As summer came around the pride was full of little cubs. They played without worry or fear because they knew their father was watching.
Cassim never let a cub out of his sight.
Suki came up on the rock he was standing on.
"Cassim."
Cassim turned to her and smiled.
She and few other lionesses still carried *his* cubs!
Being the leader of the pride gave him the right to mate with any lioness old enough and willing.
Suki gave him a friendly nuzzle. He returned the nuzzle.
"Won't be long now for me."
"You should go somewhere safe like the others did."
"I know. That's why I came over here. I was wondering if you would go with me."
Cassim thought for a moment.
While he was trying to decide the gang came for a visit, only Ali was back at the palace with his nurse.
"I'll go with you."
The gang was confused at that.
"Tarka!"
A young male lion that wasn't quite fully grown yet came over.
"Yeah, Cassim?"
"You're in charge until I get back. Don't let the cubs wander off."
"I won't."
"I'm counting on you."
Cassim and Suki trotted off to the north. The gang followed on Carpet.
They finally came to a cave. They went inside, and Suki lay down.
"Dad, what's going on?"
Cassim opened his mouth to answer, but Suki suddenly groaned in pain before he could!
"What's wrong with Suki?"
This time Cassim didn't bother to try to answer! He focused his attention on Suki.
"Suki, listen to me. Just relax. Breathe. You can do this."
Suki did as she was told.
"Cassim, what is going on?"
"Remember the new cubs running around by the pride?"
"Yeah. Whose cubs are they?"
"They're mine."
"What?!"
"I was shocked about it too, but apparently lions age differently than humans, as in even at an older age they can still have cubs."
Suki groaned again, louder this time.
"Let me take a wild guess, Suki is pregnant?"
Cassim nodded, fighting back a yelp of pain for Suki had just accidentally slammed her paw down on his.
Hours later Suki suddenly yelled in pain!
"The first cub is coming!"
"Genie, help her! Genie!"
Genie snapped to attention and did as he was told.
"Here it comes. Here it comes!"
Suki yelled in pain as the first cub's head started to emerge.
"Suki, roll over onto your feet, and bear down."
Suki did as she was told. She nearly screamed when she beared down.
"Okay. Come on. Push!"
Suki roared in pain as the shoulders came out.
Cassim all but jumped four feet in the air!
Genie cleaned the first cub and cleared its throat so it could breathe.
Jasmine took the cub in her arms like she would hold Ali.
"It's a girl." she said.
Suki smiled up at Cassim. He returned the smile.
"Okay, Suki. Come on. Push!"
When it was finally over Suki had given birth to four beautiful cubs, two girls and two boys.
Cassim gave Suki and friendly, yet loving nuzzle.
Roar of the Lion III by Cassim fan