I ran inside the cold and dark cave I called home to find Mheetu and Shanni still fast asleep, I walked up to Mheetu and tried to wake him up.
"Mheetu?" I nudged his head but the giant was fast asleep. Shannis head slowly came up
"Yeah Kellan?" Shanni said.
"Shanni can I go play with Kali and Mzuri?" I asked with a toothy grin.
"Well...okay. Be back before sundown " she smiled.
"K-kellan," Mheetu yawned.
"Huh?" I asked looking at him.
"Y-yeah..before..." He stopped and yawned showing his huge teeth," before... sun rise.."
"Sundown," Shanni giggled.
"Yeah that," he said looking at me with drowsy eyes.
"Was that relevant ?" Shanni sassed him.
"Parenting practice?" He shrugged.
"Well keep practicing. Our little cub is going to depend on you a lot" she giggled. "Alright go on and play. Be safe," she smiled to me.
"You two are going to be great parents," I smiled to them as I started to prance out of the cave.
"That'll be pretty soon to one lucky lion," Mheetu smiled. I wasn't sure what he meant by it but he ruffled my hair tuft with his right paw and then yawned again, resting his head between his paws.
I walked out of the cave with a funny idea, I was going to pretend like they said that I could not play, and she Kali's reaction.
"Kali I don't think I can play today" I said trying to put on the best sad face I could.
"Kellan your such a bad liar" she said while looking at me.
"Wow you can see right through me" I giggled.
"That's one thing my dad showed me" Kali said as we began to walk towards the tall grass.
It was a very warm outside so I tried to run to get a breeze but I forgot that my paws were still a little sore.
"Owww why did I do that" I said stumbling.
"I don't know, maybe because your dumb" Kali said with a smirk.
"No your the dumb one, your highness" I said giving a little bow.
I don't think she liked that very much because next thing I knew she was on top of me giving me the stare down.
"My daddy also showed me that too" she said with a fake smile.
I was about to say something but out of the corner of my eye I seen Kovu and Kion running towards something a little farther from us.
"Kali get off of me" I said pushing her off and getting up to get a better look at where Kovu and Kion were running.
"Kali where is your dad going?" I said trying to show her.
"I don't know, but we are not going to find out by just sitting here" she said while getting up and running towards the direction of her father.
We did not really agree on things but we did agree on this, I got up and followed her.
Kali and I carefully and quickly followed behind Kovu and Kion. Our paws hitting the ground silently, dodging the wind and relying on the tall dry grass as coverage.
My paws were beginning to hurt again from this run and the one from the day previous. I was grateful to Kovu and Kion when they finally stopped running and began to walk in a hunting crouch.
"They're just hunting, Kellan. Let's go back." Kali spoke silently into my ear. I furrowed my brows and turned my head to get a better look at her.
"Why would a King and a leader of a Guard hunt when there's over twenty lionesses in their pride to do it for them?" I inquired causing her to open her mouth but she quickly closed it as my words began to make sense to her.
"Do you think it might be those Outsiders?" Kali let out a tiny squeal while I yelped at the sudden sound of Mzuri.
"What are you doing here?!" I almost yelled feeling my heart beating quickly.
"I-I wanted to join you guys.." She lowered her head in embarrassment but I decided not to mock her, this time, and focused my attention back on what Kovu and Kion were doing so far from their borders.
"You have no right being in my lands." Kovu's deep voice boomed causing me to flick my ears back and for Mzuri to whimper and cower beside Kali.
"Shh!" I hissed wanting to hear everything.
"The PrideLands belong to Kiara and her children. You own nothing here but your name." That voice. I knew that voice. Where had I heard that lions voice?
I heard Kovu growl while I silently applauded the lion for reminding Kovu of his true place in these lands.
"I am King regardless and as King I deserve respect." He defended himself poorly. Some king he is.
"Please, Lebna," A lioness spoke sharply, most likely his mate, "we mean no disrespect...we only ask for a place to rest. We have been traveling for days now..we are injured and my cub is in need of water." My eyes grew wide at the sound of the lions name and the sound of the lionesses voice. I knew them.
I flicked my ears up and stood from my crouching position, ready to run towards them. To stop Kovu from making any wrong decision towards them. But, I quickly recoiled at the sound of many paws hitting the grounds.
"What is that?" I asked turning around to face Kali and Mzuri.
"Those are the lionesses. I heard Kiara calling for them before I came looking for you two." Mzuri whispered though it was barely audible due to the tremble in her voice.
"All of them?" Kali asked, her crystal blue eyes growing wide. Mzuri nodded her head and moved closer to Kali in fear.
"What does that mean?" I asked suddenly frightened for the three lions facing judgment.
"Nothing good." Kali spoke honestly and I felt my heart fall to my butt.
Then, dozens of lionesses came running from every corner of the grass from which we were. Some growling others snarling another revealing sharp teeth.
"They can't do this." I spoke aloud and released a growl before taking off, my dark fur blending with the many lionesses that zoomed by me.
"Kellan!" Kali and Mzuri shrieked but I didn't have time to sit and explain to them why it was that I left. This was bigger than anything. These were three members of my old Pride and I wouldn't allow anything to happen to them.
My paw pads were burning as I raced getting whacked by a tail or grass making my eyes water from the stinging sensation. But, it was worth it when I saw my best friends white fur.
"Don't!" I yelled as I leaped in front of them skidding to a stop and landing nose to nose with a lioness I thought I would never see again.
"Kellan?" Her deep blue eyes filling with tears. I gulped and stepped away from her and took her in. The white fur, the dark pink rounded nose, the blue marking on her forehead, and those beautiful deep blue eyes.
I quickly rubbed my forehead against hers and I couldn't help but purr. I missed her. I pulled away and looked over at her mother and father, Asha and Lebna, they look like the last time I saw them. Lololi being the spitting image of her mother expect Asha had deep brown-orange eyes. Lebna was a strong lion with a pale blonde mane and the same blue eyes as Loli. The only thing new about Lebna and Asha were the cuts they had on their faces. Asha had two deep cuts across her cheek while Lebna was now blind from the left eye along with four deep gashes going down it.
I inhaled and turned around to face Kovu, Kion, Kiara, and over twenty other lionesses.
"Kellan. Move." Kovu's voice was deep and intimidating but I narrowed my eyes and stood my ground.
"You will not harm them...not while I'm here." I growled earning a mocking laugh from Kovu and a scoff from Kion.
"You're making a fool of yourself Kellan. Do us all a favor and stand aside." Kovu mocked me.
"No." I spat hearing a snarl from Kovu.
"Kovu!" Kiara yelled trotting over to her mate. Kovu's expression softened when she stepped forward while Kiara's hardened.
"This isn't the way we are. They're in need of a home that we can provide." She reprimanded and then looked over at the white lions behind me and smiled sweetly. Honestly. "We will have those cuts checked and you may stay in the PrideLands for as long as you see fit. We are all apart of the Great Circle of Life and it is only fair to share what we have with those in need. Come. We will have your living arrangements settled." She said quickly as she turned.
"Kiara-"
"You've done enough Kovu. They have a child...don't forget that my father spared you when he could have torn you apart." Her words were cold and harsh but it got to Kovu. Kiara then sighed and told her lionesses to be kind to the newcomers.
I released a sigh and turned to face my Pride members.
"Oh, Kellan." Asha whispered as she and Lololi rushed towards me and held me close. They cried and I couldn't help but release a few tears myself.
"Thank you, Kellan." Lebna spoke as he came closer and rubbed his forehead against my own.
After we finished our reunion, a thought came into my head.
"Hay Asha, where is my mom, and my dad" I said with a excitement. If Loli and lebna and asha were alive then maybe my parents were to.
"Kellan come here" she said as she walked closer over to me.
"Kellan I'm afraid us four are all that's left of our Pride" she said unsteadily.
"So, we're all that's left?" I asked, shocked.
Lebna replied with a somber nod.
Tears were threatening to flow once more. I couldn't let them see me like that again. The moment I needed to be strong, but I could not take it.
"I'm sorry. I need to take some time to process this," I said as I ran. I didn't stop running till I reached Pride Rock.
for some reason I had this urge to get to the top to watch the sun go down, Well, I always wanted to see how high I was able to climb.
I began to run again, as I ran past the Royal den Kali and Kovu were sitting out talking and Kovu tried to stop me but I did not let him. I began my climb up the rocky mountain, all the faces of the people i knew and loved flashed i tk my head but began to fade away, almost as if they were leaving.
I climbed up the rock as quick as I could. Not stopping till I reached the top. Once there, I couldn't hold my tears anymore as I broke down sobbing, laying my limp body over the edge of the rocky surface.
Besides Lololi and her family, everyone I ever knew and loved was gone. Never coming back. My mother, my father? Dead. My other friends besides Lololi? Dead. Dead. Dead.
As I sobbed to myself, I noticed someone was coming up behind me.
"Kali I don't want to talk please just leave me alone" I begged.
"Well I only came up here to help but ok" a older, deeper male voice responded back.
I turned my head over to see the lion I least expect, Kovu.
"Kellan what wrong" he said laying down next to me.
"Nothing you would understand" I snapped back in anger. I don't know why I was angry but being around Kovu fired me up.
"Well Kellan I want to tell you something you and I are a lot alike" he said ruffling my truff on my head.
"How are we alike" I asked confused.
"Well Kellan we both were outsiders as Cubs, our fur color is the same and everything, we are one Kellan" Kovu said looking at me.
"Kovu, I appreciate you coming up here and trying to help me but I really just want to be alone" I said looking away.
"Ok but if you need anything from now on, I will always be here for you buddy" he said, getting up and walking back down, leaving me alone, with my thoughts.
After a while of me sitting by myself, I heard more paws approaching my side.
"Kellan," I heard Mheetu's voice rumble.
"Leave me alone." I flopped my ears down.
"Nobody wants to be alone." He said making my ears perk up again. I felt both Mheetu sit on my left and Shanni sit on my right.
"Just go away!" I said raising my voice.
"Hey there, c'mon I want to help. We want to help you. I understand-"
"No! You don't understand how I feel!" I yelled letting tears form.
"I do know how you feel-"
"HOW!" I yelled.
"Because I lost my mother and father too," He said with a stern look and a soft voice. I didn't know what to say.
"My mother died from a dark sickness last year during summer. I never knew my father." He looked at me with a smile and sighed looking out.
"Well, would ya look at that sunset," Mheetu said, changing the subject, at my side with a sudden confident tone.
I turned my head to the beautiful array of colors, just looking at the sunset, at the highest point possible made me begin to feel a little better.
"Our little Precious cub will love it too." Shanni smiled. Looking at Mheetu.
"Kellan, how would you like to have a younger sibling?" Mheetu lowered his head so that we were eye to eye.
"How. I have no mother or father to have one," I began to teared up again.
"Yeah you do," Shanni said.
"This isn't funny-"
"We're right here." Mheetu said looking out to the sunset. I looked up to my left to see him mildly smiling. His eyes shifted down to me and he winked.
Mheetu and Shanni as ...Mom and Dad?
My heart skipped a beat. I backed up a bit shaking my head as if it were a dream.
Mheetu and Shanni smiled to me with kind hearts.
"Mama, Baba," I said. Shanni gasped and ran to me hugging me tight. Mheetu joined and nuzzled us tightly with glee.
After all they had happened I started to feel as if I was whole again. I had a family again.
"I'm a father," He whispered to himself, but fortunately I heard. He had me. They both have me now. And I have them. Their son, Kellan. Kellan, the son of Prince Mheetu and Princess Shanni.
Prince Kellan! I like the sound of that.
"And what's better, you'll have a little sibling in three months time...I'm pregnant." Shanni pulled away to give the news.
I smiled wider and jumped around with glee laughing with joy and running to my parents.
My Parents.
An hour passed and Mheetu-uh-I mean...Dad, put me on his back. I yawned tiredly and slowly felt my eyes closing. As I closed my eyes I wasn't quite asleep yet.
"Oh look at him. Our baby boy Kellan." Shanni giggled.
"We have a son," he laughed with joy," My boy Kellan. Prince Kellan. I feel that will stick to us."
He thought so too! Like father like son I suppose.
I shifted my head to the other side and yawned again opening my eyes. I smiled to a large shining star that granted my wish of being with one humble happy family. I knew that star was the one and only Mufasa, looking down on me, making sure we are all safe and sound.
Thank you guys for the endless support, it means the world to me. But none of this would have happened if it weren't for the help of two very talented people, you know who you are. I love each and everyone of you, thanks again guys, and PEACE!