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How Queen Rachi earned her title-
Rachi had been surrounded by hyenas when King Timberstar saved her. Rachi, as much as she wanted to have said she could handle herself, couldn't deny the life debt she now owed him. Ergo, she agreed to join Timberstar's pride
Over the course of the next few months, Rachi proved herself to be an exceptional strategist, hunter, and one with knowledgeable advice. Timberstar kept note, as a few were competing to be by his side, but in the end it was his choice after all.
Dawn had creeped into the sky. Rachi and a few others were soaking in the new day when Temo came skidding out of the den. " My daughter is missing! Wrack has gone!" Temo was obviously panicked, as she had already lost two Cubs to illness. Wrack was the only one to survive... so far. Rachi stood, asking all sorts of questions. Rachi followed the cub's tracks from the sand of the nursery, bent grass outside, all the way to an abandoned warthog tunnel. "Wrack?!", Rachi called. "I'm stuck! Help me!", Wrack screamed. Her voice echoed in the tunnel. Rachi called upon the other lionesse's. They broke down the tunnel as far as they could. With the aid of a long stick, Wrack was saved.
Timberstar and Temo gave the cub a strong scolding before being loved on by her mother. When the moon rose after a day's hunt, Timberstar padded quietly to her. His amber eyes shone with curiosity and anxiety," Care for a stroll?", he asked a little quickly. Rachi raised an eyebrow but shrugged," Only been hunting all day." Yet, she still rose to her paws and walked side by side with her King.
Soon, these strolls in the dark became a common occurrence. They would play games, talk about what lay out in the world, their hopes, and their beliefs. One night Timberstar and Rachi were playing Hunt the Pig. Rachi had hid herself amongst the tall grass. She could hear her friend prowling around her. Suddenly, she was grabbed and they rolled. Timberstar and Rachi laughed like cubs that had no fears. Then, he suddenly got quite, and his face turned soft.
"I've been meaning to ask you something.", he rumbled as his black mane curtained her face. Rachi's mint eyes glowed in the darkness," Well ask." Timberstar took a breath and went for it," Will you be my Queen? Will you rule with me?" Rachi felt dumb for not expecting this. She was quiet for a moment before she leaned up and licked his cheek.
When the pair returned at dawn, tails curled around each other, the lionesses stared. A few jealous ones growled softly, only to get a fearsome snarl from Timberstar. The king paused in the middle of the cave,"For any with doubts, yes, I have chosen her. Rachi is no more! She is now Queen Rachi: Ruler of the River Kingdom!" When he finished, the other lionesses roared in approval.
A few months later, Rachi found out she was pregnant.
Queen Rachi sighs, watching her only son flirt with Xiera. She felt old now, seeing her cub having grown up. Soon, he would be a fully fledged lion. Behind her, she picks up the scent of Timberstar, her beloved king.
Timberstar rumbles," Rachi, my sweet, whatever is the matter?" The battlescarred brute nuzzles her gently. Rachi sighs," Our son...what happened to our little cub who would show us his collection of bugs?"
Timberstar smiles warmly, his eyes glowing white in the moonlight," Why, he has become a lion."
Rachi looks crestfallen," Timberstar....I'd...I'd like to mother again."
Timberstar pauses for a moment," With you? Why, we will have delightful cubs once more."
The two tumble in the grass, purring loudly. Ancestors know what they were doing.
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