For next couple of nights I don't have nightmares. In fact, it's the best sleep I've had in a while. The sun and I even made amends, now when the sun comes up I don't curse at it, I accept it and gladly awaken and greet it with a groan.

It's a work in progress.

The cubs and I are getting along just fine too. They even call me Tanabi instead of old man. They're so amazing. Even though I've only known them a short while I've seen them mature slightly. Beba still hasn't told me anything about Kopa though, but, every night he tells us stories about how he met his wife, Shanira, it's a lovely story.

They were both solitary until they crossed tails by fate. She was beautiful, he says, unique brown eyes and smooth tan fur. Beba had never seen such a beautiful cheetah in his life, they both were having a drink by the waterhole that the boys like play at and when she looked at him, he just knew she would be his.

They got to know each other and day but day, month after month they got closer and closer to one another. After a year of just being friends he finally asked for her to be his mate and she accepted. Shanira and Beba had a baby months after and they named him Haunani. His purple spots come from her father he had told us.

As the years went by she got pregnant and had twins a boy and a girl. Makuma and Muna.

One night she went off the hunt on her own but she never returned. He went looking for her and after a few months he realized she was never returning. He later found out that hunters killed her for her fur. Beba has never been so heart broken in his life.

The children didn't say a word as he told the story many nights ago but I know in their silence inside they were yelling.

I feel for them, I really do. They're so young and they had to deal with death so soon. I can't imagine how they feel. I don't know if the twins remember their mother though, maybe Haunani does?

I look over at the purple spotted cub who happens to be laying next to me and wonder if he knew his mother. I want to ask. I want to ask the boy with odd spots and green eyes if he knew his mother with the same unique eyes as his only sister. But I know it's rude and I won't push anyone for answers here which is exactly why I don't ask Beba about Kopa. I don't go around like a dog, which are disgusting beggars, asking for damn answers and I've learned this the hard way. Hell! I have a damn scar on the side of my snout to fucking prove it!

"You've been staring at me for the past ten minutes can you please stop? " Haunani snaps me out of my thoughts by rudely accusing me of staring. Which I have been since I was lost in thought.

"Sorry. " I apologize and raise my gaze to the twins curled up around each other taking a nap. A smile takes over my face and the only reason I look away is because I feel a pair of eyes staring at me ahead. "Nani?"

"What?"

"When did your dad leave?"

"About five minutes ago. Why? "

"I need you to take your brother and sister somewhere in the bushes. "

"Why-"

"Shh, Nani. Trust me okay? " Fear takes over his fluffy face and I can't help but rub my forehead against his in a loving way. "It's going to be okay. Just hide over there and don't come out until I call. " He nods and scurries over, wakes his siblings and they crawl over to the bushes behind the rock we were resting at.

I crouch and flick my rimmed ears back, making my movements silent and quick.

When I get close to the shadow I pounce and what I land on I didn't except to ever land on.

"Kiara?" What the hell is she doing here?

"You're hurting me. " I quickly get off of her and when she stands up I see her large tummy.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing. " She must be joking. Her father kicked me out of the lands and yet she asks why I'm here?

"You should know why I'm here. " She looks me over and stops at my snout.

"What happened?" Her reddish-brown eyes fill with worry.

"I fell while running and I scraped my nose. " She looks at me again but doesn't say anything.

"Are you okay?"

"Me? You're the one that's pregnant. "

"Haha, I meant, are you okay out here? Without a pride or friends? "

"I don't need a pride to survive and I do have friends. Would you like to meet them?" She smiles and nods her head. I return the gesture and lead her to the cubs.

"Wait here. " I tell her as I jog over to the cubs hiding behind the rocks and bushes. I find Haunani whispering calming words to Makuma and Muna as they hide under him.

"Hey, it's okay. " They jump at the sound of my voice but Muna is the first to jump on my leg, hugging it with her tiny paws. I lick the tiny mane on her head and the tears that managed to escape her eyes. Makuma cautiously rubs his head against my paw and Haunani gives me a nod.

"We thought we wouldn't see you again. " Muna admits as she continues to cuddle my large paw. 

"I'm here now, it's okay." I comfort the twins while Haunani looks from afar. What did I do to him that he dislikes so much? I've been kind, sort of, but I never said anything rude to him, except that one time I compared him to a plum. That's beside the point! I protect this family with my life and I plan to do so until the day I stop breathing. 

"I have someone I want you all to meet." They look up at me but don't say anything. "She's a friend, kind of, please?" Muna is the first to agree and her twin does the same seconds later. "Haunani?" 

"Will papa be mad?" He asks with a worried look on his face. 

"I wouldn't endanger you guys, so no, Beba won't get mad." He looks away so I add "I promise." Nani looks over at me through his bangs and for a split second I swear he looks like a younger version of Vitani. I blink a few times and the sight is gone. Thank God. 

"Kiara, I'd like for you to meet my..friends." The look on her face wasn't disgust or hatred not even wonder. It was pure happiness. "Go on introduce yourselves." I lightly push Muna in front of me and she cowers but with the smile Kiara gives her, Muna regains her upright posture and very timidly introduces herself. 

Makuma does the same and, of course, Haunani doesn't make any movements to say hello to Kiara. 

"This little boy is Haunani, he's the most stubborn of the three." I chuckle and Kiara giggles. 

"Hi Haunani, I'm Kiara. You are quite the handsome cub." Though he's being difficult he blushes and hides behind me. 

"Oh, it's okay. I won't hurt you." Kiara sweetly explains and he slowly peeks his head out. 

"Hello." The little six year old says. Kiara smiles and for a moment I want to be next to her as she stares at the three children with care though she only just met them. 

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"How long have you been here?" Kiara asks as she lays next to me in the cool grass watching over the cubs. The sun has set now and she looks beautiful, her big tummy brings out her soft side and I can't help but fall in love with the girl next to me. 

"I've been here since Simba told me to leave." I smile and she gives me a frown.

"I really am sorry about that." 

"It's fine, it was to protect the pride." 

"From you?" I nod and she searches my face for some emotion but I know that she won't find anything but the scar on my snout. 

"What happened?" Her eyes are seconds from popping out of her skull. 

"Uh, I-" I would finish the lie but she cuts me off. 

"The truth Tanabi." 

"The truth?" She nods and I feel sick to my stomach, I don't even know the truth myself.

"I don't know what happened." I honestly answer and lay my head on my paws. 

"Tanabi?" I shift my eyes to her and she has her eyes closed. 

"You okay?" A tiny yelp is heard so I look over at the cubs but nothings wrong only pinning Muna. "Makuma please get off of Muna." He sticks his tongue out but he gets off of her. I look over at Haunani and he's ready to pounce on Makuma, nothing wrong there. 

I return my gaze to Kiara and she looks hurt. "Kiara?" 

"Has anyone told you about Kopa?" Her question shocks the hell out of me. Like my jaw has literally just met the ground and I think they're planing a wedding. 

"Well?' 

"N-no." I stutter completely lost for words. Will I finally get answers? Will she even tell me or is this just a question in general? Have I really gone insane or is she really looking at me with glazed eyes. 

"Would you like to know about him?" Holy shit. Holy shit. What the shit? Answers? Or am I being led on again? 

"That's all I've been wanting to know since I got here." I answer her and she looks away and I notice she's looking at the cubs with curiosity. 

"Do you love them?" Fuck. No answers for Tanabi, once again. 

"Of course, I mean, I've barely known the little ones but yes, I love them.''

"I loved Kopa though I barely remember him. Everyone always says I'm just like Kopa, the only difference is I'm a girl and he was more outgoing. I remember his reddish-brown eyes and the way they would soften only for me while he babysat with Vitani, I know he hated it but he never refused. Kopa would sneak out though, he would go out at night and stargaze with Vitani. One night I followed him but Vitani wasn't there, I think it was when she got grounded for sneaking out. He lied on the plush grass and stared up at the black sky drenched in stars and figures. I lied with him and he didn't even send me away. He held my tiny body in his paws and if I would have known it was the last time I would see him, or feel him, or kiss him, I would have told him I loved him. The next evening he was dead. He was gone and I didn't get to say goodbye. My brother is dead and he will never see me rule or his niece or nephew. I will never know if he approves my marriage or if he loved me as much as I love him. I miss him, I wish I could rewind and play with him more or even mess with him more so I would at least have a few extra memories with him. " I am in tears and even the cubs have stopped playing to listen to the story of Kiara's older brother. 

"He was the bravest lion I have ever met." Kiara's cheeks are stained with warm, salty tears. I stay silent, unsure what to say.

"He's not gone though." Haunani shocks me by speaking. 

"What do you mean?" Kiara asks. 

"He's always right.." He presses his little paw on Kiara's heart and finishes "here." He smiles and for a moment, a single moment, I see the light come back into the innocent six year old's eyes. Kiara wraps one of her small paws around the small cub and hugs him. Muna and Makuma walk over and lick her head while she sobs into Haunani. I scoot closer and lay my giant paw on her free one. 

"What's this?" I hear Beba so I look up and he has a rather confused look on his face. 

"Kiara?" He asks after a few minutes of silence. 

"Beba? These..these are your kids?" He nods and slowly stalks over to Kiara to look at her more clearly. 

"You're pregnant?" She nods and licks the tear that rolls down her cheek. 

"You guys know each other?" I ask completely confused, like always. 

"Of course I do, she's Kopa's little sister." He smiles and rubs his forehead against hers. The cubs jump off of Kiara and greet their father with nips and yelps and squeaks. 

"And you were Kopa's best friend." She smiles and Beba does the same. 

"I still am his best friend." He clarifies and I honestly can't hold it in anymore. 

"Kiara." She turns her attention to me and so does everyone else. 

"Yes?" 

"I know this is going to sound a bit crazy but I need to tell you this okay? Please don't think I'm mocking you or your family or Kopa okay?" She nods so I continue "I have been dreaming about Kopa. I think they're memories of some sort and I wanted to ask if you could tell me more about him, maybe I can get answers to why I recall such things. Please, please, all I've ever wanted from you and the pride were answers." She looks at me, hell, they all look at me with the same expression and I feel stupid. I shouldn't have said anything. Now everything is awkward and uncomfortable.

"I have to go before my father goes insane.'' Kiara gets up slowly so she won't hurt herself with the massive tummy she has. Damn it, I knew she'd leave. "It was nice seeing you again Beba, and it was lovely to meet the three of you." She smiles down at the cubs. 

Right before she leaves she turns around and says "I'll come back tomorrow with stories of Kopa." I smile like a maniac and with that the future queen waddles off.

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Alo! I am so sorry for the long wait for such a short and non important chapter. I really am, I've just been really lazy honestly and I've been trying to finish After 3 and I finally did at like 2 in the morning, I have never cried that much in my life over a book and I read The Fault In Our Stars and I didn't shed a tear. There is something wrong with me I swear. 

Anyways, Tanabi is finally going to get answers after forever! The picture I put is Kopa/Tanabi and Kiara I love this picture and the theme song for this, if you can even call it a theme song, is 'Wherever You Are' by 5 Seconds Of Summer (5SOS) I don't know I just think it fits with the story. Okay I think I rambled enough LOL. Feel free to hit the like button and comment if you liked or hated this chapter. 

Love you!!!!

~Delaney^.*