There was darkness. She could see it surrounding her. No longer did she feel pain and tiredness. No, she felt young again! She felt free! The darkness welcomed her, and then, like an old friend, a bright, blinding, beautiful light greeted her! She couldn't help but be drawn towards it. She was ever so close.. In fact.. She could almost touch-

"Neema!"

The lioness felt herself drift away. Away from the light. Away from the darkness. Away from death. Just like that, she snapped awake, eyes flickering open and staring into some invisible abyss as the familiar ache of her body overcame her. "What does it take to die around here," she moaned, laying in the same spot, unmoving. She was so utterly close this time. If she was only quicker about walking into the light. Maybe if she closed her eyes once more, she could find the light again and-

"Neeeemaaa! Neema, Neema, Neema!"

The high-pitched voice of a cub rang through her head, and just like that, she fully awoke. "Stop that hollering, you wretched child. You disrupted my slumber." Unmoving, Neema refused to sit up, for her body was old and frail, and every time she moved, it would crack and snap while arthritis plagued her old bones. "Neema?" Young Kali had suddenly inserted her face before Neema's, shocking the elder so much that she jolted into a sitting position.

Releasing a grunt of pain, the stiff lioness glared at the tiny monster. "Don't you have a mother to burden with your presence? Some siblings? A grandmother? I'm sure they'd prefer your company more than I do," she snorted, waving her paw at Kali's face. "Go on now, rid yourself from me." The young cub only giggled. "You're funny, Neema," to which the old lioness scrunched her nose as if a sudden foul smell infiltrated her senses.

"What do you want, urchin." Did Neema even bother asking? Kali was a young cub eager to learn. She ran to and fro pestering everybody for stories and sites to explore. Oh, the creature was excited alright, and downright annoying.

"What's an urchin, Neema?" Kali suddenly asked, intrigued.

"An ugly little thing," she responded in monotone.

"What does it do?"

"It has no use and it's nothing but a bother to everybody it encounters." Shifting her weight, Neema sat up onto her haunches with a suppressed yowl of pain. Oh! Her poor bones! She had enough of this. What did she need to do to die around here already?

"What does encounter mean, Neema?" Kali asked.

"It's when you meet or approach something."

"Like what?"

"Heavens, child, I don't know."

"What do you know?" Asked the cub, inching closer, only to have received a swat from the old advisor.

"I know more than you ever will, that's for certain. Now be off before I do something I regret." Shifting away from the cub, Neema made an effort to stand, only to stagger slightly at having lost her balance. Luckily, she didn't lose it altogether and managed to recover. "You're no fun," whined the cub, who was still keen on hearing a story. "You're seven years too late if you wanted 'fun' from me." And with that, the old lioness hobbled off, leaving Kali to have no choice but to follow. "Where ya going?" Pried Kali, running to match Neema's long strides.

Sighing, she stared ahead. "To fetch water."

"Why do we need water to survive? Isn't that odd?"

"I don't know. Why don't you go ask somebody that cares." Grumbling, the lioness bent her head down to lap at a small oasis near where she claimed as her resting place upon a rather rough, flattened rock. "Isn't it odd though? That we know when to drink and eat?" Raising her head, Neema glanced at the small cub.

With a wave of her paw, she sent the tiny creature toppling into the water before turning her back and returning to her rock.

Sauda watched.

It was what she did best, and currently, she was watching her mother. From the shadows, she observed her mothers breathes, hoping each day that they would halt altogether once and for all. She was tired of her still remaining Queen. That title was long overdue to be passed on.

To her, of course.

All would have been well had she no siblings, but alas, misfortune struck, and Sauda was stuck with not one, but two competitors. Two sisters, both of which were waiting for their mother to call upon them to replace her as a leader. Now, Sauda couldn't have that, could she? No, of course not. Since a cub altogether, Sauda had dreams.. Dreams of becoming a Queen. Of becoming a grand ruler with a pride full of strength, and numbers that were unmatched! They would take up the entire land, and everybody would serve her and her only. She would be superior. She would be powerful. She would be everything.

Now, her future lay in the hands of their mother, a lion old enough to have lived when the earth was still new.. Her future may be jeopardized by her sisters. Ziba and Nkosazana, and her mother's inability to make smart choices when it came to situations like these.

But Ziba and Nkosazana? Oh, those two were good. They had power, speed, strength, but unfortunately, when it came to smarts, Sauda had gotten the load. She was more cunning than the entire pride combined, and she knew it.

Now, hidden in the darkness beneath a small rocky overhang, Sauda plotted. She needed to become the Queen, and by doing that, she needed to eliminate her sisters. By death or exile, she didn't seem to care, just as long as they were out of the picture. Sauda went through all of her options, selecting each of her favourites and repeating them in her mind daily.

She had options. Perhaps, something horrible will happen to Ziba during an 'accidental' hunting session and Nkosazana? Well, she can go 'wandering' off one day and never return. However, there was also the idea of them being exiled. Now, she could plant evidence that they were betraying the pride. Perhaps planning on allowing males to take over, or perhaps a love affair with a nomad? The ideas were endless! Sauda needed to pick one, and soon. Their mother was growing old. She had well surpassed the age Sauda had expected her to go (surprise, surprise), and it would be any moment now when the old crone would finally crumble.

But for now? Well, Sauda needed to make an impression.

So, raising herself onto her legs, she inhaled slowly, stretched, and placed a wide smile upon her face. "Goodmorning, mother! Sisters!" She called, locating them from afar. "Wonderful day out, isn't it?" Releasing a light laugh, she nodded to other pride members in greeting.

Fools. All of them were fools.

Sleep often came easy for the lioness, and, in a likewise fashion, sleep often left easy, too. It only took the dawn light fluttering across her eyelids, or a shift of the body beside her, or a distant noise in the night for her to arise from her slumber, and today was no different. Ziba lifted from her stupor in time with the golden colours of the sun, hardly shifting her weight in an attempt to not disturb her son, who was curled up in the soft fluff of her stomach.

There was hardly a night when Bozho wasn't beside her, whereas Aruna often spent the nights nestled among the other pride members. Her daughter was independent, much more than her son. He waited for her to make most decisions, came at her every beck and call, whereas Aruna often ignored her wishes and did whatever she wanted, regardless of what everyone around her was saying. That wasn't to say that Bozho didn't have his moments, as he most certainly did. There were times where it was as if the young male didn't even hear her speaking.

But she loved them both, despite their differences and despite their, sometimes, irritating natures. They were her cubs. They were her family, her blood, her everything. She would destroy the world before she abandoned them or chose another over them.

Perhaps the young male sensed her waking, for he, too, stirred, leaning back against her before twisting his head around to peer up at her. She offered him a smile, his grin goofy and half-asleep as he scrambled upwards, paws latching partially around her shoulders and partially around her neck to draw her into a half-attempted hug. She let her body fall back into her side to put one of her paws around his shoulders, holding the embrace for only a moment before releasing him.

"I'm going to find Aruna," the pale cub said, voice tinged in a yawn, before he was scrambling off of the rock that they had claimed the night before. She watched him go, keeping her gaze on him until she lost him in the mess of waking pride members, just as she did every morning. Despite how different the two were, the cubs were very, very close. Being twins did that to some lions, she supposed.

Her own littermates voice drew her back to the present, her head turning towards Sauda. She offered a smile and a nod towards her sibling, quiet nature remaining strong with the departure of her child.

The rest of the pride had been slowly awakening, and it took him longer than he would ever admit to locate his sister. Among the lionesses and other cubs clambering atop one another, her tan body seemed to disappear from view, as if she were hiding herself from him.

She hadn't been doing that at all. Actually, he ended up hiding himself from her to sneak up on her.

Bozho spotted Aruna sitting at the base of one of the other boulders, head facing slightly away from him. He took the opportunity to duck behind a quick-moving lion, Vadik, and press himself against the same boulder, just out of her view. He waited there for only a few seconds, muscles practically shivering with anticipation as he stalked around the base of the boulder.

He got closer.

And closer.

And closer.

Bozho leaped.

His chest collided with his sisters shoulders, sending them both crashing to the ground in a flurry of growls and hisses, clawless paws whacking against his face and neck until the young lioness gave up, going limp beneath his paws. He made a triumphant noise in his chest, ignoring her returned hiss as he let her get back up.

"Good morning to you too," she spat with feigned annoyance, the beginning of a smile daring to cross her face. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very well, very well," he dropped his voice into a pretend poshness, pressing closer to put his chin on the back of her neck. "And yourself, dearest sister?"

"Very well indeed," Aruna replied, vocals copying his own and sending them both into a fit of giggles. "And how did Ma sleep?"

"As well as any other night," the young male responded, pressing his chest against her shoulder, grunting when she pressed back hard enough to make him step away. He scowled, making another noise and turning his head away from her. Even then, he couldn't stop himself from melting against his sibling when she pushed her head against his chest, giving him room to run his tongue along her spine.

"Have any plans for today?" She asked, pressing the back of her head against the base of his neck. Not hard enough to hurt or to display that she wanted to move away, but enough just to say that she was there.

"None at all," Bozho said, before shifting his gaze over the pride. Quickly, he spotted the three largest males of the pride. Their father, Kamau, their uncle, Koen, and the still sleeping male, Kasim. "Actually, what do you say we make a wake-up call?"

Aruna stepped back, followed his gaze, and flashed him a grin of affirmation. Wordlessly, the pair made their way through the half-asleep pride, quickly approaching the slumbering male. His sister took a moment of pause, but Bozho made no move to stop as he quickened his strides and dropped in front of the large males face.

"Kasim," he whisper-shouted, using his paw to gently tap the males forehead. "Kasim, wake up," he repeated, a little louder, tapping just a little harsher. Nothing that the male couldn't handle, given his gargantuan size. "Kasim it's morning time," he added, watching Aruna crouch down by the males paws, batting at them with her own. The size difference between the cub's appendages and the fully-grown males was almost daunting. Perhaps it would have been, had Bozho not completely trusted the male.

"Leave m'lone.." Was similar to the sound that had come out of the male's mouth before he had turned around, his back to whatever was attempting to pry him from his slumber. He felt a small nudge against his forehead, to which the brute ignored. "Early," he continued, "five more minu.." Dozing off, Kasim snorted lightly before settling back down and feeling sleep wash over him once more.

Now, where was he? Ah, yes, he was just in the middle of showing off his roar to everyone. He was walking upon a ledge, preparing to face his opponent, when suddenly-

His dream were really quite lovely, so to find it disrupted once more made a sour feeling form within. His name was being called, but he was in the moment between sleep and being awake that he wasn't sure who it was. Besides, he wanted to finish his dream. "I said go away," he swatted with his massive paw, eyes still closed and held tightly shut to block out the sun.

Then, he felt his forehead being tapped again. This time, more harshly. "Wha? What?" Cracking his eyes open slightly, he peered around, still in a daze. "Wha.. What time is it? Did I sleep in?" Opening his eyes slightly more, he came face-to-face with Bozho, one of Ziba's cubs. Next to him, his sister crouched, swatting at his own paws with hers.

Without a word, he took his front paws against Bozho, and his hind against Aruna, and pushed gently, his intention being that he wished for them to topple over. Then, quietly, he rolled onto his stomach and stood into a stretch, releasing a large yawn in the process. It wasn't until after he stretched did he smack his lips and gaze at the cubs. Well, he supposed that they weren't truly cubs anymore.. More similar to juveniles really, but Kasim ignored that fact. He liked to picture them still being little, their entire bodies being the size of his paw altogether.

"Well, hello," he spoke, his tone a mixture between a genuine greeting, and sarcasm. Raising his paw, he placed it upon Bozho's head and rubbed into it, ruffling his fur. Whether he liked it or not, he simply couldn't get annoyed at these two. Bozho and Aruna had a way of managing to get away with everything when it came to him, Bozho especially. The male could do no wrong in his eyes. To say he saw the two as his own was an understatement. He treated them like it as well. Kasim had no cubs of his own, so they were the closest thing to descendants that he had.

Gazing at the twins with his head tilted, he pondered for a moment. "I have a patrol coming up later today. You two care to join?" Flicking his tail, he winded out his mane before glancing around the pride. Most were getting started for the day. Doing a small sweep, he noted Ziba and allowed his gaze to rest for a moment before turning back to the siblings. "There will be some rough terrain, but it's mostly flat ground. Just a basic sweep to locate danger or potential food for the pride. Hm? What do you two say? You'll get a chance to explore and see new areas." It was good skills for any lion to have. To be able to locate threats, food, or water. It strengthened one's senses. That was one of the reasons Kasim was so intent on bringing the cubs. The other? He simply liked their company.

"Kasim, it's-" Bozho's words cut off when one of the lions paws pushed against him, a noise of amusement leaving his chest when he stumbled back but kept his footing, watching his sister fall onto her side with a noise off irritation, tinged with humour. Her gaze snapped onto him at the sound, glare sharp enough to cut through a tree, pupils narrowed and the top of her muzzle wrinkling.

"Shut up, Bozho," she snarled, although her words lacked any real anger.

When the large male rose, Bozho was once again awed by the size of him. Kasim, despite being just smaller than his father and uncle, was truly a sight to behold, standing just under a foot taller than him, and over 300 pounds heavier than the cub. Aruna was smaller than even he was, looking dwarfed beside the gigantic lion.

His awe was interrupted when Kasim lifted a paw to his head, ruffling the fur atop his skull. His growl held no malice or irritation, pushing his head against the contact to try and get room to latch his forelegs around the limb. The playful attempt swiftly ended, though, when the defender mentioned a patrol.

Bozho lit up like a firework, dancing from paw to paw with excitement. His answer was plain to see long before he uttered a sound, but he still chirped out a response: "Yes! I'd love to!"

Aruna only giggled at her brother, moving over to press the side of her body against his. She was still shorter than him by a pretty decent amount, and the smaller of the two struggled when she tried to put her chin on his shoulder, eventually giving up with a muttered curse for their fathers genetics making him so damn tall already. Slowly, the juvenile flitted her gaze to Kasim, smile sweet and soft.

"I think I'm going to stay here," she said, ignoring Bozho's grunt of disapproval. "I want to ask Ma if she'll teach me more hunting techniques today." She offered as an explanation. Swiftly, she turned her attention to her brother, voice growning sterner. "And you should ask Ma about going on the patrol before you agree on going."

Aruna didn't wait for a reply, moving away from the two males to locate their mother, only to find that the heiress hadn't moved, and was, in fact, talking with their grandmother, Queen Macheeba. She began the walk towards them, Bozho turning away from her and looking back at Kasim, eyes sparkling.

"Come on! Ma will believe it more if you're there to confirm," he stated, also not waiting for a response as he turned and sped after his sister, quickly overtaking her and starting the official race back towards their mother.