Daniel opened his mouth, but no answer came. He stared through the glass, studying King carefully. He had seen lions sleep through entire afternoons during their visits, but this was different. King’s eyes remained half-open, following every movement around him. His massive body stayed pressed against the wall, as though he had deliberately chosen that corner.
A keeper approached with a bucket of fresh meat, and several visitors leaned closer, expecting the smell to finally bring the lion to his feet. Instead, King slowly lifted his head. His ears flattened, and a deep growl rolled through the enclosure. The keeper stopped immediately. Whatever was happening, this was more than a simple loss of appetite.