The next day Adhama was sunning herself with Agavi when she noticed vultures circling some distance away. “That’s odd. I don’t remember a kill to the west.”
“Maybe it’s the hyenas again. That brother of yours is probably napping again.”
“My brother the king, you mean,” Adhama chided gently. “Still,” she sighed, “you’re probably right. I’ll go have a little talk with him. But first, let’s check out that kill.”
They headed west to what would have been the gateway to the eastern meadow from Pride Rock. The number of birds seemed to indicate a rather large animal down, and Adhama felt her spirits perk up despite her irritation at Ugas; the pride might eat well tonight if it was fresh.
That was when Agavi saw the body. “It’s a lion!”
Adhama trembled. She sniffed the air, then froze for one awful moment like a statue of grief. “Oh my gods!!”
“It’s Ugas!!”
Adhama ran to her brother, scattering a flock of vultures, and began to paw and nuzzle him. “Ugas!! Brother!! Oh gods, he’s dead!!” She fell upon him, running a paw gently over where the birds had sadly abused his body. “Oh, you poor, sweet angel--walking the border! Oh gods, how tired it made him! He always said how tired he got, and I didn’t want him to take a nap!” She began to sob.
“Honey Tree, he lived a long life. He was happier at the end than I’ve seen him in years. Don’t blame yourself.”
“He wanted to see his sons and tell them he loved them.” She stroked his mane and wept. Her grief was deep, but the urge to roar for him and release her grief was suppressed by a more immediate concern. “Agavi, we have no male heir till the twins get here. We’ll have to hide him.”
“HIDE him? Hide HIM??”
“You get the pride sisters together. We have to do something. Maybe we can mark the territory--scratch a few trees--pee on a shrub--I don’t know!”
“They’ll know it’s not a male.”
“Well, maybe if we freshen up some old marks. We can’t just sit here--we’re in danger!”
And so began a time in the life of Ugas’ pride known as The Panic. At all times there were at least two lionesses awake that traveled together. If trouble came, they were not to fight but to head back to the others at a run using separate paths. Cubs were not to play by themselves under any conditions. And no matter what, Ugas’ name was not to be mentioned aloud except at certain times. In front of Zazu’s family (who were notorious gossips) they would talk of Ugas’ latest accomplishments. Reports would be given to Ugas’ dour-faced majordomo Ichabod that the King was busy patrolling and just drove off some hyenas. The crane would nod and take to the skies, gleefully squawking at the top of his lungs at the King’s latest exploits. And Atika, who had the deepest voice of the lionesses, would drop a register or two and do a decent imitation of Ugas’ evening call. “This land is mine! Mine by the will of Aiheu! I will protect my family and my own!”
She meant it too....