Noah didn’t waste a second. “Why isn’t King moving?” he asked urgently. “He’s been like that all day. He won’t even look at us.” Ben straightened, shading his eyes with one hand as he studied the lion. His face tightened. “Hmm. I guess you’re right, Noah.” He shot Daniel a quick glance before adding, “I’ll have a little talk with the team and see what we can do.”
Over the next few days, Noah and Daniel found themselves returning to the enclosure more often than before. Each visit carried the same heavy stillness. King never left the corner. He would lie there, eyes narrowed, tail twitching in sharp flicks whenever another lion dared to come near.