II
Meersha's Name
On the third sun, Kinara found herself near the Great Knoll, where many lionesses watched their little ones play and bask out in the sun.
"Cub?" a small voice said as she looked down to find a cub in front of her. It was Pashi.
"No, not yet," Kinara answered, smiling. She looked up at Bayna then, who was grooming Lusala upon a flat rock.
"Kinara, for Heaven's sake, the whole White-Feather Pride has let their little ones outside." Bayna exclaimed. "When are you to let yours out?"
Kinara sighed, then nodded and said, "OK, OK. I guess you're right. I'll go get them."
"Good, 'cause my little ones are anxious to play with yours." She chuckled as Kinara trotted off.
After turning right, on the other side of the hill, Kinara stopped in front of a silghtly smaller and darker lioness, though her face resembled something of Kinara. "Chusuka!" she cried in delight.
"Mother," the one called Chusuka purred, and they nuzzled. "I'd like you to meet Toga."
Kinara leaned down to sniff a tiny, brown lion cub who sat at his mother's front paws. He shied back, though.
"Toga, this is your grandmother, Kinara." Chusuka told her little one.
"Well, Toga, nice meeting you." Kinara said. "Would you like to meet your aunt and uncles?"
"Mother, I'm sorry. But Toga was just going to get his bath and then nurse."
Kinara quickly exclaimed, "No need to be sorry, my daughter! A cub needs what he needs."
"But don't let me miss my brothers and sis," Kinara's oldest daughter added with a wink.
Her mother nodded before continuing to the northwest. "Ashuma," she said as she passed the leader. "Come. Follow me."
For a while, the lioness and lion traveled out near the borders of the large territory. Only a half hour later they came to a small den, surrounded by rocks.
"Ashuma," Kinara stated as she sat down in front of it, staring at her mate. "There is something special about this litter. Please, I'd like you to name the female."
Ashuma blinked in surprise and tilted his head slightly, like a cub. "What is it? Why would I do that and not you?"
"Because I already named my sons."
After a moment's hesitation, Ashuma asked, "Kinara, what is it?"
"Huh?"
"Are you all right? Is there something you want to tell me?" She shook her head, which just made the lion growl, "Kin, tell me. As mate and leader, we must have honosty between each other. Now spill it."
Kinara sighed heavily. "Ashuma," she whispered, gravely. "I was the last in the White-Feather Pride to give birth, and in the last litter born, the female was the last who came out into the world. Now I find this special."
"How so?"
"Because, Ashuma...my leader...I fear that she will be your last cub...ever..."
Ashuma blinked and couldn't help his head from tilting once more, before he straightened up and chuckled. "I'm strong as steal!" And his claws extended as he churned the dirt with them. "Is that it, Kinara?" She nodded as he went on. "I shall name your cub, yet I see no reason for it. You're the mother, it is the law in our pride for the mother to name the cubs unless she is dead or if there is some special or important reason for it. I really think you are overreacting, though. But if you see it as this important..." and he bowed.
Kinara forced a weak smile on her face before stepping aside, letting Ashuma crawl into the den. He nuzzled the three, picking up the scents of them all.
"All right," he said, looking down at the middle fur ball, who stared back up at him with baby blue eyes. He chuckled, before continuing. "I shall call you...Meersha." and with no further thought, he licked the single female.
Ashuma climbed right back out and turned to Kinara. "The law has been broken." he stated.
She shook her head. "No...Like I said, this was important to me..."
He blinked, then nodded and Kinara crawled into the small dirt cave, only to come back out with a mouthfull of two cubs. Ashuma reached in with a giant paw and carefully pulled out the last, fragile lion.
"Mama!" it called in fright, scrambling from his father's claws and toddling after Kinara.
Ashuma didn't mind the fright in his son, but he carefully trailed behind, keeping an eye on the family.
"Who is this young one, Kinara?" he asked, watching the one toddle in front of him.
Kinara rolled her brown eyes as she sat her two down and looked at the one behind her. "That's Banjija. The other male is Kasha."
Suddenly, the lion leapt to her, knocking Banjija over as he passed him, and he began to nuzzle Kinara, which took her by surprise. "They are beautiful!" he exclaimed.
Kinara soon returned his words with a warm expression, and they licked each other...
An abrupt roar shot out from the distance. Quickly, Ashuma ran out toward the center of the territory where the pride was bound to be. Kinara stayed behind to hustle her cubs back into the den once more.
"Aw, Mama," cried Banjija. "We go outside-side?"
"No. Back inside. All of you." she ordered, nosing them into the den. "Stay here. I'll be right back."
With that, she ran off in the direction Ashuma had gone.