"Mother." a lioness's voice called out.
"What is it,dear?" the worried mother's voice replied to her daughter.
"I think the cubs are coming."
That's the one sentence that sends everyone into a flurry. The lioness's mother;Beauty-Spot,was in a twister of worry. She was worried that her daughter;Nara,would have a miscarriage,like she had done before Nara was born.
"Ok so when I count to three I want you too push really hard,alright?" Beauty-Spot told her daughter.
"One..."
Nara squirmed in pain.
"Two..."
"THREE!"
Nara pushed as hard as she could,and two little bundles of fur popped out. While Beauty-Spot licked her daughter's head,Nara's mate's mother;Ruja,licked the cubs.
"Let me see them,please Ruja." Nara asked politely.
"Nara...this ones dead. It came out dead."
"What about the other one!?"
"It's alive and well. A heathy girl." Ruja handed her daughter in law the cub.
The cub was all grey fluff and blue eyes.
"Oh." Nara gasped. "She's beautiful."
"We'll,what are you going to name her,Nara?" Beauty-Spot asked.
"Well...I think we are going to have to get Vela's approval on that." the young lioness told her,while she let the cub suckle.
"My approval on what?"
Nara gasped.
"You weren't supposed
to be here until tomorrow!" Nara purred.
"I'm glad I wasn't. And who do we have here?" Vela inquired.
"Our little girl." Nara smiled proudly.
"Really?!" Vela could have practically jumped to the moon and back.
"What's her name?"
"We'll...that's what we were getting your approval on." Beauty-Spot looked at Vela.
"Mother. Will you and Beauty-Spot please go tell Rafiki about this?" Vela asked them.
"Of course,son. Come on Beauty-Spot. She'll be fine." She whispered to her. When Vela wasn't looking,Ruja grabbed the stillborn cub and left to bury it.
And so they left.
"What names do you like?" Vela laid down beside his mate.
"We'll,I quite like the name Penda." Nara told him. "What do you like?"
"I like the name Malika. She will be,of course the future queen of the Midlands,after all." Vela nuzzled Nara.
The little cub squirmed in Nara's paws and opened her eyes.
"Why her eyes are a blue as blueberries!" Vela exclaimed.
Nara looked at her mate.
"How about Afina? It means blueberry." Nara murmured.
"I love it. And she as round as a blueberry too!" Vela kidded.
"Vela! You'll hurt her feelings!" Nara purred.
She licked the little bundle in her paws,never wanting this night to end.