The Healer

The morning sun had barely risen when a strange figure approached the Ja Pride's den. He moved with deliberate slowness, his gnarled wooden staff tapping against the earth with each careful step. He was an old baboon, his silver-streaked fur ruffled by the wind, and across his shoulder hung a pouch filled with sweet-smelling herbs. Though his body bore the weight of age, his eyes gleamed with an ageless wisdom.

"The healer is here!" So'ann, Ja'bari's sister, announced excitedly, bounding toward the den's entrance. She turned to Ja'bari with hopeful eyes, her tail flicking behind her. "Maybe he can make Mom better!"

Ja'bari remained still, his black-furred ears twitching. He had heard the stories of this healer—some whispered he was as wise as the ancient tortoise, others claimed he was even wiser. Many said he could see things no one else could.

As the baboon stepped inside, he was greeted with deep respect by the lion pride. King Ja'meer, his golden mane catching the soft morning light, dipped his head solemnly.

"Welcome," the king said, his voice formal but heavy with gratitude. "Thank you for coming so far to help my wife."

The healer returned the gesture with a slow nod. "It is my honor to serve the Ja Pride."

He moved toward the queen, where she lay nestled upon a bed of soft grass, her breathing shallow but steady. Her once vibrant eyes were clouded with exhaustion, her golden fur duller than it had ever been. The healer knelt beside her, studying her closely as he unfastened his pouch.

So'ann fidgeted beside Ja'bari, her worry impossible to contain. "Is our mom going to be okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

The old baboon looked up from his work with kind, knowing eyes. "Do not fear, little one. Your mother just needs rest, warmth, and these special medicines." He placed a mixture of leaves and roots into a small stone bowl and began grinding them together. "With time and care, she will be fine."

Ja'mal, the eldest of the cubs and ever the protective older brother, shifted anxiously. His tail twitched as he blurted out, "Is she cursed?" He hesitated before adding, "Like they say Ja'bari is?"

"Ja'mal!" King Ja'meer's voice boomed with disapproval, and the young lion flinched.

The healer, however, did not seem startled by the question. He simply paused in his work, his gaze turning thoughtful. "Curses," he murmured, "are complicated things. And often misunderstood."

Ja'bari, who had been listening quietly, inched closer. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, afraid of what the answer might be.

The healer sat down cross-legged, his staff resting across his knees. "Well, young prince, let me tell you about someone from our past—a powerful black lion named Ogi."

The cubs huddled around, eyes wide with curiosity. Even Ja'mal, despite his usual skepticism, leaned in slightly.

"Ogi was unlike any lion before him," the healer continued. "His fur was as black as the deepest night, and his eyes glowed like burning embers. It is said his roar could shake the earth itself."

Ja'bari's breath hitched as he glanced down at his own dark paws. "Like... like me?"

The healer met his gaze and nodded. "In some ways, yes. Ogi ruled the Great Lands long ago, and he possessed strange powers that no one fully understood. Some feared him. Others respected him. But all knew of his strength."

"Was he evil?" So'ann asked, her small brow furrowing.

The healer stroked his chin, thinking. "The stories say he became corrupted by his own power, but the truth is rarely so simple. Some say he lost himself to his gifts, while others believe he was driven away by those who feared him." He glanced at Ja'bari meaningfully. "But here is something interesting—not all unusual powers are curses, young prince. Sometimes, they are gifts we have not yet learned to understand."

Ja'bari's ears perked up slightly. "Really?"

"Really," the healer said, smiling. "The same power that can destroy can also protect. The same shadows that frighten can also shelter. It is not about what you have, but how you choose to use it."

King Ja'meer, who had been listening in silence, stepped forward. "But what of my wife's illness? Is it connected to… to any of this?"

The healer shook his head firmly. "No, Your Majesty. Queen So'ona's illness is natural, though serious. With these medicines and proper care, she will recover." He turned back to his work, mixing more herbs into a thick paste. "Not everything unusual is connected to curses or magic. Some things are simply part of life."

Ja'bari sat quietly, thinking about the healer's words. He watched the play of morning light against the den's walls, how the shadows danced and flickered. Maybe they weren't so frightening after all.

As the day passed, the healer continued his work, instructing the lionesses on how to care for the queen. The den filled with the scent of crushed leaves and burning herbs, an air of healing settling over the pride.

Later, as the healer prepared to leave, he pulled Ja'bari aside, his voice low.

"Young prince," he said gently, "remember this—true darkness is not found in fur, or in powers, or in prophecies. It is found in the choices we make and in the way we treat others." He placed a firm yet comforting hand on Ja'bari's shoulder. "And from what I have seen today, you have a very bright heart indeed."

"Even though I'm different?" Ja'bari whispered.

"Especially because you are different," the healer replied. "The most special gems often look strange at first glance." He smiled, tapping his staff against the ground. "Keep your heart kind, young prince, and your powers—whatever they may be—will follow."

Ja'bari watched as the healer disappeared into the vast golden savannah, his staff making soft imprints in the dust. The young lion felt something shift inside him, something small but important. The shadows that sometimes curled around his paws did not seem as ominous anymore.

Maybe being different wasn't a curse after all. Maybe it was simply another kind of gift, waiting to be understood.