I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. I think I enjoyed it too much. My own timeline of one fanfic every two weeks is in the gutters. So for now, my updates may be a little slower. On the positive note, the quality may go up. Only time will tell.

Odyssey of Vanitas the lion

Year 0 day 99

The African climate can be very fickle: sunny in the early morning to a deluge of storms. Unfortunately, this is the scenario we are facing. Unable to film more of Vanitas and Ventus until the storm pass, we bunker down hoping for the best.

"RUUNNNTTT!" Roars of thunder overwhelmed my own voice.

I had to keep shouting out to the idiot who got lost in this hellstorm. The ground was all slushy and I had difficulty running without landing onto my face.

"VANI! I'M OVER HERE!" cried a familiar voice. The harsh rain muddled the voice, but I recognized it as Ventus. I pinpointed the sound coming from a nearby lone tree. As my trek brought me closer to my beta male, two figures were crouching beside him. They were little and looked like cubs.

I swipe my paw against Ventus face to show my anger. He could have gotten killed in this storm by a flash flood. "Why did you leave the pride grounds?" I inquired while ignoring the two kitten figures now huddling and shivering close to Ven.

"I found these two alone. The storm must have separated them from their family." His explanation makes me want to hit him again. A flash of light hit nearby in the woods. We needed to get back now. Swallowing my displeasure, I grabbed up one of the kitten in my mouth.

"Get the other one and let's go", I muffled out without letting go of this unknown cub. The grounds weren't far, just more treacherous with the danger of flash flood and getting lost. My sense of smell was no good here and the rain muddles with my vision. My paws ached from the exertion to lift them from the muddy grounds. I couldn't continue with this pacing. I veered myself and Ven to a hollowed tree for shelter to weather out the storm. The baby kittens were shivering to death. Ven and I instinctively huddle around them to give our warmth to them.

"I miss mommy… sniff…"

"Wuahhh… daddy gone forever…."

Those kittens were soaking wet and their crying didn't make it better. Shivering and crying about their missing parents; they most likely became orphans judging from tearfest.

Am I like some orphan magnet?

I licked the spotted kitten with circular pattern whereas Ventus purrs to the solid black spotted kitten to ease their minds. Ventus probably understood them more than I would. Being an orphan only to saved by a stranger. "What are their names?" I asked.

Tears dried up to the cub near to me, "I'm Sora… sniff."

"Roxas…ah choo " The cubs calmed down and rested their weary bodies to sleep. The trauma and cold condition must have tired them out. I wrapped my tail to Ventus to complete the circle. Their bodies stopped shivering… a good sign.

I woke up as the sunrise hit my face. Yawning, I looked to my right to see three sleeping cubs. I still think of the runt as a cub and you couldn't tell the difference in my viewpoint. I took a closer look at those new faces. Ahh, so they weren't lion. The cub named Sora is a leopard and Roxas is a cheetah. And something hit me, who will take care of these orphans? Dammit, one orphan was enough. Ven is practically a baby in my eyes. Now I got three orphans. There was only one logical solution: run the desert away and don't look back.

I took one step which caused a twig to snap. Six eyes sprang up like morning lilies, six eyes looking at me. "Ahem, ready to get back to the pride grounds?" I stretched out my back to pretend I wasn't trying to escape. Their eyes still staring at me. I was ready for them to maul me or hate me for attempting to leave. Instead, it was something more horrible than I could ever imagine. They were licking and rubbing to me like I was their mother. I fell to my sides from their assaults. "Sora… Roxas… make sure to thank big bro for saving you," Ven spoke out and grinned from his statement.

Roxas and Sora spoke softly, "thank you big bro. We love you". Those words were like fangs stabbing into my heart.

Why do I always get orphans loving me!

Reluctantly,I felt a bit warm inside. These kids depended on me keeping them alive. If they want me to be their protector, I shall. I got back on all fours, "enough cleaning me, time to go home." The two cubs stared at each other then hung their heads downward.

"We don't have homes anymore…" they synced their words together. Ventus was looking at me mouthing to let them come.

I did the natural step; I picked up Sora by the neck and continue walking. Ventus jumped up and snagged Roxas along swinging a bit. He snuggled my cheekbone for approval. The cubs were confused as they didn't know where we were taking them.

Back at the pride grounds, I looked to see my mother was bathing in the sunlight to dry herself from last night. She saw me and Ven with two non-lion cubs. I don't know if she even cared or gave a silent affirmation. She positioned herself to allow the cubs to feed. I nudged them both to the feeding ducts just like with the runt. Ventus looked into my eyes like I was his mate. He gave a purr to my ears. I could feel my tail wagging from behind. "I'm so proud of you, big bro". He had to say that.

"You and trouble always follow me around," I closed my eyes to rest some more. Three bundles of fur slept beside me. Their heartbeats followed the tune of mine. It was comforting…