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Malai- Swahili for "cream"
Born during the era of Shauri the Miraculous.
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From a very young age, Malai was skittish and softspoken, which led to her often being picked on by the other cubs. Unlike her peers, she showed no excitement at the prospect of growing up to be a huntress for the pride, and in fact often expressed her reluctance to her mother Mate, a no-nonsense lioness who wanted to hear none of it and insisted she continue on with her training. On her very first outing with a few other adolescent lionesses to observe the pride's hunting party at work, Malai cried when the prey was finally brought down, which subjected her to merciless teasing from the cubs and several nasty looks and whispers from the adults.
In a last-ditch attempt, Mate asked Chatu, the pride's lead huntress, to personally train her daughter. Thinking she might feel pressured hunting in a group, Chatu instructed Malai to head out on her own and bring back one piece of prey all by herself. To everyone's shock, Malai completed the task, but in a very unorthodox manner - the dik-dik calf she returned with was very much alive and trotting along beside her! The timid lioness explained that she had seen the little calf being spurned by its mother because of its snow-white coat, and she couldn't leave it alone for fear that it would be killed by a predator (never mind that she was supposed to be doing exactly that).
The lionesses, at their wits' end, turned to Queen Huria for advice. She could see right away that the current course of action would not work out happily at all, and conferred with King Shauri about how Malai could be a productive member of the pride while maintaining her happiness and emotional well-being. It was decided that Malai would train under Ukimya to be a den mother, and funnel her compassion for all creatures into caring for the pride's cubs. Malai was nervous about her duties at first, but soon found herself settling into her role nicely. The dik-dik calf died soon after its rescue, but instead of being disheartened or upset, Malai realized that death was an inevitable part of life, and resolved to train harder so she could become the best den mother possible.
Malai has a big heart but knows nothing of hunting and isn't confident enough to teach, so she cares for the pride's littlest cubs, from birth to weaning age.
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"Malai just woke you up from sleeping. Again. For more water. And they have to pee. But it's dark. Ugh."
"You're chilling in the sun, and suddenly Malai runs by screaming and laughing. What on earth…? Are all cubs tiny nutbars?"
"As you walk up to Malai, she hunkers down a little, whispering back a greeting as she stares at you in awe."
"Happy but intimidated by your attention, Malai greets you shyly, then backs away to give you some space."
"You greet Malai perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. She just squeaked and ran off. Oops."
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