"Oh Kovu, they're perfect." Kiara smiled warmly at the two bundles of fur in between her paws, giving the brown one a lick on the head.
"Just like you, love." King Kovu nuzzeled his mate, who purred in reponse.
"Mama? Can I see?" An eight month old Adilah asked from her position in her father's paws.
"Of course, darling." Kiara moved around so that the cubs in her paws became visable to her eldest daughter. Adilah moved towards them, peeping over her mother's paws. "They're so tiny..." The cub whispered in amazement, causing her parents to laugh slighty.
"Everybody was like this when they were cubs, me, you, your daddy, even grandma and grandpa." Kiara explained, giving Adilah a lick on the head, "Mum! I'm a big girl now! I'll look like a baby if you do that!" Adilah whined, moving away. Kiara just smiled and gave her another lick and a nuzzle.
"But you'll always be our baby." Kovu smiled, scooping his heir up and licking her head and nuzzling her. "Dad!" The eight month old cub yelped, trying to get away.
"Now Kovu, I wouldn't that if I was you, my granddaughter is shaping up to be one mighty hunter."
The royal family turned and saw the old king and queen making their way to them, Simba's mane was greying in the slightest, while his golden coat was slowly dulling by the day. Nala, on the other hand, her pale, cream coloured coat was slowly turning silver.
"Hey, Daddy and Mummy, wanna meet your grandcubs?" Kiara gave her cubs to Kovu so she could nuzzle her parents.
"Of course, sweetheart. I'm so proud of you." Nala nuzzled her daughter, "Your grandparents and brother would be proud too." Simba smiled sadly at the mention of his late parents and son, Sarabi had passed away in their sleep a couple of weeks after Adilah's birth, while his son, Kiara's older brother had died in a flash flood.
"Grandpa! Tell mama and papa that big girls don't get licked by their parents!" Simba looked down to see Adilah between his front paws, sticking her tongue out to her father who blew a kiss in return.
"She takes after you, Simba." Nala sat down next to her mate, smiling at her granddaughter.
"Mum, Dad, meetyour new grandcubs." Kiara and Kovu grabbed one cub each, sitting them in front of the old king and queen.
"Simba. Nala, this is Almasi, she is the oldest and takes after you." Kovu smiled, yes Almasi did indeed take after his father in-law.
"She's beautiful and will grow up to be a heartbreaker." Nala smiled, nuzzeling the newborn cub, who squeaked when she pulled away.
"And this is Kopa, your first grandson, he's the youngest and by the looks of it is the runt." Kovu smiled, nuzzeling his son. Simba and Nala smiled warmly at the royal family.
"Oh Kiara, Kovu. We are so proud of you both." Simba smiled.
Adilah woke up with a start as the thunder and lightning clashed and boomed through the small cave, the royals had taken refuge in. Blinking back the tears that had formed in her eyes, the young lioness looked down to see if her siblings were alright, seeing them all sleep curled around eachother. The princess looked around the cave, frowning when she saw a shadow aproaching the entrance. Adilah went completely still, seeing the shape of a lion approach the den, breathing deeply, the liones stood and creapt along the walls, keeping in the shadows.
The lion appeared to be carrying something in his mouth. Probably waiting out the storm with a piece of meat incase he gets hungry, Adilah watch closely as the lion, most likely around her age, dragged a zebra leg in the cave. The lion's gaze fell upon the three sleeping cubs in the corner, frowning when he saw one missing, looking up his eyes went wide seeing the young lioness ready to pounce.
"No! Wait-" The young lion tried explaining, but was cut short when Adilah jumped on him, pressing her paw to his throat.
"Who are you?" The princess snarled, "What were you doing looking at my sisters and brother?" Hearing the lion choking she lifted her paw from his throat, but kept him pinned to the ground.
"Does it matter who I am? You came into MY cave, I found you asleep, I grabbed the small cub and put her next to you. I went out hunting, HUNTING, in the rain to find you guys something to eat. Then I come back only to be attacked by the very lioness that I did these things for!" Adilah watched this lion rant, "You know I could have KILLED you! Or worst I could have killed ALL OF YOU! But I didn't, and this is the thanks I get? Well missy-"
"Shut up, look I know that this isn't my cave and I didn't have a right to attack you, and I'm sorry." Adilah looked at the lion, who studied her closely, his honey coloured eyes narrowed, "Can we start again?" The princess held her paw out.
The lion stared at the Adilah's paw, before sighing and taking her paw. "I guess... But no more attacking?"
"No more attacking." The two teenage lion shook paws. Adilah smiled at the lion, when she heard a yawn coming from her side of the cave. "Sister?" Almasi asked, half asleep.
"Yeah, 'Masi? Sister is here." Adilah walked towards the cubs and laid down, her head resting near Kopa's. "Something wrong?"
"I'm hungry."
Adilah looked at the lion, who was still standing the middle of the den. "Can I...?" The princess nodded towards the zebra leg laying forgotten by the cave opening. The lion simply padded over to the meat and picked it up, bringing it back in front of the lioness and cub.
"Who's that?" Almasi cocked her head to the side, her blue eyes showed confusion and fear.
"Who's who?" Everyone turned to Kopa, who had just woken up. Seeing the meat, the young cub bounded towards it, "Oh yum!" Kopa had bounded towards the piece of meat, completely ignoring the dark brown lion standing over it.
"Heh, I'll take that as a thank you." The lion grinned, stepping back so that the cubs could eat their share, He frowned when he saw Adilah trying to shush Uzuri, who was whining loudly, probably looking for her mother. "You know, I know someone who might be able to feed this one."
Adilah narrowed her amber eyes at the young rogue who was offering his help, again. "Why are you helping us?"
The lion looked offended for a second, before replying. "I know what it's like to lose a sibling, and it just feels right to help you." The lion paused, "I know a lady who would be able to feed her." He pointed to the crying cub.
"Who are you, Rogue?"
The lion smiled, showing his teeth. "Who are you? Princess?"
Adilah's eyes went wide, "How did you know?" She whispered fearfully, drawing Uzuri closer.
"You look like a lioness I met when I was a cub, Kiana?"
"Kiara. She was my mother." Adilah looked down, tears forming in her eyes.
"Was?"
"Rogues took over, killed my grandfather and father. I don't know what happened to my mother and grandmother."
"I'm sorry, three rogues came to my pride and killed the king too. I was lucky to be banished. The prince though..."
Adilah smiled sadly and gave the rogue a friendly nuzzle. "Thank you, Rogue. For everything."
The lion went still at the nuzzle, before nuzzling the princess back. "Hakuna. My name is Hakuna."
Adilah smiled, "Well then, Hakuna. Thank you." A small cry from her sister brought her back to earth.
"Adilah! Adilah! Here's some meat." Kopa and Almasi had saved their sister some, proudly dropping it at her feet.
"Thank you, guys." Adilah smiled, then looked up to Hakuna who was lying down a few meters away from. "Kopa, Almasi. Meet Hakuna." At the mention of his name, Hakuna lifted his head up, smiling at the cubs. "Hakuna, this is Kopa," The amber eyed lioness nodded at Kopa, who was staring at the lion, waiting for him to make one slip up, "and this is Almasi." Adilah looked down at her sister, who was also staring at Hakuna.
"A pleasure to meet you." Hakuna smiled. The rogue looked outside, seeing the morning sun peeking through the clouds. "Adilah? I think your sister's hungry. What do you say we go see my friend?"
Adilah nodded and picked up the two week old cub, the twins following their sister.
"Is that your cave?" Kopa asked Hakuna as he led them on, his chocolate coloured coat shining in the sun's light.
"Yep." Came the simple answer.
"Do you live on your own?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Because."
"Oh, OK."
Almasi then came over, standing on the other side of the rogue, "Do you like living on your own?"
"It's ok."
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Nope."
"Do you want one?"
"Later on."
"Adilah wants a mate later too."
"Yeah!" Kopa grinned.
"And?" Hakuna looked at the cubs in amusement, knowing where this conversation was going.
"And as her only brother, I like you the best out of all the lions her age."
"Yeah, Doka, was a real meanie." Almasi frowned.
Hakuna just laughed at the cubs, seeing a familiar cluster of trees up ahead. "Adilah, give me Uzuri, I'll take her there."
"Woah, wait up. No offence, but I'm not letting you take her in there without us. If she goes, we go as well." Adilah set her jaw, Hakuna went to say something but Adilah cut him off. "No ands, ors, ifs, buts or maybes."
With a sigh, the rogue led them under the trees. Damn, Frika is going to be mad...
O~
Ok, I'm not that proud of this chapter, but eh.
How do you like Hakuna? Don't ask about the name, I just like it ok? Oh and in few more chapters we see Timon and Pumbaa!
Ok, that's it for today, thanks for the reviews guys.
