Auri smiled at her sleeping daughters before exiting the cave. Leaving her cubs in the care of their aunt, Dwala. She remembers when meeting her mate and when he woke from being unconscious for some time, he mentioned he was exiled trying to save his mother and sister from being forced to bare the king's cubs.

Before Tojo left for the early patrol he asked her to meet at the lion guard lair. Walking out into the morning air, she inhaled the scents carried in the wind before setting down the slope and towards the lair.

Tojo was pacing when Auri entered the cave, which made the pale gold lioness concerned.

"Love, is everything alright?"

Tojo stopped pacing, closed his eyes and sighed. "I know that I should have told you sooner but a lot kept happening that caused me to not say anything." with a deep breath he looked at his mate with sorrowful pale blue eyes. "I can't keep it from you any longer."

Auri stepped back, her ears against her head. "Tojo, you're scaring me. Can't keep what from any longer?"

The light cream lion took a deep breath before continuing. "Before I was exiled from the Southern kingdom, I had a short romance with the king's daughter. Afua's son Kiros, is my son as well."

Auri couldn't place her feelings. She was hurt, shocked and felt a bit betrayed. She didn't understand the last one since it was before they became mates but the feeling was there all the same.

"I need time to process this." Auri shook her head. "This is all too much."

Tojo lowered his head as he sadly watched his mate walk out of the entrance to the lair.

~TLK~

The sun has risen and Queen Eshe had already left to do her queen duties as Mheetu was preparing to organize a hunting party as part of his Prince-Consort responsibilities.

As the rest of the pride was awake getting ready for their day as some was preparing for the morning hunt. Out of the cave ran Prince Jashua, the pale cream cub ran down the slope of priderock with a excited gleam in his orange eyes.

He giggled as a pretty blue butterfly landed on his violet nose. The peaceful moment was ruined when Jashua heard someone or something step on the grass. The sudden movement of Jashua turning his head caused the butterfly to flutter away. The sound of snarling caused the prince to snap her head from the disappearing insect to the tall grasses.

"Who's there?" Jashua didn't get a response and it didn't feel right to the future king.

A laugh that could haunt anyone echoed before a voice laced with pure hate and venom purred.

"Hello you little pest.."

The pale cream cub whipped around to see a lion he occasionally sees with some lions and lionesses that don't live with his parents' pride. Jashua instantly became afraid after seeing the blood lust in his orange eyes that reminded him of his own.

Before Chumvi could attack a loud roar was heard, followed by Tojo running at top speed before he leapt at the dark brown lion.

Jashua frozen with terror as Chumvi along with a black, black mane lion unknown to him as Mbamba killed the light cream lion.

After making sure Tojo was dead the dark brown lion quickly turned his attention to the pale cream cub as his brother ran off quickly as though he was never there.

Chumvi sunk his claws into the ground. He remembers how Eshe killed his father and looking at the prince brought all the hate he felt up.

Jashua quivered as the dark brown, dark red mane lion seemed to grow angrier. He stepped back, trembling all the while.

Chumvi stood above the son of Eshe and Mheetu. Jashua gasped as he fell back under the large lion, who gazed furiously down at him.

Chumvi raised his colorless paw, and struck Jashua across the cheek.

The prince wailed with pain as blood spilled from the wounds. The large male slashed him again, and Jashua flipped over and attempted to run away.

Jashua felt more pain on his back as the sharp claws dug deeply into his flesh. He cried and cried as Chumvi attacked, slamming a paw against Jashua's side and making him stumble back.

Chumvi lunged and sunk his teeth into Jashua's shoulder causing the pale cream cub to scream. Then suddenly, the lion's weight vanished.

Panting, Jashua blinked open her teary eyes and gazed around. Shock and relief filled his body as he saw his father roaring and clawing at the male.

His mother was bending over him, her green eyes panicked and angry.

Malka was circling the fighting lionesses, spitting, as Sãhasí and rest of the lion guard stood on standby in case of any surprise attacks.

Jashua quivered, looking at his mother with a pained whimper. The bruised and bloody cub soon fell into unconsciousness.