A/N: sorry for the late update I've been really busy lately, but I managed to work on this chapter, so here ya go! Read, Review and Enjoy!
Chapter 4: You're all heroes.
The three cubs watched in horror as Kovu dropped to the floor and Kiara and Nala did everything they could to ward off the panthers. But they were still outnumbered. Taja panicked and his eyes flashed with sadness and rage. His two sisters cowered behind him until one got an idea.
"I know what we need to do!" Kamazia exclaimed and squeezed past her siblings to climb down from the dead tree.
"Kamazia! Get back here, what are you doing?!" Taja yelled and climbed down to convince her to hide once again.
"H-Hey! Don't leave me!" Camira protested and climbed down also.
"Guys, there are too many of them! They need help I have an idea!" Kamazia insisted.
Taja tugged on her paw, "Are you crazy!?"
"Just trust me, please. Dad, mom and grandma need us." Her scarlet eyes sparkled with determination and reluctantly Taja complied.
"Look, there's no time to explain! Camira, inside the dead tree was a dead bird, get it and then bring it to me, Taja and I will just be over by that sandy ditch over there, okay?" Camira was the smallest and weakest so the bigger job was left to Taja and Kamazia.
Camira would normally complain, she hated getting her paws dirty but one glance back over to her injured dad and weak family, she climbed back up, "Okay!"
"Good, now Taja follow me!"
Meanwhile Kiara and Nala were becoming weaker, "Mom, I can't hold them off! And look at Kovu!" Kiara exclaimed as a panther ran towards her and she quickly dodged and clawed one's face with her teeth bared.
Nala managed to knock one of the large cats out with her back feet, "I know we h-have to be strong." She breathed.
Their previous adrenaline was beginning to ware off, "I hope the cubs will be okay." Kiara breathed out unsure of how to react to everything. She was suddenly knocked down by a panther but she quickly got back up and pinned him.
"Save your energy daughter!" Nala scolded as a large panther clawed at her neck.
"Kiara…" Kovu whispered, "Take care of the kids…" he tried to stand, but his legs collapsed.
That comment made Kiara's heart break, as a thought hit her hard, I might not be able to.
Suddenly a small roar was heard and Kiara recognised it immediately, it was her disobedient son that needed to run if he were to survive.
The panthers noticed Taja and a slightly smaller cub beside him, figuring the cubs would be easy targets, half the pack ran towards them, "NO!" Kiara screamed as the cubs scurried off casually.
Unbeknown to the panthers, Kamazia had a dead bird in her mouth and another cub was waiting for them beside an odd looking pile of dead leafs and bark.
"Now, Kamazia!" Taja yelled and Kamazia obeyed. She would've rolled her eyes at his comment if it weren't a serious moment, she was the mastermind behind the plan.
Kamazia 'tripped' and managed to slide into the dead tree's opening, just before planting the dead bird beneath her. The panthers halted and began devouring the dead bird, having no idea it wasn't the cub.
The distraction bought Taja some time as he bravely jumped into the pack of hungry panthers and snatched the dead bird away from them, angering them once more. They chased Taja as Kamazia prayed to the great kings that it'd work. He planted the bird on top of the pile of leaves and bark, making sure not to touch any. Camira watched nervously on the other side of the pile and whispered, "Come on Taja…"
Taja jumped over the pile with courage and luckily managed to get to the other side, but the panthers weren't so smart, as they sprinted across the pile, well, until they fell through into a deep ditch.
"Yes!" Kamazia said and ran over to her brother and sister. She looked down and saw a mess of panthers angrily growling and dead leaves covered the ditch's sandy flaw.
"We did it! Come on lets go see if mom and dad and grandma are okay!" Camira squeled in joy.
Kiara and Nala had finally managed to knock most of the panthers out as there weren't so many to battle now. Nala sighed in relief after Kiara dealt with the last one. Both lionesses panted heavily and were relieved to see the cubs were okay.
"Where'd the others go?" Kiara asked.
The cubs grinned, "It was Kamazia mom! She was amazing and thought of a plan! The panthers are stuck in the deepest ditch I've ever seen! And her and Taja were so brave!" Camira gushed.
"A-Are you mad?" Kamazia asked quietly.
"Honey, you saved us, you're all heroes, but when I saw you run off I was so worried and couldn't do anything to protect you, but…thank you Ava." Kiara smiled and nuzzled Kamazia and then Taja and Camira.
"We were really worried when we saw dad fall mom, is he gonna be okay?" Taja asked padding over to his father.
Kiara looked over at Nala, she was the wisest about these things, "He'll be fine darlings now give grandma a cuddle!" Nala laughed as the cubs ran to her. Kiara watched as she heard mumbles along the lines of, 'wow grandma you were so strong' and 'when I grow up I wanna be as fierce as you', and 'no wonder you were the best hunter back in the day!'.
Is he gonna be okay mom, Kiara mouthed.
I don't know, baby, Nala silently replied back.
"Come on kids, it's still not safe." Kiara informed.
"What about dad?" Camira asked.
"We'll help him up, what's important now is that we get to the Western pride as quickly as possible to treat his wounds." Nala nodded and Kiara assisted to help her husband up.
He groaned in pain, "You'll be okay baby, I'm here." Kiara soothed. The two lionesses wrapped one arm over each of their shoulders and walked as fast as they could with the extra weight. This time the cubs stayed close and made sure not to play anymore games.
After a few more hours of travelling everyone was thoroughly exhausted, the sky was pitch black and the cubs began to drag behind slightly until Kiara snapped at them.
"Mom, I'm tired." Kamazia complained with a frown.
"We have to keep going-"
"Kiara! They're cubs stop being so hard on them, we all need to rest, even you. There's no daylight too."
"But…Kovu…he…" Kiara sighed, "Mom, I'm worried, his breathing has become shallower. Haven't you noticed?"
"Of course I have…" Nala sighed and looked around, trying to adjust to the ebony surroundings.
"Fine, we can have a ten minute break, okay?" Kiara compromised and the cubs eagerly sat down and rubbed their aching paws.
"No point now, guys, welcome to the Western Pride!" Nala and Kiara jumped in surprise which made Kovu groan. The cubs looked up with hopeful glances.
"The former queen and the current king and queen of the Pridelands, right? Oh, no, excuse me we have three generations here!" A goofy male lion smiled, he had rugged midnight black hair and a tanned beige coat which matched his orange eyes even his smile seemed contagious.
"Hello." Nala greeted and bowed her head in respect, "I am the daughter of Sarafina and granddaughter of Meringue, whom both moved from your pride to the Pridelands, you are my cousin Mapenzi, your mother is my mother's sister correct?"
"You must be Nala, you look very similar to my mother and I guess that makes us first cousins right! Cool, bring it in." Nala giggled and gave him a hug, Kiara grunted as she supported Kovu alone.
"It's nice to finally meet you, I'd like to meet my aunt and ask her why she never moved to the Pridelands with my mother, they were sisters after all."
"Oh silly lioness, she stayed because her father wanted to stay, and she was a daddy's girl!"
"So…my grandfather is here? As well as my brother!?" Nala was speechless.
"Yes, however unfortunately Grand pappy's health is going downhill, you're lucky to get here now."
"That's too bad, I'm glad I'll get to meet him."
"Uh, mom, Kovu!" Kiara reminded.
"Oh." Nala went back to her previous position of supporting Kovu too, "Where are my manners? This is my daughter Kiara and her mate Kovu, queen and king of the Pridelands and these are my grandcubs, Taja, Kamazia and Camira."
"Nice to meet you." Mapenzi smiled and nodded his head, "So uh what's up with the king?"
"We were attacked while crossing the desert, by panthers, can we seek a place to rest for the night?"
"Of course, we're all family! How rude of me, this-a way guys!" Nala, Kiara, the cubs and Kovu followed their new lively family member to a small cave in which they were told they could spend the night and meet the Western King and Queen tomorrow, as it was pretty late and they didn't want to awake everyone. Besides Mapenzi was only up because he had managed to fall out of bed and then needed a drink, well so he said. After he suggested that they decided a quick drink was in order before bed.
Kiara and Nala place Kovu in the back of the cave and the cubs cuddled next to their daddy. Kiara sang a quick lullaby and kissed her mate and cubs goodnight. She sat next to Nala who was smiling, "I used to sing that to you when you was a cub."
"I know, I stole it." Kiara smiled, her face dropped though, "Mom, do you think Kovu will be okay, he hasn't exactly been awake but he tried to walk a few times, remember?"
"He's probably still in shock, he should be up by tomorrow, if he's not then you can worry, okay?"
"Okay. But how'd you know?"
"Well the same thing happened to Simba just before you and Kion were born. We were on our way to the jungle paradise where Timon and Pumbaa used to live and he got attacked by a snake, I managed to kill the snake but he was in shock for about a day. Timon, Pumbaa and I took great care of him and he was fine, darling. I have experienced a lot of things you know."
"I know, I didn't doubt you, I was just-"
"Worried, I know baby. Come on let's get some sleep, we're safe now, today has tuckered us all out."
"You're right mom." Kiara agreed and finally processed the long day they had. Pushing the lingering doubts and worries from her mind she decided to sleep at the edge of the cave, just in case they weren't safe, it was a maternal instinct. Nala shook her head but didn't question the decision, she curled up opposite Kovu and the cubs. And with that slumber hit the remaining awake lionesses.
So what'd you think? Oh btw Mapenzi means funny in Swahili, well according to google translate :)
