[Closed] Trials in the Pridelands

[Songo]

Nala sighed, she leaned on Simba exhausted. "Poor mother, shes going to be upset. It is up to him...his dream is weird. Do you think he could be destined for something else?" she muttered sleepily.

Mheetu's green eyes met his mothers and he frowned, "Why do you follow me?" he asked softly. He reclined back and stared down at the water, his reflection clear as day. He dipped his tail in it gently, sending ripples through his image, "Its quiet..." he said answering Sarafina.

A frown crossed her muzzle lips, "No matter how many times you make your image blurr it wont change who you are Mheetu. Your my son, Nala's little brother. 2nd hand to Simba when your mane comes...you've got a bunch of honors right there." she said stepping towards her son. She sat near him and frowned, "Why are you so unhappy? I don't understand.."

"I don't want to be the queen's little brother or the King's 2nd hand. I want to be my own lion." he muttered. Fire inside his heart burned, he knew his words would sting but it was the truth. "I love my family. But I want to make my own destiny, I need to leave." he added looking up to his mother. The young lion had a half grown mane, almost old enough to make his own decisions, but since Nala had Simba he was on his own.

"You'd give up your family and leave? Your responsibilities to your Pride?" Sarafina responded in a cold tone. "Your almost a adult Mheetu, I can't tell you what to do but your Pride is your home. Pride Rock." she growled.

Mheetu shook his head and splashed his reflection with his paw, "Its your home. Its what you wanted. What about me? Nala fulfilled what you wanted of her." he growled back.

"She was chosen by Mufasa! A good pick she was!" Sarafina snapped standing up to her own paws facing Mheetu. "She made our family proud, your father and I." she added regaining her composure.

"I'm leaving Pride rock." Mheetu said standing in front of his mother. He looked her in the eyes and stood his guard, that was his choice. "After Nala gives birth.."

His words hit her like Shujaa's had, so serious no convincing to stay. "Your just like your father..." she growled angered. At that moment with Mheetu she forgot her idea to send him with Vitani, she was clouded by other feelings now. "Leave then.." she hissed. Sarafina turned her back on Mheetu and made her way back to Pride rock. She decided to tell him about Vitani later, she would let Mufasa do it. He wouldn't turn down a offer from the King, she thought to herself.


------------------Morning of the Birth---------------

Mheetu laid in the soft grass, his golden mane now fully grown. Red tinted it shine as the morning sun fell down on the big brown furred lion, he let out a soft yawn. Nala was due to give birth soon and Mheetu's dreams kept taking him to different spots and scenes, but he couldn't get that voice out of his head. *Hurry up...save Me* haunted the lion's dreams. His green eyes gazed up at the quiet Pride rock, his thoughts clouding his mind.

Sarafina slept in longer today, she didn't care to watch the sunrise. Her old body was aching and she cuddled up closer to Shujaa. She didn't feel like doing her duties, only had plans to hang with her large belly daughter until she was ready to pop.

Nala laid on her side and slowly awoke, her belly was large and round. Bigger then just one cub Rafiki had told them, so her and Simba expected two cubs atleast. They had the names picked out and now she waited for the squiggly cubs to be ready to enter the world, only time will tell. Nala felt a sharp pain and she winced slightly, "Simba, get Rafiki. Get my mother.." she said taking deep breaths and holding her belly softly as she laid there.

[changa]

Zira's cub was entering the world as well. She gasped with pain and clawed the ground desperately. A growl escaped her lips, and then a roar. She knew the cub might not make it, that much was easy to tell. The pain became greater and greater.

[KingKovu44]

Simba went to get who his mate had asked for. On the way, he saw Sarafina. "Nala is about to have her cubs. She was asking for you," he said. He then went off to get Rafiki.

[Songo]

Sarafina lazily heard Simba's news and she hopped up, "Nala.." she called and shook Shujaa crazily. "Wake up cubs!" she called and bounded through the den and quickly crept up the rocks to Nala's den. Her body ached slightly but she stepped into the den and rested her body by her daughters head. "Mommas here...shh...everything will be ok." she cooed softly.

Nala smiled as she began panting heavily, her mother stroked her soft belly. "Its time." she whispered to her mother.

Birthing begins...


Sarafina slowly held a small fur ball in her paws, the cub only a few minutes old barely opened his eyes. Sarafina smiled and looked to Nala resting the small cub in her paws, "Its a boy!" she said running to the end of the den and telling the others frantically.

Nala smiled slightly, her contractions slowed down a bit. She knew there was still more to go and the lioness patiently waited. She began to lick the cub and her blue eyes looked down at her cub. A tear came to her eye, "My little Kopa.." she whispered softly to Simba. Kopa resembled a small Simba and she smiled and looked up at her mate, "Simba, he looks just like you." she cooed softly.

[KingKovu44]

Simba smiled at his newborn son. "Kopa...my son..." he said, his eyes wide with fatherly pride.

[Songo]

Sarafina ushered Simba to the ground and she rested Kopa in his paws for him to get a good look at the cub. The cub opened his reddish-brown eyes and the lionesses cooed at the cute cub. "Congratulations. your a daddy." Sarafina said smiling.

"Mom..." Nala called out to her for a moment and laid her head back down on the cold stone floor. "Theres another one coming.." she called between breaths. The lioness looked to her mother and pushed on cue, producing another young cub.

Sarafina's green eyes blinked as she set the next cub in Nala's paws, "Its another boy." she said sadly. Sarafina hoped for a girl on this round, but had no luck.

Nala licked the cub clean and smiled, "Chaka. His name is Chaka." she whispered softly and looked to Simba nodding. Nala froze for a moment and felt her tummy once again. "Oh Boy, Mom. I can feel another one kicking.." she muttered exhausted. She hugged Chaka close to her body and purred softly. Chaka looked different from her first cub, his fur was more orange. She smiled to Simba, "3..." she giggled.

Sarafina felt Nala's tummy and nodded, "There is another one in there.." she said paws rubbing Nala's tummy.

[KingKovu44]

Simba had not been expecting to have more than one cub. As he admired his newborn sons, he wondered what gender the next one would be.

[Songo]

Nala was exhausted and felt the contractions from the last cub coming, "No more after this.." she growled towards Simba. Nala started to pant heavily and pushed at her mothers cue.

Sarafina picked Chaka up by his scruff and set the other cub in Simba's other paw, "Careful Simba." she whispered softly and hurried back to Nala. She coaxed Nala through the pushing and this cub seemed to be stubborn, it didn't want to come out.

Nala cried exhausted, "I don't want to do this anymore.." she growled at her mother.

Sarafina smiled, "Push!" she yelled and finally Nala gave it all her might. Sarafina scooped up the cub and sighed, "Another boy...wait wait..no its a girl!" she called excitedly to Simba. "Its a Girl!" She smiled and handed the darker cub to Nala. She cried softly and looked to Shujaa, "3 cubs...sheesh.."

Nala licked the darker fured cub clean and admired her little girl, "My little Kiara." she said and snuggled her face into the girl's fur. She licked her cubs cleaned and huddled with them close to Simba. "Our family is complete..." she said smiling.

Mheetu had heard the commotion and was waiting outside the den until his mother nodded for him to enter. His green eyes blinked a few times astonished, "3 cubs! Jeeze Nala..." he said laughing. He nuzzled his sister and padded Simba's back, "They are good looking cubs." he said stepping back to admire the scene.

[KingKovu44]

Simba could barely contain his excitement. "Two princes and a princess. I couldn't be any happier," he said to Nala.

[Kopalover]

Mufasa ran over from his duties in the Pridelands. "I'M A GRANDFATHER!" He yelled sprawling into the den. "Two boys and a girl." He paused. "Any names?" He asked franticly, staring down at the three great new family members. He nuzzled Nala, who was still sweaty from the birthing.

---

Vitani was finally an aunt. She danced around the birthing den singing a song nobody could quite understand. The lioness ran over to the cubs and stared deeply at them. All equally beautiful. "Who's the heir to the throne?" She asked out of curiosity.