As a young adult, Malika gets hurt trying to hunt.Then Malika is a cub being raised by her mother along with her brother. According to the narration, she hasn't a care in the world. Later, it is shown she has aunts and their cubs who are her cousins, and the older females all take part in the raising of the cubs. Malika's father and uncle also have a role, as they guard the pride from outside threats.Hyenas threaten to attack the pride, but they are driven away.The older females are shown hunting, and everyone gets to share when they succeed.A drought drives the prey to other areas and hunting becomes more difficult. The young cubs continue to learn their lessons about how to succeed in life.Another hyena attack takes place while the cubs are unguarded. This time, only Malika survives because she was off being curious. The older lions go through the grief process.An outside lion and his brother threaten the pride. Malika's uncle is killed when they fight, and her father is getting too old to continue in his role. The outside lions take over and drive Malika, now nearly an adult, away from the pride. Malika is forced to cope on her own without having learned to cope on her own. Unsuccessful in an attempt to hunt, she must compete with scavengers.One day Malika's mom comes out to show she still cares. Eventually, Malika is allowed back into the pride., and she proves to be a skillful hunter.Another outside lion shows up and competes with the brothers. He drives the brothers away and is kinder to the females than they were. Eventually Malika gets pregnant.The scene where Malika gets hurt is repeated. She must either deal with the pain and get on with life, or give up and die. But she has cubs who are not yet born. After a great deal of effort, Malika is able to return to doing what she has.The cubs are born and the cycle is ready to repeat.