"Dere are many tales dat ave' been told by many creatures, little ones. But dis one, dis one is unique. Dis one is not like many you may ave' heard. Dis one is about a young cub, much like yourselves, who grows up to be a mighty young lioness."

"But Ashka, it's exactly like ones we've heard, only with a lioness instead of a lion." Young Tiburi complained to the baboon. His friends all nodded in agreement.

The baboon laughed. "So it seems little Tiburi, but listen to da story, it is not like all the oders I ave' told you. It is different. For dis story, is not about an ordinary lioness, dis story is about a lioness born different from everyone else." This made the cubs' ears perk up in interest, as the baboon had known they would. "Dis lioness was an outcast from de minute she was born."

Chapter 1

In a small cave off the side of Pride rock, a young lioness twisted and turned, growling to herself as her discomfort grew. Nothing she did could ease it either, and with every passing moment, it grew, until finally it was a pain, a gnawing, wrenching pain that came in intervals. Her claws raked the rocky floor that she lay on, as she bit her tongue and cursed herself. Why had she even fallen for that stupid rogue?

Because he'd been a smooth-talker, that's why. And just like that, their courtship had been over and he'd moved on. She roared in agony and despair. She was too young for this, she hadn't even been accepted into the hunting party! It had been her goal that spring, to get into the hunting party.

She'd practiced long hours, perfecting her technique, even working with her friends to better improve her game. And then she'd met him on one of her hunts. If only that hadn't of happened, she wouldn't be here, in this predicament, and she would probably be in the hunting party. She raked her claws down the rock again, growling.

Tears stained her cheeks as she felt her body begin to instinctively react to what was happening. The pain was near unbearable, and every moment she cursed herself, but then paused to think. Her cub would not be a mighty royal, but perhaps it would become betrothed to one of the royalties. She would love that. Focusing on that thought, and that thought alone, she gave the final push that would bring the cub out of the womb and into the world.

Sanura rested for a moment, then twisted her body to see the new life. She broke the sac that bound the cub and then cleaned the blood and remnants off of it. She tore the umbilical chord and then looked down at the young cub. She near recoiled, her stomach flipping over in pure shock. The cub did not look like her or her 'mate' at all. Instead the cub was pure white, no other color covered it's body. And it was clear, from that first glance, that it would never, ever be betrothed to a royal…

"Sharra?" The cubs yelled in unison. Ashka laughed and shook his head.

"Yes, it was Sharra." The cubs all exchanged glances. How could it be her? They knew it was, but at the same time, it seemed odd. Immediately they started talking. "Shh, everyone, if you want to know what appens' next, you must listen!"

"Sanura," the lioness jumped at the sound of a voice behind her, she slowly turned her head to look upon the King. Immediately she bowed her head, it was the only way she could show respect at that moment, seeing as she was too tired to rise and bow properly. "How did the birth go?" King Ryasen asked. He had yet to look at the cub.

The lioness sighed. "It was hard, and painful.." she replied. Ryasen shook his head and walked a few steps closer, enough to peer over her back and see the small cub nursing peacefully, yet somewhat noisily. She watched his face, searching it, at first his brows wrinkled together, but then his face split into a soft smile.

"She is very pretty." He said, his voice was careful though, giving the hint that he wasn't sure about the color. Sanura internally growled.

"She's white," Sanura near snapped.

"Yes, she is, but that shouldn't stop her from enjoying her cub hood." With that, the King turned and retreated, off to tend to his own cubs.

Sanura turned back to her cub. Her nose crinkled at the sight of it. "A white cub, how the heck did you even get that way?" she pondered. It made no sense to her, she was not white, and had no white ancestors that she knew of. She was a dark tan, almost gold-brown color. The cub's father had been a dark tan, with a light brown mane. It seemed so odd that this cub would be white.

"Is it safe?" An old voice ventured. Sanura's ears tipped forward to catch the sound. It was Ashka, the old shaman baboon who had taken over for Rafiki when he had passed on. Sanura nodded and the baboon entered the cave.

"Ah, a little girl cub," Ashka said, smiling. Sanura near rolled her eyes. What did it matter, she was white. "What's da matter, young Sanura?" Ashka asked, instantly sensing the lionesses hostility.

"She's white, and she'll never amount to anything." Sanura replied. She had disgraced herself and her 'mate' by having the cub. She'd lost all her dreams and goals when it had been conceived, and the one thought she'd had when it came out had been vanquished when the cub turned out white.

"Oh, now is dat any way to talk of your own kin?" Ashka asked.

"She ruined everything." Ashka shook his head.

"Give it time chil', she'll win your heart, you can't not be her mother." Ashka spread some melon over the cubs forehead, and smiled when it stood out against the whiteness of her pelt. "You will see," he said, and then retreated, off to 'baptize' the other cubs that had been born that day.

"Dat year dere were many cubs born. King Ryasen and Queen Torianna had two heirs of deir own, Sumayah and Katu, den dere was Mako, de son of de Queen's best friend, and Misha, Natari, Junga, and Ukando." Ashka explained.

"You forgot Sharra," Tiburi chimed in. Ashka shook his head.

"No, I figured you would fill her in automatically." He replied, chuckling. "Later that day, Sharra and her mother returned to the den in Pride rock, where all the other cubs were…"