#1077297
Belongs to 's Pride
(View Former Prides)

Juno

This lioness gave birth in the past two years. She is on a breeding cool down and will be breedable again in 6 real life days.

Lion Stats
Experience	14480 / 39710 (36%)
Level	20
Strength	217	Speed	198
Stamina	202	Smarts	220
Agility	227	Skill	121
Born With:	Unknown	Total Stats:	1185

Lion Currents
Age	11 years, 8 months old
Hunger	0%
Mood	100%
Sex	Female
Pose	Default
Personality	Modest (Neutral)

Adult Stage

Breeding Info
Father	Unknown	Mother	Unknown	View Full Heritage
Last Bred	17 days ago	Fertility	Very Low	View All Cubs Bred (1)

Appearance		Markings
Base	Zarbanu (Brown Skin)	Slot 3: White Belly (100%) Tier 0 Slot 4: White Collar (87%) Tier 1 Slot 5: Brown Paws (82%) Tier 1 Slot 8: White Beard (89%) Tier 1 Slot 10: Under White 3 (33%) Tier 0
Genetics	Golden Dark Solid Common
Eyes	Brown
Mane Type	Thick
Mane Color	Brown
Mutation	None
Marking Slots	10

Equipped Decorations Hide/Show
Above Scar: Beaten Up Scar: Face Scar: Front Leg Right Scar: Hip Scar: Neck Scar: Nose Ridge Scar: Tail Scar: Torn Fur

Lifetime Hunting Results
Total Hunts	611	Successful Hunts	563	Success Rate	92%

Biography
Original Owner/Breeder: Sixxela 2641/14566 Group: The Golden Legacy Generation: 1st ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 556 stats at birth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Juno's first pride wasn't a happy one in the least. Long before she met Jenna and Jayla, Juno was born during a terrible time for her first pride. Her mother barely had milk to feed her as the males who killed their former leader ruled with an iron claw. She was lucky to not have been a victim of infanticide had her mother not fought back along with the rest of the pride to keep her safe. As soon as she was old enough to survive on her own, Juno's mother aided her in escaping the terrible life that she was forced to live. "But Mother, why can't you come with me!? Please, I don't know what to do or anything!" Juno begged her. "Juno, my sweet Juno...I can't go with you. I can't leave my pride or my siblings behind to those treacherous monsters. One day, I'll find you and we'll be together again. I promise." She rubbed her head against Juno's. "Go now, I'll find you again! Remember what I told you about how to hunt!" Tears flowed freely as Juno fled the life her old pride was forced to live. Perhaps she could get help... ------- The adolescent wandered for several days until she discovered two rogue males. They took pity on the thin female and helped her learn to hunt and fend for herself. When she told them her story, they decided that perhaps they could help. Excitement filled the young lioness. Maybe her pride would be saved! She led them back to the pride where they were worse off than ever. There were even fewer pride members than before and she guessed some perished in her absence. She tried to stand herself up to the 3 monsters 'leading' the pride. She tried to convince them to leave or die and all they did was laugh at her and the two young males. Fury blinding her better judgment, Juno attacked with the two at her sides but it was all in vain. Both her new friends perished at older, more experienced claws and Juno received a beating she would never forget. After this, she could only watch helplessly as her own mother was beaten as well as punishment for her actions. Juno's mother was frail due to lack of nutrition and the beating was too much. She didn't survive the night. Juno was distraught and enraged but knew she could do nothing. She fled the territory in distress in the night, despite the other pride members' pleas for her to stay as they needed all the paws they could get to survive. -------- Days, weeks, months passed as Juno went to and fro with a heavy heart. Other rogues occasionally took pity on her, some staying long enough to teach her more tricks to hunting. Juno found herself self-sufficient within only a couple years of surviving solo. And by that time, she knew she was ready. Her body hardened with muscle, her wounds hardened with scarring, her heart hardened with a yearn for revenge. She returned to her old pride's land. Only a few lionesses remained that she knew, most others being recruited rogues. She demanded to see the leaders and two males emerged. She later learned that the third had died due to illness. They were surprised to see her and even more so she requested to rejoin the pride by her own free will. She seduced the two into allowing her to join them in their den that night. When they were asleep, she slit their throats silently in revenge for her mother's death. She then declared herself the pride leader, despite being a lioness. She expected her feelings of anger towards her adversaries to melt now that they were dead. Instead, she felt even darker than ever. It only got worse for the pitifully small amount of lionesses with her poor judgment and dark heart leading them. Pride members left if they could and she would grow angry at their abandonment, enough so that she would severely injure them to prevent them from leaving. Her old friends that she grew up with barely recognized her with her behavior. Even they turned against her and left when she wasn't looking. Before she knew it, Juno was alone. No pride. No friends. No family. No one to be with. -------- She wandered once again as a rogue, coming across Jayla and Jenna by chance. Desiring lionesses to order around and to curb her loneliness, she made it clear that she would give them fully bellies and protection provided they do everything that she says. They did so but she still was not content. Juno eventually led them to N'dogo's territory and while they rested outside the border, Juno went in to investigate the pride. There were lionesses and males, cubs and adolescents. They seemed happy to be in the pride, respectful to their leader. This angered her. She was a fine leader to the pride, why did they abandon her?! If she couldn't have her happiness in a pride, neither could he. Her foolish desire to make everyone else around her suffer if she couldn't be happy led her followers into trouble when she stole prey to harass the pride. Jayla and Jenna thought they were only being fed and didn't know of Juno's agenda. When they were caught feasting on the wildebeest, Juno abandoned them. She found herself pursued by what she presumed to be the pride's leader seeing as he was the largest. Juno dashed into the jungle, go and fro leaves before coming to a sudden halt in a hiding place by a large pile of elephant dung. There, Chalka lost her scent and was forced to retreat back. ------- Juno remained there for a while, thinking about how she was going to continue to harass the pride, get her followers back then plan on taking out their leader. Once he was dead, she would take the pride as her own. As she waited, the opportunity presented itself as a gift. The male was walking with another lioness that Juno didn't recognize at that moment seeing as she was just behind him and hidden from view. Waiting for the right moment when he was distracted by her talking, Juno lunged out of her hiding place and onto his back. She dug in her claws and bit at the back of his neck, struggling to get a hold of his spine. If she could just get the right angle, he'd be finished... The weight of the lioness on her side pushed her out of position and onto the hard ground but this lioness knew nothing of fighting. Pushing her away and quickly pinning her opponent, Juno recognized her assailant as Jayla. "You little..." Juno hissed, furious that she was betrayed by one of her own. Raising her paw for a kill, she was once again shoved to the ground, this time by a much heavier lion. Even though Chalka was much larger than she was, Juno wasn't about to give up. She knew he was injured and if she could just wriggle free, she could finish the job. The other male should be a cinch if he was this easy to kill... ------- Just as she was getting the upper paw, others arrived and a much smaller lion tackled her as the other male collapsed, jaws wrapped around her throat. Juno realized the position she was in and immediately went limp. Even she knew struggling now would mean her end. She was forced to her paws and walked with them, knowing when she was defeated. Juno plotted the entire way to camp to figure out how she was going to kill the males. It would be difficult but since the larger was weakened, this pipsqueak that held her down should be easy. Juno awaited her punishment and, while she was surprisingly pleased that Jayla spoke up for them, she was infuriated when she realized she was essentially going to be a prisoner. "What!? I will not be held prisoner here! Release me now!" She demanded but was silenced by a furious roar from N'dogo. She bowed her head as she knew at this moment, she had no choice but to be stuck with two babysitters as she was held captive. Jenna was much more compliant but Juno was going to make her stay as miserable for them as she possibly could. ------- Juno did very little except lay there and stare at those surrounding her with malice. She refused both food and drink, typically whacking it away and demanding to be released. Eventually, they stopped offering it to her until her strong, stubborn will would weaken as her body did. It was several days later that Juno began to wonder if this strike of hers was going to even work. The larger male finally recovered and it even looked like Jenna was turning on her and becoming friendly with the pride. When Jenna asked to join, Juno had it. That night, she snuck away from her guards and fled the pride. She only got a short ways before realizing how weakened she was due to lack of food and water. Still, she pressed on. By daylight, Juno was exhausted. She wasn't sure how she was going to survive but she would rather die than accept help from them. Approaching a nearby savannah, she collapsed by a rock to rest. When she awoke again, she realized that she had company. "Well, she didn't get far so there's that." A male voice rumbled. "As if she could, she hasn't eaten or drank anything in days." A familiar voice responded. Voices stirred her from sleep as she recognized who was around her. N'dogo was there along with 2 lionesses she didn't know the names to as well as Jayla and Jenna. Due to her good behavior, Jenna was no longer under the watch of two guards. Juno tried to curl her lips into a snarl and swatted weakly at N'dogo's leg. She didn't even draw blood, even with extended claws. N'dogo merely shook his head at her. "Well, we have to give her one thing. She has a very strong will, even if it isn't for the right reasons. Go ahead and do some hunting, I'd like to talk to her." N'dogo laid down a short way from her and the four went off to hunt, one of the original pride members giving Jayla tips on how to scare out the prey for them to catch. N'dogo and Juno were silent for a while, except for Juno's attempts at getting up to get to N'dogo. Eventually, she got to her paws and lunged sloppily at him. N'dogo simply side stepped and she faceplanted onto the hard earth. Growing frustrated, Juno roared and continued attacking until she could attack no more. Too weak to continue, Juno's legs gave out on her and she collapsed. N'dogo noticed the hunting party was coming back after hearing the commotion. "I'm fine here, go on. Just doing something." Juno felt infuriated once more. "What am I, your play thing??" "No, Juno," N'dogo sat down, "I simply don't understand what has you so furious with me and my pride. We did nothing to you before you stole prey from us but you seem to want to cause harm to us from the start." Juno refused to answer and only glared up at him. "Very well then. I can wait until you're ready to talk." N'dogo laid down and watched her, waiting. ------ The sun was highest in the sky and N'dogo was still waiting. Juno had fallen asleep without meaning to by this time. N'dogo figured she probably couldn't move when she woke up, even if she wanted to so he went out and caught a dik dik. Walking back, he saw her beginning to stir at the scent of fresh prey. "I see you're awake. Ready to talk now?" N'dogo questioned as he laid the dik dik within range for her. Without thinking and too hungry to care, Juno devoured the dik dik within mere minutes. N'dogo waited until she was done. "Well?" Juno stopped and glared at him. "You aren't going to leave me alone, are you?" "Nope." Juno sighed deeply and snarled, "Fine, I'll tell!" She went into a long, furious rant about her first pride and what happened, how she tried to rescue them and when she was finally old enough to do so, how the pride ungratefully turned on her after killing the males. Juno went on and on until she found herself completely spent emotionally and laid her head down, staring off into space. "I see..." N'dogo finally spoke after her winded spiel was over. "Well, I can tell you now that most prides aren't like that. Sometimes, male rogues get it in themselves to take over prides and use them as servants instead of pride members. It isn't right. I'm surprised you survived if those males were as brutal as you say they are. A lot of usurpers like to kill the cubs of the previous leader," N'dogo continued despite her interruption. "You have a lot on your plate and a lot to be angry about. What they did was not right but what you did against my pride and especially my subordinate, Chalka, was just as bad as what they did to you and your mother." "I'm nothing like them, you don't know me!" Juno roared loudly. "Then explain your actions." Juno opened her mouth to respond only to realize she had no response to N'dogo's question. The pair was silent for a long time was Juno processed this new way of thinking. "Well?" She didn't respond but did summon enough strength to get to her paws. "I'll leave you to decide what it is you want to do. You may come back to the pride if you wish as I don't believe you are strong enough physically to continue on. You may also leave and not come back. If you come back only to cause trouble in my pride, I will have to take action. Think this over for a while." N'dogo stood, turned and walked back towards camp. Juno was left alone with her thoughts. ------ She was gone all day and all night. N'dogo waited awake to see if she would come. At around midnight, Chalka noticed he was awake and approached. "Do you think she'll come back?" "I honestly don't know, Chalka. She is a very stubborn, hurt soul. I fear she won't make it alone with various enemies in her weakened state." "I kind of hope she comes back myself." N'dogo looked at Chalka in slight surprise. "Even after her attack?" "Well, it makes sense now. I'm not exactly thrilled about being around her but I don't want her to just die out there. Sounds like she's had it rough anyways." "Go ahead and sleep, Chalka. I'll keep waiting." "Sleep soon though, you do still have to do your little leadership duties." N'dogo rumbled in amusement as Chalka padded off to sleep once more. -------- The moon was just starting to set when N'dogo spotted something off in the distance. It was stumbling. Too large for a hyena, not built like prey. Could it be? N'dogo rose and padded towards this figure until he recognized Juno. "You came back," he rumbled as she stood before him. "Yeah yeah, let's just get back into camp, alright?" she snapped and stalked past him. N'dogo couldn't help but smile a little. It would take time. ---------------- Juno had a hard time admitting she needed help until she was strong enough to contribute. She wasn't thrilled when N'dogo told the pride her story but was surprised at the sympathy given to her. Jayla and Jenna looked the most horrified and went on either side of her to attempt to comfort her. Juno tried to snap at them to make them leave her alone but came to accept their comfort when both refused to leave her side. A few days later, while she was still being watched due to mistrust, Juno felt a surprising emotion that she never thought possible. She was content. But how? This pride wasn't being led by her and was happy, something she thought not possible... Perhaps she was wrong about a lot of things. Perhaps her view of life had been warped beyond what it really was. It was going to take a lot of time for her to learn what she really wanted. Maybe this is it. ----- By the time N'dogo's leadership came to an end, Juno was a trusted and respected part of the pride. While she tended to be abrasive with rogue lionesses and distrustful if they wanted to join the pride, it wouldn't take long for them to get comfortable with Juno and realize that her harsh personality covers a healing heart. Often times when Haruka isn't organizing hunting patrols and taking a breather while N'dogo's was patrolling, Juno would organize a secondary party for her. Juno felt a strangely large amount of grief when N'dogo fell ill and did what she could to try and comfort the middle-aged lion in his sickness. His passing shook her to the core, leaving her feeling numb for many days afterwards. She tried to forget that he wasn't there by busying herself, almost to a fault. Juno was in support of Lyler taking ownership of the pride when Jeylar fled following his big mistake. Months later, Juno always heard the grumblings of other lionesses that were unhappy about how Lyler was leading. She'd usually snap at them to quit complaining and do what needed to be done. She occasionally had hints of wondering if he wasn't the right lion to be leading but also knew how tough it could be being a young leader. Finally having enough of the brewing storm in the pride, Juno sought out and spoke with Lyler about the issue, that he needed to address the lionesses before it got out of control. Her concern about Lyler's leadership became nothing as Juno backed him up when lionesses harassed him as he was addressing the pride about the problem as recommended. She got a bit caught up in the issue and found she was lecturing the pride when Lyler was supposed to be speaking. Stepping down from the rock to allow Lyler to continue what he needed to do, Juno had no question about what her vote was going to be. She voted to allow Lyler to continue to lead the pride and, of course, she was part of the majority. She watched old and new friends leave the pride but felt no loyalty towards nor missed them. If they didn't want to stay, good riddance.

Biography

Original Owner/Breeder: Sixxela 2641/14566
Group: The Golden Legacy
Generation: 1st

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

556 stats at birth

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Juno's first pride wasn't a happy one in the least.

Long before she met Jenna and Jayla, Juno was born during a terrible time for her first pride. Her mother barely had milk to feed her as the males who killed their former leader ruled with an iron claw. She was lucky to not have been a victim of infanticide had her mother not fought back along with the rest of the pride to keep her safe. As soon as she was old enough to survive on her own, Juno's mother aided her in escaping the terrible life that she was forced to live.

"But Mother, why can't you come with me!? Please, I don't know what to do or anything!" Juno begged her.

"Juno, my sweet Juno...I can't go with you. I can't leave my pride or my siblings behind to those treacherous monsters. One day, I'll find you and we'll be together again. I promise." She rubbed her head against Juno's. "Go now, I'll find you again! Remember what I told you about how to hunt!"

Tears flowed freely as Juno fled the life her old pride was forced to live. Perhaps she could get help...

-------

The adolescent wandered for several days until she discovered two rogue males. They took pity on the thin female and helped her learn to hunt and fend for herself. When she told them her story, they decided that perhaps they could help. Excitement filled the young lioness. Maybe her pride would be saved!

She led them back to the pride where they were worse off than ever. There were even fewer pride members than before and she guessed some perished in her absence. She tried to stand herself up to the 3 monsters 'leading' the pride. She tried to convince them to leave or die and all they did was laugh at her and the two young males. Fury blinding her better judgment, Juno attacked with the two at her sides but it was all in vain. Both her new friends perished at older, more experienced claws and Juno received a beating she would never forget.

After this, she could only watch helplessly as her own mother was beaten as well as punishment for her actions. Juno's mother was frail due to lack of nutrition and the beating was too much. She didn't survive the night. Juno was distraught and enraged but knew she could do nothing. She fled the territory in distress in the night, despite the other pride members' pleas for her to stay as they needed all the paws they could get to survive.

--------

Days, weeks, months passed as Juno went to and fro with a heavy heart. Other rogues occasionally took pity on her, some staying long enough to teach her more tricks to hunting. Juno found herself self-sufficient within only a couple years of surviving solo. And by that time, she knew she was ready. Her body hardened with muscle, her wounds hardened with scarring, her heart hardened with a yearn for revenge.

She returned to her old pride's land. Only a few lionesses remained that she knew, most others being recruited rogues. She demanded to see the leaders and two males emerged. She later learned that the third had died due to illness. They were surprised to see her and even more so she requested to rejoin the pride by her own free will. She seduced the two into allowing her to join them in their den that night. When they were asleep, she slit their throats silently in revenge for her mother's death.

She then declared herself the pride leader, despite being a lioness. She expected her feelings of anger towards her adversaries to melt now that they were dead. Instead, she felt even darker than ever. It only got worse for the pitifully small amount of lionesses with her poor judgment and dark heart leading them. Pride members left if they could and she would grow angry at their abandonment, enough so that she would severely injure them to prevent them from leaving. Her old friends that she grew up with barely recognized her with her behavior. Even they turned against her and left when she wasn't looking.

Before she knew it, Juno was alone. No pride. No friends. No family. No one to be with.

--------

She wandered once again as a rogue, coming across Jayla and Jenna by chance. Desiring lionesses to order around and to curb her loneliness, she made it clear that she would give them fully bellies and protection provided they do everything that she says. They did so but she still was not content.

Juno eventually led them to N'dogo's territory and while they rested outside the border, Juno went in to investigate the pride. There were lionesses and males, cubs and adolescents. They seemed happy to be in the pride, respectful to their leader. This angered her. She was a fine leader to the pride, why did they abandon her?! If she couldn't have her happiness in a pride, neither could he.

Her foolish desire to make everyone else around her suffer if she couldn't be happy led her followers into trouble when she stole prey to harass the pride. Jayla and Jenna thought they were only being fed and didn't know of Juno's agenda. When they were caught feasting on the wildebeest, Juno abandoned them.

She found herself pursued by what she presumed to be the pride's leader seeing as he was the largest. Juno dashed into the jungle, go and fro leaves before coming to a sudden halt in a hiding place by a large pile of elephant dung. There, Chalka lost her scent and was forced to retreat back.

-------

Juno remained there for a while, thinking about how she was going to continue to harass the pride, get her followers back then plan on taking out their leader. Once he was dead, she would take the pride as her own. As she waited, the opportunity presented itself as a gift.

The male was walking with another lioness that Juno didn't recognize at that moment seeing as she was just behind him and hidden from view. Waiting for the right moment when he was distracted by her talking, Juno lunged out of her hiding place and onto his back. She dug in her claws and bit at the back of his neck, struggling to get a hold of his spine. If she could just get the right angle, he'd be finished...

The weight of the lioness on her side pushed her out of position and onto the hard ground but this lioness knew nothing of fighting. Pushing her away and quickly pinning her opponent, Juno recognized her assailant as Jayla.

"You little..." Juno hissed, furious that she was betrayed by one of her own. Raising her paw for a kill, she was once again shoved to the ground, this time by a much heavier lion. Even though Chalka was much larger than she was, Juno wasn't about to give up. She knew he was injured and if she could just wriggle free, she could finish the job. The other male should be a cinch if he was this easy to kill...

-------

Just as she was getting the upper paw, others arrived and a much smaller lion tackled her as the other male collapsed, jaws wrapped around her throat. Juno realized the position she was in and immediately went limp. Even she knew struggling now would mean her end.

She was forced to her paws and walked with them, knowing when she was defeated. Juno plotted the entire way to camp to figure out how she was going to kill the males. It would be difficult but since the larger was weakened, this pipsqueak that held her down should be easy.

Juno awaited her punishment and, while she was surprisingly pleased that Jayla spoke up for them, she was infuriated when she realized she was essentially going to be a prisoner.

"What!? I will not be held prisoner here! Release me now!" She demanded but was silenced by a furious roar from N'dogo.

She bowed her head as she knew at this moment, she had no choice but to be stuck with two babysitters as she was held captive. Jenna was much more compliant but Juno was going to make her stay as miserable for them as she possibly could.

-------

Juno did very little except lay there and stare at those surrounding her with malice. She refused both food and drink, typically whacking it away and demanding to be released. Eventually, they stopped offering it to her until her strong, stubborn will would weaken as her body did.

It was several days later that Juno began to wonder if this strike of hers was going to even work. The larger male finally recovered and it even looked like Jenna was turning on her and becoming friendly with the pride. When Jenna asked to join, Juno had it.

That night, she snuck away from her guards and fled the pride. She only got a short ways before realizing how weakened she was due to lack of food and water. Still, she pressed on.

By daylight, Juno was exhausted. She wasn't sure how she was going to survive but she would rather die than accept help from them. Approaching a nearby savannah, she collapsed by a rock to rest. When she awoke again, she realized that she had company.

"Well, she didn't get far so there's that." A male voice rumbled.

"As if she could, she hasn't eaten or drank anything in days." A familiar voice responded.

Voices stirred her from sleep as she recognized who was around her. N'dogo was there along with 2 lionesses she didn't know the names to as well as Jayla and Jenna. Due to her good behavior, Jenna was no longer under the watch of two guards.

Juno tried to curl her lips into a snarl and swatted weakly at N'dogo's leg. She didn't even draw blood, even with extended claws. N'dogo merely shook his head at her.

"Well, we have to give her one thing. She has a very strong will, even if it isn't for the right reasons. Go ahead and do some hunting, I'd like to talk to her." N'dogo laid down a short way from her and the four went off to hunt, one of the original pride members giving Jayla tips on how to scare out the prey for them to catch.

N'dogo and Juno were silent for a while, except for Juno's attempts at getting up to get to N'dogo. Eventually, she got to her paws and lunged sloppily at him. N'dogo simply side stepped and she faceplanted onto the hard earth. Growing frustrated, Juno roared and continued attacking until she could attack no more. Too weak to continue, Juno's legs gave out on her and she collapsed. N'dogo noticed the hunting party was coming back after hearing the commotion.

"I'm fine here, go on. Just doing something."

Juno felt infuriated once more. "What am I, your play thing??"

"No, Juno," N'dogo sat down, "I simply don't understand what has you so furious with me and my pride. We did nothing to you before you stole prey from us but you seem to want to cause harm to us from the start."

Juno refused to answer and only glared up at him.

"Very well then. I can wait until you're ready to talk." N'dogo laid down and watched her, waiting.

------

The sun was highest in the sky and N'dogo was still waiting. Juno had fallen asleep without meaning to by this time. N'dogo figured she probably couldn't move when she woke up, even if she wanted to so he went out and caught a dik dik. Walking back, he saw her beginning to stir at the scent of fresh prey.

"I see you're awake. Ready to talk now?" N'dogo questioned as he laid the dik dik within range for her. Without thinking and too hungry to care, Juno devoured the dik dik within mere minutes. N'dogo waited until she was done.

"Well?"

Juno stopped and glared at him. "You aren't going to leave me alone, are you?"

"Nope."

Juno sighed deeply and snarled, "Fine, I'll tell!"

She went into a long, furious rant about her first pride and what happened, how she tried to rescue them and when she was finally old enough to do so, how the pride ungratefully turned on her after killing the males. Juno went on and on until she found herself completely spent emotionally and laid her head down, staring off into space.

"I see..." N'dogo finally spoke after her winded spiel was over. "Well, I can tell you now that most prides aren't like that. Sometimes, male rogues get it in themselves to take over prides and use them as servants instead of pride members. It isn't right. I'm surprised you survived if those males were as brutal as you say they are. A lot of usurpers like to kill the cubs of the previous leader," N'dogo continued despite her interruption.

"You have a lot on your plate and a lot to be angry about. What they did was not right but what you did against my pride and especially my subordinate, Chalka, was just as bad as what they did to you and your mother."

"I'm nothing like them, you don't know me!" Juno roared loudly.

"Then explain your actions."

Juno opened her mouth to respond only to realize she had no response to N'dogo's question. The pair was silent for a long time was Juno processed this new way of thinking.

"Well?"

She didn't respond but did summon enough strength to get to her paws.

"I'll leave you to decide what it is you want to do. You may come back to the pride if you wish as I don't believe you are strong enough physically to continue on. You may also leave and not come back. If you come back only to cause trouble in my pride, I will have to take action. Think this over for a while." N'dogo stood, turned and walked back towards camp. Juno was left alone with her thoughts.

------

She was gone all day and all night. N'dogo waited awake to see if she would come. At around midnight, Chalka noticed he was awake and approached.

"Do you think she'll come back?"

"I honestly don't know, Chalka. She is a very stubborn, hurt soul. I fear she won't make it alone with various enemies in her weakened state."

"I kind of hope she comes back myself."

N'dogo looked at Chalka in slight surprise. "Even after her attack?"

"Well, it makes sense now. I'm not exactly thrilled about being around her but I don't want her to just die out there. Sounds like she's had it rough anyways."

"Go ahead and sleep, Chalka. I'll keep waiting."

"Sleep soon though, you do still have to do your little leadership duties."

N'dogo rumbled in amusement as Chalka padded off to sleep once more.

--------

The moon was just starting to set when N'dogo spotted something off in the distance. It was stumbling. Too large for a hyena, not built like prey. Could it be?

N'dogo rose and padded towards this figure until he recognized Juno.

"You came back," he rumbled as she stood before him.

"Yeah yeah, let's just get back into camp, alright?" she snapped and stalked past him. N'dogo couldn't help but smile a little.

It would take time.

----------------

Juno had a hard time admitting she needed help until she was strong enough to contribute. She wasn't thrilled when N'dogo told the pride her story but was surprised at the sympathy given to her. Jayla and Jenna looked the most horrified and went on either side of her to attempt to comfort her. Juno tried to snap at them to make them leave her alone but came to accept their comfort when both refused to leave her side.

A few days later, while she was still being watched due to mistrust, Juno felt a surprising emotion that she never thought possible.

She was content. But how? This pride wasn't being led by her and was happy, something she thought not possible...

Perhaps she was wrong about a lot of things. Perhaps her view of life had been warped beyond what it really was. It was going to take a lot of time for her to learn what she really wanted.

Maybe this is it.

-----

By the time N'dogo's leadership came to an end, Juno was a trusted and respected part of the pride. While she tended to be abrasive with rogue lionesses and distrustful if they wanted to join the pride, it wouldn't take long for them to get comfortable with Juno and realize that her harsh personality covers a healing heart. Often times when Haruka isn't organizing hunting patrols and taking a breather while N'dogo's was patrolling, Juno would organize a secondary party for her.

Juno felt a strangely large amount of grief when N'dogo fell ill and did what she could to try and comfort the middle-aged lion in his sickness. His passing shook her to the core, leaving her feeling numb for many days afterwards. She tried to forget that he wasn't there by busying herself, almost to a fault. Juno was in support of Lyler taking ownership of the pride when Jeylar fled following his big mistake.

Months later, Juno always heard the grumblings of other lionesses that were unhappy about how Lyler was leading. She'd usually snap at them to quit complaining and do what needed to be done. She occasionally had hints of wondering if he wasn't the right lion to be leading but also knew how tough it could be being a young leader.

Finally having enough of the brewing storm in the pride, Juno sought out and spoke with Lyler about the issue, that he needed to address the lionesses before it got out of control.

Her concern about Lyler's leadership became nothing as Juno backed him up when lionesses harassed him as he was addressing the pride about the problem as recommended. She got a bit caught up in the issue and found she was lecturing the pride when Lyler was supposed to be speaking.

Stepping down from the rock to allow Lyler to continue what he needed to do, Juno had no question about what her vote was going to be. She voted to allow Lyler to continue to lead the pride and, of course, she was part of the majority. She watched old and new friends leave the pride but felt no loyalty towards nor missed them. If they didn't want to stay, good riddance.

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