Clouded Mind part 2 #8

Zuri's Cubs

Each hunt was rough. Fuli wondered how she managed to stay on her feet at all. Hunting was hard without Kiara.
Fuli had hunted by herself before but to feed so many friends? It was almost an impossible task. It didn't help the situation at Kiara and Zuri were pregnant.

That afternoon, Fuli had hunted an impala for Kiara. The hunt was tough. She was exhausted after hunting 2 zebras and a gazelle for the lionesses and Jasiri's clan. Fuli begins dragging the prey to the lair but collapses half way.

"Must...get...up. Must be...strong." She huffs.

Fuli stands up on her paws once more. She winces when she feels her paws stinging in pain. Fuli growls at the pain and drags the prey to the lair. When she arrived, Fuli found the other members of the lion guard sitting around, feeling bored or napping. She also found Kovu and Kiara sitting in a small cave at the back of the lair.

"Fuli!" Cheers Kiara rushing to her.

'Is that healthy?' Fuli asks herself.

She swore that Kiara looked a little bigger each day. She knew that Kiara's cub was due any day now.

"Kiara, take it easy!" Fuli orders. "I have food."

Fuli shows Kiara the dead Impala.

"Shouldn't you eat first? You hunted it after all." Says Kiara.

"Not hungry." Replies Fuli.

Her stomach grumbles loudly.

"I think your stomach disagrees, Fuli." Chuckles Kovu.

Fuli rolls her eyes. "You guys need to eat more than I do."

Kiara and Kovu look at each other and smirk.

"We won't eat until you do." Says Kovu.

"You have to if you want to stay strong and have healthy cubs." Snaps Fuli, knowing what they're doing.

"True, but you also need to your strength to hunt." Replies Kiara.

There wasn't a way out of this. Fuli groans and eats her fill. Kiara and Kovu join the feast shortly after. Fuli eats enough to keep her alive and give her strength. Kovu and Kiara ate the rest.

Fuli walks to her ledge to rest. She didn't notice the blood dripping from her paws.

"Did you over work again?" Asks Kiara.

'Here we go again...'

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice." Fuli answers.

"Fuli, you need to-

"Take it easy. I know! That's all I've ever been told!" Fuli snaps.

Kiara flinches.

"I'm sorry, Kiara."

Kiara nuzzles Fuli.

"Not your fault. You're under a lot of pressure." Says Kiara gently.

Roho suddenly comes running into the lair. Kovu, Bunga, Beshte and Ono get into attack stance.

"Guys! It's ok!" Yells Fuli. "This is Roho. He is Zuri's mate."

"I wish we could have a better 'meet and greet' but it's Zuri. She's having the cubs now!" Panics Roho.

Everyone gasps.

"We have to leave now!"

"But Fuli, you're paws."

"Kiara, our friend is giving birth and she needs us there."

Kiara nods. "Let's go."

"But Kiara, you're pregnant!" Argues Kovu.

"I don't think I need you to tell me that. I can look at my own reflection." Snaps Kiara. "Zuri needs us."

Kovu hated how stubborn Kiara can be sometimes.

He sighs. "Fine. Just be careful, alright?"

"I promise." Kiara replies.

The trio hurry to find the lionesses. They had to be quick but sneaky for Roho's sake and Kiara could only move so fast because of her cub. Soon enough, they made it to the lionesses den. Inside they found Zuri with tears in her eyes and her teeth clenched. Roho runs to her side and nuzzles her which she returns.

"Oh Zuri, you're finally going to be a mother." Cheers Kiara.

"It's more painful than it looks." Zuri snaps.

Rafiki steps in front of Zuri to talk with Fuli and the other lionesses.

"She's having some trouble with the birth. I fear that the cubs will not make it." He sighs.

The lionesses faces sadden. Fuli would not have it.

"No." She says, stepping forward. "Zuri is having these cubs and we must do whatever it takes to keep them alive."

"Very well. Just don't be too disappointed for trying to help." Replies Rafiki.

He goes to Zuri's side and helps her with the birth. Kiara held Zuri's paw and everyone else helped Zuri in any way they could. After several minutes, the first cub was born. It was a little boy. He looked just like Roho in every way except his fur was a few shades lighter. Two minutes later, the second cub was born but he wasn't breathing.

"Just as I feared." Sighs Rafiki.

"Wake him up! He needs to breathe to live!" Panics Zuri.

She begins to cry, fearing that her second son will not live. Zuri holds both of her sons in paws and frantically licks the youngest.

"He's not waking up." Zuri sobs.

"It's not your fault Zuri. At least you have one surviving cub." Says Kiara gently.

Fuli looks at the two cubs resting in Zuri's paws. The second cub was also a spitting image of Roho except that he had golden fur.

Fuli nuzzles the second cub and whispers "please wake up."

Her shoulder suddenly glows yellow and Zuri's cub takes a deep breath. He's alive.

"Mew! Mew! Mew!"

Zuri's face lightens up with joy. Both of her sons were alive.

"Thank you so much, Fuli! You saved my son. I can't thank you enough." She says still sobbing but with tears of joy.

"I don't understand. You don't have your mark and only lion guard members could only heal other members." Says Kiara.

"I thought so too. Maybe the great kings decided to give him a chance." Replies Fuli.

"What should we name them?" Asks Roho.

"Nguvu for the first." Answers Zuri. "You can name the other."

Roho thinks about this for a moment before answering "Moyo."

"Excellent choice." Says Rafiki. "Put those names together and they mean 'strong heart'. HA! I love it."

Everyone stares at Rafiki's sudden outburst. Even Makini who was used to these sudden outbursts...or at least she thought she was used to it.
Everyone shrugs it off and they turn their attention back to Zuri, Roho and their cubs. They looked so happy and Kiara couldn't wait until her cub was born which was any day now...

*Nguvu means 'Strong' in Swahili according to google translate.
*Moyo means 'Heart' in Swahili according to google translate.