Alcyone II

When Alcyone was born the first thing that they noticed was that, even at a young age, she bore a striking resemblance to the Celestial lioness Alcyone. Her parents thought this could be a blessing or a curse. Since the original Alcyone had been cursed to have a mortal form no living lion really knew if she became one with the earth when she died, or if perhaps the Celestial king Alnitak forgave her and welcomed her back to his side.

Hoping for the best the cub's parents called her Alcyone after the once immortal lioness hoping to gain her favor if her spirit still lived on and watched them from the stars.

As Alcyone grew up she grew tired of bearing the infamous queen's name. Some lions practically worshiped her as if she was the queen herself, others seemed to fear her or think that her existence might anger her namesake.

Eventually her parents, seeing the response other lions had to her and hoping to further their own ambition, sent her to live in the pride of Sirius Draconis, heir to Alpha Draco who had first formed the powerful pride that harbored the cursed Celestial lionesses. Alcyone was meant to become his queen, her parents said. But when she arrived at the pride she found that Sirius, while a strong and steady king, didn't know his heart very well. Alcyone became one of his several romances and found herself having to compete for the position of High Queen. But Sirius continued to put off naming any one of the lionesses his High Queen, though neither Alcyone or any of the others knew whether he delayed out of uncertainty they'd do the job well, not wanting to share his power, or perhaps desire to appoint a lioness who won over his heart.