Prologue - New Life

Cold air hit me as all the warmth that was once around me vanished causing me to kick and mew in protest. I just wanted to be back in my warm home. I don't like it out here…it's too cold. My thoughts were interrupted as I felt a pair of teeth carefully grab the nape of my neck. I was quickly swung and carried and placed in between two legs and a chest. Finally the warmth was creeping its way into my body once more. I felt a coarse tongue move along my small delicate body. The warm tongue and fur surrounding me was keeping the cold air from reaching me. I could hear muffled voices all around me. I couldn't understand a word they said though. Once the licking stopped, I had gained the courage to open my eyes. By now the muffled voices were more clear and even though I couldn't understand what they were saying, I could hear them talking. I turned my head to who I guess is my mother because everyone keeps saying something about a mother. My eyelids slowly start to part and the world around me is bright and blurry. Soon my eyelids are open and the world around isn't so bright nor blurry.

"Kubwa, come quick, her eyes are open!" The lioness I continue to stare at says looking up. Soon my surroundings go dark as a large dark figure stands above me and 'mother'.

"Huh…She looks just like you honey. Same eye color, fur color, underbelly." I hear the deep voice say as I can now somewhat make out his facial features. I look back at 'mother' and place both of my paws on her nose. 'Wow, the dark lion is right. I do look a lot like mother' I thought. I feel a pair of teeth grab me by the nape of my neck once more and place me on the ground next to 'mother'. Instinctively I crawl towards 'mother' and begin to suckle milk. As I'm suckling, I can hear another deep voice, though I don't really understand what they are saying.

"Congratulations Maisha on having a daughter. Thankfully you were the last one to give birth. It's always stressful when we have three different lionesses giving birth in a short time span." The golden lion said to 'mother'. "Do tell us her name," He added.

"Her name is Uzuri, my king," Mother replied to the 'king'. But what on earth is a king? I'll figure it out soon though.

"Beauty…Wonderful name for a beautiful cub who looks just like their mother." Father said. "I agree," the king added. By now I was finished suckling. I just laid there on my stomach and yawned. Mother reached back and picked me up by my neck and set me in her arms. She started to purr and slowly lick me. The combination of both quickly becoming too much for a drowsy eyes to handle. I soon closed my eyes as mother stopped licking me and continued talking to the king. I only heard muffled voices from where I was in between my mothers legs and chest. Soon the muffled voices stopped and mother place her head over top of me. I was surrounded by warmth. I slowly drifted from consciences as the world around me grew quiet.

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The days and weeks flew by as it was just me and mama all day everyday. I hardly ever left her side. The only times being is when she went to get something to drink. In those few weeks, I met other cubs. Mama said something about them being older than me. Not sure what that meant. The interaction between us didn't amount to much though. We mainly just looked at each other and occasionally looked back up at our parents. However getting back on topic, I knew I should start trying to talk and walk. Both of which are not easy.

I'm sitting down in-front of mama and daddy. "Uzuri, cmon you can do it," mama said looking and beaming with excitement. Looking at her like this gave me confidence to try and step towards her. 'Come on Uzuri, you can do this' I thought to myself. I felt a nudge on the backside of me which forced me to start moving my legs. 'I'm doing it…I'm walking!!' I thought. "Kubwa, she's walking!" Mama said with excitement riddled all over her face. I somewhat stumbled into mama's chest and I just snuggled up with it. "She did excellent for her first time," daddy said to mama.

I felt a yawn escape my mouth as mama looks down at me. "I think someone is tired after all that work, don't you?" She said looking at daddy. "Mhm, look her eyes are barely staying open," he said when he noticed my eyelids were on the verge of shutting. "Well let's let her sleep." Mama said looking back down at me. I laid down and snuggled into mama's chest. My eyelids shut almost instantly. I was tired. My conciseness began to fade as everything got darker.

short time skip*

"You can do it Uzuri. Just say 'Mama' okay?" Mama said as I look up at her. I'm obviously beaming with excitement and it's spreading to mama. I can see her face starting to get more and more excited as I move my mouth to try and sound out 'mama'. "Listen honey, we all know what her first word is going to be." Daddy says looking at mama. "Which is?" She said as she smirked at him. "Daddy," he grins back. "Ma…Ma," I was able to say causing both of them to look at me. "Did I hear something about her first word and 'daddy'? Or was it my imagination?" She smirked at him then looked back down at me

"Good job, Uzuri!" She said excitement clearly in her tone. This caused me to laugh and giggle in return. She leaned down over to me and nuzzled my small face. I returned it purring. I love my mommy and daddy and I know nothing can separate us.