TLK: A Chance of Real Love

Prologue

The sun rose over the Pridelands, illuminating a tall rock structure called Pride Rock. On top of Pride Rock sat a large, strong lion with yellow fur, red eyes and a thick black mane. His name was Ahadi and he was the ruler of the Pridelands.

At this moment Ahadi wasn’t very happy. His mate Uru was giving birth to a second cub but all he cared about was his mate’s life, not once caring if the cub survived or not.

They already had another cub called Mufasa who was going to be the next ruler of the Pridelands. Ahadi only had thoughts for him and him alone, this new cub would just be a burden on him.

Rashid the wise old mandrill came out of the cave, fallowed by his apprentice a young mandrill named Rafiki. Rashid approached Ahadi with a smile but it turned to a frown when he saw the look Ahadi had.

“How is my mate, Rashid?” asked Ahadi.

“Queen Uru is doing well your majesty,” replied Rashid with a bow. “And so is your son.”

Ahadi scoffed as he pushed past Rashid to enter the cave. Uru lay there with a smile on her face as she looked down lovingly at the tiny brown bundle of fur between her paws. Ahadi walked over to her and looked down at the tiny cub.

“This cub cannot be mine. Look at it, it’s scrawny, weak a runt,” snapped Ahadi angrily grabbing the cub from Uru’s paws.

“Where are you going with him?” asked Uru struggling to her feet.

“To dispose of this trash,” answered Ahadi, keeping his back turned.

“No, he’s your son,” cried Uru as she weakly went to her cub. “You can’t do that.”

“I can and I will,” replied Ahadi “ I am the king. I can do as I please.

“You’re no true king if you kill your own child,” snarled Uru, edging closer to her son.

“Silence,” shouted Ahadi striking Uru across the face, knocking her to the ground. “You will not speak to your king in that manner.” He turned back to the cub, picking up the tiny creature in his mouth and walked out of the cave, leaving Uru crying on the cold floor of the cave.

Two other lionesses entered the cave. They saw what happened to their friend and were disgusted at what their ‘king’ had done. The pale brown one approached Uru and nuzzled her gently.

“We saw what happened Uru,” she said comforting her friend. “He maybe king but he’s no true king if decides to kill his own cub.”

“I just can’t believe he would do that Imani,” sobbed Uru tears streaming down her muzzle.

The cream coloured lioness came up next to Uru, wiping the Queen’s tears away with her paw.

“Don’t worry I’m sure the great Kings will protect the cub Uru,” she said placing her paw on Uru’s.

“Oh how I wish that were true Shauntia,” Uru choked back her sobs as she buried her face her paws. Her two friends lay next to her hoping to give their friend some comfort from this entire ordeal.

Meanwhile Ahadi had taken the cub to the far end of the Pridelands. He dropped the small cub on the ground and turned away from him, walking back to Pride Rock.

Unknown to him however another lion had entered the area just after he left. This lion was the same size as Ahadi but he had dark brown fur, a grey mane and golden eyes. He looked down at the tiny cub in front of him.

“Poor thing who would leave you alone?” he said nuzzling the tiny cub in front of him. The small cub wiggled around a bit then opened his eyes and looked up at older male. The older lion smiled at him, gently lifting the tiny cub in his mouth and made his way back to his own pride.

Upon arriving back to his home he was greeted by the rest of his pride. Lion and lionesses, young and old came to greet their leader. Many were surprised that he returned with a newborn cub in his mouth.

“Who is this?”

“Where did you find him?”

Where is his family?”

He set the cub down before addressing his pride.

“I found him on the outskirts of the Pridelands,” he answered them “My guess is he was left there to die. He is unwanted, unloved.”

“What shall be done of him Badru?” asked a young male addressing the older lion before looking down at the tiny cub. Badru turned to the younger male.

“Kamaria and I shall raise the cub,” he answered before lifting the cub up and made his way to his den where his mate was waiting. The rest of the pride exchanged looks, Badru and Kamaria had tried desperately for a family of their own but it always ended in disappointment for them and the years were beginning to catch up with them.

In the den Badru approached a lioness with white fur, blue eyes and a large black diamond mark on the top of her head. She looked up at him and smiled at him then it turned to surprise when she saw the cub. Badru set the cub down between her paws and explained what happened.

“Why would any lion do that to such a jewel?” she asked licking the cub’s fur. The little cub looked at her with bright green eyes and smiled at her.

“He’s completely perfect,” purred Kamaria as she nuzzled the young one. Her and Badru had recently lost a litter of cubs the other day. She had been attacked and sent into an early labour resulting in the cubs being still born. She never thought she would become a mother or raise a family.

The little one started mewing hungrily, wanting food. Kamaria smiled as she lay on her side and lead the cub to suckle. He drank her milk greedily, showing he had a good appetite despite his size.

“Badru do you think we could-?

“Of course my love,” he answered before she could finish. After the little one fed, Kamaria settled him between her paws and he curled up to sleep. Badru nuzzles the cub gently then licked his mate’s cheek. “What shall we call him?

“Kito,” answered his mate “For he is a jewel in our lives.” They looked down at their new son and smiled, knowing that he was going to lead a great life ahead of him.