Chapter 4: Preparation
During the final months of Siva's pregnancy, Niru made sure his mate had everything she needed to feel comfortable for when she gave birth. When the hunting party brought back a kill, Siva always got the first bite and ate her fill. Considering she was actually eating for three lives now, (herself and her and Niru's two cubs), the lionesses usually had to bring another kill for the rest of the pride.
As the day drew closer, Siva was nearly ready to bring two beautiful new lives into the world.
Kiara and Kovu, knowing Suvo and Nahara were planning to mate soon, urged them to spend time with Siva and Niru, not just to learn of what to expect, but also to help keep the future king and queen calm.
Although they didn't show it, Niru and Siva were both scared, as they had never dreamed of anything like this before.
One day in the middle of spring, Nahara was visiting with Siva in the back of the cave. Siva's stomach was very large, and had made her legs and arms seem shorter than usual. Siva was sprawled out on the ground, relaxing, while Nahara remained sitting.
"Come on, Nahara, lay down and relax, please?"
The young auburn lioness looked worriedly at Siva, expecting her best friend to go into labor at any moment.
"For your future queen, Nahara? How about you're best friend?" Siva grinned.
Nahara relaxed and let out a laugh. "Ok, for my best friend," she smiled, and lay down on the floor.
"You know it means the world to me that you're here to comfort me," Siva smiled.
"Comfort you? But you're the one comforting me," Nahara cocked her head, confused.
Siva took the younger lioness's paw and gently squeezed it. "Well, we're comforting each other. The truth is, I'm just as scared, if not more, about having cubs as you. I mean, I'm excited and happy, but I'm afraid I won't know what to do when the time comes," Siva gazed into her best friend's forest-green eyes.
In response, Nahara took a breath and nuzzled her friend. "You'll know what to do, Siva. I mean, you've gotten this far, you can do it, if not for your cubs, then for me," she chuckled jokingly.
Siva chuckled back. "Thanks Nahara. You know, I'm so happy for you and Suvo, and I'm so sorry you got scared when I got dehydrated. And I'm so grateful for your friendship and comfort these last few months. You're the best friend anyone could ever hope for, and I promise I'll do the same for you when you get pregnant," the golden-yellow lioness winked.
"Wow, uh you're welcome?" Nahara shrugged with a grin.
Siva panted and fanned herself. "Whoo is it getting hot in here or is it just me?"
Nahara stood up. "Would you like me to get you some water?" she asked concerned.
"Yeah, could you help me up, please?" Siva blinked a sweat drop out of her eye.
Nahara stared at her, wide-eyed. "But..."
"Well how else am I gonna get water?" Siva retorted.
"Oh, err well as long as you won't get hurt," Nahara agreed warily.
"Don't worry, I promise I won't," she gave a reassuring smile.
Satisfied, Nahara helped her expectant friend up, and walked her to the watering hole. Once there, Siva waded into the water, as it makes one feel lighter, and she eagerly lapped up the cool, refreshing water like a cub.
Nahara bent down and lapped up a few mouthfuls, until her ears twitched and the fur on the back of her neck slowly began to rise. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her head from the water. She carefully scanned the surrounding grassy fields of the Pride Lands, but strangely found nothing that was a potential threat to them.
"Hey, you ok?" Siva asked as she waddled to the bank.
"Let me help you out," Nahara took her friend's paw and pulled her onto land again. "Thanks Nahara. Hey, what were you looking at?" she asked curiously.
The young, sleek lioness shook her head to clear it. "Nothing, I just thought I heard something," she replied warily.
"Oh, is it gone, what was it? I didn't hear anything," Siva commented.
"I don't know, I guess it was just my imagination," she looked behind her one last time before returning to Pride Rock with the future queen and unborn heirs, still feeling as though someone or something was watching them.
A/N: OK I finally updated, yes! Whoo-hoo! I'm working on this story now 'cuz summer is finally here, and I'm also working on "Hope and Pride," as well. The next chapter will include cub births and maybe some info about these mysterious noises that have been heard by Nahara and Suvo in the past two chapters...ooh scary! Lol, please review, thank you!
During the final months of Siva's pregnancy, Niru made sure his mate had everything she needed to feel comfortable for when she gave birth. When the hunting party brought back a kill, Siva always got the first bite and ate her fill. Considering she was actually eating for three lives now, (herself and her and Niru's two cubs), the lionesses usually had to bring another kill for the rest of the pride.
As the day drew closer, Siva was nearly ready to bring two beautiful new lives into the world.
Kiara and Kovu, knowing Suvo and Nahara were planning to mate soon, urged them to spend time with Siva and Niru, not just to learn of what to expect, but also to help keep the future king and queen calm.
Although they didn't show it, Niru and Siva were both scared, as they had never dreamed of anything like this before.
One day in the middle of spring, Nahara was visiting with Siva in the back of the cave. Siva's stomach was very large, and had made her legs and arms seem shorter than usual. Siva was sprawled out on the ground, relaxing, while Nahara remained sitting.
"Come on, Nahara, lay down and relax, please?"
The young auburn lioness looked worriedly at Siva, expecting her best friend to go into labor at any moment.
"For your future queen, Nahara? How about you're best friend?" Siva grinned.
Nahara relaxed and let out a laugh. "Ok, for my best friend," she smiled, and lay down on the floor.
"You know it means the world to me that you're here to comfort me," Siva smiled.
"Comfort you? But you're the one comforting me," Nahara cocked her head, confused.
Siva took the younger lioness's paw and gently squeezed it. "Well, we're comforting each other. The truth is, I'm just as scared, if not more, about having cubs as you. I mean, I'm excited and happy, but I'm afraid I won't know what to do when the time comes," Siva gazed into her best friend's forest-green eyes.
In response, Nahara took a breath and nuzzled her friend. "You'll know what to do, Siva. I mean, you've gotten this far, you can do it, if not for your cubs, then for me," she chuckled jokingly.
Siva chuckled back. "Thanks Nahara. You know, I'm so happy for you and Suvo, and I'm so sorry you got scared when I got dehydrated. And I'm so grateful for your friendship and comfort these last few months. You're the best friend anyone could ever hope for, and I promise I'll do the same for you when you get pregnant," the golden-yellow lioness winked.
"Wow, uh you're welcome?" Nahara shrugged with a grin.
Siva panted and fanned herself. "Whoo is it getting hot in here or is it just me?"
Nahara stood up. "Would you like me to get you some water?" she asked concerned.
"Yeah, could you help me up, please?" Siva blinked a sweat drop out of her eye.
Nahara stared at her, wide-eyed. "But..."
"Well how else am I gonna get water?" Siva retorted.
"Oh, err well as long as you won't get hurt," Nahara agreed warily.
"Don't worry, I promise I won't," she gave a reassuring smile.
Satisfied, Nahara helped her expectant friend up, and walked her to the watering hole. Once there, Siva waded into the water, as it makes one feel lighter, and she eagerly lapped up the cool, refreshing water like a cub.
Nahara bent down and lapped up a few mouthfuls, until her ears twitched and the fur on the back of her neck slowly began to rise. She narrowed her eyes and lifted her head from the water. She carefully scanned the surrounding grassy fields of the Pride Lands, but strangely found nothing that was a potential threat to them.
"Hey, you ok?" Siva asked as she waddled to the bank.
"Let me help you out," Nahara took her friend's paw and pulled her onto land again. "Thanks Nahara. Hey, what were you looking at?" she asked curiously.
The young, sleek lioness shook her head to clear it. "Nothing, I just thought I heard something," she replied warily.
"Oh, is it gone, what was it? I didn't hear anything," Siva commented.
"I don't know, I guess it was just my imagination," she looked behind her one last time before returning to Pride Rock with the future queen and unborn heirs, still feeling as though someone or something was watching them.
A/N: OK I finally updated, yes! Whoo-hoo! I'm working on this story now 'cuz summer is finally here, and I'm also working on "Hope and Pride," as well. The next chapter will include cub births and maybe some info about these mysterious noises that have been heard by Nahara and Suvo in the past two chapters...ooh scary! Lol, please review, thank you!