For several minutes, nobody moved. King barely seemed to breathe, yet his eyes continued scanning the enclosure. Whenever the entrance opened, his body tensed before settling again. Then he shifted slightly, exposing the swollen area along his side. A few people gasped. Up close, the lump looked even stranger, rising beneath his dusty fur.
Noah pressed his palms harder against the glass. He was too young to understand the worried whispers behind him, but he could see that something was terribly wrong. He looked at the motionless lion, then up at his father, tears welling in his eyes. Daniel rested a hand on his son’s shoulder, while behind the glass, King curled tighter into the corner.