+KionThePrideLandsPrince, haha I don't know why that comment made me laugh so much, but it did. yes, it does seem like Simba can't get himself together.

+Guest, I love the positivity, yes they can work this out…maybe. And don't worry I have the mystery solved for Simba unseen cub. This chapter will answers everyone questions about the cub. Is he or isn't he the father.

+Money100, Oh yes, Nala's pissed, hurt, humiliated. She's all types of emotions right now. Glad you're enjoying.

+Manfanikio, Thank you, and yes Simba will get his say one way or the other.

+Barakas ( Guest), you're very welcome, I do love my cliff hangers.

Chapter 12

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE SON?!" Mufasa had come back from his rounds and his earlier meeting with the Mti pride. It didn't take him long before the word had spread and he was getting looks from passing lionesses as he approached pride rock that night. Sarabi had met her king at the steps of pride rock. Her face told it all. They had a mess on their paws. Now that Mufasa was caught up on what on happening, that was all he could manage to say…cleanly.

"Dad…" he sighed, how could he explain himself. He was getting tired of it. no one would believe him. "It's not my fault, something happened and-"

"Not your fault?! Simba I think by now YOU of all lions know, that it takes two to make a cub. Oh and speaking of your cub, how are you and Nala handling everything?!"

" It's fine… we'll working things out" Mufasa looked to his queen to get the true answer. He had had it with his son, everything that came from his mouth was probably a lie.

"Nala found out, she's devastated." Informed Sarabi.

"I don't blame her-"

"It wasn't my fault, you guys that's what you aren't understanding! I didn't go purposely hook up with Ingine, she tricked me!" the king and queen gave their son a look a 'really' look. She managed to trick you into mating with her. What kind of lie is this?

"Really son…" Mufasa had heard it all.

"YES! I don't know what happened that night- I can't remember. But I swear to you, it was her. Yes after Nala and I had our argument she left and I went out. I did meet Ingine and yes we talked, hell she KNEW about Nala because I told her! She knew we had had an argument and she said she was going to help me fix it."

"And sleeping with her was the WAY THE FIX IT?!"

"Mufasa!" it was no surprise Mufasa was pissed, and now everyone at priderock would know their business. I mean, it not like they didn't know by now. Word had spread like wild fire. The king turned to his queen. "Sarabi it's no surprise now, everyone knows! you can hear about before you even enter the pridelands!"

"How?"

"Bamaati…" expressed Mufasa dully, that lioness had a mouth on her. And the only reason she had that mouth was to gossip, gossip, gossip. She was one of the lioness that help Ingine birth the cub. She actually birth the cub and was the first to see it. Mufasa rolled his eyes just thinking about it. how many members of the pride know now? Hell all of them?

"Dad, let me explain and get Ingine to-"

"SON…I don't even want to look at you right now." He voiced with closed teeth. "Have you any idea of the position you have put yourself and your mother and I in?"

"Dad I know, but I'm telling you I didn't really do it- she did!"

"Well as far as I'm concerned YOU did this! Son have you learned nothing…. Where did Sarabi and I go wrong with you…"

WHAT THE HELL DAD, YOU THINK IM LIEING?!" Mufasa gave his son a look, he didn't know what to think. He didn't think his son would be this stupid and get himself in this situation. "She did this!"

"Do you really want me to answer that ?" he voiced. " Considering we have a lioness with a miscarried cub, that happen to be my sons…who already happened to have a lioness already having your cub out of wedlock as well. With all those implication against you- I don't think you want me to answer that question." Not knowing what to say or do, the amount of pressure was building heavily on the young king. It felt like any second his shoulders would break. He spoke in a hushed tone.

"…okay…okay I messed up, badly and I know a king-" but Mufasa scoffed about the statement before his son could even get his last words out.

"Psssh, you don't have to worry about being king…"

"FORGET IT!" boomed Simba, crushed and boiling with anger. Screw explain himself, obviously, he in the wrong and it's all his fault. He's just out here being negligent.

"Simba!" voiced his horrified mother.

"Don't go after him Sarabi!" the queen stopped in her tracks and whipped her head around at her husband.

"FIX THIS, FIX THIS NOW!"

"Well I wish it were that simple dear-"

"IT IS-find all the information you can or I will!" she turned in a huff to go after her son. She did care about what her son did. But the feeling of losing him from his mistake would be far worse to her. Was this situation messed up, yes, hell yes. But was she going to let it ruin her family, hell no. It was time for the queen to step up and take control of her kings.

meanwhile in the lioness den, comforting paws are there to console Nala. Devastated by the news, she almost didn't make it to the lioness den. She collapsed on the floor in a hep on her tears. Her Simba, the one and only love of her life, had cheated on her. And with a lioness she considered to be her friend!

"Whoa…calm down Nala, you're hyperventilating…" voiced Tama. She had her friend in a tight embrace. "Don't worry…it'll get better…he was a jerk you don't need him….Kula- help me!" hissed the lioness to her other friend who was also over whelmed with the situation and by her friend. She had never seen Nala like this and had no idea what do to.

"Sorry I…"

"Make her laugh…anything! She about to have a heart attack!" Tama could now feel her own fur being soaked by her friends tears. And she didn't like the feeling of it either, but what could she do? Nala really needed a shoulder, and body to cry on.

"Nala uh…"

"HOW COULD HE DO THIS!? I THOUGHT HE LOVED ME…H…H…H" the cream furred lioness chest was turning red, as her eyes and nose. Not to mention she was clinched her stomach like all hell. The cub inside her has no idea why its mother is acting so erratically! And is probably having a fit. Its mother is in so much of an emotional chaos she doesn't care. Tama struggled to sit Nala up as her frantic breathed got shorter and shorter.

"Tama…" Kula voiced was nothing but pure concern and worry. At this rate Nala was going to kill herself and the cub If she did stop.

"NALA! I LOVE YOU BUT I SWAER TO THE KINGS IM ABOUT TO SLAP THE SHIT OUT OF YOU!" Tama had raised a paw, acting as if she was going to slap some sense into her friend, and if Nala didn't stop by the time Tama counted to 3, then she would. But fortunately, Tama screaming was able to knock the lioness back into some sort of reality. She grabbed Tama paw to save her wet stained face. "See…breath mama, breath. In …and out…in and out." The blue eyed lioness locked on to her friends forearms for support, as they looked into each other wise. Tama calming the storming, and Kula rubbing her friends back soothingly. "See…I like it…when I can see you breath Nal.." Nala was finally calm, wiping her eyes.

"….s…sorry.." she voiced to her friends and her baby. "I'm...sorry."

"It's okay love…"

"I…I can't believe this…he…Simba cheated on me…" her friends looked to her, as she vented. "..w-what did I do guys…w-what did I do…" nothing was the answer, he was just being stupid. " I'm I not a good mate? Did I not give him enough…" new tears fell free form her eyes as she thought of how stupid she must be. To love a lion with all her heart, only to have him do her wrong, and have the lioness right in the pride. " I can't…" then suddenly her hurt…turned to anger… and anger to fury. "…I..hate him…I hate him HATE HIM! THAT LIAR! HE LIED RIGHT IN MY FACE….THAT BASTARD…" she shoved Tama away- not meaning too, but pregnancy did give Nala a little burst of strength every now and then.

"Whoa Nal-"

"I'm such an idiot! How could I not see it?!"

" Why would you Nala, you never done anything wrong to him-"

"Kula right. You did your part- HE'S the one who messed up- not you."

"WHY WHY I don't understand WHY! I did everything for him! I loved him…I supported him…was it because I didn't give myself to him enough?... we always argued over that…I never knew he would go out and….this is my fault. I was being selfish…I could have-"

"HEY! Whoa whoa whoa, don't you go blaming yourself Nala. This was his doing, HE did this! He went out with her and did wrong, you had nothing to do with it!" it was quiet for a moment. Then finally in a very hushed voice the cream lioness asked.

"Was it his…was it really his?" her pleading eyes begged the question but feared the answer.

"Yea…it looked just like him. I saw…Nal I'm sorry."

"…everything was a lie…I didn't love me…" Kula was growing uneasy. She hated messes, she hated fighting and she HATED tears. Simba was everyone best friend. This wasn't like him to do this. In her gut, she believed something else, but could she dare say it? the cub was his, so many, she didn't know him as well as she thought she did.

"I…I have to confess something." Tama cleared her throat. "I feel I'm responsible for knowing about this."

"..what…"

"Hear me out, back when you collapsed during the hunt and I ran to get Simba. I saw him with Ingine. They were talking, and they were out away from the pridelands. I didn't think much of it...but. I thought you should know." Nala placed a paw to her stomach.

"…I…I think …I'm going to be sick." She rubbed her uneasy baby. "… that means ever since she got here he knew…he knew, and didn't tell me….he knew and smiled in my face…He just. Lied. Then his love for me had to be a lie…and our cub…Oh kings!"

"Nala?" but before the concerned friends could even get up, Nala had ran out of the den and into the dark bushes. Their ears were meet with the horrific sounds of her losing her stomach content. Tama and Kula stood outside of the den, they could do nothing but wait.

Deep inside the pride land forest a queen ran after and searched desperately in the night for her son. She had ran after him in fear that, in the midst of his anger, would do something irrational. Sarabi could not let that happen, Mufasa might be blind with rage right now but she wasn't.

"Simba?! Simba?!" she egged on after him. Ducking under the leaves and branches that made it a plan to get into her way. "Simba! Simba stop!" within seconds the figure before her stopped in his track. The queen almost colliding into him. When he turned it was a mother worst nightmare. To see the pain and tears in her cubs eyes, a pain to which she could not fix. "Son, come here…" Simba much taller than his mother, bend down and placed his head under hers for comfort.

"Mom…I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen. You have to believe me…"

"I do sweetie I do…"

"Pssh." He sat up, and wiped his face. Sarabi could see for the first time an aging look on her son. Like he had been stressed for years, and to Simba it felt like it. juggling to two lionesses, keeping his secret from everyone and then having it all suddenly come out- without his control. It was too much. "Yea right…da-"

"forget your father Simba, he's an idiot. Heck you both are." Her voice was not harsh of degrading. For she did not need that, and Simba did not need that either. Knowing she would always love him and be by his side, even when he was seen in the wrong. comforted the prince. "But baby…you have to tell me what happened. The TRUTH, and nothing but it. okay?" Simba nodded. He then went about telling her everything that happened that night. How he came home, he and Nala went out, they got into an argument. She went back to priderock, he left and went out. He met up with Ingine, talked to her, even telling her about his problem with Nala. He then explained how she agreed to help him. He explained how she took him to a small creek, near a smaller made den. There she told him to pick these purple looking water flowers. That his mate would love them, once she got ahold of them.

"…and after that I can't remember anything."

"…nothing.?" Asked Sarabi.

"Nothing, it all became and blur. I remember waking up next to her that morning…I didn't know what happen. So I left and came home."

"And you told no one?" she looked her son in the eyes and sighed. That was some information to take in, even for her, and she very open minded. The lying and sneaking and using herbs to seduce Simba. It seemed like a story one would make up, but it was true. It had to be, she felt no one believed him and she would.

"…a week ago I told Malka and Tojo, but as far as that no…" Sarabi paused, and cleared her sons red stained eyes.

"ugh…Simba. We have our work cut out on this one. Why didn't you come and just tell me of your father?" was that really a question? " Do we scare you that much?"

"No…its' not that. i…I just don't want to let you guys down. And so far, I've been doing nothing up that." He got up " I just want everything to be fixed and back to normal…I want.." I couldn't even say it. "…Nala hates me."

"She's hurt son. You have to give her time with this."

" But I have to explain myself, she thinks I did all of this on purpose!" Simba then made a hastily turn in the opposite direction. Sarabi jumped in front of him to interview.

"Simba no, let her think that-"

"But mom!-"

"Son, you can't overwhelm her with all of this! I'm still taking it in. let her clam down, and by that time. Maybe we can decide what to do next."

"What if she never trusts me again…what if she doesn't believe me."

"…well son…" not knowing how to answer his question.

"I love her mom…"

Away I the deepest part of the side den, away from priderock a grey lioness laid still on the ground. Her sleep brought to her by her stains that permanently stained her cheeks and the floor she lay on. She wrapped herself in the fetal position, holding onto the very leaf her baby was once wrapped in. Ingine could still smell the scent of its birth. Her breathing was heavy, as her mind drifted back into her deep conscious, her body automatically shrived as the same feelings hurt and agony all over again.

"Look at him, just look at him. He's amazing." The voice of the new mother, eased her just born sleeping cub. Her mate stood beside her, his eyes beaming of pride and joy. A new father. "what should we name him? It has to be prefect…just like him." The grey lioness looked over to her green eyed mate,

"I don't know, I was thinking something strong and powerful."

"Maybe-"

"I got it! Mkuu." It meant prince. And he was a prince in her eyes. Thought she wish she could have suggested another name, it would do. Snice her mate, Mwizi- which means 'stealer' and that exactly what he did to Ingine, He stole her little heart- wasn't there for the birth of his son. Mwizi was out, else where. He said he would be back in time before her labor, but obviously that didn't happen. He was out on patrol, but did he really have to go on patrol this day… the day she was for sure due? Apparently yes. It bugged the young mother, that her cubs father missed his birth. But it was for the good of their small family. It was just the two of them for Mwizi was always away doing then to, better their future family.

"Prince, that will be just fine. He's out little prince." She chimed. Ingine fairytale had finally come true, she left her small pride to go be with the lion of her dreams. Mwizi, was wandering male, in need of a pride. He and Ingine clicked immediately. When they finally got all of their talking aside, it had seems she had found the lion that was just right for her. They had the same goals, of wanting to live on their own, start their own pride and rule it side by side together. In their own vast territory. It was perfect. Except for one thing, her mother. Ingine mother did not like Mwizi one bit. She thought something was errie about him. Ingine thought her mother was being over protective and further more jealous. Jealous that she found the lion of her dreams, while her mother had no one. The grey lioness felt her mother had plotted for her to stay with him and her small pride forever. Not allowing her to go live her life. So one night Ingine decided to take her fate into her own paws. She and Mwizi ran away together. No warning, no goodbyes. She just ran.

When Ingine and Mwizi found a territory they thought was suitable, they settled down. Turns out they didn't pick the best spot. Their den was in the middle of nowhere. It seemed to Ingine before, that this den was probably in the center of most herb traveling's. Just being off a river bed that was slowly drying up. Mwizi was skeptical. But Ingine, promised that when the rains would come, it would turn their home into a beautiful valley. It didn't. The rains never came. It almost seemed like the rains purposely passed over them and went to shower the next valley.

The reality that their future dream home was slowly starting to fall out of the picture. This caused a small stress in Mwizi, who was a planner. And being e planner, he wanted the things to go the way he pictured. But luckily it seemed that his plan was still in the making, because later that month Ingine, got pregnant. So yes, they missed out on their lovely dream home, but at least they could start their lovely dream family. It was great, everything seemed great until Mwizi started spending more and more time away from home. At first it didn't bother Ingine. After all it told her it was for the good of the family they he go his rounds daily, and more often them normal pride. Being that they are a small family. It made sense to her. Sometimes he wouldn't come home at all. So she confronted him about it.

"Mwizi?" she asked, as her mate slept beside her. He had just come in the den from his round, but it was nearing the morning hours. Why was he out so late? "Mwizi? Are you up." She tapped his shoulder some. The large male, who shared her same fur complexion moaned and pushed her away. "Mwizi we need to talk, are you up?"

"I am now!" he voiced out loud.

"Sorry, I know you're tried-"

"And you still decided to wak me up?"

"Yes, it's just…you're out a lot, most of the time…all of the time-"

"Well I have to be, we don't have anyone else to look after this family. You can't do much around here anymore." The yellow eyed lioness pinned her ears back. Yes she wasn't pulling her weight as much as she could, or had been in the past. But she tried. She's nearing the end of her pregnancy and all she wants to do is rest to get ready for the cub. Could she do more around the den…yes.

"I know and I'm sorry. But it worried me when your out late."

"..why?" he asked, opening one eye to look at her. "Why Ingine?, why des me being out worry you?" he slowly rose, and surpassed her height easier. Looking down to her now as he sat up.

" Nothing- I'm just concerned for your safety and I just wonder where you are sometimes."

"Look, Ingine you don't have to worry about anything okay."

"I know, sometimes I just wonder where you are."

"Why?"

"I just do…"

"Well stop."

"Why?"

"Because I said so! I'm ding my job out there okay, you just sit your pretty tail in here and not worry about a thing okay?"

"alright…you don't have to talk to me like that…"

"Like what?"

"Like that…mean"

"Mean? Babe this isn't mean. You're just stepping over your boundaries alittle bit and I have to put you back in place." Ingine raised a brow, boundaries, what boundaries? She couldn't ask her mate questions? She's entitled to know what he's doing and why he's out so late, when they have a cub on the way and he need to be here.

"Excuse me?" at this point Mwizi had rested himself back down on the ground and welcomed the thought of sleep. But Ingine was not done " Boundaries, I have no boundaries"

"Come again." Again opening one eye.

"You and I are equal! There are no bou-"not knowing what hit her, Ingine felt the beck of Mwizi paw collide with her jaw. She stumbled back, it wasn't hit to knock out ,but it was a hit to shut up. " Ow! Mwizi?!"

"Listen Ingine, in my den there are rules and those rules are boundaries! Who's out here going the work, day in and day out. Hell, you can't even hunt anymore! My business is my business and I will do as I please snice I'm bring home the meals!" she had never seen this side of him. Where did it come from?! With her paw still on her jaw and wanted to defuse the situation.

"I know you're job is hard, but it's hard being here too!"

"Your job is to have this cub, okay? It can't be that hard. Now enough talking. Let me go to sleep, so I can wake up early in the morning and bring you some food, okay?"

"..uh…" she watched him plop back down, facing the other direction. "fine."After that night, she was on egg shelves for a while. She did not want to piss Mwizi off. After all he was a wonderful mate to her. He did bring her the things she and the cub needed. So what if he wasn't that family orientated and wanted to want home with her. That's okay, he was doing what needed to be done, right?

A few weeks later, when Mwizi had come back with their morning meal. Ingine was sure today was the day, she was going to have the cub. She could feel it in her bones. And if she didn't feel it, she looked it. Ingine belly was round like a hippo, Mwizi even commented about it himself, when he wanted to…make moves on her. "Yes?" asked Mwizi as he saw Ingine come forward.

"I think todays the day. I think you should stay home and be with me and the cub."

"I can't Ingine."

"But, I'll be here by myself. What if something happens…"

"What if it doesn't, then I would have stayed here for nothing."

"Mwizi…"

"Ingine last week, you were convinced the cub was due, and look. No cub. Don't worry if you have the cub, I'll be back in enough time to help you. Alright?"

"Alright Mwizi." But it wasn't. In fact, Ingine went into labor a few short hours after Mwizi departure. He was so far done that he couldn't even hear her calls for him. Ingine found herself, alone birthing a cub by herself for the first time. The first. When Mwizi got back that night, he had no idea of the trauma Ingine had just gone though. When he saw her she was asleep with a cub wrapped tightly in her arms.

"…i-inigne." He voiced slowly "you had the cub." The exhausted lioness opened her heavy eyes. And met her mate with a smile.

"..Mwizi, you're here!..i was so worried…you missed everything."

"I know and I'm so sorry love." He said this, while scooping the cub up in his mouth to place it in his arms. "He's beautiful." The sleeping baby warped in his arms now.

"…yea, he is. Mwizi, I'm tried."

"I know babe, we'll talk in the morning." Ingine was asleep before Mwizi could even finish his sentence.

For the first time in forever, Mwizi stayed home. He was there right when Ingine woke up. Her eyes still tried from her day before. Today they were going to name the cub. Ingine had had a few names in mind for a male cub. However, Mwizi was, paw stuck on Mkuu. Ingine was just happy he was there and spending more time with her. He could name the cub anything as long as he stayed. For a while everything was fine, perfect even. Until Mwizi wanted more. It was okay with living in the middle of nowhere, he loved his son. But this still wasn't the pictured he had hoped for. Ingine was starting to condition herself to leave Mkuu for go hunt. She was able to leave and do small thing, but big hunts were out of the question. All the remained of her energy went to nursing Mkuu. Then Mwizi went back to being out again. Good can only last for so long. Soon it seemed like Ingine was raising Mkuu by herself. Mwizi would be gone days at a time- with no explanation. Just 'it's my business or it's in the interest of my family.' Not ours…

One night Mwizi came in late, way late. Mkuu had been asleep for hours and Ingine, who was waited up for Mwizi was about to join him. Mwizi came right over to Ingine and embraced her. "M…wizi.." she had to force what little air she still had in lungs to speak.

"I missed you so much Ingine- and mkuu…MKUU!" he voiced running over to the sleeping cub. Ingine was jumped in front of him before he could get another step in.

"No..i just put him to sleep!" she hissed with furrow brows. Mwizi sat back, a smile grew on his face.

"You're so cute when you're mad. C'mon." he embraced ingine again, nuzzling her.

"Mwizi, what are you doing, are you okay? Did you fall and hurt your head?"

"I'm fine I just missed my wife." Wife? Never, as long as they have been together has Mwizi called Ingine his wife. They weren't official married to begin with. But the thought always crossed Ingine mind. " I was thinking. We should give Mkuu a brother or sister." What?! The grey lion began to bite Ingine on her neck. This could only mean one thing.

" No!" insisted Ingine. Stepping away. "Mkuu doesn't need a brother or sister, he can wait." Mwizi good mood disappeared.

"Ugh, well I can tell you what I need." The male got up and moved closer to his female companion. Rubbing his head against her side as she tried to woo her. He wasn't budging. "Ingine! It's been weeks!" he proclaimed.

"Mwizi I can't I just had a baby."

"Can't or wont?" he calrified.

"…ugh…I won't. Mwizi I'm tried and your barely here anyways. I'll be raising two cubs by myself!"

"Hell, I'm sorry I have to be out here providing for you. And all I do it come back to a complaining wife. I focus a lot on your needs and you've stopped caring about mines completely!"

"I'm nursing! I barely have enough energy to do that! Taking care of YOUR son is exhausting!" unexpectedly small cried began to fill the room. Ingine rolled her eyes at herself, dammit she knew better. "dam…" she walked over to Mkuu.

"fine, handle his needs, I'll get mines somewhere else…" Ingine nearly dropped Mkuu.

"…wait…what did you say?!" she turned to face Mwizi. She had a very skeptical look on her face. Did she believe him? Did she think her mate would go off and cheat on her and this brashly? Maybe… maybe not, but it was a bluff that Mwizi was going to use.

"I'm just saying, I have needs too. And for a mate that does so much, and gets so little in return. It would be a shame to lose him." Was he threating her? "I love you Ingine, but I have to look after myself too if you're not going to." the lioness found herself in a dilemma and with a crying cub in the background it made it even harder for her. She had no energy to do this, or even consider raising another cub. But she couldn't risk the thought of losing Mwizi. What if he was right, all he needed was alittle love from his mate, and then he wouldn't be out all the time. It was something to consider…"So, what's you're answer?" she paused for a moment.

"Fine…" she shook her head, let me get Mkuu, back to sleep and then I'll come take care of you."

"Great, I'll be waiting." And wait he did, as soon as his hears detected the faint crying come to a crease, Mwizi got up. And awaited Ingine. When she came into sight she was clearly tried. Her yellow eyes slightly red and her nipples heavy from nursing. "C'mon" she did so. " Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are when you're tired?"

"No, but you could tell me more?"

"Love you're beautiful, beautiful, beautiful." He began to muzzle, her. Before things got to serious she stopped him.

"Wait, Mwizi, we can do this, but we can't have another cub- not now. Can you do your business, elsewhere…" he knew what she meant.

"Don't worry." Mwizi, continues on with his nuzzling and love biting as Ingine-tried- willingly took it. A few weeks later- now knowing her body subtle changes- Ingine told Mwizi she was pregnant again. he was thrilled her, not so much.

"Babe, cheer up." Voiced Mwizi that morning, as he picked up Mkuu. "Mkuu going to be a big brother and you." He went and kissed her on her forehead " my love with me a mother of two beautiful cubs."

"huh, you're right. It just, I was over the headache, stomach and cramps for a while." Mwizi but the cub down. "Where are you going?" asked the yellow eyed lioness.

"I have rounds love, always have and always will."

"oh yea, I forgot. When do you think, you'll be home?" he paused.

"I can't say when, but late."

" So don't wait up." Her voice had a hint of sadness.

"Yea, sorry love." Sorry love was what he always said. 'I'm sorry and don't wait up'. So she didn't for that day and the remaining week. Okay what the hell was going on with her mate. 7 days in a row coming in late. This is unacceptable.

"Mwizi" she voiced, from the back of the den. She was patting the sleeping Mkuu on his back as he lay on the floor.

"Yea."

"Look how late it is."

"It's dark."

"Where have you been?"

"Out-"

"OUT…where." She clamed herself as she felt Mkuu stir under her paws. "Mwizi, I don't understand why you are out so much. It's not like we have a big territory."

"Sorry, does it bother you."

"Actually it does. Mwizi I hate being here alone with Mkuu. you know that. Not to mention some could happen because I'm here by myself, you're missing out with Mkuu.

"Then come with me."

"I can't, I'd have to carry Mkuu, plus the new cub. Or have you forgotten. You haven't even asked how I'm going…"

"Well tell me!"

"You 're never here! You're always gone. Don't you think I want to be with you sometimes! That mkuu wants to be with his father!"

"Shh! Stop yelling! You'll wake Mkuu!" too late. Ugh! It was pointless. It was all starting to be pointless. Every time he could come home they would fight and poor Mkuu would be up for hours.

"Hey! Where are you going?!"

"Out, I don't want to hear him cry!" but he was a cub, that's all they do. Cry, sleep and eat, that was Ingine life, if Mwizi had cared to ask. The grey lioness ran to the cave enterance.

"Stop, Mwizi- come back!" her cried went on death ears. "UGH!" she threw a clenched paw at the ground, as tears fell from her eyes. The cub cried rang in the back of her head, but she didn't feel like dealing with it. she didn't feel like dealing with anything. This was not healthy, she couldn't keep stressing over Mwizi last this. But she couldn't help it, Mwizi was her world- and the only lion she knew since she had left her family. "dammit…" that night Mwizi didn't come home at all. Ingine was devastated- she thought something had happened to him and she had lost her love forever. She stayed up all night, pacing back and forth. Until finally in the wee hours before the great sun came into the sky, Mwizi came crawling in. "Mwizi! There are you, you had me worried sick! I stayed up all night for you!"

"Sorry-"

"Where were you?"

"I stayed with a friend." Friend? What friend? All Mwizi had was her, unless he made an invisible friend up while he was out walking. Ingine did not know of this 'friend'. So she asked.

"Friend? What friend? Do I know him?"

"No, I met them on patrol, good lions" well atleast he said lions. She went over to nuzzle him, but she was soon hit with a strong odor. The odor of another lioness. She sniffed her mate, Mwizi backed away confused. "What are you doing?"

"…Nothing, I just missed you." Mhmm, thought Ingine to herself. something wasn't adding up, he gone all night and comes back this early, and from what she can tell, very content. She let it go for now, she had a plan.

As a couple of hours passed, and the grey lion caught up on some needed sleep. That when Ingine decided, she would…tag along on patrol with Mwizi. Sure enough that time came, Ingine had just finished nursing Mkuu. She was hearing Mwizi slowly recover from his slumber. Normally she would have nursed Mkuu during his father rounds so he would be preoccupied on nursing rather than trying to be a curious small cub and crawl away anywhere. As soon as Mkuu got the milk, he was always out for the count, that way she would be able to carry him with no noise.

Mwizi got up, stretched a bit and then went out of the den. He had called for Ingine to not stay up from him- he didn't have to worry about that. She followed him a few paces back, the last thing she wanted was to give away herself. finally, after walking for what seemed to be hours, Mwizi came to a stop. His stop was suddenly. Like he had caught a scent of Ingine and the cub. She ducked behind a log. Mwizi turned, with a small smile on his face.

"I know you're there. You can come out." She said nothing…how did she give herself away like that. She was for sure that-oh well. At least he didn't seem mad. Ingine rolled jer eyes and began to step in front of the log that covered her and Mkuu. but good thing she didn't, suddenly from out of nowhere. A dark brown lioness with red eye came into the picture. She had walked from over the hillside, a smile was on her eye as she looked at Mwizi. Who the hell was she?

"Missed me?" asked the strange lioness as she came rubbing up against Mwizi. He didn't seem phased by the lioness, hell he looked rather comfortable with her. Was this the friend he stayed with?!

"MWIZI!" both heads turned in the direction of the angry grey lioness holding a small cub.

"Ingine?! What are you doing here…" the mother put her cub down.

"I should be asking you that! This isn't our territory! Who the HELL is that!" her anger directed towards the brown lioness.

"she-" it was a retoical question, Ingine did not want to hear some excuse. She cut him off before he could even say anything.

"I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!" rolling her eyes at him, and them darting them at the lioness in the background. "Is this the 'friend' you stayed with last night?! Is this HER scents that is all over YOU!" Ingine roars could be heard ringing off of everything. Mkuu, now wake. Was the most confused little cub. Crying for his angry mother. However, Ingine didn't even pay attention to her sons cries for attention at all. She was too focused on her sons father. "TELL ME!" she got in his face. Mwizi did not take intimation well, or being out in his place. He had to take control of the situation from her. He stood forward, puffin up his mane. He was already twice the size of Ingine, now he just seemed like a furry giant.

"Look, take Mkuu back home an-"

"NO NO-YOU TELL ME WHO SHE IS!"

"INGINE!"

"TELL ME!" fangs where out. While all of this was happening, the strange lioness, found herself creeping away from the two roaring match. She had no idea who this lioness with the cub was. She was just as dumb founded as ingine. As she inched away Mwizi roar toward Ingine stopped her in her tracks.

"INGINE! TAKE MKUU BACK HOME. I WILL SEE YOU THERE!"

"Mwizi-"

"GO HOME, NOW!" Ingine was besides herself in confusion and disbelief. What the hell had just happen? Her mate and father of her two cubs was out with another lioness- then had to nerve to order her to go home, when all she wanted was answers?! But she had no choice, she slowly scooped up her crying cub, all the while her eyes never leaving Mwizi.

"…fine…" she stormed off. Mwizi sighed as he watched her walk off. Then from the back of him came the lioness, with a joyful smile.

"ooo, was that wifey?"

"Yea…"

"She seems pissed, I'm guessing you didn't tell her about me, huh?" her asked cheekily as she intertwined her tail with the larger grey males. "Looks like you have some explaining to do, huh Mwizi." She lead forward a licked his muzzle, softly. He looked at her, but didn't return the action.

"Yea…" he stated "I'll deal with her later."