The Lion King One-shots [Volume One]

Trouble in the Moonlight

The dark den was filled with the peaceful breaths of the Pridelands lions as they slept blissfully after a full day of hunting and exploring in the heat. Each one was exhausted and welcomed the wonderful feel of relaxing sleep.

But one lion cub wasn't enjoying the quietness of the cozy den. This cub was overly bored, as he was one of the younger cubs who weren't allowed to help hunt or explore yet.

This young cub's name was Badru. Badru wanted to get out of the boring cave and take his friends to go do their own exploring.

Badru carefully made his way over to his two best friends, who were resting next to their parents.

"Kia! Kia, wake up!" Badru whispered quietly into his friend's ear.

His friend, Kiania or "Kia" for short, slowly let her green eyes flutter open to see him. A soft smile crossed her sleepy face as she looked into his antsy eyes that obviously longed for adventure.

"Hey, Badru," she replied gently.

"Shh!" Badru cautioned, motioning to the mouth of the den.

She looked at the mouth and then back at him. She nodded and slowly began to stand up off her mother's paws and went to the den exit.

Badru located his other friend, Daudi, and made his move.

Within two minutes of Badru waking up, all three of the best friends, Daudi, Badru, and Kia, had all gathered at the cave mouth.

"What are we doing?" Daudi asked, sleepily blinking his chocolate brown eyes.

A sly smile crossed Badru's face.

"We're gonna go see how much trouble we can get into," he said, wiggling his black eyebrows mysteriously.

"Oh, no! We're gonna die, aren't we?" Daudi asked.

"Daudi, it's a Tuesday. I know how to restrain myself." Badru replied nonchalantly.

"You absolutely do not." Kia responded, rolling her forest green eyes.

"I do too! Besides, we are not going any where too bad tonight." he stated, shrugging.

"Oh yeah? Where are we going?" Kia asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.

"We are going to the jackal territory." Badru replied, holding his head up high in Pride at his idea.

"Those jackals will tear your brave little butt to shreds, boy." Sassy little Kia stated.

"Fine. Stay if you're too chicken, but Daudi and I are going." Badru responded, turning to leap down Priderock.

"Ugh," Daudi sighed, rolling his eyes but still following his best friend down the stairs, Kia on his tail.

The trio of cubs traveled quickly through the grasses, aiming for the outlands border, because that's were the jackals lived. Daudi didn't stop complaining about how they were heading for assured death. Kia rolled her eyes about a million times total on the trip. Badru ignored both of them as be was too excited about finding and watching the jackals.

Suddenly, Badru stopped short, causing his friends to almost plow into him.

"Look!" Daudi gasped.

Badru clapped his paw over Daudi's mouth as the three of them saw a rogue lion slink out of the grasses. The cubs hunkered down in the golden grasses and watched as the rogue glanced around, probably looking for food.

They silently laid there as the lion stopped and looked at the stars, then went off in the direction of the Jackals' Territory.

"He's going to the jackals!" Kia whispered.