Chapter Seventeen: Burying Past Transgressions
Chapter seventeen. Wow, guys… um this is going to go on for awhile more… I'm not even halfway through I believe… anyway, review responses:
TrueTigress: Well, you'll just have to read on to discover if anyone dies, correct? I apologize for the dark tone of this story, but that is how things go. If you choose not to read on, I do not blame you.
Hunter305414: Yep yeppers! Another chappie :) Luckily, Kamaria's mother didn't kill her for not controlling her hormones. That would have been awkward. And Kibuluu is slowly, but surely, losing power. GOOD THINGS ARE AWESOME! Enjoy the chapter.
TRON0602: It's fine, and thank you. Kali, patience is a virtue. You'll be reunited with your wife and daughters soon. Enjoy the chapter.
Guest: Yep, every time I write about Kiara I get angry XD thank you for the review, enjoy the chapter.
Whoa It's Fandoms: I'm glad :) enjoy the chapter.
CSIMentalistTLK Lover: It's a good thing, too. If Kamaria hadn't admitted it, imagine when she started showing that would have been…bad. Kiara may be pregnant, but bad things happen to bad lions, or lionesses. And poor Usafi. She doesn't even know if Kibuluu really is the father due to her being with Kali the night before. And Amri's return is going to take awhile, so please, be patient and enjoy the chapter, my friend.
Usafi and Hafsa ran until they found the baobab tree, looking up into the tree.
"Hello?" Usafi called.
"Is anyone home?" Hafsa asked.
"He went to the jungle." The two lionesses turned to see a brown lion with a darker brown mane, red-ocher eyes, and his paws the same color as his main fur. The lion eyed Usafi carefully.
"You're the lioness that fought Nala." He said. Usafi lowered her head and nodded. The brown lion stepped up to the two lionesses.
"Why did you come here?" He asked.
"I… I… I'm seeking asylum for my daughter and me." Usafi said. The lion's reddish eyes turned to a hue of ocher-amber in understanding.
"Kibuluu hurt you, didn't he?" He asked. Usafi nodded. The lion gave Usafi a slight nuzzle.
"I'm sorry. I will speak to my cousin on your behalf, if you wish." He said. Usafi shook her head and sighed.
"I must speak to the Queen myself, and apologize for my actions, I'm sure you must understand that." Usafi said. The lion nodded.
"I do," The lion turned to Hafsa, "and you? You're afraid Kibuluu will do the same to you?" he asked.
"I am." Hafsa said. The lion nodded and sighed.
"Then I will take you to Ashaki. I just need to know your names." He said.
"I'm Usafi," Usafi said, "and this is my daughter, Hafsa." Hafsa smiled. The lion smiled as well.
"I'm Chumvi. Come on now, it will take a couple hours at least to get to the jungle, I stayed behind in case of stragglers, myself." Chumvi said. Usafi and Hafsa nodded, following Chumvi deep into the desert.
*+-/_\-+*
Kamaria sat alongside Simba, who was still recovering from his head wound as well. The lionesses hunted for some sort of sustenance, the now year-old cubs all were playing or learning how to hunt, and the lions were patrolling through the jungle to be sure of no harm to the pride. Simba and Kamaria found themselves discussing names for Kamaria's cub, or cubs, whatever happened.
"One should be named 'Simba,' if you ask me." Simba laughed.
"C'mon, I'm not that nostalgic." Kamaria chuckled.
"Aw, Kamaria, you break my heart." Simba said. Kamaria nudged her great uncle and laughed.
"I do like the name Jawanga, though, for a boy." The young lioness said. Simba smiled. Kamaria gazed at Simba in confusion.
"What?" The Crown Princess asked.
"I'm just remembering when you were a baby. God, you're not a baby anymore, are you?" Simba asked as he nuzzled his great-niece. Kamaria laughed.
"I'm not, I'm having my own, Uncle Simba." The Crown Princess said. Simba laughed.
"Will you name one 'Garuda'? You know, should you have twins?" Simba asked. Kamaria gazed at Simba.
"Why that name?" the lioness asked.
"Mom said she wanted to name Tama that, until her mother died." Simba said, tears meeting the golden lion's eyes. Kamaria leaned on Simba, tears in her eyes too.
"I miss Gramma too, trust me." Kamaria said. Simba sighed and nuzzled her.
"But, will you name one Garuda should you have twins?" Simba asked, his voice thick. Kamaria nodded and smiled.
"Of course, why wouldn't I?" The Crown Princess asked. Simba's tears spilled a bit, and so did Kamaria's as they held each other in a mourning embrace, both finally able to mourn the ones they had lost through the fight at Pride Rock just two days earlier. Simba's sobs were silent, whereas Kamaria's were not. They both stayed still, just holding the other, drawing strength from the other.
"Simba?" Nala's voice came through the jungle as the aging lioness stepped before Simba and Kamaria, seeing the two crying. Nala felt tears enter her eyes as well.
"Oh, you two." The cream-colored lioness walked over and held them both. Kamaria finally drew away and smiled at her great uncle and great aunt. Nala and Simba smiled at Kamaria as well.
"We will always mourn the losses, but we will come back ten times stronger." Nala said.
"If not more." Simba said, tearstains on his fur. Nala licked away the tearstains and smiled at Kamaria.
"So, how far along are you?" Nala asked, trying to make light of the situation.
"Almost three weeks." Kamaria said. Simba nodded.
"Not long to go, and yet you still aren't showing." Simba said, a red eyebrow cocked.
"It's most likely because she's young, Simba." Nala jabbed her mate in the shoulder. Simba laughed.
"Yeah, when you were pregnant with Kopa you didn't show until you were almost done." Simba admitted. Kamaria looked to Nala and smiled.
"It's a blessing, isn't it?" Kamaria asked. Nala nodded.
"Of course it is." Nala laughed.
*+-/_\-+*
Ashaki was out hunting when she saw one of her lionesses, a cream-colored female named Thelugi, go down. The Queen ran to Thelugi's side, and the lioness's gray eyes stared up at Ashaki.
"What is it, Thelugi?" Ashaki asked.
"The cubs… they're coming." Thelugi said softly. Ashaki was aghast. Thelugi had been pregnant? Well… not an ideal situation, but the Queen stayed by Thelugi's side.
"I only need one more to stay with us, the rest of you need to go hunt!" The Queen ordered. Kweli quickly came to her sister's side.
"I'm here." Kweli said. Ashaki dismissed the rest of the hunting party. Kweli stayed by Thelugi's head. The cream lioness shook her head.
"I should have told you. I'm sorry." Thelugi said.
"I just want to know who the father is." Ashaki said softly with a smile. Thelugi smiled.
"A rogue. Not Kibuluu, but a rogue from the north." Thelugi said, pain streaking the lioness's face.
"That's good. What's his name?" Ashaki asked.
"Kanai." Thelugi said. Ashaki nodded and smiled.
"That's a strong name." Ashaki said. Kweli took position at the lioness's tail-end and she smiled.
"You're already crowning. This'll be quick." Kweli announced. Thelugi sighed and leaned against Ashaki's leg.
"Have you picked out names?" the Queen asked, trying to keep the lioness distracted.
"Tufani and Kirai for boys," Thelugi gasped in pain, "and Malaika and Cyrah for girls."
"Push, Thelugi!" Kweli encouraged. The lioness began using all her muscles for the birth. Ashaki smiled at Thelugi.
"Good girl, good girl! C'mon you're doing great. C'mon. Think about having your beautiful cubs in your arms." Ashaki encouraged. Thelugi pushed again, and Kweli smiled as she lifted one golden brown cub into Thelugi's arms.
"A girl." Kweli smiled. Thelugi cleaned the cub quickly, gasping for breath as more contractions ran through her body.
"Another cub?" Ashaki asked. Thelugi nodded and pushed the girl cub towards her Queen. Ashaki kept the cub close to her leg and encouraged the cream-colored lioness. Kweli kept encouraging the huntress to push. Thelugi finally gasped for air, and Kweli smiled. The dark gold lioness set another golden brown cub into Thelugi's arms. Ashaki gave the new mother her other cub.
"A boy." Kweli said. Thelugi smiled at her twins. Both twins had the same coat color, but their eyeshades were starkly different. The girl had light eyeshades, and the boy dark eyeshades like his mother. Thelugi had a motherly smile on her face.
"Welcome to the world, little ones." Ashaki said. Thelugi smiled.
"Malaika and Tufani." Thelugi said. Ashaki leaned down and nuzzled the twins, despite them not being hers, and Thelugi only smiled at her Queen.
"Congratulations, Thelugi." Kweli said as she gazed at the cubs in the creamy lioness's arms. Thelugi broke into tears.
"Thank you so much." Thelugi sobbed as she held her cubs. Ashaki smiled and looked up at the sky, wondering.
"Sis?" Kweli asked. Ashaki looked to Kweli and smiled.
"Everything's okay." Ashaki assured her sister. I just want to be a new mother again.
*+-/_\-+*
Nurisha and Damu lounged in the afternoon sun. Damu purred a bit and licked Nurisha's ear. Nurisha giggled.
"Slow down, tiger." The white lioness whispered. Damu nuzzled Nurisha.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't force too much too soon." Damu said, his deep voice resonating in Nurisha's stomach, causing a coil to form. The white lioness sighed and leaned against Damu's bi-colored mane. Damu smiled.
"I can't believe JJ, I mean Kamaria, is pregnant." Nurisha sighed. Damu shook his head and nuzzled Nurisha.
"Come now, you have to give her a break, you know." Damu said.
"I know, but…" Nurisha said.
"Nuri…" Damu warned. Nurisha grumbled and Damu patted the top of the lioness's head.
"I… she could have waited. I mean, we're waiting, aren't we?" Nurisha asked. Damu nodded.
"But when one is in love so strong, so many things can happen." Damu said, his bright green eyes looking beyond the lioness at his side. Nurisha gazed at Damu.
"Aren't we that much in love?" Nurisha demanded. Damu looked back to Nurisha and smiled.
"Of course. I just know my sister, and she'll kill me if you end up pregnant too." Damu said with a laugh. Nurisha laughed and leaned into Damu with a smile.
"Damu, Nurisha! Hey have you seen Ashaki?" Chumvi's voice filled the area and both teenaged lions leaned up, both looking at the brown lion before them. Two lionesses flanked him, one a dark pink color, the other silver. The pink lioness stared at Nurisha, her purple eyes filling with tears.
"You look so much like Mpenzi, it's not even comical." The lioness said softly. Nurisha stood up and approached the lioness.
"Mpenzi? You mean my birth mother?" Nurisha asked. The lioness nodded.
"And my sister. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Usafi, and this here is Hafsa. Hafsa is your half-sister, through the same father." Usafi said. Hafsa and Nurisha exchanged glances, both sisters wary of the other. Nurisha eyed Hafsa, and Hafsa eyed Nurisha.
"I am pleased to meet you." Hafsa said stiffly. Nurisha nodded choppily.
"Likewise." The white lioness said, her voice icy. Damu stepped next to Nurisha.
"Ashaki was hunting, but the hunting party should be back by now. Why don't we go check?" Damu asked Chumvi. Nurisha stepped closer to Damu.
"I think that is a wonderful idea." Chumvi said as he began to walk from the scene. Nurisha quickly followed Chumvi, and Damu followed Nurisha. Usafi and Hafsa followed close behind, close enough, Nurisha always looked over her shoulder at the half-sister she just met, whom she didn't know if she could trust or not.
*+-/_\-+*
Ashaki returned with Kweli and Thelugi. Kweli carried Tufani, and Thelugi carried Malaika. The Queen saw Kamaria, Simba, and Nala all huddled together talking. Kamaria lifted her head and saw her mother, aunt and the huntress with the cubs. Kamaria smiled at Thelugi.
"Congratulations, Thelugi." Kamaria said. Thelugi smiled and laughed, waking Malaika. The golden brown cub in her mouth squirmed and the huntress laid down, setting Malaika at her side. Kweli quickly set Tufani next to his sister, and looked to Kamaria.
"It won't be long before yours are here, too." Kweli laughed. Kamaria smiled and slowly walked over to Thelugi. The creamy lioness smiled at Kamaria.
"Come on, it's okay, they don't bite yet." Thelugi said, her gray eyes calm. Kamaria walked up to Thelugi's side and smiled at the cubs.
"They're beautiful." The Crown Princess mewled. Ashaki watched the scene and smiled at her daughter.
"One boy and one girl. Tufani and Malaika." The huntress said.
"Strong names for strong cubs." Kamaria chuckled.
"So, I must ask… have you decided names on your children?" Thelugi asked. Simba laughed.
"She's decided on one name. Garuda." Simba said.
"She's still going between Jawanga and Kirai for a boy." Nala said. Ashaki nodded at her daughter with a smile.
"Those are very fitting names, sweetie." The Queen said. Kamaria met her mother's gaze.
"You aren't mad anymore?" The Crown Princess asked. Ashaki shook her head.
"Who said I was maddened in the first place?" The Queen asked. Kamaria smiled and ran to her mother, nuzzling her. Ashaki sighed and held her daughter close.
"Hey, there you are!" Chumvi's voice carried through the area and Nala glared at the brown lion. Chumvi looked down at the huntress feeding her children and grimaced.
"Sorry." He said softly. He looked to Damu and Nurisha behind him, making sure they were quiet. A silver lioness appeared on one side of Chumvi, and a dark pink on the other. Nala grumbled and Ashaki looked to the pair. The silver lioness was without a doubt the child of the silver lion, and the dark pink lioness had to be her mother. Nala approached the pink lioness.
"You call one of our own a whore, you attack me, you send your mate after mine, and now you are here?" Nala hissed. Simba's eyes narrowed in anger. Kweli glared at the pink lioness.
"You're the reason Uncle Simba got hurt." Kweli growled, backing Nala up. The silver lioness stepped next to the pink lioness.
"Leave my mother alone, she has had enough grief to last a lifetime." The silver lioness said.
"She's had enough grief?" Ashaki asked, her voice rising above the others. The place fell silent and the Queen approached the newcomers. Kamaria followed her mother, in case. Ashaki's electric blue eyes met the pink lioness's lavender orbs.
"Tell me this, has she been taken from her parents? Raised by a psychopath? Reunited with her mother only to have her ripped from her claws again? Fall pregnant at a young age whilst outside the pride she was born to? Returned to think that peace had come when it hadn't? Have her mate cheat on her with what was thought to be a trusted friend? Almost have her cubs killed by their own father? Have a war break on her lands, and cause the death of others she loves? Lose her lands? Find out her teenaged daughter is pregnant without the father being around to help?" Ashaki asked. The pink lioness lowered her head.
"Kibuluu and Kula caused that much?" She asked.
"Yes. They have. And you followed Kibuluu, regardless of what your heart said." Ashaki said softly, relenting a touch. The lioness looked up at the Queen, her lavender eyes blazing.
"My heart said to avenge my sister." She said harshly.
"I suppose that Kibuluu had said I had killed her for her cub," Ashaki said, backing from the pink lioness and going to Nurisha, "as you can see, yes, I did raise her cub, but my majordomo had found the body first, and she was already dead. I raised Nurisha as my own, because she had no mother, and she needed one." The Queen said. Nurisha eyed the pink lioness as well.
"And she raised me well. Queen Ashaki is the only mother I've ever known, and she's always been honest with me." Nurisha said. The silver lioness stepped up.
"Watch it, sister." She said. Nurisha growled.
"Hafsa, behave yourself, she's your sister, remember?" the pink lioness asked the silver one. Hafsa backed up a touch.
"Nurisha." Ashaki said. Nurisha stepped back. Ashaki and the pink lioness looked to each other.
"So, I assume you were intimate with your sister's mate, just how you told your daughter Nurisha is her sister. Love or lust?" Ashaki asked.
"Love. Mpenzi, my sister, and Kali, my mate and Hafsa and Nurisha's father, were betrothed due to Mpenzi's first, unplanned pregnancy by a King from the north of our lands." The lioness said. Ashaki widened her eyes and thought of Myota.
"Wait… was that King named Scar?" Ashaki asked. The lioness nodded.
"Our King claimed he had raped Mpenzi, but Mpenzi said otherwise. She said she had wanted to help him in that way."
"Scar was my great-uncle. He is also the father of my mate, Myota. Myota was abandoned at a young age." Ashaki said. Myota appeared, looking to Ashaki.
"My name? I heard it." Myota said. The pink lioness gazed at Myota and Ashaki caught her gaze.
"So, this is Mpenzi's son? The one that our King forced her to abandon?" she whispered. Myota stepped next to his mate, eyeing the pink lioness warily.
"If you are asking if I am the son of King Scar, than yes, I am." Myota said carefully. The lioness smiled.
"You look like your birth mother." She said.
"She's claiming to be Nurisha's birth mother's sister." Ashaki said.
"I cannot deny the blood that runs in my veins, nor can you, Queen Vitani." The lioness said.
"Ashaki. My name is Ashaki." Ashaki said. The lioness nodded.
"Then I am Usafi. Ashaki, I mean you no harm, maybe information to help you win this war, but no harm." Usafi said. Ashaki and Usafi leveled a gaze and both lionesses smiled.
"So you ran from Kibuluu?" Ashaki asked. Usafi nodded.
"He raped me. You see, my family, we're the rightful rulers of the Moonlands." Usafi said.
"Wait, the Moonlands?" Kamaria asked, coming into the conversation. Usafi nodded.
"Yes, why?" Usafi asked. Kamaria looked to her mother and new stepfather.
"We are one. Zakiya's voice sings through six lands, the Moonlands and the Pridelands included. Zakiya is the Ancestress of Royals, her daughter Akili had three sons that took the Outlands, Moonlands, and Riverlands, and her other daughter Ayita had three daughters that took the Pridelands, Peaklands, and Windlands and made them Kingdoms. Uru, Kirembo, Zula, Mpenzi Amani, and Shujaa were the reincarnations of the Three Queens and Three Kings, respectively." The Crown Princess said. Ashaki smiled at her daughter then looked to Usafi.
"Here I thought Zakiya was only the ancestor of the Prideland Royal Family." Ashaki said.
"I thought that she was only our ancestor as well, you aren't at fault." Usafi said with a smile. Ashaki laughed as well, a joyous sound coming from both lionesses. Usafi looked to the Queen of the Pridelands with a smile.
"Well... we started off wrong. With the battle and everything." Usafi said. Ashaki nodded.
"I agree, and if you are my husband's blood aunt, that makes me your niece-in-law." Ashaki said. The pink lioness chuckled.
"And since I'm also Nurisha's aunt… my niece-in-law raised my niece." Usafi said with a smile. The Queen smiled.
"I will grant you and your daughter asylum, seeing as your daughter is Nurisha's sister, and you're her aunt. Also, on the grounds of your rape by Kibuluu, you may stay with us." Ashaki said. Nala looked to her niece, then to Usafi. Usafi looked from Nala to Simba, and gave Simba a sympathetic smile.
"That must smart a little." Usafi said. Nala licked her mate's wound, making Simba wince.
"It does. Your mate can do a number, I will give him that." Simba chuckled.
"Kali was just protecting me. I apologize for that." Usafi said. Nala looked to the pink lioness.
"We were at war then. I won't hold it against you, you know, now that we're on the same side." Nala said. Usafi smiled.
"I want it no other way." Usafi said.
A/N: Another filler, but with much more action. I'm using some sibling rivalry to Hafsa and Nurisha, being that Hafsa was solely Kali's daughter until Nurisha came along. Hafsa's not going evil, not by a long shot, but it's going to be tense between Hafsa and Nurisha.
Maji: WHEN AM I COMING ONTO THE SCENE!
Me: *Screams and hides*
Maji: *scratches head* Chin?
Myota: Maj', you scared her off. She Nadra'ed up and ran for it.
Maji: Oops.
Myota: *messes up Maji's mane* it's okay, sport, she'll be back.
Maji: MYOTA!
Myota: *Laughs*
Usafi: Maji!
Mpenzi: Myota!
Maji and Myota: *look to their mothers*
Maji: What?
Mpenzi: Behave. Safi, can you go find Chin? I'm scared that she might use her Nadra powers for evil.
Usafi: Nuh-uh, no way, no how. Chin gets scary when she's Nadra.
Mpenzi: USAFI!
Usafi: MPENZI!
Uru: *appears* FOR THE LOVE OF PEACE I'LL DO IT! *Storms off*
Maji, Myota, Mpenzi, and Usafi: *huddle together*
Myota: Dear God…
Maji: She can be scary as hell.
Mpenzi: The way Chin designed her… yes, but she holds a subtle beauty to her.
Usafi: *Looks at Mpenzi* are you always that optimistic?
Mpenzi: I'm your sister, Usafi, you know that I am.
Usafi: *rolls eyes*
Mpenzi: Don't make me slap you. *growls*
Usafi: *growls*
Myota: MOM NO! *grabs Mpenzi*
Maji: MOTHER STOP! *holds back Usafi*
Uru: *returns with me as Nadra* I leave for five seconds, and everything goes to hell.
Me: I know what you mean, Mama.
Everybody looks to Uru and me.
Uru: *sighs* in Chin's next series, her fursona is my daughter. Can't you see the resemblance?
Maji: Well, Chin's fur is more of an orange, while yours is red…
Me: I get the orange color because of my father. Genetics are tricky as hell, you, Maji, are the prime example of that, being both melanistic and albino.
Maji: *does a Scar sexy pose* I know.
Uru: *facepalms* dear Kings, Maj'.
Me: If I convince TRON to book you a L'Oreal commercial, will you stop that pose?
Maji: *smiles haughtily* that is all I ask. *Leaves*
Usafi: *looks at me*
Me: Don't look at me, he's your child!
Usafi: At times like this, he's Kali's child.
Mpenzi: He does get several of his mannerisms from Kali.
Myota: He gets some stuff from Simba as well.
Simba: *off-screen* NO HE DOESN'T
A loud crash is heard. Uru, Usafi, Mpenzi, Myota and me look to stage right.
Usafi: I think Kali just attacked Simba. *Runs to stop the fight*
Mpenzi: She's gonna need backup. *Follows*
Myota: And I should help. *Exits*
Uru: Should I go or…?
Me: *shrugs* you are Kali's grandmother in TRON's universe.
Uru: I'm going in. *follows Myota*
Me: I'm going to settle this situation. Review and stay tuned!