The cubs and pups
Kiara and Kovu's cubs were now a year old and so was Vitani's cub. The other cubs of the pride that were born around the same time as the others were all wondering about the first cub hunt they were to go on. Tama's cubs Malu and Kuba were arranged to be married to either Nova or Kula and Ahadi was to be married to Uru (Zuri's cub) and Koda was to choose his mate as he was going to be the next ruler.
Bora didn't have to worry about a mate as she wasn't going to play as big part in the Pridelands as her other family members so she wanted to be single for life. She did get along well with the new cub Kai who had joined the pride. They seemed to get along better than any other lion did it was as if they were siblings (which they were but they were not aware). Liz's pups were 8 months old as was Bora and Kai. They were all training to be independent and to hunt.
Today Kula and Kuba were trying to get along by hunting together whilst Nova and Malu played by the watering hole.
Malu and Nova.
"Hey Nova what are you doing?" Malu shouted as he watched his date swimming to the shore. She stretched and tilted her head.
"What do you think I am doing? I am obviously regaining my energy so I could beat you in a splash match," She answered and Malu came out and laid by her side. Nova nuzzled him ,much to his surprise, and he returned it. Nova jumped up and pushed him in the water. Malu resurfaced and pulled Nova in as she swam to the surface a smile emerged on Malu's face. He splashed her and she growled playfully. Nova splashed him back and they started having a giant water fight. When they finished they laid down in the little cave beside the watering hole.
"I love you,"Malu admitted and Nova blushed.
"I want to test that love," She whispered kissing him on the cheek. They shared a kiss and were not seen for the rest of the night.
Kuba and Kula
Kula hated her date. He was so full of himself. Kuba would give her the airs and graces whenever she spoke. He made her do all the hunting as he refused to touch such beasts.
"I hate you! All you think about are your belongings well here is something for you, you spoilt brat!" She declared kicking sand in his direction. The posh lion jumped back in disgust.
"How dare you!" He shouted back. Kuba ran off and Kula rolled her eyes. She stalked some wilderbeast until she got bored.
Malu and Nova.
It was morning and Nova awoke early. She turned to see Malu sleeping soundly beside her. She sat up in shock. She was too young to mate and would be told of badly for it.
"Malu wake up!" She hissed and he got up with a loving smile on his face.
"Good morning baby girl," He said nuzzling Nova. She returned it but was still concerned about the night before.
"You know what my mother and father will think if we tell them that we...you know..." SHe began too embarrassed to get the words out.
"Mated?" Malu finished and Nova nodded. He rolled his eyes and shrugged playfully as he came over and kissed her cheek. Nova backed away.
"No Malu not again," Nova said but he just shrugged again.
"Ok," He whispered.
"We can't tell them!" Nova said.
"What are we going to say? Oh don't worry we didn't do anything last night we just looked at he stars all night!" Malu said and Nova looked down.
"How about we just tell them the truth," Nova suggested and Malu shook his head.
"Just don't say anything! Look it is still early we could sneak back in and pretend we were there last night," Malu said and the pair snuck back in to Pride rock. But they didn't prepare for the news the next week brought.
Rafiki and Nova
"look Rafiki I have been having headaches and keep throwing up for the past few days," Nova explained and Rafiki listened. He ran some tests and he looked at her with s tern expression written on his face. He turned away in anger and frustration that the princess would do such a thing.
"I hope you wanted a family," He mumbled loud enough so she could hear. Nova sat in shock and cried. She was worried this was going to happen. Malu and her hadn't gotten interrogated about their night away yet and no one had been any the wiser to ask them about it. Kiara and Kovu were suspicious but they didn't think of their daughter doing what she did.
"I am sorry Rafiki please don't tell my mother or father," She pleaded but Rafiki shook his head. He looked at her stomach with worry.
"I cannot trust myself to keep the news but I will not need to tell as your upendi and you will soon be noticed as your body will change and so will your personality," Rafiki explained. Nova knew what he meant. She looked around and knew she couldn't go home as she would be an embarrassment to the family. She ran out of the tree and sneaked over to the Pride Rock.
Malu
Nova came over to him with a sad expression on her face. She just had to whisper the words for him to shudder. He looked at her and she explained her plan to run away to the jungle to raise the cub. Malu agreed to come with her they sneaked out of the Pridelands and headed to the jungle.
"We made the right decision right?" Nova said and Malu shrugged even he wasn't sure if he wanted to leave at his age but he had no other choice as his family would threaten him or worse.
"I am sure we could raise a cub out here or we could travel further until we find a new home like the Pridelands," Malu said and Nova liked the second option more. The went past the jungle and over many mountains and several grassy plains. They reached a desert as it was nightfall.
"I have never been this far out of the Pridelands," Nova pointed out looked at the large hilly terrain on the horizon. There was sand as far as the eye could see and there was no sign of life for miles. Malu agreed he had never been this far away from the borders. Nova laid down on the soft sand to catch her breath. She was still suffering from headaches and sickness so the journey was extra difficult for her. Malu did the same and they slept through the night.
Morning came and they continued their journey. As the passed through the desert they feasted on the carcasses of starved animals and drank the puddles of rain water that were left from the shower of the day before. The continued until they came to a grassy plain where a herds of animals walked around and there was not a single scent of a lion within the new lands borders. They found a cave near the river and decided to make it home for now.
"What should we call this new land?" Asked Nova and Malu had no idea.
So what should the new land be called? Review so I can have an idea please. Well bye until next chapter. By the way ask any questions about the story and I will answer them at the beginning of the next chapter.