Chapter 7: Dinner and a Show
The cubs only got to practice the trip move on each other one time before the adults called them over.
"It's time to head back for dinner." Tempest announced.
"Are Mosi, D'Yali and M'Yala coming with us?" Torrent asked hopefully.
"No, their mom would like them to stay."
"Sorry, little dear." Jiyi said with apologetic eyes. "It will be far too late and dark out by the time we were to head home."
"Aw..." torrent scuffed the ground with his paw.
"They'll come for the coronation, Torr. Say goodbye for now." Tempest said.
Torrent faced his cousins.
"Thanks for teaching us!" Mosi said to him.
"Yeah! I wish we could have learned more." M'Yali added.
"Maybe next time. At the corolation...or whatever it's called." D'Yala said.
Torrent frowned. He really liked these cousins. Why couldn't the ones at the Pridelands be like them? They would have made a good team against them...
"Don't be sad." Mosi said, then suddenly hugged the older cub. His sisters joined in. Torrent's eyes went wide and he almost pushed them off. But he didn't... instead he quickly hugged them back.
"Aw, it's so nice you made friends." Tempest gushed.
"He hasn't met the cubs at the Pridelands?" Koru asked.
"He has...he just hasn't gotten a chance to get close with them yet." Tempest said quickly, not wanting Jayden to know that Torrent hadn't been getting along with her daughter and the other cubs. "You're coming, right Koru?"
"Yeah! I would never miss a free meal!"
Suddenly, a female voice called, "Koru, is that your family?" It was Ahila. The pale peach lioness ran over.
"Just in time! Ahila, you remember my sisters, Tempest and Dayya."
"Yes! It's very good to see you." she nodded politely at them. "Hey Drayden!"
Drayden smiled at her. "Hello. You came at the right time, we were just about to head back to Pride Rock."
"That can't be little Torrent, can it?" Ahila looked at the tan cub. Torrent stood up straighter.
"That's him." Tempest smiled.
"Wow he has grown. I guess that's what happens after a year goes by!" She giggled.
Ahila herself had grown. A year ago, she was an adolescent. Now she was an adult and had the height and musculature to prove it. Her dark pink nose still looked a little too large for her face, and she still had kind gray-green eyes.
"We are having a big dinner back at the Pridelands to celebrate Tempest's pride arriving. Would you like to come?" Jayden offered.
"Yes, if that's okay?" Ahila turned to Koru.
"Of course it is. You don't have to ask. The Pridelands are still your home." He replied, and Jiyi nodded.
"I just wanted to make sure."
"Alright then, let's be off." Jayden said.
The group left after Koru said a quick goodbye to his mate and cubs.
Ahila immediately moved to walk beside Drayden. Dayya was on his other side. "How have you been, Drayden?"
"I've been well. Life back home has been the same as ever. Well, the only difference now is Jayden and Koru are gone." He commented. "That took some getting used to. Someone, AKA me, had to take over their part of the hunting and chores!"
Jayden and Koru chuckled, "Sorry!"
"But we also have Torrent now. So maybe things have changed a little. It's too bad Vitani and Tome couldn't come. They would have loved to see Koru's kids."
"Aw, they couldn't make it? Are they doing okay?" Ahila asked.
Tempest explained, "My mom got hurt right before the trip. My dad and Larne stayed behind with her."
"That's too bad. I hope she's healing well."
"It was just her paw, she should be mending fine." Tempest said, then grinned. "I beet if she knew Koru had cubs she would have limped along with us, hurt paw or no hurt paw."
The others agreed.
Dayya chimed in, "She will probably make a special trip to come visit after we get back and tell her."
"We should probably pick up the pace if we want to get back in time for dinner." Clous spoke up. "Is everyone good to run?"
Everyone nodded or spoke their agreement. Drayden leaned down to whisper in Torrent's ear, "Time to show everyone how fast you are!"
Torrent took on a determined look, "Yeah!"
The group of eight lions made it back in record time, and dinner was just about to be served. The sun was beginning to set as all the lions of the Pridelands gathered at the base of Pride Rock. There were so many lions bustling about, it was hard to keep track of everyone.
Tempest and Koru found Mani while Jayden, Dayya, Zula and Malowa went to find Dark. Clous went elsewhere. Ahila and Drayden stuck together on their own and were content to watch the others mingle. Several Pridelanders greeted Ahila with warm smiles.
Mani happily reunited with Koru once they saw each other. "Hey, man!" Mani shouted, pulling Koru into an embrace. Koru hugged him back hard. When Koru was a teen, he really looked up to Mani as an idol. Now, he was more like a brother. And Koru happily noted he was bigger than Mani now, and even had a bigger mane. He graciously kept this information to himself. "I hear you have cubs now!" Mani said. "Tell me about them!"
Tempest, Mani, Torrent and Koru settled down and Koru described his triplets.
"They were adorable." Tempest added. "And well behaved. Torrent played with them, even though they are younger, right Torrent? You guys had a good time?"
"Yeah." Was all Torrent said. He was beginning to feel the effects of the day wearing on him. Also, he was starving. "When do we eat?"
"Soon, son." Mani said.
"But the foods right there." Torrent complained and gestured with his paw at the three large hooved animals hunted earlier that were waiting in the large clearing in front of them.
"Be patient." Tempest told him. "The King and Queen are probably going to make an announcement, then we can dig in."
"Okay..." Torrent huffed and collapsed in his mother's outstretched arms. Tempest licked his back.
At the same time, Jayden and her group of Dayya, Malowa, and Zula found Dark who was hanging with Zuna and their mother, Sanu. Ora was in her father's paws.
"Mama!" Ora shouted when she saw Jayden. The dark cub ran to her mother's side.
Jayden licked her on the head, "Hi, baby."
"Mooooom...don't call me that."
"Sorry..." Jayden rolled her eyes. "I forgot you're not a baby anymore." Jayden nudged her daughter in the shoulder with her forehead. Ora giggled and pushed her away.
"Hey." Dark greeted his mate with a grin and bumped heads with her. She let out a purr.
"How was your trip to Koru's?" Zuna asked from where she rested next to Sanu. Zula went to lay next to her twin.
"It was nice. It was my first time seeing his home, which is so beautiful!" Zula replied. "I mean, I do love it here, but something about that place was kind of magical."
"I know what you mean!" Dayya imputed, and sat beside Zula. "The frogs croaking, the sound of the water...It was just so calming. I think I would have a really good sleep there if we'd had time for a nap! Also it would have been fun to chase the frogs around, haha!" Dayya went on. "The flowers on the lily pads were great too, I've never seen such a flower. If we all dress up like we did at the wedding, I m ight have to take one of those flowers for behind my ear for the coronation!" Dayya rambled. Zula and Zuna nodded politely. Old Sanu had tired of the conversation and had politely butted out by putting her head on her paws and closed her eyes.
While Dayya talked to the twins, Dark turned to Jayden, "How were the cubs?"
"Good! Getting big. It's only been a week since I last saw them, but they already seem taller."
"Cubs grow fast."
"Yeah. Like Ora, who apparently is no longer a baby." Jayden said, letting out a fake sob.
"Get over it, Mom!" The dark cub said from Jayden's paws. She got up and energetically bounded over to Dark's back and climbed on him. "Have another cub if you want a baby so bad."
"Maybe we will!" Dark said, turning toward his rambunctious daughter and licking her on the cheek.
"Uff...one feels like enough." Jayden muttered.
Ora didn't hear her. "I'll take a little brother or sister! As long as he or she does whatever I say, then we will get along great!" Ora stuck her nose in the air with a big grin.
Dark and Jayden rolled their eyes, but smiled. Ora loved acting like the leader of the cubs because she was oldest and even though Kendi was royalty. Jayden hoped when Ora was older, she would be able to learn to take orders from superiors. Hopefully, she wouldn't be too crushed when Ora realized Kendi was the future Queen, not her.
"We'll see." Dark said gently. "Look, I think Kovu is about to speak." Dark's eyes pointed at Pride Rock's horizontal peak where the large brown lion was moving to the end so he could address the large gathering. All the lions were finally taking their seats and quieting. Including Kovu, there were 37 lions total.
"Greetings everyone." Kovu spoke with a loud voice in the hope that all could hear. "We gather formally tonight to welcome my sister's daughters and the rest of their Pride to the Pridelands once again. I regret to inform that Vitani could not make this visit due to a minor injury."
Anyone who hadn't already hear this news gave a few murmurs of sympathy. "Her mate, Tome, and their medicine lioness, Larne decided to stay with her." Kovu went on. "We miss them, but hope Vitani is recovering well and that she can visit sometime in the near future. In the meantime, we welcome Temepst, Mani, their son Torrent, Drayden and Dayya back to the Pridelands." Kovu smiled and paused to allow for everyone to roar in agreement.
"I spoke with Tempest earlier, and she would like to stay for a fortnight. Please make them feel welcome here as the honored guests they are. Ciara and Kivu's coronation will be one week from tomorrow. I will be sending Kudzu to meet with the herd animals of the Pridelands to spread the word. On the morning of the ceremony, I will call the herd animals to come. Once they have all arrived, the ceremony will begin. All those wanting to attend will need to be present below, as you all are now."
The lions nodded in understanding.
"That's all I have for announcements. Let us begin the feast." Kovu said regally, then went back the way he came. He gracefully went down the stone steps. Kiara, Kivu, Clous and Afia were waiting for him at the base. The family joined together and went to one of the carcasses and began tearing it with their teeth. Once the royals had the first bites, as per protocol, the others joined in. There was plenty of prey for everyone, so there was little pushing or shoving.
Kivu took a few bites for himself, then tore off a large chunk of meat. He left the clearing and met Ciara and Kendi outside the mouth of Pride Rock's den, as agreed.
"I wanted to pick my own piece..." Kendi complained when her father dropped the food in front of her.
"We told you, Kendi, I don't want you down there in case you got stepped on." Kivu said, "Sometimes hungry lions aren't looking where they step."
"That's right." Ciara agreed. "Look, the other parents had the same idea." Ciara gestured with her head at Tali, who was bringing back a chunk of food for Reon who was waiting with Jai nearby. They could also see Dark bringing a piece for Ora.
Kendi studied them, but looked back at the crowd of lions eating. "Torrent is down there eating on his own!"
"Well, he's older, isn't he? When you're his age, you can do the same." Kivu said. "Now hush and eat."
Kendi did as she was told and attacked her food.
"Go get some, Ciara." Kivu turned to his wife.
"Thanks. I'm famished." she stood, quickly bumped heads with the brown lion, and trotted down the steps and over to the food. It looked like Tali allowed Jai to go do the same, and he joined Ciara to have dinner.
Reon was eating while Tali watched over him. The brown cub chewed slowly.
"Aren't you hungry, Reon?" Tali asked him.
"Yes, Mom, but I was just thinking of something."
"Oh? What is that?"
Reon hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "What do you do if someone's not very nice, but they are a guest in your home?"
Tali's eyebrows rose slightly, then she smiled. "That is a good question. We can never control the actions of others. We can only control our own. You can also control your /re-action/ to others' actions. Don't let what someone else does change your emotions."
"Even if they are being rude and making you angry?" the cub asked.
"Yes, even then. It's okay to stand up for yourself and others, but it doesn't have to alter your emotions into negative ones, right?"
Reon nodded. "I'll do my best."
"I know you will. Now finish your dinner before it gets cold."
After everyone ate to their fill, many lions were beginning to retire. The royal family had already gone in the cave for the night. The cubs and their parents were heading in too. A group of the young adults were still hanging outside under Pride Rock's peak. It was heavily dark out now, but Koru, Ahila, Drayden, Dayya, Malowa, Clous, Zuna, Zula, Nundi, Taeliss, Mebala, Tempest, and Mani were still awake and chatty. Torrent was asleep in Mani's arms.
"I really should be heading back." Mani said after a break in the conversation.
"Aw, noo!" Dayya yelled.
"Come on, can't you stay the night?" Tempest asked.
"Yeah, we hardly get to see you anymore." Clous added.
"Well..." Koru hesitated.
"Please!" Dayya begged.
"I think Jiyi will worry." Koru explained. "I didn't tell her I was planning on staying the night."
"I'll go back and tell her." Ahila said, standing.
"No!" Drayden bolted up immediately. "You're not going all that way by yourself at night."
Ahila blushed.
"I agree, it's too dangerous." Koru said.
"You both should stay!" Tempest said. "You can go home first thing in the morning."
"Yeah, right before anyone asks you to help with the clean-up, just like back home!" Dayya joked. The group laughed.
"Hey!" Koru said, then smacked his sister on the arm. She smacked him back.
"But still, I shouldn't stay. I know Jiyi will worry."
"I believe I can help." A voice came from above. They all looked up as Kudzu the hornbill dropped down from Pride Rock's horizontal bolder. "I can fly to the Riverlands and tell your family your plan to stay the night at Pride Rock."
"Are you sure, Kudzu? Aren't you off duty?" Koru asked.
"I am...but I am still here, as you can see. Flying there will not take nearly as long for me as it takes for you lions to walk." He fluttered his white wings.
"That would help a lot." Ahila said sweetly. "Thank you, Kudzu."
Kudzu only nodded and took off.
"Thank you!" Koru called after him.
"Alright! That's settled!" Dayya proclaimed happily. "You can stay!"
Koru looked happy too. He had truly missed his loud sister Dayya, and spending time with others in general. Of course he loved his new home and family, but there's just nothing like the good old times and old friends.
"I have an idea!" Dayya said. "Let's have our own spar! There's enough of us here, we're like our own pride." She looked around the gathered lions. "There's 13 of us. Well, 14 if you count Torrent."
"You guys can spar, but try to keep the volume down for Torrent." Mani spoke up. "He's had a long day."
"We will." Dayya said in an uncharacteristically quiet tone. "Who wants to spar?"
"Me!" Zula jumped up and stretched.
"I gotta fight you after what you said earlier, Dayya!" Koru said.
Dayya giggled. "Challenge accepted."
"I'm in." Ahila said.
"Me too." Clous stood.
Tempest, Malowa, Taeliss and Nundi also said they would join.
Nundi's volunteering surprised everyone, as usually he was very laid-back and typically lazy. Tempest wondered if he had ever fought before.
"I may join in later..." Drayden said. "Let me watch you guys for a while first."
"He's not very good at fighting." Dayya whispered holding her paw by her mouth."
"Hey! I heard that! Them's fighting words!" Drayden teased.
"Hah! Then fight me after Koru loses to me!"
"I ain't losing!" Koru claimed, stretching his thick limbs.
"I'll wait 'til you're worn out sparing with Koru first then." Drayden stuck his tongue out at her.
"Suit yourself."
Koru faced his sister and Dayya's grin dropped as she became serious.
"This ought to be good." Tempest smirked. Dayya had always been one of the best fighters she knew. She was quick, energetic, and never gave up.
The spar began quickly as the pale-red lioness jumped at her tall brother with paws out-stretched. He wasn't expecting her to come at him so quickly, so Koru stumbled backwards and landed on his bottom.
Dayya trotted away from him, "Not a good start, bro!" she taunted. The group chuckled.
"Go, Dayya!" Zula called.
"I'll get you yet!" Koru said, launching himself at Dayya. She quickly dodged and landed a hard blow on Koru's shoulder. It had basically no effect since Koru was built like a rhinoceros. Dayya was going to have to rely on other methods to beat her brother. Something a little more...sneaky. She smirked as she watched Koru turn toward her and come after her. He lunged again, and this time Dayya moved only slightly to the side from his form, then put her muscular leg under Koru's belly. Then she kicked his back legs as hard as she could.
Koru lost his footing and tripped. He fell hard on his belly. Just before he got up, Dayya pounced on his back. Koru was bigger and stronger than his sister, so he easily shoved her off. She landed nimbly on her paws.
"Woohoo!" Called Tempest.
"Shh!" warned Mani with Torrent still sleeping in his paws.
Tempest's ears dropped. "Sorry." she whispered. Then let out a hushed, "Woo!"
Dayya and Koru's spar continued. Dayya went on to use more tripping moves to make the large yellow lion lose his balance. He was catching on to the moves, but he wasn't quick enough to avoid them each time. He was tiring already. He had only managed a total of two blows on Dayya. She didn't seem to be tiring at all. Koru knew he wasn't as good at the tricky stuff as his sisters. He preferred to fight straight on, and Dayya knew it.
Maybe Dayya wouldn't see it coming if he tried something tricky. Koru ran forward at the lioness as he usually did. She readied herself to move aside. He waited for her to dodge, then as he anticipated where she would move, he twisted his body in that direction. He threw his hulking arms around her shoulder, then flung her smaller form to the side. Dayya landed in the dirt on her shoulder.
"Oooohhh..." The group chorused.
Dayya got up, but little slow. She growled quietly, and with narrowed eyes, she attacked her brother. He had angered her with that move, and now she attacked harder than before. She would never give up.
Koru finally had enough. "Alright, alright, stop!" he said, winded. Dayya did as she was told. "You win! I'm done."
Dayya grinned while the others whispered some cheers.
"You lasted longer than I thought you would!" Dayya said patting her brother on the shoulder.
"Yeah yeah." Koru replied.
"Great match! Thanks for sparing with me!"
Koru smiled. At least she was a gracious winner. "Remind me not to do it again."
Dayya giggled and Koru moved away to sit down. Dayya said, "Next!" and looked at Drayden.
"No way!" He said, "I'm not fighting you after watching you annihilate Koru!"
"Fine!" Dayya pouted. "I'll take a break then." The red lioness had broken a sweat, so she went to sit next to Tempest.
Taeliss hopped up. "I wanna go!"
"I'll take you on." Ahila volunteered.
The gray lioness and light peach lioness squared off. Taeliss was older than Ahila, but they were around the same size and musculature. Neither were very experienced in fighting, so both would be relying a lot on instinct.
The group let out some whispered words of encouragement as the girls started sparing. There moves weren't as practiced as Dayya and Koru's, but they were still effective. Their spar ended with a big tumble over and over until Taeliss landed on Ahila in a heavy pin.
"Gotcha!"
The group cheered.
"Okay, I give." Ahila surrendered. "Good work!"
"You too." Taeliss let her up.
"My turn!" Zula jumped up. Zuna cheered for her twin.
"I'll fight you!" Clous jumped up too.
"You?" Zula scoffed. "Oh yes, I've been waiting for this. This is personal." she joked.
"Bring it on!"
Clous and Zula went at each other with fierce claws and teeth.
Dayya whispered to Tempest, "Wasn't Zula in love with Clous?"
"Yes, that's what I heard." Tempest replied. "Jayden said Zula confessed her feelings to Clous to get closure. Since he was dating Zuna."
"Hmm." Dayya said as she watched the two sparing lions. "But Clous isn't dating Zuna anymore."
Tempest didn't reply, but did eye Zuna. She was watching her sister and ex-boyfriend spar with a calm look. Zuna surely knew of her twin's feelings for Clous. Did Zuna care if the two of them got close?
Tempest turned her attention back to the match. It seemed as if the two were having a good time fighting each other. Between hits, kicks and shoves, each let out laughs and smiles. The two seemed equally matched, even though Clous was bigger. Finally, Clous was the victor when he held Zula down too firmly for her to push him off.
"Alright, you win, you big ham!"
"Yess!" Clous cheered and pulled away.
Zula stood with redness to her cheeks and panted heavily. "What a work out." Zula said as she settled next to Zuna.
"Ew, you're sweaty." Zuna said, scooting away a little from her twin.
"I bet I smell too." Zula joked. "Wanna sniff?" Zuna laughed.
Tempest couldn't help but smile at them. Whether or not Zuna was watching the match with jealousy, they were still sisters and still loved each other.
Tempest decided to volunteer next. Nundi stood to challenge her. Here was her chance to see if the young lion knew how to fight.
Nundi had, of course, grown since she last saw him one year ago. He was a young adult now with a full orange mane. It wasn't as long or big as Mani's though. It was pretty thin and silky, like Nundi's father Jai Senior. As far as size went, Nundi wasn't a very big adult lion. He and Drayden looked to be around the same size. This was good since Tempest was small for a grown lioness, which would have given most other lions an advantage.
Tempest glared at the lion, determined to do her best. I know some tripping moves of my own.
Nundi stared back, some of his bangs falling in his blue eyes. Suddenly, he attacked. He was fast! Tempest dodged in time, but just barely. She had to be fast too! She quickly sprang up on her back paws, and used her front paws to shove Nundi in the side. It shifted his balance slightly. He turned his head to bite her, but she had already moved away. He charged at her. She leaped high into the air, right over him, which illicted some "WOAH!"s from the crowd. She darted around to face him again, and to her surprise, he was already in her face, attacking her. He rammed into her, knocking his head and chest into hers.
"OOF!" The wind was knocked out of Tempest's chest and she stumbled back. Nundi took this oppurtunity to strike Tempest's head with his heavy paws. The lioness took the hits, shook her head and backed up.
The kid can fight! she managed to think before launching an attack of her own. He rose up to meet her with slashing claws and bared teeth.
"This is awesome!" Dayya commented.
Tempest couldn't get any real hits in, so she hoped back slightly. He came at her with practiced quickness. Tempest managed to dodge and jam her legs under his paws. He stumbled and she took the opportunity to leap on his back and bite the back of his mane. Nundi let out a fierce growl, and dropped to his back, hoping to squish the lioness on him.
Good thing Nundi wasn't a large lion. Tempest was unhurt by being forced to hug the ground. She wriggled out from under him quickly.
"Nice one." Temepst admitted with narrowed eyes.
"Hmph." Was all Nundi said as he and Tempest began circling each other.
"Go, Tempest!" Mani whisper/cheered. Other cheers rang out.
Nundi's ears lifted to listen to the cheering, as if he had forgotten the crowd was there until he heard them again. Tempest launched herself at him, hoping the slight distraction could give her an edge. She managed to bat Nundi in the head and bite him hard on the shoulder. Nundi backed up, shaking her off, and battling back with a fierce glare. Tempest didn't let up and came at him again.
He rose up to meet her, and with all her might, she pushed his upper body. He teetered back and fell. Tempest quickly jumped on him and planted her paws firmly on his chest and arms.
"Hah!" She proclaimed.
Nundi glared at her but hardly tried to move. He turned his narrow eyed gaze to the side in defeat. Tempest released her opponent and grinned.
"Awesome!" Dayya cheered for her sister.
"That was great." Drayden agreed.
Nundi got up, and both returned to their seats.
"You did great too, Nundi." Zuna told him as he plopped down. His cheeks looked red, like he was embarrassed, but he didn't reply.
Tempest sat by Mani who was holding the still asleep Torrent. "Phew." Tempest said quietly.
Malowa stood. "I'm next, but there's no one to face me! Everyone that wanted to go has already had a turn."
"I'll do it!" Dayya said, leaping up.
"Not you!" Malowa groaned.
"Yes, me! Are you scared?"
"Absolutely! You're way too tough. I need someone more in my league."
"Well, Torrent is asleep, so just spar me." Dayya smirked and wagged her tail.
Malowa mock-growled, "Why, you!" and leaped at Dayya. It was true, Dayya outmatched Malowa. She was faster and smarter than him. He was out of practice and was beaten easily.
"You need a teacher." Dayya said after she let him out of a pin.
"I know..." Malowa admitted. "How about you? Can you teach me?"
The red lioness looked delighted. "Yes! Let's begin tomorrow."
"Great!" Malowa smiled and waved his tail. Dayya giggled quietly.
Tempest watched this exchange with greedy eyes, thinking that she couldn't wait to tell Jayden about this new development.
What she didn't see was Drayden watching this exchange too... with narrowed eyes.
Author's note: Please review so I know how many of you are reading this! Also go to my bio to see pictures of the characters.