Sanctuary

Dawnsummer poked the tiny cub with his paw. He sniffed it.
"I'm not sure it will make it," He huffed, disinterest dancing across his words.
"She'll make it," Isis announced, wanting nothing more than to curl her paw around her cub and take her away from him. She could smell the danger on this King. His claws itched to destroy the cub that wasn't his. But this King, while not as forgiving as hers, was still good. Perhaps her cubs had a chance.
He peered over her shoulder at the other cub.
"Is the other one female too?"
He didn't even try to hide his reasoning behind his question.
"Yes she is,"
He sighed and grew quiet, studying the cub before him. Isis watched him carefully. The cub began to cry, sensing the tension in the air. She seemed to know her life hung in the balance. Isis wanted to scoop her up and comfort her but the look Cirdan gave her from the side told her it would seal the cubs fate. She held her breath.
"For now..."
Isis let out a small sob of relief and picked the cub up, comforting her the best she could. She was weak, she needed to be fed, but she was alive. And that was all Isis wanted. She retreated to the other lionesses, standing out among them, but she didn't care. She laid down at the base of the tree and pulled her cubs near her.