Entry to Nala15's contest: The cub

The young cub looked back to his father, and his eyes suddenly filled with realization.

“My sister, where’s my sister?” He looked around in panic and turned back to the giant lion in front of him.

“Where’s my sister?” The cub’s eyes filled with tears, and he began to wail. Mufasa stepped forwards and awkwardly placed his hand over the cub’s shoulders. The cub stopped crying and sprang back. Mufasa’s face flashed a look of hurt, but he quickly masked it.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. The pale cub was silent and Uru leant down to his level.

“Can you tell us what happened?” She asked in a motherly tone. The cub sniffled, then straightened up.

“Well… Momma was walking with us, and then my little sister went ahead, telling us how when she got to the pridelands she was gonna marry one of the princes and be a princess. We heard a noise in the bushes, but we ignored it and kept going. Then Momma told my father to stop, but he told us to keep walking and that we were almost there. Then there was a growl and I heard Momma yelling at me to run. I turned to look at her but all I saw was my father and… I dunno I couldn’t see what it was. I called to Momma but my father told me to go with my sister, so I ran after her but she had gone too far and I couldn’t find her, so I called my Father and I saw him running for me. I looked for Momma, but I couldn’t see her. I couldn’t see what had attacked my father either. So I kept running, and Dad collapsed. I told him to get up, but he didn’t. So I called for my sister and Momma, but they weren’t there. Where’s my Momma?” The cub began to cry again, and Uru tried to comfort him.

“Shhhh, it’s alright little one. Ahadi, can you look for this boy’s mother? I’ll stay here with him and the boys.” She looked over her shoulder and the king nodded. His red tail was the last thing they saw before he disappeared into the tall grass.

“We’ll look for your sister, won’t we Taka?” Mufasa looked at his brother pleadingly.

“Alright…” Taka groaned a little. The boys ran off into the grass before Uru could object.

“Why were you in the pridelands?” She asked the cub.

“Our pride was over-run by hyenas. Only a couple of us got out of there, and they all went different ways. The cub looked off into the horizon.

“What is your sister’s name? It may help us to look for her?” Uru changed the subject, seeing the cub’s eyes glisten with tears.

“Zira, she’s pretty young so you gotta find her quick! She’s got Dad’s eyes, but she looks more like Momma…” The cub sniffled again. He blinked a couple times and flung himself at Uru’s paws.

“I want my Momma!” He cried into Uru’s soft fur. She let the young boy hug her legs and cry, silently praying to the past kings in the sky for the cub’s mother’s safety.

They had been there for barely 10 minutes before the king returned. Uru looked up, but the king shook his head.

“She’s gone…” He murmured, low enough for only Uru to hear.

“Gone as in-“ She began but the king cut her off.

“Dead… found her a couple miles east of here…” He looked in the direction he had come from.

Before anyone could say anything, there was a rustle in the grass. All three lions looked up to find Taka, holding a young cub in his mouth. He looked mortified, but Mufasa ran up to his mother.

“We found her hiding in a log, she wouldn’t have come out if it weren’t for Taka.” Zira looked up. She had a dull ash brown coloured coat, and piercing red eyes. There was a dark stripe running down her back. She only vaguely resembled her brother, who was almost a clone of his father.

“Brudder?” She called our and the pale cub flinched and turned around. His ears lifted and he sprang towards Taka, who dropped the young cub on the floor.

“Zira, Zira are you hurt?” The cub looked over his sister and she giggled when he licked her cheek.

“Nope!” She looked over his shoulder. “’Teli what’s wrong with Daddy?” The pale cub blocked her vision.

“It’s alright Zira, Mr Ahadi and Miss Uru are gonna help us find Momma,” The cub turned and looked at the lions. “Right?” Ahadi and Uru looked at each other and Ahadi breathed a deep sigh.

“I’m sorry, but you’re mother is dead.”