omega.” I couldn’t help but start to tear up, and quickly looked down and murmured “Oh how I miss my Prince.” Queen Uhru looked at me with pity in her eyes.

“Dear child, why don’t you tell us your story?” King Ahadi said gently, and he had a softness in his eyes now, for whatever reason. I looked down in dismay, really not wanting to tell anything, but then I sighed and began.

“There were three of us; my brother, Roka, the eldest; my sister, Claire, the middle cub; and then, myself, Sarafina, the youngest. Our mother had taught us, in the time she was able, about the kings of the past, our heritage, and how we must stick together no matter what. Our father encouraged all this too, but when we were small, he stuttered a great deal around us. I suspect he was shy around us three, because when we wanted to talk or anything else, he’d make an excuse about needing to check our lands.

 But that was never to say that he wasn’t very loving- especially when I reached an age of three months, he began to spend more and more time with us- basically because our mom was very sick. We four became inseparable, which was helpful when our mother passed on only a month later. We were in great pain, for she had been the spark in us. She had offered motherly love, and seemed to have words of wisdom for every situation.

 Our father couldn’t stand it either, but somehow, he knew we needed his love now more than ever- so he distracted us. He taught us to fight, and as we grew and became young adults, we became such grand fighters and hunters that no lion-rogue or pride- dared to challenge us.

We became the greatest royals of our realm- our father stopped teaching us one day because he had nothing more to teach.

There were a few problems in our lands, though. One small problem that came up was marriage, and who would take the throne.  My sister, surprisingly, found true love first- a young rouge named Apallak accepted to the pride a few months before.   My brother had had a sweetheart for a long time, but didn’t know how to ask ‘the’ question. I was next in the line of marriage- to Kakaylan, my childhood friend.  My sister and I were both expecting not long after, and my father, knowing that there should be cubs on the way so our very small pride could be secure, declared that my sister and I share the throne. My brother accepted that astonishing statement and backed down, and it wasn’t two days after that he was mated too, to Delease. 

Well, eighteen days ago my sister’s cubs arrived- Twins, a boy and a girl. We, of course, would have celebrated for weeks on end that all were healthy. Especially our sister, who had been in the birth cave for over four days, and was quite exhausted.  They were so sweet- but only two days later our clan was attacked.  Our whole pride raced to defend, but when I and my brother showed up, our father sent us back to Claire, and as we ran, we could feel a rogue chasing us.  I had turned around and started to fight him when he slammed his claws into my belly. I heard Kakaylan shout "Safi!" in terror, and then, my mate appeared, slamming into the rogue with a fury that I had never seen before.

‘"Go, NOW, Sahra! Get! I'll be fine!"’  I remember him roaring. My brother grabbed me by the tail and literally dragged me away. When we reached the nursery, we saw Apallak in the front of the cave, protecting our sister. We explained our plan to each take a cub and run, he nodded and stepped aside. As we went in, my sister was trembling, and she stood up and looked out at our pride at war. "Oh how I wish I could be out there." she sighed. "You aren't quite strong enough. And I'm not entirely sure that Apallak would let you go." 

We took one cub each, and then I heard Apallak gasp. We froze, and then bolted as he said “Rogue coming this way! RUN GO!”  We raced away, our agony increasing as we heard the screams of Apallak and Claire. We split up at the end of our territory, at a desert type of land infested with termites. I kept running, looking back only once, for I had heard my brother gave a roar of fury. Ever since then, I’ve been looking for a home for my niece and I ever since.”

By this time, all the lionesses were tearing up, except for Queen Uhru, who was openly weeping.  I looked at my large belly in pride, as I whispered “My brother, niece, and wee one are all I have left, unless my mother had mercy upon my mate and the rest- which I truly doubt.”  

“So where is your niece?” Ahadi asked quietly. 

I looked down with a small smile and very carefully lifted myself all the way off the ground, revealing my two-and-a-half-week old niece asleep. I slowly nudged her and she opened her eyes and stared at me and yawned.  The Queen gasped. “She… she’s so tiny! Her eyes are like… sapphires.”  I smile proudly at my little niece and gently pick her up and lay her between my shoulders where my scruff is very loose from dehydration and starvation. “Well, I’d best head on my way. Thank you, King Ahadi and Queen Uhru for all you have done for me. I hope the Kings and Queens of the past bring prosperity.”

“NOT SO FAST, SARAFINA.” I spin around and see the brown male step forward with blazing eyes. “You cannot possibly think I—we would allow you to leave now, do ya’s? Cuz it ain’t happening. Bottom line. Period.” To say the least, I was surprised. I shook my head. “No, Prince Takari, I don’t wish to stay here. I fear I am not welcome. Besides, I must find my brother and nephew.” “Child, my Taka has spoken out of his place, yet I find he is right. You are very much welcome here- and you do need more to eat so your cub will be- what’s the matter?” I shook my head quickly. I suddenly became very dizzy. “Nothing, I’m okay. I just overdid it probably.”

Well, after much rest the next week or so, I was once again out and about, finding milk sources for my niece and becoming best friends with Sarabi, who was also with a cub. During this time, Mufasa became king, but insisted that Ahadi also keep the title.

A month and a half from when I had entered the Pridelands, the time of the cub was very close, and as my time neared, I found King Ahadi growing impatient with me. I knew that he wished I would leave, but even he knew it was impossible in my condition.  Takari also became very quiet around me, until his presence entered the mothering cave Uhru had moved me to.  “Sarafina, can I ask you something?” he stuttered. As I looked up at him, I saw fear in his eyes.   “Yes, Takari; you have the right to anything. What is it?”  He stared at his paws then blurted out: “Sarafina, I… I think I’m in love with you! I want to help raise your cubs as if they were my own! I might be betrothed to Zira, but I could never feel the way with her that I feel whenever I’m with you! Could you… ever love me? Do you think you could?”  Well, I was flabbergasted. His eyes… they were so hopeful. “I am not sure I could give you an answer to that. I truly don’t believe I could ever really give anyone my all again like I did Kakaylan. Even if I could and wanted to, there’s another issue. Taka, you are betrothed. You must marry Zira. I don’t think the rules are any different for you as they would have been for me. You will learn to love her. Trust me; in a year or so, you and Zira will be inseparable.”

His face fell, but brightened as I said: “However, if you want to help me raise my cub, that would be great- at least until I leave.” “You’re still going to leave? When?” “As soon as the cubs are weaned, I will take my leave.” “Takari, your mother is calling for you.” Zira said as she came in the cave. “YOU! How dare you steal my mate!” Confused at first, I then realized that what she saw was the prince next to me with a loving expression on his face. “No, I didn’t… Ah!” She slammed her claws into my belly, drawing blood. “Get away from her! Control yourself! Zira, I AM THE ONE WHO WANTED HER AS MY MATE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!” She turned on him, eyes blazing. “You worthless piece of scum!” She swiped her claws on him only once, for I stood up and snarled, accepting her second swipe for myself. “Zira, NO! How dare you?!” Uhru snapped at Zira, who was petrified at the queens stare. Quickly she left as the queen, king, king-to-be, and queen-to-be raced to the den. “Taka, are you okay?” I walked over and looked at him quickly. “Hold still.” Uhru licked at his eye that Zira had swiped. I stared at it for a second then shook my head. “He will keep a scar from that middle swipe. It’s very deep. Deep enough some of his brow is missing, see?”  “And how did this happen?” Ahadi thundered. “Well, I… I came and told Sarafina I loved her and wanted to raise her cubs as if they were my own. She refused to be my mate, telling me I had to marry the one I was betrothed to. She said if I wished I could help her raise the cub until they were weaned, when she left. Then Zira came in, and I had just licked Sarafina in thanks and Zira assumed we were being… romantical.” He looked thoroughly embarrassed, and hid his face.  That was the end of that, and I went back to sleep, attampting to ignore the