Power of Lions

No more fear

The sight of Assaggi laying there on the mat, in a coma, broke Nile's heart. She laid there still like a corpse.

All of her wounds were treated. Her broken hand was in a splint; and Doctor Dziko had trouble with sealing up the bullet wound on her back. Luckily he was able to seal it before too much blood was lost. It was a miracle she even survived a bullet to the back.

Nile ran his hand down the side of Assaggi's face. She didn't respond to his touch. Not even a twitch.

"No signs of her waking?"

Without jumping in surprise, Nile turns his head to look at his father. "Not even a twitch." he said. "Each and every moment is like a year. I can't help but fear that she won't wake up." Nile broke. He let the flow of tears stream down his face.

Radge pulled Nile into a hug and patted his back. Holding his son close to his chest and trying to keep him calm. "I know how it feels Nile. I've almost lost your mother when she was bitten by a snake. But I didn't give up on her." Radge said. "But she wasn't shot at or was being hunted down! This is completely different!" Nile shouted as he shoves himself away from his dad. His lips crinkle back in a snarl. "This isn't some fairy tale where the hero lives. She could be dying right now while I am begging for her to survive. If she dies, Nyah will never know who gave birth to her." he tried not to yell.

"Assaggi is a strong woman who has the soul of a lion." Radge said. "I'll leave you alone. But I'll be back soon." he said before leaving.

At that moment, a moan echoed through the room.

Nile looks at Assaggi and saw her begin to move. Her face muscles moved as she started to gain consciousness.

"Assaggi." Nile breathed.

Getting down on his knees, Nile sets himself beside Assaggi. He takes her hand and could feel the warmth returning to her skin. Relief washed over him as he watched her wake up.

Slowly, her eyes flutter open and expose her feline eyes. She rolls her head to the side and looks at Nile. A drowsy look was on her face as she stared at him. No look of recognition in her eyes as she looked. Assaggi lets out a loud groan as she rubs her swollen eyes. "My head." she groaned in a raspy voice. "It's alright. Everything is going to be okay." Nile said teary-eyed.

Her eyes widened when she heard Nile's voice. Blinking her eyes, her vision seemed to clear because she recognized Nile when she looks at him again. Her eyes began to prickle with tears. "Nile." she whispered tearfully. She lifts her hand and slowly caressed his cheek. "I was so sure I was gonna die. But I didn't." Assaggi whispered.

Placing his hand over hers, Nile gave her palm a kiss. "If you had died. I don't what I would do." he cried.

A shuffle behind them caught Assaggi's attention. She looks behind Nile and began to tear up. "Nyah." she whispered tearfully. Nile turned around to see Nyah crawling toward them. "She's crawling!" Nile exclaimed.

Their baby crawled to her mother and places her small chubby hands on Assaggi's cheek. "Ma." Nyah said. Assaggi runs her fingers through her daughter's hair. "My little cub." she whispered. "Soon you will have another by your side." Assaggi added happily.

Nile nearly fell over. His eyes widened to the size of saucers. "W-What!?" he stuttered.

Giving him a big-fanged smile, Assaggi looks at Nile with bright eyes. "I'm pregnant." she confessed. A look of complete astonishment was on Nile's face. "How long?" he whispered. "About a week." she said.

She was immediately bombarded with kisses all over her face. Loud squeaks escape her lips as she is kissed. "Nile!" Assaggi laughed but grunted when she felt pain shoot through her chest. Her pain lessened when Nyah squeezes herself between Nile and Assaggi. An angry sound escaping the baby as she kept herself between her parents.

"Jealous are we?" Nile questioned amusingly. They were then interrupted by someone running inside.

"Assaggi!" yelled Sanyu as she runs inside.

A startled yelp escaped the were-lion when she is practically tackled by her mother. The childish manner made her laugh, but it was cut off by a pained groan. "Mother, I'm so glad to see you." Assaggi said. "Not as much as I am." Sanyu said with a hiccup. It was then that Assaggi realized her mother was crying. She looks at her mother's human face and saw the tears flow. "Mother, don't cry!" Assaggi begged.

Sanyu cups Assaggi's face in her hands. "I thought you were going to die. I don't know how I could survive without my mate and my daughter." she said. Running her claws over the scars on Assaggi's face, Sanyu gives her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "Don't you ever die on me. I already lost so many." Sanyu whispered.

"No more enemies to fight. I won't die any time soon. Though I can't make promises." Assaggi joked through the pain. A slightly broken smile on her face. She looks at Nile and Nyah; she says,"But I will make a promise to stay with my family."