The day was warm and peaceful as the sun rose over the horizon. Small birds flew about in their daily business chirping happily in the fresh, morning air. Yet there was a sense of excitement in the air. In the centre of the pridelands stood a large rock formation; Pride Rock. Half way up was the main cave, inhabited that morning by a large pride of lionesses gathered around their queen.
"Queen Uru, you must be so proud!" one of them exclaimed.
"Two young princes," another commented looking at the golden and the light brown cub in her arms, "and in good health."
"I take it the King is pleased," a third said.
"Of course I am," a golden male walked over to the group, a full brown layer of mane outlining his face, with a thick black layer extending fully around him, trailing down his chest. He had black tufts of hair flowing out from his elbows and his fur glowed. The male stood firm on his feet, muscles showing his large strength and full health, "I have two perfect cubs."
He looked down at his brown mate with admiring eyes. Uru's under fur was a cream colour and she had a diamond on her forehead in the same colour. She had a light pink, hooked nose as a pose to her mate's rounded black nose and she smiled at him.
However beneath this happy scene of new life, trouble had already begun to brew. King Ahadi looked at his sons lying on the floor and his mind was already on the troubles of the future. Only one cub could rule over the pride yet he had been given two. He watched the golden newborn batting at the light brown with a strong paw and fairly good aim. This cub was stronger and larger, thought Ahadi, which in the old rogue's mind made him the best suited to a throne.
"Our cubs will have great lives Ahadi," Uru told him, rubbing her face into his thick black mane.
"Yes Uru," her mate replied, licking the head of his golden cub, "Yes they will."
He stepped back and the other lionesses of the pride huddled around the new mother again, all talking in excited voices.
"It is time for the presentation," a young voice spoke out from behind him. The lion turned to see Rafiki, the young wandering baboon, stood at the entrance to the cave. Nodding his head, Ahadi turned to Uru and whispered to her to pick up a cub and head over to Rafiki.
A large crowd of animals had gathered around Pride Rock, all eager to see the grandsons of King Mohatu. The legendary lion may not be there himself, but those who remembered him and who passed down his stories made him able to be there in spirit.
As the figures of the King and Queen appeared at the top of Pride Rock's large outcrop a silence fell upon the crowd. All who stood were gazing up at the same spot, trying to see the cubs that Rafiki was currently taking from their parents.
With one cub in each hand, Rafiki lifted the heirs towards the sky as was custom when presenting the heirs to the throne to their future subjects. A huge roar was let out from all the animals as they bowed to the floor in respect of the authority figures. The two parents stood proudly, sun shining on their backs as they looked out across the land.
"They will rule well together," Uru smiled, her passing comment being merely nothing more than a comment in the middle of joy; she hadn't though anything of the future at that point.
"…We shall see," Ahadi whispered to himself, taking his golden cub from Rafiki's hand and waiting for Uru to lift the brown one's scruff in her mouth. Together, the proud parents headed back for the cave glad that the ceremony had gone so well.
"We should betroth Mufasa," Ahadi was lying next to his mate a few days after the birth of his cubs and decided to talk about their cubs' futures.
"Why should we?" Uru tilted her head, pausing in bathing her cubs to glance questioningly at him.
"Well," Ahadi said, rubbing his face against her, "It is a tradition."
"Why Mufasa though? Why only betroth Mufasa?"
"Nobody likes betrothal," Ahadi chuckled lightly, "We need to do it for an heir, but there's no tradition in doing it for more than one."
"I guess you're making sense," Uru nods, looking at their now sleeping cubs, "Who did you have in mind?"
"I know of a couple of lionesses whom have had cubs but most of them are rogue females who joined the pride, or daughters of rogues," Ahadi told her, "However, there is one; Sarabi."
"Sarabi is different?"
"Yes, Sarabi's family have been in the pride for generations and I have already visited her mother. Sarabi is a strong cub with a good looking build to her. She should match Mufasa perfectly."
"Okay," Uru nodded, smiling at Mufasa, "In the morning, let us visit the cub and her mother."
