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Ushindi was born in the Pridelands shortly before the crowning of King Mufasa, and as the last cubs of the pride had long since reached adult hood her birth was much anticipated.

Her mother, Askari, was a relatively new member to the pride. Askari was the half-sister of Sarafina, their father having mated with two lionesses of separate prides, but had brought his daughters to the neutral territory between the two as they where growing up so they could bond. Askari’s home pride in the Riverlands had given her a good life, she had high status as a lead huntress, but it had all been taken away from her when her pride was massacred by rouges when they refused to give up the land. Askari was one of the few survivors, she walked away from the Riverlands battered, bruised and traumatised, making her way to the Pridelands to seek the help of the only family she had left - her half-sister.

Askari collapsed on the border of the Pridelands, succumbing to an infected wound, and was found by the lion guard. Mkali was a member of the guard, holding the role of Bravest, was smitten with the battered lioness they found. He carried her himself to the Shaman’s tree, sitting vigil over her as Rafiki worked to treat her.

For three days Mkali sat in the tree with the mystery lioness, not moving to eat or drink or even do the usual patrol’s. When Askari finally opened her eyes he knew it was worth it – they were a beautiful deep blue, and he was lost in them immediately.

For Askari, waking up beside the large scarred male was a tad terrifying – especially considering the last males like him she’d seen had been slaughtering her entire pride – but thankfully the infection that had wrecked her body left her too exhausted to even try run away. It gave Mkali a chance to explain who he was, that she was safe, and had indeed made it to the Pridelands.

Once they learned who Askari was, Sarafina was both overjoyed and heartbroken to see her half-sister again. Queen Uru of course allowed Askari to join the pride, though she would only have the role of an ordinary huntress. Askari was fine with this, just glad to be someplace safe once more.

Mkali spent every moment he wasn’t with the guard trying to woo Askari. The male was large, brave, his pelt littered with scars that spoke of his bravery in battle. Most lions would have used this appearance to flaunt their physical prowess to every female within looking distance. But Mkail did not. He spent the days walking and talking with Askari (and often Sarafina at first, as Askari was not comfortable being without her for too long), he made her laugh, sang silly made up songs about whatever he saw around them, told her stories of his cubhood growing up in the Pridelands after his rouge parents abandoned him and his brother.

It took a few seasons, but Mkali was patient. He knew Askari was damaged by her experiences, and he didn’t want to scare her away. He waited for her to take the next step in their relationship – Askari was grateful for this, and it wasn’t long after she admitted her growing feelings for the silly male that they became mates, and it wasn’t long after that when she fell pregnant.

Askari had always wanted cubs. A family. A small part of her was terrified the same evil that had fell on her pride might destroy her new family also, but both Mkali and Sarafina where quick to reassure her that no such danger would reach the Pridelands. By the time her lone cub was born Askari was feeling secure once more, and though one cub was a much smaller litter than she may have wished for, as a first time mother perhaps this was better.

Mkali was as smitten with his daughter as he was his mate, barely leaving their sides for very long.

Sarafina chuckled as the male joined them immediately following the dawn patrol, barely taking his eyes off the small cub as he came to lay down besides Askari.

“She is beautiful Askari, you must be very proud” She murmured, not wishing to wake the newborn.

“She looks just like her father” Askari answered with a quiet, proud smile.

“But gets her beauty from her mother, of course” Mkali responded, still not taking his eyes from the cub.

“Have you thought of a name yet?” Sarafina asked the couple.

“We have…” Askari glanced to Mkali for reassurance, her mate immediately responding with a nod “we want to call her ‘Ushindi’. I know it’s traditionally a male name but… it feels right.”

Sarafina nodded “Ushindi…” she said, testing the name on her tongue with a smile.

“It means Victory” Mkali finally tore his gaze from the cub to his sister-in-law “for that’s what she is. Neither of us have the best past, but love brought us together… and now we get to create a bright future together, as a family. Ushindi is the victory of love.”

The two new parents nuzzled each other again as Sarafina watched, feeling the kick in her belly of her own unborn cubs, and knowing the same happiness she witnessed now was to be hers as well in the not too distant future.

Description
NEXT:
PREVIOUS: www.deviantart.com/starling26/…

Ushindi was born in the Pridelands shortly before the crowning of King Mufasa, and as the last cubs of the pride had long since reached adult hood her birth was much anticipated.

Her mother, Askari, was a relatively new member to the pride. Askari was the half-sister of Sarafina, their father having mated with two lionesses of separate prides, but had brought his daughters to the neutral territory between the two as they where growing up so they could bond. Askari’s home pride in the Riverlands had given her a good life, she had high status as a lead huntress, but it had all been taken away from her when her pride was massacred by rouges when they refused to give up the land. Askari was one of the few survivors, she walked away from the Riverlands battered, bruised and traumatised, making her way to the Pridelands to seek the help of the only family she had left - her half-sister.

Askari collapsed on the border of the Pridelands, succumbing to an infected wound, and was found by the lion guard. Mkali was a member of the guard, holding the role of Bravest, was smitten with the battered lioness they found. He carried her himself to the Shaman’s tree, sitting vigil over her as Rafiki worked to treat her.

For three days Mkali sat in the tree with the mystery lioness, not moving to eat or drink or even do the usual patrol’s. When Askari finally opened her eyes he knew it was worth it – they were a beautiful deep blue, and he was lost in them immediately.

For Askari, waking up beside the large scarred male was a tad terrifying – especially considering the last males like him she’d seen had been slaughtering her entire pride – but thankfully the infection that had wrecked her body left her too exhausted to even try run away. It gave Mkali a chance to explain who he was, that she was safe, and had indeed made it to the Pridelands.

Once they learned who Askari was, Sarafina was both overjoyed and heartbroken to see her half-sister again. Queen Uru of course allowed Askari to join the pride, though she would only have the role of an ordinary huntress. Askari was fine with this, just glad to be someplace safe once more.

Mkali spent every moment he wasn’t with the guard trying to woo Askari. The male was large, brave, his pelt littered with scars that spoke of his bravery in battle. Most lions would have used this appearance to flaunt their physical prowess to every female within looking distance. But Mkail did not. He spent the days walking and talking with Askari (and often Sarafina at first, as Askari was not comfortable being without her for too long), he made her laugh, sang silly made up songs about whatever he saw around them, told her stories of his cubhood growing up in the Pridelands after his rouge parents abandoned him and his brother.

It took a few seasons, but Mkali was patient. He knew Askari was damaged by her experiences, and he didn’t want to scare her away. He waited for her to take the next step in their relationship – Askari was grateful for this, and it wasn’t long after she admitted her growing feelings for the silly male that they became mates, and it wasn’t long after that when she fell pregnant.

Askari had always wanted cubs. A family. A small part of her was terrified the same evil that had fell on her pride might destroy her new family also, but both Mkali and Sarafina where quick to reassure her that no such danger would reach the Pridelands. By the time her lone cub was born Askari was feeling secure once more, and though one cub was a much smaller litter than she may have wished for, as a first time mother perhaps this was better.

Mkali was as smitten with his daughter as he was his mate, barely leaving their sides for very long.

Sarafina chuckled as the male joined them immediately following the dawn patrol, barely taking his eyes off the small cub as he came to lay down besides Askari.

“She is beautiful Askari, you must be very proud” She murmured, not wishing to wake the newborn.

“She looks just like her father” Askari answered with a quiet, proud smile.

“But gets her beauty from her mother, of course” Mkali responded, still not taking his eyes from the cub.

“Have you thought of a name yet?” Sarafina asked the couple.

“We have…” Askari glanced to Mkali for reassurance, her mate immediately responding with a nod “we want to call her ‘Ushindi’. I know it’s traditionally a male name but… it feels right.”

Sarafina nodded “Ushindi…” she said, testing the name on her tongue with a smile.

“It means Victory” Mkali finally tore his gaze from the cub to his sister-in-law “for that’s what she is. Neither of us have the best past, but love brought us together… and now we get to create a bright future together, as a family. Ushindi is the victory of love.”

The two new parents nuzzled each other again as Sarafina watched, feeling the kick in her belly of her own unborn cubs, and knowing the same happiness she witnessed now was to be hers as well in the not too distant future.