It had been a few hours since Kopa and Nzuri had escaped the clearing. Neither said a word during their walk. Nzuri kept glancing at her king, concerned at the state of his eye.
The scratch Shenzi had left upon his eye was steadily growing worse, though it had stopped bleeding.
"Kopa, maybe we should clean your eye." Nzuri suggested, nodding towards the stream.
"We stop now and it gives the hyenas a chance to find us." Kopa pointed out.
"They may not even be following."
"That is a risk I don't want to take."
"Understood." With that, Nzuri bowed her head and followed Kopa.
The two struggled on until the stream turned into a larger body of water, a river. Kopa collapsed by the bank and sighed. "We'll rest a moment." He said. Nzuri nodded and began lapping the cool water before she noticed an odd shadow across the surface. She looked up and saw a strange bird flying over head, a bird nit native to a jungle territory. She turned to Kopa. "Your majesty." She hissed. Kopa lifted his head and she looked up. He followed her gaze and noticed the bird. But unlike, Nzuri, he recognized it.
"Ono!"
TLK
"Malka!"
The blacked maned lion turned to see Tama rushing to his side. "What's going on? Have you found Kopa?"
"No, but Vitani has gone into labor!"
"Great Kings!"
"She wants you there."
"WHAT!??!" Malka shook his head. "Tama, I don't know the first thing about cubs, you know that!"
Tama huffed. "I know that, feather brain, which is why I will assist the birth, you assist her!"
"What!?"
"Malka, she needs someone she trusts. Kopa isn't here, you'll have to do. She needs you."
Malka frowned but nodded his head before following Tama to the caves.
TLK
It was a short, happy reunion. Kopa was overjoyed to find that they had been on the right track and could not stop asking questions.
"The kingdom is safe, Malka and Tojo have maintaining things since you've been gone." Ono assured.
"And Vitani?"
"Safe and well. The cubs are due any day though, so I suggest we get moving. Bluu and I found a shallow path that will lead you up the cliff."
"Fantastic!"
"What are we waiting for?" Nzuri asked.
And so, with spirits raised, Kopa and the others continued on, each ready to be home. The pain from the last few days seemingly forgotten for the moment. But it wouldn't be long before new pain arised.
It was nearing dark when they finally came upon the path Ono had mentioned. True to his wordx it was shallow enough for them to climb trough. With careful footing, they would be back in their land before night had completely fallen.
Meanwhile Malka was sitting in the cave, next to Vitani as the young lioness gave out a pained shout.
"What's taking the furball so long!?" She screamed.
"Some labors are longer then others." Tama said.
"We've been at this for hours though!"
"Steady, Tani', it'll be over soon." Malka assured. Vitani growled as she buried her muzzle in Malka's mane and screamed in frustration.
Kopa winced as he slipped on a rock and nearly stumbled. The path was turning into a dangerous one, with the rocks becoming looser and more jagged.
"Are you are right, your majesty?" Ono asked.
"If I had a bone for every time you have asked me that, I'd have more bones then the elephant graveyard." Kopa smirked as he got to his feet. His injured eye was still tightly closed, but his open one sparkled.
"Well-"
"We're home!"
Kopa looked up to see Nzuri near the top, the smike upon her face was one Kopa had not seen in awhile perhaps ever.
Suddenly a roar sounded through the land.
Vitani...
Kopa gasped as he pushed his way to the top. Rocks crumbled a bit against his weight, but he didn't care. Suddenly a rockslide happened under his paws. Without hesitation, he and Nzuri leapt the rest of the way to the surface. Kopa practically hit the ground running, barely feeling the grass under his paws as he raced towards his mate.
Suddenly, something barreled into him, knocking him off his feet.
"Not so fast, rogue."
"Kion!" Kopa cried, recognizing his little brother as his eyes adjusted to the darkness.
"Kopa! Hevi kabisa!" The younger lion cried, happily. "You're all right!"
"Yes, but I'll be better as soon as I am with Vitani. Where is she?!"
"The caves. You better hurry, she's gone into labor!"
Kopa nodded and together the two brothers raced to the scene.
Malka winced as Vitani dug her claws into his paws. "Good girl, you're all right." He said, through clenched teeth.
"Vitani!"
Malka, Vitani and Tama all looked up as Kopa appeared at the mouth of the cave. "My Tani'."
"K-Kopa?" The tan lioness whisperered.
Malka stood and allowed Kopa to take his place. Vitani sighed in relief as she nuzzled him. "You're home."
"Yes, yes, my dear, I'm home. I'm right here." Kopa assured.
Malka smiled as he turned to leave, but Vitani stopped him.
"Don't go?"
It was a question that needed no answer, spoken anyway. Malka simply smiled and sat across from her, giving off an encouraging smile.
Kopa closed his good eye as Vitani leaned into his mane, finally complete.
Well, almost complete...
A soft mew broke their little reunion and both Kopa and Vitani looked over to see a golden cub lying on the floor. Tama smiled as she gently picked him up and placed him in his mother's paws.
"A little boy." She whispered. And that wasn't it. Tama then appeared again, this time with a much smaller cub, a female. With coloring similar to Scar's own pelt.
Vitani gasped as both cubs now sat in her arms. Her cubs. "I... they're..."
"It's okay, my love." Kopa said.
Tama frowned as she backed away a bit. The female's markings were the same as Scar's, with a black stripe matching her grandmother Zira's, with Simba's father's nose, only black. The boy however, had a pelt as golden as the Great Mufasa's. The only difference was his nose, which was similar to his mother's.
"The female is very small. Runt, no less. I'll have Kion fetch Rafiki." She said.
"They're already on their way." Tojo interrupted. "When news came that Vitani had gone into labor, I sent Kidogo to fetch the Pride Landers. They'll be here by morning. Rafiki as well."
"So you're not completely useless after all." Malka smirked.
"Har, har."
"Malka?"
Malka turned his attention to Vitani who was smiling, shyly. "Uh, want to come say hi?"
The tan lion smiled warmly and bent down. "Hello, little ones."
"Say hi to your grandpa." Vitani whispered, making Malka jump a little and she laughed. "If that's okay with you."
Malka stared a moment as Vitani lay with two beautiful cubs in her arms. During the past few days, the two had become close. Malka had never had a daughter or cubs for that matter. Vitani, though they had only know each other a short time, was quite possibly the closest thing he'll have to a daughter. So he smiled. "I would be honored."
"Thanks for, uh, you know, being here for me." Vitani said.
Malka smiled as he nuzzled her.
TLK
The next morning, Simba and Nala had arrived with Rafiki, Kovu and Kiara in tow.
After welcoming their first grandchildren, Simba and Nala turned to their son, relieved he was home and safe.
But their happiness was short lived when Kopa lowered his voice. "Dad, I ran into those hyenas, that served under Scar."
Simba's eyes widened. "Where?"
"In the jungle, about two days journey from here. They seem to have a settlement." Kopa explained.
"What if they come here?" Nala asked.
"That's not gonna happen. Malka, Tojo and Chumvi are three strong lions. They'll help defend this kingdom." Simba assured. Then he looked to his son. "But just in case, if you see any sign that they might be planning an attack, send word and we'll come assist."
"I can't let you do that." Kopa said. "You both are needed in the Pride Lands."
"Not for long." Nala said, sharing a sad smile with her mate.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, your father and I have been thinking that maybe, soon, it'll be time to step down and let Kiara and Kovu take our places."
"But you're still young!"
"True, but we want to travel, maybe visit my old jungle home. While we still have what little youth we do. Maybe spark up some old romance." Simba smirked as he nuzzled Nala.
Kopa shuddered. "Hey, hey! Not in front of my cubs, jeez!"
The two laughed at their embarrassed son.
"The little girl is small." Rafiki said as he walked up. "But she will grow into a beautiful lioness, just like her mother."
"Thank you, Rafiki, we were worried."
"Ah, nothing to worry about. Your eye, however is different story." With that, the madril roughly took Kopa's head in his hands.
"Whoa, jeez, a little more gentle, next time, huh?"
"Rafiki? Gentle? Ha!" Simba said and gasped as he ducked the swing of Rafiki's stick.
The Mandril was quiet for a moment as he took some fruit from his staff and cracked it open. Carefully he smeared the contents over Kopa's eye. He then took some water that lay in a puddle and started to clean it.
"Now, open."
Kopa struggled for a second as he tried to force his eye open. "Slowly!" Rafiki cautioned. The golden lion frowned as he did as he was told and as he opened his injured eye, Simba and Nala gasped. Instead of his beautiful turquoise color, his eye was pale silver.
"I- I can't see!" Kopa panicked.
Rafiki frowned. "I was afraid of dis."
"Is, is it permanent?" Kopa asked.
Rafiki only nodded.
Nala frowned as she nuzzled her son. "It's okay, you're okay."
TLK
After assuring her mate that she was all right and spending some much needed time with her cub, Nzuri went to find Kweli.
She found the hyena dozing in the sun light, beside Maji. The male hyena was first to notice the approaching cheetah and frowned as he awoke his leader.
"We don't want trouble." Maji said.
"Nor do I." Nzuri replied as she came to a halt. "I came to apologize for my behavior towards you and your clan."
Kweli looked surprised as she continued. "My behavior was unacceptable and wrong. I should have treated you the way I did. I know now not to judge a hyena by their spots. I will not ask for forgiveness, for I am undeserving of it-" Nzuri stopped as Kweli began to giggle.
"Nzuri, I forgive you, now please, relax. You act as if I am royalty."
The cheetah looked up in surprise. "You, you're going to forgive me? Just like that?"
Kweli laughed as she patted a spot in the grass. "Come on, the grass is cool, perfect for a hot day. Care to join?"
Nzuri hesitated for a moment before settling beside the two. It took a moment for her to relax, but once she did, she felt as though a great weight was lifted as she lay her head in the grass.
Kopa sighed as he lay next to his mate, a leaf bounded to his injured eye to prevent infection, but the scars peaked through. Suddenly the okdest cub found his way to his father's paw and mewed. Kopa smiled. "You know, we need to name them." he said.
Vitani lifted her tired head. "Now...? All right, all right. You pick first."
"How about Fluffy? For the boy?"
The tan lioness raised an eyebrow and Kopa laughed. "Kidding."
"Yeah, okay, what about Kuona, for the girl? It means sight."
Kopa smirked. "It's because of my eye, isn't it?"
Vitani laughed.
"Okay, Kuona it is, then. And for this one, what do you think about Mufasa?"
Vitani tilted her head. "I like it. That was your grandfather's name, right? Scar's brother?"
"Yes."
Vitani smiled as she leaned into him.
The land was complete once again, the King had returned and he and Nzuri made amends. Two new members were welcomed, prince Mufasa and princess Kuona. With these cubs, there was hope for a bright future.
Kopa and Nzuri are finally home and looks like they made amends.
I am seriously sorry for late update, I just haven't had the inspiration, but hopefully that'll change. For the cubs: My guess is Scar is not Vitani's biological father. So you're probably wondering how the female cub has his pelt. Simple, because Scar is Kopa's great uncle.
This story marks the beginning on Kopa and Vitani's journey into parenthood. Please review, sorry for the late update!