Sitting atop the ledge of Pride Rock, a large lion with a golden-orange coat and a full brown mane gazed into the distance, where the moon had just risen over the horizon.
"She'll be fine, Your Majesty. She's a strong lioness," says a reddish lioness with pale-blue eyes named Monwa. "You need not worry."
The King of the Pride Lands, Mohatu sighed. He knew everything would be alright for the wise baboon Rafiki was inside, watching over his mate. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.
In what seemed like an eternity, Mohatu was finally called inside the den. Rafiki greeted and congratulated him but there was sorrow in his eyes. In his hands was a small reddish-brown cub with beautiful green eyes.
Mohatu's smile was a sight any of the pride members could not forget. He was overjoyed at the sight of his new daughter.
But the cries they heard after was also a sound no one could forget.
There were actually two other cubs but were stillborn and the Queen of the Pride Lands had not survived the procedure.
Mohatu cried for the loss of his mate and his two cubs. His daughter, the Princess, was named Uru, because of a promise he and his mate made together that if it were a girl, she would be named Uru.
As the years went by, Mohatu was fiercely protective of his only daughter. She was the only reminder of his mate that he had. Her green eyes were like that of his mate.
Uru was always confined in the den, longing to step outside Pride Rock and feel the soft grass under her paws and breathe in the freshness of the air.
Monwa, the lead huntress after the Queen had passed, took notice of the cub's dilemma and brought it up with the King.
"What is it, Monwa?" he asked as the reddish lioness approached him.
"Your Majesty, I know it's none of my business how to raise your daughter but she hates being inside of the den all the time," she says, her blue eyes full of concern. "If you don't like her wandering out there alone, then I may be able to escort her around the Pride Lands."
The King thought about this a while and sighed. Monwa was right. He couldn't keep Uru locked up all the time. He pondered on the thought until he felt a tug on his tail.
"Daddy?" said Uru, gazing up at her father with her mother's green eyes. "Can I please go outside? I won't be too much of a trouble…"
Mohatu smiled at the sight of his daughter. He gazed out into the open savannahs and could not bear to see his daughter cooped up in the darkness of the den forever.
He nodded slowly and Uru squealed with excitement. She was so happy to finally leave the den that there was a skip in her step.
"Please, watch over her, Monwa," says Mohatu, concern in his voice. "Please don't let anything happen to her. Watch out for the hyenas."
Monwa smiled and nodded. "You won't regret this decision, Your Majesty."
And Monwa departed from the den, following Uru into the savannah.