The Lion King: Rise of the White Pride

Chapter 4: Cubs!

Four and a half months had passed since Kovu held the crown of the King of the Pride Lands. The pride under his command was doing great. His skills were polished by Zira and Vitani while his leadership sharpened by Simba and Nala. Currently, the sun is setting and the pride gathered in the den.

The lionesses encircled Kiara with something between her paws after some days away from the Pride Rock in labor. Kiara's cubs had been born. Kiara had given birth to a twin. One female and the other one was male. With dark gold fur, brown tail tuft and cream underbelly; they're pretty much crossed cub versions of Kovu and Kiara. The male cub had emerald green eyes like his father though he had highlights, but his sister had golden eyes unlike both of their parents. The pride was surprised and amazed at the same time. So did the father and the mother.

Kovu stood beside Simba, who now was same in height if not the less. Kovu's mane had grown to his lower chest, which also meant he had more to grow.

When they opened their big eyes in Kiara's paws, the first thing they see was their father smiling on them. Gently played his paw on them and let a grin across his face. A unison of awww echoed in the den.

Kiara's a little annoyed, "Hey, stop it! They're your cubs!" she said softly.

Kovu kept playing with his paw until Kiara snarled, "Sorry. It's just, they're so . . . lovely. What should we name them?"

"You're the father. I'll leave the name to you," Kiara spat and turned her eyes to her cubs.

"What? Okay. Let me think," he walked away.

Kovu circled around thought for a good name. He came up with a name, but quickly brushed it away. These repeated a few times and when Kovu's eyes shown I give up! Simba approached him and told him to trust his own decision.

Then, Kovu's face lighten up and he ran to Kiara, "I know it!" he shouted.

"SHHHHHHH!" his loud words automatically triggered the entire pride to silence him. Vitani smacked his head in an instance.

"Uh, sorry" he silently apologizes.

If lion's paw structure was like humans, Kovu'd probably slapped himself for yelling. But he shoved that away and returned to reality.

"What IS it?" Kiara snapped.

"Kiburi and Kasi! The male would be Kiburi while the female would be Kasi," he excitedly explained.

"Good choice there," Nala commented.

"I agree," Simba thought so.

Kovu smiled in pride. "Thanks!"

Some steppes from the royal cubs were Chumvi with Tama, and their friend, Tojo and Kula. Both couples were also crowded because they had their cubs that were younger by a couple of days.

Tojo and Kula's son, Kimbia, was light gold coated with faint red eyes. He had a tear shaped birthmark on his left shoulder.

On Tojo's side was Chumvi and Tama with their daughter, Kubwa, with light tan coat and brown eyes. She had a brown line bent from her nose, under her right eye, and end curled at the outer corner.

Kula asked, "What do Kiburi and Kasi means?"

"I think Kasi means speed. I'm not sure about Kiburi," Tama answered.

"I tell you. Kiburi means pride," Simba informed them.

Both nodded. "Nice choice of name."

Simba chuckled. "Yours are too."

"They are," Tojo said, smiling.

Back at the crowds, both Kiburi and Kasi are exhausted and sleepy. Kiara nods her head and everyone backs off and then prepared to sleep. Kovu laid down beside her looking at his cubs. He thought of what her mother would think of what he had become to be right now. Kiara passionately licks him and tells him that even though the hatred in her was flaring, she'll be proud.

Kovu returned his sight on his cubs, "Someday, you two will be king and queen of Pride Lands. I'm sure of it," he spoke softly.

"So do I," Kiara said and they both go to sleep.

Outside, Vitani stood on the bank of Zuberi River, staring at the streaming water and the bottom. She saw her reflection but swatted her paw at it, destroyed it it. She glanced upon the night sky and shed a tear before landing her sight on the Pride Rock. She should be sleeping; otherwise Kovu would drag her back even after she threw him hundred times.

Unknown to her, Kovu watched the whole time from the entrance of the den but kept silent. Vitani had been like that since Zira died. Was she mourning for her? No one but Vitani knew. When she walked toward the den, Kovu went back in and pretended to sleep when she pass by.

The next day when the first ray of light the sun in the horizon hit the land, the pride woke up; Kovu commanded them to prepare for the ceremony. The lionesses were waking up their cubs while Kiara was grooming her newborns.

Kovu ran up to the promontory of the rock and summon the animals in Pride Lands to the rock with his roar as loud as he could. In a few minutes, the Pride Rock's front was full of many animals. Then, he signaled the lionesses to take a seat at the base. Zazu flew in front of the king and bowed down spreading his wings in respect in which Kovu returns with a smile.

When he returned to his mate, Kovu noticed that Simba's not around. Then he heard someone chanting closing in. Asante sana squash banana we we nugu mi mi apana were heard over and over. When he looked back, Simba was already back with Rafiki in tow. Always a step ahead Kovu thought. Rafiki closed into him, opened his arms, and hugged the king. Kovu returns the hug. He closed in to Kiara as Rafiki approaches.

The mandrill put his staff on the ground and examined the cubs. "So, which one shall be the one?"

Kiara glanced at her cubs a little and said, "Kiburi will," she stated.

"And why is that?" Rafiki asked again.

"Because they're twins, and the tougher should lead, so . . .," Kovu explained.

Rafiki turned his sight to Kovu and put his pointer finger on his nose. "Shush! Rafiki's asking the mother," he cut Kovu off.

Kovu's face darkened in annoyance while Vitani laughed him off. He never really liked the mandrill as he's like; always annoy him whenever they met. But Rafiki had wide knowledge and trusted by the pride so he trusted and respected him.

Simba approached with a smirk running along his tough face. "Do it, Rafiki."

"Right away," Rafiki followed.

He broke one of the fruits clinged on his staff and used the juice inside to make a curve line on Kiburi's forehead. But as he attempted to, Kasi playfully tried to catch the old mandrill's finger looking like she wanted it. Kiara held her down gently and let Rafiki do his job. Then he pick up some sand and poured it on little Kiburi's face causing the newborn to sneeze.

After he's done, Rafiki held Kiburi carefully with his hands. Then, he walked slowly to the promontory of the rock and he held the little cub up as high as he can when he got to the edge. Instantly, the animals making noises, the elephants are blowing, the zebras neigh, and the rest cheered and then bowed at the future king of Pride Lands as another Circle of Life has been completed.

Kovu watched his son with tearful eyes along with his family. Simba nuzzled Nala as the crowd went on.

Vitani nudged Kovu and teased him. "Don't you cry on your son's big day, tough boy," she swatted his head.

Kovu smiled but several tears ran down his face. "I can't," Vitani put her paw around his neck and hugged him.

Between the lionesses were Tojo, Kula, Chumvi, and Tama with their respective cub between their paws. Kubwa and Kimbia stared cluelessly at Kiburi and Kasi on the promontory.

Chumvi, seemed to notice this, said to them, "See them? They're the prince and the princess. And you guys, will be their friend and stay by their side," his friends nodded in agreement.

Though too young to understand, both cubs nodded like they understand Chumvi's words.

Kasi slipped off her mother's paws unnoticed and walked randomly at the scene but what she didn't see was a ledge in front of her. Kula noticed Kasi in a split-second before her fall and shouted, but too late as the princess' already falling.

"KIARA!" she shouted.

Kiara looked at her paws only to find out that Kasi's gone. "KASI!" she gasped. Her heart raced as she stood up. She'd call herself idiot for letting her own cub out of her sights if she had the time, but her cub was too important to be shoved by unimportant thoughts.

Kasi landed head first. Kiara and Kovu quickly tend to her side and picked her up but blood ran from Kasi's head. Kovu roar-called Rafiki and the mandrill ran to them, drop Kiburi at Nala, and rushed to Kasi. The crowds got their attention to the princess, wondering what had happened.

"Kasi! Kasi! Can you hear me?" Kiara yelled with a worried voice and tearful eyes while getting Kasi on her paws mewing.

Simba turned back and called out for the mandrill. "Rafiki, quick!"

"Out of the way!" the mandrill made a way for himself to Kasi from the lionesses around her, fluttered with worry.

His face didn't look well. He quickly ordered some pride members to bring some herbs for medicine and some quickly stormed off the crowds to search for them. He wiped Kasi's wound with his hand softly and put some temporary medicine for Kasi from one of the fruits on his staff. Kiara buries her head in Kovu's mane bursting in tears followed by the others. Kovu tried to hold back his tears but to no avail he cried as well seeing his daughter's fur stained by her own blood.

Shortly after, the lions came back with the herbs. Rafiki quickly pounded and mixed them together to make a white powder. Then, he gently rubbed Kasi's wound with it.

Kovu approached the mandrill and asked with a worried tone, "Rafiki, how's she?"

Rafiki wanted to smack the king with his staff but let it pass after he looked upon the father's sad expression. "Ah, don't be a scaredy cat. She's the king's daughter. She's tough. She'll be fine," the mandrill assured.

Rafiki remembered the first time he met Simba as an adult in grassland. His appearance had matured, but his mind was still fragile and could shatter at any moment. He doubted himself at that time. Luckily Rafiki managed to knock some sense into him and carried on.

Kovu sighed in relieve along with the rest of the pride. "However," the mandrill continued his sentence, caught the pride's attention once more. "Rafiki afraid she'll get a scar from this," he said while inspected Kasi.

"Can you do something about it?" Kiara asked.

The mandrill shook his head. "Rafiki afraid he cannot. But don't worry too much. The scar's small and would be hidden beneath the fur so it is unlikely easy to see," he declared. Another sigh of relieve came from the pride. "Well, she should get more rest. If you excuse Rafiki, he'll take his leave."

"I can't thank you enough for this, but thank you for saving my daughter," Kovu said with respect.

Rafiki attempted to smack him again, but instead placed his staff on Kovu's forehead. "It's all Rafiki's pleasure," he said with a bounceful tone. Rafiki will check her again tomorrow. Farewell!" the mandrill said while leaving.

"Okay everyone, get back on your things," Kovu said. When the lions who brought the herbs passed him, he called them. "Thank you for bringing those herbs," Kovu said respectfully.

"Always our pleasure to serve to the king," they bowed.

"But I'm still new."

"But de facto our king now. If you excuse us," one of them said while turning back.

Kovu nodded in response and came to Kiara, who was holding Kasi in her paws. Simba and Nala approached to check their granddaughter. Kiburi, although didn't know anything just yet, reached out for his sister trying to calm her down, which to their grandparents' eye looked adorable. Kovu told the others to continue their routines so Kasi could rest peacefully.

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