Ember'Leap

੭.° 𝙾𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚜 ♡

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Fertile land may be synonymous with an easy life, but they are like a magnet, attracting forces that cannot be remedied. Thorn Pride had everything for success, with over 30 members, a fiery spirit that aspires for war, and a large territory with annual water reserves, but unfortunately the plains of Liuwa would prove deadly. There was a legend among the animals, they feared a creature beyond their comprehension, it was bipedal and could kill only with its gaze, letting out a roar stronger than the lightning of the severe storms. The man.

Thorn Pride's first line of defense was the countless bushes, full of sharp, poisonous thorns, that lay near the lions' dens. Their rivals could never reach their cubs, not even the most cunning of leapers could cross that environment, but unfortunately, not even that could save them from imminent destruction. No matter how fertile their land is, the heat will always be there, scorching the unhappy land below with its flaming rays, as if the mother star itself were planning a genocide. Together, the entire Thorn Pride lay below an acacia tree, in the heart of their territory, making themselves vulnerable to an ambush.

The birdsong was cut off by a thunderous roar that cut through the wind, just as the first lion cub dropped dead beside its mother. Briar'Flame, the matriarch, knew they were being hunted, but in the face of danger, it was every lion for himself, and Ember'Stike, her daughter, needed her help to survive that attack. The hunt continued as his fellow family members fell dead beside him, Briar needing to clear a path with his paws and leap over the bodies of his loved ones. Ember'Leap had never been so horrified, but her world was shattered as soon as Briar'Flame fell just in front of her daughter, her eyes bulging, blood gushing from a wound in her head, a gunshot wound. She fell dead, instantly.

Ember'Leap couldn't stop, she ran to where she couldn't take it anymore, towards the high undergrowth, and there she fell into a trap, a line caught in her neck, cutting her throat, while holding her almost motionless. A noise in the treetop, as something metal rattled, while she could already hear the voice of the same beasts that slaughtered her family. Anger, rage and mostly fear took over the lioness as she trembled, her mind blurred, erratic thoughts and whispers of disaster made themselves in her head. Her pupils dilated as she searched for a solution, and driven by adrenaline she cut the wires with brute force, leaving hideous marks on her neck, which was already raw. On her way she saw two tall, shadowy figures in the undergrowth, the men. Fear was repelled by adrenaline, and in an attempt to survive she jumped on the first, slitting its throat, which gushed blood at the poor lioness. A bang occurred, fast and loud, as she felt a pain in her hip, the shot had caught her grazing, but enough to cut her skin. The other man didn't last long after being noticed by the lioness, finding himself dead from her vicious attack, but whispers and heavy footsteps made their way among the tall grass, and Ember'Leap knew she needed to get away.

For days she had sneaked, almost invisible, among the golden underbrush, feeding on a carcass of an eland killed by the hunters, but she was still being pursued. Every shadow, every winding hill, could hide her death, and Ember'Leap needed to escape, but the problem was a tall, sharp barbed wire fence marking the end of the national park, which had now turned into a battlefield. The ground in the underbrush, and beyond in the grasslands, was stained with blood, and the lioness's injuries were not good at all, with each day, each confrontation, each trap, the more her body was weakened. And her spirit shattered. She had nothing to lose, and so, she jumped, managing to get through the gap between the wire, but her paw got caught, and in the leap, a wound opened up, gushing blood everywhere, going all the way to her elbow. In desperation, she screamed, attracting the attention of the hunters, but this time she didn't have the option to run away.

An unwavering spirit of survival, or despair at the horrific death that awaited her, forced the lioness to crawl across the plain, until she could hear the screams and heavy footsteps behind her. She would have died, if not for a spotted car that arrived, driving the hunters away. Not understanding the situation, and with her strength dwindling, Ember'Leap gave up the fight, and surrendered, closing her eyes and passing out.

Ember'Leap awoke in a strange land, in the middle of a verdant plain that stretched to the horizon. She had been bandaged, and her most serious injuries were now healed. Someone had helped her, but she doesn't remember who. In any case, she still needed to survive, she was hungry, and thirsty for water. She moved to a pool near where she stood, and on the other side she saw a lioness as beautiful as her mind could imagine, gifted with blue tones, Echo'Light, the matriarch of the Matata Pride, and now her new leader.




੭.° 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝 ♡

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Ember'Leap genuinely believes that it was Matata Pride who took care of her injuries, and the lionesses have never disproved her theory, all they need is for her to prove her worth. Being considerably young, Ember'Leap doesn't have much credibility in the hunt, but she is a fast learner, and her determination has caught the attention of Stone'Strike, one of the most renowned lionesses. She accepted her as her ward, training her in the morning in reconnaissance of the territory, and how to use the terrain, as well as complex strategies, to defeat her victims. Ember'Leap might not be the strongest of lionesses, but with Stone'Strike's help, she could become someone truly respectable.

The lioness doesn't have much contact with the others, she spends most of her time with Stone'Strike, which can be dangerous, as the older lioness has her own plans for domination. Ember'Leap may not be realizing it, but Stone'Strike may not be being sympathetic, she is building her own army, making alliances, to finally challenge Echo'Light. The gray lioness has her daughter, a prodigy ward, Echo'Song, but Stone'Strike would prove that necessity, as well as cleverness, can forge a stronger warrior than simply birthright.