Makosa

The day has now shifted to afternoon. The cool relaxing morning is gone, allowing the heat of the day to begin its normal routine. Me, Bahiya, Bisa, and her cubs are still together inside the Marsh Lands. 'Bomani' , leader of the Marsh Land Pride had allowed us to rest in his home as long as we wanted. Lions from the pride have shared us their food; they even showed us where the watering hole is located, just in case if we get thirsty.

It has been almost a second full day since me and my 'small pride' have rested here in these nice, comfortable lands. It felt great to have a break from our travels again. But now it is time to hit the road!

"Jahi, stop annoying your sister!" Bisa ordered her son.

"But mooooom, I was just playing with her!" Jahi whined.

He stops chewing playfully on his sister Karimu's left ear. Karimu does not say anything in return, but look irritated at brother.

Bahiya and I are laying down closely together on the green grasses, while Bisa and her cubs are resting on the nearby large rocks. Bahiya is busy grooming herself clean. I continue looking up at the lovely afternoon sky just thinking quietly to myself.

I am thinking about my family back in the Pride Lands. I wonder how my brother Heri is doing well with his King lessons. I am sure that he is doing awesome! Heri has always been a fast learner since we were cubs. He catches on to things quickly and much easier than I do. I would often need more practice, which is okay. I do not mind it at all!

I miss my mom a lot. I miss my private talks with her; her giving me pure warmth and life advice, telling me that everything will be okay and that no one is perfect. I am much closer to my mother than my father. Dad and I did not get close until, I was first told that I am going to be the next future King after Heri's "supposedly" death.

I would never expect my life to change so sudden and drastically like this. Who would ever thought that 'I' would be the one kicked out of Pride Rock; losing my royal status there? But hey, it is what it is. I have moved on now.

Everything that has happened is behind me. I am moving forward starting a new life with my wife and our growing pride; Bisa and her cubs. All I want is good vibes and success!

Someday I will have that once I am finally living peacefully inside of my dream home...

"Good afternoon!" A deep voice greets.

My thoughts are interrupted. I take my reddish brown eyes from off the afternoon sky for a few moments and look down seeing Bomani approach us out of no where with a smile.

"Good afternoon, Bomani!" Bahiya and Bisa both greeted together.

I nod my head. "Hello, Bomani!"

"I see you guys have been enjoying your stay in the Marsh Lands so far!" He said.

"Yeah, the animals here are so friendly and your pride is very welcoming too. They treat us as if we are already members of the Marsh Lands!" Said Bahiya. She smiles sweetly, "That is so special and kind of them."

"Yes, I had told everyone to be on their best behaviors since we have very special guests from the Pride Lands, my birth home. They know how much the Pride Lands mean to me..."

Bisa nods her head with understanding. "Ah yes, the Pride Lands is such an amazing place. It has been so long since I was last there..."

"Wait, you were from the Pride Lands before too Bisa?!" I asked her surprised.

She giggles at my surprised look while shaking her head "no". "No, Prince! I wish I did lived there. In the past, I would visit there occasionally. During those times, I was a younger adult and had met my first love, my cubs father. He is the reason why I know so much of the Pride Lands. That was his home! I always told him how lucky he was to live there. He asked me to join him, meaning to live there with him. But I just couldn't...I did not want to abandon my family back home where I was from. He understood and agreed to be just friends. A few weeks later, that is when I had discovered that I was pregnant with our cubs!"

Bomani looks amazed. "Wow..."

"Did you ever had the chance to tell him that you guys now have a family together?" Bahiya asked, curiously.

"No..." Bisa simply says. She looks down sadly at her front paws. Her ears fell flat, "I tried so many times to search for him all across the Pride Lands and tell him the great news. But oddly he never turned up! I kept thinking that maybe something bad has happened to him or he could have moved out of the Pride Lands. I don't understand why would he leave there. It wouldn't make sense! He loved his home very much. Plus, he would have told me if he'd left..."

"Wow, I am sorry to here that Bisa. Maybe someday you two will reunite again!" I said, with hope in my tone of voice.

"I do hope so Prince! That would be fantastic. I want my cubs to meet their father so badly and show them how wonderful of a guy he is! I always speak good of him to our cubs, because he is a good leopard. He treated me so well and I know for a fact he will do the same our cubs if given the chance to meet them."

Bomani does not say anything but look amused. Bahiya had got emotional for a few moments and sniffed.

"I am so touched by this!" Bahiya says, with watery eyes. "Please, excuse my tears."

"Yes, that was absolutely lovely Bisa!" I say, smiling warmly.

"Her story reminds me so much of my Kula..." Bomani randomly spoke out loud. He looks up at the afternoon sky. "She was my first love also, so I understand what you feel Ms. Bisa!"

"And Makosa here is my first love!" Said Bahiya, looking at me with pure love in her beautiful light hazel eyes.

I lick her right cheek as she giggled softly.

"Ah, young love!" Bisa laughs.

"Yes indeed, very cute. I wish you both a very lasting, peaceful, and much happiness for an entire lifetime inside your relationship!" Said Bomani, while bowing his head respectfully.

"Thank you, Bomani!" I nod.

"Before you all leave, I want to show you something secretive!"

"Secretive?" Bisa questioned. "Hmmm..."

"Is it good or bad?" Bahiya questioned, while raising a brow.

Bomani chuckled. "Good! Why would it be bad?"

"Uh, I don't know?"

Bomani shakes his head with laughter and began walking away from the Pride, leading us to whatever secret place he is talking about.

"Come on guys, it's safe I promise!" He said.

Bahiya and Bisa met their eyes with my own, as if they are asking me permission to follow Bomani.

"Come on ladies!" I said, while standing back up on my paws.

They do the same thing. Bahiya and I walk closely side by side behind Bomani, while Bisa and her cubs slowly trail behind us.

"What do you think Bomani is going to show us, Kosa?" Bahiya asks me, whispering.

I shrug my furry shoulders and whisper back. "I don't know. We just have to patiently wait and find out when we get there I guess."

After walking across the Marsh Lands for 20 minutes, we have finally arrived to the private location. Bomani pushes himself between two large bushes. Something secretive is on the other side.

"Come on guys, we've made it!" Bomani says, excitedly.

Bisa, Bahiya, and I push ourselves between the two large bushes and see on the other side is a nice big cavern. Long green vines are hanging down at the entrance pretending to be curtains.

"Sooooo, this is the secret?" I question.

"A hidden cave?" Bisa also questioned, sounding confused.

"Not just any cave guys. I will show why you, follow me inside!" Said Bomani, while going through the vines.

We quietly one by one follow behind him while taking careful steps.

"Wow, this cavern is gorgeous!" Bahiya compliments, sounding shocked.

Bisa and her cubs gasp. Their eyes are filled of amazement.

The cavern has sparkling, shiny rock walls and a huge waterfall is ahead of us. I have never seen a place like this before. It's wonderful!

"Wow..." was all I could say right now.

"Where are we?" Bahiya asks.

Bomani stops walking and stands in front of the waterfall. He turns around facing us with a smile.

"Welcome to The Whispering Hollows!" He announced.

I raise a brow. "The Whispering Hollows?"

"Yes Prince!"

"Oh my, the name sounds so interesting!" Bisa smiled, while driven in.

"Why is it called, The Whispering Hollows Bomani?" Bahiya asked.

"Because, this magical cave comes to life! There are soft, low voices that you will hear only if your quiet. You can ask them anything! And they will reveal your answer inside a water portal in this small river." He replied.

"Really?!"

"Yes! I have tried it a few times before when I asked about my family back home at Pride Rock. It works!"

"Cool!" Bisa smiles.

"So, who wants to step up and try asking the voices a question?" Bomani grins.

Bahiya jumps up excitedly, behaving like a cub. "Oh Me!"

"Okay, Ms. Bahiya step up!"

I watch my wife walk up to the river and stand next to Bomani's left side. She stares down at the water seeing her beautiful reflection.

"Okay, so now what do I again?" She asks.

"Nothing. Just ask them a random question!" Bomani chuckled.

"Oh, okay! Hmmm..."

Bahiya thinks and thinks, until finally she had came up with something.

"I got it!" She smiled.

Bomani nodded. "Good. Now, ask the voices!"

"Can you tell me how many children Makosa and I will have?" She asks.

Nothing but silence.

"Why aren't they responding?" I ask, Bomani confused.

"Shhhh, give them a few minutes." He said.

Then suddenly, the river turns into different random colors.

Bahiya takes a few steps backwards, looking shocked and amazed. "Whoaaa!"

"Hello lioness! I have heard your question." A voice, softly whispers. Based on the tone of voice, it sounds like a female.

"H-Hi!" Bahiya answers, startled.

Strangely, we can not see who the voice is. We can only hear it!

The water spins and reveals a small portal showing an illustration of Bahiya and I. We look very happy as we do now. It made me smile warmly. I notice something small. It is hard to make out because they are blurred, but it's 3 of them.

"You and your husband in the future will have 3 cubs!" The voice softly whispers.

Bahiya eyes tear up, not with sadness but with joy and happiness. "Oh my gosh..."

I walk up to her side and nuzzle her warmly. "I can not wait then!"

"But, there is one thing..." the voice continues.

"What?" Bahiya asked, sniffing.

"You guys originally had 4 cubs, but the 4th one is a runt and did not make it. I am sorry!"

My eyes widen. "Wait what?!"

Bahiya doesn't say anything but gasp.

Bomani looks sadden. "Oh wow..."

Bisa walks up with her cubs sleeping on her back. She placed a paw on top of my own. "I am so sorry Prince..."

"Okay, I was not expecting that answer! But alright...at least we now know before it happens in the future." I say. I feel very hurt in the inside. I am going to lose one of my cubs. No one likes to hear that their child will not make it. At least Bahiya and I know about it now and be prepared.

I lick Bahiya's cheek softly as she continues her awkward silence. A mother's worse fear is loosing one of her babies. We don't even have our cubs yet and it is already affecting her. The whispering voice should not have told her that...well at least not now. It is waaaaaaay too early to be thinking about cubs. Bahiya and I have already had this talk and agreed to have them once we have found our dream home.

"Don't worry Bahiya, at least we will have the 3 who will be still alive." I told her.

She finally speaks and said, "I know...but it still hurts a bit that we will lose one."

My heart breaks after she said that. I nuzzle her and gave her a hug.

"Don't worry love, we can always try for another one okay?"

"Your right! Thanks Kosa."

She kisses my nose and smiled.

"Wow, that was so deep!" Said Bomani.

"Yeah, it was..." Bisa nodded, agreeing.

"I'll go next and ask my question!" I say, stepping up to the river more closely than Bahiya.

"Hello Lion! What is your question?" The voice softly whispered.

"Can you give me an idea of what my dream home will be or look like?" I ask, with pure hope and concern.

"Yes, I can!"

The river turns into different random colors again and reveals a new water portal. I see a very beautiful land with many trees, rocks, bushes, grass, and lots of water. It looks so much like a dream paradise. A butterfly flies and land itself on a blue flower.

"Wow, this place looks so amazing! It is everything I ever dreamed of." I say, smiling wide.

"Yes Lion, this will become your land. You will have 6 pride members. 4 are lionesses and 2 are males. Some of the members you will already meet along your travel, while the rest at the land."

"Amazing!" Bisa compliments.

"Fantastic!" I say, happily. "When will I arrive at this mystery land?"

"In three more days!" The voice responds. "That is all that I can reveal for now."

"Thank you, that was all the information I needed!"

Bahiya met her eyes with my own and smile. She rubs her nose against my cheek. "Finally in 3 days, we will have our own home!"

"Yay!" Bisa cheers.

"Awesome! Lastly, Bisa is next to ask her question." Bomani points.

"Me? Oh, I don't have a question sir!"

I chuckle. "Aw, come on Bisa! I know there is something you're dying to ask."

Bisa looks over to the side. "Hmmm, well there is one thing..."

Bahiya smiles at her. "Don't be shy, the whispering voices won't bite or judge. Go ahead and ask them whatever it is!"

"Okay, I will!"

Bahiya and I both step back so we can allow Bisa to stand up closely to the river. Her cubs are still sleeping on her back.

"Um, hello!" Bisa, greets to the water.

"Hello, leopard!" The voice, softly greeted back. "What is your question?"

"Can you please tell me about my old mate Absko? I have not seen him in years and it still haunts me day by day wondering if he is still alive, and if so is he living okay?l

(A/N: Absko means, "Power and strength" in Kenyan.)

"Of course, leopard I can tell and show you."

Bisa smiles excitedly. "Oh, thank you so much! I am dying for the truth."

The water once again, turns into different random colors. Another new water portal appears. It shows a very handsome male leopard who I assume is Bisa's old mate Absko, her cubs father.

"Absko..." Bisa calls, her eyes welling up with tears. "It has been so long since I have last seen your lovely green eyes."

Bahiya looks at me again without a word and smiles lovingly.

"Is he alive?" Bisa asks, the voice.

"Yes, but he lives some place else far away from here." The voice replies.

"Can you please tell me where? I would like to meet him there. I am willing to travel! Just please, tell me."

"He is currently in the Stone Lands living alone."

"The Stone Lands huh? I think I remember coming across there before. I will try to seek directions and find it. Thank you so much! Now I can be with my old love again and not die alone." Bisa says, crying happy tears after her last sentence.

"Awwww, how sweet!" Bahiya squeals.

"Very beautiful, indeed!" I agreed.

"You deserve all the happiness. What a strong and caring single mother you are!" Bomani compliments. "I give you my blessings along your special journey!"

Bisa bows her head. "Thank you, Bomani!"

"Now that everyone has answered their question, we can return back to the Pride and have lunch!"

"Wait, but what about you Bomani?" Bahiya asks.

Bomani looks puzzled. "What about me?"

"Don't you have a question too for the Whispering voice?" I ask.

"Nah. I already had my private session and asked questions many months ago. I am fine with my answers!"

"Forgive me for asking this, but didn't you tell us when we had first arrived here that you wanted to know what had happened to your Kula?" Bahiya asked, suspiciously.

"Yeah I did...but I rather leave that topic alone." He said, after clearing his throat from sounding sad. "It's way too personal and plus, that was a long time ago. It is in the past where it kindly belongs. Not trying to be rude, but you guys do understand where I am coming right?"

"Yes, we do understand." Bisa nods.

"But wouldn't you rather hear the truth and just get it over with Bomani?" I ask. "You could live your life much better knowing that Kula may have died with a good cause."

Bomani stood there silent. He looks down at his large front paws and sighs heavily. Bahiya places her paw on top of my own.

"Honey, let's respect Bomani and his wishes okay? Let's not force him into something he is not ready or would want to do." She said.

"No." Bomani says, finally speaking. "Makosa is right, it is time that I overcome my depression and face the real truth of what had happened to my Kula. It'll help me feel better inside..."

I didn't say anything but nod my head at him.

"Go on, we will be right here standing with you." Said Bisa.

"Thanks!" Bomani smiled.

He walks closer to the river while we all stand back allowing him to speak to the secret voices.

"Hello Whispering voices, it is me again Bomani! It has been awhile since my last visit here." He begins.

"Ah yes, hello Bomani!" The voice softly whispers, sounding thrilled. "It is nice to have your presence here again with us. What question would you like to ask today?"

"I have so many questions, I hope you are ready!"

"Of course, go on! Just don't throw them all at me at once."

Bomani chuckled, but then got serious quickly. "Oh I won't! It's about my old mate Kula. Gosh, I miss her dearly! This happened a long time ago, but I wanted to know what had happened to her and our two cubs before I had came here to the Marsh Lands. Did they have a chance to live at all in the Pride Lands under Taka's reign?"

We all stood silent as we waited for the Whispering voice's answer. The water again turns into different random colors and reveals another portal; this time it is much larger than ours. It shows a lioness. Her fur is caramel-brown, and her eyes are red. She has a pink nose, colorless paws, a pale muzzle and underbelly, and a dark brown tail tuft.

Bomani's eyes widen and his mouth dropped. "Kula..."

So this is what Kula had looked like? Wow... she was very pretty and stunning!

"She was so pretty, Bomani!" Bahiya comments.

"Thank you! Yes, my Kula was one of a kind."

Next the portal shows another imagine of Kula holding two infant cubs inside her arms. She is grooming them. One cub has dark peach fur, tuft of hair on top of its head, pink nose, ears striped black and violet-blue eyes. The second cub has Auburn fur, tan muzzle, underbelly and paws, black nose, and emerald green eyes.

"Oh my gosh, the cubs are so beautiful!" Bisa squeals.

"Thank you!" Bomani smiles, "Those are our children Nehanda and Mudiwa that I told you guys about."

"Wow..." I say, surprised.

For some strange reason, those cubs kinda look familiar to me. It's like I have seen or met them before. But how could I? It wouldn't make sense. Would it?

Next the portal shows a third image of Kula protecting her cubs away from the hyenas. She's fighting them on her own.

Bomani's happiness turns into sadness as his ears lower. "No, Kula..."

Kula is now laying down in her own pool of blood. It appears that she has died because of her bad injuries from the hyenas. She risked her own life to protect her cubs from Scar's hyenas, giving them another chance at life.

"She did what was right. I knew I shouldn't of left her alone just yet." Bomani Said, regretful. His eyes well up with tears.

Bahiya pats his back. "Don't worry Bomani, it's not your fault."

"It is. I could have stayed a little while longer and protected my family!" He cries.

"Wait guys, look at the next portal!" I point, with my paw.

The next portal shows a slender lioness, with beige fur, cream muzzle, underbelly, paws and eye patches, salmon nose, black tipped ears, black eyebrows, dark eyelids, and orange eyes. She finds Kula and Bomani's cubs and quickly takes them away from Pride Rock before the hyenas or Scar can find them. She runs off with them and hide them far off in the grasses.

Bomani sniffs as he watches. "Wait, is that Sarabi? She took our cubs away from Pride Rock for their safety. Bless her kind soul! Kula would have been so thankful. What a sweet Queen!"

"Wait, my great-grandmother Sarabi?! Wow...that's my Grandpa Simba's mom!" I said to Bahiya, smiling proud.

"I see beauty clearly runs inside the royal family!" She smiles.

The portal continues on showing the rest of the story in illustrations. It shows the hyenas sniffing out great-grandma Sarabi's scent. She looks very unsure and didn't want to leave the cubs behind, but had no choice. She covers up their scent quickly and hide them deep inside a burrow before the hyenas has showed up. Great-grandma Sarabi had lied and explained to the hyena that she was searching for nearby herds to bring back to their home. Her lie is what saved her life and the cubs.

Often times great-grandma Sarabi would sneak at night and check on the cubs. She knew she couldn't bring them back to Pride Rock or Scar would have the hyenas kill them on site. But the portal lastly shows Sarabi finding them gone one day when my grandpa Simba returns home claiming his throne after Scar. When Grandpa Simba became King, great-grandpa Sarabi was going to introduce him  Kula's cubs and ask if they could join his pride. But it was too late, they were gone.

"Who took my cubs away?!" Bomani asks, anxiously. He growls with anger. "If it was the hyenas or Scar I swear-"

"Another lioness have found them and taken them in as her own." Said the whispering voice.

"Who?" We all questioned together, dying to know what happened next.

"Her name is Zira."

The portal reveals a third lioness with grayish-tan fur, cream muzzle, underbelly and paws, black nose, red eyes, a small notch in her right ear, and a dark stripe down the center of her head.

"Zira?! That is the name of my dad's mom, my grandmother!" I said, shocked. So this is what she had looked like? She looks scary!

"Wait huh?" Bahiya questions confused.

"Okay, this is very awkward now!" Said Bisa, who is also confused.

"How is Zira your grandmother? Her only child was Nuka by Scar." Said Bomani, who is trying to figure out the family tree. "Unless Nuka had a child later on in life that I did not know about. But you did tell me that your the son of Simba's daughter Kiara who is married to a guy named Kovu, your father. Hmmm...."

"No, my Uncle Nuka is my dad's older brother. He did not make it to have his own family. He died young in the early age of his adulthood." I shortly, explained. "That is what my dad had told me when I was a cub."

"So your father is related to Nuka and is also Zira's son?" Bomani asked.

"Well, my dad isn't really related to my grandma Zira by blood. He claims that him and my aunt Vitani were adopted. But he still likes to call her his mother anyway because, she was all he knew about growing up. She did technically helped raise and take care of them until they've gotten older and moved out on their own, after her death thus joining the Pride Lands."

"Very interesting indeed...I had no idea of this! It kind of sounds like we may be related to one another in a sort of weird way."

"Okay, I am still confused here!" Said Bahiya.

"So I am!" Bisa nods.

"That is because you two are related by blood!" Said the whispering voice.

"Huh?!" I say, now confused.

"But how? It doesn't make clear sense..." Bomani says, as if he is trying to solve a hard test.

"Makosa here is you and Kula's grandson, Bomani!"

My eyes grew wide with shock. So are you telling me that Bomani is my grandfather?! But how...

"But how? How is this all true?" I question. "What if your making this up to scare us?"

"I am not making this up Lion, you are one of Bomani's grandchildren. You are one of Mudiwa's sons. His other son is your big brother Heri."

Bomani gasps. "I am a grandfather of two?"

"Actually, 5!" The voice corrects.

"Amazing..." Bomani said Surprised.

"So you are telling me that my father is the lost son of Bomani and Kula? My so called grandparents on my father's side of the family?" I ask.

"Yep!"

"That is mind blowing!" Said Bahiya. "Wow, we've ran into King Kovu's real dad this whole entire time."

"Kovu?" Bomani questions, confused.

"Yes, that is my father's name. My grandma Zira must have renamed him that. Now I know his birth name is Mudiwa!"

"So, this whole time my son is the current King of the Pride Lands and I had no idea who it was. Incredible! And now I am here with his son."

Bomani and I both share warm smiles at each other.

"What about my daughter Nehanda?" Bomani asks, the whispering voice. "Is she royalty too?"

"No, she is not. But she lives with her family some place else outside of the Pride Lands. She is married with 3 children living her most best happiest life!" The voice answers.

"That is great! Good for her. I am glad to hear that both of my children are still alive and are living such great lives. I'd hope that they would."

"And she was re-named Vitani by my grandma Zira also. She is my aunt as you know." I mentioned.

"Yes, I understand it all now Prince. We are all connected by blood. So amazing and mind blowing to hear! But I know it will take major time to adjust for us all. I wish to meet them someday, that's if they would want to know who their real father is...it's been so many lost years. They might hate me for not looking for them at all."

Bomani looks sad again. I put my paw on his shoulder. "Don't worry Grandpa, my dad and aunt are  both very understanding and accepting. They won't judge you for your past mistakes. You did what was right and that was to protect yourself and your family. Just tell them about your past like how you just told us. You can meet them when you are ready, this is a process that can not be rushed or forced."

"Your right, thank you for the reminder! You sound so wise like your grandmother Kula. She talked like that..."

I smile at the thought.

"Wow, what a great day!" Bisa beams.

Yes, what a great day it has been.

I now secretly have another grandfather who lives in the Marsh Lands...

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A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for this VERY LONG chapter 😩 I just couldn't stop typing it and I let my creativity and imagination get the best of me 😂 lol. This chapter was super fun to write and come up with. I really enjoyed this one and to be honest, this has been my favorite chapter out of this entire book. I have gotten so many different emotions from this chapter and it was definitely worth the wait to reveal to you guys.

I always had this special theory of mines since the Lion King 2: Simba's Pride movie,  if Kovu and Vitani were really Zira's children. I always imagined them as adoptive children to her and Nuka being her only child by blood. It would make sense since neither Kovu or Vitani favor her or Scar's looks.

I always thought Kula would be a good match as their mother and their father just being a made up character who is not a part of the Lion King films. I have seen some other good theories of people suggesting that their parents could also be Tama and Tojo, Nala and Scar, or Kula and Chumvi. They are all good theories to me.

What is your own theory of who Kovu and Vitani's parents might be? Comment below! 😄