"She's so cute."
"She looks much like her father."
"Kiara, she's wonderful."
"Have you shown her to her uncle?"
Kiara smiled softly down at her daughter. Kovu had yet to see her as he was out with Kion doing rounds, but she was slightly worried about Kion. He was so distant lately and he always said it was because of the fact there was another lion in the pride, and he didn't know if he should stay or go. He was getting older, and the guard's mark wouldn't be with him forever, that was the only thing keeping him in the Pridelands.
Her heart hurt when he told her that but shook it off by giving him the news he was going to be an uncle, and Kion almost broke at that news. He stood still before smiling away and nuzzling her, saying how he'd do great with his nephew, how he'd teach him now to hunt and how to charm lionesses. When Kiara asked through her giggles what he'd do if it was a girl, he stopped before saying he'd teach her how to be gentle and kind. Friendly too.
"No," She said after a while. "Not yet. He's out with Kovu at the moment, they should be getting home soon. Then, me and Kovu will name her." She gazed down at her daughter and took her appearance in more.
Kovu's fur that was tone down with her own, her nose, and hopefully, Kovu's eyes. Emerald eyes could make anyone fall in love with them, and Kovu proved that point because she fell in love with them, and he to her. Along her fur were dark dots that all newborns held, and Kion managed to keep them until he reached his teens, which then, they began to disappear but they stayed faded, barely seen unless you were next to him.
Another part of her wished for them to stay.
"They're home," Nala purred when she saw her son's red mane. "Which do you want first? Kion or Kovu to come and see her?"
"Any," Kiara replied. "Both, actually."
It didn't take any longer than a few seconds before Kovu padded into the den, stopping when he saw the bundle of fluff in Kiara's forepaws and he rushed over to see his newborn cub. He purred loudly before licking his mate's cheek before laying down to see his daughter, hoping she'd open her eyes for him.
A yawn escape the princess's mouth and her eyes fluttered open to reveal emerald green, and Kiara's heart sored. She scored on that wish for sure, now, how to deal with Kovu wanting to wake up their daughter every chance he was able to snag? That was the real question for her.
"She's beautiful," Kovu whispered out. "What should we name her?"
"How about Zola?" Kiara suggested. "Zuri brought the name up when she was trying to figure out a name for her daughter, Azizi." Kovu gazed over his shoulder to see Zuri standing there with a smile for the new princess, and between her paws was Azizi, who looked much like her father but held Zuri's structure, eyes, a that little tuft of hair sticking upwards, along with the dot under her eyes.
"I like it," Kovu nodded. "Zola." he said, letting the name roll off his tongue. His eyes soften at his princess but realizing Kion had yet to see his nephew, and cleared his throat, asking Tiifu to get Kion for them.
A moment later, Kion was dragging himself into the cave and gazed between the lionesses watching them. A few with unsure looks in their eyes, and Kiara realized he had fear. Both had learn Scar's story, about how he killed Mufasa and tried to kill their father but failed, and she knew he was scared about doing the same thing. She sucked in a breath before smiling softly at him.
"You won't be like him," She promised. "You would've done something by now if you had turned into him, Kion. But you didn't. You're leading the guard, and you're dead loyal to us. Your family."
Kion shifted uneasy before sitting down in front of them, barely gazing at his niece. Kovu wanted to growl but the look on Kion's face said otherwise. He was truly scared to be around his niece, despite the look Zola's face saying she wanted to see the new lion around her parents. Kion held his breath and quickly glanced before muttering a sentence about Zola being beautiful and moved out of the den fast, running even and a few lionesses blinked in surprise.
Not once had the prince done this before. What could've triggered this reaction of him? Tiifu had jumped to her paws and moved to tend to Kion's scaredness, and Kiara bite her lip. Not in sadness that her brother didn't even see her daughter fully, but because she knew he didn't want to know her in case he did something he'd regret.
"Let Tiifu tend him," She said. "He's grown closer to her throughout the years. The guard doesn't even come close to where she's got to him, and he's been seeking her comfort."
"Aren't you a bit worried?" Zuri asked, tilting her head. "That he didn't see Zola at all? That wasn't how Kion acts, Kiara! He's always brave, and doesn't mind meeting new members of the Pride. One glance at Zola, and he's running for the den's entrance."
Nala sighed. "It's been like this ever since he's came back from the mission." The pride winced at how Kion would act whenever someone was around him. "The war the Upper Lands and the Lower Lands had was tough, and Simba foolishly sent Kion for it. Saying his son would help them out, and though they won, Kion wasn't the same."
"He needs to clean up his act if he's around Zola," Kovu replied.
"Kovu!" Kiara hissed. "Don't be like that. My brother has trauma from the war, and you don't care. What if you were sent in his place? You'd be acting like that too. It's not your place to tell him to clean up his act."
"Sorry," Kovu lowered his head to lick Zola's head. "I just… don't get why he's like this. I'm used to my brother-in-law being himself, playing around with Bunga and stuff. But, he's so different. The guard wants the old him back."
"Everyone does," Zuri sighed.
With everyone around her speaking about the lion who barely say her, Zola could only cock her head to the side and mew for her parents attention. Only her father went to her aid but her mother just stared worriedly out the den's entrance where the lion went.
What was up with her mother?