A few weeks had passed since the discovery of the strange print. And during which Tami's reports were filled with stories from the animals of seeing tall almost ape like creatures without fur except for their heads, riding on strange sleek shinny fast moving animals that roared then a lion. But it wasn't just those reports that worried Kovu…it was the ones that said of animals for the herds have been disappearing left and right but what was first suspected to be that of predators like the pride or cheetahs or leopards turned out to be none of those things.
Standing at the edge of Pride rock, Kovu paced back and forth growling to himself, many of the animals were asking judgment on what was happening. But how could he place judgment on creatures he didn't know…or know where they were.
From the main cave, Aida, Fumo and Huru sat watching their father. Both Bora and Kiara were inside resting. "He's been up there since dawn when Tami gave him her latest report…I'm worried…" Aida whispered turning her attention to her two brothers beside her. "What if those creatures try and take someone from the Pride next?"
Fumo grunted, "Like they'd be stupid enough to take on a Pride of lions… OW!" Placing his paws on his head he glared at Huru who was still looking at their father.
"They were stupid enough to steal the cubs of a leopard…what makes you think they won't be stupid enough to try and steal a cub from us?" Huru spoke calmly turning his head toward the twins. Who ducked their heads, they all remembered the mother leopard that came to pride rock crying the loss of her cubs and that strange creatures had taken them. "That's what he's worried about, not just the fact that the animals expect so much from him right now with the disappearances of their kin but as well as us…" trailing off he looked over his shoulder into the cave where he spotted Bora resting with Erevu laying beside her leaning back against her stomach as he too slept, his mind traveled to the cubs his mate was carrying, he would have to take extra cautions to have them watched over.
"What are you three doing up?" The voice of their father's voice made them jump and turn around to face him.
"We were just worried…that's all" Fumo stated, "With what's going on and all"
Kovu sighed, "What is going on in the Pridelands does not concern you young ones"
"It concerns me!" Huru said sharply, "I'm future King and if this problem is still here when you hand me the throne I must know what is happening as well" stepping forward he stared Kovu in eye, "Have you not forgotten I have cubs on the way? I cannot let one of those creatures take my cubs!"
Sighing, the Dark lion nodded, turning his head to his youngest he waved his paw and pointed to the cave, "As for you two…this does not concern you right now…so go and sleep."
The twins were about to protest but the look that their father gave they shut them up, and groaning the two turned and padded on into the cave. Huru sighed and looked at his father, "What news from Tami now that has got you so distressed and out of bed at such an early hour?"
Sitting down, Kovu ran his paw over his mane and shook his head to clear his thoughts. "The elephant herd has just reported the disappearance of one of their calf's…and the Gazelles have reported seeing those strange creatures once more at the borders"
"Why don't we just go find them?" Huru asked, his unsheathed claws digging into the stone beneath his paws.
"No…I have sent word out with Tami that any more signs of these creatures that the animals are to stay away as far as possible for them. And as for us…the Hunting party numbers must double as well as I will be sending one of us each at a time to accompany the lionesses and keep watch over them. As well as one lion must stay at pride rock at all times between you, Fumo or me. None of the cubs are to leave Pride rock and no one is to leave alone," Kovu instructed.
Huru growled low, he didn't much like the idea, but he knew better then to go against his father's word. Nodding he walked toward the cave, "I'll give the news to the lionesses in the morning Father" he said making his way over to his mate. Lying down beside her he placed his head atop of hers.
"So what did you're Father have to say?"
Chuckling, he nipped at her ear, "How long you've been up?" he asked. He should have known she wasn't sleep.
With her eyes still closed, Bora spoke; "Since the twins came in and I heard Fumo muttering as he passed me then trip and stub his paw" she snickered.
Nodding, and grinning Huru closed his eyes; he retold Bora everything his Father had just told him. "Your Father is right Huru…even if you disagree with it. There's no point in us going to find them and cause trouble…if they have the power to take a elephant calf from its mother much less its herd they'll be strong enough to take on the Pride…we can't afford any deaths" Bora whispered so not to wake only of the other lionesses.
Huru sighed, "Why must you always put everything into logic?" he asked making her giggle a little. "Because it just sounds that way because I'm your mate and you must listen to me"
"Very true!" licking the top of her head, he laid his back down on hers and closed his eyes as the both of them drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, the new law was put into affect over the Pridelands. The animals had taken to staying close within the Pridelands never going near the borders. The Pride was never seen leaving Pride rock unless it was for the hunts or for Kovu and Huru to go out on patrol to check the lands and the animals. The cubs were restricted from ever going too far from Pride rock and during which two or three lionesses were always watching them the entire time if the cubs were ever allowed to leave their own mothers sides.
During the next few months, the sightings of the strange creatures kept being reported, and what was beginning to worry the pride was one sighting was at the Watering hole by Tami who flew back to tell Kovu straight away. It was during that time none of the pride left Pride rock; the cubs were kept at the back of the main cave. The Pride finally left the shelter of pride rock only when they knew they had to hunt, during which now both Kovu and Huru accompanied the Hunting party.
A heavily pregnant Bora, rubbed her head against her mates, "Be careful out there," she whispered as she pulled back. Huru gave her a cheeky smile, "We survived a river of rapids three years ago…I can survive a bunch of strange creatures…" noticing the worried look come over the white lioness' face he nudged her with his head. "Hey, don't worry you just keep your mind on those cubs. They should be due any day now" he smiled.
Sighing, she returned the smile, "You're right…but please be careful out there" Bora didn't know what she would do if she was to loose Huru and didn't even want to thing of the possibility.
Huru nodded and giving his mate one last lick on the cheek the crown prince turned and joined his father as the both of them led off the hunting party. Walking to the edge, Bora stood watching them go, a small smile tugging on her mouth, despite the pains that were coming from her, it all started that morning but knowing Huru was needed on the hunt for protection she hadn't said a word of it to him. 'Come home safe and soon Huru…or you'll miss their arrival'
Vitani who had remained back at Pride rock, was eyeing Bora the entire time, as she walked around, she noticed the grimness of pain that the white lioness often showed but refused to let anyone see. Approaching her, she walked along side her; "Any time now, hm?" she asked looking at Bora's heavily pregnant stomach.
"Huh?" Bora turned her head when she noticed Vitani beside her, "Oh yes the cubs…yes any time now!" she winced at the strong contraction that shot through her closing her eyes tightly. Vitani rolled her eyes, jumping in front of her, she eyed the princess "You can't hide this Bora trust me I tried when I was having Etana"
Bora sighed, "Nothing gets passed you does it Vitani?" she eyed the lioness then closed her eyes as another bit of pain shot through her.
Vitani smirked smugly, "Of course not" she watched the princess worriedly.
Bora smiled before it was replaced with pain, Vitani quickly took action and led her toward the main cave knowing the white lioness would not make it to any other. She snapped at the other lionesses that had stayed behind to watch the cubs to get them out and somewhere else. Then helping Bora lay down she instructed her on what to do.
Bora let out a cry of pain, her claws digging at the stone flooring of the cave.
Fumo who had heard the cry came running in, "What's wrong? What's going on?" he asked looking at his brother's mate taking in how much pain she seemed to be in.
"Can't your little brain process anything? She's in labour! Go and find Huru now!" Vitani snapped at him making the young lion jump in fear and turn and high tail it out of the cave and do what his Aunt had told him to do and as quick as he could ran down the ramp and off in the direction the hunting party was last seen heading in.
Bora cried in pain as another contraction shot through her body, "I just wish they'd come out" she cried.
"How many cubs are you suppose to be having?" Vitani asked sitting down next to the younger lioness.
"Huru and I…wanted it to be a surprise…so we don't know…" the white lioness whispered as she clawed at the ground.
"I see…well this may be a long labour if it's more then one…or two…" Vitani stated, remembering when one of the lionesses gave birth to four cubs when she lived out in the outlands when she was young, the cubs did not make it through to their first year due to lack of food they had.
Placing her paw on Bora's she let the younger lioness grip it tightly as she started to try and push her cubs from her and into the world with Vitani's soft urging to help her.
Out on the savannah Fumo was running as fast as his paws could let him in search of the Hunting party. "Why did Tami have to be away today?" he cursed wishing the bird had been around Pride rock for the time so she could have gone and found Huru. It would have been faster by air. He finally caught hold of his brothers' scent when he noticed the scent of a fresh kill.
"HURU!?"
Huru who was helping divide up the kill, snapped his head up at the sound of his brothers voice, before he could speak, Kovu did, "Fumo what are you doing away from Pride rock!? You're supposed to be guarding" Kovu looked at his son with disappointment that he hadn't listened to him.
Fumo stopped and collapsed to his stomach panting for air, "Bora…labour…" was all he managed to gasp out but they heard him. Huru dropped what he was holding and jumped over his brother and bounded off toward Pride rock. The Hunting party gathering what they could hurry off as well toward their home for the arrival of the new heirs.
When they made it back to pride rock, the cubs and lionesses were sitting outside the main cave. Erevu jumped onto Huru's head when he rushed into the cave followed by Kovu, Kiara, Fumo, Aida and Etana, "Congrats old boy you are now the Father of three healthy cubs!"
Huru stopped dead in his tracks in shock, "T…three?" he whispered turning his head toward his mate and the three bundles of fur that lay against her nursing. Walking over he stared down at his cubs, two girls and a boy, looking them over he took in the colour's of their pelts, the boy was white in fur much like his mother but with the difference of the brown tuff of hair on his head and tail, the two girls were similar in golden, both were golden brown in colour, save for the strip of white they had starting on their heads and going down their backs.
"They're beautiful," he whispered rubbing his head against his tired mates. "What are their names?"
"I was thinking of Tabia…" Bora said placing her paw on the girl closest to her, "Zahra for her" she placed her paw on the second girl.
"Tabia and Zahra…they're beautiful names…but what about this little guy?" with his paw, Huru lifted his son up as his family came and gathered around. Bora smiled, "How about you name him?"
Huru thought for a moment as he eyed his son, "Chane…that's the name you shall go by my son" he stated as he sat back on his hind legs lifting his son up for the family to get a good look at him. Chane yawned as his father placed him back down beside his sisters where the three of them curled up.
As the cubs began to sleep, Huru rubbed his head against Bora's and instructed her to sleep as well since she had long day already. The small group moved out of the cave with Aida jumping all over in excitement, "I'm an Aunt! I'm an Aunt!" she cheered.
The lionesses all began to talk among them selves when they found out that three new heirs had been born. It had been years since three cubs had been born from one litter in the Pride. The question was out of the three who was going to be the new heir when Huru ascended the thrown?
But all questions were pushed aside, even the threat of the unknown creatures were forgotten for the time being as a roar from Huru echoed through the pride lands signalling the arrival of his cubs.
