Powerful Words

Family drama

At noon Kiara and Kovu, Diana, Burnt Eboney, Nala, Vitani and Marisa gathered at the Northern border to await the arrival of Shinda who was coming to help mediate between the two prides. The cubs were at Pride Rock being monitored by Tifu and Zuri while their parents had their meeting.

Before long, a lion with a black mane, golden fur and opal green eyes arrived and with him were four others, three lionesses and one male. Two of the three lionesses had a brown fur colour. One had grey eyes and the other had orange eyes. The one with the grey eyes was Aina, the one with the orange eyes was Tamu. Aina was Shinda's mate, Tamu was his daughter.

The male had a light brown mane, grey fur and sky blue eyes. His name was Jaribu, Diana's big brother. And the third lioness, with a grey fur colour, red eyes and a tuft of fur over her left eye.
Kovu's claws sheathed and unsheathed and scraped against the ground, his jaw was tense and his teeth were slightly clenched. He'd specifically requested for Amani not to be dragged into the matter. But did his father listen? No.

"Shinda it's great to have you here, thank you for coming," Burnt Eboney walked up and gave his brother a brotherly hug.
"Aina, you looking a beautiful as ever," Diana embraced her sister-in-law and then her niece.
"The journey was tiring, I'm looking forward to a little relaxation," Aina said jokingly as she, Shinda and Tamu followed Diana and Burnt Eboney to where Kovu, Kiara, Vitani and Marisa stood.

"It's nice to see you Uncle Shinda, Aunt Aina, Tamu," Kovu said politely.
"What are you doing over there Amani, Jaribu, come over," Diana said with a smile. Jaribu came over immediately and hugged his sister and brother-in-law, but Amani stayed where she was.
"Amani come here darling," Shinda coaxed.
Amani hesitated a moment then came over and hugged Diana and Burnt Eboney and stepped back to stand next to her father.

"Aren't you going to greet your cousins Amani? I'm sure they're thrilled to see you," Aina said nudging her daughter forward.
"Uh yes... Hello Kovu, Kiara, Vitani, Marisa, it's a pleasure to see you all again," Amani said forcing a smile.
"I'm sure it is," Kovu said flatly.
"So shall we head home now?" Diana asked as she tried to make everyone forget that rather... uncomfortable encounter.

"Yes I am so happy to see where you've been living for all this time Aunty Diana," Tamu said cheerfully as she happily walked in front of her family and strolled alongside Diana and Burnt Eboney.
"The Pride Lands I heard is a wonderful place to live. The trees, the plants, the animals, the herds, the pride, everything sounds... AMAZING!"

Tamu was talking a mile a minute as she rattled on and on from the Northern border all the way to Pride Rock. Amani was silent and she walked behind her parents, her head bent low. When they arrived at Pride Rock, Tifu and Zuri were there with the cubs, chatting while the four of them played. Pricilla noticed her parents standing there and rushed up to meet them with her sister, Damien and Maylene following.

"Mommy! Daddy! You're back! How was the meeting?" Pricilla asked as she rubbed her little body against her father's legs.
"Awww they're adorable," Tamu squealed as she picked up Pricilla in her paws and inspected her.
"She's cute, her eyes are like Kovu's. Emerald green. Nobody in Nashati Falls has emerald green eyes."

Pricilla wriggled in Tamu's grasp and tried to break free but Tamu held her firm.
"Mommy she's hurting me, make her stop," Pricilla whined.
"Tamu please, let her go, she doesn't like anyone holding her like that. Put her down," Kiara said gently.
"But she's cute! I love cubs, the cubs at Nashati Falls are big and rambunctious...not small like her, can't I hold her s little longer?" Tamu said with a giggle.

"Tamu let her go, she's uncomfortable," Aina tried to reason with her daughter but Tamu resisted.
"Maybe if I hold her on her side instead she won't fuss too much. I think that'll work, so sweetie can I ask your name? Is it Pricilla? That's a lovely-"
Before Tamu could finish her sentence, Amani took Pricilla out of her paws and placed her next to Kiara and turned to her sister with a hard glare.

"They said she's uncomfortable, why didn't you listen? Why can't you understand no means no?!" she shouted aggressively, making the cubs whimper and step behind Kiara. Tamu flinched and looked away. Amani scoffed and sat in the background, not saying anything else.
"That was uncalled for," Shinda said lowly.
"No it was totally called for. She's too stubborn for her own good," Amani said.

"Okay Tifu and I have some stuff to take care of. We're leaving now," Zuri said as she picked Maylene up by her scruff and hurried off the platform with Tifu following.
"Well this is awkward," Vitani said.

"You'll all be given your own private quarters, there's a cave down at the bottom of Pride Rock, Marisa will escort you and you could...rest up," Diana said as she desperately tried to erase the tense atmosphere the situation evoked.
"Yes that'll be just fine, thank you Diana," Jaribu said.
"If it's possible, I'd like to have a word with you Amani, as soon as it is convenient, please meet me at the bottom of the steps," Kovu requested.

"Kovu she's probably exhausted from her journey, can't it wait until later?" Diana said.
"That is why I used the words 'as soon as it is convenient' I didn't say right now Mother," Kovu said rolling his eyes.
Diana stiffened and turned away. Whenever one of her children used the word 'Mother' it usually meant they were either angry or disappointed in her.

"I'm not tired so I'll meet you now," Amani said with forced cheerfulness.
"Good. Kiara come with me, Zalika, Pricilla stay with your aunts," Kovu said as he turned and walked down the steps that led into the savannah. Kiara followed and so did Amani, and Diana and Burnt Eboney started to chat with Shinda, Aina, Jabiru and Tamu while Vitani and Marisa took the cubs into the den.