IIX

One Eyed-Freak

Life went on, but it seemed to be more daunting each day, and each of those days, Ashuma was growing sicker with stress. The pride had barely seen him for some time, except after successful hunts, or when the lion was atop the Great Knoll, eyes scanning the horizion.

It was only when the growing cubs were near early adolescence, did the leader begin to reveal himself again. Banjija, Kasha, Toga, Gatu and Bondu would some day, soon show signs of a tiny mane. But, compared to the adults, they were still small, and definitely considered cubs. In fact, most were only half the size of their damès.

Ashuma was now seen frequently again. He snarled at each of his passing sons. His last two litters, he didn't take too kindly to his adolescent sons either - then again, most lions didn't. But he had never shown the deadly threats he was now using upon his third litter. It was even more astonishing that he would act like this, as none had not yet started adolescence. It was different with these cubs now, though.

The nersery was rarely needed anymore, and they would almost always go on the hunts. Each one became slightly independent, and the females looked more like their mothers than ever - just half the size - of course, signs of cubhood still decorated their faces and bodies.

One day, Meersha would be found in the shade under an acarica, tail swishing back and forth as she laid next to her mother, for she - like the others - was still tentative, even though they had grown much. In fact, more than half the time they would be found around their mothers, and the rest of the time away, yet in the eye, saftey and protection of the pride.

"Mother," Banjija said one day as he padded over to Kinara and Meersha. "Kasha's being annoying. He won't shut his mouth about how he's gonna take over the pride and whatnot!"

This was just another sign showing how their cubhood was almost completely still present, as it should be.

Kinara rolled her eyes and got up, shaking off a few twigs and pieces of grass.

"If he doesn't shut up," Banjija went on. "I'm gonna let 'im have it!"

"No one's letting anyone have anything." growled his mother, sternly.

Meersha sat up, watching with curiousity, eyes sparkling as she attempted to surpress a smirk.

"Then just tell him t' shut up!"

"Why don't you shut up?" suggested Meersha, and she grinned.

"Meersha, hush," Kinara demanded, glancing down at her daughter.

But Banjija hissed and growled, pointed ears folding back while glaring at Meersha, who just snickered back.

"You two!" snarled Kinara, just as her other son came running up.

"OK, I've got it! When Dad let's me have the pride," he exclaimed, but Banjija smacked him with a paw, scratches left on the male's face due to extended claws.

"Ah!" and Kasha pounced his brother with a thrusting hiss.

"ENOUGH!" Kinara cried, and pried them away from each other with her forepaws. "If you're going to act like cubs, then I'll treat you like them! Kasha, enough with your talk about taking over the pride."

"But-"

"I said enough! And you, Banjija," she turned to the brown cub who shyed away slightly. "I don't ever want to see you raking your brother like that! Understand?"

"He didn't rake me!" Kasha defensively yelled, trying keep the tough act. "That was a baby scratch!"

"Do-you-under-stand?" Kinara asked, almost threateningly, though doing her best to hold her temper.

Finally, the two settled down and nodded, saying quietly, "Yes." as they blushed, feeling the eyes of giggling young lions around them, including Meersha. Both felt like tiny cubs once more.

"Shut up," Banjija muttered to his sister as he and his brother padded to the other side of the Hill.

Kinara heaved a sigh and sat down by her daughter again. "I don't know what I'm gonna do with them."

Just then, Shashi came over. She smiled and Kinara returned the expression.

"Having a mother and daughter kinda thing?" she asked.

Kinara shook her head. "My sons still act like little cubs."

Shashi chuckled. "But you've forgotten, that's what they are."

"I'm gonna go get a drink," Kinara then said after an iritated mumble, getting up and padding off, leaving the shaman and her cub to chat.

"So, what's been going on in your life, young Meersha?" Shashi warmly asked.

Meersha shrugged, before aburptly gasping. "I just remembered," she said, more to herself.

"What?"

Ever since the night, a few full moons back, she had seen the picture in the water, Meersha had forgotten about it, especially with the way her father was acting.

"Shashi," she hesitantly exclaimed.

"Yes?"

"What does it mean if you see a picture of a...uh...the night...?"

The old lioness raised an unseen brow. "What do you mean?"

"OK. Say you were looking in a puddle of water and suddenly there's the picture of something."

"Like a reflection?" Shashi suggested.

She shook her head. "No. It wasn't my reflection...and it moved. It was a whole different place."

"You saw this?"

Meersha inwardly gaped at her own words. "Uh, no...but I had a dream about it," she quickly lied. "So what does it mean?"

"Hmmm," Shashi thought aloud, before saying, "It could mean someone is trying to tell you something. From faraway."

"But how? I mean, I didn't even know it...in my dream." the cub added.

"Meersha, did you really dream it?" a tone of suspision overlapping her voice.

Meersha nodded. "But, whatever. It was probably nothing." and she padded off.

"Whatever it was, Meersha," Shashi called. "Don't go back to it! When it's benighted and unknown, it's never good!"

"H-hey, st-stop!" someone cried.

Meersha, now on the other side of the Great Knoll, was cocking her head, gazing at a group of cubs, two of which were continuessly headbutting Gatu.

"What's wrong?" one called Bondu said. "Don't like to play?"

Another said, "Maybe this'll teach 'im to talk right,"

The group laughed as the two carried on with their actions, causing the cub with the one eye to fall backwards in the grass.

Meersha's fur bristled in the golden sunlight, before she haughtly snarled, "Hey!" jumping between Bondu and Gatu. "What are you doing to him?"

"Trying t' teach him how to talk!" and they laughed again.

"Toga, shut it," she snapped. "I'll tell my sister on you."

"Aw, ya wouldn't Meersh? I'm your nephew!" Toga insisted.

Meersha rolled her eyes as Gatu looked fearfully at them. A couple cubs had gone off, but Bondu stayed.

"Where ya goin', Toga?" Bondu asked as Toga padded away, glaring at nothing.

But Meersha hissed and batted at Bondu. "Leave Gatu alone. He can't help the way he talks!"

"But he's a freak! Look, he's got one eye!"

"It was Dad's fault,"

"Y-yeah," Gatu then huffed, puffing out his chest as he staggered up.

"Shut up, one-eyed-freak! You deserved it,"

Meersha started forward, toward Bondu, who took a step back. The remaining cubs were watching, half heartedly waiting for a fight. Bondu hissed, and Meersha returned it. Not just her brothers knew how good of a wrestler she was. Bondu finally shook his head, before solemly walking away. While the others groaned at the absence of a brawl and began to scattered, Meersha smirked, then turned to Gatu.

"Are you OK?" she asked.

Gatu nodded and replied, "Yeah. Th-thank you, M-meersha,"

"You're welcome,"

As she turned to go, Gatu said, "You-you didn't have t-to do th-that,"

The female cub shrugged as she continued on her way.