Toph

Toph came from an unknown Pride, in an unknown place. Being blind, she had no way of telling the females who found her, wandering in the desert, where she had come from. She was dehydrated, starving, and utterly exhausted. She hadn't stopped walking even once during her days long journey, fearing the buzzards would seize the opportunity to feed on her in her sleep. As soon as she was taken in, given water and food and a place to sleep, she passed out. The Broodmothers watched after her fretfully, giving the scavengers no chance at the easy meal the helpless cub would make...

In her death-like slumber, Toph could hear strange sounds and voices, and the blackness she knew as her vision gave way to swirling colors, a rainbow of dancing trees she had no words to describe. This was the land of the dead, she knew. She was dying, and yet something kept her from crossing over. A gentle voice called to her, singing lovely, wordless songs. It was not her destiny to die. No, she would become a lion of healing. She would save others as this Pride had saved her. All she had to do was wake up...

When Toph opened her eyes once more to blackness, she could feel something sticking to her fur. One of the lionesses had put paint on her body, telling her that the markings were blessings, meant to bring strength to one who was close to death. Toph smiled at the action, thanking the lioness for her worry. The artist introduced herself as Zawadi, and said that the two had something in common. While Toph was naturally blind, Zawadi had given up her eyes in a quest through the realm of death. The two developed an instant bond.

One by one the members of the Pride came to meet her, touching their noses to hers and memorizing her scent, as she memorized theirs. Some of them brought her gifts. Makali, the Prince, gave her a necklace of claws and teeth. The Princess Maziwa gave her a head wrap made of warthog tusks that apparently resembled her own elephant tusk headwrap. She felt a swelling inside her chest. She loved this Pride, and wished to give them everything she could in return for their kindness...

For her first birthday, the eldest lioness Jioni gave her a pouch made from buffalo hide. She told her to use it to gather and carry medicinal herbs, and even showed her what a few of them smelled like, telling her what they are used for and how to prepare them. They spent her entire birthday in the fields and groves, looking for herbs and chatting about various healing techniques. Toph grew very close to her new mentor, and so continued to make friends in her new Pride. After Jioni's passing, she gave the blind female one final gift. A Spirit Guide. The elder female's energy now clings to the healer, and provides her guidance and wisdom even after death.

Blackness. Pure, thick darkness surrounded her. She was dreaming, she knew, and even the empty void of her blind gaze wasn't as dark as this. Within the expanse of nothingness, two blinding points of light started to reveal themselves, a brilliant green in hue. Inside them was strength, wisdom, cunning, a ruthless determination to overcome all who rise against him. Him... yes, she didn't know how she knew, but this was a male presence, heady and overwhelming in its dominance. A voice chanted in her head... Mtoto wa Giza, Mtoto wa Giza, the darkness shall rise to rule the Pride...

Toph awoke in a pool of sweat, her own void of blackness now a comfort to her. Calling Mchafu to her side, she told him of her dream, of the eyes and the voice. He seemed intrigued, almost relieved, at the news of the prophecy. The issue of an heir, of who would take over when he passed, had plagued his mind for many weeks now. She cautioned him, telling him that the presence had seemed powerful, determined, ruthless, but he ignored her warnings. Being a king required all those traits at times, traits that Kijana seemed to lack. He walked away with a lighter heart and a confident stride, but Toph still couldn't help wondering... what did the fates have in store for her family?

Toph bonded to the young female Naomi, who was able to see the Realm of Spirits with her own eyes, able to see the Shades that the evil king Kaldr-Sverđ had set upon her beloved pride, now tainted by the evil lion's heart. Upon her death, she became Naomi's spirit guide, as Jioni had once done for her. She even gifted her the herb pouch that Jioni had given to her on her first birthday, trusting the caring, beautiful lioness to care for her pride as she had, to heal both their hearts and their bodies. She didn't know how, but she could sense a great strength in the odd, wonderful, kind-hearted Naomi...