Chapter 25: A Death and a Promise
"Is it really you?" Sukina couldn't believe it, she sat down and scratched an ear, "how, how did you find Minu and I here?"
"I thought you were dead," Tirria said, "you've been alive all this time, why didn't you ever come back home?"
"I, well I," Sukina couldn't find the words to explain why she had never returned back to the pride lands.
"Minu," Tirria began, "you're the true king, you should've come back!!" the lioness yelled at Minu, anger and hurt in her voice.
"No I'm not, my sister is the queen now," Minu replied.
"Minu, I don't think Kiara is going to make a very good queen," she retorted, "she hasn't exactly, liked the idea from day one."
"She'll get used to it; besides, I can't go back, I mean, I want to..." the lion whispered, looking longingly in the direction of pride rock.
"Kanami," Vayin's soft deep voice floated to Kanami's ears, she had been listening to the conversation between the three lions.
"Kanami and Minu, Heira wants to talk to you," Vayin said.
"Tirria, I'll be right back," Minu finished the conversation as Kanami and Minu walked towards Heira. The first to see her was Minu, the elder lioness was lying on her side, her breath shallow and her cuts still leaking blood.
"Why is she still bleeding?" Minu inquired as Kanami gasped at the sight of her mother.
"We've done all we can for her," Marla said as she and the other lionesses left Minu and Kanami alone with her. Kanami rushed to her mother's side after getting over the shock of seeing her in such a state.
"Mom, it's going to be ok, you're going to..."
"Kanami," Heira spoke so softly that the young lioness had to bend her head down in order to hear her.
"Kanami, I love you, I will always love you," Heira whispered as Kanami tried not to cry.
"My time has come my daughter, the Great Kings want it this way," Heira continued, "I will be with your father again, and we will both watch you."
"Don't say that, you're going to..." again she was cut off.
"We all are born, and we all die, this is how the circle of life goes, I have found my place in it, being your mother and Minu's foster mother, I feel," she stopped as she breathed, "I feel that I have taught you well, you will have beautiful cubs one day, and you will pass on all that I have taught you."
By this time, Kanami's tears were flowing freely down her face, "don't leave me," she whispered.
"I never will, I'll be in you," she said as she looked at Minu.
"You know what you must do Minu, I have always loved you as if you were my own son, lead well."
"I'll try," Minu said softly as he walked over and nuzzled his foster mother for the last time, "I'll make you proud."
"You already have," Heira said gently, "I am very proud of the both of you."
Kanami nuzzled her mother as Heira closed her eyes, "I'll live in you, always."
Then she was gone.
Kanami stood in shock as the river of tears continued to run down her cheeks.
"I'm so sorry," the teary lioness looked up and saw Vayin standing next to her, "truly I am so sorry." He nuzzled her in comfort and then quietly turned away to allow her to grieve in private. Minu leaned against Sukina, sobbing as she to try to comfort him. The others stood a little way off, each with there own thoughts.
One lioness in particular walked up to Kanami as she sadly looked at the body of Heira.
"Kanami," the lioness addressed looked up, "your mother's murders won't go unpunished, I promise, you have my word."
Kanami sniffed and turned away, "thanks Tirria, thank you."
A distance away, Vayin and Marla were having a totally different discussion.
"Why did you not tell me?" Vayin growled at his sister.
"Look, now isn't the time to talk about this, only reason I told you now is because..."
"You told him?" Sukina walked over, Minu following with his head hung.
"Yes, I told him that I'm going to have cubs."
"Well," Vayin began, "Jerlyn better help you take care of them..."
He stopped when Marla gave him a look, "he ran off whenever I told him."
"He what?!?!?!"
Kanami's head shot up, "keep it down Vayin; listen, I'm a lioness, so what the cub or cubs won't have a dad, I can raise them just fine."
"But," Vayin began as Marla growled.
"We'll talk about this later," she said as she walked over and began talking to Kanami.
Tirria ran home, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to tell Simba, Nala and her mom that there son was alive. She also knew that if she didn't hurry, they would all leave the spot that they were at and then they wouldn't be found. Tirria also kept the promise that she made to Kanami in the back of her mind.
'And now, it'll be easier getting my revenge on them with the help of Kanami.'
Tirria thought as pride rock came in to view.
:::End of chapter 25:::
A/N: Sorry for not updating in a while! Also, I hope you aren't to mad at me for killing Heira!! Anyway, I hope you all have liked this chapter, and as far as the speech goes (Heira's last words if it were) I hope it was ok!!!
Can't wait for the next update, Amber!!