Uru ran her tongue over the body of her new cub, her fourth litter that only held just one child. As she gazed down warmly at the new life, she was secretly glad it was just one. Anymore would had made the process much more painful than it already was.
The cub was a pale tan with a large nose, and much more robust form than any other cub that she had born. If there had been more then there was every chance that the birth could had went wrong, large cubs often struggled when they came into the world and some took their mother's life as a price.
Once more the blue lioness felt the joys of being able to name another child of hers and once more there was the pain of the cubs that were not lucky. But unlike the last time, her pain was not as harsh. The survival of Mufasa and Taka had filled her with joy and hope and lessened the sting of the thorn from her past.
Uru went back to bathing her new child, trying to decide which name would work. Her nose inhaled the warm scent of cub-breath, the sweet mixture that came from the mother's milk...and the perfect name.
Like that day long before, Uru uttered the words for the naming ceremony and bestowed upon the child the name of Nunka. It meant sweet smells for she felt that he would be warm, kind, and loving to the kingdom and the pride.
He was her precious Nunka.
The joys of her new son increased by the reactions from her mate and sons. Ahadi's two-toned blue gaze looked proud as he gazed at the new son that had just entered the world. Of the cub's future there was no certainy, but for now the King would not worry about where his third child's place would be in their circle.
Mufasa and Taka were in stunned silence. Their eyes widened in awe and wonder as they regarded the cub that laid in Uru's arms. "Wow..." Taka's voice was soft, as if he could not believe that this cub who had not been there last night was now there.
"What is his name?" Mufasa asked, being able to gain some of his voice enough to wonder what the new cub was to be called. Above the heads of their two boys, Uru could see Ahadi waiting to see what name his mate chosen for this child.
"His name shall be Nunka, it means sweet smelling things." Uru replied and laughed a little when she saw the looks of confusion of Mufasa and Taka's face. Carefully shifting Nunka, the Queen lightly patted both cubs on the head. "It is really just a name and we shall see if it will be a good fit for him."
Nunka's birth proved to not be the only bright spot of the Pridelands during the early years of Ahadi and Uru's reign, for only a few days later did the Queen head for the border to bring two lives that might change the future of the Pridelands.
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