As a cub Vitani had started life well, despite being left to the care of Zira at birth by her biological mother, Tama. She had friends in her older brother Nuka, pale cub Babu, his adopted twin siblings Boga and Afua, and of course, her bestest friend, Prince Kopa. Though she was too young to know love, she often got jealous when Boga tried to play fight with Kopa, or became too close to him. She once tackled Boga when she licked Kopa on the cheek, but she knew that Boga preferred Babu to anyone else. What would've happened if Kopa had never been murdered...?
The five cubs were soon to reach adolescence, & Vitani couldn't help noticing how protective she still felt over Kopa. All five of the best friends still played like youngsters, but they were growing up fast and she knew that soon, Kopa would be told who his queen would be... or whether he was allowed to choose for himself.
"Hey 'Tani!" The call from her younger sibling, Kovu, stopped her train of thought. He wasn't much younger than her, in fact only three months and was also between cubhood and adolescence, though only in the early stages. She smiled, remembering that he too was friends with one of the royals, Kiara, Kopa's little sister. Then she remembered the events around Kiara's birth, her mother's death after being attacked by Simba... of course not unprovoked. Vitani had been shocked to find out that her mother had been planning to kill the young prince, before Simba had got to her first...
"'TANI!" Kovu's shout woke her from her daydreams.
"What, Kovu?" She looked into her brothers eyes.
"I'm bored, will you pleeeeease come play with me?"
"No, Kovu. I'm waiting for Kopa." This set Kovu off into giggles. "What?" She waited for him to respond.
"I just saw Kopa with that girl... Boga, is it? Well they were..." Kovu giggled more, until Vitani glared at him. She needed him to finish the sentence. "They were talking real quiet and hiding from everyone. I think they were gonna... gonna KISS!" He burst out laughing, until he saw the look on his sister's face.
Vitani was furious. How could Kopa go off with Boga, when he'd told her he'd come find her! She stormed out of the cave, leaving Kovu watching behind her.
Vitani crept and found that Kovu had been talking about. Boga and Kopa were in Scar's old cave, and she stopped round the corner, to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"Hey Kopa, didn't your great uncle used to live here?" Vitani shuddered at how sickly Boga's voice sounded. She knew her friend only put that voice on to seem cute to others. It made Vitani angry that she wouldn't just be herself, after all that's what she did.
"Hey, I think you're right Boga. I hope you're not... scared!"
"Well actually" Vitani watched as she cuddled into Kopa, peering around the cave. "I am a bit." Vitani shuddered at how stupid she still sounded.
"Don't worry, Bo." Kopa smiled down at the lioness. "I'll protect you." He licked her forehead, causing the little female to peer up. There wasn't fear in her eyes anymore. She leaned towards the Prince, and much to Vitani's annoyance, he leaned towards her as well. She couldn't watch this. She wouldn't!
Vitani ran into the cave, growling. Before Kopa knew what had happened, she pounced on him and pinned him to the floor.
"What the hell are you doing!" Vitani shouted at him. He shrunk back from her, and then looked to Boga, who was as surprised as he was.
"Whadda you mean, 'Tani?" He grinned up, but her face remained stone-y and cold.
"You were gonna kiss her weren't you!" Vitani glared down at him, willing him to tell her otherwise, but instead Boga spoke up.
"So what if he was?" Vitani turned her steely expression to the other female.
"You had no right to kiss him! He was meant to be coming to find ME so we could play together!" She glanced back at Kopa with a stern expression before looking to Boga again.
"Who says I don't have a right to kiss him! He was gonna come find you afterwards anyway, what's the harm?" Boga had advanced towards 'Tani, flicking her tail in annoyance. Who made up the rules in her head?
"I say you CAN'T kiss him, because he's my..." She paused, thinking what to say. "My... err... well..." She shuffled her paws, unsure what to say.
"Exactly." Boga nodded in triumph. "Come on Kopa, let's go." She turned, expecting the golden cub to follow.
"Err... actually Bo, I'm gonna hang out with 'Tani. Why don't 'cha go find Babu, or 'Fu?" Vitani watched as the dullish-yellow female sulked off, annoyed the Prince hadn't come with her. Vitani looked down at her paws, as she felt Kopa turn his gaze to her. The prince put one of his front paws under her chin, making her look him in the eye. But instead of looking angry, Kopa's eyes shimmered with humour.
"What was all that about?" He smiled as Vitani squirmed in shame.
"I dunno... I guess I was just..."
"Jealous?" Kopa interrupted her, finishing the sentence.
"No!" 'Tani suddenly turned fierce, then realised that he was right. "Well yes, well kind of, maybe. Oh... I just DON'T KNOW!" She flicked her tail with frustration, but Kopa just laughed.
"Chill out. If it makes you feel better, I didn't really WANT to kiss her."
"Yeah right..." Vitani's voice was quiet, but she couldn't help finding comfort in her best friend's voice.
"No, really. I just thought it would upset her if I didn't. It would've been my first kiss, though..." He paused for a second to smile at 'Tani. "...And I didn't wanna share something that special with her. There's only one girl on the top of my list."
Tani looked up at him, a little surprised at how blunt he made his feelings. It only took a second for her to get over the initial shock, and she smiled, blushing slightly.
"I hope you mean me." She joked, but Kopa nodded all the same and nuzzled her forehead. She leaned to his ear and whispered "Well you're the top of mine too then."
She leant back again, and then was rather surprised that Kopa began to lean in, and she did the same, but just as they were moments away from meeting, they heard a cough at the entrance to the cave.
The two teens turned to see Boga back again, glaring at the two of them.
"I thought I told you..." Kopa began, sighing at the lioness's return, but before he could finish she spoke.
"I didn't come back to ruin your moment! Simba sent me to get you, and Tani. We have to meet with him, he said it's time to announce your betrothed." Boga left the cave without another word.
Vitani started to follow her, Kopa blocked her exit.
"Hey, let me past!" She tried to dodge, but the Prince managed to pin her to the ground, laughing.
"Not so fast. It's not like we have to rush off. Dad won't mind!"
"I dunno..." Even though this was true, Vitani didn't think Simba would be willing to wait for the two unruly teens.
"Where's your wild side, huh? It's part of the reason that you're my number one!" He leaned in and nuzzled 'Tani's forehead and she purred slightly. Then she stopped and thought for a second. She'd never purred before, in fact she'd only known lions to purr in pleasure... with their mate.
The thought made her blush, and she shoved Kopa off of her, turning her back to him and blowing at her tuft to calm herself. Did she really feel that way about Kopa?
"Hey, 'Tani what's wrong?" His face was concerned, but Vitani was too deep in thought to notice. Kopa put his paw on hers, which aroused her, and he smiled. "I promise, I won't let anything come between us, 'kay?"
Vitani nodded, then noticed Kopa leaning into her once more, but instead of reflecting this action, she gently slid her head beneath his and closed her eyes in delight, purring once more. Kopa looked down at her, and purred along with her. The two were caught up in this heavenly moment, but not for long.
"M-hmm..." The two quickly spun round to see Nala, one eyebrow raised at the sight of them. Vitani hid her face, but Kopa smiled at his mother. "Didn't Boga tell you that you were wanted? Both of you..." Nala smiled as Vitani looked up, an uncomfortable expression on her face.
"We're coming mum, we were just about to anyway."
"Alright little one, come on now."
And with that the lioness left the cave, followed by the two youngsters. Side by side, 'Tani and Kopa went to the cave, and Vitani dreaded the moment where Simba would finally reveal her future...