Chapter 5: The Wrong Foot.

"What in ALL the stars in the sky are you cubs shouting about!?" A stern voice shouted from the top of Pride Rock's steps.

Down trotted one of the Pride's oldest lionesses, Sanu. She stopped in front of the cubs looking cross. All three quickly went silent.

"Heh, sorry grandma." Ora said, moving to Sanu's solid leg and wound around it happily. "We got carried away."

Sanu pulled her light gray paw away, causing Ora to stumble a little. She regained her footing and smiled at her old grandmother.

"I'll carry you away alright." Sanu warned.

This made Ora giggle, even though Sanu continued, "I'll carry you three to the elephant's herd where you can shout all you like and fit right in! What if some old folk were trying to sleep?"

Ora just smiled in her big toothy way as a response. It made Sanu crack the tiniest smile. She had a terrible fondness for her granddaughter, and so much love.

"Anyway," the old lioness rasped, "Did you three get to meet your visiting kin? I heard they arrived."

"Yes," Kendi spoke up, "I met Tempest, she's so pretty. She said I was pretty, and I wanted to say, 'NO WAY!'"

" I ran unto my uncle first thing!" Reon said with shining teal eyes as he remembered how cool Mani had been about Reon's sneaking off. "He seems really cool. He has spots on his hears just like me and my mom." Reon smiled and wiggled his ears.

Sanu smiled at the two younger cubs. Then turned her eyes back to Ora, "And you?"

"I met everyone too, just a few minutes ago. Aunt Dayya has a lot of energy doesn't she? Aunt Tempest is really nice and smells good. And their friend...um...Drayden I think. He was kind of quiet. And he wouldn't look at me."

"Hmm..." Sanu said.

"Do you know why grandma?"

"No, never mind. You all didn't mention Torrent."

"Um..." Kendi and Reon said at the same time.

"We met him." Ora said simply. Sanu didn't push it.

"Last time I saw him he was the size of my paw." Sanu noted. "Well, move aside you three, I'm going out. I trust you're behaving yourselves and staying in sight?"

"Yes, Sanu." The three said in unison.

The old gray lioness nodded and limped off. She hadn't been injured, but in the past few months, she had started having pain in her knees from "getting old" and she put it.

The three cubs watched her go.

"Well, now what?" Kendi asked.

"Dunno. Wait around." Reon said. "A bit quieter this time."

Ora settled onto her paws, tucking them under her belly. "When's dinner?"

"Do you always think about food?" Reon teased.

"Yes." She replied simply.

"Hey, your mom is coming." Kendi said, looking over the lands.

Jayden's dark brown fur could be seen approaching over the tall grass. Dayya was with her. The two sisters chatted excitedly. It wasn't until they were fully in view that the cubs noticed Afia was with them. Afia was newly an adolescent, so she was still a bit short. The light orange teen rushed up to meet Ora, Reon and Kendi.

"Hey guys!" she said with excitement.

"Er, Afia..." Ora started, "I know you have been excited to see your cousin, Torrent, again after so long but..." The dark cub trailed off.

"What? What do you mean? She asked, her yellow eyes dubious.

"We just met him." Kendi said.

"Yes...he's...um different." Reon supplied.

"Yeah, different than you described." Kendi added.

"Well, sure, he's older now, I described to you guys a tiny cub who was just starting to walk. He's a year old now-"

"That's not what we meant." Ora interrupted. "Look, I'll just come right out and say it. He is rude. He was very mean to all three of us even though, number one: he is a guest here. And number two: we are all cousins, and number three: this was his first time meeting with us! He had zero manners.

"Yeah!" Reon and Kendi said together.

"I'm sure he's not as bad as all that." Afia said.

Jayden and Dayya finally caught up and joined the young group.

"It's just so good having you around again." Jayden said to her sister. "It's not the same when we're apart."

"I know what you mean. It's hard living without your twin!" Dayya nuzzled her sister fondly. "I'm so glad to be here and to have met the new cubs, especially yours!" She beamed at Ora. "She is just so beautiful. She really looks like Dark, huh?"

Ora stood up straight. She loved being compared to her father. "Thank you, Aunt Dayya."

"And so polite too!" Dayya added. Ora sat up even straighter, her head high.

Afia poked her in the side. "Like your head needs to get any bigger." she muttered, eliciting a giggle from Kendi and Reon.

"Well, where is Torrent?" Jayden asked the cubs. "You three were supposed to be with him. Afia and I haven't re-met him yet."

"I hope he remembers me!" Afia stood.

"He's just around the corner. Under the base." Kendi supplied.

Jayden, Dayya and Afia went as directed. Ora, Reon and Kendi followed, not having anything else to do.

Jayden approached him first. "Hey, Torrent!" she trotted to him. He rose his head from his paws, looking surprised.

"Hello..."

"Remember me?" she ventured.

The cub looked into the lioness's eyes. Kind, purple. He did remember her. "You're my aunt!"

"That's right! You've grown into a fine young man now." Jayden wanted to give the cub a hug, and a lick on the head, but thought better of it. He might get embarrassed when shown too much affection right away.

"And do you remember Afia?" Dayya asked, nudging the orange teen forward.

"H-hey Torrent." Afia smiled.

Torrent gazed into her eyes, like he did with Jayden, trying to remember. Maybe she was familiar...

When he didn't speak up, Afia stammered, "We were really close from the time you were bron til the time you went home. We played all the time." Afia smiled widely as she remembered. "And when you left, oh, I was so sad. I just cried for days."

Torrent could hear his own voice in the faintest whisper of a memory, "Buy for now only!" he had said to a young cub as he followed his mother away. Afia was that cub. He did remember her. He had been sad too. Afia had been his first ever friend. Sudden emotion choked Torrent and all he could let out was a, "Um." and he looked away, feeling embarrassed.

Afia hesitated, "But, uh, if you don't remember, it's okay." she shifted from paw to paw.

"Yeah, um, well I can't really remember you." Torrent blurted, trying to hide his emotions. "Sorry."

"That's okay!" Afia said a little too loudly. "We'll make new memories. You'll have me and your other new friends to hang with while you're here." She beckoned Kendi, Ora and Reon over. They looked embarrassed for Afia.

"Er...yup. All of us are good friends now." Ora muttered.

"That's great you all can get along!" Jayden said, "Torrent fits right in at the Pridelands."

"Yep, fits right in." Kendi muttered in sarcasm.

"What, Kendi?" Jayden asked.

"Nothing!"

Torrent sneered at Kendi but the adults didn't see.

"Well, alright," Jayden said, "Dayya shall we move on? You still haven't seen Malowa and a few of the others right?"

"Yeah! So many lions to catch up with. Let's go."

The brown and red lionesses trotted off. Afia stayed with the cubs. They stood around in an awkward silence for a moment, no one looking at each other.

"So, um Torrent, what's it like living away from the Pridelands?" Afia tried. "Well, I mean, I guess you only lived here as a baby, it's not like you remember much of what it's like here. So what I mean is...uh...what is your home like?"

Torrent plopped down to his stomach, taking on an air of nonchalance. "I dunno. We have a cave that's out home. Much prettier than this place." he said, and examined his claws.

Afia's eyebrows rose. Her eyes darted to Ora, Kendi and Reon. Kendi was shaking her head. Reon was looking at the sky. Ora mouthed the words, "Told you!"

Afia ignored them and tried again, "I bet it's beautiful. It's too bad your grandma and grandpa didn't come. Larne also."

Torrent only examined his claws and didn't any anything.

"Chatty isn't he?" Kendi muttered.

"What did you say?" Torrent said hotly, and glared at the peach cub.

"You heard me. You could at least try to be polite to someone that used to be your friend!" Kendi stood with all four paws in the dirt, tail straight up in the air.

"It's okay, Kendi." Afia interjected. She was ignored.

"I don't need to listen to you, bossy Princess." Torrent sneered.

"You have been nothing but rude, and then made my Aunt Afia feel bad that you don't remember her-"

"I don't feel bad, really, it's no big deal-"

"You are really making me annoyed. You're just asking for a fight. Do you know how to fight, big guy?" Kendi snarled.

Torrent jumped up, "Wanna find out?"

"Yes!" Kendi spat. Reon and Ora stood right behind her, as defiant as she was.

"Guys!" Afia shouted and stood between them. "This is ridiculous! What would all our parents say if they heard us fighting? Come on, we are all kin here."

"Ugh! I swear if I hear that ONE MORE TIME!" Torrent shouted, rolling his eyes.

"Well, sor-RY you had to come here." Reon supplied.

"Reon, don't say that." Afia said.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I had to too. I'd rather be at home." Torrent said, plopping himself back down on the ground. "And sorry I have a bunch of brats for cousins.

Afia looked at him stunned. This was not the sweet cub she remembered at all. He was everything Ora had said. Afia thought at first he had been shy, nervous, maybe overwhelmed since he came from such a small pride, then was tossed into this big one. But no. There was no excuse for this. It really broke her heart.

A flash of anger came to her, and despite being the oldest, she couldn't hold back saying, "Actually, you're the only one here being a brat. You used to be a nice cub back when we were friends. I was hoping we could be friends again, but I can see that's not going to happen. I won't be wasting anymore of your time. Goodbye." And with that, she stuck her head up in the air and walked away.

"Yeah!" Kendi said, and followed Afia. The other two cubs followed with their tails high.

Torrent watched them go. He felt a little stunned. He hadn't really meant to make them all hate him... Oh well... he thought. I don't need anybody. He crossed his arms and put his head down.

"Ugh! That was infuriating." Afia said once she and the others got far enough away.

"Told you." Ora said.

Afia took a deep breath and sighed. It helped her calm down. "He used to be so sweet...and I was so sad when he had to leave. I just cried and cried, and looked forward to when we could be together again. I was hoping we could all be friends." She looked at her paws.

Ora, Kendi and Reon looked at each other with frowns. It was hard to see Afia like this. She was usually spunky and lively. Ora extended her paw and placed it on Afia's.

"I'm sorry, Afia." she said genuinely. "Some people change. We don't know why he's the way he is now. All we know is, he is missing out on being friends with someone as super awesome as you."

Afia looked up and smiled at the cub. Thanks. I'm glad you have you guys."

"Same here, Afia!" Reon said. "You don't need him."

The young group stayed put by Pride Rock as instructed and just chatted or played quietly.

As Dayya and Jayden were headed to find Malowa, Drayden caught up with them. "Hey! There you two are."

"Sorry we got separated." Jayden said, "We wanted to drop Afia off with the other cubs."

"Yeah, she needed to re-meet Torrent. Remember how cute they were as cubs?" Dayya said. "They were such good buddies."

"Yes they were! I'm glad they reunited." Drayden said, eyes glancing at Jayden. Jayden didn't catch the glance. The three of them were headed to the back side of Pride Rock to see if Malowa was there.

"Remember when Malowa said he liked me?"

"He did?" Drayden's eyes grew wide.

"I didn't tell you?"

"You told me." Jayden said.

"Oops, sorry I forgot to tell you, Drayden. It was one year ago, right before we left. He admitted he liked me and he said he would miss me. It was so sweet! I never had a boy tell me that before."

"Surprise, surprise." Drayden quipped. "Usually everyone has had enough of you from one sitting."

"That was rude!" Dayya exclaimed and tackled the lion.

"Woah!" He was caught by surprise and fell to his side, pinned by Dayya.

"That'll teach you." Dayya smirked and let him up from the pin. She continued on with Jayden while Drayden got up, now with dirt on his side.

"Honestly, you two!" Jayden smirked, "Still behaving like adolescents!"

"At least we're fun!" Dayya retorted.

"Yeah, Miss Boring Paws!" Drayden added when he caught up.

"Hm!" Jayden giggled. "You guys are so right!"

The three arrived on the back side of Pride Rock where there was a slight over-hang of cliff, and a portion of the cliff that was now crumbled away. Relaxing on the cliff with their large paws hanging off the edge were two lions. One was burnt orange with a red mane, and the other was peach with a light brown mane.

"Hey!" Dayya shouted to them. "Malowa! Clous! Hey guys!"

"Well if it ain't my cousin, Dayya!" Clous grinned, "And there's Drayden too! I heard you all were here! I was wondering when you'd find us.

Dayya smiled. "Good to see you guys!"

"Hang on, we'll come down." Clous said, standing. He looked over the sloping edge of rocks and dirt.

"You're not going down that way, are you?" Malowa asked. "You're not supposed to."

"I'm not taking the long way when they're right there! Come on, I know you wanna see Dayya..." Clous wiggled his eyebrows at Malowa.

The cream colored lion rolled his light blue eyes, "Shut up."

Clous grinned, then fearlessly launched himself off the edge and rather gracefully skidded down the rocky hill all the way to the bottom.

"Wow!" Dayya exclaimed, then gave Clous a hug. "That was cool. Great to see you!"

"That was risky." Jayden said to her cousin.

"But fun!" Clous replied, "I promise I don't usually do that. You coming, Malowa?" Clous called up.

"Uh...yep." the lion replied, and picked his way down the rocks much slower than Clous had.

"Ow." Malowa said when he made it to the bottom. Then smiled at Dayya. Dayya hugged him with a shout, "Malowa!" and added, "You look awesome!"

Both Malowa and Clous's manes had grown in the past year. Malowa had always been a rather small lion, but this year he had bulked up a little.

"Thank you. You as well." Malowa replied smoothly. Dayya giggled and said thanks. They also greeted Drayden.

"The edge up there is Clous and the guys' new hang out spot." Jayden told Dayya and Drayden.

"Just can't get away from the place you Rock Slid as kids, huh?" Dayya joked.

"Kings, I would just love to rock slide again!" Clous said, "But really, we just perch up there now so the youngsters don't find it and make the same mistake I did."

"How noble of you." Drayden joked. He had heard the story of when Clous, Dark and Malowa rock slid here when they were cubs, and Clous was almost seriously injured.

"You can't get me to ever do that again." Malowa said. Everyone chuckled.

"What's new, you two?" Dayya asked.

"Not a whole lot...well, except Zuna and I aren't together anymore." Clous said.

"Oh no! Zuna didn't say anything about that when Jayden and I saw her earlier." Dayya said, sympathy in her eyes.

"It happened a while back." Jayden supplied.

"Yeah...we just couldn't agree about having cubs in the future some day. She is adamant about not having them...I respect her decision...but I want cubs. We still care about each other and we are remaining friends."

"Aw..." Dayya gave her cousin another hug. "Maybe you'll find someone else."

"Maybe."

"What about you, Malowa?" Dayya asked suddenly. "You seeing anyone?"

"Blunt as always." Jayden murmured and Drayden chuckled.

"Me?" Malowa blushed, "Uh, no."

"You're embarrassing the little guy!" Clous said, whapping Malowa's shoulder with his paw.

"Oof!" Malowa hit him back, noticibly harder, "Stupid!"

"Quit it, you goofballs!" Jayden said. "I have an idea. I was thinking of taking Dayya and Drayden to go see Koru. Do you wanna come with us? They haven't seen Koru's new home, or the...new surprises."

"New surprises?" Dayya shouted, practically jumping on her sister. "Does that mean cubs?"

Jayden grinned, "You'll see!"

"Yeah, I'd love to go." Clous said.

"Me too." Malowa smiled.

"You up for it, Drayden?" Jayden turned to him. "It's a couple hours walk."

"Oh yes, I definitely want to see what Koru's been up to! I miss hanging out with him." Drayden said.

"Great! And then we can invite Koru and his family over for dinner tonight. Let's go see if Tempest will come with us. Family reunion!"

"Yay!" Dayya danced. "I know where she went, come on let's hurry!"