E5 Abandoned Cub

It was a cold, mid-winter night when a young cub was found. On the verge of death, the little one stood no chance of defending itself. Its pitiful cries stood on death ears and its unopened eyes could see no hope. Just a young cub with a bad start to life.

Xia had been out on a weekly patrol with the rest of the pride. They usually went out to find any rival lions or search for potential hunting spots that they could use when the sun rises in the morning. It would take them a few hours and any adult member of the pride could go, regardless of their role. They were an hour in when Xia was notified of a strange noise by one of the scouts. Usually, that would just mean a baby deer or the odd coyote. However, being the lion that she is she had to investigate just in case something or someone was in trouble. Curious, she swept away the bristle that hid the young cub. Xia was in surprise, this had never happened before, they had found many other abandoned animals like rabbits and birds, but never before had they seen an abandoned member of their own species. Immediately Xia told her pride to keep back in case the parents were nearby. Xia knew they would struggle against a pair of overprotective lions. Taking a closer look at the creature she realised the condition it was in. The poor creature had frost covered fur and was shivering due to the prickling cold. Its meows were loud and desperate while its paws batted blindly in front of it, trying to find the source of warmth but not being able to. Looking around Xia couldn’t sense the young cub’s parents and decided then and there if this pup stood any chance of survival it would have to be within Echolake pride. Gently she wrapped her warm body around the pup trying to share some of her warmth. Licking its fur in a motherly way she felt the young bundle of fur calm down and slowly it stopped shivering. Once she had calmed down the cub, she then called the rest of the members on patrol. She didn’t want to overwhelm the cub, so she asked them to come out one by one. They then set out on their way back to Echolake territory. They were immediately greeted by healers who took the young cub into the healer’s den. Xia paced outside as she waited for news on the survival chances of the cub. After 20 minates the healers emerged. “If this cub had been found even an hour later it wou;d have likely died. Right now, we are doing what we can to get this little guy through. The next few days will be in its paws, but it seems like a fighter so I’m praying for its survival.” Xia thanked the medic with a nod and dismissed the healers so they could go back to sleep. Once Xia was sure the cub was safe and stood a decent chance of survival anger begun to overtake her. How could anyone abandon their cubs in the middle of Winter on their own? They must know that there is no change the cub would survive. Having an innocent childhood Xia didn’t understand that some cubs were unwanted and there were certain evils in the world.

Taking deep breathes and calming herself down, she then entered the healer’s den and sat with the cub for a while, just thankful it was okay for now. She watched its slow breathing and the way it occasionally twitched in its sleep. Smiling Xia laid down next to the cub nuzzling its head then fell asleep, whispering the baby good night

Over the next few days with help the pride members, Xia was able to move the young cub into the pride’s nursery. Inside the cub was surrounded by fur blankets and was nursing from a young mother who had volunteered to share some of her milk. Xia made sure to visit regularly and even left some of her founder duties to trusted members in the pride so she could take care of the cub she almost called her own.