Three months had passed. I was nine months old, still small for my age.
The days passed, each drearier than the last, but I tried to not let that bother me now that I was finally able to get fresh air.
True my life wasn't one anyone would envy, I bore everything as best as I could.
Mother and I spent most of our time together practicing hunting. Mother was nervous, since I was small and she didn't want Scar to see me as useless, since that could end badly.
I avoided him as best as I could. This wasn't too difficult, as he mostly just left the non-hunting lionesses alone. These were only the younger lionesses who were under three years old. All others had to hunt, whether they wanted to or not.
While the adults went hunting, Nala and the others looked after me. Life wasn't easy for them. They were no longer cubs, and at that age, they would usually be running around freely and eating as much as they could. But the lack of food and freedom had a huge impact on their emotional well-being. Nala and Tama were prone to aggressive mood swings, while the even tempered Kula would try to calm them down while trying not to crack herself. The only way they kept sane, was to attack each other aggressively, much to the adults' despair.
Often squabbles between hyenas and Nala and Tama would occur over a bone or resting space. The fights would never get worse than snarling and a few ugly words thrown at each other. Kula would try to calm Nala and Tama before they could do anything that could get them exiled, or worse, while I tried to avoid them by hiding behind whatever there was to offer me a protective barrier. Eventually, the hyenas would move off, usually with whatever they were fighting for, leaving a fuming Nala and Tama, and a weary Kula. This usually ended with Nala snarling creative words, which I should not have heard, but did.
Despite all that, they and I really enjoyed teaching me to hunt. They would give me tracking and stalking tips that were accounts from the lessons their mothers gave them. These were the only times we were genuinely happy and relaxed and I always looked forward to them.
One day, Tama and Kula were called back early to their cave for some reason. There was a bit of time before sundown, so Nala and I stayed at the hanging out area.
I was feeling too tired to play, so I cuddled against Nala while we lay on a comfortable patch of earth. Much to my delight, there were no hyenas around, so I had decided to ask Nala something that had been bothering me for a while.
"Nala," I asked. "How come there are no other cubs or males?"
"When Scar took over," she explained. "He exiled all the males and forbade anyone in the pride to contact them. He obviously was worried about potential challengers."
"Oh," I replied. "Did you know any of them?"
Nala hesitated. "Well," she said. "There was my father..."
"Your father?" I asked. Then I stopped. Of course Nala had a father. She had to come from somewhere.
Nala smiled. "Yes. His name is Ni. Last I heard from him, he was hanging around the border." She paused. "I really miss him," she said, wistfully.
I pressed my head against her chest. "Who else?"
"Kula's father died half a year before Scar took over," she continued. "Tama's father was killed by the hyenas after he tried to resist."
I was beginning to regret asking. I felt bad for Tama and Kula, who would never see their fathers again. At least Nala still had a chance.
"Where there any male cubs your age?" I asked.
"Other than your brother, there were two," she answered.
"What happened to them?" I asked.
"Your mother was worried about Scar," she replied. "So she sent them to the Southern Pride. A friend of ours lived there, Malka. He was a good friend, but forever getting lost." Nala chuckled at that memory. "The Southern Pride were our allies."
"Were?"
"Scar broke off all treaties with the neighbouring prides after that," Nala said. "And he forbade any form of contact with them. I haven't heard from them since."
I took a moment to process this.
"What were those cubs like?" I asked.
"Well," she said. "There was Kula's twin brother."
"Kula has a twin?"
"Yes," Nala said. "His name was Chumvi. He and Kula were quite close." He was kind of goofy, but he was fun. Then there was Tojo, Aisha's son."
"I never knew Aisha had a son," I exclaimed. Aisha was a rather quiet lioness who had been killed in a hunting accident a few months ago. "What was he like?"
"He was adventurous and cocky," she said. "He was always tripping and falling. He and your brother once found a nest of abandoned baby birds and they raised them. I have no idea if he still has them."
By then, Nala had drifted off, a glassy look coated her eyes.
"Are you alright?" I asked.
"What? Oh, yeah. I'm fine," she said, distracted.
I felt bad for killing the peaceful atmosphere, but I felt like I had to know.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't worry, more are coming soon. I've already got them planned out.
Looks like Nala is despairing over ever seeing her other friends. Now you all know what happened to Chumvi, Tojo and Malka. Not to mention the cubs' fathers. Sorry guys, no mention of Tojo's father will be made.
In case you are wondering, we will get to hear more about these cubs later.
Next chapter should be up soon, in which we will meet the famous Ni.
Apologies for my stupid chapter titles.