Chapter 10

"Keep low to the ground…yes, like that. Now remember, you must be as silent as you can be or else the prey will hear you. You must be able to get close enough, to lead the party or ambush the prey, for you see every lioness plays their part in the hunt. Remember that and you will be a great huntress Vitani!"

The she-cub stared up at the Queen with wide awe filled eyes, clinging to every word the brown lioness was telling her. In the background the faint sounds of her brothers and Kopa could be heard as they gallivanted through the tall grass that was lush and thick from the rains that had fallen on the Pridelands. The rains had come and gone leaving the grasslands with freshly new foliage.

Zuri, who had long since grew tired of her sons constant complaining about the rains and lack of being able to play outside had agreed to accompany the cubs out that day. During the first few weeks of the rainy season, Zuri began to understand how her mother and the other lionesses felt in the Jungle when they hadn't been allowed out to play due to the floods.

She had been lounging on the grass, enjoying the feel of the sun on her back when she had heard the sound of paws approaching. She had opened her eyes to see who it was, she had been surprised to see that it was Vitani approaching her with a sheepish look on her face as if she was nervous of asking something and when the Queen has asked what was bothering the cub she was taken back when Vitani asked if she may teach her some hunting skills.

"You're too young Vitani; you needn't worry about having to hunt just yet."

"Please, Queen Zuri?" the cub kept on asking till Zuri had finally decided to give the cub some pointers.

With her paw, Zuri lowered the cub down onto her stomach till she was inches off the ground. Telling her how to space apart her paws and had her creep through the grass. With a grin, she had the she-cub creep toward the male cubs. They were too busy playing that she figured they might not notice Vitani sneaking up on them.

Sitting back, the Queen watched the she-cub slink her way through the grass, a proud smile on her face as she watched her move trying not to make a sound that would alert the boys that she was upon them. Though she could hear the cub whispering to herself.

"Keep low…feel the ground shift beneath your paws…quiet as a mouse…"

Biting her lip, Zuri kept herself from chuckling and shook her head. She soon enough lost sight of the she-cub in the grass but from time to time could see the grass shift showing her the exact location of the cub. It seemed Vitani was intent on getting Nuka, more so then the other cubs, for that was who she was moving towards.

Shaking her head, the Queen lowered herself back to the ground to get in a nap in the sunlight only to lift her head again when she heard a loud yowl come from the direction the cubs were in.

"Ow! Vitani get off!" Nuka's voice rang out.

With a sigh, Zuri got up and made her way over and stood peering down at the cubs. Vitani it seemed had successfully snuck up on her older brother and now had Nuka pinned beneath her. The she-cub looked up with a proud smile on her face. "I did it Queen Zuri, I did it!"

Smiling, Zuri reached out and hooked her paw under the cub she lifted Vitani off Nuka and set her aside. "Good work Vitani, you listened well."

Vitani smiled proudly and looked at Nuka who glowered and rolled onto his paws then reached up and fixed the mane that was starting to grow in. Although Zuri noticed it wasn't as full as it should have been but the cub was still young, she figured he had some more growing to do before his mane would be as big as any other males.

She fixed her eyes on the other two male cubs; both of them had tufts of mane growing in on their heads. Though it would still be some time before it grew anymore. Although Kopa did seem to have more then his father did at that age, she thought amusingly to herself.

And it was a fact she often teased her mate about much to his displeasure.

"How did she do that?" Kovu asked pointing at his sister. They hadn't even noticed Vitani until she had leapt from the undergrowth and had taken Nuka down. The two had tumbled before Vitani had managed to pin their older brother to the ground with enough force Kovu and Kopa thought it would have knocked the wind right out of him.

"I taught her a few hunting tricks. But only a few, she's much too young to join the hunts just yet. But perhaps in another month or two she might be able to accompany the hunting party out and learn by watching…the same could be said for you boys!" Zuri set her eyes on the three male cubs.

"But hunting is a lionesses job," Nuka huffed sitting down he swiped the ground with his paw.

With one eyebrow raised, Zuri smirked "Oh, is that so?"

The three young males nodded their heads. This caused Zuri to smirk and stares down at them, "Well, as a matter of fact. Lion's do hunt. Your father Kopa learned and so did my cousin, a lion can't always depend upon a lioness to do the job for him!" she poked each cub in the nose with her paw smiling as she watched them scrunch up their muzzles.

"But why's that? There are always more lionesses then there are lions…right?" Kovu asked looking up at the young Queen.

"Yes, Kovu, that is true. There are more lionesses then lions in a Pride. But my dears have you noticed there isn't any other grown lions in the pride?" the queen quizzed them sitting herself down she looked at each cub in turn. When they nodded their heads, she asked again "Do you cubs know why?" when they shook their heads she smiled and thought about for a moment on how to explain this to the cubs.

It wasn't unusual for a pride to have a few males, but those males were normally related in a sense. Her father had been her uncle's friend growing up, and so unlike the other males in the pride he stayed when the others left to make their own prides or were travelling as rogues. He was going to help rule along side her uncle to help him with protecting her mother and the other lionesses and future cubs but he had died shortly after she was born.

"You see little ones, though a pride can have many male cubs. Not all of them stay, you see when they become of age they leave the Pride to find their own, some becoming rogues, some males travel together to protect one another…."

"Does that mean I have to leave Mommy? I don't want too!" Zuri's eyes softened as she watched her cub wrap his paws around her arm. She bent her head and nuzzled the top of his head with her nose, ruffling the tuft of hair that was beginning to grow in. "No Kopa, you are your father's heir. You'll be King one day, so your place is here in the Pridelands…"

"What about us Queen Zuri?" Nuka climbed to his paws and stared up at the brown lioness.

Looking down at the two other male cubs, Zuri had to think for a moment before she answered. She already knew what the answer would be. Simba, as great a ruler as he was, and as fair…Zuri knew from speaking with her mate, that he would not have his Uncles mate's sons live at Pride Rock when they came of age to leave. Nuka was the oldest, so she knew he would be the first to leave before Kovu.

But she wasn't sure what to tell them, or her son. She was sure Kopa would be sad to see his friends go, while Vitani would be sad to see her brothers go. But unlike them, Vitani, whom Zuri could protect given she was a female, had a place amongst the Pride as much as the pride seemed separated, Vitani was the youngest female and that meant she was a liable member.

And possibly a future mate for her son…

She never brought it up with anyone else. But Vitani was the only female cub around Kopa's age even if she was a few months older then he was. But she was healthy and strong for one her age and Zuri had high hopes she would become an even greater skilled lioness. One like that would make a wonderful and strong Queen for the Pride. If she had to choose anyone for her son…it would be sweet little Vitani.

"That will be decided upon in the future!" was all she had to say. But she could tell by the looks on the cubs faces that they knew the truth behind her words. She reached out and laid her paw on their heads each for a moment, "Don't worry about it boys, that isn't for a long time!" getting to her paws she lifted her head and stared up at the sky watching the sun in the horizon.

"Now, get some more play time in before we have to head back," smiling she turned and began making her way a shaded area and lowered herself down to finish the nap she never really got to start.

The cubs sat where she had left them. Though now Nuka and Kovu were looking as though someone had struck them with a paw at the thought of having to leave the Pride.

Kopa turned toward his friends and thought for a moment before speaking "Don't worry guys, I'm sure dad won't let you go…and when I'm King you can stay…" the prince was cut off when Nuka jumped to his paws and glared in Kopa's direction and pointed at him.

"This isn't fair! You should be made to leave too. I was born before you…my father was also a King. So I'm a Prince just as much as you!" Nuka snapped at Kopa stepping toward him driving the young Prince backwards till he tripped over his own paws and tumbled to the ground.

"Some Prince can't even stay on his own four paws!" this time Kovu joined in on the teasing.

Growling, Kopa scrambled back up onto his paws and opened his mouth when Vitani beat him to it. "Leave him alone! It's not his fault he's a prince. And he even said he would let you two numbskulls stay!" placing herself between the boys she glared at her brothers although she could understand their feelings. She really didn't want her two brothers' to leave either but that was the way of the pride.

Kovu's ear's lowered a little and a guilty look appeared on his face at having jumped to accusing his friend. While Nuka just glowered, to him it didn't seem fair at all that he should have to leave the Pride he was born into while Kopa got to stay all because he was the prince.

He was born a Prince too. His father had been King before Simba. Now that he thought about it. Why couldn't he be King? Wasn't it supposed to be the oldest that got the throne? He had been born when Scar was King, he was a Prince and he was the oldest. He should be the next King…right?

And then he would be allowed to stay and Kopa would have to leave.

All these thoughts were running through his head. All confusing him. But there was one thought that stuck. That he having to be forced to leave in the future wouldn't be fair.

Smirking, he cocked his head to the side. "Aw, look the little Prince need's a female to protect him. How sweet!"

The fur on his back bristled and Kopa shifted his weight on his paws like his father had taught him prepared to pounce on Nuka if given the chance but Vitani was still in the way. "I don't need a female's help. And it's not my fault your father was a tyrant King and my father got rid of him! He deserved to die!"

The words that came out of his mouth made even Vitani gasp and move away from him with a sour look on her face. She didn't know Scar as much as Nuka did, but he was still her father. "Kopa…"

Thinking about what he just said. Kopa quickly opened his mouth to apologize but Nuka was already stepping forward between him and Vitani and putting some distance between them. "Come on, we should be getting home before mother does!" butting Vitani with his head Nuka began pushing his siblings toward Pride Rock then got in front to lead the way.

Kopa sat himself down on the ground and watched his friends walk away, only catching a small glimpse of Vitani looking back at him. He didn't know why he had said those things. But it wasn't fair for Nuka to get mad at him over something that he had no control over and was Pride tradition.

The young Prince didn't know how long he been sitting there for, but he finally looked up when his mother's shadow loomed over him with a questionable expression. When Zuri had woken from her nap she had expected to hear the laughter of cubs but she had woken to silence. In a panic she had jumped to her paws and searched the area but she could not see any of the cubs until she came upon her son. And only her son. 'Kopa?" she questioned the cub looking up at her, she could see by the look on his face that something had happened.

"Where are the others?"

"They went home."

"On their own?" Zuri looked concerned and around the area. Not that the Pridelands seemed as dangerous as it was and by their age she and Simba had been exploring on their own. But she had agreed to watch the cubs and if anything happened to those three, Zia would surely put the blame on the young Queen. And Zuri didn't need anymore strife between the prides than there already was.

'Yes…"

"Why would they go off on their own? Did something happen?" Zuri asked sitting herself down she waited for her son to answer. Kopa remained silent for a few moments before he began explaining everything that had happened, what Nuka said and what he had said in return.

In the end, Kopa hung his head to avoid the stern look his mother was giving him. "Kopa, I am very disappointed in you. I told you that story to give you a reason to why I was here and everything that happened. Not for you to use that against your friends. Now when we get back I expect you to apologize to them all…and I will speak to them about this…whole leaving the pride thing," seeing the look on her son's face she wrapped her paw around him and drew him close.

Licking the top of his head, she mussed up his tuft and then patted it down with her paw. "Come, we should be heading home ourselves lets see if we can beat your father home, shall we?" climbing to her paws she waited for her son then matched her pace with his while they began making their way back toward Pride Rock.

The entire way back, Kopa was thinking about what he was going to say to his friends. Would they even want to talk to him after what he had said? He hoped so. He knew his mother was disappointed in him, but he wondered if the others would be as well. His grandmother might. He didn't know about his father though.

The great circle was just beginning to sink in the horizon when they had finally reached Pride Rock. They could spot the lionesses lounging around enjoying the last rays of daylight. Neither of them could see a sign of Simba, Zuri took this as her mate was more then likely preoccupied with Zazu's evening report.

Kopa who had remembered he hadn't eaten that much that day, had quickened his pace wanting to get a hold of some of the left over's from the other days hunt that the pride had saved. Her cub's eagerness caused Zuri to laugh that she nudged him with her nose telling him to run on ahead of her and get his grandmother who would no doubt be waiting for them with something for the cub to eat.

Watching the cub run on ahead, Zuri had slowed her pace to a brisk walk. The last rays of sunlight washed over her fur warming her. It had taken her some time to get use to the sun. In the Jungle there had been so many trees that shaded the forest floor that not much sunlight often reached them save for the open grove and meadows.

In fact it had taken her some time to get use to the openness of the savannah and often found herself missing the tree cover of her previous home. But the Pridelands had their own beauty to them that she just loved watching the land as the sun set each day and when she could catch a sunrise she would enjoy it like it was her first.

Reaching Pride Rock, Zuri could already hear the laughter of the lionesses that had seen Kopa arrive eagerly for dinner. Shaking her head, she began her trek toward the top when a sneering voice stopped her.

"How dare you tell my sons that would have to leave this Pride you outsider!"

Turning her head, Zuri wasn't all that surprised to see Zira making her way toward her with a look of pure hatred that Zuri had become accustomed too. Turning her body fully to face the angered lioness, Zuri sat herself down on a rock above Zira staring down at her with a somewhat bored expression. Zira's tirades were becoming a tiresome thing to her.

"I only told them something they were bound to find out eventually Zira. You know the way of the Pride's and young male members. It was not like I told them they should leave right away, they're still young. They still have some time before they should feel the need to find Pride's of their own…." Zuri started to say when Zira cut her off with a snarl.

"My son's have every right to stay here; they were both born before yours! My Kovu was hand chosen by Scar himself, he should be allowed to be the rightful heir to the throne!" Zira sneered, her lips pulled back to reveal her teeth while her fur stood on end.

"Last I checked Zira; it was Nuka who was born first, not Kovu. And secondly Scar is no longer King, by rights your cubs shouldn't be alive but my mate is no cub killer and has allowed your cubs to live among the pride. To be nourished and well taken care of. Here they have safety and another cub to play with. The past is the past. As it should be…Scar is gone!" Zuri eyed the lioness before her. Choosing her words wisely knowing they could only anger the older lioness more so than she already was. She wondered if Zira was always like this or was she ever once a kind lioness. She heard some of the other lionesses that stayed with Zira say how their former queen had changed since her mate's death.

She guessed a mate's death could change any lioness. Each having a different effect. Sarabi she heard became stronger because she had to take care of her pride where Scar wasn't. Zira seemed to turn to hate…

"He's only gone because you and your mate killed him!"

"No Zira, the Hyenas killed him. Simba gave Scar a chance to walk away, to take you all with him and leave the Pridelands alive. But he was foolish to not take it like he should have. And that had been his downfall!" Zuri climbed back to her paws so that she stood above Zira her shoulders square and her head held high that she looked down upon the other lioness. "Now, as Queen, Zira, I will say this, you cannot threaten me any longer."

"How dare you talk down to me outsider?" Zira stepped toward Zuri, wanting to take her plans ahead of schedule, to take back what was hers, when a rumbling of growls were heard. Lifting her head, Zira took notice of the other lionesses that had arrived each standing on the rocks above and around Zuri each staring down at her with anger each ready defend their Queen if need be.

"She is your Queen, Zira!"

"She may speak to you how she wishes!"

"You are the outsider here now Zira!"

A chorus of growling words were heard from them. Sarabi and Nala stepped down to flank Zuri on either side. "Leave Zira, you have said your words and Zuri hers. Your son's are welcome in the Pride but they will never hold the title of prince's again. Simba is now King, not Scar and Kopa is the heir!" Sarabi said coldly staring at the mate of the lion who had killed her own mate. Sarabi still often scorned herself for being so blind to the truth for so long.

She wasn't going to make that mistake again. This time she would keep her son safe. Him, his mate and his son.

Seeing that she was outnumbered, Zira backed down. Looking at Zuri who was still looking down at her, she sneered. The lioness was getting too much of a backbone. The time had to come soon before the Prince got any older, the older he got the more he would be able to defend himself. And that simply wouldn't do.

Stepping back, Zira smirked and bowed her head mockingly "Your Highness," with that she turned and padded away toward the back caves of Pride Rock leaving the other lionesses behind her. Soon her plans would come into effect, and when that Prince and Queen was out of the way, Kovu would be able to step forth and take the throne.

"Soon…" she sneered.