Kitura placed his daughter on the hard, cold ground of the shelter. Atari squealed with protest as her paws touched the ground, but her mew was stopped as Nzurie placed Penda beside her. The sisters huddled together for warmth.
Nzurie turned to Kitura and she made a look he understood.
The cubs needed to be kept warm. Kitura nodded and padded outside, the rain falttening his ears to his head. He needed to go into the forest and find dry feathers or leaves for his daughters to lay on. He would risk his life again and again for Nzurie and the cubs.
He padded towards the forest and walked deeper until he knew the rain couldn't reach this part of the woods.
Suddenly a faint rustle broke his thoughts.
"Whos there?" Kitura asked calmly, though the fur along his spine bristled.
There was a squeak that sounded like a kit and then a stern hush. He stepped forward but a warning hiss made him take a step back.
Then he spotted her, a female lioness. Though she looked alone he could clearly smell cubs with her.
The lioness growled, her fur on end but her eyes shown fear.
"I won't hurt you." Kitura told her.
"How can I trust you?" She asked, not letting her fur lie flat.
"Because I have two daughters, are you looking for somewhere to stay?" He asked, noticing how he could see every bone on her pelt.
With that the lioness' eyes softened. "Actually, I need somewhere to live. My cubs are weak and are still in need of milk, I haven't eaten so I can't provide any." She said, her eyes full of sadness.
Kitura nudged the queen with sympathy and said, "My mate has just had kits, she will be able to feed them until you are well enough to feed them yourself." He said.
The queen licked his head gratefully and left, coming back seconds later with two cubs stumbling around her legs. "I am Kita, and these are my cubs Somore and Nulma." She gestured to the two cubs. She female cub looked like she was ready to fall asleep on her paws.
"I am Kitura, my mate is Nzurie and my daughters are Penda and Atari." He looked around until he spotted what he was looking for. He disappeared into the bushes and came back, his head squashed to his chest. "I needed to grab fresh moss for my daughters, this shall be enough for all three cubs." he said.
"May I?" He asked, nodding to Somore.
Kita nodded and picked up Nulma by the scruff.
Kitura picked up Somore and felt akward carrying the moss and the cub.
He headed towards the shelter with Kita behind him.
"Nzurie?" He called into the den as he padded inside. He smelled something different, another lion?
"Kitura!" She said, but as soon as she spotted him carrying a cub she stopped. "Who is that?" She asked.
"Kita's son, I have asked her to join our pride with her two cubs Nulma and Somore. She needs you to feed her cubs."
Nzurie nodded and Kita placed Nulma and Somore beside Penda and Atari.
Then Kitura noticed the young lion sitting in the shadows. "Who is that?" He asked.
"That is Soclo, he is an apprentice and he has wished to join us, I couldn't say no." Nzurie said.
Kitura nodded and placed the moss into small nest, he would have to go out tomorrow to find more.
He smiled, his belly filling with pride. His pride was growing swiftly.
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