Chapter 6

Siva and Suvo raced through the grass and towards the back of Pride Rock. Niru started to run stunned and afraid of what was behind him, and then he heard the cub whimper and gasped! He sprinted back to where she was laying, snatched her up, and raced for Pride Rock. He hid behind one of the rocks on the side of Pride Rock for a moment and peeked at the grass.

This time, Vitani was just puzzled and a bit frustrated. Niru saw that it was Vitani and gasped! Why would she be chasing them? He crept out from behind the rock and quickly and quietly made his way behind Pride Rock.

"Niru! Oh I'm so glad you didn't get caught!" Siva ran over him and nuzzled him happily.

Suvo sprinted over after her.

Then she quickly pulled away, embarrassed. Niru blinked and put down the cub, who fell asleep shortly after from the bumpy ride. Niru put his paw to his cheek where Siva had nuzzled him, then looked at his paw looked and smiled. "I'm glad you guys are alright too."

"Whoa what happened back there?" Suvo asked frightened.

"Suvo, when I got out of the grass, I went and hid behind a rock nearby to catch my breath. When I looked out, I saw your mom in the grass looking around, and I quickly ducked back down," Niru explained, still shook up.

Siva gasped "Mom was following us?"

"She was our company?" Suvo asked surprised.

"Yeah, it looks like that's what it was," Niru nodded to them.

"Why would she go and scare us like that?" Siva asked frustrated.

"Maybe she was looking for you," Niru suggested.

Suvo groaned. "Oh man, I didn't think she would go and follow us and scare us like that," he growled, annoyed that his own mother was merle trying to check up on them by stalking them in the grass.

"Maybe we should all lie down for a few minutes," Niru said wearily lying down from the stalked chase.

"Good idea." Siva plopped down next Niru and the baby cub, which was sound asleep by now.

Suvo crashed to the ground, exhausted in front of his sister and Niru.

Siva looked at Niru and the baby cub. "I'm glad the baby cub is all right," she nodded at Niru.

Niru looked at her. "Yeah, me too." He turned towards the sleeping cub.

"She sure was brave back there for someone so little as her," Suvo said impressed. "I was afraid when we were crawling, she was going to cry out at least once, but she was quiet the whole time. She deserves a reward," Suvo gently petted the sleeping infant.

Niru and Siva smiled and agreed.

"How about a special place in our pride, and breakfast," Niru suggested.

Siva gasped. "Yeah! She could live with us, we could be her family," Siva grinned at Niru and Suvo.

"All right!" Suvo cheered, and the other two joined in happily.

Just then, Vitani heard their cheers and followed them to the back of Pride Rock.

"There you are! I was looking all over for you two to check up and see what you were doing and where you were gonna play?" Vitani explained.

The cubs turned around and gasped, startled. Niru quickly sat up, and scooted himself in front of the cub, who stirred.

"Mom, you followed us in the grass and we thought you were a predator!" Suvo stood up and said angrily.

"You did? I'm sorry you three I was going to jump out and surprise you! I didn't realize I came on like that. However it was very good that you were looking out for each other and yourselves," Vitani apologized.

"Well, if you didn't mean to, I guess we can forgive you," Siva sighed.

"Yeah," Suvo nodded.

"Yeah, you're right," Niru also nodded.

"But." Vitani gently scolded them. "You should answer me when I call for you, otherwise me or Kiara or anyone in the pride who calls for you won't know where you are."

Siva gulped. "I'm sorry mom, but we were in the middle of a."

"Very important hunt!" Suvo finished.

"Yeah! It was this uh, antelope; we were practicing our hunting skills to get really good!" Niru explained enthusiastically.

"Oh." Vitani said, not sure what to say. After all, that would be a good reason for them not to have answered. If you make the littlest noise, you'll scare away your prey. She smiled, content with their story.

"All right you guys. I'd better go tell this to your mother, Niru. She'll be very proud of you all," Vitani chuckled as she turned to leave, but then stopped. "Oh, where are guys gonna play? You have to come back to the cave soon for a bath and an afternoon nap," Vitani reminded them.

"Aww!" they all groaned.

"We're gonna stay around here, just here," Siva answered.

Vitani smiled. "Ok, I'll call you in a little while, and this time, you'd better answer or I'll have to come looking for you again," she giggled, and started walking up to the top of Pride Rock.

The three of them sighed, relieved that she hadn't seen the baby cub yet, and that they weren't in trouble.

"Guys, we can't keep her a secret much longer," Suvo realized.

"Yeah," Siva nodded in agreement to Niru.

"I know, Suvo. Maybe we'd better show her now to my mom and dad. They're the king and queen, they'll know what to do," Niru advised.

"Yeah, good idea. Before anything else happens let's show her now before we get in trouble for hiding her," Siva agreed, and walked behind Niru to get the cub.

She gasped at the bare spot where the cub was lying. "Niru, where's the cub?" Siva panicked.

"She was right behind me a second ago," he sniffed the ground where she was.

"She couldn't have gotten far," Suvo started to sniff around too.

Just then they heard a cry in the nearby bushes from where the field of tall grass started. They all turned and ran towards the cry.