Mkali

Mkali "Bright"

Bio: Mkali was born from a hybrid mother, half leopard and lion, their leopard genetics made them very aloof and cautious, preferring to live a solitary life in thick overgrown bushland
Eventually Mkali grew old enough to venture out and play though only under the watchful eye of her mother
One day while her mother was preparing to leave for a hunt, she warned her daughter not to stray from the den while she was gone, it was the first time Mkali had been completely left by herself and she wanted to prove to her mother she could trust her
She waited hours, well into the night before she grew impatient, she crept out of the den, head lowered and ears flattened, softly calling for her mother
For hours she wandered through overgrowth of roots and thorns, over rocks and tiredly trudged in wet mud until she could see a break through the foliage, she saw something in the distance laying still in the open Savannah, she had never been on the plains before but she gathered her courage as a gentle breeze carried her mother's scent to her
She ran towards the figure in the distance sure enough finding her mother laying on her side in the grass
Her mother was breathing very shallow, she didn't even seem to realize her daughter standing over her until she asked if she was all right
Weakly she told Mkali to run away, hyenas had ambushed her during a hunt gravely injuring her and that they would be back soon
The helpless cub knew she couldn't do anything so they shared a tear felt goodbye as her mother died and Mkali left, she barely made it 30 feet before the horrible droan of sick cackles and whooping eminated from behind her, looking back she saw the hoard of spotted hyenas converging on the body in the grass
Not paying attention to her footing she fell with a loud thump gaining the attention of the slobbering beasts uproaring in a chorus of yips and twisted laughter as they gave chase
Mkali ran as fast as she could with her stubby cub-ish legs, she could feel the hot breath of her large pursuers on her flanks fearful tears stung her eyes knowing they would catch her
The jaws of one of the hyenas snapped shut with a loud clacking noise and it's teeth barely grazing the fur from her heel before she was suddenly free falling, landing in the bottom of a small hole, looking up she saw the braver of hyenas clambering down after her, before the canine could reach her she ducked behind some roots in by the side of the pit, shielding her from certain death, she screamed for help when suddenly a feirce reverberating roar echoed around them, noticing the hyenas had stopped and were staring up at the far edge of the pit across from them, Mkali dared a glance and peeked her head out from her hiding spot just enough to see who or what it was
Standing up on the edge was a lioness staring down at the cowering canines, her lips were pulled back in a deadly snarl, one eye the colour of blazing blue fire and the other like a gold tinted gem stone, a peculiar tuft of white hair on her head swept back in the wind and the first tinges of dawn encircled her figure illuminating her white and black bloched cream coat an aura of authority eminated from her
She snarled and leapt from her perch, protectively landing infront of Mkali her back facing her
She ordered the hyenas to leave but the beasts gave a mocking chuckle but before they could say anything they realized the edges of the pit were surrounded by different lions, all of them bearing angry expressions, ducking their heads and tucking their tails between their legs the spotted dogs clambered out of the pit and ran until they were no longer in view

Mkali learnt that the lioness who saved her was the queen of a nearby pride, she spilled all her emotions and tearfully explained she was was now an orphan, the Queen welcomed Mkali to stay
She accepted