Inferos

Infernos were raised by Imperium, Imp taught him things he needed to know, like how to feed the pride and how to woo the ladies. Infernos took these ideas to the next level and wanted to rule the pride with an iron claw keeping his family safe and pride close, but Imp only scoffed at the ideas. Infernos grew cold and bitter his mate Isis noticed and tried to make him happy again. Now infernos linger the pride waiting for his adopted father's death so he can rule the throne the correct way.
-- The Celest was kind enough to write lore for Imperium and Isis! ----
Isis cringed as she ‘noped’ away from a lion, she had regretted attempting to flirt her way into the championships. The disgusting and overly cheesy lines were already engraved in her memory. She finally rested between some rocks once she put enough distance between her and the lion. Her coat popped out of the yellow sand, though, some other lionesses might chase her off for the nice, cool shade. She caught her breath and walked back to the arena, trying to find another way in.

—

Inferos roared in anger, he was close. So close. Close to winning and unfortunately, close to losing Imperium’s favor. His opponent helped him up and pushed him towards the exit as he ruffled his mane to the cheering crowd. Inferos cast a glance at his king, disappointed-as he suspected. He let out another growl as he indulged himself in the dark crevice, he missed one swipe and already, his rhythm was lost. He smacked the wall, later regretting it once the soreness settled in.

“I trained and trained and trained! But no! I missed one thing. ONE THING!” and it’s all because of that dark-coated lioness.

—

Isis reached her goal at last, having sneaked in through a large hole. She squirmed inside and still had a few scratches on her skin. Once she got in, however, she seemed to be late as the two lions in the arena were already bloody. She laid down, nevertheless, hoping she hasn’t missed anything interesting. The battle continued, the lion with the white patches was obviously winning. Until, that is, he cast a small glance at her. Isis widened her eyes as she noticed this and let out a sharp gasp as a strong swipe hit the lion’s muzzle. The losing lion turned the tables as he landed all his attacks. The piebald finally tapped out once he had his neck in his opponent’s jaws.

Isis sighed, she was hoping for the piebald to win, but most importantly, why waste such a victory at one glance? She shook her head and climbed down the stairs and found a way around the arena to reach the resting area.

Inside she found none other than the piebald, sulking in the corner. “Why’d you do that?”

The piebald turned, snarling when he identified the speaker, “You, go away.”

Isis softened her voice once she spotted the claw marks and cracks all over the walls, “The turtle shell is open in, what? 15 minutes? Don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of tries.”

Inferos roared, “at what cost???”

Isis almost snorted, “Five of those.” She pointed at the beetles crawling nearby. Inferos spared them a look and deepened his snarl, “That’s not what I meant!”

“You mean shame, then?” Isis guessed, resisting the urge to sit down.

Inferos huffed and turned. Silence filled the room for a while. Isis flicked her tail and waited, but the oh-so tragic (and juicy) backstory she awaited did not come out. “You’re Imperium’s heir aren’t you?” Inferos stayed silent. “I saw him outside, you know, when he sneered at you. I heard of you, lionesses told me tales of your victories, your exploits.”

Isis took a few steps forward, only getting even closer once Inferos stayed still.

“He was a new king. Last time I saw him, he was an adolescent. He was that YOUNG!” Inferos boomed, baring his teeth. Isis sat next to him, “Last time you saw him was a long time. “

Inferos laid down on his belly, “Imperium will know I lost to a weakling.”

Isis rolled her eyes, “Your fathe-“ The piebald interrupted, “Adopted.”

Isis paused, almost brushing to the lion’s body. “I’m sorry.”

“No need. Once Imperium passes on I will rule. I will rule the right way! No bloodshed. I will change my pride’s ways. And I-“ Inferos slightly teared up, “I am afraid I will lose that chance.”

Silence did not come for a round of applause filled the air, another battle must have finished, yet Isis no longer wished to see the event. “That is alright. You can prove yourself, fight another round out there. You lost because of me. I will leave, and you will tell your father that I have thrown a pebble at you or something.” Isis stood and turned but Inferos stood as well, “Wait!”

Isis did not turn, “What is it?”

Inferos muttered, “What-what is-“ He cleared his throat-and hopefully the pale pink in his cheeks, “What is your name?” At this, Isis turned with curiosity, “Isis, what is it?”

Inferos gathered his voice, “Stay. Go to the viewing seats. Watch.” and with that, Inferos walked past her. But he was heading back. Back to the arena.

—

Isis found a seat near the middle. A big, barbary mane blocked a part of the battlefield, but she could see the rest clearly. She found Imperium, seated with some lionesses, probably his queens. And in the field, was a huge, armored lion. That lion, and Inferos.

Isis has never felt this jittery in a battle, maybe once outside when V’kai challanged Vash in a duel, but this was much more intense. She felt like…there was so much more at stake.

Inferos and the lion started circling the field, not once did they break their eye contact. The lion snarled and let his claws retract to the dirt. Inferos replied with some intimidating move of his own.

Finally, Inferos made his first move.

He pounced at the lion, but he easily swept him aside. Inferos got back on his paws and lunged again, this time clutched on the lion’s mane. The lion roared and bucked but Inferos had delivered a hard blow to his head before letting go.

The lion let out some profanities, some Isis’ mother never even told her. He charged at Inferos only for him to get a good scratch in his side, he howled in pain but turned to the piebald once more. Inferos made a face and the lion charged at him like a berserk wilderbeest. Inferos easily dodged him and kicked his hind, making the huge lion topple over.

Inferos caught his breath as the lion struggled to get up, he turned to Isis very quickly and winked. The lionesses-and lions-around her gasped and giggled, but Isis had thought to herself that her melanism was cured and in truth she had a bloodbourne base. She was that red.

Inferos chuckled and turned to his opponent, who has already gotten up. The lion was steaming. He was not happy.

The piebald’s grin faded as he caught a glimpse of Imperium blank stare, nevertheless, it returned once he rediscovered his proper motivation: to become heir, to prove himself, and bring justice to his pride.

That, and to woo Isis.

Inferos let out a challenging roar and immediately, the lion bellowed back. He charged again, aiming to ram Inferos to oblivion. Inferos leaped. He leapt so high that his paws could grasp onto the lion’s back easier than he had planned.

In a flash, Inferos pushed the lion down with all his might and quickly put the lion’s neck in his maw. The lion fell and dropped onto the ground.

The crowd gasped and somber silence filled the land.

Out of that silence, two soft taps were heard.

The lion tapped out.

The whole coliseum erupted in cheers, lions roared and applauded. The eagles soaring above to watch screeched and swooped down, diving near Inferos.

The piebald chuckled as the eagle feathers tickled him, he glanced at Imperium. There was no emotion on his face still. However, once he turned to Isis, she was laughing and choking a poor lioness with a bear hug. Inferos smiled. He felt so happy. One victory made him so happy.

—

Unfortunately, Imperium had left Inferos behind, so he was left to wonder what Imperium might have thought of him. Whatever it was, he had to see Isis first. He squirmed past a crowd of lions trying to head home, some congratulating him. He finally found Isis far in the back, apparently she had made friends with the patched lioness she choked, she was still out of breath from cheering and jumping.

The patched lioness spotted Inferos and said her farewells to Isis and left.

Inferos smile, it was so broad, Isis imagined his muzzle would fall from his snout. “What is it?” She giggled, twirling her tail around.

Inferos nuzzled her and Isis pulled away, “I’m sweaty!”

The lion smiled, a smaller one this time. “Will you join my pride?”