If lions could do back flips, Kopa would set the record. Learning the recent news was like a a herd of wildebeests crashing into his side.
A father!
Kopa smiled to himself as he went about his patrol duties. It had been about a month since Vitani gave him the news and Kopa still felt like he could fly.
His mate was resting and trying to avoid the other lionesses who were just as excited as Kopa, having never had cubs themselves. But there was still time. Kula wanted very much to have a cub, and could not help but be jealous of Vitani. But she remained a true friend and supported her.
Vitani was up to her nose in advice, not just from Kula and Tama but from other animals of the land.
Kweli and her pack were doing well. Some of the animals were still weary around them, but most had gotten used to them.
But when there is light there is always darkness. Nzuri was now different. Her mate, Jano, was beginning to worry about her new attitude. She avoided both him and their cub, Paka, and began to spend most of her time in isolation, breathing not a word to anyone. This worried Kopa greatly, for it reminded him of the stories his grandmother, Sarabi told of Taka. How his first turning from the light led to isolation.
Kopa was just finishing his rounds when he noticed Jano walking towards him, his head low. "Your majesty?"
"What can I do for you, Jano? I hope Nzuri and Paka are well."
Jano swallowed. "Paka is, but I am worried about Nzuri. You see, I can not find her anywhere."
Kopa raised an eyebrow. "When was the last time you saw her?"
"Yesterday, near the waterhole. I tried to speak to her, but she wanted nothing to do with me, it seemed." Jano took a deep sigh. "I believe she blames me for the loss of our cub."
Kopa frowned. "I will send someone out to look for her."
Jano beamed. "You would do that, sir?"
"Of course, I will send someone now."
Jano nodded as Kopa bowed his head and walked passed. It wants long before Kidogo found him.
"I'm glad you're here, I want you to send out a search for Nzuri. Jano is worried."
Kidogo snuffed. "I don't know why, she has been a beast towards him."
"You know?"
"I see many things from the sky. I have also seen how Nzuri avoids him." The blue bird with a slight roll of his eyes.
Kopa raised an eyebrow and the bird chuckled nervously before taking to the sky. "I'll find her."
TLK
"Vitani?" Kopa asked as he walked into the cave.
He heard movement in the back of the cave and suddenly two eyes were on him. "You're a sight for sore eyes."
Kooa chuckled. "Getting more advice?"
"I swear, if someone shows me how to sleep one more time, I'm going to drown them in the waterhole."
Kopa laughed. "You know you're cute when you're angry?"
"I must be cute all the time." Vitani growled.
Her mate smiled as he nuzzled her. "Beautiful is more like it."
Vitani shared his smiled before turning her back towards. Kopa frowned when he heard her sniff and nudged her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
It was a few minutes before she answered. "This... being a mother."
"What about it?"
"Kopa, you saw my mother. You saw how she treated us."
"You're not her.".
"Oh, stop it. Everyone says that. I have her attitude, I'm short tempered. The only thing I dont have is a plot for some kind of revenge."
The golden lion glared. "Vitani, look at me."
The tan lioness turned so that her eyes met her mate's.
"You are nothing like your mother. You're patient and you're protective." Then he smirked. "As for the short temper, that can come in handy."
Vitani scoffed as she shoved him and he fell dramatically to the floor. His mate laughed as she leapt onto him and nuzzled under his chin.
She then rolled so that she was facing him. Her eyes drifted to the scar that lay upon his eyebrow. "Remember when you got that?"
"Ah, yes, in my clumsy years."
Vitani giggled. "These are your clumsy years."
Kopa stuck out his tongue. "I'm actually proud of this scar, makes me look tough."
"Oh, sure."
The golden lion smiled as he stretched.
"Kopa, do you like living here?"
Confused by this question, Kopa sat up and tilted his head. "Why?"
His mate shrugged. "I remember, during our cubhood, you said you wanted to travel."
"Well, we did travel here."
"I'm being serious."
Kopa frowned as he sat up and looked out the cave. Even from here he could see animal herds moving to and from the waterhole. He even saw Malka and Tama taking a stroll through the grass. "There was a time where, yes, I did want to travel. I wanted to see the lands outside our borders." He then turned back to his love and smiled. "But the Great Kings had a different path laid out for me and I wouldn't trade it for the world."
TLK
It was nearly midnight when Kidogo returned with news of Nzuri. Kopa growled when he felt a peck against his eyelids. "What is it?"
"I've found Nzuri!" Kidogo said, quietly as to the not wake the sleeping pride.
Kopa lifted a paw and attempted to swat him away. "Couldn't you have waited until morning to tell me this?"
"No! She's threatening Kweli!"
That woke him. Kopa shot up, his eyes piercing. "Where are they?"
"Near the big river."
Kioa frowned as he quickly, but quietly made his way out of the cave. With the light of the moon, Kopa raced through the darkness with Kidogo flying close behind. "Was Kweli hurt?"
"Not that I could see! Shall I get Jano?"
"No, leave this to me!"
Kopa skidded to a halt and peered into the darkness until he saw Kweli, standing dangerously close to edge with Nzuri only a few feet in front of her.
The rushing river several feet below crashed into the jagged rocks as Kweli looked below.
Kopa swallowed as he took a cautious step forward. Nzuri noticed him immediately and hissed as she turned to glare at him. "One more step, your majesty, and she goes in."
"Nzuri, you're taking this too far." Kopa warned. "Neither Kweli or the rest of her clan had anything to do with the murder of your cub."
"One of her clan member did, there for, she is responsible." Nzuri answered as she turned back to Kweli.
Kopa growled. "It was my idea to let her clan join, if you should confront anyone, let it be me, but leave Kweli out of this."
The cheetah turned and faced the king, her eyes piercing through the darkness. "You're right."
Without warning, the cheetah sped towards him, striking him in the side. Kopa winced as he fell to the ground. Quickly jumping to his feet, he turned just in time to see Nzuri attack Kweli. The hyena yelped and stumbled backwards with the cheetah grabbed her neck and flung her over the edge.
"NO!" Kopa roared. Then he noticed her paws, holding on for dear life. He leapt to save her when Nzuri got in his way. "Stop this foolishness!" He ordered.
"Never, I will have justice."
"There is a fine line between justice and sheer revenge. And you have crossed it."
"So be it."
Kipa ducked her striking paw and slapped her out of the way before racing to help Kweli. He breathed a sigh if relief to hmsee her hanging there. He reached down to grab her in his jaws when suddenly something rammed hard into his flank knocking him off balance.
Unable to stop himself, both Kopa and Nzuri went flying over the edge.
I'm really sorry for the late update, but I hope you guys like this chapter!