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Salene was bought for 50 silver beetles from a far away pride, then given to Skayne's pride after getting along well with a few of the cubs here. Her father was a fierce, often unkind lion, demanding the respect and fear of all around him.
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Salene stared at the squirming ball of red fur that suckled hungrily at her chest. She'd been praying for a girl, knowing the male cubs were often disposed of if they weren't fit to change genders. A daughter, however, was a blessing.
Kimawe received word that his queen had given birth. He rushed to her side in the birthing cave. She lay in a patch of sun filtering in between two large rocks. She glanced up as she noticed her king, a smile gracing her gorgeous face, her body curled protectively around what he knew to be his cub.
"My King," she said breathily. Her body was still sore from the birthing process, but she uncurled a little to allow Kimawe to see his cub. He greeted his queen with a gentle head rub and many licks before taking sight of the new life before him.
A daughter, Kimawe had a daughter. She was very similar to her father in color, the same inferno base with a burnt color nose, but when the young cub stared up at the king with glossy eyes -so unaccustomed to the world of light- he saw they were the brilliant blue of her mother. He leaned down toward her. As the large lion grew closer to his first daughter, the tiny cub hissed. Her bright blue eyes grew defiant as she snuggled back into her mother. The young king chuckled and licked her gently, showering her in love and affection.
"We are keeping her, yes?" Salene said. Kimawe couldn't miss the plea in her words.
"Yes. This is her home. One day, she will rule as queen." Salene licked her king's face with joy. A bright light blinded them momentarily as Goddess appeared in the birthing cave.
"My loves, may I welcome the new princess to the pride?" she asked gently. Kimawe moved aside to let his Goddess approach. The humanoid picked up his daughter. For a moment the cub mewled for her mother before settling down at Goddess' calming touch. "She is a fine cub, and will bring much joy to your pride. This is a day of life," she said, even though the memory of taking the spirit of a newborn male cub to the Great Plains was fresh on her mind. She knew it to be the way of the world, but it still hurt her greatly.
"What will we name her, Goddess?" the gray queen asked.
"Whatever you will, my love. Name her well, for her spirit is a blaze, and she will be truly fierce and untameable, yet she will lead the pride well in her time." The woman placed the now sleeping cub back at her mother's side before vanishing.
"Blaze," Kimawe stated. "Her name is blaze."
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You find Salene - Main Party just as she made a great hunting pounce. You praise her and she positively glows. Warm fuzzies all around!
You approach a group of lions sitting in a semicircle. In front of them you see Salene - Main Party telling a story with great enthusiasm. You sit down and listen for a while before moving on.
Salene - Main Party approaches you, gives you a small nuzzle and asks about your day.
You find Salene the Scarred Queen just as she made a great hunting pounce. You praise her and she positively glows. Warm fuzzies all around!
Salene the Scarred Queen sits with another lioness, carefully cleaning dirt out of her fur.
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