Chapter 13

Even with the incident on their first try with the cubs accompanying the hunting party, Queen Zuri saw no reason to cancel any further training for the cubs. It was a survival lesson and though they had made a mistake the cubs it seemed had indeed learned from it.

Although now after one more demonstration with the larger herds, Zuri and Simba who had joined in his son's training as well as the other cubs who they caught around their son when they went to collect him, had decided to move onto smaller prey so that the cubs could practice.

Birds. Mice. Hares. Whatever small animal the cubs could catch.

Each a challenge in their own ways for the cubs to hunt. After teaching the cubs what they needed to know the two adults would sit back and watched from a distance. Simba at one time roaring with laughter at the sight of his son bounding on through the grass after a hare that was clearly giving him a run for his money.

Although in the end it appeared each cub was successfully getting better. Although all still too young to go for larger prey, however Zuri was quite sure in a few more months Nuka would be perfectly ready to try. Each cub after their kills looked proud of themselves, even Nuka, for unlike with his mother he got praised for it by Zuri with loving gestures and nuzzles that were more motherly than any attention he received from his own mother for the longest time.

He loved his mother, of course he did, she was his mother. There was no other lioness he loved more then his mother right now. He always wanted attention from her. But she was always more attentive to Kovu then she was to him. Sometime's he wished she would be more like Zuri, he missed the attention she use to give him before when he was born but that slowly stopped as time went on. Especially after the death of his Father.

But with Zuri. She was always kind to him. She praised him. She stopped the others if they picked on him too much. He loved Zuri as an aunt, for that's how he saw her. A loving aunt who looked out for him and the others.

Even Simba, though his mother told them to hate him especially saying he had murdered their father but the King was always kind to them. In the beginning Nuka thought the King hated them, but now that he had started training them, and when Simba had saved his life during the small stampede, it appeared otherwise.

Not even Scar praised him, though that was later on; there were the few times Nuka could remember of his early cub days that his father had made some fatherly gestures toward him.

The training went on for days. Too weeks. Too months.

And as she began to show more and more, Zuri stopped participating in the hunts leaving Nala in charge as head of the hunting party till it came time for her too return after she gave birth to her new cub.

But as the months wore on, Zuri found herself before more and more tired as lack of sleep finally built itself up. The only other one that knew of the reason was Nala. And more then once Zuri had to beg with her friend not to go to Simba or anyone else about what her nightmares were about.

Although there was one part of her dream that she never spoke about not even with Nala. And that was of the strange two legged being that appeared in them. He was always at the end but he was always there now…only her dreams this time were different…

This time she could hear not just Kopa crying…but the soft mewing cries of a newborn cub…but she couldn't see this cub…she ran and ran but never found neither of her cubs…and this time she didn't find a dead Kopa…but instead she was attacked before she could find either cub…and was killed…

And each time she lay there dying, she would open her eyes and that two legged being would be standing above her. He would crouch down to her, his strange thin five fingered paw reaching out to her. His face was still in shadows but he would speak comfortably to her…and just as he told her to come with him…And each time she would beg to know of there whereabouts of her cubs…in which he would say…

"They are safe…"

And that was when she would wake. Wide eyed and scared. The first things she would check for was her cub and mate. And it always relieved her to see both of them fast asleep beside her although on occasion Simba would wake to his mate's restlessness beside him and would watch her with concern as she waved off his worries and tried to fall back to sleep.

And he had to wonder if her tiredness would take a toll on carrying their new cub or cubs as many of the lionesses commented saying she was big enough to be carrying more then one. But neither the king nor Queen cared, they would welcome any cub no matter how many into their family as well as any member of the pride.

"Simba, it's perfectly normal to worry about your mate and cubs. But I'm sure Zuri and the cubs are they just fine. But have you ever thought of asking her why she was so tired?" Sarabi looked toward her son when he came to her with his worries. Chuckling, when Simba shook his head to indicate that no he hadn't thought of asking her, "Then do so."

"What if she doesn't tell me?" Simba furrowed his brow. He felt like lately there was a lot that Zuri wasn't telling him and that both concerned him and frustrated him that his mate didn't trust him with this.

There were times he would walk into the den and find Zuri and Nala speaking in hushed voices. But whenever they would hear him enter and approach they would fall silent and greet him as though they hadn't been speaking about anything secretly at all. And the looks Nala would give him, was like she desperately wanted to speak to him about something to confide in him…but she never spoke of what it was.

Sarabi watched the concern flash across her son's face and sighed, reaching out she placed her paw upon his. "Simba, it's important that you speak about your concerns with your mate. I'm sure she will tell you, if you would only ask, why would she come to you if she thought perhaps you wouldn't listen?" she too noticed a difference in the young Queen but given Zuri was from another Pride, she was queen at such a young age for a lioness and now going to be a mother of two or possibly more, she could understand the young lioness may be having some trouble due to worries.

"Did you and father ever…?"

"Your Father was often a stubborn lion while growing up Simba, so yes we had our little…spats as you could say, and had trouble communicating but like you and Zuri, we grew up together. It's always easier when you grow up around each other for you know each other and that there often makes the best of mates. Now go on, I believe I saw her at the ridge on the east side of Pride Rock," stepping back Sarabi stepped around her son and gave him a small wallop on the behind.

Jumping, Simba flashed him mother a look who only gave him a cheeky smile before she turned and padded off to where a group of lionesses was dosing off in the sunlight. Eyes following his mother, Simba then took off in the direction that his mother had told him that Zuri had last been seen at.

Sprawled out in the shade, Zuri was over looking the Pridelands although that wasn't where her eyes were. She was watching the group of lionesses with three young cubs. She been resting wanting some time to relax away from her rambunctious son, who at the moment was off somewhere with Nala watching him, when she had heard yelling.

When she awoke it was to find her least favourite lioness of the pride instructing her cubs how to hunt. She didn't know why Zira insisted on teaching the cubs when they were already undergoing training with her and Simba, but that didn't seem to please the former Queen, just like everything else the royal couple did, Zuri thought bitterly.

She had long since given up on Zira, she was a hopeless case, but that didn't stop her from trying to speak to the other lionesses that followed Zira. On the most part they spoke back or at least acknowledged her. However to her surprise each lioness had congratulated her on being with cub again, one lioness especially, named Hawa who had approached her personally to speak about the pregnancy.

Her eyes spotted that lionesses amongst the group she was watching, she was very kind to her, this gave her hope that maybe just maybe there was some hope left for the pride and one day they wouldn't be divided any longer.

Finally her eyes landed on Zira, who at the moment was instructing Kovu, she never could understand why the lioness seemed to favour one cub over another. Especially when that lioness had three cubs to love and care for. As she watched, her body suddenly tensed up when said lioness raised her head toward her, their eyes meeting.

Zuri watched the hatred that filled those eyes and the sneering smirk that came over that face. And for a moment felt a chill run down her spine to the tip of her tail. There was something in that stare, that scared her more then it ever had before, that stare promised something. Something that Zuri swore silently to herself that she would never let happen to her, or her cubs.

'You're safe…as long as you have the pride…you are safe'

She kept reminding herself over and over everyday.

Snapping her eyes closed, she broke contact with Zira's stare, and turned her head away to open them to gaze upon her swollen stomach. It wouldn't be long before she would have to give birth, and she couldn't wait to see her cub, she wondered whether it would be another son or would it be a daughter this time.

Then she wondered if she would live to see her cub, she thought sadly. Her dreams over the past little while had continued as they always had. The cries of her cubs, but she could never find them. Bending her head, she nuzzled her stomach smiling when she felt the cub kick from within; sometimes it felt like she could feel more then one kicking within her.

"How is she or he doing?"

She raised her head at the sound of her mate's voice and smiled as she watched him approach her. "Just fine Simba, what brings you all the way over here? Zazu driving you crazy with his reports?" she chuckled watching as Simba sat down in front of her and bent his head to press his nose against her stomach. Much like he did many times when she was carrying Kopa.

Turning his head, to flash a grin at his mate, he shook his head, "Fortunately, he is still out there flying about and not reporting back yet and my patrol's showed nothing but I should do another before evening…uh…Zu'…" Simba leaned back turning his head toward his mates face, watching a questionable look come over her face as she wondered what he wanted to speak to her about.

"Yes, Simba? Is something wrong?" she asked wondering what her mate wanted. She cocked her head when she saw a nervous look come over his face and now she wondered what he had him look so nervous to speak to her about.

Chewing on his lower lip, Simba thought for a moment on how to address the issue before coming right about and saying… "Is there something you're not telling me?" he asked looking his mate in the face.

Zuri was stumped, she wasn't sure what to say, she knew her mate was becoming concern for her. She could see it everyday…but so far he hadn't come to her to address the issue and now that he had, like always she wasn't sure exactly of what to tell him.

Looking from Simba, she looked toward the group from the corner of her eyes, she could see that their session was done for the day and were heading back to their side of Pride Rock. Then sighed and looked up at her King again "I've just been having nightmares Simba that's all, I swear," it was the easiest answer she could give him.

"Nightmares?" well that was easier then he thought, but then again why would she keep nightmares a secret from him. Nightmares were nothing but nightmares; even he had nightmares like about the day of his Father's death only now they didn't come as much as they had when he was a cub especially since he knew he really wasn't the cause of his Father's death. Plus he had a family, he was happy; nightmares really weren't something that could take that from him.

"Nightmares about what?" he asked, it couldn't be just any regular nightmare that would make his mate keep this from him. He seen Zuri had nightmares before, plenty as a cub and some after the time of her mothers death against the hyenas. And each one she had told him about for it was he, who she came crying to about them.

"It's nothing…just something silly…" Zuri began.

"They can't be if they're making you loose this much sleep Zu' and they seem to be coming every night. Come on, tell me, please Zuri. I mean this lack of sleep and stress can't be good for the cub? Can it?" Simba laid his paw gently upon Zuri's swollen stomach, feeling the life inside move around. He grinned proudly for a moment; his cub was what he was feeling inside there or perhaps cubs…his grinned widened at the thought that they might possibly have more then one cub growing inside his mate. He liked the idea of being the father to multiples…he only hoped there was another male…then he would have a tag team against his mate. Though if she ever heard him think that she might slap him he thought with an inward chuckle.

Watching him, and then looking toward her stomach and back. She thought for a moment, perhaps it would be best to tell Simba, like Nala had said. She wanted to tell him, like she told him about all her other old nightmares in the past. But there was one thing she was worried about and that was him overreacting and finding a way to get rid of Zira before she could become a threat to her and the cubs, not that she wouldn't mind letting Zira leave. But the cubs were another matter all together…

Her son's only friends.

She could not do that to Kopa. She could not send his friends away and cubs were better raised in a stable pride environment. Plus she loved those cubs, they may not be her own but they were family, a pride was one big family and those cubs were her family and she loved each and every one of them.

Watching them play put a smile on her face every time. Teaching them was a great joy as well to watch them grow and succeed knowing one day they would be ready to face the world on their own…the boys especially.

Although she knew Kopa was thinking deep down to have Kovu and Nuka as his right hand lions in the Pride to help them protect lionesses and land. He told her once, "More would be better then one Mama, and then I would have help patrolling the borders…unlike dad!" he told her this after she had explained how Simba had once been in position of being Jaali's second.

No, she couldn't tell him, he couldn't have those cubs sent away. But she couldn't keep it entirely from him anymore, she needed this comfort and wanted him to know she could trust him with what was bothering her and take care of her. Taking a deep breath she said "I often dream of…dying…"

Dying.

The word echoed in his head, and his eyes widened and the fear coming over his face suddenly made Zuri regret what she just said, quickly climbing to her paws she nudged his head with her nose. "Simba?" she asked worriedly, when she got no response she stepped closer, laying her head against his neck nuzzling her snout in his mane. "I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said anything…"

Dying.

She dreamt that she was dying. Dreamt of it repeatedly. His mate dreamt of…dying. He could feel the tears coming to his eyes, and the moment he felt her against him he reached out with his paw and wrapped it around her holding him close to her and nuzzling her neck. "It's just…nightmares…they're not going to come true…you don't think they're going to come true do you?" he asked feeling her tense a little against him.

I don't know, she thought to herself but said "No," out loud.

"But…"

"Simba, it's just…nightmares. Like you said. There isn't any reason to worry!" opening her eyes she stared into the distance, but Zira and her lionesses were no longer in sight.

"Do…do you know how…you are dying?" Simba asked, shaking his head of the worry, how could dreams possibly mean anything. People had nightmares all the time they never came true. Then again, he didn't think it would be possible to speak with the dead and yet he met the spirit of both his father and his great grandfather….so he left his mind open to the fact that perhaps dreams could be a sign. Obviously he could tell his mate thought so as well…maybe not so much but he could tell she thought it was a possibility.

Pulling away from her mate, Zuri looked him in the eyes "Simba, there isn't anything to worry about. And please stop worrying or you're going to become too overprotective of me…"

"But…"

"No buts…" pressing her nose against his, she grinned slightly, and watched as he returned it with a grin of his own "the cubs and I, are going to be just fine…" she knew she had said something she shouldn't have for the grin was suddenly wiped off his face.

"The cubs…"

"Simba…"

'You mean you dreamt of the cubs dying as well!?" Simba questioned and when she didn't answer but instead dropped her gaze from his, he knew deep down in his gut that perhaps this really was something he should be worried and fearsome of. His mate dreamt of her and their cubs dying…

He felt something cuff him in the head, and when he looked forward he could see his mate glaring at him. "Simba, I told you this was nothing you should worry about…now promise me that you won't go overboard with this…please?" Zuri begged her mate.

Looking at his Queen, Simba thought for a moment, maybe she was right, maybe it wasn't something he should worry about. It was just nightmares after all…like he said…but why was he getting this feeling deep down in his gut? And why did he feel there was more she wasn't telling him? Searching her eyes for the answer he suddenly thought…there was another he could go to, to speak about this.

Nala.

He was sure now, that this is what the two lionesses had been speaking about. Nala may know more then he did about it and would probably tell him more then Zuri had. Sighing, and nodding his head Simba said "Alright, I will let it go…but please…don't keep anything from me Zu'…I care too much about you to let anything happen to you or our cubs. You all are my world!"

Smiling sadly, Zuri felt guilty for not coming out with the exact truth but she knew it would be for the best. She was close to giving birth, their family would be growing…she did not need him to be worrying about something and taking him away from his duties to just watch her and their cubs.

"I know I am Simba, just like you and our cubs are mine. Now…promise me you won't say anything to the others…don't want them worrying as well…."

Nodding his head, Simba made a note to find Nala after his evening patrol and only after speaking to her and seeing if she would tell him anything his mate wasn't then and only then would he make a complete decision on what to do about his worries.

"Now…don't worry…you should go rest….don't give me that look, I'm not going to do anything…you have my word…now run along and enjoy a nap before our son comes and wakes you!" Simba grinned; he had seen Kopa out with Nala earlier that day so he knew said lioness was giving his mate a break from their son.

Eyeing her mate, Zuri finally nodded, happy that he wasn't jumping into complete overprotective drive. Her mate could be a complete goofball at times, but that didn't mean he wasn't a protective goofball. Giving her mate one last nuzzle she stepped around him and began heading back toward the den's where she hoped she could get in another nap before Nala returned with Kopa. All the while hoping that what she had confided in her mate was for the best.

She smiled sadly when she felt her cub moving inside her again as if sensing her sadness and stress. 'Don't worry my darling, everything will be alright and you will be born into a wonderful home…where you will be safe…no matter what!' she thought flashing a look over her shoulder at Simba who was watching her till she turned the corner to continue her way toward the dens.

When she was gone, Simba quickly turned and headed off to do his last patrol of the day, the time it would take to get through all the borders, oversee the herds and listen to Zazu's last report of the day to think about what he would say to Nala when he saw her that evening and he hoped to catch her before Zuri did knowing whatever Zuri and Nala had spoken to about before was something his mate wasn't confiding in him.

And he was determined to find out exactly what that was.

The Great Circle was just beginning to set beyond the horizon, casting its last warm orange glow upon the grasslands as Prince Kopa bound through the low grass toward Pride Rock. Behind him, walking at a much more leisurely pace was Nala who was watching her Prince and friends son with a keen look.

The entire day the young Prince had complained how he was old enough that he didn't need a cub-sitter but Nala wouldn't hear any of it.

Lately she had taken note of Zira and her lionesses. She had seen the lioness Hawa approach Zuri that one time and she had been tensed till she watched the lioness leave without touching the Queen. When she had approached Zuri about it, her friend had told her that Hawa had just congratulated her about being with cub.

But Nala wasn't too convinced; she knew those lionesses were spying on them. She often saw them at a distance just watching Zuri and it made her paranoid but it didn't matter, the memories of her cub hood told her to be mindful of Zira and any who followed her.

"Dad!"

Kopa's voice brought her back to reality and she lifted her head just in time to see the Prince change course from Pride Rock to the left, at first she wanted to call him back before it registered what he had said and whom he had called out too. It wasn't long before she spotted a familiar shape of golden brown fur and red mane, and sat down upon the ground letting son meet father.

Simba had just managed to shake off Zazu who had given him the last report of the day and he was relieved he didn't have to hear another till morning. Over the course of his patrolling, he had tried to think about how to approach Nala about what he had discussed with Zuri and still he couldn't think of a thing.

Upon hearing his son's voice, he turned to look and grinned as he watched Kopa bound through the grass toward him. He was getting big from that spotted cub that he had been. And suddenly he remembered how his mate had let slip that she had also dreamt of their cubs dying and he felt a chill run through him as he watched his son make his way over with a large toothy grin on his face.

He couldn't let anything happen to his mate, or his son, or any cub of his.

He had lost his father at a young age, had lost the lioness that had raised him, the lion that had taught him, he couldn't afford to loose anything else. Especially his mate and cubs.

"Hey dad!" Kopa greeted his Father when he reached him; rubbing himself around his father's legs he poked his head out from behind his front legs as he stood beneath the King. Tilting his head up backwards to grin at his father.

"Hello Kopa," Simba grinned and bent his head to give his son a nuzzle and stepped back to get the cub out from under him and ruffled the cubs head with his paw. "What have you been up too all day?"

"Nala took me out near the western border, I wanted to go to the Northern one but she wouldn't let me and said it was too dangerous" Kopa huffed reaching up to fix the tuft of hair on his head, slouching his shoulders, missing the dark look that came over his father's face at the mention of the Northern borders.

"She's right. You mustn't go there."

"But why?"

Simba thought for a moment, it wasn't proven or not if the hyenas' had gone back there or if they had relocated somewhere else since Scar's reign had ended. But he knew Kopa knew the tales of the hyenas and how his grandmother Zakia had been killed by them and figured that would scare his son enough to keep him away.

"That there my son, is where the hyenas are!" Simba watched as his son's eyes widened at this and his son turn his had off toward the Northern borders with a look of fascination and small fear. He didn't know whether it was right to teach his son to fear and hate the hyenas for he remembered how they had been the ones who had really killed Scar when he had fallen over the side of Pride Rock but that didn't mean there wouldn't be any who would love a lion cub for dinner.

Best to be safe, he thought.

Kopa had tensed at the mention of hyenas he had heard many tales from his family and pride about them. How they were scavengers and deserved to be treated as such. His mother had a strong hate for them especially remembering memories of his grandmother's death he knew.

He supposed he should hate them too, because of them he could never meet his grandmother…or his grandfather because of his great Uncle…but then he remembers the time he thought he had seen Mufasa's ghost. Not once but twice. And the ghost of another lion and sometimes a lioness. They all seemed to be watching him.

But as he got closer to investigate they were always gone. But that was not all he saw. He sometimes saw two strange looking creatures that stood on two legs and were furless except for some bits of hair on their heads but their skin was dark. They too seemed to be watching him but like the others when he got too close they were gone and he could smell nothing almost like they had never been there to begin with.

He had told no one about this, but his friends and they all thought he was crazy. Nuka even saying "There's no such thing as creatures like that. You must be seeing things!" which the others had agreed and he quickly tried to dismiss it as his imagination thinking his friends were right.

"Why do we let them live so close to the Pridelands dad?" he asked curiously.

Quirking his eyebrow, Simba had to think for a moment before answering, "It's because everyone needs a home Kopa, no matter what or who they are. We welcome new herds here all the time not only those who stay all year round," Simba explained nodding his head. Yes that was a just answer.

He heard someone approaching and watched as Nala began making her way over and suddenly remembered he had to speak with her. Looking down at his son, he bent his head and said "Run along, I have to speak to Nala about something of importance. Why not run along to your mother to see if she has something little for you to eat and plus she may want to give you a bath!" he noticed the dust in his sons fur and chuckled as Kopa's face scrunched up at the mere thought of a bath.

"But daaaaaaaad!" the young prince whined but the King raised his paw and gave his son a nudge toward Pride Rock.

"Now none of that, I will see you back at Pride Rock!" he told his cub. Kopa groaned and nodded as he started heading on back toward Pride Rock with Nala and Simba staring after him.

Nala though was confused, what did Simba had to speak to her about, she opened her mouth to ask but Simba raised his paw to silence her and wait until he was sure his son was heading right home and was out of earshot then looked around to see if they were alone. "Simba?"

Looking toward his old friend, Simba sat down trying to think of what to say before deciding to come right out with it. "I spoke to Zuri…she told me about her…nightmares…of her dying…"

This wasn't what she was expecting to hear, after all the times Zuri had mentioned of not alerting the others about the things in her dreams especially Simba, she didn't expect the Queen to come out with it. "What exactly has she told you about them?" she asked wanting to know what Zuri had said, she still had her promise to keep and didn't want to alert Simba of anything that Zuri may not have told him. But didn't know if it was worth keeping if her friend's life was in danger.

"All she had said was that she dreamt of dying…but not how…they must be bad if it keeps her from getting a goodnights rest and is making her stressed. Nala, I know she's told you something…I've seen you two talking…please, tell me what has she told you. Does she know how she dies…I know it's silly…they're just nightmares…but I can't…I can't…" he rambled.

"Whoa, slow down there Simba!" Nala said cuffing him lightly on the nose to get him to stop rambling. She didn't know what to tell him about the dreams, or how she and Zuri had come to the conclusion that the cause of her death might be the very lioness that Zuri had defended when she came to the pride. And she knew what Simba may do if he found out.

"Yes, Zuri has told me about her dreams…she's had them for quite some time but…she hasn't told me how…you…" she was going to say he shouldn't worry but she knew that was a downright lie. She had to think of something to keep Zuri and the cub's safe, someway without breaking her word and then it came to her.

"There may be a threat Simba…"

This caught the King's attention and he stared toward his friend, a small growl came from him. "A threat…what threat?" he asked wanting to know who dare threaten his mate. For a moment he let his mind wonder and he thought…was it…just maybe it was…

"I…I don't know…but Simba listen…there is something that may help…" Nala said looking at the king.

"What?"

"Get Zuri and Kopa away from Pride Rock before she gives birth…there are caves to the eastern borders…hide them there…"

"But…"

Nala looked him in the eyes, "The threat is in the pride…till it is settled…take them to the eastern border, hide them Simba…please Simba…"

"But Zuri she…won't…"

"Hide them!"