Kina was a princess, barely out of cub hood, when her sons were born. Their father, Mabaya, was a rogue who stalked the borders of the Highland's. One night when her father was busy, probably doing something he wasn't supposed to be, so he needed the borders to be patrolled. She had done it several times before, and every time she came home unharmed. "I need someone to patrol tonight." her father had ordered. When she saw no one was willing to step forward, she did saying, "I will father." He seemed hesitant, but his 'errands' were more important to him, so he accepted. "You know the rules Kina." he had said,"You come home. Alone. No running off, or starving will be the least of your concerns." She had feared his words, and nodded quickly. She turned and left, pacing herself.
About an hour into patrol she was confronted by a strange male. "Hey there." he had seemed nice enough, so she responded. "Hello." she looked around, "If I were you I would make tracks. My father doesn't like outsiders. Or anyone for that matter." "Who is your father? I don't fear him." he challenged. "My father is king of these lands, and you should. I am his own blood, an I still fear him." The male nodded an went on his way, but an hour later, her life would change forever.
About 3 months later
"Kina? Come on, we are going to miss the spar." said her mother. "Just *grunts* go on without me. I- I think I ate some old meat." "Okay!" With that, she left. "Jerk." she muttered as her mother left. She got up, but was hit by a sharp stabbing pain in her abdomen. She cried out in pain, and once it had subsided she took off and ran until she couldn't run any more. "I knew something was wrong! Father will kill me if- " she grunted, "he knew I was having cubs!" She cried. The pain was like nothing she had ever felt. Luckily, it hadn't lasted as long as she had expected, but her energy had been drained. She layed down and rested with her cubs.
When she woke it was late at night. She looked at the sky and said, "If I run I can still make it home before the spar ends. I just-" "mew, mew!" interrupted the little lions huddled at her side. The small, grayish cubs were beautiful. She had never seen anything like them. "Maybe if I stay here, or run away-" she suggested quietly, but she had remembered her father's warning. "No. I can't." With that, she went back home, crying along the way.