"Mum and Dad think they're doing the right thing by stopping me from eating too much," Kiara said. "They think I'm too fat."

"Mm? They called you fat? Don't mind them, Kiara. They're just worry warts. You'll grow out of it. After all, I did."

Kiara frowned. She didn't know what Grandmother Sarafina looked like when she was younger, but now that she was a royal and other lionesses did her hunting, Mum said, Grandmother had gotten quite large herself. Kiara didn't mind though. It made for better cuddles.

As the sun started to dip below the horizon they Sarafina put Kiara down in her personal den - the one awarded to Sarafina for being the queen's mother. Kiara was tired from all that running around after bugs with a full stomach and so sat on her haunches as Sarafina moved to the back of the little cave.

"What have you got there, grandmother?" Kiara said. As the wafting smell of fresh meat washed over her, she felt her ears prick up and a smile spread across her muzzle.

"Wilderbeast that the hunting party left for me this morning. Care to shar it with me?" she said as she dragged it out.

Kiara's eyes watered. Bugs were nice, but there was nothing like biting into real meat. Now that the grass was long with the rains it was quite a fatty specimen too, and she nodded her head eagerly as Sarafina dragged it in front of her.

"Eat all you like, dear. I won't criticise you for having an appetite," Grandmother said, smiling gently.

"Gee, thanks Gramma," Kiara said, looking up with a grin at her grandmother's gentle face, before ripping out a huge chunk of the meat and swallowing it as quickly as she could. "You're the best."

"You're welcome around here any time, little one," Sarafina said, a little sadly. "I don't get much company these days, after all."

"Really?" Kiara said, swallowing again. "How come?"

Sarafina waved it off dismissively. "Oh... you know. Nala's busy with the hunts, Sarabi's busy with this and that. I suppose I should just get out more myself but... maybe I'm a bit of a private person."

"I'll come and visit you," Kiara said, getting up and giving her grandmother a hug about the neck. "Especially if you provide food like this! Should I come back tomorrow night?"

"Oh please do!" Sarafina said, and her delight was obvious. "But go on, finish your meal for tonight. Have as much as you like. You're going to be a strong lioness one day."

"Yes, Grandmother," Kiara said. "Thank you very much!"

****************************************************

So Kiara ate as the sun set. Any lion or lioness worth their salt could at until their belly was shaped like a bit round ball, but Kiara was even better than the average lioness. She ate and ate and ate until she couldn't possibly eat fit in any more, and when it came time to leave, she found she could hardly take a breath, her body was so full of food! Instead she told Grandmother Sarafina she was too scared to walk home in the dark, and so the plump old lioness dutifully carried her up to the entrance of the great den. Kiara said her goodbyes, then waddled inside, being careful not to step on anyone in the near darkness.

"Kiara!" her mother said, waking up, and Kiara froze. Could mother see how round she was?

"Yes... mother?"

"Timon and Pumbaa told me you went with Sarafina. What have you two been up to?"