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How she misses all that, Kero cannot tell, but Ai is still beside herself with grief. Until, that is, Bez slowly pushes himself up off the ground and gives an experimental cough.

"Damn, that burns..." he rumbles softly.

She spins around and throws herself at the panther, pinning him once again to the ground. "How could you.... how dare you... why... why...." she demands angrily.

His only response is to lick her face and grin. "Had to get yer attention some how..." he quips weakly.

She stares at him hard, then bounces back. "You idiot...."

Bez pulls himself weakly to his feet and staggers to her side. "Ai, listen... I am an idiot... there... happy... I admit it... okay... a nutcase... c completely out of my mind...." then he lowers his voice to a plea. "over ye, Ai... I beg of ye, forgive me... please... I'm sorry... truly I am... fer everything..."

"Everything..." she murmurs back cautiously.

"Everything... all of it... every stupid hard headed thing I've done... I... I'm sorry... really I am.... and... and I'll understand iffin ye walk from here and never look back... all I ask is that ye fergive me.... please. I never wanted to hurt ye..." he murmurs awkwardly.

She nods once then to Kero"s growing apprehension turns and walks away, leaving Bez standing in the center of the clearing, a mournful back shadow in the moonbeam pool. He watches her go, his shoulders drooping further and further with each step she takes, then at last he too turns to go. Suddenly a streak of white bowls him over.

"Idiot... idiot... idiot..." the lioness repeats over and over, crying, licking his fur, trying in desperation to clean the scent of blood from his skin.

"Ai...." he whispers softly pulling her head down to his. "Shhh... it's alright.... it's alright... I understand.... hush....."

And now Kero feels it is safe for him to go.

When Kero wakes up the next morning the bed is awfully crowded and looks very much like an oreo cookie, with Kero and Bez on the edges and Ai sound asleep in the middle. He doesn't remember them coming in. In fact he doesn't remember much after seeing Bez come through the window the night before, but somehow he knows he's not in danger. Maybe it's the way Bez's tail is wrapped gently about him pulling him close to Ai or the way the lioness is sleeping with one of her forearms wrapped around his middle, but he senses they wanted him there for some odd reason.

Movement from the other side of the bed brings his head up with a start. Bez sits up and yawns widely, giving him a wink. "Take care of our sister, little bro... I think she'll be ok now.... but it's going to be awhile before she returns to her old self... and know this... the mate of your brother carries one within her that is gifted and powerful beyond belief, guard him well... he is special.... very very special..." And with that the panther slips out the window and disappears, leaving the two lions alone.

He wakes up a short time later to Ai licking his face, "Wake up sleepy head. Rise and shine.... our turn to make breakfast..."

She nuzzles him gently then sits up. "Happened... what are ye talking about Kero?" But there are small traces of blood on her muzzle and a sadness in her eyes that belies her response.