The Lion King IV: Kopa's Story (COMPLETED)

Chapter 43

One Month Later

"Come on, Shanni, one more big push!" Jama encouraged from behind Shanni. She was straining to push out her overdue cub. She groaned loudly and pushed with great effort. Mheetu shuffled his paws each time Shanni raised her head and comforted her with soft words. Siwatu and Ni sat beside their kin and watched with anticipation.

"I can't," Shanni puffed and plopped her head harshly onto her husbands feet. Jama nodded and ran one of her odd paws across Shanni's head and agreed to a few minutes of rest before continuing.

"Is everything alright?" Ni asked, his graying face filled with worry. Jama smiled and nodded again.

"Large cubs are both a blessing and a curse," she explained sitting down on the ground not that far from Shanni.

"Are Tama and Tojo coming?" Shanni panted. Vitani padded over to her sister then, along with Shyra, and sat around her.

"They'll be here soon," Shyra mumbled and gave her golden sister a purr of encouragement.

"The East Lands are far. They'll be here by the time you've pushed out the little ankle biter," Vitani spoke looking at Shanni with a combination of adoration and discomfort. Vitani knew just how painful it was giving birth to large cubs. I cursed myself for being so abnormal but looked at my alert children with love. They were a little large and strange for being five months old but I wouldn't want them any other way.

Adya had adjusted easily since her adoption. She had gained some weight and was almost as round as her twin and litter mates. She was a sweet little thing. It was odd seeing her upset. The only rare moments were when she was in need of some milk.

"Alright. I'll try again now," Shanni whispered getting to her front legs.

"Are you sure?" Jama and Mheetu said at once. Shanni moaned in pain and pushed with force, a low snarl escaped her throat.

"Okay. Shanni, take it easy," Jama attempted only earning a growl from her. A few forceful pushes later, a small golden cub entered the world.

"It's a girl," Jama boasted carefully taking the whispering cub to Shanni to clean. Shanni's eyes watered looking down at her wet daughter. She looked so much like her and her sisters, including Shanni's red tail tuft. The only resemblance she had to her father were the colorless paws and the dark rounded nose. Shanni licked her daughter dry and giggled when the little one sneezed and wobbled over to one of her irritated looking teats.

"She's your daughter alright," Vitani joked looking down at her first niece.

"And your niece," Shanni gasped looking at the being she and her mate created.

"She's beautiful," Mheetu sobbed holding his mate. Shanni rolled her mismatched eyes but cuddled into her mate regardless.

"Congratulations," Ni smiled looking down at his grand-cub. Shanni and Mheetu looked up and him and said their thank you's.

"She's gonna be a paw-ful," I laughed looking at the hungry and desperate way Shanni's daughter was tugging on her mother's teat. Everyone in the den chuckled and awed when the cub hiccuped.

"Let me check if there is anyone else in there," Jama said and carefully checked. Her eyes closed and then opened before she spoke again. "The night is not over yet."