Jossy finally flopped down next to a scrawny old lioness. She sniffed him suspiciously.

“Do you think he smells strange to her?” asked Zoe. “He’s been away from the pride for a while. I hope he doesn’t get rejected.”

“No way,” said Ben. Just then, the female gave Jossy a thorough licking. He leaned against her as she flattened his ears and pushed him this way and that.

Once the cleaning was finished, Jossy jumped up and began to search amongst the females again.

“We brought him home, but his mom’s not here,” said Zoe. Her eyes began to well with tears.

Ben put his arm around Zoe. “It’s not your fault,” he said. “Besides, the other females are taking care of Jossy. He’ll be fine.”

Ben took his BUG, put it on speaker, and hit the call key for Erika. “Hello there,” came her voice. “How’s the mission going?”

“The cub’s back with the pride —” Ben began to say.

“But we don’t know where his mother is,” Zoe said. “I had to tranquilize her . . .” Zoe broke into a sob.

Ben hugged his sister and told Erika everything that had happened.

“Your uncle will be proud of you,” said Erika. “And Zoe, try not to worry. You did everything you could for the lioness.”

“The moment you pick us up, can you bring us to the well so we can see what’s happened to the lioness?” asked Zoe.

“Of course,” said Erika. “I’ll land as close to you as I can. On the WASP, it won’t take you very long to get to the plane. I’ll send you the coordinates. And I’ve got plenty of water, so you’ll be feeling better in no time.”

“Oh, um, about the WASP,” said Ben. “Erika, we had a little accident.” He told her about the encounter with the hungry lion.

“Then I’ll arrange for someone to come pick you up,” said Erika. “See you soon!”

* * *

They sat in the shelter of the trees and watched as Jossy finally settled down next to the female who had washed him. She fed him, but Jossy kept stopping to look around for his real mom. The other cubs wrestled with each other while the adults stretched out lazily in the heat.

Ben and Zoe sipped at their remaining water and ate energy bars. It was getting very hot. Zoe felt her eyelids begin to droop. Suddenly her BUG vibrated.

“I’m here, just due south of you,” came Erika’s voice. “I’m safely upwind of the lions, so we shouldn’t have any problems making it to you without alerting the pride.”

“Why would she worry about the lions picking up her scent?” asked Ben. “She’s got a scent disperser, doesn’t she?”

Zoe shaded her eyes and peered out over the horizon. “It’s not herself she’s worried about,” she said, pointing into the distance. “It’s our transportation!”

Ben followed her finger and let out a groan. “Great,” he said. “More camels!”

“We’re on our way,” Zoe told Erika. “Over and out.” Zoe tried to act normal, but inside she felt miserable. She couldn’t escape the horrible thought that she had accidentally killed Jossy’s mom.

At that moment, a high-pitched mewing drew their attention back to the pride. Jossy had left the group, yowling excitedly as he ran toward something approaching in the distance.

The other lions stood up and stared. “It’s a lioness,” whispered Ben.

The newcomer was limping slowly toward the water. She had scratches on her side and her muzzle was bleeding. She stopped when she saw Jossy and made a deep rumbling noise at the cub. For a moment, none of them moved.

Jossy threw himself at her, running between her legs and pawing at her sides. The lioness slumped to the ground and Jossy crept between her front paws, nudging her face with his.

“It’s his mom!” Zoe cried out in delight.

“She looks like she’s been in a fight,” said Ben. “I wonder if she crossed paths with the same lone lion we did. It would explain why she’s taken so long to get here.”

“Or the hyenas,” Zoe said. “I’m just glad she made it back.”

Ben and Zoe watched the scene of the reunion. Jossy climbed happily all over his weary mother, kneading at her with his claws like a kitten. She nuzzled him and rubbed her cheeks against his.

The other lionesses padded around them, sniffing and licking at her wounds. Zoe’s eyes were shining as she watched the pride settle down. The little cub curled up contentedly next to his mom.

Zoe turned to Ben. “Why didn’t her tracking dart show on the BUG?” she asked.

Ben checked the BUG screen and showed his sister. “It is showing,” Ben said with a grin. “You must have missed your shot and tracked the well, doofus!”

Zoe smirked at her brother. “I may have missed the mark,” she admitted, “but at least I didn’t trash our ride.”

“Fair enough,” Ben said. Then he jumped to his feet and tugged at Zoe’s arm. “Time to go. Erika’s waiting.”

“Do we have to?” asked Zoe. “I could watch these lions forever.”

“And miss the chance of seeing me fall off another camel?” asked Ben.

“Ha, I’d never miss that!” Zoe said. She got to her feet and took one last look back. “Bye, Jossy. I’m so glad you’re home safe.”

Then the twins crept away quietly through the trees.

* * *

As they approached Erika, Ben’s BUG vibrated. “It’s a call from WILD,” he said.

“Greetings!” came their uncle’s cheerful voice. “Erika’s brought me up to speed. Well done, you two!”

“There’s more,” Zoe said happily. “Jossy’s mom made it back after all!”

“Well then!” their uncle boomed. “It’s another perfect end to a perfect mission for Zoe and Ben!”

Ben glanced ahead to where one of the camels was snorting and stamping its hoof.

“That one’s yours,” Erika said, pointing at the angry camel.

“Almost perfect,” Ben said with a laugh.