Never Enough Pride [Ash]

Sasha looked up and flinched when he roared, she watched and pinned her ears back, watching the other lionesses run out of the den, "Kovu..." The queen murmured quietly.

kovu looked up to the rest of the pride, knowing she was right he stood and moved toward the swarm of bodies. He roared loudly and reared back to threatening the rest of them. His claws unshealthed he swiped at them, herding them out of the cave.

"This isn't natural Kovu... A newborn so close to fhe rest of the pride... Even the male... And cubs bekng taken... It isn't right" She queen whimpered, nearly crying from how much stress she had been feeling.

Kovu watched her worriedly, his tail lashing to twirl around hers, "it's alright" he comforted. Resting his head on her shoulder, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you kitty, or Kumba" he vows, lïcking her spine.

She stayed curled around Kumba and she whimpered softly, she hadn't slept since the rest of the pride came into the den and she was quite stressed out from everything that had happened.

Kovu woke a few hours later and snarled loudly when Sasha wasn't close, immediately picking up her scent he ran over nuzzling her, laying between her and Kumba and the rest of the pride.

Sasha flicked her tail and sighed softly, her ears flicked and she glanced up as the rest of the pride was walking into the den, the lioness let out a low growl and she grabbed Kumba, heading deeper into the den.

Kovu smiled before laying on his side, allowing himself to finally sleep. His muscles were no longer tense from the stress willing him to relax

She sighed and gave a small nod, looking to Kumba and she softly groomed him, making sure he was clean.

"They will" he promises, nuzzling her side comfortingly "just focus on taking care of Kumba" he suggests.

"What if they don't come back" She whimpered and looked to him worriedly.

Kovu smiled and nuzzled into her back, "why don't we wait for them to come back" he says resting his head on his paws.

"I love it" She said softly and purred as she nuzzled the small cub, "But what about the others?" She asked her mate.

Kovu immediately walked over and began grooming her as she groomed the baby, "what about Kumba" he offered, it was a name he knew translated to 'roar' in African Congo dialect and had heard many legends and myths about the heritage of the name,

She curled up with the runt and she whimpered, grooming him softly, "I don't know... I've been too tired to think.." She said quietly.

"Don't worry" he comforted her, once she was inside the cave he set about gathering leaves and soft materials he licked her cheek. "Do you have a name in mind?"

The lioness, still trying to fight the drugs in her system, staggered as she followed after the male, the runt swinging lightly in her jaws since she couldn't very well keep her balance, "They have the other ones..." She whimpered.

Kovu sat near Sasha, lïcking her neck and back "come on kitty" he said encouragingly as he started towards the cave that was now barren of humans.

Sasha stumbled and flopped against the male's side before she slowly laid down and started grooming the little cub between her paws, the keepers realized they wouldn't be able to do much, so they aborted with the cubs they had and let the other lionesses out of the cages, leaving the pride in piece.

Kovu placed the cub gently at Sashas feet, hoping she was aware enough to protect him while Kovu focused on protecting her. He belted out a loud roar, swiping large paws at the keepers who came too close.

More keepers ran in to get the others out while they tried to usher the lions into their indoor cages, a couple keepers took a risk and tried to drag Sasha, but she had been fighting the drugs and started waking, she growled at the keepers and wobbled as she stood, looking around with half lidded eyes.

Kovu snarled and slashed the keepers back with his claws, dashing around him to rise up onto his back paws, his front paws on the keepers shoulders, he picked the cub out of his hands carefully and moved away.

Sasha whined as she drifted off to sleep, the drugs taking affect, the keeper breathed heavily and his head darted around, he spotted an open door and made a break for it, holding the cub to him.

Kovu had started walking once Sasha had left with the final cub, he was about halfway when he heard her call and ran noticing the dart he roared, but noticing the runt of his and Sashas litter with the keepers only fuelled his rage, he dashed into the cave and tackled the second keeper making sure not to hurt him but made sure his head hit the ground to knock him out, he snarled at the first, this time baring his fangs. He took notice of the gun and threw it against the wall shattering the barrel. He snarled again at the first keeper his eyes solely on the cub, his claws and teeth bared showing his willingness to hurt him.

"I know" She said softly and left the den, slowly heading to the other den she had liked better, though she hadn't checked it and didn't know humans were hiding inside, as soon as she left to get another cub, they left a decoy cub and one keeper ran off with the first cub to have it checked iver by vets. The same thing happened until Sasha finally noticed when she was walking into the cave with the runt in her jaws, she saw a keeper and snarled, realizing the lumps on the ground were just fake, she breathed heavily and tried to run, but she was darted with a high dosage of sedatives and she didn't get far, she let out a weak call for Kovu as the runt was taken and the keepers tried to get out of the enclosure.