Chapter 5: Kiara and the cub.

"I'm sorry, what?" Anara asked, fuming with sadness and depression.

"She didn't make it through the birth. On the way here, she told me that she was wounded by buffalo and that caused problems. Our doctor said that the buffalo pain and the birth pain would-" Kiara was interrupted by Vitani.

"It would cause a lot of pain altogether," Vitani finished the sentence. "And so, she didn't make it."

Kovu rolled his eyes. "But she told me and Kiara, here, to look after the cub."

Anara's throat was hurting, tears wriggled out of his eyes and he began roaring. "DANIRA! NO!" He collapsed to the ground, drawing the rest of the Pride's attention. Chatters and whispers filled the air. Simba pulled Kovu to the side.

"What's happening?" he asked, curious.

"Danira's husband came.. to make sure she was okay.. and-"

"Okay.. we all know why." Simba sighed and walked over to the rest of the pride.

"Please, she's up in the heavens.. watching you. If you want to stay here and see your cub-" Kiara consoled but was interrupted by the mad grey lion.

"NO! I wanted to see the cub in Danira's arms... I have one thing to say." he began. "Take care of my cub.. please take care of my cub! I must go back..." With that, the lion turned on his back paws and ran towards the direction he came in.

"Poor guy.." sighed Vitani. Sarabi came over and nuzzled Kiara.

"You did everything you could." she whispered to her grand-daughter.

"Thanks, grandma." she replied. Sarafina came over and nuzzled her grand-daughter also.

"You'll be a great mother." she says.

"Thanks." and with that, the queen walked in to find the cub asleep, in its mother's lifeless paws. Her eyes were still closed and Kiara picked her up by the scruff of her neck. "I'll take care of you, my daughter." she said.

The young queen walked over to the cave corner and sat with her adoptive cub in her arms. Danira's body lay there but soon Kovu and Simba came and picked it up, taking it and burying it under a tree full of flowers. Nala and Vitani stayed with Kiara and the new cub.

"What are you going to name it?" asked Nala, admiring the cub with a smile, yet sad that a pride member had passed away.

"She's pretty." complimented Vitani.

"I'll wait until Kovu gets back. It is his cub too," Kiara replied.

"Whether he likes it or not. I'll make my brother like it!" Vitani giggled.

"It's a girl, by the way." added Kiara, looking down at the cub.

"How do you know?" Nala asked her daughter. "Did Danira tell you?" Kiara nodded.

There would be so much in the life of this cub. After a few minutes, Kovu and Simba returned with the rest of the Pride - who crowded around the cub once they were inside.

"It's so cute!" they said.

"What's the gender?"

"What's its name?" All these questions shot at Kiara like rain falling from the sky. Nala and Vitani helped her answer. Nala tried to help her daughter by leading the Pride away.

"I think it's time to go hunting!" she stated, disappointing the group. She and the pride walked off, to find some zebra and antelope. But soon, it would be hard since the buffalo were making their way to the Pride Lands and so the herds grew less everyday.

Kovu walked over to Kiara and Vitani with Simba.

"I think I'll go check on Zazu. You can come with me, Vitani." said Simba, trying to give Kovu and Kiara time to themselves.

"I most certainly will." Vitani gulped. She felt uncomfortable around Simba and she was still guilty for taking sides with her mother.

"What shall we name her, Kovu?" asked Kiara, once Simba and Vitani left.

"I don't know.." Kovu shrugged. He felt confident about caring about this cub, but not too much.

"How about.. Nieera?"

"Suits her perfectly!" Kovu said, nuzzling Kiara. "Nieera..." he looked down to his new cub as Kiara gave it a lick

So this is chapter 5. The story may become less depressing - for now - but Nieera is the new cub's name. Please review! Hope you liked it! Chapter 6 may come tomorrow. Starting from Monday, I may not be posting as many chapters because of school and study. *I know, so annoying* but I'll try to if my parents let me. I will most definitely post chapters on Friday and the weekend, though.

Characters

Nieera - Nieera is Danira and Anara's cub that lost her other sister. But you will be shocked to find out something about that sister! Nieera has sandy fur - kind of like a mixture of Anara and Danira's fur since her father is grey and her mother is a sandy-creamy color. She is Kovu and Kiara's adopted cub and possibly the next heir to the Pride Lands!

Thank you for reading! Review please! Hope you liked it! Next chapter is coming soon!