Elder Ebony

"Oh please, Ebony! did not need to practice pouncing - she could catch you any day."

"You nearly jump five feet in the air when a huge spider suddenly appears in your sleeping spot! Luckily, Ebony ran over immediately and threw it out for you. Holy crap."

"Ebony sits next to you and watches the horizon for any incoming danger. Bees included."

"Roaring loudly, Elder Ebony walks around practising her fierce appearance, not really noticing you."

--

"Mugie."
The king turned his head as he heard the voice of his new queen and shamaness, Nkobi. "My dear?" he asked, turning himself fully to face her.
"There is a problem," the lioness said coolly. "My - our daughter, Mhimbe - has run off. She shouted something about not wishing to be trained in the art of medicine and how she wanted to be with that barbary male friend of her's from beyond the reserve. Stupid cub... whatever shall we do?"

Mugie II groaned inwardly. That troublesome daughter of his... in truth, he'd had enough of her demanding ways anyways and had secretly hoped that the lioness would run off sooner or later.
"Do not fret, my sweet," he soothed, bumping his head against hers as he passed her by. "We have that new lioness, Ebony. She's young and still catching up with her training, but once she has proven herself as a full-fledged huntress you may take her under your wing. She will make a fine mate for our Rory."


----
Ebony was taken under Nkobi's wing and for the next few years of her life she trained hard in pursuit of her future role as the new Shamaness and lead lioness of the pride. She and Rory naturally began to spend more time in each other's company, something which delighted Rory's parents.