Hope for our cubs. I can finally start using Kahlil's name. Yes!

Jonny2bp: about last chapter. The quicksand was dry, but I wanted him to make that mistake because you get hurt or eat too fast or whatever, parents usually tell you to 'slow down', 'calm down', or 'don't struggle ' at some point. Kahlil never came across quicksand so he gives that advice.

Ch 9: Mama Jamala

Paka, Kahlil and the others had been walking since late mid-day and Kahlil had told Paka their story.

"Well, you'll like it here," said Paka, when Kahlil finished. "Everyone will treat you like family. Mama Jamala even go as far track down the cub's kind just ask how they hunt. Not that she will have to do it with you guys."

"Has she taken care of cubs like us before?" asked Kahlil

"No, why would she do that for her own kind?" said Paka. She turned her head to see the cubs have stopped moving. Niambi had her ears pulled back and, along with Alenda and Farih was staring fearfully at their brother. Kahlil's pelt fur was standing on end.

"She's a lioness?" Kahlil growled.

"She not like other lions," Paka reassured "She was kick out of her pride and they killed her cub. She should not give you any trouble." Kahlil calmed down and continued walking, but more slowly, not that eager to meet her anymore.

At sunset, they arrived at Mama Jamal's home. It was a very basic, a cave on side of a cliff with a couple of trees, but it was more than his pride ever had. Kahlil remembered his mother telling him that their pride was extremely old fashion and only take cave shelter in the rainy season. Kahlil looked around and saw several different kinds of predators, most felines.

"Wait here I'll go get her." Said Paka as spirted into the cave. Kahlil and his sisters sat alone at mouth of the cave, secretly worried.

"Well, what have here?" said a voice above their head.

They looked up to see a leopard sitting comfortably on a limb. It body heavily littered with rosette spots, making it hard to see the gold fur. The neck has far less rosettes spots and hold more plain dots. The leopard's body was small and had no whiskers, the sign of a female. Her eyeshades were deep brown, almost black, with red eyes. In the shade she was in, the leopard was menacing.

"We never had lion cubs before," She continued "but I haven't been around forever." She stood up and leaped off her branch, landing gracefully the cubs. Kahlil met her with his claws.

"Hey, there hold on" the leopard said " I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm Etana."

"I see everyone getting along," said a lioness that emerged from the cave. The lioness was cinnamon colored with colorless paws and looked older Ndege. Her eyeshade was two tones, one chocolate brown, and the other white. Her muzzle was long and bears a black sharp nose. She was very shady, had black ears, and a black stripe. She had a very grandmother like feel to her, yet the pride you can feel in any senior hunter.

"Etana," said Jamal "Stop scaring our guests." She turned to Kahlil. "Paka told me of your situation. You are more than welcome to stay here." Jamala took a good look each cub.

Farih was the close one. She bears light aqua blue eyes wrapped in two-tone eyeshades, colored paws, and a pink sharp nose. She also had long fur growing from cheeks and chest. Next was Alenda. Everything on Alenda light. Eye shade, round pink nose, her pale gold pelt, lime green eyes, even her tail truft was white. Only thing she didn't have was ear rims and the only one with colorless paws. Niambi was currently hiding behind her brother. Niambi had dark chocolate eyeshades, red eyes, black round nose, and ear rims. Her fur was unusually smooth and it was clear she was the runt. Then Jamala turn to Kahlil.

If Niambi was a male then you have Kahlil. Kahlil was much lighter color than his sisters instead pale gold; he was very pale cream, almost white. He much more shadier than his sister, though his cheek fur that required for a mane hadn't grown in yet. His deep dark mane was long, reaching his shoulders, but not going past his ears. Kahlil was quite big for age, instead looking he almost 1 year old, he look like he two! He was very lean, but was delevoping large muscles in his legs. The way Kahlil was looking Jamala, it was clear he didn't trust her. She raised an eyebrow.

"If you don't mind me asking, what do your parents hunt?" she said. Kahlil ears flattened out. " Sorry, overstepped my bounties. Anyhow are you hungry? We got warthog."

"Sure-" Kahlil began but interrupted by Alenda

"Warthog? Yuk! I hate Warthog. I never figure out why dad caught that trash every year."

" Because sis," said Kahlil, spat out the 'sis' "that was mom's favorite food and how dad won her heart." Alenda bowed her head, as Kahlil lecture her. " I guess you won't be eating here tonight." He started walking, stop in front of cave and with a "And I'm not catching any rats." Disappeared into the cave.

All of the others carnivores was shock at scene. Jamala turn to Farih

"What just happened?"

Farih was sitting quietly with very little emotion on her face but it was clear in her eyes that she wanted to cry.

"Alenda never think, always rude and when she like that it usually true. When mama died, she insulted ubhuti like the rest of pride did, called him a 'rat'." Farih stared into the blackness of cave. "He was always sad but now he more angry".

"You mean bitter," said Niambi as walked up to them. "It one thing when a hateful pride call you that all your life, but it whole different level when one of your siblings, the last of your family said it.

"Now doesn't really trust anyone now."

After a while, they went to bed. Despite Kahlil saying he wasn't go hunt; he went and got a small rat for sister. He wasn't pleased that the only area he and his sisters could sleep was next to lioness.

' I swear someone laughing at me.' He thought. Kahlil took the spot closest to Jamala, not wanting her anywhere near his sisters. Kahlil waited patiently for Jamala to go sleep, before he let his tiredness conquer him.

A month old Kahlil was in the beautiful savannah when a locust came into view. He crouched down, blending in with the surrounding. Kahlil slowly approached. He was inches away when he heard all too familiar voice.

"Kahlil?" he turned to see Ina, in all her dark chocolate glory, looking exactly as he saw her as an adult. Kahlil ran to her completely forgetting the bug, with every step he took he grew until was full adult. Kahlil finally caught up with her before Ina began running. It seems like they were running for hours yet he wasn't tired. Giggles soon joined them Kahlil turned to see his sisters following. He was truly in bliss. The golden grassland became sky.

' I don't want this to ever end.'

"Kahlil? Why did you stop?" Ina said, walking up to him. He gave is most kindest smile that for once didn't look awkward or forced. Then suddenly she stopped, her eyes in full agony. Her body lightly shook as Ina tried to breathe but as air reached her lungs they were forcedly coughed back out.

"Ina, what wrong?" he said as he gingerly touch her with his paw, but this only it worse. Ina was coughing and shaking very violently now and kept getting worse until she fell and vomit out her own blood. By this time they no longer adults but 6 months cubs, one laying on ground and the other stand in fear. However, the vomit only stop f belief enough for her catch her breath.

"IT BURNS!" Ina screamed "HELP ME!" the vomit continued and didn't stop. Kahlil watched in horror as Ina finally choke on her own blood and die. Kahlil looked down at himself, all the blood from first impact landed squarely on his chest and front legs, his back paws were soak from the pool of blood he was standing.

'No! No! Not again, any day but this day.'

"Look what you done!" he turn to see Alenda, Farih, and Niambi glaring at him.

"You killed Koke and now Ina!" said Farih

"But I didn-" said Kahlil

"Silence, disgusting hairball!" said Niambi "You're lower than the rats, the bugs, the dirt."

Kahlil watched as Alenda grew to adult, but didn't hold any of her features but look like one lion. Gerda. The other simply watched as Alenda-Gerda hit him. Before he knew it he changed back into a one month old, harboring the injuries he had so long ago. He watched helplessly a lioness slowly lift up her paw to kill him.

" Niambi, Farih," he said, tears flowing from his eyes "Help me."

Farih give him a toothy smile while Niambi was sad and sympatric.

"You brought this on yourself," said all four girls in union but only Gerda said the next word, "bug." and swung her paw.

Kahlil gasped as popped out the nightmare. He looked around, his fur sticking to his skin. Once he was satisfied that it was only dream, he lay down and quickly fell back to sleep. Unknown to Kahlil, Jamala had been watching Kahlil sleep since he kick her with his leg. She stare his face when it turn to pure fear, even hearing a few names, all the while thinking.

' What happened in Kahlil's life that made him like this.'

This dream was very different from the usual. Normally Kahlil's dreams were very vivid, like he been there before, sometime he think of a river and sometime of animals, his life, his fear, or simply eyes, but recently he been dreaming of the strangest thing he ever seen, he didn't know what it was, but did know it was made completely of rock and as high as mountains. On it was eight figures: lions, but couldn't see their faces only their colors. He tried to get a closer look but before he could see them clearly, he awake up.

This was entirely different. Kahlil was walking though a thick fog; he could see nothing in it, not even his paws.

Little one

He turned, frighten.

Son

"Who's there?"

Don't you remember?

"Mom?" He turned look for the voices. "Dad?"

The fog clears to show a river and a cloudy night, only lit by the moon.

"Where are you?"

Look in the clouds

"What do you mean?"

Look

He looked up to see the clouds shape the form of his mother. It was still for a second before jumping out of the sky. As it touch the ground, it actually became his mother. Kahlil watch as mother approached him, her white coat ripple with a light gray shine like always.

"Where Dad?"

Look in the river

Ndege's mouth did not move but Kahlil could still her talk. Kahlil walked over and look but see nothing, not even himself. Kahlil turned to his mother.

Touch it

He did as he was told. His paw lay barely on the surface. He was surprised to feel something behind it and kept pushing.

Let go

Kahlil set his paw back on the ground as the lion shaped water came out the river while a strong wind blew, giving Erasto his color.

Hi, son

"I miss you," Kahlil said. He ran to his parent as they nudge and rubbed him.

Kahlil listen to us

Kahlil look up to his parents to stern face.

We need you to trust Jamala

"But why"

Because she helps you to whom you are.

"I don't understand."

You will soon

Open your heart my little one, she closer to you than you think

Kahlil woke up for the second time and didn't want go back to sleep for more confusion. He looked to around to find Jamala was no longer in the cave.

' I wonder where she went?' Kahlil thought. He could still hear his mother's echo in his head.

Open your heart

After a few moments, he decided to find her. He careful not to step on anyone, walked to the entrance. There he could see Jamala just a little a way from him, though it hard to her fur against the black sky.

"Jamala, Wait up!" He said, running toward her. It clear on Jamala's that she think he would seek her out.

"Did I wake you, little one?" Jamala said and for a moment, Kahlil felt like he was with his mother again.

"No, I just wanted to where you're going?" he said sheepily. Jamala just smiled.

"I'll show you."

Kahlil followed Jamala up the side of her cliff, all the time wondering where they were going. At the top of the cliff was a small oasis; it had a few trees with thick leaves and a small pond.

"It is my quiet place," Jamala said "I come here every morning. You are free to use if you like. Just don't anyone, or it won't be so quiet anymore."

"It lovely." Was all he could say.

"Kahlil, quickly turn around." Kahlil turn to see nothing but empty and the night sky.

"Wait for it." Jamala winked. Kahlil watched as a small speck of yellow appeared on the horizon. As it grew, the sky became more and more red. Kahlil watched in full awe.

"Is it beautiful?" Jamala said "I remember when my mate showed this to me."

Kahlil turned to her. "What was he like?"

"He was a kind soul. His name was forgotten often, as father was a murderous rogue, so told anyone. He was very small, lean and very dark almost black, but had these beautiful blue eyes. He was my reason for my family."

"How is that?"

"Back then was I quite selfish as my father was famous though I never met him. When we first met, I belittle him, I didn't want anything with a lion that barely a mane, but he soon grew on me and we have a cub, a beautiful male. But my half brother, the king, found out, he killed my family right in front of me. In a blind rage, killed his and I was kicked out and I vowed never to go back.

"Well it harder for a female to get in a pride than male. We are tight family and we need company. Then I saw this fight, a cheetah mother was trying to protect her baby from hyenas. They kill her instantly but before they could touch cub I chased them off. I care for the boy and I found my purpose." Kahlil thought hard about her words, her life.

' She been so much.' Kahlil thought 'Maybe, just maybe we could get could'

Open your heart

"Bird and wildebeest." He said. Jamala turn to him, confused.

"My mom was a bird hunter and dad did wildebeest." He explained

"Ah, it shows."

"What?"

"You're long and lean, that sign of a bird or gazelle hunter, but you're also unusually big and strong, sign of a zebra or wildebeest killer."

"Oh."

"You're a special lion," said Jamala "your parents must be proud."

dream scene:

Erasto speaking

Ndege speaking

Erasto And Ndege speaking

WOW this took forever this my longest chapter yet. 7 pages.

I read my other chapters and this I Kahlil personality is based on someone in my life weird. I tell you later.

I want do two kinds of dreams. One vivid the other more dialogue. I like Ndege and Erasto come back though dreams.

I classified hunters, though get gazelle quite easy, it hard they're faster.

In my family tree for this Jamala is actually Kahlil's half-aunt. My question is should I let Kahlil find out.

For the sweet part of the first dream, I listen to titanic rose's theme.

Farih started get some personality, and Niambi is starting get out of her shell with Jamala. Niambi problem is mothers; Kahlil is bullied by everyone, she deal with mother.