Amnextria screamed as she was overcome with pain.
"Push, milady," the healer said. "I can see the head."
Amnextria gritted her teeth and pushed harder. The pain of the final push caused her to utter a crush, as the healer lifted the cub. The female lion healer gasped nearly dropping the newborn. She looked at the other two attendants in the room. Amnextria could sense their alarm.
"What...what is wrong?" she demanded.
The healer looked down at the cub and back at Amnextria.
"What's wrong, damn you? I will have you flailed if you do not answer me," she demanded. Oona was standing at her side, even she was overcome with shock.
"Its the cub, milady," the healer said, finally finding her voice. "It is...he is...", she didn't finish. She lifted the cub so Amnextria could see it.
The queen put her hands over her mouth, shocked at the appearance of her cub. It was deformed almost beyond recognition. The cub's breathing was labored. He would need special care to survive.
"Destroy it," Amnextria cried. I am still being punished! This is the result of bearing my father's cubs. This is...she could not finish the thought as another labor pain seized her.
Again, I have to go through this again to deliver another monster, she thought. She cried as the pains of labor grew more intense. The female healer handed the deformed cub to one of the other attendants.
Oona held Amnextria's hand tight as the queen pushed the other cub from her body.
"I don't want to see it," she said coldly, "Not if it looks like...
"Milady, he is beautiful," the healer interrupted. "He is the most perfect cub I have ever seen," she exclaimed. She cleaned the second cub and placed him on his mother. Amnextria looked down at the wailing cub.
"My beautiful son," she cried softly. Oona leaned over and looked on the newborn cub.
"Our new lord," she whispered.
The healer looked at her queen seriously, "Milady, what do we do with the other?"
Amnextria refused to look at the deformed twin, "Destroy him. I only gave birth to one cub," she said raising off the bed slightly and giving those gathered around her a deadly look.
"But milady, the cub can be saved. There are many advances in medical treatment, I will..."
"You will have that thing destroyed! Do you hear me? Lion-O will never learn of the other, are we clear?" she said. Oona stepped to healer menacingly.
"Her Majesty gave you an order," she threatened. "I will personally punish the attendant who does not carry out her wishes."
The healer took the deformed cub and left the room through a secret entrance.
"Lord Lion-O has been waiting in the outer room, milady. Shall I get him?" another attendant asked.
"Yes, he should meet his son," Amnextria answered.
She and Oona exchanged knowing glances. "Do you think Lion-O would doubt that this cub is his son? He does not have red hair," Amnextria asked.
"He looks like his mother. Lion-O has no reason to doubt your fidelity," Oona whispered just before Lion-O rushed in the room.
He looked down on the newborn cub lovingly and then looked around, clearly concerned, "Only one? You only gave birth to one cub?" he asked.
"Yes, milord. Here is your son," she said weakly lifting the cub to Lion-O.
Lion-o gently took the cub from Amnextria, "He is so small," Lion-O said. The cub was peaceful and content in Lion-O's arms purring softly.
Amnextria gave Oona a look. Does he suspect? "It is the duty of the father to name his male children," she said changing the subject.
Lion-O walked around the bed cradling his son, deep in thought, "Leonydas," he said finally.
Amnextria and Oona looked at him. Leonydas was the legendary king of old. It was he who had united all the species of cats on Thundera.
Amnextria and Oona both smiled.
"A very good choice, milord", Amnextria said. Lion-O gave Oona a stern look.
"You may leave here, Lady Oona. My wife and I need to make arraingements to present our son to New Thundera," he said harshly. He was never fond of the strange well-muscled female. The fact the she was Amnextria's lover had nothing to do with it. His instincts to him not to trust her.
Oona bowed and and left the room, giving Amnextria smile before she left.
"Oona is one of my oldest friends, she could have stayed," Amnextria said as Lion-O returned the cub to her.
And your lover, he thought. "We have much to plan, Amnextria. Many will come to see our son. Oona has no place here now."
Amnextria held her tongue. She will have a place here once you are dead. I have much to plan as well, my dear husband, she thought as Lion-O began listing the things they must do.
Kit walked to the river to clean himself. Kareala's had given birth to triplets, two sons and a daughter. He found a healer who he paid well to keep quiet about the leopard female and her cubs. The healer was there with her now.
Kit disrobed and walked into the water. He washed himself thoroughly before slowly walking back to the bank. He was amazed at the whole childbirth process. Watching the tiny cubs being born was simply the most amazing thing he had seen. The cubs were beautiful, the perfect joining of leopard and lion but one of the cubs was... Something glistened on the ground. The few rays of sunlight that pierced the dense jungle fell right on something. Kit picked it up and washed it in the water.
It was a charm of some sort. A long bow on a chain. This was the place were he first found Kareala. He dressed quickly. He wanted to be at her side. She would need all his help now. Three cubs!, he thought as he ran back to the hollow tree. The healer was leaving as Kit returned. All three cubs were sleeping next to their mother. Kareala smiled at Kit.
"They are amazing, aren't they?" she said, her eyes glistened with tears of joy.
"Yes, they are."
"Their father was a lion at least I know that much," she said.
Kit just nodded. A lion...could Lion-O be the father? Is that why he is so interested in finding this female? And who at the Royal Court wanted her dead? The questions kept coming. He only knew that he would protect Kareala and her cubs.
"Oh, I found something by the river," he said reaching into his pocket and pulling out the long bow charm. "Maybe it will stir..."
Kareala inhaled sharply. WilyKit looked at her.
One memory after another flooded her brain. It was like a damn breaking. A small crack allowed a little water until it slowly broke down the structure holding it back. Her grandfather gave her that charm as a gift. She could see herself as a young female back on Thundera. She had just been accepted as a Huntress of Bastet. Khanon had been so proud of her. She remembered the ship they escaped on as Thundera exploded. The years in exile fighting for survival. The beacon, the call to return home. And Lion-O, blessed mother, I remember it all.
"Are you alright," Kit said rushing to her side.
She tried to get up, but was still weak from the delivery, "Kit, I must get to Lord Lion-O. There is a murderer in his court!"
I jumped the story ahead several months for storyline purposes. As always, please offer your review!