Ahadi and Akase took Mufasa aside.  "Your mantlement is one week away," 
Ahadi said with a nervous smile.  "You may want to pledge your love to a 
lioness.  It is time for you to know some things before you embark on 
your life as an adult."
	"Uh, Dad, we already talked about--you know what."
	Ahadi smiled.  "You know what?  You mean making love?  Go ahead 
and say it.  Don't be shy."
	"OK.  We already talked about making love.  Remember?"
	Ahadi said, "Yes, I remember.  But there's more to making love 
than going through the motions."  He laughed self-consciously.  "Sorry.  
Bad choice of words."
	"There's more?"
	"Much more, son.  That's why we're going to tell you the story of 
Kigali and Lisha.  I'll speak for Kigali, and your Mom will speak for 
Lisha.  My parents did the same thing for me when I was your age."
	"They did?"
	"Yes, my son."  Ahadi nuzzled him.  "Just sit there and pay 
attention.  You might learn something."

KIGALI (A LION):

I seek the spring to slake my thirst
To drink from waters pure and deep
And yet I am not satisfied.
Its shining veil reflects my face
A face in love.

I roll back in the fragrant blooms
that cap the new green Alba shoots
And gaze into the open sky.
The candid sun stares back at me
smiling knowingly.

The huntresses peek out at me
from vantage points around the mead
and laugh with scorn at my expense.
"He pines with love," they say in jest,
and somewhat jealously.

LISHA (A LIONESS):

No prey have I to fill my void
And yet the herds of antelope
Regard me as no threat today
"The huntress has become the prey"
they say amused.

And prey am I for Aiheu grants
that I should know the blissful days
of my receptive period.
I hunger for my lover's touch
upon my flank.

"Where lies my lover?" I inquire
of my Pride Sisters gathered by,
that I may love him yet again.
They smile at me annoyingly
and gossip.

KIGALI:

Who is there like my lover mild?
So lithe and supple as the reeds
in days of emerald youthfulness!
A golden sunshine stalking me
on the savanna!

I hear soft steps approaching me
and see the ripple in the grass
portending an encounter soon.
Oh gods, it is the careful tread
of my lover!

Like jasmine is her fragrant form,
the fragrance of my lover mild
bespeaking of her inner fire
And like the kiss of morning sun
is her nuzzle.

LISHA:

As springs of crystal water shine
So are my lover's hazel eyes
Enthroned in flowing tresses soft;
The splendid musky russet mane
of my lion.

"Behold your prey, oh hunter great
Awaiting eager for the spring
That brings the hunter to my throat
So caught and helpless I'll collapse
in your embrace!"

"Defend your prey, oh hunter great
From jackals gathered round the plain
That envy you the hard-won prize.
But let them not by subtle moves
obtain one scrap!"

KIGALI:

As Bor the monkey pounds his fruit
Upon the tree to free its juice
And savor its elixir sweet
So pounds against my anxious chest
my trembling heart.

The restless tide that vents my breath
Comes in swift waves that makes me feel
Euphoric and excitable.
I come to breathe upon her cheek
and yet she runs!

My temptress turns in coy retreat
A gold flamingo arched in flight,
Her merry laugh betrays her game
She would prolong the episode
but not escape me!

LISHA:

Far from the crowd whose prying eyes
would violate our solitude
we shall make love among the reeds
Here unobserved by jealous hearts
we shall caress.

So musky is the russet mane
Entwined about his trembling form
And stirring like a thundercloud.
Full bright as stars his hazel eyes
regard me.

So playfully, he swings his tail
and bobs his head inviting me
to wrestle with my lover now.
And laughing softly, I accept
his invitation.

KIGALI:

So warm and soft around my throat
My lover's arms are seeking ways
to bear me to the verdant grass.
And cautiously I test the strength
of her embraces.

My lover's arms bring endless night
To bontebok and gerenuk
But bend like reeds before my strength.
And quickly I in triumph rise
above her form.

Still panting from the revelry
I gaze into my lover's eyes
I tremble like a willow leaf
And feel the tides of my desire
sweep over me.

LISHA:

I call my lover tenderly
And crouched submissive in the grass
To plead for favors from my mate
I sweep away remaining doubts
of my intentions.

As prey defeated in the hunt
Perceives the hunter's victory
I felt his hold upon my throat!
I knew at last the full extent
of his passion.

As waves of heat at midsun rise
And set the trees to shimmering
I melted in the heat of love
And cried out in my ecstasy
his name.

KIGALI:

Now who is like unto my mate?
A source of every benefit
That gods enjoy in heaven's bliss!
And falling to the earth fulfilled,
I lay exhausted.

Unto my side I called my love
With stealthy tread she joined my rest
And lithely lay her body nigh
Her lovely face upon my mane,
while I stroked her.

A gentle breeze caresses us
And stirs the jade acacia leaves
That cool the ardor of the sun
Content beside her golden form
I will rest.

	Ahadi finished with a smile on his face.  He reached over and 
nuzzled Akase's lovely body.  "My gentle lover."
	"My tender Nisei," she purred, eyes half closed as he rubbed her 
full length.
	"Oh wow," Mufasa said, a little trembly in the limbs.  "Where did 
you learn that??"
	"It's a part of your heritage," Akase said.  "It's been passed 
from parents to their cubs for uncounted years.  I like to think it's 
our way of getting you off to a good start."
	"Oh wow," Mufasa said, still stunned.  "That was so neat!"
	"I'm glad you liked it."  Ahadi and Akase both nuzzled him and 
kissed him.
	"Oh wow," Mufasa whispered again.  "Is that how you two feel about 
each other?"
	Akase nuzzled her husband.  "Honey tree, we used to act out the 
parts.  Of course, as time went on we realized that no two loves are 
quite the same.  Your father and I settled into our own comfortable 
routine.  That's the way it is with married life.  You find in that 
special someone the missing part of you that makes you whole.  So being 
married is just another step in becoming yourself."
	"Oh wow!" Mufasa said.
	"Is that all you can say?" Ahadi asked.  "Oh wow?"
	Mufasa nuzzled him.  "Thanks, Dad.  I love you.  I love you too, 
Mom."
	Sarabi looked in the cave.  "Good morning, Ahadi!  Good morning 
Akase!"
	"Good morning, Sassie!"
	Mufasa stared at her.  Under the spell of the words, that echoed 
through his heart, he fondled her with his eyes and thought:

	"Still panting from the revelry
	I gaze into my lover's eyes.  
	I tremble like a willow leaf 
	And feel the tides of my desire 
	Sweep over me."

	"Oh, hi Muffy!  I didn't see you there!"
	"Uh, yeah."
	"Are you OK?"
	"Uh, yeah."
	"Uh, yeah?"  She glanced at Ahadi with a smile of amusement.  "Our 
next king?"
	Mufasa headed out of the cave, and passing by Sarabi, he rubbed 
her full length and shuddered.
	She smiled broadly and said, "Well, good morning to YOU TOO!"
	Heart pounding, Mufasa hurried down the path from the promontory, 
rounded the bulk of Pride Rock and found the cold waters of the cistern.  
Stopping briefly to look at his reflection, he could hear the words more 
clearly:

"I seek the spring to slake my thirst
To drink from waters pure and deep
And yet I am not satisfied.
Its shining veil reflects my face
A face in love."

	"But she's Taka's!"  Mufasa's feelings stemmed from much further 
back than he would admit.  Never before had he given them a name and 
dared to say it.  "Sassie!  I love you!  Oh Gods, I'm in love with my 
Brother's fiancee!"
	With a spring, he launched himself into the icy embrace of his 
reflection.  "Ooooh!  Aaaaah!  Eeeeee!  Ooohhhe!"  Splashing about in 
the shock of the incredibly frigid water, he forgot about romance for 
the moment.
	Isha was passing by the cistern.  She looked down at the soggy 
lion paddling about and shook her head.  "Didn't your parents teach you 
better??  We have to drink that stuff!"
	"Yes, of course, Ma'am."  He grinned sheepishly and swam to the 
edge.  "Sorry."

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