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Nariah's Lament:
Nariah lay exhausted as her new mewling cub wiggled closer into her side to nurse.
'A son,' she thought happily as she cleaned him gently. 'I have a son!' She made sure there were no deformities and came to find that the white cub was perfect.
"What am I going to call you, little one?" He was her first born, she wanted him to have a special name. As she flipped several names over and over in her head sleep overtook her and she drifted off peacefully.
Nariah knew something was wrong the second her eyes popped open. There was no warmth at her side, no soft cries of her newborn cub. Terrified, she searched all around the den in every nook and cranny. It soon became evident that her cub was gone and it was likely that his father had judged him unfit to join the pride. She'd seen it happen before, but she never thought it would happen to her.
'He didn't even have a name,' she cried to Goddess. The invisible being stood nearby, the soul of a pure white newborn cub cradled in her arms.
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Nariah does not say a word but curls up close to Tiagren's feet as he sit down near her, seeming to need some affection. She doesn't want to be touched, he knows that, but a quick brush of his tail against hers let's her know he's there for her.
He can't imagine what she's picturing in her head. She'd told him once about the son she'd loved and lost all within the scope of one afternoon. She'd never discovered what happened to him, and never would. Nariah had accepted that. But looking around at her pride mates and their cubs made her ache inside with emotions she wasn't sure were all good. So together she and Tiagren sit in companionable silence. She dreams that one day he, or maybe even an outside king, will give her a belly full of cubs to love.
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Nariah goes into a tirade about how some other pride member displeased her. You pat her shoulder and let her vent her emotions.
"She doesn't even want cubs! But she flounces her heat around to any King who would have her! She's so focused on climbing some imaginary ladder to make Lead Queen, that she doesn't even realize, it'll never happen!" Nariah growls about her younger sister, Jenna.
Tiagren knows how disappointed Nariah is about not being able to conceive during her last cycle. They'd tried time after time, but life was unable to fill her womb.
"And our mother!" Nariah continues as she paces. Tiagren wonders quietly what can be said for the old lioness, Bebe. She'd always been the friendliest of the pride, even though she'd never wanted to bear a litter for Tiagren. "She encourages it! We all know that Inferno lions are favored in this pride. Or those with outlandish markings. She and I will never be as valued as Jacelyn and Collette, or even Brigga, despite her being the most brutal, evil lioness I've had the displeasure to meet."
Tiagren wanted to deny the accusations. He tried to treat all his lionesses equal. But it was obvious to him too that their Goddess shone favor to the inferno pelted lions.
He picked hindsight up and approached Nariah slowly. "You cannot control what your sister does," he says as she buries her face in his soft mane. She hopes he can't feel the tears through his fur. "And you're right. There are biases around here. But I love you for being exactly who you are: my gorgeous, emotional, loving lioness. Do you remember the vows?"
She pulled back and rolled her eyes as she said, "Of course. Every lioness of age that comes into the pride has to go through the ceremony. I tried to make the vows before I was old enough with the King next door, and my father nearly tanned my pelt."
The Vows aren't to be said lightly. It is an exchange of names, something more valuable than any beetle, between a King and his lioness. Though it may appear that kings have all the power, it's actually the lioness who holds the King by the whiskers. If she takes back her name, and only if SHE does, she may leave of her own free will. A king may only chase a lioness who hasn't taken back her name if she has done something unforgivable, like killing a cub that isn't hers or starting a mutiny.
"Mhm," Tiagren says. He licks her cheek comfortingly, then begins to whisper, "I, Tiagren, freely give you my name, and my heart, should you have it. I am yours, to love and to cherish, for so long as you will have me. While I am your King, you will never know hunger, for I will go without so that you may eat, nor thirst, so long as rains fall from the sky, nor will you know any unkindness from me. I will never deny myself from you. This is your home, no matter your age or health. I welcome you exactly as you are. Will you still have me, my green eyed queen?"
Nariah licks Tiagren's face before reciting her vows. "I, Nariah, freely give you my name. I am yours, to love and to cherish, for so long as I choose. You are my king. You will never know hunger, so long as I can hunt. You will never know thirst, so long as rains fall from the heavens - or as long as the humans keep filling the lakes," she laughs. He chuffs at her ad lib. "I will never deny myself from you, should you need me. I will never use your name to lead the pride to ruin. I welcome you exactly as you are, King Tiagren." She rubs up against him.
"And I love you, exactly as you are, my king, Tiagren," she adds with a smile. Real love is not a part of most vow exchanges. It usually grows, the longer the lioness has been a member of the pride. But this impromptu vow renewal only helps to solidify the love Tiagren and Nariah have for one another, the ineffable feelings the two have grown as they've matured together. He may have other lionesses, as is his right and expectation as King, but Nariah will always be important to him.
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Nariah goes into a tirade about how some other pride member displeased her. You pat her shoulder and let her vent her emotions.
You saunter up to Nariah and tell her how nice her fur looks today! She suddenly ran off, seeming upset. Did you say something wrong?
Nariah does not say a word but curls up close to your feet as you sit down near her, seeming to need some affection right now.
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