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Hopeless Romantic

"What's the matter?" Jiweusi asked, trotting out to her adopted son as he approached the Water Hole. Kijivu gave the black Leopardess the effort of a warm smile before nuzzling her.

"I'm just tired, Jiji," the white Lion lied, smiling.

A worried look passed over her face. "You smell of Cheetahs, and of blood... and you're covered in dirt... Kijivu, what happened?!" Jiweusi was truly startled now, blocking Kijivu as he tried to move away. He felt terribly, and he wanted nothing more than to just climb up the tree and find a lonely branch and just get lost in sleep. He wanted to forget everything that happened this afternoon. But Jiweusi's mothering instincts were too strong, and he knew he had to calm her fears before he could get any rest.

He sighed heavily, but sat down, setting to the task of telling her the story.

"...And then I just told them I'd just get out of their hair and never bother them again."

As he finished, Kijivu looked up to meet Jiweusi's gaze. A broad smirk was spread across her maw, a knowing look in her emerald eyes.

"Jiji? What?"

She chuckled, smiling warmly. "So, you've found something in someone that you never expected, did you?"

"What?" Kijivu asked, irritated. He was tired! It was dark! What did she want from him?

"Hmmm... Well, Love is strong word, but what you felt for that Cheetah was strong wasn't it?"

Kijivu sighed. Part of him felt embarrassed, but he knew he'd never see her again, so what was the use? Jiweusi's attempt to tease him was turning painful.

"Oh, Kijivu, you are young, and so is Mzao."

"It doesn't matter, I'll never see her again!" He snapped, instantly regretting it. But Jiweusi knew he was exhausted and crabby, so she merely smiled through it. She simply waited. "Wait... I never said what her name was."

"I know her mother, Kimbio. And it's true that she detests Lions... Now. But it wasn't always that way."

"Yeah. I guess King Juakali must've done something pretty nasty to her."

Jiweusi blinked at her son, her emerald eyes shining with curiosity. "What? What Kijivu? What did you say?"

"Aw, Ma, I said, 'King Juakali must've done something pretty nasty to her, ' Now, I'm really tired, I just want to go to sleep."

"I'm sorry, my little MoonBeam, but did Kimbio mention the King specifically?"

Kijivu rolled his eyes at the nickname. "Yeah, she did. I asked Mzao, 'What Lion put a kink in her tail?' and then Kimbio appeared and said, 'It was Juakali,' or something like that."

"I can't believe that!" Jiweusi said, startled.

"Yeah, who could imagine Juakali being a grouchy old grump?" Kijivu said sarcastically, then climbed up the tree, a painful accomplishment, but worth it. He found his favourite branch and quickly feel asleep.

"You shouldn't say such things about the King," Jiweusi mused as Kijivu climbed up the tree. She knew he probably was so tired that he couldn't even hear her, so she sat at the water's edge, the liquid's still surface reflecting as a perfect mirror of the twinkling sky.

"Who would have known it was Juakali that broke her heart all those years ago?"

"Yes, who could have predicted dat, eh?" Jiweusi startled in failing to recognise the voice of the Mandrill Shaman, Rafiki.

"Oh, it's you!" She breathed. "You startled me. How is it that I am the one who is as black as night and yet you are always the one who frightens me?"

Rafiki rolled his shoulder playfully. "You forget that the night is never really black."

Jiweusi nodded with a warm smile. "So you knew. "

"Mmm hmm." Rafiki nodded. "Mshauri told me. And I am happy to know that Kijivu is not one to lie to you."

Jiweusi smiled, looking up into the tree, spotting Kijivu's paw as it twitched in dreaming.

"If Kijivu has done anything wrong, it would not be lying."

"Yes. But he is wrong."

The black Leopardess looked at the Mandrill. He was looking up at the stars, a mild smile on his mouth. Jiweusi thought a moment before responding to his statement.

"Kijivu is wrong? But you said-"

"He is wrong about never seeing Mzao again."

Jiweusi looked long and hard at Rafiki before lowering her gaze to the water, watching her reflection distorting and rippling with her breath. "You mean, there will be another conflict?"

"That I do not know. Knowing both Mzao and Kijivu, it does not seem likely. But there are others who have their own ideas, Jiweusi. No matter what happens, Mzao will come to him. But you cannot tell him."

Jiweusi had given up long ago asking Rafiki or Mshauri things like 'Why'. She smiled and nodded.

"You must brace yourself, things are going to change and quickly here." Rafiki acted as though about to go, but then sighed. He wrapped an arm around the black Leopardess' shoulders. "No matter what happens," he whispered, "You must always believe Kijivu. Never lose your faith in him."

"I promise, Rafiki. I will never doubt him."

Rafiki smiled and nodded, patting Jiweusi's shoulder before walking off.

"Oh, Rafiki?"

But he was already gone. Jiweusi sighed heavily, looking up at the stars.

"But is it really love?" she whispered up to the stars, as a snore came from above and behind her.