Chapter 9 – Nowhere to Hide
It hadn't rained in the seven years since Scar's reign had begun. This night was no exception to that curse; the land was black, parched, and mercilessly hot.
Nala lay panting under the dying baobab tree. Why tonight, of all nights? She tossed her head weakly from side to side, trying to ignore the pain. Sarabi and the others stood guard around the tree, keeping scout hyenas away. Raka came back and licked her cheek comfortingly, then cast a livid glance toward Pride Rock's cave. "It'll be over soon," she whispered, and Nala groaned.
She had been in labor for nigh on ten hours. Perhaps he somehow foresaw this, and all he wants is for me to suffer, she thought to herself. "I… will not… bear his son," she ground out through clenched teeth.
"Nala, you know it's too late to be saying that," Raka reasoned. "You need to relax so it will come out. I know that's the last thing you want to do, but you must. Otherwise, you could die."
Nala's head jerked up. "What?"
Raka gave her a worried look. "With this heat, and the amount of pain and exertion, you could easily be dehydrated and left as nothing."
Nala flung herself back onto the dirt in exhaustion. "I'm so tired."
Leaves and branches cracked overhead. "I may have something for you."
Rafiki swung lightly onto a lower branch and surveyed the lionesses.
"Raka is right, you must relax. All you must do is get the cub out, then nothing else. Remember that." He clambered higher up, then dropped into the dirt with his arms full of gourds. "Several of these juices have kept from drying out. I do not know how this has come to pass, but they will help."
He cracked one and poured the liquid into her mouth. Nala pulled a face to keep from spitting it out, but swallowed as his long-fingered hands began to massage her belly.
She sighed and Rafiki nodded. "Good… not much longer."
A few moments later, she gave a snarl of pain as a moist ball of fur rolled into the dry grass. Nala let her head go limp after cleaning most of the excess off him, but she couldn't help but recoil as he began suckling.
Sarabi padded to her side and nuzzled her gently. "It's alright now," she said quietly.
Nala shook her head. "This… I've always envisioned having cubs… but this feels… so wrong."
She squirmed and twisted uncomfortably, making the cub squeak in frustration. Instinctively, she rolled onto her side so he could reach easier, mentally kicking herself for allowing the innate mother to come through.
It was then that Nala got her first good look at the cub. He was grayish-brown, with dark gray paws and an almost cream-colored belly.
Realizing that Rafiki was gone, she glanced at Sarabi, who was surveying her with a pitying expression. "Now you really have nowhere to hide."
Her eyes turned to the cub with an odd combination of hatred and compassion. Nala's focus returned to the dark fur as well.
A chilling voice from behind made her rip her gaze from him.
"Ah, Nala, you are a natural."
