Prince Toshiro

Toshiro did not enjoy the company of others.

His adoptive father, King Paki, had chosen him to be his heir, ever since Paki saw him. Toshiro was thrown into the field of learning, immediately. Maybe that was why he didn't enjoy the company of other lions now.

Whenever other cubs ask him to play, he refuses. The games they play are downright stupid, at times. Why should he waste time on them? Soon, the cubs left him alone and he was mostly stuck with the broodmother Astrea. She was a good teacher and adoptive mother, in Toshiro's opinion. But that was it, she was his adoptive mother.

He had dearly missed his mother. She had been killed by one of the poachers in the east side. His real father was in so much debt, that he had to sell Toshiro in order to gain some protection. All that protection got him was a deadly wound to the head that killed him within minutes. No one really knew who had done it. No one could be charged for treason against the king. The Pride had tried to look and sniff out the culprit, but no one was found guilty.

That was because they were looking at the wrong lions.

Toshiro did not feel any guilt for doing what he did. He knew he had a twisted sense of morals and that was what he found as beautiful. His sick ways is what got him to safety. King Paki's Pride, of course took him in, a poor cub who lost his last family. No one would suspect him. Why should they? What can a small cub do?



Years passed and Toshiro grew in size. The lions originally thought he would be of a small stature, by the looks of his growth. He turned out to be the largest in the Pride. Now, he was towering over all the young males in the Pride. No one dared to question his ways or methods. Even if they did, all Toshiro had to do was to flash his sharp canines and that shut the lions up.

The previous king, Paki, was still around. The Grandpaw walked around everyday, chatted with the lionesses and played with the cubs. But Toshiro knew, his time was near. By the way he walked, and how his smile didn't reach to his eyes. He supposed that he has come to terms that his adoptive father was soon to pass on. He respected the lion, Paki had done many great things after Resfeber had also died.

But the times were becoming harsh. While the season of drought should have passed by now, was still here. The plains have been set on fire several times over, and the prey has moved further out. It seemed that not much was left of the great west except for the pride that Toshiro now ruled over.



Paki passed on, peacefully. Or at least everyone thought. No, Toshiro didn't kill him. But he knew that Paki was afraid. Afraid that the pride would not survive because of the ongoing drought. Personally, it irked Toshiro. He was a very capable heir, and he would show that he was.

He moved the pride to a completely different area. No one knew until the very day that they had set out. Toshiro planned it like that for several reasons. First, to not hear any complaints from the lionesses. Some did complain but most understood the dire situation they were in. Second, so other prides from nearby territories did not get new ideas. He had begun preparing way before Paki had passed on. He had ordered the lionesses to hunt more often, switch out the groups as often as possible and get as much food stored- they would need it in the travels. Next, he made sure none of the females were nursing. Timing this was quite hard. None of the nursing cubs would survive, he needed them strong and sturdy for the travel. Finally, it was a secret he kept to himself so none of the lionesses got any ideas. Any one of them that chose to remain behind, he would leave them.

None of them wanted out of the pride, so of course they all followed him. It was a gruelling journey, but it was worth it. Seemed like his source was right about the area they were moving into- a golden forest.




Many years have passed. His reign over the area became known throughout all of the areas nearby. Everyone saw his size, and not everyone was stupid enough to attempt to fight him.

Except for one.

She became his queen.

TBC