RITES OF PASSAGE

A Fanfic by John Burkitt


DISCLAIMER:  The Lion King and associated characters and situations
are copyright 1994 of the Walt Disney Company.  This fanfic work is
distributed without charge, and may be placed on Web Pages or FTP
sites without compensation.  I respectfully request that you e-mail
me the URL of the site that I may track its spread and refer re-post
requests to those sites.  This work is copyright 1996 by John Burkitt,
and I retain this right to prevent malicious editing--something you
probably aren't aware exists and wouldn't want to do.


FOREWARD:  This work takes up the story of Misha who first appeared
in A Death in the Pridelands.  Though it is best to read ADitP first,
it is not necessary.



CHAPTER ONE: The Waiting Game
=============================

Misha never formally fell in love with Tanabi.  As youngest cubs 
they were the best of friends, practically inseperable.  Most 
pride members never thought of one without the other.  They would 
nurse together at Ajenti or Nala, which was their mothers' way of 
recognizing the budding relationship, for out of this friendship 
Ajenti was expecting a new son and Nala was expecting a new 
daughter someday.  Of course by this time they had long since 
taken to an adult diet and a more adult appearance.  And with this 
came a more mature love that deepened rather than replaced their 
old feelings.

Ajenti still had authority over her "little girl," and forbade her 
to carelessly lead on Tanabi because she was still not a lioness.  
Indeed, Misha was still her cub despite her feelings, and this 
would not change until she had become a lioness in the eyes of the 
pride.  As her new feelings for Tanabi grew and deepened, she 
longed for the rite of passage and the freedom it would bring.

Misha was sunning herself on the rocks when Tanabi came by.  
"Look, Missy, notice anything different about me?"

"Oh yes!  It's wonderful!  Look, Mom, his mane is one day longer 
than the last time he asked!"

"That's not very nice," Tanabi said.  "After all, I mainly came by 
to wish you luck on this evening's hunt.  I hear it's your first?"

"You know good and well it is."  She smiled.  "I talk about it as 
much as you talk about that stupid old mane--forget I said that; 
it's not stupid at all.  It's beautiful, like you."

Tanabi bussed her cheek with his tongue.  "Tomorrow is my 
mantlement.  I guess I've run it into the ground by now, but I 
delayed it because of you."

"Because of me?"

"Because this evening is your first hunt.  I want you to stand 
with me tomorrow at the ceremony.  I want to make an announcement.  
You will be a huntress and I will be a hunter."

"What will you hunt?"

"I will hunt you."

"Do you think you can catch me?"

"I will," he said passionately.  "Don't worry, I will be very 
gentle.  I have had a talk with my father."  He shuddered and 
spoke in a near whisper.  "The time for talk will soon be over, 
Missy.  My love will be more than kind words."

"I know."

"Tell me the truth.  Will your feelings for me come back a 
lioness, or will they be a cub?  I know you are my friend, but do 
you look forward to this union?  Are you sure you will want me?"

She pressed up against his side and walked slowly forward, rubbing 
along his flank and finally drawing her supple tail seductively 
under his throat.  "I want you now.  Once that blood is on my 
cheek, I won't even stop to eat.  I'll come right back here and 
find you.  It will be everything you hoped for--I promise."

"Misha," Tanabi whispered, nuzzling her affectionately.  His hot 
breath on her cheek was intoxicating.  "When you kill, take time 
to savor the moment.  You know I don't become a lion till 
tomorrow.  A foolish, fleeting passage of the sun and a few grand 
words from my father.  I hate ceremonies--they're so inconvenient."

"And so long," Misha said.  "Keep your speech short.  After all, 
you'll really become a lion when we're alone."

"Oh gods!"  He nuzzled her again, then stopped himself.  "Please 
leave now.  I cannot trust myself."

"Sorry, Fuzzy Love."  She gave him a brief, chaste touch of her 
tongue on the cheek.  "Love ya."

"Same here.  Good hunting."



CHAPTER TWO:  Game Is Afoot
===========================

It seemed an eternity until time for the evening hunt.  Misha was 
first at the gathering place in the shadow of Pride Rock.  When 
the other lionesses came in one by one, she chatted nervously.

In fact, lionesses loved to talk when they were gathering for a 
hunt.  It was therepeutic to get all of it out of their system 
before the silence of the stalk.  And so Misha ended up with a lot 
of free advice on everything from hunting to raising polite, well-
behaved cubs.  In fact, Isha even asked if her mother had had The 
Talk with her.  She said yes, shyly.

"Isha, what is it like to be with a lion?"

They laughed.  Malaika said, "Get her talking about that, Honey 
Tree, and there won't be ANY killing tonight."

"I could tell you some stories," Isha added, giggling.  "Remember 
Taka?"

"Taka??  You and Taka??"  There was more laughter.

"No!  Not in a million years!"  She feigned indignation, then 
added in a low voice, "But I heard on good authority that he and 
Elanna used to sneak out to the...."

"Watch what you say about my sister!"  Nala let a little fang 
show.

Isha looked at Nala and added soothingly.  "Come on, Nala.  Aren't 
you the least bit curious?  You said yourself you didn't know what 
Elanna saw in him.  I did too, so I went straight to the source.  
El' didn't hold back, not one little detail....."

Nala's jaw jung slack.  "No, you don't say!  She hasn't told me 
anything."

"Well she's not here tonight, and if you can keep a secret, I'll 
lay it all out for you in her own words....."

The lionesses drew closer together, expectantly.

"Hush!" Aligi said.  "Misha's still a child for now."  Aligi was 
the hunt mistress, the one whose skill and stamina made her the 
unquestioned leader on the chase.  Her words were respected and 
not dismissed easily, even by Nala.  "The love between a lion and 
lioness is a beautiful thing," Aligi purred.  "Don't let the fires 
of Tanabi's ardor mislead you.  When the time comes, he will look 
in your eyes and plead for you to love him.  You will come 
willingly, gladly.  When he is lonely, hurt, or undecided, he will 
turn to you.  You will tell him he is wonderful, and when he 
smiles you will shine like the sun.  Love is nothing to be 
frightened of, or ashamed of."

Sarabi added, "At times he will be stubborn, irresponsible, an 
overgrown cub.  He will make you angry with his foolish ideas and 
irritating habits.  You will start to cuff the life out of him, 
and then he will turn to you and need your forgiveness as dry 
grass needs the rain.  And you will forgive him gladly because he 
loves you so.   Somewhere in the middle of all this, you will make 
love with him, and it will be good.  But mostly I remember how 
safe I felt with Mufasa's strong and beautiful body next to me all 
night long.  When I would awake at high moon, I would stroke his 
mane.  He would not wake up, but he would purr softly."  Her lower
jaw quivered.  "I'm sorry.  Listen to the foolish old lioness going
on about the past."

Misha said,  "Don't say that.  You're NOT foolish."

It was not Misha's first hunt.  Her mother had taken her 
out alone on several occasions and showed her how to hunt small 
prey.  Once Ajendi had even tackled an antelope, and as the poor 
beast plead for his life she explained the right killing 
technique, gently mouthing the throat in a strangle hold, and 
pointing out the best places to bite haunches and get a tackle 
hold.    As she commanded, the poor beast held perfectly still, 
his heart pounding like a drum and sweat breaking out from nose to 
tail.  True to her word, she let the buck go unharmed.

But this was Misha's first time to go out with the other 
lionesses.  That warm life that she would take in her jaws would 
want to live for one more hour, even one more minute.  She would 
have to be firm, but when possible she would be quick and 
merciful. The thought took her mind off Tanabi long enough to 
sober her up for the ritual ahead.

"Time, sisters," Aligi said.  "Isha, Nala, you will flank me.  
Malaika, you will lead the left flank.  The rest of us will 
follow her, except for you, Misha.  You will come with me.  
Now silence!"

They wouldn't speak above a whisper from this point on, and words 
were few.  They fanned out to form a clamshell formation in the 
tall grass.

Indeed, there was no need to discuss the angle of attack, for 
Aligi's quick, subtle gestures of ears, head and tail spoke 
volumes.  She headed the group toward the watering hole from the 
grassy side, heading into the wind.  It was a simple enough plan,
one more geared toward easy, small prey than the large animals
needed to satisfy the Pride's hunger.  It was meant to be Misha's 
moment, a passing on of the heritage that had gone down endless
generations, and would go to her daughters as well.

Something had always been missing from Misha's life.  For her many 
friends, she still had no idea what happened when the hunting 
party left.  Even in the enforced quiet of the stalk, there was 
a feeling of sisterhood and singleness of purpose that she would not-- 
and could not--find anywhere else.  Not a lioness breathes that cannot 
recall their first kill as if it were yesterday.  The only thing 
that changes over the years is the size and swiftness of the prey.  
First kills often get better with age.

In the quiet, calculated tread of stalking, they heard the buzzing 
of insects, the singing of birds, and only the faintest folding of 
grass blades beneath padded feet.  Misha had used her skills in 
play, stalking and wrestling Tanabi in laughter-filled bouts 
beneath the acacias.  It was now put to serious use.  Sometimes 
she would let Tanabi win, because she loved him.  Now she must win 
at all costs because she loved him.  And yet as much as she loved 
Tanabi, she resented the pressure that her feelings were putting 
on her first hunt.  "I must win," she thought.  "Concentrate!"

Through the grass, Misha could barely make out the Thompsons 
Gazelles they were stalking.  What luck!  The same species she'd 
been shown by her mother!  She knew where to strike and what to 
do.  The gods were with her!

The watering hole was the great common denominator.  The tall and 
the small, the weak and the strong all had to drink.  Some 
creatures, like lions, took the water for granted.  Others treated 
it like a prize which must be stolen by a skillful thief.  The 
gazelles were among the best thieves, but they were not 
infallable.  And that evening they were letting their guard down 
ever so slightly.

Aligi played a cagey game.  From time to time one of the gazelles 
would look up nervously, scanning the horizon for signs of 
trouble.  At that moment, all the lionesses would stop without 
need to say a word.  They were approaching from downwind so they 
could not be smelled.  They would succeed if they took as much 
time as they needed to do a good job.  Too much time, and the 
Gazelles would finish and be gone--they didn't hang around watering 
holes longer than necessary.  Aligi could size up that window of 
opportunity like no other, and she was exploiting it well.

The tension was great.  Misha held herself in check.  There could 
be no sudden movements until the signal, and no sounds.  Even the 
charge had to be silent, for that extra fraction of a second, or 
maybe a precious whole second, before they were spotted may make 
the critical difference.  Misha watched the head lioness' ears and 
tail tip, waiting for the signal.

Suddenly, the ears went up and the tail lashed.  At once several 
missiles of golden fur sprang toward the herd which hovered in a 
moment of disbelief, then blossomed like a tan flower in all 
directions.  The earth rumbled like a living thing.

The party turned to the right.  For a moment the gazelles acted
as one large beast, keeping in tight formation like a single life.
However, one of the gazelles fell behind the rest, and Aligi 
headed for him, sparing Misha the decision.  The other lionesses 
began to focus on the hapless tommie as the distance quickly 
narrowed.  Then the others fell back and Aligi said, "Misha, take 
him!"

Her heart pounding, her nerves strained to the limit, she closed 
the distance.  The gazelle turned, which slowed him for a half 
second.  Misha's gut reaction paid off, for she had expected the 
turn.

Misha sprang.  Her powerful arm reached over the neck, and 
with an electric tingle her paw gripped the heaving, furry target, 
bringing her snapping jaws to--empty air.  She fell back, and got 
a vicious kick in her shoulder from the fleeing antelope.

She rolled over twice, but she quickly recovered and started to 
run again.  By then he was far away.

"Misha, come back!  Stop!"

She obeyed Aligi, but looked back crossly.  "I need this kill."

"You lost this one," Aligi said.  "That's life."  She came to 
Misha and looked at her shoulder.  "Can you walk?"

"I'm fine," Misha said, bitterly disappointed.  She walked about.  
"I'm just a little sore."

"You're not bleeding," Aligi said.  "You'll be alright, but we 
should head back now."

"We can't head back," Misha said, horrified.  "We just can't!  
Please, I'm fine!  Really!"

"We will hunt again two nights from now.  If you are fine then, 
you will be welcome to come.  It was my fault, really.  I should 
have reviewed your training and helped you more.  I know you have 
a male waiting for you, and I'm sorry."

Just then from the bush, a young rabbit that couldn't take the 
suspense anymore darted toward his hole.  An alert lioness sprang 
for him and tore him in her teeth.

"You should have let Misha try," the Aligi said crossly.  Then she 
changed her expression.  "Sisters, perhaps it is not too late."  
She dipped her paw in the blood and said, "Misha, come here."  
Misha obeyed, and the head lioness tried to touch her cheek with 
the blood.

"Please don't," Misha said, backing back.

"They won't tell," Misha said, glaring at the others.  "Will you?"

"No," the others replied.  "Certainly not."

"But I will know," Misha replied.  "Every time my husband touches 
me, I will think of this.  They say you never forget your first 
kill, and I'd have to live with this for the rest of my life.  
Please, Aligi, don't tempt me."

Aligi gravely nodded.  "Wisely spoken."  She nuzzled Misha 
affectionately.  "You have honor, like your mother."


CHAPTER THREE:  The Score Is Announced
======================================

For the tenth time that hour, Tanabi asked his father if he'd 
caught sight of the returning hunting party.  He wished that he 
could sit out on the point of Pride Rock, but he was being coached 
on what to do by Rafiki in the quiet of the cave where he was 
born.  Zazu could not see well at night, and only Simba had time 
to scan the horizon for the flakes of tan.

"Do you think they will be back soon?" Tanabi asked.

Simba came down off the point and went to his son.  "Look here, 
Tanabi.  I tell you what I'll do.  You let me sit out there and 
watch in peace without one more word, and when I see her, I'll 
arrange a quick, private ceremony as soon as she comes in.  It 
will be our secret.  There will still be a public ceremony 
tomorrow, but by then you should be in a very good mood.  You 
understand?"

Simba went back to the point on the rock and sat back on the warm 
spot he'd made.  It was still rather comfortable.

"Dad?"

"What is it now, son?"

"Thank you."

Simba smiled.  "You're quite welcome."  He wanted his son's 
mantlement to be everything that his was not.  Timon and Pumbaa 
had been the only ones to witness Simba's coming of age, and they 
did what they could to make it a happy time for their young 
friend.  The Pridelands had not seen a real royal mantlement 
ceremony conducted the way they should be done for years, since 
Ahadi had first sprouted that ruff of fur.  The blessing was not 
just on the lion being honored.  It was a blessing on all who 
flew, walked or swam.  It was the reason why those who fear lions 
still loved and venerated the Lion King.  He was the one through 
whom the blessings of the gods came to all.  Those who came to the 
mantlement ceremony would crowd around hoping to touch that mane 
and derive strength from it, strength they would pass on to their 
own offspring.

Perhaps Simba was anxious to make sure this would make the gods 
happy and make up for all the years missed.  But he was also 
anxious that his son be happy.  He spotted the lionesses returning 
from the hunt.  "Look, it's them!" Simba said, prancing like a 
cub.  "Tanabi, did you hear??"

Tanabi came bounding out of the cave.  The two lions met in the 
middle of Pride Rock and wrestled like a couple of kittens.  
"Getting to big for your mother's milk, eh?"

"You're just jealous."

"I could still make you wait till tomorrow."

"Father!"

"Go greet her, my son.  Bring her here.  Remember, I get to kiss 
her first."

Tanabi got off, shook the dust off what mane he had, and headed 
quickly down the side of Pride Rock.  "Just wait till I tell her," 
Tanabi thought as he forded through the grassland like a ship on 
silver seas.  Their eyes shone green and gold in the moonlight.  
Two were the lights of his beloved.  "Misha!  Misha, dearest!  
It's me!"

Aligi passed him without looking up, a glum expression on her 
face.  Isha shook her head as if to say "Don't ask."  Then came 
Misha behind her, her head bowed, and a dusty footprint on her 
swolen shoulder.

"Misha?"

Misha looked at him silently, then burst into tears.

"It is better you go now," Aligi counseled.  "She will hunt again 
soon."

By the time they got back to Pride Rock, there was no need to tell 
Simba what had happened.  "I have given Zazu clear orders," Simba 
softly purred to his son.  "He is to be your chaperone till Misha 
makes her first kill.  I trust you, but we must silence the gossip 
before it starts."


CHAPTER FOUR:  The Ceremony
===========================

It was to be a mantlement ceremony as held in the days of old.  
All of the celebrations would be strictly observed, including the 
one day moratorium on hunting that allows the animals of the Pride 
Lands to celebrate the prince's good fortune.  Even the cheetahs 
were expected to abstain from blood, something that was probably 
unpopular with them, but they carried themselves with too much 
dignity and too little strength to complain.  Misha was depressed.  
There would be no hunt that night for her to prove herself.  
Indeed, after a careful examination, Rafiki told her she would be 
off the hunt for at least a week.

To lift her flagging spirits, Nala asked her to sit with her 
during the mantlement ceremony.  It was a place reserved for a 
sister or, had things gone well, an announced mate.  Nala knew 
what Simba would never know--she had turned down the gift of 
another's blood.  Nala respected her, and even considered pleading 
for an exemption so she could be wed on what should have been her 
son's perfect day.  But as Simba reminded her, it was not just a 
custom, but a religious custom designed to protect the young and 
inexperienced.

The morning of the ceremony, space close to the rock was at a 
premium.  The elephants and zebras came in close, followed shortly 
by the buffaloes and gazelles.  The giraffes said they didn't mind 
being in the back because they were tall, but it was clearly noted 
that they fought their way forward over the course of a quarter 
hour until they were almost to the elephants.

Zazu stood on the tip of Pride Rock and looked over the huge 
assemblage.  The speech he'd planned to make once for Mufasa came 
to mind the way Ahadi and Makedde had taught him and Rafiki had 
rehearsed him.  He spread his wings, and the crowd came to a 
startlingly quick hush.  Such was the power of the King and his 
representatives.

"I speak the words of Aiheu the Beautiful who breathed into our 
nostrils the breath of life:  Come, let my children grow in grace 
and stature, and let my gift of life endure from generation to
generation as long as the sun shall rise and set.  And I place a 
sign among you that my favor endures forever."  

Zazu, deeply moved, added, "Listen well, all of you.  The sign has 
appeared once more on Prince Tanabi, the true son of the King.
The gods have remembered us through him."

Tanabi came forward.  At the sight of his new mane, short as it 
was, the crowd bowed deeply in silence.  The sight of so many 
standing so quietly was unnerving.  For a moment, he forgot about
his troubles and straightened with pride.

Simba stood beside him to give the blessing.  "Great are you Aiheu,
father of all races.  Annoint Tanabi, your chosen servant with the 
blood of mercy and rain of love.  Fill him with the wind of freedom.  
Stand his feet on the soil of faith.  Shine upon him with the light 
of knowledge.  And through him, bless all flesh that holds you dear."

Quietly, Misha whispered, "And let him know how much I love him."

Nala touched her cheek with her tongue.  "He knows, Honey Tree.  
He knows."

The ceremony, and Tanabi's speech, was not rushed.  There was no 
need.  And for those who would read the Chronicles of the Pride, 
the particulars are worth the effort.  But Misha did not pay much 
attention.  She was depressed, and after all the grand speeches 
and blessings were over, she slunk away silently to mope.  Tanabi 
started to follow her, but was advised to give her some time alone.

That night, when the crowds were gone and quiet reigned once more, 
Tanabi looked out across the Pride Lands.  "It is peaceful.  Just 
for tonight there is no fear in any heart."  He looked at Simba 
with a half smile.  A zebra colt walked right up to me.  He asked 
me what I was.  Can you believe he didn't know what a lion was?"

"He came to you in his innocence.  Remember that moment," Simba 
said.  "They have thoughts and feelings too.  You must remember 
that zebra and never hunt for sport or kill cruelly.  Son, I might 
have been born a Zebra, or an antelope.  I would have loved my child 
no less than I love you here and now."

"So after all is said and done, it's all a matter of luck, isn't it?"

"That, yes.  But we may go beyond luck through faith and courage, and
rise to the challenge.  Misha's love is courageous, and in time it 
will overcome all challenges.  All she needs is to build her faith.
You must help her believe in herself.  You must believe in her."

"I wasn't talking about her,"  Tanabi objected, but then he sighed 
deeply.  "Who am I trying to fool."


CHAPTER FIVE:  The Three of Us
=========================

Early the next morning, Tanabi showed up at Misha's den.  "Good 
morning, Misha.  It's a fine time for a walk--just the three of 
us."

"It IS lovely this time in the morning," Zazu said in a very 
upbeat voice.  "Misha, you know what Rafiki said about your 
shoulder.  Let's start out with a nice short walk--loosen up the 
old muscles and put the spring back in your step."

"Anything to get back in the hunt," Misha said tiredly.  She 
stretched, wincing briefly as her shoulder pain flared up.

They walked away from Pride Rock, down the path to the watering 
hole.  Though the ban was lifted, most animals kept only a 
convenient distance between themselves and a pair of talkative 
lions on an early morning stroll.  Tanabi looked at a herd of 
skittish zebras, wondering if one of them was the colt he met the 
day before.  "It's a shame we can't have a truce more often."

"Like today, perhaps?"

"Heavens, no!"  He whispered to her, "Every day without you is an 
eternity."

"I think about you all the time," Misha whispered back.

"I will wait for you, Misha.  As long as it takes, I swear it."

"Don't make promises you might not be able to keep.  I may not be 
any good at hunting, and you will come to forget me."

"You only have to be good once.  I will never forget you.  Your 
love is in the bones of me."

"Would you really wait for me, Tanabi?"

"I've always waited for you, haven't I?"

"I hear you love birds whispering down there," Zazu said.  "I hope 
it's not some sort of plan."

"Matter of fact it is a sort of plan," Simba said.  "A plan to get 
her well again."

Zazu fluttered down and lit on Tanabi's backbone.  The smooth lion 
tread swayed Zazu ever so gently as he perched there.  "Your 
Highness, I do sympathize.  We hornbills have some rather 
ridiculous mating rituals too."

"Are you saying our laws are ridiculous?"

"Oh no, Your Highness.  Just that while I'm not a good judge of 
lion beauty, I know a natural pair when I see one.  When a 
hornbill and his mate are that struck on each other, all it takes 
are a few flutters and squawks--no more than a dozen or so--to 
cinch the deal."

"Flutters and squawks?"

"You know...."  Zazu flapped his wings quickly, shook his tail 
feathers and went, "Squ-WAWK!  Squ-WAWK!"

Misha laughed.  "So that's what woke me up this morning!"

"Heavens, no!"  Zazu folded his wings indignantly.  "Madam, I am 
more discrete with my private life than the neighborhood riff-
raff.  Where I come from...."

Misha's ears snapped to attention.  She froze in her tracks.

"What's up?" Zazu asked.

"Hssssh!"

There was a rumbling.  The ground tremored expectantly.  Seconds 
later, a group of antelope came bursting from the thicket and 
charging blindly toward them.  Zazu had to fly hard and fast get 
out of the way.  From the air, he could just see the lionesses 
that started the stampede.  "This sort of thing doesn't go on in 
the morning.  What are they trying to do?"

Misha and Tanabi ran to intercept one of the antelopes.  She was 
so close to one that she could almost touch it, but her shoulder 
was hurt, and she was in pain.  She was beginning to lose ground, 
and afraid of another injury.  "Help me, gods!  I need a miracle!"

Just then, claws and feathers came at the face of the antelope.  
Panicked, it tried to stop and go back the other way.  Again, the 
hornbill flew right in its face.  "Out of my way, fool!"

Misha's strong jaws closed around its throat.  It was soon over.

Shortly after, the other lionesses arrived.  "Well well, look who 
got her first kill!"  Aligi took some of the blood from the body 
on her paw and touched her own cheek, then Misha's.  "Warn them a 
lioness is on the prowl!"

The lionesses roared, sending a flock of flamingos scattering in 
pink disarray.  Elephants trumpeted in surprise and headed back 
toward the cover of the trees.

Zazu was walking unsteadily on the ground.  "Oh gods, I think I'm 
going to be sick."  There was a sound of hide being stripped from 
the abdomen.  Zazu glanced for an instant at the open hole and 
turned quickly away.  "Yes, I'm sick!"

"Zazu!"  Tanabi ran over.  "Zazu, you old son of a gun!  Good 
work!"

"Good?  You call that good?"  He nearly wretched.  "Never tell 
anyone I helped in this disgusting spectacle.  I'll never admit to 
it.  I always keep myself as far away from blood as possible!"

"He's trying to thank you," Misha said.  "It was very noble of 
you, Zazu.  In a way, it makes you a sort of...well..."

"Please don't say honorary lioness," Zazu replied, staring at her 
bloody cheek.  "I don't look good in red."

"No, I meant hero."

"Hero?  Me?"  Zazu bowed with a flourish.  "Pardon my manners--
you're both quite welcome.  It was the least I could do under the 
circumstances.  All in a day's work, you know.  And since you 
won't be needing a chaperone, I'll leave you alone.  Be good, 
now."

Zazu flew away, but Tanabi and Misha were not alone by any means.  
The other lionesses stood about smiling, the sort of smile that 
made Tanabi feel shaved of all his fur.  "Ladies, don't you have 
somewhere to go?  Huh??  Well find someplace.  Scat!  Shoo!"

"Oooh, they want to be alone!" one of the lionesses said, coyly.  
It started a chorus of giggles.

"Talk about ingratitude," one of them chimed.  "I don't have to 
hang around here and take this abuse.  I'm leaving."

Misha watched them go slowly into the tall grass.  "Tanabi, they 
helped us.  Do you really think that was the right thing to do?"

"Yes, Honey Tree.  And I'd do it again."

She nuzzled him.  "Just checking."

THE END
RITES OF PASSAGE

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I  First Church of Simba: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Golden Fur  I
I  Of all of the fanfic ever written,  my stories are some of it.  I
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