Well okay, it isn't as extreme as what I did before, but come on!"

"Hey! I thought it was a COOL idea!" 

I showed him my knowing look. I stated, "Getting stuck on a tree is a COOL idea? I can probably tell you a few ideas that are much COOLER than that."

"You know what?" He held up his head in arrogance, "I don't care! I still think it was cool." Then he showed defeat on his face when he lowered it, "I'm just not...Gonna do it again." Then he threw me another glare and demanded, "But you'd better not tell everyone what happened! I'm going to tell Asha and the other cubs EXACTLY what I did! Only me! ALRIGHT?!"

I laughed amusingly before replying, "All right...I'll keep my mouth shut." It's none of my business what you do in your life anyway. That'd be your mother's job, little shorty. Kweli smiled afterward and then we were just pacing in utter silence. I very soon saw the wall of rock ahead, seeing we were getting close.

Right away as we gotten closer, I saw a lioness leaving behind a couple other members of the pride she was probably chatting with and coming up to us very urgently. I heard her voice call out, her tone holding anger, "Kweli!" I figured then that was his mother. She didn't look too happy to see me with him.

I stopped alongside Kweli, who looked a bit nervous at her voice. I was too. Here we go...

Kweli's mom stopped in front of us. She looked right at me with an angry face. She demanded, "What do you think you're doing with my cub?!"

I tried to act cool by smiling and giving her a small wave, "Hiya, Kweli's mom."

"Don't patronize me, two legger!" I shuddered from her outburst, melting off my smile and dropping my hand back down. Well, that was worth a try. She raged, "I saw you walking with my cub! How DARE you go near him?!"

I stumbled a bit with words, while also taking a step back, "I, uh...I wasn't doing anything bad to him."

Kweli tried to help out on his end, stepping forth in between me and her, "Yeah, he-"

But she didn't want to hear a WORD of it. She screamed right at my face, "You are NEVER to go near my son ever again! You hear me?! You do and I will KILL YOU! GOT IT?!" I meekly nodded. Then she snagged her cub by having her teeth grab him by the neck fur. 

After lifting him above earth, she turned and carried him off. Kweli was squirming in her grasp. He yelled out in total irritation as he dangled, "MOM!" But that mom ignored him and moved on further away from me with him back to the pride. 

I took a deep breath and let it out while I watched them leave me alone. Damn...That didn't go so well. Guess I was going to end up in trouble with the cub regardless. 

I had a feeling she wouldn't listen to me the moment she started talking to me. Not even listen to her kid for that matter, thanks to the story he told me about her and Sayde. I think judging by the way she acted, she is like the type that'll have their mind totally made up about something right away and will probably not change it, no matter how much you try to reason with them. Her mind was definitely made up about me at that very moment. 

She was acting like Sayde's father...Only genders were reversed.

Here I was thinking I was going to win one cub over today. I was kinda liking the little dude. He was already liking me too.

I guess I'll never be around him again...

Then I shrugged, my face smiling a bit with my eyes holding hope. Hey, don't give up on that yet, Ryan...Maybe things will change. His mom might trust you a bit more when more time passes and then maybe you and him will talk to each other again.

I think it'll happen...Better give it time.

I think I should do what I came here for. Already wasted enough time for Sayde to wait for me anyway.

My gaze scanned the area for her, but I didn't see Sayde coming up to me or anything. Speaking of which...Where is she? She not here? She should be, she would have heard the racket by that lioness mom and saw me and hurried on over here. Did she forget I was gonna come here today and go off somewhere? Or is she hungry and just off hunting at the moment? I huffed, bringing myself closer to the pride and that wall of rock. I guess I can wait around here a bit. Who knows, maybe I'll chat with another lioness that'll tolerate being around me. I should at least TRY to get along with the rest of the pride.

I strolled upward, intending on heading over to that nearby lone tree I found Sayde laying under the other day and wait for her underneath all that shade. I gazed around, noticing most of the pride members watching my every move. A couple faces showed looks of curiousness, while a few others showed distrust. I even saw a few cubs roaming about nearby and they caught sight of me too...With expressions of fear. I don't think any of them wanted to talk to me. None were too used to me yet. They all saw me as a stranger wandering among them.

Understandable.

I made it under the tree, laid my gun on the ground and sat down at the base of it. My back pressed against it, taking a bit of a rest other than enjoy the bit of relieving shade. I let out a long filled breath, my eyes trailing around the area some more. I saw the pride were done watching me like a hawk and had got back to what they were doing. Then they traced to that wall of rock. My lips twitched to smirk a bit. I haven't thought of it before, but it was a bit of a nice place for a pride to live at. Certainly not Pride Rock, but still.

I lowered my head down to my lap. Looking back on it, long ago I thought maybe I would find a place like Pride Rock, thanks to me watching that movie countless number of times. It was sorta my dream...Not as big as my dream of literally talking to exotic animals, but it was a dream nonetheless. It just looked magnificent. Part of me couldn't wait to see it in front of my eyes. But then when I started looking through images of Africa on the internet, not to mention watched some television about the country, I never saw a trace of that massive rock formation. I grew out of it and thought it was a foolish thing to think about. There was no way that kind of thing existed around here. Kinda makes me wonder how the animators at Disney came up with the idea. I'm still not sure how they came up with it.

I don't think that wall of rock was a poor subsitute though. It was fine as it is. I'm not judging. Then I giggled deeply from another thought. I haven't thought about it before, honestly I don't think much of it, but I did recall that Mt. Kilimanjaro exists in real life. I've seen it before in The Lion King more than once. So at least one big thing in the cartoon does also exist in real life. Now I was beginning to wonder if I'll ever climb that mountain. I personally doubt it. I don't think Gabe plans on taking me and mom and dad there. Heck I don't think I can handle climbing up a mountain. I climbed a tree, but a mountain was a whole other story. 

I shot a glance to my right, squinting. Now that I'm thinking about it...Can I see it? Honestly I can. It wasn't a clear shot view, but it was visible, high over the horizon, looking over Sayde's lands and the pride. I formed another smile as I stared at the formation. Boy...If Sayde and I travelled up there...I bet she'd freak out! I don't think any lions here have been to that place before. I can see their faces.

Then someone cut through my thoughts, "Hello, Ryan." I pulled my attention away from the mountain to find a lioness up close to me. She was greeting me with a smile and a swish of her tail.

I stood on my feet upon seeing her. I wasn't sure who that was since all the lionesses looked the same. It was either Sayde, her sister Dahlia, or their mother. I frowned when I tried to figure out who was talking to me, "Sayde?"

The lioness shook her head, chuckling deeply, "No. It's your majesty."

Oh I should've figured! I did remember the voice! Why'd I pick the wrong name! I apologized with a grin, "Oh...Sorry bout that, your majesty."

She was chuckling deeply, "Heh heh heh...Ryan. How many times do I have to tell you? Just call me Nailah. You don't have to run with the formalities. I know I just did but I was merely joking. Besides, how would you feel if I just called you two legger like my mate?"

I shortly nodded, "Ok...I got it now."

Then Nailah tilted her head to the side a bit without wiping away that smile on her muzzle, "So what happened there?" I frowned at first, but then she clarified, "Did you not recognize me? That's a bit unusual, you should've known who I am by now."

"Ahhh...Sorry." I explained awkwardly, scratching behind my head with one hand while the other motioned at the distanced pride members, "It's just all you gals look exactly the same to me. I can't pull any distinctions between all of you."

She reared back her head, acting a little surprised, "Really?"

I replied, "Yes. It's been a problem to me since the very beginning. I'd have to listen to your voices to figure out who's who."

"Oh..." Nailah formed up a new smile, "Well there is no harm done. I can't fault you for that. You're different than us after all. There is no shame in it."

Least she didn't take offense to that. I said in gratitude, "Thanks...Nailah."

She giggled deeply again in amusement and proudness, "That's better. So...You looking for Sayde?"

I playfully answered, "Do I need another reason to be here?"

Nailah shook her skull, "Nope. But unfortunately she's not here."

I glanced around the area as I spoke, "I figured she wasn't, otherwise I wouldn't be sitting under here. Where'd she go?"

Nailah gave me the answer, "Well she said she was gonna go hunting, and then she said when she was done she was going to meet Makena."

I shot her a curious expression, "Makena?"

She explained, "He's a friend of the family, and another member of the pride."

I smiled again, "Ah, I see." Makena, huh?

Her head then gestured to this certain direction, "He lives outside the wall a bit off from here underneath that certain big tree of his. That's why you haven't met him yet. He and Sayde are very close. She hasn't seen him for a while so she decided to go visit him a bit today. But not to worry. She gave me this message to you to say that if she isn't here when you arrive, that's where she is and that she will be back soon."

I joked a bit, "Huh. I guess she has someone else to bother. Good luck to him I guess."

Nailah just smirked when she said, "He's old but much more experienced...I'm sure he can handle my daughter."

Then when a short moment passed between us, I said a curious question, "As if I have to ask...Does he know about me?"

Nailah answered, "Yes."

I almost hesitated to ask this next one, "And I'm willing to guess...Being that he sounds like a guy...He's not thrilled about a human socializing with the pride like Jabari?"

"Like most of us, he has had an encounter or two with your kind in the past." She insisted sincerely, "But I wouldn't worry about it. He does have a much open mind compared to my mate. If you two have met, there won't be any hostilities given...Unless you give him a reason."

Well alright...He sounds like an okay guy. I don't think I'd mind meeting him later. Maybe Sayde will bring me to him. I nodded frantically, "Oh trust me, I WON'T give him a reason." 

"I thought so. You're as friendly as they come." Nailah asked, "You wouldn't mind waiting for her? She is probably about done with him. Who knows, she may be on her way back here."

I said, "Sure I can wait. I came all the way here, might as well wait for her to show."

Nailah responded fondly, "Good. She will be thrilled to see you again." She offered after taking a step toward me, "And would you mind if I stick around and chat with you in the meantime till she gets here? I don't have anything else to do at the moment."

Eh, why not? It'll kill some more time. I accepted, gesturing her, "Not at all. I could chat with someone. Don't think anyone else here is going to."

The queen nodded then turned her whole body to face the pride and sat down on her butt. I just stood beside her, watching it from a distance as well. Nailah broke the momentarily silence with this statement with neither of us taking our eyes off the other lions, "Bit of a shame if you ask me. All of them leaving you alone under this tree. But nevertheless, no one can force anyone to do things they're not willing to do. Not even me."

I concurred, with one single word, "Yep." Then I coughed and changed the subject with this, "So uh...How is your hubby?"

Nailah frowned up at the question, "Hubby?

I caught my mistake, shutting my eyes from sheer stupidity. She doesn't know what the word means, you idiot. Then I looked at her and corrected myself, "Sorry, I mean your king. How has he been doing? I haven't seen him either when I arrived."

Nailah smiled then said, "You're probably lucky you didn't. He's off doing his duties again. I was with him, but then I left early and came back here. Who knows when he'll be back."

I nervously formed a smirk, "Still hates me huh?"

She moaned, "Oh, most definitely...But not directly at you at the moment. He was mad at Sayde today for coming home late again last night when she should've sooner. Frankly he was still upset from last night. She said she was at where you live again, just hanging out and stuff."

I admitted the truth, "It's true. We didn't do anything much. Nothing dangerous about it." At least it NEVER turned dangerous. Then I mentioned something about it, "I heard from your daughter that you were very intrigued about my home."

The queen giggled in amusement, "So I was. I never been more interested in anything in a long time. I'm not exactly the only one though. My other daughter Dahlia was also. I told her all about it myself and she couldn't believe her ears."

"I bet." Oh perfect. Now I'm probably going to have THREE fully grown lionesses showing up to hang with me inside the guest house! Then I sighed, looking down at my feet with my hand on my hip, "I should've figured their father would get furious about that."

She assured me with a sincere look, "Don't worry about it. It wasn't that much big a deal as the first time. I knew Sayde was with you. She probably had fun."

I said with a nod, "She did, but for what cost? I don't really wanna be the cause of her problems with her family, you know? I don't want that."

"I understand what you're saying." Then she told me, "But you're not. Even he must understand that Sayde is safe with you and you will always protect her. I do sincerely, and so must he. Try not to worry about that either. Sooner or later, he'll change his mind about you."

I asked, "I figured he might, but...Do you think so?"

Nailah fondly assured, "He can't hate you forever. I have as much faith in him as much I do in you."

I giggled a bit, "Heh...Thanks for the load of confidence."

Then shortly she pressed, "Anyways, enough worrying about my mate...What about yourself? How are you getting along?"

I answered, "Well...I'm doing all right. My day isn't all bad. I've not had problems with my family like I am worried about Sayde with hers if that's what you're wondering."

She shook her head, "Not at all. I know your family doesn't know about mine. Sayde has mentioned before that your parents don't know about her still...Perhaps for good reason. I think you and your family are in good paws."

Shortly, I wholeheartedly agreed, "...Yep." It'd better stay that way. I ain't in the mood for that kind of trouble with my family. I continued, "Other than that though, I'm great." Then I added quickly, "Well...Except I sorta had a bit of a run in with a member of your pride."

Nailah melted the smile off her mouth. She sounded a little concerned, "What kind of run in?"

I replied, "...The angry sort of run in. It happened before you came here."

"Oh no...What happened?"

I explained, "It wasn't very serious. I came across a cub on the way here, and I was walking him back home and then his mom saw us together and got mad about it." Then I let out a whoosh of air, "And let me tell you, she was PISSED. She chewed me out right then and there before she took him away from me."

Nailah made a serious look, "I see..."

I concluded, "But like I said, it wasn't serious. I didn't do anything wrong."

She pressed, "Whose cub was it?"

I answered, "I don't know the mother's name, but I do know her cub is called Kweli."

She let out a sigh, "That must be Kisha. She did talk to me about you yesterday, complaining about how you scared her son and the other cubs off when you came here for another visit with Sayde. She quite frankly doesn't like you."

I nodded and said, "I know...But I swear I wasn't doing anything bad to him. And it wasn't like he was totally afraid of me. At first he was but Kweli got along with me very quickly. That's why we were walking together. He was great...And cute to boot."

She remarked, "With Kisha, that probably wasn't good enough. A mother's instinct is a powerful one."

I simply stated, "Well I definitely got the brunt of it that's for sure. She doesn't want me to be near him again."

Nailah promised, "I can see it is unfair. I'll talk to her about it, have her calm down about you. But I can't guarantee that she'll let her cub near you again. She is one of the lionesses that literally doesn't support you being here."

I asked sarcastically, "Gee, who has?"

She smiled, shaking her head, "Doesn't matter. You're here, and you're not going anywhere...And as queen, I intend on keeping it that way."

I looked down at my feet. I muttered, "Right." That's when that certain thought I've been dreading about came to me again. I wouldn't really wanna say that, Nailah...Since I ain't going to stay in your lands forever. 

That's certainly going to put a damper on her intentions...At the same time putting a damper on Sayde's.

God dammit...

I really wanted to change the subject, so I decided to ask her this question that's been sorta bothering me a bit. This name that has got me wondering since I heard about it a couple days ago. I looked to her and asked, "Hey Nailah...Can I ask you something?"

Nailah's ears perked a bit with a lot of attention, "Yes, Ryan?"

I said, "It's something that I've been thinking about. Sayde hasn't talked to me about it yet, but...Who's this Zaire character you guys were talking about the other day? It sounded pretty serious."

Nailah made a serious expression on her face. She stated flat out, "It was."

I pressed, "So...Who is this...Zaire?" 

Nailah turned her head away from me with closed eyes. She simply answered, "He was also a member of this pride...But is not anymore. He's a lion that brings nothing but pain, manipulation, and misery to all....Let's just leave it at that."

He was a member of this pride too? Huh...Sounds like a toxic character to be around. I think by her face, she seemed to be in pain about it. Wonder what happened between her and him? What'd he do to not be in the pride anymore? Curiously, with so many questions roaming around in my head, I wanted to ask her more about it. 

But then suddenly my name cut through this conversation, "Ryan!" I quickly snapped my gaze to the voice. A lioness was bounding very eagerly to where I am, having a look of pure excitement. I smiled happily and quickly forgot all about what I wanted to ask. I knew right away that was definitely Sayde, returning back from her friend Makena. There you are.

Sayde went up and nuzzled against my belly with her cheek in greeting. Nailah just watched us nearby as she still sat, not showing any pain on her face anymore since she basically wiped it all away. Sayde then pulled herself away and looked up, speaking to me sweetly, "I knew you'd come today."

I replied to that, "So have I." I gestured to her mother, "And don't worry, your mom kept me company."

The princess locked eyes with the queen. She said to her in gratitude, "Thank you."

Nailah remarked in a playful manner, "It's the least I could do. He was looking very lonely when I found him."

I smirked, waving that off, "I didn't feel THAT lonely. Actually I didn't feel lonely at all."

Sayde put her attention back on me now, "Well that's because you ain't alone now. Anyways, can we go somewhere now? I know I just got here, but I'm not done with today still as you know."

I said as I turned and picked up my gun, "Whatever you say, lady." Then I turned back to face her and signaled her to lead the way with a hand. Then she took it and went off to any direction she padded off to. I walked alongside her. I did twist my body to give the queen who was watching us leave a fond wave as our forms moved away from the tree and out of reach of its shade. Nailah bowed her head with total acknowledgement from a distance.

*****

One lone African ranger, Carla, stood by her transportation while gazing through her binoculars. She was supposed to be driving around doing her afternoon routine patrol, but decided to take a small break from driving on the dirt road in the savannah by having to pull over and sight see. 

Throughout her career as a ranger, even before she ever became one, it was the kind of thing Carla liked doing whenever she was out and about away from the station. At times she did this sort of thing during her patrols, mostly when she was halfway done. Carla would not do this when people are around, not even while she is on a safari with tourists. It's basically her alone time, besides reading a book. In her mind, she liked the quiet, tranquil peace she gets off of. 

Gazing the beautiful, hot landscape, watching birds fly by, looking upon herds flocking and minding their own business...That's the kind of thing she enjoys seeing, without anybody bothering her with work and stuff.

Carla quite frankly didn't see anything else besides the bare land, a few trees here and there, and a small round body of water. She merely focused her sights on the water being shined on by the bright rays above. It almost made her eyes hurt thanks to this glare off the surface striking back at the binoculars. The young ranger pulled them away from her eyes, wiping the blindness away. She let out a sigh a moment later. Her mind tugged at her to get back to her patrol now. Her twenty minute break is over. Better finish up and then eat at the cafeteria when she gets back. She is starting to get hungry as well.

Her eyes blinked when a serious, annoyed frown popped out of nowhere on her face. Hopefully that dick Justin hasn't got back from his latest safari before she does, or after, and won't bother her about how he's great with ladies while she is eating away in that building. Justin brags about things like that to her most of the time. He can be a professional at times with her, but what a neanderthal he is.

Carla was about to have herself walk to the driver's seat, but then grinned. But, seeing she could not help herself, she decided to take one last peek through her binoculars. Just one more minute. She brought them back to her face, swinging them a bit just to avoid that bright, shining glare from that watering hole again. 

That's when she saw something...Two figures within her line of sight from very far away. Carla adjusted the vision on her little item since it was a bit out of focus. Now she can see clearly.

And what she saw caught her off guard.

"Huh?" A confused question slipped off of her chest as she spotted what she couldn't believe she saw. It was just one wild lioness...Walking beside a HUMAN. And she recognized the human straight away.

Ryan Kennedy, the young man that is currently staying with this certain game warden and friend of hers for the summer season, and one she took on a safari recently.

The guy apparently was acting friendly with the feral, majestic animal. Not running away, not showing ANY fear whatsoever. He was still with it. She even thought she saw him LAUGH. She couldn't hear him from where she was standing though, but it looked like it. As for that lioness...That thing wasn't acting hostile towards him in any way!

Carla brought her binoculars down to her chest. She muttered, "Oh my god..." That look of confusion still held on to her face as she cannot believe what she witnessed. This is odd. Aren't all lions around here WILD? Last she checked, they are. None were kept in captivity. None around here were friendly towards humans. They aren't supposed to.

This isn't supposed to happen. 

This can't be possible!

In order to see she wasn't seeing things, most likely believing it was because of that eye pained glare, or that maybe she was out in the sun lot longer than she thought, she had those binoculars on her face again. They quickly found those forms again. 

Sure enough...She wasn't seeing things. She wasn't hallucinating anything.

Without a doubt, she is seeing things clearly with no distortion.

Ryan is walking alone, in the middle of nowhere...With a wild animal. A lion!

Carla lowered them off her face once more, more shocked and confused than ever. There is no way...What's going on here? How is this happening?

How and why is Ryan walking alone with a lion?

It's impossible!