CHILDREN OF KINGS

Chapter III

HOLDING THE FUTURE

The sun let his golden rays dance above the African grass. It was a long night, and the storm bathed generously the earth.

Inside the den was Kiara, she were sleeping with a calm smile on her face. She never thought that became a mother was so tiring, but she was happy, her cubs were healthy and beautiful. They were sleeping loudly at her side.

She awoke with a cub crawling and meowing and looking for milk. "Mhh….. You want your breakfast eh? Me too, my baby…"

Kiara was happy, but worried at the same time. She didn´t want to leave her cubs alone, but she needed to hunt, she hoped that something, even the smallest rodent, pass near her den.

Besides, she missed Kovu, if he were with she, she could let the cubs to him and hunt, or maybe he would hunt for her!

Then something stopped Kiara's thoughts: it was a leonine scent. This could be a danger for her cubs! Her fur bristled on his back and his teeth began to shine while she measured this menace. If she stayed in the den, she would have too much little space to fight, and her babies would be in danger any way…she needed to get out and fight this lion, besides she could smell it: this stranger got food…

Kiara crawled on her stomach while her ruby eyes glistened with adrenaline. She saw it, it was a female and she was carrying an antelope on her mouth.

She snarled with fury. What was doing this lioness hunting on the Pridelands, and so close to her cubs?

An almost unrecognizable roar escaped from her mouth while she charged against the lioness, her instincts made her blood boil, she wasn't Kiara anymore; she was a perfect carnivore ready to kill.

She attacked with all her might, fangs and claws were bared and the two lionesses were struggling in the wet soil. Soon Kiara was over her opponent and her jaws were about to attack the lioness's throat. Then a voice awaked her stunned reason: "¡KIARA STOP, IT'S ME!"

Kiara looked down. This was strange, behind the mud, the fur of her enemy was a rich gold, and her eyes…she had seen those eyes before…

"Vitani?" she said softly, half muttering, half growling. The new mother felt her eyes watering, she wanted to cry. Oh she could have done something terrible!

"¡Vitani, oh forgive me! What are you doing here? Kings of Past! I could have killed you!"

The golden lioness started to lick the mud out of her pelt to pass the fright, her body was covered of scratches and she was trembling, Kiara didn't noticed this or she would have felt even more ashamed of what she had done.

"You? Kill me? Hahahaha! That day hasn't come yet pretty one!" Vitani was smirking and Kiara was relief, her friend was sound and safe despite her attack, but suddenly Vitani's face changed to a soft smile "However I must recognize that you were terrifying!...Now where are the little ones?"- "Oh, they are in the den, sleeping"- "Aaawww! Can I look at them?" Kiara arched an eyebrow in a gesture that said more than a thousand words "Oh…Ok mommy, ok I get it! By the way, I brought you some food!"

Soon both friends were talking while Kiara devoured the kill. The day was placid and an acacia tree covered them with a gentle shadow.

"So… What are they?" – "Mhhhh…let me see… Oh! They are lions!" –Said Kiara laughing – "No!... I thought they were hornbills!...Of course that they are lions girl! I mean if they are boys or girls…" "Oh…no offense, but I think that Kovu should know that before anyone, even my own mother doesn´t know it yet…" "Don't worry I understand…speaking about my brother…" "How is he? Oh Vitani I miss him so much!" interrupted the princess.

Vitani smiled, she was glad to see the great love that her friend felt for her brother "Ooh…that poor male…he spent the whole night under the rain guarding the frontier…he miss you and he's dying for see his cubs! Even if he looks calm and says little as always, I know that he is proud and leaping of joy inside his heart!"

Kiara lowered his gaze and smiled, she remembered the powerful and proud roar of her mate trough the night, he was telling her that he knew about the successful birth of their children, and he was happy "I know it too, dear friend…"

Vitani tilted her head and said "So… he miss you, you miss him. He want to meet his children…and…You should allow him to see the cubs!" "Oh I don't know Vitani! What if I act with him as I did it with you?" "What if you doesn't do it? You would never do such thing, you will control yourself!" "Are you sure? ..." "C´mon Kiara if you don't allow him to see them he will drive me crazy!" "But…" "So it's clear! My brother will come to see you!"

Kiara was about to say her last "but" when Vitani ran away with all her speed. She smirked and sighed, in that moment she heard Vitani's voice at the distance yelling: "¡Thank you Kiaraaaa!"

His heart was beating rapidly and the air became steam when it came out of his mouth under the rain. Kovu looked at the clouds. This would be an enormous rain and the night would be long…so long…

He paced nervously, yet firmly along the border, there wasn´t any strange scent to worry about. He marked the bushes one, two, ten times. He frowned ¿How much can take a birthing? His mane was beginning to weigh on him because of the water…Oh! This was almost a torture, he had never been so nervous before!

"Great Kings of Past I hope she is well!" he said to himself…he tried to think about some things that he had learned about deliveries in his young life, but they were too little. Even Kiara had told him just a few things, useless at this distance… the only thing that he remembered clearly was something that his mother told him once: "…Your delivery cost me very much pain, so do not disappoint me prince…".

¿Very much pain? ¿How much pain! What if it were just too much for Kiara?

Kovu looked at the sky, he couldn't saw the stars, then he sighed. What if something happens to Kiara? What if something happens to the cubs!...He loved them so much!

He looked at the sky once more, and then he frowned.

"I know I owe you respect and love, but if something happens to my family it will be your fault and only yours, Great Kings of Past! You are supposed to protect them, so if something happen to them I will…- Suddenly something cut Kovu's speech, it was a familiar sound, little wings flying under the rain- Zazu?"

The poor old bird sighed. He was tired; fly under a storm was just too much for him!

A wide eyed Kovu walked slowly towards the bird. It was like if the time had disappeared for the anxious prince… Suddenly Zazu made his most profound reverence to the lion and said: "Prince Kovu I have the honor of carry an urgent message for you! Your parents in law: The royal highnesses of Pride Rock, King Simba and Queen Nala, heroes of many legends…" "¡KINGS OF PAST ZAZU I THOUGHT IT WAS URGENT!"- Roared the nervous male- "God! I know who my parents in law are!"

But even if the big cat was upset for the excessive courtesy of the bird, Zazu could not stop smiling so he continued calmly his announce "…Want to congratulate you for your strong and brave mate and princess. She had make you father of a whole litter of healthy cubs!"

The hornbill finished his sentence with a new reverence, and when he finally looked up, Kovu was different. The dirt and the water was still in his coat and his mane was still soaked, but a deep brightness was in his eyes, he closed his eyes in a soft expression, in pure calm and joy, then a huge roar escaped from his lungs, it was the strongest and happiest of his all life. Zazu looked at the new father in awe and proudly.

"A whole litter Zazu?" "Yes Sire that was what Queen Nala said" Kovu looked down at the bird and embraced him, he was laughing fondly and saying: "A whole litter Zazu! A WHOLE LITTER!"

Kiara was smiling with a new smile while she cleaned her youngest cub; it was pure satisfaction, a sweet bliss of nature…

"Mhhhh….You are so well behaved my little one! I bet your bibi (grandmother) will be proud of you!"

The cubs were tenderly moaning in their mother presence and, as every mother does, Kiara spoke to her children about the day issues "Oh my sweet hearts! I hope I will not react with your father as I did with your aunt. I would be so ashamed! He loves you and I want to see him with all my soul!..."

One hour after, when the shadows started to grow again and the sun wasn't hitting the world with all his might, the lioness felt a familiar scent. She walked slowly and cautiously to the den entrance, and a low growl started to grow in her throat. A dark leonine silhouette was coming to her. She was ready to attack until she realized it ¡It was Kovu!

She met him outside. Despite the happiness in her heart her fur was bristled, she could not help it. But Kovu´s greeting broke her tension.

Soon they were jumping and kissing each other like over grown cubs. Nothing could be wrong. It was her Kovu! Her Mate!

"Are you all right? I was so worried for you! Oh you cannot even imagine how much I love you!... I f something would happen to you I would…." "Shhhss! – the mother interrupted the accelerated discourse of her mate- …Stop my male…don't say such terrible things… I'm all right, we are all right…" The couple shared a tender glance "Do you want to meet our children?"

Kovu's eyes brightened "Are you sure? Are you ready?" "Of course my love! Just stay at the entrance of the den, it's a small place and you are too big".

The big lion crawled softly to enter as much he could into the little cave. Inside was Kiara, smiling, soon she emerged carrying, one by one, four perfect tiny cubs. Kovu in awe, he could not speak, he could only smile fondly, with all his big heart.

"This one, my love, is our third son: Busara (knowledge), as you can see, his fur is almost exactly like yours! We will see his eyes in one week or so… Isn't he beautiful? – Kovu could only nod; his eyes were watering at the view of the small life that Kiara put in front of him- Now, this little miss is our youngest, and her name is Malaika" "It means Angel!" "Yes Kovu, and she is starting to act like one, is the most tranquil cub ever!" "She looks like your mother" – Kiara smiled of contentment "Yes she does". The lioness took another newborn and let it in front of Kovu "This little male with my coat is our second son, his name is Shujaa (warrior)" The new father laughed softly, the cub was meowing at him "He got strong character uh Kiara? Like mother like son!- Kiara frowned at the little joke and smiled- But, who's the heir my mate? Who will rule after us?" "A tiny Queen, look over here Kovu"

At Kiara's side, suckling peacefully was a sand tanned little lioness with a soft line over her head "She is our firstborn, Abeni (we asked for her, and behold, we got her). When the sun set down upon our reign it will be dawn with her as the new queen…" "She got my mother's mark…" said the male "Yes, and her fur is just a little bit lighter than her. I think she is so pretty! I have always thought that your mother was a beautiful lioness.."

Kovu looked at his mate and smiled, yes his daughter was pretty, indeed, all his children were! The he looked at his cubs, curled in a soft ball at his feet, and sighed.

"Those are the names that the Good one himself revealed to you for them my love?" "Yes those are the names" Kovu looked at Kiara with a full filled heart. "Then, the Pridelands will be in good paws"…