(May) Third Persons POV

Zeus lays in the shadow with Hera grooming her as she nursed Venus. The other six cubs play under the watchful eyes of their mothers Hathor and Frigga. Recently Zeus had smelt two rogue male lions near by and knew he'd have to fight them soon. So has kept his girls and cubs close to the den.

"Sire, rogues!" Artemis roars as she runs over with Isis and Athena. Who were supposed to be out hunting. Zeus growls, of course they choose now when he is vulnerable and due for food. No doubt they are the ones scaring the prey away. He gets to his feet and shakes the dust from his mane. Before looking at his pride.

"Hera, take the cubs and hide them. I shall handle this" Zeus instructs. She nods and gathers the seven cubs with Athena and they leave the area. As the rogues appear with low thundering roars. Challenging Zeus. He growls and marks his territory standing at his full height.

The others lionesses hang back. This is a fight between male lions, they will not interfere. "We should help him" Artemis tells them.

"No, this is the lions way" Frigga tells her matter of factly.

"We must not interfere" Isis adds jumping into a tree for a better view. The rogues mark the ground with their scent and Zeus snarls. These arrogant males think they can beat me. They may win today, but I will not let them keep this pride for long he thinks. They start to trot forward and he does the same.

Soon they are running at each other claws out, teeth barred. Zeus meets the first one head on and the fight begins. He goes for the eyes as the lion tries to bite his leg. The second lion tries to get behind him. But Zeus refused to turn his back on either of the rogues. The fight was fierce and brief. Zeus knew he could not win today.

So backed down and slacked away. Heading for the border. As the young rogues roar their victory and get to work marking their new territory as Zeus left. Artemis was shocked, how could her king lose? She thought the blood shed was over, but then the two new kings started to kill the cubs while the females went to hunt. Artemis was outraged. How could they kill innocent cubs?

Soon only little Venus is left. Frigga, Athena and Isis have already let the new kings mount them. And it's only been a couple of weeks since Zeus was exiled. Artemis was desperate to save the last cub. So did something stupid, but brave. She took Venus and left the pride, to take her chances in the wild lands.

Zeus who had been monitoring his old territory waiting for the right moment to reclaim his throne. Saw Artemis leave the pride with Venus. He shook his head at her foolishness. There is no way she could protect the cub alone. Even a lone cub. So that night while she slept with Venus in a small cave, he hunted and brought them a gazelle.

He kept watch while they slept. Keeping the other predators away. Needless to say Artemis was surprised when she woke to see food and her former king. "Sire!" she exclaims. She rushed over and rubbed against him chaffing happily. He chaffs back and licks her fondly.

"Call me Zeus" he tells her. "Now you and Venus must be hungry, eat" he instructs. They do so. Soon Venus starts to play with her father's tail as Artemis paces.

"Sire, we can't let those rogues live. They killed the other cubs" she rants.

"Of course they did, every male does when they take over a pride. To bring the females back into season. So that they can carry his off spring instead and raise them" Zeus explains.

"You did this?" she asks him shocked. Her loving, caring king who had adopted her into the pride when she was only a cub. Had killed cubs.

"Yes, but don't think I am proud of it. It's just the circle of life" he tells her. There had only been two cubs at the time.

"Then why adopt me into the pride?" she asks him confused.

"The same reason females accept new males, in hopes of having stronger cubs" he states. "When you were taken in, I saw the lioness you'd become and I wanted to have cubs with you. So I allowed Frigga to raise you" he explains.

"You want me to have cubs for you?" she asks surprised.

"Yes, you will go into season in a few months. Towards the end of the dry season. Those rogues would of fought each other for the right to father your first litter of cubs" he tells her.

"I won't have cubs with those who murder innocent cubs" she snaps. He chuckles. "What's so funny?" she demands flicking her tail angrily.

"You are young and naive. You would not last three days on your own, much less with a defenseless cub to protect" he states. "Every female longs to have cubs of her own. Nothing can stop them from seeking a males affections. You may try to fight it, but your natural instincts won't allow you to not have cubs" he explains.

"You think I can't care for Venus?" she asks.

"It would be kinder to kill her now, she still requires milk and it'd be a miracle is she survives the dry season without it" he states.

"No, she is strong and will make" Artemis declares. "Why not attack now? Reclaim your rightful place?" she asks him.

"I would lose, I may be stronger and bigger then those two males. But I can not take both on alone. I must wait for the opportune moment to strike. One of the males will screw up and hurt themselves or die. I just have to be patient" he explains.

"And the cubs they sire? Will you kill them?" she asks him.

"It's my instinct to, but know I won't enjoy and make it as swift & painless as possible" he states. He gets to his feet and shakes out his mane.

"Where are you going?" Artemis asks.

"To patrol, I'd leave this area with Venus if I were you. The smell of fresh meat will attract scavengers soon" he tells her.

"Will we see you again?" she asks him.

"Perhaps" he states and left her with Venus. Who mews loudly pawing at Artemis wanting milk.

"I'm sorry little one, I don't have milk" Artemis tells her sadly. Venus mews loudly. "Come on, lets find some water" she states and leads the way. Venus follows her. Zeus watches them go, he vowed to watch over them the best he can. After all Venus is his daughter and the last of his cubs. Besides he still plans on fathering Artemis' future cubs and may make her queen. He vows to rule the Godly Pride again one day soon.

A/N

Picture of the pride (minus six cubs) above on the cover and picture in chapter of the two rogue lions that take over the pride.