The loud sobs of Mheetu and Shanni filled the near ending afternoon. Mheetu was hysterical as he clung to my chest filling it with warm tears and heartbreaking sobs while Shanni lied on the ground weeping into Muna's back while Vitani lied her head and front paw on her sisters back for comfort. Ayodele and MK were licking the top of Shanni's head while Kiara wept silently as she placed her paw on top of Shanni's and occasionally licked her tears away. Kovu was lying in between Kiara and Vitani with his head on Shanni's back as well with Nafari and Zuri sleeping soundly in between his paws. 

Beba and Shanira were supporting Mheetu with their paws on his back saying soft words to calm him along with Haunani and Makuma.  

Though the two were being comforted and were being consoled we all knew this was not enough. The only thing that would help them feel better would be to convince the Queen to reconsider and spare the life of the innocent still forming cub that Shanni is bearing inside of her at this very moment. I felt myself sigh, how could she do this to them? Sure it was a pretty stupid mistake but Shanni was going to get pregnant sooner or later considering the fact that they are literally inseparable.  

Mufasa must really have it out for us. I thought and just as I did a huge lightning bolt struck the sky followed by the loud sound of thunder crackling scaring all the cubs making them scream. 

"It's alright, cubs, Mufasa is just cranky." Kiara assured with a sniffle as she licked her boys' head from her husbands paws. 

"Is he cranky because of what Nana did?" Zuri asked turning his ears forwards to listen to his mother better. Kiara's loving expression faltered slightly but she recovered quickly before answering her son.

"No, baby of course not." 

"Then why is he cranky?" He asked cocking his head to the side flopping his ears to the side and slightly hit Nafari on the nose. His brother wiggled his nose and slapped Zuri's ears away. 

"Because he knows you cubs aren't having any fun." She answered with another soft smile making her cubs, and the ones around her, to shuffle with excitement. 

"Run along now." His father encouraged while nudging his cubs with his angular nose making them giggle. Nafari turned and licked his fathers nose before he and his darker twin brother followed after. Muna jumped out from Shanni's paws and tackled Zuri to the ground while Nafari ran over to us and beckoned Haunani and Makuma over to play. All five cubs began to rough and tumble together while the adults attempted to raise the spirits of the sad couple. 

"How about we go for a quick hunt?" I suggested loud enough for everyone but the cubs to hear. 

"Hunt? Tanabi, it's pouring outside and I don't think food is going to fix this." Mheetu spoke at last but never raising his head. 

"I think that it'll help release some of the anger." I whispered making his teal eyes finally meet my own light green pair. He gave me a half smile in approval, I returned the gestured and bellowed twice signifying that it was time to hunt raising a few brows but I ignored them and stood to walk out of the cave. They all slowly stood and joined me at the mouth of the cave while Mheetu helped his mate up and nuzzled into her after licking her cheek. 

"You think that this will help?" I heard Vitani ask at my side making me look down at her. 

"I hope." I answered rubbing my snout against her cheek feeling her lean into the touch. 

"We'll be on cub duty." MK informed us with Ayodele at his side. I nodded at him and we all, quietly, made our way towards the grasslands with the bullets of rain pounding down against our pelts; drenching us but masking our scent making this a much easier hunt. 

When my eyes landed on a wildebeest I crouched down knowing that my pride would soon spot the creature as well. My ears flopped back signifying Shanira and Vitani to cover my right flank and for Beba, Mheetu, and Shanni to cover my left. I was smack in the center, my job was to go for the kill while everyone else attempted to bring the animal down. 

With one quick movement I brought my ears up making my family spring into action. Their paws pounded against the ground, kicking mud up into the air, the rain tricking down their tails, as they gracefully chased after the beast with an injured leg. Mheetu and Shanni running with the most anger out of them all. 

'Stay low to the ground.' I reminded myself mesmerized by the way the broken couple growled and roared as they jumped onto the animal, making it buck and snort loudly and fling mud and water droplets crazily. Shanira and Beba swatted at the skinny legs of the animal while Vitani leaped onto its butt and bit down on it making the animal buck with more force. That enraged me and caused me to growl under my breath, how dare this worthless thing try to injure my wife! 

'Maybe because my wife is sinking both her teeth and claws into it' I thought to myself then shook my head seeing my opportunity to strike as they steered it to face me while I hid in the tall grass. My long mane stuck to my body as I ran quickly out of my hiding spot, the air hitting my face with cold water, the lightening struck against the sky at the same time I collided with the wildebeest and sunk my teeth into its neck. My claws digging into it's face and snout. 

I could feel its heartbeat.

It was beating just as hard as the rain, if not faster. I suddenly felt bad for the creature knowing that we were killing an innocent creature with a family and a herd full of friends. Though that thought seemed to vanish almost instantly once I tasted its warm blood sending me into a frenzy so I bit down harder and harder bringing it down with my body weight and that of Mheetu, Shanni, and Vitani. The animal hit the ground with force almost making me lose my grip. I released its neck and covered its nose with my mouth, I breathed heavily into it feeling exhausted as I suffocated it without as much as a second thought. 

Instead of eating the animal on the spot and bringing back whatever was left, we decided that the rain was much too heavy for us to eat in peace so we luged the carcass all the way back to the cave where the cubs were huddled together looking at some odd rainbow on the cave wall. They all looked rather amused when Haunani tilted it the opposite direction making the rainbow disappear. 

"Again, again!" Muna giggled happily making her older brother chuckle before he moved it and the rainbow reappeared once more. 

"It's called a prism, mama got it from the humans." He explained to the cubs much younger that him making them gasp in awe. I chuckled myself with the huge thigh in my lips. I turned away from the sweet sight knowing that the atmosphere around us was anything but and placed the thigh on the ground gently. Shanira began to call for her cubs with quick high pitched chirps, all three of them turned their heads towards the direction of their mothers call and their eyes grew wide at the sight of the huge bull we managed to drag all the way over. They padded over to their parents and greeted them with a quick nuzzle before they directed their full attention to the food. Kiara called for her twins as well, Nafari quickly ran to his father and cuddled into his chest before greeting his mother while Zuri slowly made it to his mother and licked her nose once she had crouched down. 

"I think someone is in need of their nap." Kiara whispered to her green eyed cub with a soft smile. Zuri returned it with his eyes half closed and a large yawn. I heard Kovu chuckle before he joined his Kiara and son. He licked his sons head before he grabbed him and placed him next to his brother who was tearing at the flesh with no progress. So, their father thought it was best if he tore into it allowing his still developing boys to eat. They thanked him and began their late lunch early dinner. 

Once all the females and cubs ate, the rest of us began to eat at a very slow pace knowing that this has to last until sunrise feeling like the rain would not end until then. My lips were stained red as well as my cheeks and paws as I ate away at the thigh from earlier. I licked my nose before looking up to see that Mheetu wasn't inhaling his meal as usual. He was only licking the blood away and occasionally nibbling morsels. 

I felt my chest cave in at the sight. 

I sighed and decided that the only thing that can be done for now is pray to Mufasa that Nala would have a change of heart. 

Simba P.O.V.  

Mheetu, a father? Well that's a thought I never imagined I would ever have. His usual cub-like behavior made it seem like he would never have a mate let alone a cub. 

I shook my head to clear it, I need to figure out how to calm my own mate and find a way to make her reconsider. The thought of Nala even considering killing a cub terrifies me, but a cub that has yet to be formed inside of Shanni horrifies me the most. The cub that she carries is blood, whether my mate decides to accept it or not, Shanni is apart of our family now, even if she isn't in our Pride she is still Mheetu's mate and whatever they choose to do with each other and their life is their business. Nala overreacted, yes the news were rather large it was not unexpected. They're in their early twenties and in love...I remember when Nala and myself were careless and as much in love, of course our bond has grown stronger, but when it first began I was and still am surprised that we didn't have only Kopa and Kiara. 

I felt a sharp pain in my chest at the thought of my beloved Lost Prince. 

I once again shook my head and sighed letting my head hang and my eyes to shut. 

"Father, may my son be content in the silent stars by your side. " I prayed in a hushed whisper. 

"Simba, are you even listening to me?" I heard Nala say finally breaking me out of my thoughts completely. I opened my eyes and looked over at my still angered Nala. 

"Of course I am." I smiled making her narrow her eyes and flick her ears back. 

"I just cannot believe them!" She continued her rant making my smile drop and my eyes to slightly roll. "Allowing himself to give into his needs rather than containing himself." She stood from her sitting position and began to pace back and forth, my head and eyes following her every move. 

"Nala, they're young and in love." I attempted to reason only making her shoot me a glare. 

"So were we and I didn't have our son until we were married." Nala hasn't said Kopa's name since the day he was taken from this earth before his time. I saw her angered expression falter slightly at the mere mention of him but she quickly recovered, as she usually did. 

I opened my mouth to answer her but she beat me to it. 

"I just-how could he do such a thing and with her nonetheless." I drew back slightly at the way she growled and referred to Shanni in such a way. She had done no wrong, she's twenty-three and most likely scared out of her wits at the very moment. 

"Nala-" I began, to try and explain to her just that but her endless rant didn't allow me to do so.

"She most likely made him get her pregnant," she mumbled before her eyes grew wide and she gasped loudly, "maybe she's only with my brother at all for a shot at the thrown!" 

"Nala!" I yelled utterly disgusted by her words making me jump up to my feet. 

"She-that-that gypsy! How dare she just waltz into that pride and assume that if she got with him she would just instantly become royal!" She was fuming at this point and so was I. Nala was taking this to the extremes, this is not the way a Queen should deal with this. 

"Alright that's enough, Nala." I tried to calm her in a calm voice but horrible things continued to escape her mouth and that was when I had enough. "I said enough, Nala!" I yelled making her finally look at me with confusion evident in her face. "I do not care to hear anymore of this nonsense. Mheetu is your brother and Shanni is his mate, we must respect that. Yes, she is pregnant and I understand that they are not married but frankly, who really cares? It is not the end of the world." At first she looked shocked at my outburst but then she shook her head and her anger returned. 

"Please do not tell me you approve of this. Simba, don't be as narrow minded as them! Do you not care about what the people in the kingdom will think about this?" 

"Oh, if the people think that them having a cub out of wedlock is wrong we will eat them and their damned opinions. Nala, don't be rash. It is a cub, a cub, that is growing and developing in Shanni. Your-our niece or nephew is in there being protected by her and if you do not see that then I think you need to take a few days to yourself." 

"But, Simba I just think-"

"You shouldn't think about your brother that way or of anyone for that matter. I thought you were better than that." 

"I just don't think it is wise to have a cub out of wedlock." By the tone of her voice I could tell that she was beginning to feel bad for what she had said earlier today. It was about time. 

"Who cares other than you and Tama, Nala?! It's family and family is more important than some stupid wedding and your dignity. I'm growing tired of this, I don't want to hear this any more." I almost growled turning away from her to finally end this stupid bickering. 

"Simba, please I-" I snapped my head towards her and glared. 

"I said-no.more." I gritted through my teeth regretting it slightly when her head fell with shame and her eyes filled with tears. I released a sigh before I turned away and continued my trek to the top of Pride Rock. My home. 

Once I was there I felt a gust of wind wrap around me, the familiar and delightful scent of flowers and earth filled my nose. I inhaled it, shutting my eyes just so that I could become intoxicated by the lovely scent. 

"Hello, father." I whispered to myself opening my eyes and inhaled once more feeling something tickle my nose making me chuckle to myself. "And Kopa." I felt my eyes become overwhelmed with tears but I sucked in a breath through my mouth and exhaled feeling the urge to cry decrease when my eyes landed on my kingdom. Our kingdom. 

The sun was setting and some dark clouds were surrounding half of it, I noticed that it was raining rather hard over at Tanabi's Pride. 

"I assume you don't like my Nala's choice either." I spoke into the wind feeling another gust whip through my thick mane. I felt myself smile as the wind seemed to caress me, I missed my father. I missed his booming voice, his wise words, the way he would explain things to me in such a way that my young self could understand. I lost my father before he could even truly be a father..as I lost my son stripping me of my only son. Sure, I had Kiara...my little girl but Kopa was my first cub...my first child. Though Kiara would always be a part of my heart...my Kopa would always be a bit more special. He was and always will be my son no matter how long ago he was taken from me by her. A low growl rose from the bottom of my chest at the thought of Zira. But, the once hatred I had for her vanished the day her pride joined my own. Zira was dead. It was pointless to hold a grudge against her when she no longer walked upon this earth and she could no longer hurt my family or anyone around her. She was dead, I reminded myself, she was dead and so was Kopa, my father, and Scar. 

"Sire?" My ears flicked towards the voice coming from behind me, low on the ground. 

"Yes?" I asked already knowing who the voice belonged to while I continued to stare off into the distance. 

"Is this a bad time?" I chuckled and turned around completely to face my majordomo, Zazu. 

"Of course not, what seems to be the problem?" I asked walked towards him. 

"Oh, no problem I am here to announce that Tama and Tojo are here to speak with you." 

"Brilliant." I rolled my eyes feeling a headache coming along. 

"If you'd like, sire, I can tell them that the King does not wish to-" 

"That won't be necessary, Zazu." I informed him. 

"Are you sure, Simba?" He asked using my name rather than my title. 

"I have a feeling they won't take no for an answer. Please, tell them that I will join them in the den in a few minutes." With a curt nod, Zazu was off to tell the rather impatient couple my exact words. Once Zazu was out of sight I released a long sigh before I turned my head slightly to look back over my kingdom. One day, this land will belong to my daughter and her mate and they will raise their sons to one day become king of the Pride Lands. Nafari will rule these lands and Zuri will forever be a Prince...though at this age they don't understand I hope that when they do understand they will nothing like Scar and my father. History will not repeat itself.  

I closed my eyes and inhaled the wonderful scent once more before I opened my eyes and descended down from the top of Pride Rock. From where I was I could already hear Tama yelling at whoever because of the events a few hours ago. I groaned and shook my head wanting for this topic to just vanish. I took a deep breath before entering my den where, nonetheless, Tama was fuming. Yelling and thrashing her tail back and forth due to her anger which I didn't understand because she hadn't been in Shanni's life that long to really have an opinion about her having a cub. 

"She's twenty-freaking-three for God's sake! She can't possibly think that having a cub at this age is wise. Especially out of wedlock..it'll only confuse the cub more!" She seethed now pacing the cave floor with Tojo looking rather bored with the topic at hand. 

"Tama, you've been repeating that same sentence over a hundred times. Please, give it a rest." He complained rolling his eyes at his annoying mate. I found myself rolling my own eyes.  She opened her mouth to reply but I cleared my throat finally gaining their attention. Tama's head shot towards my direction so quickly I thought I heard it crack. 

"Simba, finally." She breathed walking over towards me, her paws pounding against the ground quickly. I controlled my urge to roll my eyes at her. 

"Afternoon, Tama, Tojo." I greeted with a nod of my head earning one from the crazy lionesses mate but none from her. "What brings you here?" I asked already knowing the answer. 

"Well, due to today's events my husband and I couldn't possibly leave without your opinion about this whole ordeal. I pray that you disapprove of this and will act on it immediately." I cocked a brow. 

"In all honesty, I don't think my opinion matters seeing that the cub is not my own and I am not the parent." I replied trying to ignore the throbbing in my head. 

"Well, yes o-of course but doesn't it bother you even in the slightest?" Did she really not see how irrational she is being? Her first grand-cub is three months from being born and she really doesn't feel anything? Or does she crave the attention?

"As I said before, the cub is not mine. If Shanni and Mheetu want to have a cub that isn't our concern, besides it'll be born in a pride with many adults to help raise it or did you forget how a pride works when a cub is born?" Her mouth opened and closed slightly, her hazel eyes wide as my words hit her like a slap to the face. When she finally came up with something to say she opened her mouth only for a load groan to erupt from Tojo's body making her turn and face him. 

"Don't you tire of this? Because frankly I do. Our first grand-cub is going to be born soon, doesn't that mean anything to you?" His words shocked me. Tojo, even as a cub, was few of words and after he met those bundle of blue flycatcher birds he seemed to only speak less but even when he did it was never relevant...to hear him speak this way brought a smile to my face. He finally became a lion. 

"Tojo, I understand that. I do it's just-" 

"If you were to understand then you would stop making this a big deal for no reason." 

"No reason? Our daughter is going to have a cub with someone she has only known for a year!" 

"She was betrothed to him the minute she was born, Tama. They were bound to marry each other at some point in time." 

"What exactly is your point? That this is all okay? That our baby girl can-" 

"She's not a baby anymore, Tama. Just because we lost her when she was one doesn't mean that she still is. She's a grown lioness now, she took care of herself when we were here in the Pride Lands escaping the wrath of Scar. She, in theory, has no parents." I blinked a few times and closed my mouth before looking back over at Tama. Her pupils were in slits, ears drawn back, canines exposed. Tama was well passes mad...she was raging. 

"How dare you speak like that! We are her parents and we will tell her what is best for her!" She snarled disturbing a few lionesses trying to sleep. 

"Both of our cubs were taken from us! We didn't raise them! We aren't parents! We don't know what's right for them because we weren't there for them for the past twenty to twenty-three years! They are more than capable to make their own decisions!" 

"What do you know?! The only thing you've ever done in your life is play with some stupid birds!" Tojo snarled loudly at his wife making me wince and take a few steps back. I looked over at the lionesses and watched as they gave each other a look before they got up and left the den. 

"At least I had something to raise while you stayed in the Pride Lands weeping over the fact that you're a crap mother!" He exclaimed, his tail flicking in the air, his facial expressions twisting into disgust. I felt the urge to yell, to stop them from arguing but Tama pulled her body back before she flung herself at her mate and began to claw and bite at him while Tojo pushed and growled to get her off. 

"Tama! Tojo! Stop!" I yelled knowing that if I got in between them they would surely turn their anger against me. They ignored my fatal attempts to split them up with my yelling. My yelling grew louder and louder until a few lionesses and Nala came running in to see what the commotion was. Their eyes grew wide as they came and quickly pulled the lions apart. Tama and Tojo were panting with their eyes never leaving each other. I growled and reprimanded them for acting like a bunch of idiots rather than addressing the "problem" in a mature manner. The den grew quiet as the words, hopefully, clicked in their heads and they realized just how foolish they truly were being. I noticed Nala's head hang with shame knowing that the words were directed at her too. 

From the silence, sobs were heard coming from someone. My brows furrowed as I scanned the room to identify the sobs, when my eyes landed on the lioness I felt my heart drop. 

"Tama?" I heard Nala call her name. 

"H-he's right...we aren't parents we're nothing." She cried, her words slurring due to the intensity of her tears streaming down her light fur and the huge lump that must have formed in her throat. 

"Tama, I didn't mean it. Honest I was just-you-" Tojo sighed defeated and out of words. 

"I just thought that-I don't know what I thought. I just want my cubs back." Tama confessed as she licked her dry nose and tears away. My eyes drifted to Tojo and he released a sigh before he moved away from the lionesses and slowly padded over to his mate. Dotty and Zingela looked over at me for approval and I gave them a nod allowing them to step away from the still crying Tama. Tojo calmly sat next to his mate and allowed her to rest her face on his chest. He licked the top of her head and apologized for the things that he said though I knew he meant them. 

"I know that you are hurt and I shouldn't have said the things that I did but...Shanni is having our grand-cub. Forget about everything else, you get to be a bibi and I a babu. That should be the only thing that matters. " Tama sniffled before she looked up at her mate. 

"I'm too young to be a bibi." Tojo chuckled and licked her nose making her smile softly. 

"A young and beautiful bibi." He complimented with a goofy smile. Tama chuckled and nuzzled her husband, finally she had accepted her daughter's cub and mate. I felt myself smile at the thought of having another cub running around. 

I sneaked a peek over to where Nala was standing and felt my heart drop at the sight of her tear stained cheeks. I suddenly felt bad for not comforting her the way Tojo so easily did with Tama. With one last look at the cuddling couple I made my way over to my own mate and sat beside her. Nala looked away and sniffled, concealing herself from me. I nudged her with my nose to gain her attention, Nala slowly turned her head and looked at me with regret in her eyes. 

"I'm sorry." She whispered turning her attention towards the ground. 

"I know." I whispered back and licked her cheek, she sighed and nuzzled into me. She purred softly against my chest and I felt the rumbling begin in my body allowing a purr to escape. "In the morning, we will speak with Mheetu and Shanni about the final decision. The cub will be born." I felt her nod against me making me smile and I, again, licked her this time behind her ear. I looked over at the blonde couple and received a small bow of their heads, they too accepted my choice after all I was the King. 

Mheetu's P.O.V 

The rain continued to pound against against our lands, drenching the earth and the entrance of the cave. It felt as if Mufasa was upset about the situation like the rest of us...like Shanni and I. I wince as I looked over at my mate, she looked so hurt...so drained. Her eyes weren't full of life as usual, they were dull and filled with tears. Her cheeks flattened with tear stains, I wanted ever so much to take away her pain though I knew I couldn't because I was feeling the exact same way. 

My sister wanted my mate to get rid of our cub. The thought made bile rise to my throat but I swallowed it down and fought back the urge to curl into the farthest corner of the cave and allow myself to just lose it. I knew I couldn't do this, I had to be strong for Shanni...for our still developing child. There isn't anything in her at the moment but soon, at the month mark which is approaching fast, the cub will begin to develop. 

I blinked myself out of my thoughts and looked back over at Shanni, feeling more like crap than before as I did. This was my fault. I got her pregnant and now because of that fact our cub will be taken from us before it even got a chance. I growled at the thought of someone harming it though it hasn't even been born yet. A male lions job in a pride is to protect it and all those in it, especially the cubs. They were the future and the more cubs there were the stronger the pride grows, every member is important no matter the age. I felt the anger rise deep within me, a feeling I have never had at this strong, but it slowly diminished when Shanni weakly called my name. I felt myself soften as I locked eyes with her, her eyes red rimmed and voice hoarse because of her silent sobs. I sighed and padded over to her slowly and when I approached her I rubbed my head against her and lied down beside her. 

We didn't share any words knowing that we would crumble at the sound of each others voice. 

I felt a bunch of eyes on us but I decided to ignore it and focus on comforting my mate. I heard Tanabi advice his pride to leave us be and for a moment I felt more tears prickle at my eyes. I wanted this day to end, I wanted it to end fast. I wanted no more than for it to be a day, a month, a year from today. I just wanted it to be over. 

I heard Shanni sigh before she lifted her head from my paws and stared at the bundle of cubs cuddled up next to their parents. She sniffled slightly at the sight before she looked away and asked the same question I was pondering over. 

"Will we ever have that?" She asked, her voice breaking slightly making me wince once more. 

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt it." I promised glancing down at her still flat stomach. 

"Don't make promises you can't keep." She whispered making my ears flop and my protective nature to falter slightly. 

"You really think I'll let anyone hurt you let alone our cub?" I asked getting closer to her face feeling like I had to prove myself. 

"You're just one lion, Mheetu. You're no match for a pride of over thirty lionesses, besides I wouldn't want you to be on bad terms with your sister. We can always have...another." She looked away as her sentence ended and looked down at where our cub is developing. 

"Shanni, I would go up against anything for you. You aren't just going to allow my sister to get away with this. Our cub is in there and it's not coming out until it's time." I scolded feeling a bit angry that she would even consider killing it before it even got the chance to develop. 

"We have no choice, Mheetu...it's us against them." She began to tear up once more making my anger to take over once more. I had opened my mouth to tell her that it would be enough but someone had beat me to it. 

"Are you forgetting that you guys are a part of a pride as well?" That raspy voice could only belong to one lioness, a specific lioness with such deep blue eyes they seemed to be a perfect shade of blue violet. I felt a smile begin to form on my lips as she padded over to us and she rubbed her head against mine briefly before she did the same with Shanni, her sister. 

"No, but we wouldn't want to start a drift between them just because of our little mistake." Shanni explained pulling away from Vitani's sweet touch, God it feels great knowing that they finally bonded. They bonded over our cub. I felt a bit of pride thinking that, the cub wasn't born and it had already pulled them together. I can only imagine when it's born and it will be. 

"In case you haven't noticed, we're in two different prides. Besides, Nala and Tama would be the ones to blame for the drift." Vitani rolled her unique eyes before she took her place next to her sister. When Vitani mentioned Tama's name I felt like running over to their pride right now and-I shook my head to avoid finishing the thought. She was my mates mother, I had to accept her though she didn't accept me. 

"That still doesn't change the fact like I am a week pregnant." Shanni responded looking away from her sister, feeling like she had failed her. 

"There is nothing wrong with having a cub, Shanni. Trust me, we all knew what was going on in the back of the cave." She joked shoving her sister making her blush and myself as well. 

"I'm not even married." She muttered. 

"Screw marriage, Tanabi and I just did it because it seemed like the best thing to do. You don't need to be married to have a cub, as long as you guys are ready for it then there shouldn't be a reason as to not have the cub. I kinda want another little ankle biter around." Vitani spoke with sincerity in her voice making my Shanni tear up. She sighed and rested her head against her younger sisters shoulder needing some family support. 

"Which makes me wonder when we will have our own." The deep voice made a smile instantly take over Vitani's face. Tanabi approached us and carefully caressed his faces against his mates, then Shanni's, then my own before he plopped his heavy body next to mine creating a circle. 

"Excuse me, but whose body is going to be carrying the cub? Certainly not you." She fired back making him roll his eyes but smile. I know Tanabi will one day be a great father seeing the way he is with the cheetah cubs and the twins. 

I heard my mate sigh knowing that she wouldn't be able to carry our cub if Nala was to pull throw with the events of tomorrow. 

"Hey, we won't let them touch you. This cub is apart of this family and it's our job to protect it." Tanabi spoke softly looking into her eyes. A small smile appeared on her face and I couldn't help but mimic her, Tanabi had a way with words that I would never posses. I felt my ears twitch at the sound of a bundle of paws hitting the ground. I turned my head and saw that the rest of pride was walking over to us, I felt slightly better knowing that Shanni and I weren't alone in this. 

"Besides, my father wouldn't approve of this. He knows how much a new cub matters in a pride." Kiara spoke with Nafari draped across her back, sleeping soundly. Kovu was at her side with Zuri wide awake on his head. Shanira and Beba also stridden over with their energetic cubs and sat with us, Muna pressed up against her father along with Makuma while Haunani lied with his mother. 

"And you've got us, we're a small bunch but we will fight for what is right. There is no greater pain than a mother losing her cub." Shanira spoke looking down at her three spotted cubs with love and care in her eyes making her husband nuzzle her. I suddenly heard the sound of wings flapping and soon two bats landed on top of Tanabi making him groan. 

"Count on us too, like Tana says family isn't about blood it's about the love." MK chirped in with a smile looking down at Tanabi's pale green eyes making him blush slightly. Tanabi could fool anyone thinking that he was some dangerous rogue with his scars and exposed claws when in reality he was nothing but an overgrown cub. 

"Thank you." Shanni whispered softly looking over everyone in the pride, a smile on her lips. I couldn't help but follow her actions and nod towards them, they had no idea how much this meant to us.

Night came quickly after that brief moment we shared and soon everyone was cuddling up close to their mates and cubs. As physically exhausted as I was, my mind was wide awake. 

Images of Rafiki giving Shanni a bitter drink, making her gag, and for a small bloody blob of nothing to come out of her minutes later haunted my thoughts. I shook my head and decided to think of something else, anything to distract me from the horrible images that kept popping into my head, slowly torturing me. I looked all around the cave and my eyes landed on Tanabi and Vitani sleeping a few feet away from us. I carefully took in the way they fit perfectly against each other, the small smile on their faces as they slept. Vitani's head resting on Tanabi's as he snored softly, I pictured them with their own little family. A small cub identical to Tanabi seemed to be fitting with Vitani's eyes sleeping in between their paws, I smiled knowing that Vitani was just as crazy about him as he was about her. I felt Shanni move slightly making me look away from them and down at her small frame, the smile that was usually present when she slept was nowhere to be seen, a profound frown took its place making me growl loudly. 

The events of earlier today replayed in my head for the millionth time, the way Tama seemed to attack Shanni with her hurtful words, the way Vitani defended her, the way Nala smacked me.

I slammed my paw on the ground with force making Shanni's head lift and worry was quickly displayed on her face. 

"Mheetu?," she asked "is everything alright?" 

"No, everything is not alright and I won't lay around here pretending that everything is." I grumbled knowing that I was being a foolish about the whole situation, but this was my cub and I wasn't just going to let it be taken away from me. I heard a sigh come from Shanni followed by a nod.

"So, what do you want us to do?" She asked looking up at me, new tears seconds from tumbling." I inhaled sharply, feeling selfish because this must have been hurting her much worse than I. So I looked away and thought of all the different things we could do, something that would make Nala change her mind about our cub. I came up blank, and I exhaled feeling useless and exhausted all of a sudden. I searched endlessly in my mind until I finally came up with something. I looked back over at Shanni and saw her perk her ears up to listen to me carefully. 

"We must leave." I spoke in a hushed whisper making her eyes grow wide with shock. "Alright, that was a stupid idea, I shouldn't have-" 

"No." She said sternly making my eyes grow wide this time. "I am not just going to let them do this to us, we have to get away." She whispered, the tears vanishing. I nodded and slowly stood making sure not to make much noise. She mimicked my actions, her fluffy paws making it near impossible for any noise to be heard as she began to walk away from our sleeping area. I jerked my head towards the mouth of the cave and she nodded once following after me. 

We slowly made out way towards the mouth of the cave, our claws digging into the slightly dirt patches that littered the cave making our steps as silent as possible. As we reached the cave I realized that the wildebeest we had captured today was still tucked away in a corner, well the remains that is. I padded over and looked it over seeing that there was still some blood that wasn't dry. I lifted my paw and dipped it into the small puddle, getting the blood in between my toes. I almost gagged knowing that this wasn't going to be easy to clean off. I looked back over at Shanni and noticed that her brows were furrowed with confusion. Before she could question me, I turned my head and pressed my bloody paw against the cave wall, I lifted it after a few seconds and smiled at the huge paw print I left behind. I licked the padding of my paw clean before placing it back on the ground in fear of leaving some paw prints on the ground. I heard some shuffling come from someone behind me scaring me a bit but when I saw Shanni's mismatched eyes glowing in the dark my fear subsided and I smiled as she pressed her tiny paw above the bloody print I created on the wall. She lifted it to reveal a much smaller paw print the center of my own. Shanni smiled and licked her paw clean before she looked back over at the sleeping pride. Her rimmed ears flopped down as she drank every last bit of them. 

I stepped forwards and lowered my head so that my mouth was close to her ears. 

"We will come back when the time is right." I whispered and she turned her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. I licked her cheeks and allowed her to nuzzle into my thick mane, her tears wetting it a bit. "Come on." I spoke a few seconds into it and pulled away licking her nose making her smile a bit and with one nod both Shanni and I took off into the night, the dirt rising in the air as we ran quickly, our paws sounding like thunder against the land, feeling the wind in my mane I inhaled deeply and smiled. I looked back at Shanni and noticed a huge smile spread across her lips, her bangs flopping up and down as she ran. I looked back at the ground in front of me and then felt a strong wind whip across my face and around my body, chills running up and down my spine. 

I looked up at the sky and smiled knowing that Mufasa was on our side and I knew that Shanni and I would be safe where ever our paws take us...and so will our cub. 

____________________________________________________________________________________

I posted much quicker than usual!!! I am shocked myself .___. 

The drawing was created by Shanni13 and the song is Arms Wide Open by Creed make sure to listen to it. It reveals a lot about Mheetu and his thoughts. 

I love you all sooooo much!

'Till my next post, 

~Delaney ^.*