Ekundayo

Name meaning: the one who turns sorrows into joy; sorrow becomes joy (Language of origin: Yoruba)

Ekundayo hasn't had the easiest life: captured as a cub by poachers she was sold on the black market to those in the exotics trade. They originally planned on selling her as a pet but when it became clear she had the rare primal mutation they instead decided to wait until her fangs grew in fully. Primal fangs sold for quite a bit more than cubs as "medicine" for just about every male ailment one could think of. What they didn't expect was her sentience. She bided her time waiting until she had her moment to escape.

Time passed and her outlook seemed bleak. The traders always made sure that she'd have no chance to fight back whenever direct contact was necessary until one day, while bringing in a small and struggling pale cub, one of the guards made their final mistake. He forgot to tranquilize Ekundayo before opening her cage to toss the new, struggling, cub in. Without any hesitation she lunged forwards knocking him onto his back forcing him to release his grip on the cub.

"RUN!" she roared to the cub as she made short work of the human. After finishing off the guard she saw the cub wide eyed and still there forcing her to pick her up by the scruff and run. Though they both made it out alive both she and her charge, who she named Chinaza, were heavily scarred in the process. Alive by only the most technical of definitions she wandered the plains with the her newfound daughter, searching desperately for her pride where she knew they'd both be safe. She made it two days before collapsing from a combination of exhaustion, dehydration, and blood loss. Luckily enough for her she happened to collapse in the area that Mwezi was patrolling at the time. He tossed her onto his back and grabbed Chinaza by the scruff before rushing back to his pride.

When she awoke her wounds were bandaged, there was food in front of her, and there were no bars. She was free. She and her daughter both were free and alive. She happily joined the pride that had rescued her and her newly adopted daughter wanting to pay back in full the debt she owed them.

Personality:
In spite of all she's gone through she is still trusting of others. She wants to believe that there is still good in the world and because of that she prefers to give someone a chance first before judgement. To those she's deemed good, or at least not going to kill her or her daughter in their sleep, she is helpful and attentive. She is quick to start any task assigned and will do her best to complete it in a timely manner especially if cubs are involved. She absolutely adores cubs and will happily spoil them rotten if given half a chance. Because of this she decided to become a Broodmother and has been thoroughly enjoying it.

To those who she deems evil she is uncharacteristically cold and even violent. She's seen enough evil in the world and in her mind those who harm others intentionally have revoked their right to live especially those who harm cubs. She will kill any who purposefully harm cubs in her presence without hesitation if someone does not stop her first. Cubs are precious to her and she believes they deserve to live a life as free of trauma as possible.

Art:
Fain#136214 (commissioned)