Welcome back to chapter eight. A lot of drama is in order. Enjoy.
"This is ridiculous!" Tama roared, since Akan's reign she and Kula are the only daughters of Rahi who survived the horrible error.
Rahi, who was one of the few older lionesses that survived the slaughter on the older generation and some of the young ones. The light beige lioness shook her head before glaring at her creamy orange lioness. "Tama, what has gotten into you?"
Tama moved her light brown eyes to her niece. "She has commented adultery! That should be punished!"
Kion glared at his cousin. "If anyone has commented adultery it's Zuberi! He and Jezablle has been in a relationship and now Jezablle is pregnant!"
A dark cream lioness looked at a younger creamy white lioness with narrowed bluish eyes. "You told me that the father was a passing rogue."
Jezablle glared at her older sister, "So what! I love Zuberi and it's not my fault Zuberi's ex can't keep a mate!"
Kion and Brandt growled as Tiffu glared at the younger lioness. Kopa sighed before looking at Kiara who had her head low and shook it. The pale golden king cleared his throat.
"Enough!" when it got quiet Kopa turned disgusted and disappointed dark green eyes on the dark orange lion. "You need to show respect to your former mate." then he turned to Jezablle. "As long as you are apart of this pride you will not speak to others like that. Do I make myself clear?"
Kiara smiled gratefully at her mate after everyone went their own way. "Thank you, Kopa."
Kopa sighed deeply, "I know that it's been hard and today is no different." Kopa nuzzled the golden orange lioness. "Go clear your head. Brandt, Kion and I will finish up here and around the kingdom."
"Thank you." Kiara smiled lightly before turning to head down the slope.
Kopa inhaled and exhaled before heading in the cave to inform Kion and Brandt what's happening while Kiara is away.
At the Watering Hole
When Kiara reached the watering hole she looked at her reflection in the water, she sat and sobbed. Her tears ran unchecked, completely flowing until she had no more to give. She stopped her sobbing and looked into the water. For a moment, she didn't see herself. She saw her father staring back at her.
"Oh, Father," Kiara said to the visage, "I miss you...and Almasi. There isn't a day that go by that I don't wish that she was here with Torrent. But she… she was ripped from me. Why? Why did it have to be so?" Kiara asked.
"Because you were a terrible mother."
Kiara looked up at the unfamiliar voice, looking into crimson red eyes. She growled when she smelt a farmilar scent.
"Outsider!" She growled.
"To think that this wouldn't of happened if your father was still alive." Nyssa grinned with amusement in her red eyes.
"That's quite enough, Nyssa."
Kiara turned around and saw a russet red furred lion with a black mane, purplish-blue eyes, and a black nose. She remembered him. Jaali's nephew.
"Jamali? What are you doing here?" Kiara asked.
"What do you care?" He sneered. Kiara scented his anger, and became defensive.
"Jamali… is everything all right?" Kiara asked.
"Everything's fine… or it will be." Jamali smirked. Kiara didn't like his smirk and went to run, but Nyssa stepped in her way.
"My King wants something from you." the dark grayish-brown lioness smiled.
"What? Jamali isn't a King!" Kiara growled.
"I am a king," Jamali snickered, "Since my uncle is no longer alive."
"Your uncle?" Kiara's orange eyes widen. " You killed your own uncle!" Kiara gasped.
"Of course. He didn't see the insight" Jamali said. Kiara's eyes widened when she made the connection. Insight. Only other lioness that spoke like that was...
A pit grew in Kiara's stomach as she said, "Alyssa…that's who you allied with!"
"Smart lioness." Jamali smiled as he rubbed his body against Kiara's. Kiara gasped and went to strike the older lion, but Nyssa knocked her paw back onto the ground.
"As I said, my King wants something from you." Nyssa said as Kiara felt Jamali nuzzle her back.
"C'mon, Kiara… give into it. Let me do this easy and we won't have a problem." Jamali said with a purr.
"Never!" Kiara hissed.
"Fine then, Nyssa," Jamali looked to the dark grayish-brown lioness, "knock her out."
Nyssa nodded, "Of course my king." Nyssa turned to the golden orange lioness and did as she was told, making Kiara fall unconscious. Kiara grunted as she fell lifeless to the ground.
Jamali scoffed."It won't be as fun this way… she has such a fire."
"But you'll still get a cub from her." Nyssa asked.
"That's true," Jamali looked to Nyssa, "leave. I don't want an audience."
Nyssa did as she was told and left, leaving Jamali to his and Alyssa's plan. She only smiled when she imagined everyone's hurt face.
This is all worth it. Nyssa thought with a evil grin.
TLKTLKTLKTLK
Kiara blinked her eyes open to shut them when the sun light hit them. She took a moment before opening them again to see her mother lying next to her. But she wasn't in the pride's cave on priderock, her eyes was then focused on Rafiki who walked into the unknown cave.
"Rafiki, where am I?"
Rafiki kneel before the queen as Nala woke and sat up. "You are in my ground infirmary. Brandt brought you here."
Kiara saw the knowing look in the mandrill's brown eyes. She cleared her throat and looked away. "I have to go...morning hunt."
Nala stood and followed her daughter. "Kiara...sweetheart. Do you think that's wise?"
Kiara looked at her mother with hard orange eyes. "I am fine, mother! Now I have to go. I have a son who's probably worried sick!"
Nala sighed before following after her daughter. Rafiki held on to his staff as Jaja walked into the cave.
"Uncle Rafiki, what was that about?"
Rafiki shook his head before placing a hand on the female mandrill shoulder. "My time on earth is about to come to a end. I need you to remember your teaching and keep a close eye on the queen. There's a big storm coming and she's not going to respond well."
Jaja nodded before walking out of the cave with her uncle.
In the Outlands
A pair of hazel eyes watched from the shadows as his mother's small pack was slaughtered. He was brave where his mother use to say that it was male foolishness but he wasn't crazy. No, that was his uncle...Janja. That he never knew about...now he knows why. His father left with his brother and few pack members but he couldn't leave his mother. Even though now, as he watched the pale gray hyena leader slash his mother's throat. When Janja and his pack left is when he left his hiding place.
"A...Anders..."
The grayish hyena pup ran over to his mother's beaten body. "Mom!"
Jasiri coughed up blood. "Run...before Janja come back."
Anders has tears falling down his face. "I love you mom!"
Jasiri smiled weakly, " I love you too, my precious boy..."
Jasiri watched her son run until he was nothing but a speck. With a small smile she closed her heavy dark blue eyes as her chest stopped moving.