Imani woke a while later, not sure of how long she had slept. The cubs were still curled at her side, sleeping peacefully.
Zeus was gone, probably to attend to the pride. She stiffened when she heard the sound of pawsteps, not Zeus's. The healer emerged, and Imani bit back a growl as he got closer to her cubs. She still didn't trust him, and anxiously awaited the day when he would be exiled.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her voice skeptical.
"I've come to collect the stillborn cub." He said, getting closer.
Then Imani growled, leaping to her feet, careful to not disturb the cubs. "You will do no such thing. We will give him a proper resting place when Zeus returns."
The healer looked like a might object, but another snarl from Imani changed his mind. He promptly turned and exited the den, leaving Imani alone.
The cubs were squealing now, wriggling over each other as they mewed. Imani wandered to them and began locking their small heads, trying to calm them.