Pirate22, Carmen738 and Travass thanks for the reviews. As to the name suggestion, I'll see where it will fit. Enjoy chapter seven.
Two months passed and Simba found it safe for the cubs leave. Simba and Nala kept their word and told Kiara and Kovu about their mother having another cub and why they weren't allowed out of the den just yet. The twins were upset but understood. Now they were able to go out with their cousins. Kiara ran ahead of Kovu and was about to go down the rocky slope but Simba grabbed her and placed her by his paws.
"Whoa. Where are you two going in such a hurry?"
Kiara giggled before sitting up as her brother joined her side. "We know. Stay with Nuka and Faida. Anything else?"
Simba chuckled before shaking his head. "Very funny."
Nala didn't in particular find that funny. She narrowed her green eyes, mostly at Kovu. "You two stay away from Zira."
Kiara and Kovu nodded causing Simba to smile. "Then off you go."
Kiara and Kovu giggled before rushing down the rocky slope. Simba watched the cubs run into the tall grasses with a smile before turning to face Nala who had a frown on her face. The golden lion followed his mate's gaze to see Zira walking over towards them.
"Morning you two." the pale tan lioness grinned sweetly.
Nala glared at the older lioness. "What do you want."
Zira faked like she was hurt by putting a paw on her chest. "I'm a fended. Can't I check on my little sister?" when the pale tan lioness didn't get a response she nodded before dipping her head. "Well, I think I will be on my way." she turned to head down the slope, "And may I say that young Kovu is certinly turning into a handsome young lion. He looks just like father." With A smirk on her muzzle and not waiting for a response Zira headed towards her secluded spot.
"Ugh that lioness makes me so mad sometimes," Nala said with a growl.
"Ignore her Nala," Simba said. "She's just trying to get a rise out of us."
"Dosen't she think we already know Kovu looks exactly like my father?" Nala said her voice low. "Heck I even overheard my mother say that Kovu even sounds like my father did when he was a cub. I don't need Zira to point out the obvious. That Kovu is most likely going to be the spitting image of our father when he grows up."
"That dosen't mean he's going to be like Scar when he gets older," Simba pointed out. "You're forgetting Nala he has your goodness and we won't let him turn into a monster like Scar was."
"I hope not," Nala said with a sigh.
"You have to think positive," Simba said. "No more negative thoughts. Ok?"
"Ok," Nala said with a smile.
"That's my girl," Simba said giving Nala a nuzzle. "Now I'm going to make my rounds. I should be back before Kiara and Kovu returns." With that the King took his leave.
'I hope Simba's right about Kovu,' Nala thought. 'I can barely tolerate Kovu as it is. I don't think I could take it if he becomes anymore like my father.' With a shake of her head, Nala went off in search of her little sister and her friends.
TLKTLKTLKTLK
In the plains Kiara and Kovu was having fun playing with Nuka and his friends even though they had to struggle to keep up sometimes because some of the cubs were so much older than them.
"Come on guys keep up," Nuka called impatiently.
"Yeah we don't have all day shrimps," Nero who was two months said.
"Who are you calling a shrimp, pipsqueak?" Khairi glared at the dark tan cub.
"Man why do we have to be the ones babysitting him?" a pale grey cub with light blue eyes name Faida said.
"Yeah it's not like they're our siblings or nothin' like that," Nero said.
"Well they are our cousins," Nuka said.
"They are?" Vitani and Nero asked their sapphire blue and green eyes wide with surprise.
"Mother said that King Simba isn't really Kovu's father," Nuka said. "She says that Auntie Nala mated with a lion before King Simba came."
"That would explain why he dosen't look very much like King Simba," a dark orange cub around Kiara and Kovu's age name Zuri said flicking her dark blue towards Kiara and Kovu who had just joined the group.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" Kovu asked confused.
"No reason," Nuka said quickly. "Come on let's go down by the river. I can teach you how to swim Kovu."
"That would be awesome!" Kovu cried happily.
"Kovu!" Kiara glared at her brother before turning to face Nuka. "Our daddy said we're too young to learn yet."
"How can your Dad say that?" Nero asked ignoring the glare Nuka gave him. "Isn't your Dad dead?"
"What the heck are you talking about Nero?" Kovu asked giving the dark tan cub a funny look. "My Dad isn't dead."
"Your real Dad is," Kinta said.
"Huh?" Kovu and Kiara said confused. "What are you..." Before the prince and princess could continue Nuka said quickly.
"Hey are we going swimmin' or what?"
"Yeah let's go!" Zuri said as she, Vitani, Kiara, Khairi and Faida went running down the embankment and jumped into the river minus Kiara who sat on the side and watched the others.
Nero was about to fallow suit when Nuka quickly pulled him off to the side, "Don't ever tell Kovu and Kiara the truth!" he hissed.
"Why not?" Nero asked his voice also low.
"'Cause mother said that if King Simba hears anyone told them the truth they'd be exiled," Nuka hissed. "You don't want that do ya?"
"No," Nero said soflty.
"Then keep your trap shut about it," Nuka hissed.
"Ya know if ya wanted it to be a secret then you shouldn't have said anything about it stupid," Nero said slapping Nuka upside the head. "But I'll keep quiet. Come on let's go swimming."
With a laugh of joy the dark tan cub jumped into the water and swam out to join his friends.
"Come on Kovu we'll go in slowly," Nuka said gently guiding his friend into the water. "Don't be afraid," Nuka said after Kovu tensed up after his paw touched the water. "I won't let anything happen to you," Nuka said. "I promise."
"Kovu I don't think this is a good idea." Kiara warned.
"I know you won't," Kovu said with a smile ignoring his sister. With that Kovu and Nuka began to slowly wade out into the deeper water. Once they were in for a few minutes Kovu began to gain more confidence. "I think you can let go," Kovu said.
"Are you sure?" Nuka asked.
"Yeah I'm sure," Kovu said. "Let go."
"Ok," Nuka said. With that the eight month old cub let go and Kovu began swimming around on his own.
However this moment of triumph was short lived. Soon Kovu heard a very angry voice shout, "Kovu! You come out of there this instant!"
Kiara and Kovu looked and saw a very angry Nala standing there. "Coming Mom," Kovu said as he began to swim towards the shore where his sister was already making her way to their mother.
But he didn't have as much energy as he thought and soon he found himself going under and not having the strength to swim up. But luckily for him Nuka was watching him and quickly pulled him above water and helped him get to shore. Nala ran up to her son fear flicking in her green eyes. "Kovu!" she cired nuzzling her son. "Are you ok?"
"I'm ok Mom," Kovu said after catching his breath.
"Kovu what were you thinking going into the river like that?" Nala cried. "You could have drowned."
"Nuka was teaching me how to swim," Kovu explained.
"Yeah and he was doing really good," Nuka piped up.'
"Nuka you should not have done that!" Nala cried. Then she turned towards her son and shouted, "And you should not have disobayed me Kovu! You are coming home with me right now."
"But Mom..." Kovu began.
"No arguing Kovu! Kiara let's go!" Nala shouted picking her son up by his scruff not so gently causing his to yelp in pain. "And I'm sure your mother will want to have a word with you too Nuka," Nala said her voice muffled. Without another word Nala turned and carried Kovu back to Priderock with Kiara scampering after her trying to keep up.
