Cubs at Play (revised) By Malli

    The sun rose over the horizon, giving the Pride Lands a beautiful orange 
glow. Kiara sat at the top of Pride Rock, enjoying the view. Kovu came up to 
her and nuzzled her. 
    "You're up early."
    "Yes." she said. "I just had to see the view. The Pride Lands are always 
so beautiful at sunrise." 
    "Yeah." Kovu agreed.
    They sat there for a few minutes, enjoying the moment. 
    Finally Kovu said, "I'm going back to bed. Coming with?"
    "No, I'm going to stay here awhile."
    They smiled at eachother., and Kovu went back down to the cave.
    Kiara stayed sitting, staring at the African sky.
    
    In the morning Kiara was found asleep at the top of Pride Rock by her 
young daughter.
    "Mommy!" the cub said. "Mommy! C'mon, wake up!"
     Kiara blinked her eyes. 
    "Larani, why did you wake me up? I'm tired."
    "It's time for breakfast!"
    Kiara sat up and yawned. 
    "All right. Let's go to breakfast. You can invite a friend or two if you 
like."
    "Yay!"
    The playful little cub went to the cave next door where her best friend, 
Emala, and her family were staying.
    She met her friend outside.
    "Hi, Emala!"
    "Hi, Larani!"
    "Can you and your parents come to my house for breakfast?"
    "Will Kawnu be there?"
    "Maybe."
    Emala went to ask her parents. She came back and told Larani that she 
would come.
    "OK, see you at noon."
    Larani went to invite her friend Kawnu. Kawnu lived father away from the 
Pride Lands than any of Larani's other friends. In fact, he lived completely 
on the other side! But Larani was fast so it didn't take her long to get 
there.
    Kawnu was outside. He greeted his friend.
    "Hi, Larani. What's up?"
    Larani invited him and his parents to come to breakfast..
    "Let me ask." He went to ask his mom, Mukala.
    "They said they're busy, but I can come." he said when he came back.
    "OK. Let's go!"
    The cubs went pouncing off to the Pride Lands.

    Nala, the lionesses, Kiara, Kovu, Larani, Kawnu, Emala and Emala's 
parents were at breakfast. They all ate, and thanked Nala for making the 
delicious lunch!    
    "You're welcome." she smiled.
    The cubs ate quickly, then asked their moms if they could go play.
    "Be home in time for chores." their mothers said.
    "Yes, Mom." Larani said.
    "Yes, Mommy." Emala said.
    "We'll be good." Kawnu said.
    The cubs ran off to play.

    "So what do you wanna play?" Kawnu asked.
    "Hmmmmm.......I don't know....." Emala winked at Larani.
    She sneaked up behind Kawnu and tapped him.
    "Tag! You're it!" she grinned.
    "RRR!" Kawnu growled and smiled.
    They started to chase eachother around.
    Larani called, "Hey guys!" but the two didn't pay any attention to her. 
They just kept giggling and acting silly.
    "Hmph!" Larani snorted and started to walk home.
    She sat under a tree, feeling sad, when she heard a voice behind her.
    "Hello." 
    She turned around. It was another boy cub, with sky-blue eyes, a golden 
"mane", a tuft of fur on his head, and fur as dark as Kovu's.
    "Are you sad about something?" he asked.
    "I'll be all right."
    "I'm Jobari."
    "My name's Larani."
    Jobari asked her if she wanted to play hide-and-pounce. She said yes.
    They went off to play, and bumped into Emala and Kawnu. She introduced 
Jobari to them, and they introduced themselves back. They ran off again.
    
    The four became fast friends. As time went by, it came to be that Emala 
and Kawnu were always together, and Larani and Jobari were always together, 
too. They all lived happily in the Pride Lands for many years to come. 

                                 The End


    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    






Malli