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Mheetu was distractedly following after Laven, his ears low and his short little tail dropping just as sadly. He stops short when he collides with the older males legs in front of him, and he looks up curiously only to shrink back at the stern gaze on the other lion's face.
"What's the matter with you Mheetu? You haven't been paying attention to a single word I've been saying!" His voice was laced with a low growl, really emphasizing his frustration with the younger lion.
"I-I'm sorry Laven, I've just...been unable to stop thinking." It wasn't a lie, all he could think about was that other cub Cheetu had brought back from the Savannah only a couple of moons ago. Was there something wrong with him? Was it cause he didn't have the pure and silky coat of his father? Was he just not good enough?
He is jolted out of his thoughts when Laven snaps his teeth in front of his face, "Enough! What is troubling you that you are completely ignoring the purpose of these patrols?"
Mheetu hangs his head in shame as he admits to the thoughts churning in his head, "Am I a failure from birth? Am I not enough?" He yelps when Laven cuffs him over the ear, cowering under the larger male's disbelieving gaze.
"Are you thick in the head?" He sighs and softens his gaze a little at Mheetu, "Look, kid...tell me. Why are you sent on these patrols with me?" Mheetu blinks at him in confusion.
"To...learn the ins and outs of our territory, and to help the lionesses pick good hunting spots every moon?"
"That's some of the reasons yes, but you're missing the most important reason." He waits until Mheetu stops cowering in front of him and is fully looking at him, "You're the first born son of our king, it is your duty to help protect his territory, cause one day it will be yours to rule." He remains unfazed in the face of the younger lion's shocked expression, "Jano was brought here to help protect the lionesses in the other cave, it's not a matter of you not being good enough, you are just one lion though and you will need help in the future, like your father needed my help when he first became king of these lands." He starts walking again, they've already fallen behind schedule due to Mheetu's foolish lollygagging.
"Really?" Even Laven has to pause at how meek the lion sounds, he has never hear such a weak sound come from the lion before, even when he got in trouble as a little cub. So he sighs softly and turns his head to look back at Mheetu.
"Yes, really. Now come, we need to finish our patrol so we can eat in time with the others you foolish cub."
Mheetu gives him a blinding smile, looking so much like his father at that moment that Laven doesn't scold him for his lagging behind as the younger lion trots up to resume his place beside him.
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