Whenever Rafiki told stories, he would bring some of his jerky for the cubs. It always ensured a large crowd, but it also fostered the close ties of love and trust that made Rafiki an integral part of the pride. Sometimes when Rafiki would examine a wounded lioness or massage a pulled muscle, he would have to bend painful joints and prod aching abdomens. These things and many more he did for many years, and never once was he bitten or scratched, though he could have been killed with a single well-placed blow or bite.
Rafiki was always happiest surrounded by cubs. He loved their antics and always laughed at their jokes, no matter how many times he had heard them before or how poorly they were told. And within the limits of his strength and durability, he would play games with them. He had to make those limits clear to each new generation. Indeed, among the few phrases of leonine he learned in his long life, “I love you,” “Let go,” and “Claws in, please!” figured most prominently.
Misha would always get jerky with the other cubs, but as he once did with Taka, he would save a piece of rare Tiko root for her alone. He gave her the treat, and as always her eyes half closed in pleasure as the fragrance and flavor permeated her. And as always, he quietly whispered, “Misha, mabinti penda,” which is to say, “Misha, my beloved daughter.”
She kissed him. “You’re my bestest friend. Did you give my mother Tiko root?”
His face clouded. “Some. I wish I could have given her more.”
“What do you mean?”
“I loved Mufasa very much. When he died, I was heartbroken, especially because Taka looked like he didn’t really care. I had no way of knowing that he killed Mufasa, but I was plenty upset, and I said some things that really made him angry. He confined me to this tree and for almost three years.”
“Three whole years?” She snuggled against him.
“Three years is a long time, but doubly so because I was prematurely old. I lost my youth over him, and it seems I did not lose enough of my life to suit him.” Absently, he began to stroke her as he spoke. “I missed your mother’s coming of age. I wasn’t able to be there for Nala and Habusu, and to think of poor Simba wandering around in the jungle like a lost soul! I try to be philosophical about all this and go on with my life, but sometimes its hard. But just you wait till someone tries to hurt my little girl, and they will know what fear is! I’ll move heaven and earth for my little Missy.” He put his arms around her and hugged her. “Maybe I’m giving you all the love that I kept stored up inside of me all those lonely moons. You know, I used to plan on one day walking out of this baobab and never coming back. But now that I’m free to come and go, it’s a funny thing--I just can’t find a home as nice as this one. I guess I’m stuck with it. And you have to help me.”
“How?”
“You’ll help me make some happy memories that will sweep away all the sad ones. It’s easy. See, you’re doing it right now.”
He slipped her an extra piece of Tiko root and said, “I shouldn’t do this. I’ll spoil your appetite for red meat.”
“Thank you, Rafiki.”
She snapped up the treat and closed her eyes, savoring the fragrant treat. “Will you tell me a story now?”
He looked at her with a smile but a trace of reproof. “You forgot to thank Aiheu for your food.”
“But YOU gave it to me.”
“I know, but when you look closely enough, all blessings come from Aiheu.” He said, “I know just the story, Missy. You listen carefully and you might learn something from this foolish old monkey.”
“King Amalkozi, the son of Baba, had a son named Zara. And Amalkozi loved Zara with a marvelous love. Indeed, between his wife and son he divided his whole heart, and Aiheu whom he had not seen he had no great love for.
“’You should thank the Lord your God before you eat,’ the shamans would warn Amalkozi. ‘He has provided for you, and it is at your peril that you neglect him.’
“’I will thank my lionesses before I eat,’ he said. ‘It is they who work hard that I might not go hungry.’
“And then one day when Zara was playing with his sister M’hetu, a giant eagle swept down from the sky and grabbed him in his talons. And before Amalkozi could stop him, the eagle bore Zara away screaming.
Misha’s ears flattened. “That’s terrible!”
“Hold on, Honey Tree,” Rafiki said, patting her cheek. “I’m not done yet.
“After this, Amalkozi grieved as no lions grieved before and few have grieved since. And when the shamans told him that the Lord had taken his son, he said angrily that where he had once neglected God, now he hated him and with just cause. And for six years the name of Aiheu was corban in his presence, and he would not bless the lionesses before the hunt.
“Then one day a strange lion showed up asking to see the king. He called Bavisi by name and several members of the household as well, so that Bavisi was afraid and suspected magic.
“Bavisi fell before his brother the King and said, ‘The strange lion will tell his name to no one but the King.’ And King Amalkozi wondered if he was being challenged, and he went out to greet the stranger with kind words while judging his strength as an enemy.
“But when the strange lion came before the King, M’hetu, the faithful sister humbled herself before him and cried, ‘Behold it is Zara who once was lost but now is found. Look, my King, my brother the cub has returned a lion!’ And the King looked closely and saw the scars on his back from the talons and knew that it was his son. He wept and lay on the ground, pawing the sky and praising Aiheu for his mercy. And Amalkozi put out a decree that all lions should thank God before they eat and remember the Lord before they sleep.
“Now this, my child, is the importance of the story. That Aiheu loved Amalkozi and returned his son BEFORE he repented, for Aiheu loves all of his children.”
“But why did he tell the eagle to take away his son?”
“Who says he told the eagle to take away his son! But if he had prayed to Aiheu and asked his help, he might not have had to wait six years.”
Misha bowed her head quickly. “Aiheu abamami! Aiheu provides!” She looked up sheepishly and said, “I don’t want to take any chances.”