AN: winter break is finally over and I want to say I was productive but let's be honest I was a slug. But on the positive side, I visited Disneyland and I got an adorable Simba stuffed animals and I freaking love it. On the other hand, I set a goal to publish a chapter at least once a week.
"Ha! Pinned ya!" Nala triumphantly said as she towered over Simba for the third time that day.
The pair had spent the last hour playing their favorite game as Sarafina watched. Nala, of course always won pinned ya. Simba never seemed to figure out her simple strategy of kicking her legs up to reverse the position of the two. It made a charming scene to Sarafina seeing the future rulers of the Pride Lands play together.
"Good thing Sarabi and I introduced them to each other when they were infants," Sarafina thought to herself, "I remember when Mufasa and Sarabi hated each other's' guts when I was a cub."
"Okay, fine you win can you let me up now?" Simba said. Nala rolled her eyes and giggled as she got off from on top Simba. Nala walked proudly from the spot that the two were in. Simba walked behind her seeing that her back was exposed. Simba took that opportunity to pounce again on Nala. However, Nala was prepared and she kicked her hind legs to flip Simba over and eventually pinned him for the fourth time.
"Pinned ya, again," Nala said triumphantly. Simba sighed with exhaustion.
"Alright you win," Simba said, "get off now."
"Not until you admit that I will always be able to pin you," Nala said.
"Fine you will always be able to pin me can you let me up now!?" Simba said quickly.
"Well," Nala said slowly, "okay." Nala got off of Simba. Sarafina chuckled at the scene.
"Guys the sun is starting to set I think that we should head back to Pride Rock for King Mufasa's announcement," Sarafina said and she stood up. Nala and Simba both cried out in disappointment and followed Sarafina home.
"So what is happening that is so important that King Mufasa wants the entire pride to return back to Pride Rock?" Nala asked.
"I'm not exactly sure," Sarafina responded, "something about new cubs I think."
The trio walked over a small hill that revealed the might of Pride Rock. Simba spotted the distinct figure of his father. His red mane was a dead give away also the fact that he was standing on a large rock to address the gathering pride. Once closer to the land formation Simba and Nala rushed from Sarafina's side to meet with Tojo, Kula, and Chumvi.
"Hey guys," Tojo said as Simba and Nala had walked up.
"What's going on?" Simba asked.
"King Mufasa wants to introduce two lions to the pride," Tojo said.
"I hope there's a girl to bond with!" Kula said with her usual bubbly attitude.
"Yep, and then there will be another one of you, amazing," Chumvi sarcastically remarked.
"Attention, everyone," King Mufasa boomed from the top of the entrance path to the den, "two new cubs are moving into our pride. They are to be treated with the same respect as the other cubs." Mufasa said eyeing Simba as well as the other lionesses and the cubs turning to look at him. Simba then sheepishly shuffled backward.
"May I introduce Mwezi and Jua," King Mufasa stepped aside and unveiled two cubs.
Mwezi's pelt was a creamy light brown with a light brown underbelly. He bore a crescent moon shaped blue gem that was tied to vine around his neck.
Jua's pelt was identical to Mwezi's. She wore a red desert flower in her ear. Both twins had dark brown almost black eyes.
The other cubs murmured about the various traits that each cub had, Simba though felt unsettled about the newcomers. Simba drew his eyes on Mwezi's amulet. The sun's last light caused the amulet to look as if it was glowing. Simba then looked at the eyes of Mwezi. The dark brown eyes almost looked like a single black mass. Mwezi then looked at Simba's direction causing Simba to divert his gaze quickly.
"Earth to Simba!" Nala screamed breaking his thoughts.
"Huh? What happened?" Simba said confused.
"Well the rest of us we're going into the den to eat dinner but since you're staring into space I guess we'll start without you," Nala said.
"Sorry I was just thinking," Simba replied. The cubs then individually made their way into the den. Just before entering the mouth of the cave, Simba looked up at the sky to see the sun gone with the bright moon in its place and stars to accompany it.
That evening
The entire pride was gathered in the den eating the antelope hunted today. Simba was sitting with his parents as usual. The two newcomers had decided not to stay in the den for some reason.
"Simba is something troubling you?" Sarabi said to her son.
"What do you mean?" Simba said looking up to meet his mother's gaze.
"You're not eating and well let's be honest you usually devour your meal in 3 minutes and then attempt to play with your friends," Sarabi said.
"I don't understand why the new cubs won't stay with us in the den," Simba said.
"I'm just over thinking….but then again there was that old lioness that could transform into a river monster, and the ghost problem in Talon Cave," Simba thought.
"Simba we found these cubs alone in the Outlands, who knows what they've been through,"
Sarabi said, "maybe you should introduce yourself and your friends to them tomorrow."
"Okay, mom," Simba said reluctantly. Sarabi smiled at her son and she gave him a small lick resulting in a cry of annoyance from Simba. The Royal family then settled on the large rock in the den before drifting off to sleep.
The next day
The morning light peered through the den awaking Simba from his slumber. He yawned and rubbed his eyes then taking a good look around the den seeing his friends had already left. Simba walked outside and made his way to the group of cubs.
"There he is," Chumvi said, "I thought you would never wake up."
"Hahaha," Simba sarcastically said and he plopped himself on the ground, "what are we doing this morning."
"Well we were gonna visit the new cubs," Kula said.
"What!? I thought we were going to go exploring " Simba said in protest as he stood up.
"Simba, there are more people in this world besides yourself," Nala said raising her eyebrow. Simba looked at her and then sighed.
"Okay, fine my mom told me they live in the small cave by the red rocks," Simba said standing up.
Located not to far from pride rocks the red rocks came from a cliff that collapsed long ago. The red coloring from the inside of the rocks gave them their name. The small den that the new cubs lived in was recently discovered on an exploring session made by Simba and Nala. Sarabi found it the perfect place to use as a guest den.
The group of cubs approached the small cave in the middle of the patch of large rocks. Out of the darkness of the cave, Jua stepped out.
"Um hi ….I'm Simba and these are my friends," Simba said, "Chumvi, Kula, Tojo, and Nala."
"Pleased to meet you," Jua said smiling warmly, "Come in the den is cooler than outside." She then walked into the mouth of the cave the cubs then followed
.
The small den had holes in the ceiling that allowed sunlight to peer through. Red dirt rises with every step of the cubs and it danced in the visible light before disappearing into the shade and then reappearing.
"Welcome to our home," a male cub voice said from the inside of the cave. The cubs turned their head to see Mwezi stepping from the cave. Compared to the rest of the cubs he was shorter
"It's such a pleasure to see you," Mwezi said before looking to each cub and saying their name, "Tojo, Kula, Chumvi, Simba…" he then stopped when he laid his eyes on Nala. "Nala"
"How did he know our names?" Kula whispered to Simba making him roll his eyes.
"I don't know maybe he's psychic," Simba whispered back.
"So what exactly do you do in the Pride Lands," Mwezi said.
"We usually spend the day playing games like pinned ya and tag. Sometimes we go on the occasional exploring adventure that usually leads us into some kind of trouble," Tojo said. The other 4 eyed Tojo.
"What, how many times has something gone wrong on an adventure of ours," Tojo shot back.
"Well I'm glad to be apart of your pride," Mwezi said breaking the tension between the five. The lionesses call for lunch gained the attention of the cubs.
"We better get going before the lionesses get angry," Simba said. The cubs started to exit one by one. Before Nala left the den she turned back to the twins.
"Are you guys going to join us?" Nala asked.
"No, we'll stay here we're not hungry," Mwezi said.
"Well okay," Nala said and she made her way out of the small den.
Jua then sat down and rested her head on her brother's shoulder.
"I think we're gonna have fun here," she said.
"Nala, what a pretty name," Mwezi thought to himself.
AN: yay I'm done with the first chapter and finals are done so I'm relieved of stress. Also that Simba stuffed animal is sitting on my bed and I love it. Don't forget to review and leave a suggestion on what you want to see next.