All Hail King Scar-Thank you for your review. I appropriate it and I'm glad you would be continuing to read.
Now here's chapter three. Enjoy.
After another half of day of travelling Cala could tellthey were getting closer when the small grains of sand underneath their paws began to slowly be replaced by soft patches of grass. The terrain is still rocky but at least Cala knows that they're no longer in the desert.
Cala begin to think about this new pride. Will they be any different from her home pride and the others that she heard about? Will they be worse than her home pride where she grew up in where she met the devil himself in the form of Alduin and Paxton? Alina said that the lions and lionesses are really nice here but so was a small pride they stop to rest at before entering the desert. They were nice before they really showed their true ugly colors.
"Alina, are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, what if I don't fit in?"
Cala shudder at the memories she is forced to remember of the small pride and her former pride members; the predatory passes the older male lions would give her and the immature, perverted and lustful looks she received from the male lions her and Alina's age. And she can't forget the sneers and petty whispers of the envious and insecure lionesses. Their attempts to drown her in the watering hole still gives her nightmares.
"Cala, you have nothing to worry about. This pride is so much better than the last one and your home pride, I promise you. There are a lot of lions our age in that pride so we'll have friends to hang out with. We won't be alone like you think."
"But Alina, you're forgetting a few major things…" Cala went to remind her friend. Alina rotates her head to the dull brown lioness.
"And what's that?"
Cala stop and plant her butt on the ground then point to her tummy.
"Uh…We're probably going to be the only young moms in the pride."
Alina just shakes her head.
"Cala, don't let that stop you from making friends. Our babies are a gift, not a curse. Remember that."
"We're gonna get judged. A lot." Cala retorted with a scoff.
"What does it matter?" The light cream lioness argues. "So we're going to have a baby at a young age, and we're going to get talked about but who cares?"
"I do!" Cala finally snapped and pretend to be oblivious to the look Alina gave her for raising her voice.
"For nearly my whole life I've had to deal with everyone talking about me behind my back or insult me straight to my face! I've been criticized and even wrongly accused by so many lions in that old pride and in at my house pride. What makes this pride any different?"
"Well, for one," Alina takes a seat and faces Cala, "This pride is in the process of getting their life back together now that their new king has taken the throne so they probably won't pay no mind to us and second of all, from what I've seen and experienced in this pride, I can confidently say that they have something very important that our old pride lacked."
"And what's that?"
"Love."
Alina continues to look at Cala and the dull brown lioness wait for her to continue.
"This pride has been through thick and thin but they still managed to support and never lose hope because they have love and a strong family bond between each and every member. That is why I'm bringing you here so you can experience the atmosphere this pride has to offer. You wanted the best home for your cub right?" Cala nod her head, "Well this pride is the best yet. And besides, This is my birth pride."
Say what now?
Cala furrow her eyebrows in confusion to the last part her friend said.
"Y-your birth pride?" Cala repeated as she search her friend's eyes for answers. "You told me I was born into the Farakano Pride."
Alina shook her head, "I never said that but enough of that. Why don't you look at your new home?"
"What are you-" Alina cuts Cala short by using her paw to turn her head and Cala's jaw drops at the sight before them.
Vast grassland stretches out in front of them, dotted with acacia trees. There are also many wildebeests and zebras grazing here and there on the grass plains, happily mowing the fresh shoots of grass the rains must have helped produced while antelopes leap together in harmony. Over to the right, a river snakes through the land. It looks shallow but I guess it will fill up to its usual volume as time flies. The river also feeds a huge waterhole which Cala knew for sure she won't be spending time swimming in but it looks fresh and it casts a beautiful reflection of the big blue sky up above where birds take flight.
But the most magnificent sight is the huge pile of rocks in the middle of the land. Cala's mouth has literally dropped as she stare at the monument towering over everything in the territory. One rock points its peak to the sky while the other rock points at a vertical angle. It almost looks like a stage.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Alina grins as she takes in the gorgeous landscape in front of them.
"The word 'beautiful' can't even describe this." Cala manage to breathe out. She just can't take her eyes off this scenery of paradise. A warm feeling of excitement suddenly flows through her. If this is where she's going to stay then she don't ever wanna leave.
"Trust me, Cal. You're going to love it."
The Pride Lands…Where have I heard that name before?
"What's that massive pile of stones called?" Cala eye nature's masterpiece in the middle of the land. It looks so majestic.
"That's Pride Rock." Alina smiles. Wow, it even has a majestic name to match its powerful look. "The pride sleeps in there along with the king and queen."
Cala turned her head to face her with wide brown eyes.
"What? The pride sleeps with the royals?"
Alina nods her head and Cala mouth the word "wow" to herself. This pride is so much different than the other prides they been to. Especially the West River pride where the king wouldn't even drink from the same watering hole as the rest of his subjects, further more sleep in the same place with them.
"This pride must be real close." Cala mutter quietly, but Alina heard her.
"Like I said," Alina flashes a wide grin, "They're like a family- especially now that their new king has stepped up. That reminds me… I think it's time you meet him."
But before Cala could ask questions, Alina races down the hill they were standing on. With a shake of her head, Cala followed Alina down the hill, careful not to trip up or else it would be all over for her and her baby. Once she finally make it to Alina, she gives Cala a reassuring nuzzle that everything will be okay and together we head off in the direction of Pride Rock.
As they reach halfway, the huge rock looks even bigger and taller and more intimidating. It really was made for a king. Cala was so distracted by the huge sculpture in front of me, she almost miss the colorful bird which swoops down in front of them, prohibiting us from stepping any further.
"I'm sorry, madam, but you seem to be trespassing." He informs Cala. He's a small blue hornbill with a white underbelly and orange beak. He also has a funny accent which makes him sound very official, prim and proper.
"It's okay, Zazu, she's with me." Alina smiles warmly at the small bird. He turns to her and his face lights up.
"Alina! How lovely it is to see you again!" He then does a double take as he gazes at me, then at my mother, then back at me again, "Is this….?"
Alina nods.
"Yes, Zazu, this is my best friend Cala that I gave word about."
Zazu twirls back to Cala happily. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cala."
"Thank you, Mr Zazu."
"No need for formalities, Cala. That's my job." He chuckles then stops, "Oh, I see you're both expecting?"
Now if Cala wasn't blushing before she blushed even harder and she attempted to hide her big belly. Cala braced herself for an edgy comment but she got none. Instead he smiles warmly, "Another bundle of joy to celebrate!"
"Zazu, can you take us to Sarabi and my sister? I'm sure she'd love to see me."
"Of course, Alina, it would be my pleasure. Should I inform the king?"
Alina shook her creamy head.
"Oh no not yet. I'll let his mate do that."
The orange beaked bird nods in understanding and takes flight. They follow his lead as he takes them to the base of Pride Rock. As they approach, Cala notice some of the lionesses examine them. They're whispering to each other and that puts Cala on edge. Cala soon realize that although some are discussing the fact that she and Alina are indeed pregnant, they don't show spite or disgust, just curiosity. This calms Cala's nerves just a little bit.
They greet Alina warmly and some swoon over 'how big she's grown' and 'How she look just like her mother'. I even heard one say, 'She is just what the king needs'.
This really gets Cala's brain working on overdrive as she struggle to figure out who this king is!
Cala's thoughts were disrupted however when a lioness a bit older than Alina runs up to them with a huge grin on her muzzle. She has a dark beige coat which is the same colour as Cala's father. Her underbelly is a shade lighter than her coat and she has small lazy eyes with dark orange orbs. They're almost similar to one of the lion eyes she met a long time ago.
"There's my best friend sister and her beautiful friend!" She exclaims as she embraces Alina lovingly, "How was the journey?" My mother answers her and the tawny lioness turns to me and smiles.
She smiles warmly and introduces herself. "My name is Sarabi, Queen of the Pridelands, but please, don't call me 'your highness' and all that, we're family!"
Cala smile sincerely at the older lioness next to her. She is so warm and gentle, every movement she makes is full of grace and she just radiates royalty, but she is so down to earth. And Cala likes her already.
"How long have you and Alina been friends?" Cala was really curious to know.
She smiles and stands next to Alina who rests her head on her Sarabi's shoulders. "Since we were cubs, well since I was teen and she was a cub. I don't even view her as a friend. To me, she's even closer than a sister."
Alina nods in agreement.
Wow, that is what you call real friendship. It must have hurt the both of them to be separated for so long.
The happy atmosphere of reunion continues to linger until Cala notice Sarabi's gaze. Her mouth makes an 'O' shape as she peers down at Cala and Alina.
"Girls…are you expecting?"
Cala's smile falters and the mood changes in her. She drops her head and nod slowly, refusing to meet her eyes. She don't know why she feel ashamed- especially in the presence of a lioness she has never met, but if she is older and the queen, she'll most likely have the same views on adolescent pregnancies most older lionesses.
But just like her encounter with Zazu, she awaited condemnation from the queen who only smiles and nudges Alina, "Faye is going to be a grandmother!"
There was a merry tone in her voice along with a laugh. Cala peek through her lashes to see her smiling at her as well as my Alina.
"I know!" The creamy lioness chirps, "I can't wait to tell Sarafina!" Sarabi laughs.
"I always told Sarafina, you would return with a new member. Looks like you and Cala got your work cut out for you."
"Wait, you're not upset?" Cala questioned the queen who looks confused.
"Why would I be upset, Cala? Although, knowing your age, I wish you both would have waited, but you're going to be a mother!" She takes another glimpse at their round bellies, "Really soon! You're going to experience the joys of motherhood that I have experienced, along with many of the other lionesses here." With her paw, she gestures to the lionesses which congregate around them.
Some were talking with Alina- they're probably good friends of hers too. The pride looks fairly big from what Cala could see. Although, there's no signs of other young lions and lionesses that Alina promised.
"That reminds me…" Sarabi continues, "I think it's time you meet the king of the Pridelands."
Now Cala was excited. She's very curious to see who this mysterious king is. Sarabi asks one of the lionesses to call for him. The lioness dashes off and Cala busy herself by making conversation with the queen and the other lionesses who are interested in the newcomers.
The messenger lioness returns and Sarabi smiles.
"Ah, there's my handsome king! Cala, I'd like to introduce you to my mate."
Not knowing what was coming her way, Cala casually turn around to meet the king of this beautiful land but she was left gob smacked as she stared face to face with the lion she seen in her dreams.