Simba woke up with a groan, his orange eyes scanned his surroundings for one lioness. His dark brown rimmed ears flickered at the sound of someone walking in the cave. The dark beige lion moved his gaze to the cave entrance to see Jesús and Kopa walking in.
"Boys...where's your mother?"
Green met dark brown eyes. The tawny lion sighed before looking at his father. But before he could say something Jesús spoke up. His voice came out laced with sadness and guilt.
"Dad...a few weeks ago... Kopa and I went to look for you and mother. But we only found mother and...she was dead."
Simba' s eyes widen as tears began to fall. His ears pinned against his head as he sobbed uncontrollably and loudly. His large body rocked violently with every sob.
Kopa and Jesús shared a look before looking back at their father with tears in their eyes.
"I'm so sorry Kiara..."
The brothers lowered their heads in sadness. As Simba cried and screamed his late mate's name.
~O~
It's been a few days since Cullen returned Simba back to the pride. Now the dark beige lion was taking a walk with his sons.
"So what has happened to the kingdom since I been gone?"
Kopa and Jesús shared a look before gulping. The tawny lion looked at his father and sighed.
"Father...I gave the rights of the throne to Jesús and Sherise."
Simba was quiet for a few moments before sighing. "Kiara would wanted you as king...I'm proud of you. You have done amazing."
Jesús smiled. "Kopa and Grandpa Mufasa helped a lot."
Simba head bump his youngest son and sighed. "If it's alright I would like to spend time with my grands?"
Jesús and Kopa nodded before walking back to Pride Rock with Simba in the middle.
~O~
Simba laid near the water hole with his grandchildren sitting near by. A proud smile on his muzzle as they tell him what happened while he was gone. His eyes moved from each cub until his orange orbs landed on little Skye.
"You look just like your grandmother."
Skye smiled lightly before nuzzling into Simba's dark brown mane. Demetria and Dimitri joined in as Tiifu and Sherise watched from across the water hole.
"It's so sad."
Sherise nodded as her head rested on her paws.
"Will he be okay?"
Sherise sighed deeply before looking at the creamy lioness. "I'm sure he'll be fine."
The dark brown queen turned back to look at her father-in-law as the older lion was telling the cubs another story about when Kopa and Jesús was their ages.