Chapter 1: the journey begins

It midmorning for many lions in the Kube tribe, but today was an especially important day for Ndege.

Ndege was beautiful lean lioness with sliver white fur. Her ruby red eyes were caved by brown eyes shades. Ndege stared lovely down at her 2 weeks old cub. The cub was cream but roughly two shade away from being white, which made his colored paws hard to see. His tail truft was chocolate brown. Though he was male, he has gain neck fur of most female. Overall he was look alike of his father, Erasto, with Ndege's eyes mixed in.

Today was special day because it was her son naming ritual and his time to acknowledge from the king.

' King Hekima and Erasto should come soon.' Ndege thought quickly

Suddenly, Erasto came running under the shade of their tree. His cream-colored fur and his short chocolate mane seem spotted with dirt, his red eyes carrying deep sorrow that Ndege couldn't understand.

"My love, what's wrong?" said Ndege "Where Hekima?"

Erasto bowed his and said " Our great king died two night ago while you still in nursery den. Bela is king now."

" That spoiled little cub!" Ndege said " what about Adhima or Zach?"

" You know as well I that eldest male chased off all rivals,"

"… When he coming?"

"Midday."

" Well, clean up your pelt," Ndege finally replied, " You knows how paranoid the King is."

Midday quickly came and Bela came into the couple's view.

Bela had the usual golden pelt of most kings but carried mane more tan than red. His red eyes had savage look to them. A mirror image of his father, but unfortunately, like Hekima, he live up to his name. Hekima's name meant wisdom while Bela meant quickly angered. From birth he always has been this way. As cub he would bite anyone's tail, whether he was mad at them or not. Ndege had been bitten so many times, that by the time he 8 months old, she refused to teach him hunting skills. Ndege was the best hunter and teacher.

"This your cub, Ndege?" Bela said in an annoyed voice, look down at her son.

"Yes, sire," she simply said

" First cub, Erasto?" said Bela, turning to his 3rd cousin.

" Yes, sire"

"Boy or girl?"

" Boy." Both replied

Bela sat down and put his tail on top of the cub's head.

"First son of Erasto, the peacemaker, and Ndege, an honorable hunter and teacher. The great ancestors have brought you into our pride. May you bring good rich till you leave or die," said Bela in respectful manner, though he looked the cub with slight disgust. " Name this cub so I can roar his name at sunrise tomorrow."

Ndege took it as her time to speak

" My child, so curious and free. Easily making friends with all the animals you see and a brave fighter. May your father bless you with the prefect name."

" Oh, my Ndege, I chosen the a fine name for son, a name meaning a close friend, our little K-"

" Ahh!" The new King roared. Sometime during his mother's words, Bela's tail had been moved from the forehead to the child's nose. The cub did what any young baby would do, he put it in his little mouth. Bela was now sporting a small but notable bite mark.

" Why this ungrateful rat!" Bela yelled, angry that his flawless pelt was now ruined. " He unfit to have a name let alone a place in the pride."

The proud parents were shocked. Nameless lions were consider disgrace because it meant they done several high treasons or are too unpredictable. Many cubs of murder are left unnamed until they proven themselves and even then they're never fully accepted. Many are killed before they come of age out of pure fear.

" Please, Bela, he just a cub," Erasto pleaded " He doesn't know better."

" Yes!" Ndege agreed, standing up." and besides you won't be even an inch as good as your father if you follow though,"

Bela look deep in Ndege's and Erasto's eyes seeing only fear for their firstborn. He had known that Ndege had been barren for five years, had been bless with a child in her old age, just when she was about to give up. At that moment he place himself in her paws.

" He'll have a place in the pride on one condition," Bela said " His father must stay out of pride, only allowed in doing the rain and dry son must take babysitting duty when old enough. When he make it to age, Erasto can come back and he can gain his name."

" And can we visit him?" Ndege asked, tears flowing.

"Yes, as much as you want," He pause " If you have more cubs then he stay until he they are 6 weeks old, same go for him." One that note he turned and left.

' Thank the great kings, my son'

How did you like it?

I told Bela's story first because he only going to show up a few times then… shrugs

The parents will be reveal in couple of chapters.

The next should be out by next Sun maybe.

Hekima – wisdom

Bela – quick to anger

Adhima- authority

Zach- lion

Ndege- bird

Erasto- man (or this case lion) of peace