Above is a picture of the cubs. Left to right: Tian, Koda, Kito, Amira, Asha.

I shifted my weight and groaned. It's amazing how hot you can get from sitting and waiting for something. My entire body, even my tail, ached from staying completely and solidly still for so long. My golden-yellow legs were starting to get numb, the sun was beating down on my back, and the savanna grasses were lapping against my still body making me itch. I hated staying motionless for such a long time. My mouth felt dry and I would've given anything for a few laps of water right then. It seemed like everything was against me. 

What is taking her so long? I thought angrily, my face turning into a scowl. I can't stand this much longer!

But then I imagined the look on Asha's face when we would leap out of the grasses and catch her off guard, and suddenly it was worth it once more. So worth it. 

I took a breath to try to bear the horrible circumstances I was in and turned my eyes to my left, where my best friend Tian was also laying low in the grasses. His oat colored fur camouflaged him and worked to his advantage, however, his jet black tail tuft and beginning of a mane were dead giveaways in thin grasses so he always had to be aware of the area he was hiding in. 

Tian's neon violet eyes scanned the savanna for the signal, as did my amber brown ones, but no matter what color eyes if there's no signal to see, you won't see it. So we hunkered down low and kept our positions, even if they were making us wish we'd stayed home with the adults to nap in the shade. 

I let out a loud and exaggerated sigh. Tian glanced my way briefly with a jagged glare and then returned his gaze toward our target. The look he gave me stung a little, but I knew I deserved it as my sigh was distracting and could give away our position. 

Tian and I are the best cub hunters in the business. But today, I wasn't anywhere near my best. That's because my focus was on other things. Things like my dad.

My dad was the leader of the Lion Guard "back in the day", as my uncle Kovu says. He did a grand job of it too. But oddly, one morning long ago, he up and left. 

It was right before dawn. A wonderful morning with a gentle starlight and sweet wind that caressed the tree leaves. 

Flashback time:

Seven months ago

"Hey, Kito!" a quiet whisper drifted through the dim den.

I awoke from my peaceful sleep and slowly lifted my head to search the darkness for the owner of the voice. A lion stepped out of the shadows into the small beam of dim light from the sunrise. His strong paws slowly stepped across the floor over to me. I lay on the ground and looked up at the lion with a smile.

"Hi, daddy!" I greeted him, rubbing my eyes. "Why are you up so early?" 

I saw his vibrant red mane almost light up the cave. His tail tuft swished from side to side in an anxious tick, but I didn't notice. A light brown roaring lion decorated his left shoulder. His golden yellow fur glowed in the morning light. I glanced down briefly at my tail tuft. It also glowed like my father's mane. 

"Well, I have to leave for a little while. I'm sorry I woke you, but I had to say goodbye." He said in a strong voice. But there were tears in his eyes and a slight strain in his voice. His face was pained, but I was oblivious.  

"Oh!" I said, "Goodbye, daddy!" I said. I stretched and settled back down on the warm cave floor. I shut my eyes.

"Bye. . .feisty," he said, frowning. That was his special nickname for me, feisty. "Tell mommy I will be back."

He stepped over to my side and nuzzled into my back. He hung his head over me for awhile. Then, he slowly lifted it and looked over me. He smiled and licked me on the head then left my side and walked to the mouth of the cave.

I cracked my eyes open to see him stop at the cave mouth. He looked back at me and smiled sadly. The mouth of the cave framed in him and the sleepy pride-lands gave a nice background. The silhouettes of trees and the purplish, slightly starred sky were absolutely stunning.

I smiled back at him. He simply mouthed "See you soon, feisty."  then his form wooshed away and dissapeared from my sight.

Yes, I am the daughter of the formal fiercest Pride-lander. And I am proud of it. 

My father was respected in the Pride-lands and feared in the Outlands. On calm days, I would hang out with the Lion Guard at their lair. Beshte was the strongest, and he taught me how to swim. He's a hippo. Ono, the keenest of sight, gave me dreams to fly. He's an egret. Bunga, the bravest, helped me learn to face every day with courage, and to be brave, no matter what. He's a honey badger. Fuli, the fastest, helped me learn to run and hunt. She's a cheetah and a great hunter.Some of my best memories are with the Lion Guard. I haven't seen the guard in a long time.

I miss them. Of course, they all split up after my dad left. It's kinda sad.

I heard the grasses to my left crunch. I lifted my head to see Tian pushing through the field and I realized I had been daydreaming again. I shoved the thoughts out of my mind and got to a stalking position to follow Tian.

My best friend led the way toward my cousin, Asha. We silently navigated our way through the swaying golden grass until Tian came to a stop, feet away from a clearing. He nodded simply at me. I took the left side of the clearing and he took the right. I came to a spot where I could see an amber colored lion cub. It was my cousin, Asha. Her back was turned to me as she was examining the other side of the clearing with great intensity. 

Everything was silent and it was a perfect situation for my team. Until "snap!" a twig broke and alerted Asha to our precise location. 

Asha swiftly lifted her ears and looked to the left of her to locate the source of the noise and find her hunter before she became the looser. But Tian and I knew who it was. It was the leader of our hunting group, Amira. She was not the best hunter, in fact, she was quite bad at it. We only chose her because she asked to be the leader. Well, she more of demanded it. 

I rolled my eyes and went to plan B.

Tian and I leaped out of the grasses, growling and barring our teeth at Asha. She made a break for it but Tian wasn't about to lose. He took off after her, gaining speed with every stride of his legs. I followed him. Behind us, a white lion cub stumbled out of the grasses. Amira. I rolled my eyes.

We kept after Asha. Tian was getting close enough to almost jump on her. I picked up my speed. Tian and I came up beside Asha. She was tiring out so Tian decided to make his move. He jumped onto Asha, paws first. The two tumbled around in the dirt.

I stopped running and stepped back to see who would come out on top. They wrestled for less than a minute when the dust cleared to reveal Tian standing on top of Asha. I smirked.

"Asha?" Tian said, his face showing no pride whatsoever. 

"What?" Asha growled with a scowl from her position on the ground, spitting out dirt. 

"Do us all a favor and give us a challenge next time," He said, jumping off her and sauntering over to some shade. 

Asha scoffed with a dark glare.

Amira came huffing and puffing over, stopping when she reached us. She sat down to catch her breath. "Sorry about that," Amira said, referring to when she snapped the twig.

I was about to tell her how sorry she'd better be after demanding that she be the lead hunter, then pulling a stunt like that. But someone interrupted me before I could give her what-for.

"Did I lose?" A dark lion cub asked as he bounded into the clearing.

The little dark-chocolate colored cub was my younger cousin and Asha's little brother. His name was Koda. 

The two siblings looked as different as night and day when they stood side by side. The only similar thing about them was their green eyes, and even then Asha's were emerald green and Koda's were hunter green.

"Yup." I said. "We almost did too," I muttered to him.

"Amira?" he asked, knowing how much of a pain that she was during games.

"Mmmhmm..." I replied. Then I turned my attention to Amira.

"What took you so long, Amira?" I asked.

"Well...um..." she said looking at the sky, and then the ground. "I kinda forgot to-"

"Forget it," I said as I walked over to Tian.

"Sorry!" she called in a mean, not-so-sorry tone.

Tian and I shared an eye roll and an annoyed sigh. We sat there for a minute, watching Amira and Asha gab to each other about how lame it was to play with us.

"What's up with you today?" Tian asked suddenly.

I stood up to walk to the watering hole, trying to ignore the question. I really didn't want to answer.

"Yeah! You're all messed up!" Koda said as he trotted up next to me.

So much for ignoring.

"What are you talking about?" I muttered, trying to dodge a bullet.

"Kito," Tian said, raising a brow.

"She ain't gonna talk about it," Koda said.

Tian just sighed.

We reached the watering hole, hot and thirsty.

We each took huge gulps of the fresh, cool water, and gasped for breath. I sighed with content.

"Kito, what's wrong?" he asked after minutes of silence.

"Nothing! Tian, lighten up, and forget about it." I said, in a sharp tone.

He looked shocked.

"I'm sorry, Tian. I didn't mean to snap at you." I apologized.

"That's alright." He said, but I could tell he was still a little hurt.

I jumped into the water, sending a wave rippling through the watering hole. Tian and Koda just stared from the shore.

I dived under the water, letting the cool, refreshing liquid engulf me. I was hoping it would wash away the questions I didn't have the answers to. I dived, swam, and twirled, and almost passed out from holding my breath for so long. But nothing helped.

Suddenly, after diving under for a fourth time, something from below pushed me up. The next thing I knew, I was on Tian's back, riding him as he swam, gracefully through the water. I laughed out loud. Even though he was only a month older than me, he was extremely strong. I felt something brush my left leg, as he swam. I searched the clear water. Splash! Next to me popped up my cousin, Koda. His dark fur was soaked, and his smile was brighter than the sun. I giggled. Tian lurched forward, and I fell off into the water. I swam back up to the surface. Tian shook his head in an attempt to get the water off. I smiled; my friends were trying to help me. On the shore, Asha and Amira were shaking their heads, but they were smiling. And laughing?

I turned to float on my back, and I pushed my legs back and forth hard, splashing my friends.

"Hey!" Tian laughed.

"Kito!" Koda called.

"Ha-ha!!" I said. I dived back under and swam to the shore. I jumped onto the muddy banks, surprising Asha and Amira. A splash of water soaked their fur, drawing squeals from them. I shook hard. Drops of water left my bright golden pelt and sprayed onto the coats of my screaming friends.

"Kito!!" Asha squealed.

I dived back into the water, swimming back to the boys. I resurfaced. They were glancing at me and then behind me, with weird grins painted on their faces.

"What?" I said smiling.

Koda laughed.

I heard something behind me. It was very quiet but it sounded like swimming. Kinda. I looked over my shoulder smiling, with a questioning look on my face. Then I saw Asha. She was swimming toward me fast.

"Oh no!" I said. I dived back under swimming to the bottom, once I got there; I scratched the bottom, bringing up muck and mud, giving me cover. I searched the foggy water for Asha. I didn't see her, and I had to contain a laugh. But then, I felt something tickle my tail. I turned around and there she was! I swam as fast as I could toward the surface.

"Ya gotta help me!!" I said to Tian, between gulps of air.

"You're on your own, feisty." He said with a smirk.

I whined, and then swam toward the shore, I swam and swam. I reached the shore and yelled "Meet you at lunch!" to my friends. I took off at top speed, still soaking wet. I brushed past Amira, who was laughing at the whole scene.

  Darn girls, always stirring up trouble. I thought playfully, as I galloped toward Pride-rock. I laughed out loud, shaking my head.

I really hope you liked it! I worked super hard on this chapter.

Updates may be slow, but I don't imagine I'll have too many readers anyway.

*The outlines for the cubs do not belong to me*