Chapter 6: The River Pride

Dayya led Jayden, Drayden, Clous and Malowa to the other side of Pride Rock around where the sunning rocks were. There, just as Dayya predicted, were Tempest, Ciara, Tali and Zula.

"Hey again, y'all!" Dayya yelled with excitement. She had already re-met this group earlier that day.

"Did you already go around and greet everyone, Dayya?" Zula questioned, stretching her arms.

"Yes, Clous and Malowa were the last two I hadn't seen yet. Except I do feel like I'm forgetting someone." Dayya put a paw to her mouth and looked at the ground to think.

"Ahila." Drayden supplied. "I haven't seen her anywhere."

"Oh!" Jayden's eyes went wide. "I can't believe I forgot to tell you! She moved to Koru's Pride temporarily to help with the cubs."

"So there are cubs!" Dayya grinned, and Tempest gasped.

"You ruined the surprise!" Zula said, slipping off the rock she was sunning on.

"Oops." Jayden said, "We were actually just going over to visit him, and I figured you'd want to go see Koru's new home too, Tempest. You coming?"

"Duh!" The light cream lioness jumped up.

"I wanna come too!" Zula said, "I've actually never been to his place."

"Please do!" Jayden said to her friend.

"Ciara? Tali?" Dayya asked. "You coming?"

"No, that's okay." Tali answered. "I'm feeling lazy today."

Ciara scoffed and joked, "I don't think I've ever heard you say that. I'm going to stay too, besides, I see my and Tali's moms walking over here."

Sure enough, Toni and Kanai walked over and greeted everyone briefly. The two lionesses were looking a little older this year. They were both skinnier and with a few gray hairs around their muzzles.

"There sure are a lot of youngins hanging congregating here." Ciara's mom, Toni said light heartedly.

"We're going to visit Koru's family." Clous explained.

"That's a long trip." Kanai said. "Will you be back in time for dinner?"

"It's not that far." Tempest said to her mother-in-law. I heard it's only two hours away."

"Only two hours." Kanai huffed, then collapsed dramatically on one of the sunning rocks. "Just saying that makes me tired."

Toni giggled and greed.

"We'll be back in time." Jayden said. "I'm hoping to bring Koru and his family back to join us for dinner."

"That'll be nice. Have a good time." Kanai said.

Everyone said their farewells, and moved away from sunning rocks, heading toward the underside of Pride Rock.

"While we're here, let me check on Torrent." Tempest said.

They approached Pride Rock's underside and saw Torrent laying there by himself.

"Torrent?" Tempest approached him. "Where are Afia and the others?"

The large cub perked his head up right away. "Over by the steps." He said, then went to his mother's side.

"I'll go check on them and be right back." Jayden said and trotted off. Clous, Zula, Drayden and Dayya stood nearby waiting.

"Why aren't you all together?" Temepst asked her son. "I thought you'd like to hang around with Afia again?"

"They were mean to me, mother!" Torrent threw himself on Tempest's leg and clung on.

"What?" her light blue eyes went wide with disbelief. "What did you do to them?"

"Nothing!" he lied, looking in his mother's eyes.

"Hmm…" Temepst said, not exactly believing him.

"They don't want to play with me and left me here to be bored. Can we just go home?"

"No, don't be silly. We just got here."

"But Mom!" Torrent whined and put his head in Tempest's paws.

"Enough, Tor, you're too hold to be whining. How about you come with me and my friends? We're going to visit your uncle Koru and meet his new cubs."

"Oh great, more bratty cubs…" Torrent thought, then felt bad. "Well maybe now's my chance to try a little harder to make friends…" The cub straightened. "Have I met Uncle Koru before?" he asked.

"You were very small. I've talked about him before, remember?"

"Yeah."

"It takes two hours to go to his home, you aren't too tired are you?"

"No way! I'm ready!" Torrent leaped up.

Jayden walked back to the group. "The other cubs went inside the cave and Kiara is babysitting while they all take a nap." She announced.

"That's good. Torrent is coming with us."

"Great!" Jayden grinned at her nephew. Torrent managed a smile back.

"You all ready?" Clous called from where he and the others were waiting nearby.

"Yep!" Tempest replied, then rejoined the group with her cub at her heels. Jayden followed.

"So you're coming with us, cutie?" Dayya went over and nuzzled her nephew.

"Yeah." He reported dully. Her wasn't so used to having so much family around him showing affection. It wasn't that he didn't like it, it was just a surprise.

"I can't wait to tell mom Koru has cubs!" Tempest exclaimed. "How many are there?"

"You'll see!" Jayden said.

"I think the rest of us, besides Jayden, have only met them once." Zula said. "About a mother after they were born, right guys?"

Clous and Malowa nodded. "Yeah, Koru and Jiyi brought them to meet the Pride when they were old enough to travel. That was about four months ago."

"So now they're five months old?" Tempest asked.

"Yes, but no more questions, we keep ruining the surprises!" Jayden said.

Tempest and Dayya looked excited, and they started speculating to each other what the cubs must look like while they all walked.

Jayden turned to Zula. "Where is Zuna, by the way?"

"Oh, um… she might be hanging out with Melaba and Taeliss. Or my mom."

"I left Dark with your mom, so she must be with Mebala and Taeliss. Should we see if they want to come with us?"

"Umm…" Zula hesitated. "Nah, I don't think she would really feel like going." The gray lioness pointed with her eyes at Clous.

Realization came over Jayden, "Ah." She was so used to Clous and Zuna being a couple, it just felt weird now that they weren't. Clous heard the exchange between the two lionesses but didn't say anything or change his expression. He just began chatting with Malowa and Drayden.

Jayden, her sisters, her nephew and Zula were walking separately from the guys. "So…what's with you and Malowa?" Jayden asked Dayya quietly. "Do you think he still likes you? Do you like him?"

Tempest butted in, "WELL! Dayya didn't tell you about this other lion she likes yet."

"SHHHH!" Dayya hissed, narrowing her green eyes. "I said I might like him. I'm not super sure yet!"

"Who is that?" Jayden asked.

"Drayden, of course!" Dayya whispered. "We've gotten closer over the past year."

"Oh!"

"He's great…but I just gotta make sure he's over you before I decide anything." Dayya said, sticking her tongue out at her sister.

"Pff, surely he's over me by now, it's been a year." She replied, but then wanted to shove the words right back in her mouth. It's not like she had gotten over the lion she had loved back in those days. And it had been two years they had been apart. No one seemed to make the same connection Jayden did, or at least no one commented on it.

"We'll see." Dayya said. "Malowa is great too, though. Did you notice how he bulked up a little?"

Tempest and Jayden nodded.

"Now I'll just have to pick between them!" Dayya said with a grin. Her sisters and Zula giggled.

Torrent, who was in the back of the group, rolled his eyes. "This conversation is so dull." He thought, then admitted, "But I guess it's than sitting around back at the Pridelands ."

"What are you girls giggling about?" Drayden asked, trotting over to them. Clous and Malowa followed.

"Nothing." Dayya answered.

"They were talking about you!" Torrent blurted.

"Oh, really?" Drayden grinned. "What about exactly?"

"Nunya business!" Dayya stuck her tongue out at him.

Drayden moved to match Torrent's stride. "I'll get Torrent to tell me later, right champ?"

Torrent nodded with a mischievous smile. Drayden walked by the cub for a while, and chatted to him about other things. Torrent liked Drayden. He was cool. Maybe I should be try to be more like him. But how? He seems funny and nice without even trying.

The trip went on, and finally after two hours, they were closing in on Koru's territory.

"This is it," Jayden announced. "The River Lands is what they call it."

The group passed a tree line with Koru's scent markers on it. The grass here was green and healthy. There were trees and brush sporadically placed about. As the group trotted on, they passed a tall stump of a tree with claw marks imbedded on it. Then they could hear the trickle of a river.

"I see why it's called the River lands." Tempest commented. Koru's home, indeed, had a thin river-perhaps more like a stream- winding by the place Koru and his family kept their den. Along with the sounds of water, there was a cacophony of frogs singing and locusts humming. The river was about 2 lion lengths wide. The water did not look very deep, and the current wasn't swift. It moved steadily but not with a rush. A full-grown lion could stand in it with no problem.

"Wow, this is beautiful!" Dayya exclaimed. The other agreed.

"I love this place." Jayden said. "Our brother really picked a great home for his family."

"Where are they? This is their den area, isn't it?" Tempest said, motioning at a large area with grass flattened by use. There were leafy trees growing in a semi-circle with tall rocks behind them. The tree's branches hung over the center of the semi-circle to create a shaded area. Brush and other foliage dotted the entrance to the semi-circle. It was a perfect place for a small pride to take shelter for the night.

"They must be nearby." Jayden said, her head moving from side-to-side to try to scent the air for Koru or his family.

Right on cue, Koru's voice rang out, "Hey!" The large pale-yellow lion came charging over. "I thought I heard an obnoxious ruckus over here! And look who it is, my sisters and some Pridelanders!" Koru grinned.

"Very funny!" Dayya said, "You know you missed us!" She hugged her older brother.

Then Tempest hugged him tightly. "Look at you! You got big!"

Koru had definitely filled out since the last time Tempest, Dayya and Drayden had seen him. His brown mane stretched down his back and under his chest and belly. The lower chest and belly hair were black, much like his father's mane. Koru had always been muscular as an adult, but now he was even more so. The only thing that hadn't changed were his kind, deep blue eyes and ever-present warm smile.

"Thanks, did you get smaller?" Koru joked. He quickly greeted Clous, Zula and Malowa, then turned to Drayden, "It's great to see you!" He clapped the younger lion on the shoulder with a large paw.

"So glad to see you again!" Dayya grinned, "Thanks for making me look like a small-fry."

Everyone chuckled, but it was true. Drayden had always been a bit of a small lion but standing next to Koru made him look even smaller.

"Sorry, Junior."

"Don't pick on Shorty!" Dayya giggled.

"Hey!" Drayden said in mock offence, and lightly whapped Dayya on her shoulder.

"Hey yourself!" Never hit a lady!" Dayya smacked him back.

"I don't see one here! …Except Jayden, Tempest and Zula."

Dayya gasped dramatically. "Well, I never!"

Koru chuckled at their playful exchange but moved his eyes to look at Jayden and Tempest. He raised one eyebrow like a question mark. Jayden only smiled and Tempest moved her shoulders in a tiny shrug.

"There's someone else you need to re-meet!" Tempest said, looking behind her. "Don't hide, Torrent, come say hello."

"I'm not hiding…" Torrent said, then came out from behind his mother's legs.

"This can't be Torrent!" Koru said, gazing at the large cub with wide eyes.

"Yep. He is one year and one month old now. Torrent, this is your Uncle Koru." She nudged Torrent with her paw.

"Um, hello." Torrent managed, then remembered his manners, and his vow to seem cool like Drayden. "It's very nice to meet you."

"The last time I saw you, you were tiny. Now you're growing up! You look very strong and smart."

Torrent beamed, "Thank you!"

Tempest chuckled, "He loves flattery."

"Who doesn't?" Koru joked. "He's very polite. Good job with him, Temp!"

Tempest grinned and blinked bashfully. "Well, I had help."

"Where's your family, Koru?" Dayya said, "we are dying to meet your cubs!"

"Oh, the triplets and Jiyi are at the sunning rocks. I'll show you." Koru led them away.

"Did he say…" Tempest started.

"T-triplets?!" Dayya finished.

Jayden grinned, enjoying her sisters' reactions. They both had large eyes and Dayya had her mouth open.

"Sheesh, no wonder Ahila came to help them." Drayden commented.

"No kidding." Zula agreed.

They followed Koru a short distance along the river. The Pridelanders and guests soaked in the beautiful sight and the lulling sound of croaking and chirping. Along the edge of the river were reeds and cat tails. They swayed softly in the breeze. There were a few lily pads in the water and a couple of them had beautiful pink and white blossoms on top. They reached the large sunning rocks where they could see a light brown lioness stretched out. She had a small hair tuft like Vitani's, and green eyes. She had a small black freckle on the outside corner of her right eye. The lioness was watching the shape of three small forms playing on a large rock in the center of the river. As the group approached, the lioness turned her head toward them.

"Oh!" she exclaimed; her voice high in pitch. "We have guests!" She stood. "Hi everyone!"

"Hi Jiyi! It's nice to see you again." Tempest smiled politely. She and Dayya hadn't gotten to know Koru's mate before it was their time to go home one year ago. Tempest was really hoping to get to know her now.

The group traded hellos, then Jiyi called the cubs over. "Kids! Come over here! Carefully now. Pridelanders are here!"

Dayya was already bouncing with excitement as they watched the three cubs nimbly jump from the rock in the water to the rock Jiyi had been sunning on, then bounded to the grass to sit in a line in front of the waiting group.

"Awww!" Dayya squeaked.

The three cubs were the same size. There were two girls and one boy. On the left was the boy. He was the same light brown as his mother. He had a pointed black nose, and a brown hair tuft and green eyes. In the middle was the first girl, who was a bit darker brown than her brother, had a rose-colored pointed nose, and black rims on her ears. Her fur poked out in random places like the tips of her ears and shoulders. A very small tuft of hair pointed backwards on her head. Her large eyes were deep blue. The last girl was pale yellow, like Koru. She had a rounded pink nose and brown markings around her red eyes. She had three freckles around her right eye. One in the same place as her mother, on the corner of the outer eye, then two others under the eye.

Koru introduced his children. "This here is Mosi," he gestured at the boy. "He's our first born. Then this is M'Yali," he gestured at the brown female. "And D'Yala." He gestured at the pale-yellow female.

"Hello." All three cubs said in unison.

"You guys remember Jayden, Clous, Zuna and Malowa?" Koru asked. The three cubs nodded at their dad. "And this is—"

"I'm your aunt, Dayya." The light-red lioness said with a huge smile, unable to wait any longer to introduce herself. "It's super nice to meet you!"

"I'm your other aunt, Tempest. I'm kinda surprised Dayya didn't leap over and hug you right away!"

The cubs giggled and Dayya muttered, "I would really like to."

Tempest continued to the triplets, "And you have a cousin, Torrent. Where'd you go?" She looked around her legs again. Torrent peered out from his hiding place. He remembered his manners again and said hello.

"More cousins." He thought. The three cubs were smaller than him, he noticed happily. He held his head higher. "Maybe they'll think I'm cool."

"How old are you?" he asked them.

"Five months." They all answered at the same time.

"Do you always say the same thing at once?"

"No." they all answered again, then looked at each other in annoyance.

The group chuckled.

"Torrent, would you like to play with the triplets while your family rests a bit? You all must be tired, please come have a drink." Jiyi said.

"That sounds nice, thank you." Tempest said. The group moved to the river's edge and drank with greedy gulps.

"I can't believe you had three!" Dayya blurted after drinking. Water dribbled attractively down her mouth and chin.

Koru chuckled, "I know."

"It has been such a blessing to have Ahila's help." Jiyi said. "They have been little joys though."

"Where is Ahila?" Drayden asked.

"I believe she is with Kubwa and Kidogo on the far end of the river." Jiyi answered.

"Who?" Dayya said.

"I forgot to tell you," Jayden said, "There are two other members of Koru's pride."

Koru explained, "Kubwa and Kidogo are two adolescent brothers. They came to us not too long ago. They were removed from their pride from their jealous king. They've been wandering for a while looking for a home."

"They came to us, and we are giving them the opportunity to stay if they like it here." Jiyi added. "They seem like very good boys. They stay out of trouble and are good to the kids. I do hope they decide to stay with us. Koru and I think we need more members in the Riverlands."

"More to rule over, ay bro?" Dayya said, knocking her shoulder into Koru's. He only rolled his eyes.

While the adults talked more, Torrent followed the three cubs a short distance away, still near the water's edge.

"So…what do you guys like to do for fun around here?" Torrent asked. This is my chance to finally make friends.

The pale-yellow cub, D'Yala spoke up first, "We race."

The other female, M'Yali said, "Or play-fight."

"Or swim." The male, Mosi said.

"Swim?" Torrent looked aghast. "Really? You get all wet?"

"Yeah." The three replied in unison.

Then Mosi said, "It's fun and not a big deal to get wet."

"You don't swim?" D'Yala asked.

"Er…no." Torrent replied.

"We could teach you."

"No, I don't think so! How 'bout we fight! Do you guys know how to fight tough?"

"We can fight tough!" Mosi jumped up, looking excited. "My mom doesn't like us to get too rough though…" he looked over at her. "So I mean…maybe we don't really know how."

The girls nodded sheepishly. "We want to learn how though!" M'Yali said. "We might need to know how to fight someday."

"That's right, you guys need to know that stuff." Torrent said. The three younger cubs nodded eagerly. "I could teach you some things." Torrent sat up straight. "I know I'm older than you guys, but I promise not to hurt you."

"That would be awesome! Thanks Torrent!" Mosi said with a big smile.

"Just don't let mom catch us…" M'Yali said.

"She won't." Torrent said with what he hoped seemed like confidence. "The grown-ups are all busy talking. They're not paying attention to us. So, you guys, show me how you fight. Take turns." The older cub instructed.

"Okay!" The three said in unison, then paired off. Mosi and D'Yala went first. Torrent noticed the yellow she-cub seemed the most energetic of the three. D'Yala and Mosi wrestled playfully, tumbling around on their backs and letting out little growls. Mosi bit D'Yala's ear and she retaliated by smacking him in the nose. They restled a little more, then broke apart. Torrent instructed for M'Yali to take a turn with Mosi. After their match, it was time for the she-cubs to face off.

Torrent took this time to study them. Indeed, D'Yala was the most energetic, but sometimes took foolish risks. Mosi seemed the calmest, but also slow to react. M'Yali was quick and efficient, but didn't put a lot of weight behind her blows.

"Okay, cubs, good job!" Torrent said. He loved feeling like their mentor. "You guys are pretty good. But let me teach you something a little advanced… This move will really help you beat your opponent. Mosi, stand there." Torrent ordered. Mosi did as he was told. "Now come at me like you're going to attack."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, just do it."

"Okay…" the brown cub said, then lumbered toward Torrent.

Torrent moved slightly to the side and rammed his front paw into Mosi's back legs. The smaller cub fell into the dirt with an oomph!

"Wow!" D'Yala and M'Yali said in unison.

Mosi dashed to his feet, unphased. "That was cool!"

"It's really important to trip your opponent if you can." Torrent instructed with his head high. "It can buy you time to strike, or if you really needed to—to run. Not that I would ever do that."

"I wanna try!" M'Yali shouted.

"Me first!" Mosi said.

"No, me!" D'Yala interjected.

"We can all do it, but first, listen to your weaknesses that I noticed." Torrent said. His pupils shut their mouths and sat in a line with their eyes wide and ears perked up. "You," he pointed at Mosi, "are slow and need to move faster."

Next was D'Yala, "You need to watch what you're doing. Sometimes you get too excited and don't place your hit in the right place. And you," It was M'Yali's turn. "You need to hit harder. Put more force into your blows. Each of you should be thinking of the weaknesses I just told you while we practice this tripping move."

Each cub took the criticism with happy nods, excited to continue.

"Okay, let's start."