AUTHOR'S NOTE: This image above is suppose to be Heri (in reality version of course). Isn't the lion so handsome and majestic looking? 😍 I thought it would be cool to display! You may read and enjoy chapter 3 below.

Xoxo,

Skyy15.

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Heri

Spreading sunrise, pinkish glow, clouds tinted, colours spread across the sky announcing the new day, oranges and reds painted across the clouds. Powerful rays flood over the landscape lighting every blade of grass, shining from each leaf.

The lines of glares that shot for my eyelids awakened me. I woke up with a yawn and found myself laying inside a cave. I don't quite remember how i got here. Perhaps i was brought here by someone. I've must have been out for a while. I do remember waking up once before being surrounded by mother, Uncle, and two best friends. Maybe they brought me here? Yeah...

Anyway, I yawned and got up with a stretch.

"Good morning, Heri!" A cheery voice, greets.

I turn my head to the right seeing my best friend Auni come forward. She nuzzles me sweetly. I have no idea what we are right now. It is very hard to describe. We act and behave as if we are more than just friends. But we don't call each other you know, "Girlfriend" or "Boyfriend". But we act more like it. It is kinda cute if you ask me and I do have a lot of feelings for her. I just don't know how to speak upon it.

"Good morning, Auni!" I greeted back, added with a smile.

"Today is the big day!"

"Big day for what?"

She giggles, "Wow, I see you've forgotten all about the important conversation your parents had discussed to you last night."

I look over to the side, "Strangely, I can't remember much of anything that occurred yesterday. I woke up this morning with an empty mind."

"Hmm, that is strange. Maybe you should stop by Amwa's tree after the ceremony. I can come with you if you want?"

"Yeah, maybe I should and yeah you can come along I don't mind. So, what is the big ceremony about?"

Auni smiles. "The ceremony is about your parents announcing to the whole kingdom the new royal changes. Your going to claim your place as future King!"

I look surprised as my emerald green eyes widen. "Whoa, no way. Are you serious?"

"Yes! Isn't it exciting?! Everything is going back to where it suppose to be."

"Yeah it is..."

Auni hugged me. "You've came a long way Heri. You deserve this!"

I hug her back and smiled. "Thank you."

I heard paw steps enter the cavern and someone loudly cleared their throat. Auni and I quickly broke away from our hug. Our cheeks are nice shade of red. Its my parents with Amwa standing between them.

"Good morning, Prince!" Amwa greeted, added with a small bow.

I nod at her and then smile at my parents. "Good morning!"

My mother walked forward and licked my nose. "Are you ready for your big day?"

"Yes, I am very excited. I hope the animals will like the changes."

Father nodded. "They will son, trust me. There shouldn't be a reason why not. Amwa said the Great Kings never fail. This is a decision they had made and we believe in their answer."

"Correct!" Amwa replied. She brings me close while gently pulling on my tail. "Now come child, let us begin the ceremony quickly. The animals are starting to become a bit impatient."

Amwa spread some type of thick, reddish brown paste on my forehead with her thumb and whispered some spiritual words in Swahili during the process. She'd done the same to Auni which I was clueless about. Why is she getting the same treatment?

"Your also a part of the big ceremony?" I asked her, confused.

Auni giggled while rolling her chestnut colored eyes. "Of course silly!"

Mother also giggled. "Heri, Auni is betrothed to you. We'd discussed this last night with her mother Zuri remember?"

Auni betrothed to me? Wow, so we are truly an official item now. The whole kingdom and our pride are about to witness it. This is about to become the best day of my life. I am becoming future King and also betrothed to the most beautiful lioness in the world. I smile widely at the thought.

"Alright your majesty, we are ready to begin!" said Amwa, to my father.

"Great. Let's all go outside to the top of Pride Rock, shall we?" said father, while exiting out the back of the cave. It's a special short cut that leads to the very top of Pride Rock.

We all followed quick behind his tail. Once we'd reach the top of Pride Rock, we are all standing in front of millions of different animals. Wow, did father call the whole entire Savannah to come here? I started to feel sweaty and very nervous. Auni placed her paw on top of my own. It helped calm me down.

"Good morning to all! Thank you for coming down and joining us for today's special ceremony. As you know, my first born son Heri has been back home for a good while. There has been some changes in the royal line. Makosa is no long serving as future King. Heri is next in line for the throne and once King, he will marry Auni who is the daughter of Zuri." Father loudly announced.

The animals looked at one another and whispered their decisions. Mother looked worried but then...

"Sounds okay to us!" said an elephant.

All the animals cheered. Mother sighed with relief while father hugged her and smiled.

"Excellent." Amwa smiled. "They all seem to approve, your majesty!"

Father roared first, then mother joined his side roaring too. Auni roared next and looked at me with a chuckle.

"Come on Heri, show them what your made of!"

I sucked in a lot of air and then released a very strong roar but not close to my father's yet. Father pat my back with laughter.

"Good roar son!" he complimented.

I smiled proudly. The animals continued cheering on. We roared because so other lion prides would also know the new changes in our pride. I stop smiling and thought about my brother Makosa. I've noticed that he's not here at the ceremony. Auni went over to talk to her mother and brother, while Amwa is busy talking with my mother. 

I looked at father with huge concern. "Dad, where is Makosa?"

Father immediately stopped smiling. He closed his emerald green eyes with a deep sigh. "He can no longer join us son."

"What? He's dead?!"

"No, he is no longer a part of our pride."

I gasp with shock. "W-What do you mean?"

"Your brother lost Heri. Since he can no longer serve next for the throne, he has to leave the Pride Lands and start out his own pride." Father shortly explained.

What? That's so unfair...

I looked down sadly at my paws feeling guilty. Father patted my shoulder and pulled me for a hug. 

"Don't worry son. What we are doing is the right thing. You were born first, the title was originally yours. Makosa will be fine..."

"I hope so dad. I wouldn't want or wish anything worse to happen to him."

"I know son."

"Kovu, can you come over here for a second!" Uncle Kion asked. "Oh and congrats Heri on taking throne as being future King!"

I half smiled. "Thanks!"

"I'll talk with you later, son." said Father, while leaving to go join Uncle Kion in another conversation.

Auni shortly walks up to me afterwards and had noticed my sad expression.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.

I shrug. "Nothing."

"Well, you seem to be all alone avoiding conversations with everyone. Come on, let's go join our friends. They want to congratulate us!"

I follow Auni down Pride Rock to our group of friends. Those friends are Bahiya, Mila, Kisima, her brother Ishara, my Aunt Maha, her boyfriend Rudo, and more.

"There he is, the newest star in the pride!" said Ishara, while rubbing the top of my head with his furry knuckles.

I laughed and push him away playfully. "Thanks, man!"

"Congrats to you both!" said Mila.

Maha hugged me. "You deserve it nephew!"

"Congrats, dude!" Rudo smiled, while shaking my paw.

"Yeah, congrats. The newest future King and Queen!" said Kisima.

I smiled at all of them and nodded. "Thanks guys, I appreciate it!"

Auni out of no where had licked my cheek. They all squealed, "AAWWWWWW!" while I blushed a deep red. I noticed Bahiya was sitting in the background not saying anything. She looked upset and I wonder why. She got up and walked away from every one heading inside the tall grasses.

"What's up with her?" I ask, while pointing.

Mila sighs. "Probably still down about Makosa's exile."

Kisima nodded and looked sad. "Yeah, poor girl."

Ishara looked confused. "Well, that is her husband. How come she didn't leave to go with him?"

Auni frowned and hit Ishara on his side with her tail. "Ishara, how rude!"

"Ouch! I wasn't trying to be rude. She's the one being rude not congratulating you guys."

Rudo shook his head. "Just give her some time dude. Remember, she was once future Queen. A lot has just happened in once."

Maha nodded, "He is right. You cant expect someone to be happy right away."

Ishara rolled his blue eyes. "But she knew this was going to be happen though. But alright, I'll leave it alone."

"How about I go talk to her?" Auni offered. "She is my best friend and I am the most closest to her."

"Sure, go ahead." Said Mila. "I mean, I'm sure its not going to fix or change on how she currently feels, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot."

Auni was about to go after Bahiya, but I jumped in front of her stopping her in her tracks. "I think you should wait. Give it some time Auni first and let things settle down."

Auni thought about it for a few moments and nod her head in agreement. "Your right Heri, okay. Im just worried..."

"Worried about what?"

"Im worried that I am about to lose my best friend. I didn't intend on hurting anyone..."

Auni began crying tears. I pulled her close, "I know. I was thinking earlier wondering if we have done the right thing. I surely do hope so. The Great Kings wouldn't have done this if they knew what the consequences are. Even the animals believed our parents did a good thing."

Auni sniffed. "Yeah, true."

I smile and nuzzled her. "Come on, lets go back and join our friends. This is suppose to be one of the happiest days of our lives to celebrate being betrothed as the next future King and Queen. This is a big step in our lives. A new chance to start over and build a future."

"Yeah, your right. Let's go!"

We walked over to our friends joining in their random conversations with happy smiles.

I just hope what ever the future has in stored for us that it is truly big and bright...