I hope everyone hasn't been waiting too long for Vanitas the lion. I think next chapter will have a good plots advancement. Things feel too static, or do you want me to keep adding more fluffy cub moments. I got several ideas, just not sure to continue or progress the story. Anyways I hope you enjoy the reading. I know it was fun to write this.

Year 0 day 45

Narrator

The cubs are at the stage of pre-pubescent. For now, Vanitas has distanced himself from the other cubs. The time spent at this age is used for practicing their motor skills for ambushing. These skills are learnt from games of tag or leaping from bushes. This is also the age to acquire hierarchy for the next generations. Pre-alpha males are in the works, Vanitas seems to be the first candidate but he has an opposing foe: Seifer. This cub seems deeply involved with the pride group and has several cubs following his steps.

Vanitas POV

I'm just lounging around my favorite tree to beat the heat. I wagged my tail to act like some monsoon wind that won't happen for another 2 full moons. Just as I reach the apex of sleeping….

"BIG BRO!" I could feel my fur fully extending out of my body. That nightmarish voice was the runt, Ventus.

"Found you. Come on, Vani. Let's go play tag with everyone." As if I would join with those pompous idiots that called themselves lions.

"*Yawwwnn* why don't you just go play with them. I'm sleepy" Not bothering to lift my head out of sheer laziness.

Ventus had the same knack of climbing trees like I do. Sometimes, I wonder if we were actually leopards and not lions. "Awwww, big bro. It's boring without you. You made things funner." He played around with my tail knowing I won't claw his eyes out. I already gouged Yazoo right-eye during a tag game. This is why no one besides the runt wants to be near me. I especially dislike Seifer, the 2nd cub able to reach my speed. The first one was surprisingly Ventus. After 5 sunrises, he was dashing and hopping around like a cheetah. His reflexes made him hard to pin once he is on the move. If he is stationary, he can't react fast enough and that how I caught him awhile ago.

"Well, well, well… if it isn't the two doo doo birds. Trying to make a love nest?" It's official, my day has gone to the wastelands. The arrogant Seifer has arrived with his fandom of cubs.

"Good insult", said Larxene.

"Ha ha hah ha haa," that laughter came from Braig.

My eyes peered through the thick grasses near where Seifer's group is located. A black mamba was slowing making its way. The other cubs or Ven didn't detect it yet. I just gotta stall for some time for dinner and a show.

"Oh no, Seif. You got me beat. I'm torturing myself in this cool and shady tree because of your superiority. Have mercy…." It was my worst attempt at sarcasm, but it isn't going to be the death of me.

Seifer smiled back, "feline, you have lost your cocoa beans. It's so obvious that I should be the next alpha male." Too bad. He could have been the next alpha male, but nature can be scary.

"Hisssssss….." the black mamba was in position.

The snake went for the target that I had distracted with my façade. It bit down onto Seifer.

"Ahhhh cobra! everyone, run….." screamed the group. The group scattered in all directions from the deadly encounter. Sadly, it was Seifer that couldn't be as lucky. The snake had already coiled around the struggling cub. Seifer twitched from the neurotoxin. He convulsed all over his body until the spasm ended. The snake unhinged its jaw and slowly engulfed the bag of pest from my life. Life is sweet for me.

Ventus wasn't as thrilled as I was. "Vani, you saw that snake coming to him. Why didn't you warn him?"

I gave a very menacing look to Ventus, "because he was annoying me. And bad things happen to animals that annoy me." I could be known as the demon of all lions from those last words. Ventus didn't look shocked or frighten.

"But, would you hurt me?" What was he doing with his eyes? It looks rounder and hypnotically harder to resist starring. I broke the trance with good head-shake.

"Get real, why would I hurt my own runty brother?" I'm acting too soft around Ven. He is something I can't stand, yet won't wish away. So contradicting!

The snake almost finished swallowing the late Seifer. Just a bit of his tail remains to those who were watching it. I leaped down the tree. I know snakes don't eat again after a big meal. However, keeping a nice distance prevents defensive bites.

I headed back to the pride group because: 1) to let the cubs know Seifer is dead and 2) to seal my position as the alpha male. And alpha males need their beta males nearby. My beta male would be the runt.

As I turned to face Ventus, he looked sadden. Don't tell me he liked Seifer. "Are you upset that I let him die on purpose?"

Ventus shook his head to dissolve my theory. "No, I'm sad that I couldn't play tag with you." He acted like he was the one eaten by the snake.

Rolling my eyes, I had to cheer up this beta runty male. Swiping my paw to his behind I called, "tag, catch me if you can." I darted ahead of him.

I could tell his predatory instinct kicked in as he was within body distance from my head start. Guess that did the trick. Sweet Acacia, he is easy to please.