NUKA

I left the den. "Watch her" I ordered to a hyena that was standing by. I knew my sister was doing her damndest to distract me. If my sister is right and by a strong IF...that would change everything. why the hell wouldn't she tell me herself? how could she be...this never happened to Nala and I. And believe me, I was excepting that outcome with her more times than once. After all, she was the one who was supposed to help me build it. She was going to still help me build it!

Going down the stoned pathway I saw Shanti right ahead. I expected her to be farther down the path by now, but I guess she is moving slower now. How could I not have noticed?

"Shanti Shanti wait!" she paused and looked back towards me. I could see confusion on her face.

"Nuka? is something wrong?"

"Are you pregnant?" I found myself saying the words before I could even think of how I wanted to say it. My statement caught her off guard.

"Uh...what?"

"Are you pregnant?"

"What makes you say that?"

"So it's true?" there was an uncomfortable pause. shit.

"I...I wanted to wait to tell you because I don't know for sure."

"But you think you?" she nodded slowly.

"Yes." Fuck. I took a moment to sit down. this was not something I expected to hear from her. Shit.

"Nuka? Are you okay? are you mad-you're mad at me. I knew this would happen and get in the way." I took a moment to zone out and register what Shanti has told me. I was going to be some cub father? shit, I'd think about it-dream about my future all the time, even if I didn't picture Shanti being the permanent figure next to me. but never did I think of when it would actually happen. Fuck is this actually going to be my reality?

I snapped back out of my haze when I heard Shanti crying. "..I...I'm not mad."

"But this might ruin everything, I mean you didn't plan this, we didn't have a chance to come up with any counters measures, you know they are coming after you! They want you dead-I have to be there to help you or else they will have ruined everything we have planned!"

"Shanti no ones going to ruin what we have planned, that's for damn sure."

"I just wish I could have timed this better for us." I got up, feeling the world standing more still under my paws. Wow this would be some shit I would get into, but that's fine this is nothing I can't handle. For a brief moment, as I looked at a worried Shanti, who was standing by to hear what in the hell I had to say next. She reminded me for a second of my mother.

the moment was quick to pass, the ways her eyes looked and the tiredness in her face. but still, it was enough time to send a shiver down my spine and remind me. I had to do what needed to be done. A parent or not. and now, I'm going to be the fucking parent. dammit.

Kings, why did my mother have to betray me like this? did she not know how much I loved her and still need her? she was so quick to throw what we had away for my sister. My sister who didn't give a damn about her! I know what I did was wrong it was fucked up. and if I could change it...maybe I would.

Shanti was shaking beside me. I knew she was scared of more than just our current situation. Fuck, the emotions of being a father are already weighing on me. I have to get everything secured by the time this cub comes. I have to make sure they want for nothing, and that I'm always there. the last thing I need is for someone to come in a swoop my cub away from me. Feeding them lies and turning them against me. When I made them. Im the reason they're even here.

"It's fine." there was another pause. and I needed the moment to convince myself a little more of that.

"I should get to the post, and see if the other hyenas have news."

"No, you can head back. the last thing I need to be doing is running to ragged."

"...so you'll go?"

"Yea, in fact, there might be a change of plans." I found myself saying.

"Change of plans, what do you mean a change of plans?" fuck if I knew yet. this really threw a cracked bone in my plans. but it'll be fine, a king needs options for his heirs anyway... and I wouldn't be my father's son if I didn't have options now, would I. I just have to think, what would Scar do? and do it better.

"I'll, talk about it with you tonight. Head back, and get some rest."

I left Shanti to head to the post myself. Thinking. How was I going to make this sudden change of events work for me. hell if anyone knew what to do it would be my mother. dad knocked up her at the most inconvenient time. still, she managed to make it work by any means necessary. I'll just have to do the same.

Whatever Simba and Nala think they have on us, will fail. We'll have them outnumbered and the advantage of the mountain pride territory. And now I have even more reason to live. I'll crush every last one of them. There will be no survivors.

*Just getting back on my feet, Oct has been a shit month. New fanfic coming soon.

+KawaiiCutie12, because adding drama is what I do best and I have a problem lol.