Author note: Check if you have read chapter 9, didn't email subscribers when it was uploaded. See my bio for more info
Chapter 10: Ghost
After their conversation with Ciara, Taeliss and Mebala headed back to their friends waiting on the rocks. Dark had joined them. Jayden, Zula, Dark had large questioning eyes upon their return, and of course, were expected to spill the beans about the conversation.
Mebala murmured, "I'll tell you later." and pointed her brown eyes at Ora. The others were intrigued, but said no more. A different subject was brought up to distract Ora.
Drayden found the group and joined them. He didn't speak much, but instead listened or laughed where appropriate.
A few minutes later, a voice was heard, "Hey guys!" it called. All eyes turned toward the approaching lioness and lion following her. It was Dayya and Malowa finally back from training.
"Kings, are you just now getting back from training?" Zula asked.
"Yup!" Dayya stretched her limbs. "What a good work out." Her pelt was sweaty, but she didn't seem tired. Malowa on the other hand was breathing hard, and his mane was drenched in sweat. His face was flushed with effort. He didn't look unhappy though.
"It was hard, but Dayya is a good trainer." Malowa said. "I learned several great moves!"
"You did well for your first day!" Dayya smiled at him. "I'll meet you again first thing in the morning for more training."
"Great!" he smiled back, his mint eyes flashing. "Thank you for this, it really means a lot to me." Malowa touched his paw to Dayya's arm. Dayya smiled wider and nodded with a bounce in her paws.
"Hey, you guys mind if I join you tomorrow?" Drayden stepped up. "I don't necessarily need the training... but I like staying fit during down time." Drayden stretched, showing off his muscular frame. It was true: Drayden may not have been a large lion but he did have muscle, and had already been trained by Vitani and her family after years of living with them.
"Sure! Of course you can come. Meet us at the base of Pride Rock at dawn." Dayya said. Malowa frowned, but said nothing.
Jayden moved her eyes to meet Zula's. The gray lioness rose one eyebrow, and Jayden had to hold back a smile.
"Is there any food left?" Dayya asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't see it on your way back. It's out in the field. I'll show you." Drayden said, and led Dayya and Malowa away.
"Thanks, I'm starved!" Dayya said as they walked.
After they were gone, Ora spoke up, "He likes her, huh?"
Zula snickered and Taeliss and Mebala let out a chuckle.
"Well, maybe." Jayden answered, looking at Dark to see if he had been following. Dark just shrugged.
"They both like her." Ora decided.
"You're a sharp girl." Taeliss told the cub. Ora just grinned.
"Does Dayya like them back?" Mebala asked Jayden. Jayden knew the answer, but shrugged again, and only said, "Maybe."
"Dayya is harder to read than the guys..." Ora reported thoughtfully. "She is definitely having fun teaching Malowa...but totally didn't mind when Drayden wanted to join." Ora tilted her head to the side while she was thinking. "Mama, do lionesses always have two males that like her? Does that happen to everyone?"
"No, not always."
"Just both Dayya and Jayden!" Zula blurted.
"Shh!" Jayden tried, but it was too late.
Ora tilted her head again and looked at her mom deeply in the eyes. "You have two guys that like you? Someone likes you other than Dad?"
"No, no." Jayden replied.
"No, Ora." Dark said at the same time.
"Zula was just kidding." Jayden said, giving the gray lioness a stern look.
Zula mouthed, sorry!
Ora knew the story of how her mother had returned to the Pridelands one year ago, and re-fell in love with Dark, but no one had mentioned the part where Drayden had been in love with her the whole time.
"Hm." was all Ora said, and looked in the distance, deep in thought.
"Anyway..." Jayden said, wanting to change the subject. Luckily, Kiara's daughter, Afia, was coming over. "Oh look, it's Afia."
The tall pale orange cub trotted to the group.
"Hello, I was wondering if Ora could come play."
"Yay!" The black cub sprung up and jumped down from the rock where she and her parents had been laying.
"Will your parents be there?" Dark asked.
"No, but the other cubs and their parents will be. You know, Tempest, Ciara, Tali."
"Mom, can I go." Ora asked.
"Yep, just listen to the other adults, please."
"Yeah, duh!"
"Excuse me?" Jayden said with a slight stern tone.
"Er... I mean, yes, I will." Ora amended.
"Okay, have fun then."
"We'll come get you at bedtime." Dark added.
"Yay!" Ora cheered and started walking away with Afia. "So guess what, my aunt Dayya has two guys that like her. Drayden and Malowa. Talk about a love triangle!"
"Huh. Really?" Afia said. "That's interesting."
"Yeah, weird! I wonder who she'll choose. If she picks one of them at all." Ora looked up at Afia. "Are you like...a teenager now? You seem taller than usual."
"I do?" Afia asked, her yellow eyes looking over her legs. "Yeah, I guess I could be an adolescent now." She shrugged.
"Soon you'll have two guys liking you, too!" Ora joked.
Afia snickered. "Yeah, like who? I'm related to every guy around our age."
"Haha, I know. Me too." Ora said. "Who needs guys anyway."
"Yeah!"
"So, will Torrent be there?"
"Yes." Afia replied with a sour note.
"Are you still upset about him?" Ora asked.
"Yeah... I guess I should have been more prepared for this... People change over time. Just because he was a sweet cub once doesn't mean he will always be that way. I'm just disappointed."
Ora studied her friend. "You are like a teenager today. That was a sort-of grown-up thing to say."
Afia let out an amused hm!, then sighed sadly.
"Hey, it'll be okay, you'll always have me!" Ora shoved her friend in the shoulder. It's true, she had Ora. Ora was Afia's only friend once she was born. There were no other cubs at the time. Afia ended up closer with Ora than the other cubs since they were born a few months after her. In general, Afia had been close with Jayden too, which helped cement her bond with Ora.
"Heh, you're right, you'll always be my number two." Afia joked and gave Ora a cruel smile and shoved the black cub back.
"Oh, my Kings!" Ora exclaimed. "That reminds me! You'll never guess what the adults said... Mebala went number two in the cave!"
Afia burst out laughing. "What! No way! I was wondering why it was so stinky in there!" The two laughed and joked about this until they reached the underside of Pride Rock where Tali, Ciara and Tempest lay in a semi-circle. In the middle were the cubs, Reon, Kendi, and Torrent. Torrent was sitting a few cub-lengths away from the other two. The three of them had awkward tense expressions.
Afia and Ora joined them.
"Glad you could come." Tempest welcomed them warmly.
Ora smiled at her aunt. She's so pretty! Ora reflected.
"It's nice you can all get together to play. "Ciara said.
"It's just like when we were cubs." Tali added. "I miss those days."
The adults got into a conversation about the days when they were young. Afia took a deep breath and tried to talk to Torrent.
"Um... hi." she said. Torrent barely looked at her.
"Torrent, be nice, please! Just play with your cousins." Tempest warned.
Torrent sighed and moved a little closer to the others. "Hi. What do you guys wanna do?"
"Uh.. what do you like to do for fun?" Reon asked.
"I hunt." Torrent said confidently.
Kendi groaned and rolled her eyes, knowing he was lying. Reon jabbed her in the side with his elbow.
Before this get-together, Reon had pulled Kendi aside. "I think we should give Torrent another chance." He had said to her.
"Why?" Kendi asked, not on board at all.
"Let's just be nicer to him. Maybe he'll be nicer too."
"But he-!"
"I know he wasn't very friendly at first. But look, my mom had this idea to hang out with your mom and Torrent's mom and have us all play together. We're all going to be just awkwardly standing there doing nothing if we don't try to interact with him. I know he can be rude, but he'll be in front of his mother, so maybe he will be nicer. It's our chance to show him we are alright to hang around."
"Well, fine." Kendi pouted.
"Good. And if he's rude, then we can just ignore him and know we tried."
But now, standing there in front of his pompous face, Kendi was finding it hard to be friendly.
"Oh.. really?" Reon tried, but he knew the truth too. No cub Torrent's age could hunt.
"Well..." Torrent's eyes darted to his mother, then back. He was aware she was listening. "Well, I mean, I am practicing to hunt. I'm learning." He amended. "I almost caught a grasshopper the other day."
"Really? Kendi caught a mouse yesterday." Reon said, trying to get Kendi in the conversation.
"Who cares? It's not a competition!" Torrent said hotly.
"Torrent!" Tempest warned.
"Er.. I mean... that's cool." He rolled his eyes. He knew he was supposed to be trying to be nice. Why was he finding that so difficult?
"Maybe we could practice some hunting moves." Afia tried. "Show us how you caught that mouse, Kendi."
"Okay!" the peach cub said eagerly, and bounced to her paws.
While the cubs worked together on their hunting moves, there were no more rude outbursts.
The adults' conversation continued. "It's so nice for the three of us to hang out together again." Tempest said, smiling. "I've missed you guys."
"We've missed you a lot." Tali said.
"Definitely." Ciara agreed.
"How has Mairu been, Tali?" Tempest asked.
"Well... she's hanging in there. She's lost her appetite. Getting her to eat anything is hard. She's lost weight. But she is a stubborn lioness and is hanging on.
"She's a strong lady." Tempest said and Ciara nodded.
"I know she's old..." Tali said, looking at her paws, "But I'm not sure I'm not ready for her to leave yet. She says she's taught me everything I need to know about medicine... but what if there's something I can't handle without her?"
"I have every confidence in you, Tali." Tempest said. "You can do anything."
Ciara added, "Mhm! Mairu must be proud of you, you have become a great resource for your pride and all who live here. No one is sick or hurt very long because you fix them right up. I'm impressed. I know when Mairu's time comes, she will be happy she got to teach you during her journey through the Circle of Life."
"Thank you." Tali smiled with watery eyes. Ciara smiled back at her best friend.
"Yeah, what she said!" Tempest laughed. Then changed the subject. "It's so cool all three of us are mothers now. I'm so glad you ended up with Jai, Tali!"
A red color came to Tali's light brown cheeks as she cleared her throat. "Well, me too."
"My brother can be quite the charmer." Ciara commented with an amused tone.
"How'd he do it? How'd he win you over?" Tempest asked with an eagar expression.
"Well... I mean, I have always thought he was sweet." Tali said. "After Ciara's wedding, when we have me that flower... well, we started hanging out more. I don't know how it happened." Tali ended with a laugh and looked at her paws, feeling out of her element.
"Aww, you're too cute!" Tempest giggled.
"Do either of you want to have another cub someday?" Ciara asked.
"Yes!" Tempest answered right away.
"Hm..." Tali replied a little more slowly. "I haven't really thought about that. What about you, Ciara?"
"Probably not right now. I know Kendi would be more bonded with a sibling closer to her age, but the business of preparing to be King and Queen is holding us back. We will be exhausted with royal duties, on top of the duties of already having Kendi. It's tiring alone just working on my professional image... they want me to change my diction to be more formal. And I have to sit up straight all the time."
"You're doing it now." Tempest said.
Ciara slouched her posture and sighed as a response. "It's not all fun, for sure."
"You can relax around us." Tali said.
"Yeah! Definitely!" Tempest agreed.
"It's nice to be regular Ciara." the orange lioness said with a chuckle. "Instead of soon-to-be Queen Ciara."
"Woah. Queen Ciara." Tempest reflected.
"I know."
The group stayed together there until evening. After the cubs practiced their hunting, they moved on to fighting moves. Torrent tried to teach the others some fighting moves like he had with Koru's cubs. Torrent was trying his best to be nicer, but he kept getting annoyed when Kendi would sass-back or Ora would giggle at inappropriate times. Ciara had to remind the two that Torrent was older and may have some good advise to share. Torrent really liked hearing that (from the future Queen, no less). He puffed his chest out and smirked. Kendi rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything.
Darkness was drawing a blanket over the sky when Jayden and Dark came to pick up Ora as promised. The black cub said goodbye to the others and scampered off to bed with her parents.
Jai appeared shortly after, with Mani behind him. Jai bumped heads with Tali gently as Reon tackled his father's legs.
"Did you have a nice time?" Jai asked his son.
"Yep!"
"Come along then." Jai said, and he, Tali and Reon retired to the den.
Mani settled by Tempest and Torrent. Afia, Kendi and Ciara were still nearby.
"Did you have some girl-talk time?" Mani asked Tempest with amusement.
"Yes, it was just like old times, huh, Ciara?"
"It sure was. It's good to see some things never chance." Ciara replied. Then Kendi let out a yawn. "Let's go to bed, Kendi. Your father is probably in the den waiting for us. Afia, come with us, your parents are probably there too." The regal orange lioness stood.
Afia stood too and stretched. She was feeling tired too, and yawned greatly. She felt a little better after having spent a little time with Torrent. Although, he wasn't quite like his younger self. But perhaps there was some improvement.
Afia went to Torrent, "Night!" she said with as much friendliness as she could muster.
Torrent only huffed, then cuddled up next to his mom and dad. At the last moment he muttered, "Night."
Afia followed Ciara and Kendi to the cave to get some sleep. Maybe Torrent would get a little friendlier every day.
The next morning was breezy, and two lionesses were up early. Mebala and Taeliss were excitedly looking for a certain lioness. They had searched the cave already, but they didn't spot the orange lioness. Mebala and Taeliss had to stand on Pride Rock's peak to spot Ciara drinking from the waterhole. The pale yellow form of her mother, Toni, was with her.
The lionesses ran to the waterhole to tell her the news.
"Ciara!" Mebala called when they were in ear-shot of the Princess.
"Greetings, Mebala, Taeliss." Ciara said when she turned. "You're up early."
"Yes, we wanted to tell you first thing this morning." Mebala started.
"We've decided to go on our mission to find mates outside the Pridelands." Taeliss said.
"Great!" Ciara brightened. "Both of you?"
"Yes." Mebala and Taeliss said in unison.
"Good, it's safer not to go alone."
"If it's okay with you, we will leave tomorrow morning. Just so we have time with our moms before we go." Taeliss explained.
Ciara nodded. "Of Course."
"And we better get full on food so we don't have to hunt while we're out." Mebala added.
"Good idea." Ciara nodded. "Make sure you two take as much as you want when the prey is caught today. You can leave right away tomorrow without checking in with me. I will give this information to Kovu and Kiara. Please make sure you return before the coronation."
The gray and brown lionesses nodded with giant smiles and bright eyes.
"I'm happy you two decided to become mothers, and I hope at least one of you has a boy!" Ciara said with delight.
"That would be so cool." Mebala said and couldn't help but bounce around on her paws. "We could be in-laws, Ciara."
Ciara chuckled. "Right!"
"I'll still be happy with a girl too though." Taeliss said.
"Oh, me too." Mebala said.
"Yes, any addition to the Pride Lands is a blessing. We have other ideas if you both end up with girls. No worries!" Ciara said.
Mebala and Taeliss nodded and then excused themselves. They trotted off to find their mothers.
Tikana and Tamani were found in the middle of the Pridelands in a field of grass dotted with flowers. Tikana's gray paw lightly touched Tamani's golden one as their daughters approached.
"Mom!" Mebala shouted as she approached the two. She stopped at Tamani's side. Taeliss padded to Tikana with a grin.
"What is this?" Tikana said, turning toward her daughter. "Both you girls just ran in here like a herd of buffalo."
"What's so exciting?" Tamani asked.
Mebala and Taeliss had to catch their breath for a moment, then took turns explaining how Ciara had tasked them with the special mission to find mates, and what would be to come if one of them had a boy.
Tikana and Tamani both stood and nuzzled their daughters.
"This is wonderful." Tamani said with a huge smile. "Being a mother is the best thing I've ever done!"
"We'll be grandmothers." Tikana said with a touch of emotion in her gruff voice. She bumped heads happily with Tamani.
"Yes!" Mebala cheered. "I've always wanted to be a mom!"
"Me too!" Taeliss said. "I kinda wanted to meet Mr. Right first... but who says we wont end up falling in love after we have a cub anyway?"
"Well said," Tikana said. "Sometimes you find your true love after you've already had a cub."
Tamani nodded.
The group nuzzled each other again.
"Would you like to join us here?" Tamani offered to the girls.
"Yes, but we wanna go tell our friends the news first." Taeliss said, "Then we'll be back."
"Okay." Tamani replied cheerfully. Mebala and Taeliss took off for Pride Rock again.
About twenty minutes later, the old lioness Sanu approached with her daughter Zuna.
"What's this I hear about your girls going off to find mates?" Sanu rasped to Tamani and Tikana.
"It's true! We're going to be grandmothers." Tikana replied.
"Hmph." Sanu grunted, but with a small smile. She plopped herself next to Tikana who was an old friend of hers from the days in the Outlands.
"Easy there, Mom." Zuna warned.
"I'm not going to break just from laying down!" Sanu snapped. Zuna just rolled her eyes and settled next to her mother. "It's nice to be up and about." Sanu said, stretching her frail limbs.
"Some exercise is good, but remember what Zula, Dark and I have been telling you, don't over-do it."
Sanu just let out an annoyed huff.
"I hope Mebala and Taeliss weren't being too loud when they were explaining their mission to you two..." Tamani said, her purple eyes looked worried. "As they explained it, no one is to let on to the cubs that they are looking to betroth little Kendi."
"Mom did warn them to lower their volume..." Zuna reported.
Sanu grunted. "The whole Pride will know by sundown."
"With any luck, not the cubs." Zula added.
"Well, if she is betrothed, she will have to marry him whether she knows or not." Sanu said. "Even if she doesn't like him."
"You really think Ciara and Kivu will do that? Force them to marry if they don't get along?" Tikana asked.
"The way I heard it was: It's Kovu and Kiara that are really pushing for this." Zuna said. "They really want to stick to the old tradition."
The group stayed together and chatted or rested for a time, while an enjoyable breeze floated by.
Suddenly, Tikana rose her head sharply. Her green eyed gaze focused on something in the distance.
"What is it?" Tamani asked her when she noticed the gray lioness's demeanor.
"There's someone behind that tree." Tikana replied, looking at a huge baobab tree some distance away.
"Who?"
"I uh... think my eyes were playing tricks on me...it couldn't be." Tikana said quietly.
"What do you mean? Spit it out." Sanu said.
"Well.. it was Omaru."
"Omaru?" Sanu said with a raised eyebrow.
"Who, Mom?" Zuna asked.
"A lioness who used to be in the Pride but she-"
"Look! It really is her!" Tikana shouted and flew to her paws. They could all see her now. A gray lioness stepped tentatively out from behind the tree. She was looking at the Pridelanders.
"Omaru!" Tikana shouted, and waved her tail happily.
"It can't be." Sanu gasped, her light blue eyes studying the gray figure.
The mystery lioness perked her ears up as she recognized the name. She had a dubious look on her face. Tikana took off toward the lioness and the others followed.
They stopped in front of her. She had dark brown around her striking blue-purple eyes. Inside her ears were the same dark brown. She had tiny black hair tufts in her ears and small tufts of hair on her elbows. Her nose was black and pointed. She had a few freckles on her muzzle.
"Omaru?" Tikana breathed. "Am I seeing a ghost?"
"You're alive?" Sanu said, hardly believing. The mystery lioness just perked up even higher, and her mouth moved into the shape of an "O".
"But I saw her..." Sanu shook her head. "I saw her body. She was dead."
"So." The lioness finally spoke. "My mother is dead..."
Realization dawned on the group. They were stunned.
"Y-you're... You could be Omaru's identical twin!" Tikana said.
"I have heard that before in the past." The lioness replied, then lowered her head. "It has been a long time since I left my mother as a young adult. I had hoped to see her again someday."
"We're sorry this is the way you found out." Tamani said, stepping into the conversation. "I'm Tamani. I didn't know your mother very well, but she was very welcome here in the Pridelands after the war with Zira."
"There was a war?"
"Yes, dear, but perhaps it's a story for another time. Is that a wound on your neck?"
The lioness stretched out her neck and winced. "Yes, and I'm afraid my back foot may be broken as well. I've been hurt for a while and travelling while looking for a pride to help me... we've been on our own and I'm looking for a safe pride to join. I went to the Outlands first, I knew my mother moved there after I left. But no one was there. I knew the Pridelands were nearby, so I came here next."
"You came to the right place." Sanu said. "Zuna, will you go fetch Kovu?"
Zuna nodded and took off.
"Kovu is our king. He has to approve outsiders before they come into our lands." Tamani explained to the lioness. The lioness's eyes darted nervously around and she shifted weight from paw to paw.
"What's your name?" Tikana asked, "I can't get over how much you look like Omaru."
"Imaru."
The Pridelanders introduced themselves.
"Sanu and I used to be in Zira's pride with Omaru." Tikana explained.
"She had me before she joined Zira. I remember her talking about Zira's pride in the Outlands before I left as an adult." Imaru explained. "How did my mother die?"
They gave a brief version of what happened about three years ago during the war with the Black Pride. Imaru listened carefully. It wasn't long until Kovu arrived on the scene with former outlanders, Jika and Toni behind him. They wanted to see the Omaru look-alike.
"Wow, she really does look like Omaru." Jika, the scarred brown lioness murmured.
"No kidding!" Toni agreed. "It's like seeing a ghost."
Even Kovu looked stunned as he approached Imaru. "Greetings. I apologize for bringing a crowd. They used to know your mother and wanted to meet you. I knew her too... she was friends with my mother."
Imaru just nodded politely, still looking nervous. "My name's Imaru. I need help. I've bene injured and need shelter while I recover."
"Is it just you out here by yourself?" Kovu asked.
"Well...um." Imaru shifted paws. "Is this is a safe place for cubs?"
Kovu raised an eyebrow in a dubious look. "What do you mean?"
"Some prides kill outside cubs."
"We don't do that here." Kovu reported.
"Everyone is safe here." Toni added.
"Did you bring a cub?" Tamani asked.
"Yes...I left him at the border. We've had a couple scares with other prides that kill outside cubs. I wanted to be sure it was safe here before letting him come closer."
"Please go get your cub, you both will be safe here and are welcome to stay as long as you need." Kovu said.
Imaru's posture visibly relaxed. "Thank you." she sighed. Imaru turned back the way she came to gather her cub. The group waited for her. The former outlanders gossiped excitedly about how much the lioness mirrored her late mother.
Suddenly, it hit Kovu. Did she say "he"? She has a male cub? Hmm..
Imaru was back in minutes with a cub walking beside her. The cub had a rusty red colored pelt and light red underbelly, muzzle and toes. Inside his ears was brown. There were tiny black hair tufts coming from his ears, just like his mother. The same black tufts were coming from his elbows. His nose was brown with a couple dark brown freckles on it. He had more freckles on the bridge of his nose, and under his eyes. His hair tuft was brilliant red, and rather long. It covered one eye just a little. His eyes were dark blue.
Imaru and the cub stopped in front of the group. "This is Zhari." she said. The cub stepped forward to meet the King. "He is about 9 months old. Say hello, Zhari."
"Hello, Sir." the cub said, looking Kovu in the eye.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you. I'm Kovu." he replied. He looks healthy. Close to Kendi's age. And a very polite young man. "Let's get you and your mom back to Pride Rock so you can rest. You must be exhausted."
"Yes, and my mother is hurt." Zhari said with wide eyes.
"I'm fine," Imaru protested. "But some rest would be nice. Thank you for allowing us to enter."
"Thank you." Zhari echoed.
Kovu smiled, "You're quite welcome. Right this way."
The group followed the king back to Pride Rock. The former outlanders bombarded Imaru with questions. Among the questions were how far had she travelled? How did she get injured? And had she ever joined a pride before?
Imaru didn't seem to mind answering their questions. She answered with a good attitude and bright eyes, even though it was clear from her limp that she was in pain. (She had travelled too far to keep track, she got injured in a fight with a rogue lion, she had never joined a pride before). The group made it to Pride Rock and, of course, gathered there was a new group of lions that wanted to see the newcomers.
Kovu instructed them to disperse for now. There would be plenty of time to meet Imaru and Zhari later. The king led the two up the stone steps and into the cave. Inside, Tali was already waiting for them. The information that an injured lioness was coming had spread fast.
"Hello, I'm Tali. I have been trained in the ways of healing and I will be taking care of you, with the guidance of my mentor, Mairu. Right this way, please." Tali said, and directed Imaru and Zhari to the back of the cave where there was some solid rock shelves. Mairu was resting there, and perked her head up when company arrived.
"This is my mentor, Mairu." Tali said.
"Oh, Tali, it has been a long time since I mentored you on anything! Consider yourself a full fledged medicine lioness."
Tali bowed her head humbly and blushed.
"It's nice to meet you." Imaru said. "I'm Imaru and this is my son, Zhari."
"You certainly do look like your mother." Mairu said. The old medicine lioness used to be in Zira's pride as well. "A little more friendly and bright-eyed though!" Mairu chuckled, which ended in a cough.
"Please lie here," Tali instructed, gesturing to a bed of grasses and large leaves below where Mairu perched. "I'm going to put medicine on your neck wound, then put bandages on top. Then I will inspect your leg."
"Thank you." The gray lioness said, and did what she was told.
At that time, Kiara entered the cave. She moved to the back of the cave where Kovu had followed the injured lioness and her cub.
"I heard the news." she said to Kovu, then introduced herself to Imaru and Zhari.
Kiara shared a meaningful look with Kovu and pointed her eyes at the cub. Kovu nodded slightly.
While Tali was mixing the herbs to make the medicine for Imaru, Imaru's head suddenly dropped, which hit the floor a little hard. Her eyes snapped shut.
"MOM!" Zhari shouted, and nuzzled his mother's head.
"She passed out. I think she was more exhausted than she was letting on. Infection could be moving in. She needs this medicine, now." Tali said with urgency in her voice.
"Mom!" Zhari said again.
"It's okay, little one." Kiara said, then to Tali, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No," she replied, now using her paws to gently apply the herb mixture to the neck wound. "But perhaps you could take the young one. He can meet the other cubs."
"Good idea. Zhari, come with me." Kiara said gently, and tried to usher the distraught cub with her paw.
"But my mom!"
"She will be okay, I promise." Tali said, looking in his dark blue eyes. "I have a son too. His name is Reon. He's a great kid, just like you. I bet you two could be friends." Tali tried to distract the cub. Zhari still looked worried. "I truly promise your mother will be okay." She spoke to him the same way she would to an adult, "The wound is very clean and not that deep. If there is an infection, it has only just begun, which is lucky for us, it will be easy to treat. She got here just in time. I'm sure she only fainted because of how far you've travelled. And I'm guessing she hasn't eaten in a while... I'm betting you haven't either, huh, Zhari?"
The red cub's stomach growled in response.
"I'll take you to meet the other cubs, then how 'bout we get some water? The hunting team is out now and will be bringing back lunch soon. Perhaps it will be ready by the time we are back, hmm?" Kiara suggested.
"Well... alright." Zhari finally said.
"I will call for you as soon as your mom wakes up." Tali promised.
Zhari nodded, and reluctantly followed Kiara and Kovu from the den. At Pride Rock's base, Tempest, Jayden and Dayya were watching the other cubs. Kiara approached them while Kovu dismissed himself, giving Kiara one last look and nod. "I'm going to find Ciara." he murmured. Kiara nodded back.
Kiara introduced the cub, "Everyone, this is Zhari. He's new here. Zhari, that is Tempest, Jayden and Dayya," she pointed at each lioness with her tail, "They're sisters."
"Hello!" Tempest and Jayden said at the same time.
"What a cutie!" Dayya blurted. Zhari blushed.
"I'll let the cubs introduce themselves. Go on." Kiara said, gently nudging Xhari with her paw.
Zhari stepped forward and cleared his throat. "I'm Zhari. Me and my mom are here because she got hurt. She is resting and being taken care of by a medicine lioness."
"That's my mom!" Reon stepped forward. "I'm Reon. I'm about to be six months old. How old are you?"
"Nine months."
"Hah, I'm still oldest." Torrent interrupted from where he sat. Kendi stepped forward to stand by Reon. She rolled her eyes.
"That's Torrent. He's not from here." I'm Kendi. I'm six months old too."
"What do you mean, 'not from here'?" Zhari asked.
"He and his mom are visiting from their pride." Kendi pointed at Tempest with her tail, as Kiara had done earlier. Tempest smiled and nodded. "They're here to see my mom and dad become Queen and King. They're going to be crowned in a couple days."
"You always have to throw that in." Torrent murmured. The adults didn't hear him because they had started a conversation.
"Whatever." Kendi rolled her eyes again.
"I'm Ora." The nearly-black cub stepped up. "Nice to meetcha."
"Nice to meet all of you. Are you older? You seem taller." Zhari said to Ora.
"Yep! I'm Eight months. I guess you're older than me."
"Not by much. It's nice to have friends." Zhari tried a smile.
"You've never had friends before?" Kendi asked.
"No, we've always just been travelling. I used to have a brother but... um." Zhari trailed off.
"Where is he?" Ora asked.
"Um. Something happened to him." the red cub looked down at his paws. Ora, Kendi and Reon shared a look and decided not to press him for more information.
"Well, welcome to our group!" Kendi said, putting on a smile. "How long are you staying?"
"I dunno. My mom has been saying one we find a safe pride to join then we will stop travelling and finally have a home. So maybe if she likes it here, she will want to stay."
"That would be cool." Kendi said.
"You must be tired of traveling." Reon commented.
"Yeah. It can get scary not knowing what might approach you in the night. Or sometimes we came across aggressive rogue lions. That's how my mom got hurt."
"Well, don't worry," Reon said, "My mom will do all she can to get your mom well again."
"And I'm sure you'll both feel better after some rest and food." Ora added.
"Thanks for welcoming me." Zhari said kindly. His new friends smiled in response.
"Would you all like to go to the waterhole for a drink?" Kiara asked when she had finished her conversation with the other adults. "I know Zhari must be parched."
"I'll come, grandma." Kendi said. Kiara smiled widely at her.
"Me too." Ora said.
"And me." Reon stepped forward to.
"What about you, Torrent?" Kiara asked the tan cub.
"No, thank you." he replied, and put his head on his paws.
Kiara looked at Tempest and she shrugged.
"Well, alright, we'll be back shortly." Kiara said.
Ora waved her tail 'goodbye' to her mother, and she and the others followed Queen Kiara.