"We did lots of talking," Kiara said, which was true - grandmother was lonely after all, a little like Kiara. "She's really nice, you know. You should talk to her more often."

"I know," Mother said, a little sadly. "But I have a duty now as the head huntress, and it takes up a lot of time. We left you some dinner by the way. It's in your corner."

Kiara felt like she was going to be sick. She waddled over, being especially careful, but then as the smell reached her nostrils it wasn't so bad. Still she was too full for now. She would wait a few hours, and eat it at night, after she had digested some of Sarafina's meal.

"Thanks, Mum. Good night."

"Good night, little one," Nala said.

Kiara lay down to go to sleep, but lying on her bloated belly was too hard. Instead she rolled onto her back, rubbing her belly idly as she thought, 'Well... perhaps I can fit a little more in now.'

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

The next day started with the dawn, and Mother had already left with the lionesses to hunt. Father was out too, no doubt doing his kingly duty - whatever that was - and so Kiara was left alone. Other lionesses were around but they didn't speak to her much, just in case they said something to upset the royal daughter, she suspected. Sometimes she thought she caught them laughing at her because she was fat, but she couldn't prove it.

Thankfully, her stomach was much smaller today, having digested two dinners and a day-full of worm eating over the night. Of course that meant she was hungry, and she wondered what she would do.