Preeda

The lioness stood in the harsh sun, and she was scared.
She was an older lioness, getting on in her years. She had not had cubs that had lived for a while, and the only cubs left to her memory were much too old to coddle and care for, and were in prides of their own. Her hunting skills were, comparative to other lionesses, weak, and her statistics were low. She did not know whether she would end up in a tribe only to be ritualistically killed, or whether she would be sold to a pride where the king grew bored of them and leave the lionesses to fend for themselves among the dust and the hyenas. All she knew is that she was an undesirable.
Standing on a busy section of the market, she tried to puff out her chest. She remembered coming down from the highlands during a hungry stretch with her many sisters, and remembered her rich history. Prancing with others who looked like her, had the distinctive head and leg marks, she never thought of herself as peculiarly special; but here, it was the one thing that could distinguish her, and help her keep some pride. The only thing she did not like of her marks was a peculiar spot on her nose. Other lionesses in her pride used to tease her about it, laughing that she would eat *all* parts of an animal, not just the meaty bits, and that's why her nose was brown.
She hoped nobody here would notice (too much). And so she waited, waited, many days and nights. Nobody would come for her, passing her over for prettier and younger lionesses. She grew tired of being unwanted, and thought wistfully back to those high mountains where she was, if nothing else, in a group with others that loved her.
On a particular day, it was sunny, but clouds were gathering on the horizon, waiting to strike rain down into the land. She was upwards, at the sky, a dispirited look on her face, maybe hoping that one of the rabies infested monsters wandering the land would come and bring her out of her misery. A slow shadow, however, came over her, covering the azul sky. A reddish lion stood in front of her, puzzling over her, his spiky brown main giving her a personal shadow. She stood up a little bit taller at the inspection, but her eyes stayed straight on him pridefully, hoping it would give him confidence that she had, if nothing else, a little bit of zest. The leader of her pride, having been previously interested in the sale of other lionesses, hastily popped over, gave a price, and left as quick as he arrived.
The strange lion extended her a paw. "My name is Coccina," he said in a low tenor. "A few of my good lionesses in my pride have just passed from old age, may their souls be blessed." He looked up at the sky sadly.
The lioness was touched. He seemed to genuinely care for his girls...
"I need some more hunters. The young lionesses take too long to raise to adulthood and train up. Would you be up to the task?"
She paused for a moment, formulating her answer. "Truthfully sir," she started, "I'm not sure. I may have ten years on me, but I have not had much practice as a hunter, and, as I am from the wilds, I am poorly skilled overall." The lion smiled. "I am aware of that. Your head lion mentioned those details...what I wish to know is, would you be willing to try and learn?"
She pushed her head back, surprised. "But why would you choose me to do so? I saw you looking at ladies more skilled than I and a little younger too. You would get more out of them."
"Well," Coccina replied, "I certainly could. But they will find somebody else to give them a home. I'm not really trying to give myself a saviour complex, but you look like you could really use a home where people cared. I have several kind lionesses in my pride that would love somebody older to help them out with the coming influx of cubs in my pride. And besides, I love the Siamese markings- who knows, we could even make a mother out of you still!"
She thought about it, but really, she did not have many options. It was to stay her and languish, or make herself useful somewhere else. Yet another change, another move. She hoped this one would prove to be more useful.
"I accept your offer, sir." she stated formally, and bowed her head. Coccina chuckled. "No need for the formality," he said, "you're my wife now, and equal before me and my other wives."
***********
They left together immediately, the old pride owner not even giving a second glance. They walked for several moons, and they eventually arrived at the small pride. Several lionesses were coming back with a kill, while a pregnant red lioness languished lazily in a nest, keeping a watchful eye on two playful cubs, The lionesses, spotting their king returning, gave him a quick head bob before noticing the newcomer. She smiled nervously at them, and realised that several of them had markings like hers!
"Hello everybody!" Coccina greeted. "I've brought somebody here to help with the hunting now that Iona is out of commission and Natalie and Eska, bless them, have gone to run in the stars"
Both parties stared at each other for a second, before the lioness got goofy grins and began to walk up to their new sister, one by one, and rub her face with theirs. They all exchanged pleasantries, and then a little runt-y lion cub ran up to her.
"Hello miss!" he shouted, "Are you going to be the new den mother? Iona isn't letting us do anything!"
Another cub ran up, this one darker and different from all the lionesses. "Hello! I'm new too! What's your name?Are you going to change your name now that you're in a new pride? What's that spot on your nose? Is it a-" and with that one of the Siamese cuffed her lightly and told her to be quiet.
The lioness thought. "Well, no, I should chose a new name. My last one was rather poor..." she thought for a moment. What should she chose? Should it reflect her new job? Her level of stats? Or perhaps...her old history, to join with the new?
"I shall choose the name Preeda," she says pridefully, "A joyful name for a joyful new start." She smiled.
"Now, let's go out hunting. I'm very excited to learn." And with that she trotted off into the distance, followed by her new pridemates, her new sisters...and her new friends.