she. Some say she had split personalities. There were days she’d be happy and other days she’d be sad, violent or depressed. When her children were born, Kovu, as leader of the pride, went to inspect the new cubs.

            Kovu entered a cave that was located at the back of the large den. There was another cave on the other side, a bigger and spacious cave, but the lioness had chosen this one. He approached the exhausted female and saw the two newborns cradled in her legs.

            “They’re beautiful,” he said kindly.

            She stared at him and Kovu could see mixed emotions. She smiled and looked down at her cubs. “Thank you.”

            “What are their names?”

            The lioness pointed to one cub with her nose touching its little body. “She’s a girl, the firstborn. She will be called Hasira.”

            Kovu’s mouth dropped a little in surprise. “That means ‘anger’. She’s so young, so innocent. Are you sure that’s a good name?”

            Her eyes snapped and she looked up at Kovu. He didn’t move. He knew the look. Everyone did. It made an animal stand still, frozen, afraid to move like she would attack. “Why? You got a better name?” she snarled. “I’m her mother, Kovu, and you are most certainly not her father! Who are you to lecture me on what name to give my child?”

            Kovu swallowed but remained unfazed. “I’m sorry, Weusi. What you name her is no business of mine.”

            “Her name will be Hasira,” the lioness continued, ignoring Kovu’s statement. She looked down at the other cub, and the Prince saw no snap in her eyes. The lioness smiled motherly, gently and then touched the cub in the same manner. “This cub is also a girl, the second born. She will be called Dailia.”

            Kovu sighed inwardly with relief. That was a good and better name. He smiled warmly. “‘Gentle’. Nice fit, Weusi.”

            She looked up at him, smiling in return. “Thank you, Kovu.”

            He left the cave silently.

            Weusi stared at her cubs. A strange flicker played in her eyes and she tried to focus. There was a mixture of pain, happiness, joy, and anger. It was hard to pick the better emotion but she vowed to love them.

As the months passed, the cubs grew. While five of them were healthy and happy, two were far from both healthy and happy. The Princes’, Kadiri, Mabaki and his sister had families who loved them deeply while Hasira and her sister had to deal with an unstable mother.

            They had seen her happy, sad and angry, and when she was angry Hasira paid for it. Dailia was never touched and it pained her to see Hasira harmed. When their mother would leave occasionally muttering incoherently, Dailia comforted and licked her sister’s wounds.

            The behavior continued, hardly seen or heard by anyone. When someone would ask why Hasira was lying in a crumpled heap and crying, Weusi would reply, “Oh, it’s nothing, she rubbed herself against the cave wall too hard and was scratched. She’ll be fine.”

            When they played with their friends Hasira was cold, ruthless and would play hard to vent her own anger, pain and frustration. Only Dailia understood and never struck back. She couldn’t for fear of what their mother would do. The others didn’t understand what went on or the reasons why. It was none of their business but they couldn’t help but wonder. The young Princes’ especially… They believed something was wrong.

One afternoon when the cubs returned home, each going to their families, Dailia and Hasira went into the den and into the cave that was their private home.

            Weusi strode up to her cubs and nuzzled them, but looked down hardly at Hasira. The cub flinched. She knew what was coming and what her mother’s question would be. “Did you cause your sister or the other cubs any trouble today?” the lioness asked

            Hasira hesitated. She didn’t want to lie or be truthful, but she didn’t have choice. She pawed the floor. “N-no Mommy,” she answered softly.

            The next thing she knew her body hit the wall of the cave hard. She crumpled to the ground, whimpering. She heard the cry of her sister, “Mom, don’t! She didn’t do anything, really!”

            Hasira groaned in pain and was slapped in the face. She didn’t whimper again. It would only get worse if she did.

            Dailia could only watch in fear. Getting help was a bad idea. It would only put her sister through more suffering. “Momma, please, she was good. We both were, honest!”

            Weusi was about to give Hasira another strike but Dailia’s words made her stop. She turned to the shaking cub and smiled at her kindly. “I know you were, honey,” she said soothingly, her eyes loving. But the sweet look didn’t last. Her eyes grew hard and she faced Hasira again, who was slowly rising to her paws, shaking the dizziness from her head. “As for your sister, I’m not sure I can believe that. Bad cubs deserve to be punished, which is why I’m glad you don’t cause trouble for your friends.”

            “But she doesn’t either,” Dailia insisted.

            “You’re wrong,” Weusi said, breathing heavily her eyes solely on Hasira.

            Before Dailia could speak again, she heard her sister cry out in pain as her mother ran down another series of unstoppable blows. Tired of not being able to help any, mainly for fear of getting hurt herself, the young cub ran out of the cave. A few minutes later, she returned.

            “Weusi, get away from your daughter immediately,” said an authoritative voice.

            The lioness turned with fearful eyes. She swallowed. “Ki-Kiara, why, what are you doing here? I was just…”

            “Doing exactly what I’ve feared,” said the Princess Regent, her red hazel eyes narrowing in anger. “Why are you doing this to your daughter? Do you see me hurting my sons, or Kadiri’s mother, or Mabaki and Saada’s mother hurting their cubs?”

            There was a deafening silence. Weusi was exceptionally quiet, but after a moment she looked at Kiara. Her eyes were snapping, almost unfocused, but the Regent was unmoved. The look never frightened her. She knew that if Weusi attacked, the lionesses would rally to defend her. She was their leader. To attack her would be suicide.

            “No,” Weusi said finally. “But that’s different. Cubs need discipline. Surely you know that.”

            Kiara growled lowly. “Wrong answer, Weusi, and now I must take action. Prince Kovu and I do not look kindly on abuse of any kind, especially against cubs. Your children will stay with me and mine.”

            “What? But my lady, I assure you that –”

            “You’re an unfit parent, Weusi. Your cubs will be safer in my care. I hereby give you an opportunity to prove yourself, to prove that you can take care of your cubs and treat them with the respect they deserve. If you can, then you can have them back. But until then, they’ll be staying with me. Is that understood?”

            Weusi felt anger welling deep within her body, but her eyes looked somber. She had no choice. She bowed her head. “Yes, my lady.”

            “Good,” Kiara said firmly. “Dailia, help your sister and then I will take you out for some air. If you wish you can play with my sons.” She smiled