Rani : Her Story

Chapter 4

Three moons had passed by quickly in a blink of an eye. Mother's belly is growing bigger so she can't walk normally. She had to wobble carefully.

Father had kept an overprotective eye on her so she won't hurt herself. I thought that is lame but I know he's worried about his second child.

I told everyone three months ago that I'm going to be a big sister. Kiara began giving me advice so that if my little bro or sis is annoying, I will know what to do. I think she's telling me on the base of her life with Kion because I saw Kion's annoyed face.

I totally laughed at that, he just looked so cute! That I want to squish his cheeks. I met him this morning that he said he's coming later with his parents.

I don't know what to say but I think that I like Kion actually. He made me so happy and special and was there for me also with Kiara. My feelings for him reacts differently than others.

I smile on the sight of him, I admire him, he gives me the butterflies, he will make me blush with his never ending praises and will make games more fun.

It's just so special. But I think I'll hid it in a while. After all, we're still cubs and I can be mistaking my feelings for admiration. We had many years to come till we grow up. I will try to see my feelings clearer.

Now, I'm with Janna taking a walk. We're walking pass by the watering hole. I'm so excited because Mother's birth is due any day now and Father is anxious.

"Grandmother, when will Mother be due?" I asked and she chuckled slightly.

"Anytime Rani, we just have to patient" I decided to listen to my wise grandmother. All of us knew it's a boy because Aria told us so. It's the Great Lions Of The Past that told her so.

"Is the decorations ready for Kion's arrival with his parents?" I asked again. Janna is quite extremely excited.

"Rani, we're working on it. It's been a long time a royal family is visiting us so we can take the most of it. I also heard that Kion is bringing over his friends," Janna said. I was perplexed. He didn't tell me that.

"Grandmother, what it's like to be Queen? I want to learn from you!" I asked with my brows furrowing. Janna looked pleased at the question.

"Well being a king or queen is too much to handle. We had to go on patrols, check if everything is going well, fight off enemies and protect the Circle Of Life. It may be easy to you but you're a cub, you'll realize how hard it is as you grow up," Janna said. I felt really curious about how I'm going to be Queen.

"Rani, dear don't you realize you're going to learn how to hunt?" Janna asked. I nod saying I know. Mother wanted to teach me but because of her pregnancy, she had to postpone it.

"Yes, Mom told me. Because she had a baby coming, she had to postpone it" I added.

"Wow, Rani you really are too smart for your age. You understand things better than the other cubs," Janna praised me. I flushed deep red. Thankfully because of my pelt, it isn't visible.

"How bout I show you how I hunt. I won't teach you, I just want to show you how I do it! Huh?" Janna asked me and I vigorously nodded. She laughed as we walked deeper to the part in the plains where there's taller grass.

I was small so I was hardly seen. Janna is big. There's a herd of zebras not that far away from us. Janna winked at me.

She lowered her body stealthily, making sure her lower body and tail are lowered. I was awed by the sight. She stayed like that as she tiptoed forward to the zebra herd. I was captivated, I can see her ears moving as she stopped.

A soft wind passed by, shocking me. Her ears moved towards it. She limped closer and waited which seems like eternity to me.

She jumped, and roared which sent the zebras running away. She chose the big one and ran after it. I was so awed making a decision to be like Janna in the future if I go for hunting. She surprised me.

"Why didn't you kill the big zebra?" I ask, don't we hunt for food? Janna laughed at me, sitting beside me looking worn out. I snuggled in her fur.

"Dear, the zebra has his herd and family to look after. We usually hunt the ones that doesn't feel like leaving." She said. I was really confused by that but I shrugged.

"Grandmother, I'm tired...." I yawned. I was super happy to see Kion today. Last night, we went to our usual place and talk for hours so I came back quite late.

"Then go to sleep dear." Janna soothed. I felt my lids drowsing but I forced myself up.

"But I'll miss Kion and his family coming today...." I droned, sleepiness taking the best of me. I didn't hear Janna's words as I fell into a deep sleep.

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I slept for I don't know how long. I felt I'm being stared at. I forced my eyes open to see orange-brown eyes. I jumped up and he jumped back.

I saw that it was Kion so I tackled him. He didn't mind though. I stared at him, and hopped off. He looked more manly than before.

He was bigger than usual and is even loosing some of his spots. His nose was quite bigger and was brown. Do lions and lioness change noses colors? Huh, I'll figure it out from Janna.

His red fiery tuft had grown as well. It's now larger stopping at the back of his head. I had to say he looked handsome this way!

"My parents are here, c'mon they want to meet you!" Kion shouted and ran, leaving me speechless. I bursted into laughter as I ran beside him.

I think I ran way too fast because I bumped into some forelegs. The animal didn't squeal though. I looked up. I saw a slender lioness with cream fur, blue eyes and a brown nose.

"Rani, how many times must I tell you not to run like that?!" I heard Mother's soft scolding voice, making me embarrassed.

"Sorry" I whispered. The lioness smiled. "So you're Rani, Kion and Kiara told me a lot about you," I widened my eyes. So she is Kion's mom! I nodded my head.

"Well call me Aunt Nala!" She said. And pointed to the not-noticed-lion-I-didn't-know-was-sitting-beside-her, "You can call him Uncle Simba! He's Kiara and Kion's father!"

Simba is quite a large well built lion. I'm as tall as half of his forelegs! He had sort of a brownish-golden fur, red-orange orbs and a dark red mane, making him fierce.

I nodded obediently at Nala's words. She sized me up with her blue eyes turning to me and Kion making me confused. Let's say she smirked and walked away. I was speechless as well Kion as we stared at each other.

"Let me introduce you to my friends," He said leading me to a egret, hippo, cheetah and a honey badger. They looked kind and friendly too.

"The cheetah is Fuli, the honey badger is Bunga, the egret is Ono, and the last is Beshte!" Kion introduced me. They smiled at me.

"Hello, I'm Rani!" I waved at them.

"Yeah!" Fuli muttered, chuckling. "We know who you are, Kion won't stop talking about you in the Pride Lands!"

I laughed at her words while I noticed Kion looking quite embarrassed.

Oh boy, this will be a long day.