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[Nee Puree]
Everything changed in a single night. It wasn't considered a bad thing however the change from her birth pride to a new one as she was escorted as far as her pride-kin would dare take her towards the neutral meeting ground where Puree's new King would meet her. Many thoughts crossed her mind including the many thoughts of insecurities from the difference between herself and "normal" lionesses. It was no secret that prides had unique lionesses and lions, such as herself, born to either be great blessings or unfortunate burdens. Luckily she wasn't a burden but she neither considered herself a great blessing. Simple a valuable member of the pride who knew how to pull her own weight in hunts, looking out for everyone and glad to be accepted. It wasn't too much to ask but those were the same things that Puree would expect....
The soft breeze caressed her fur and tickled her nose with the new scents that seem to approach from the tree line of the plain she stood on. Narrowing her eyes as she kept herself calm yet alert, four figures approached all lionesses....all of them surprising to see instead of what she had expected to be the king himself. Then again, there was a relief that the king didn't come giving her a little more time to not be so nervous and anxious.
The three lionesses that approached consisted of an aging but still beautiful fiery coated lioness with clear green eyes the color of new leaves on the first of spring and next to her a slightly aging soft rosy brown lioness with the same clear green eyes and gray marks along her muzzle and legs as if lightning touched her. The next seemed like an intimidating lioness with reddish fur ornamented with purple flowers and visible scars on her face especially the one over her eye that brought out the vivid crimson eyes though interestingly enough those same eyes held warm and curiosity. They all stopped in front of Puree displaying whom was the leader of the small group with the aging fiery lioness giving a soft, warm and maternal smile that touched her eyes.
"Hello young one. We apologize for our tardiness." Said the elder with a bit of humor dancing in her eyes along with the other lionesses whom nodded their apologies and looked almost sheepish.
Raising brows, Puree smiled and shook her head slightly. "It is quite alright. I am very early as my pride-kin wished to ensure that I was here safely for the arrival of the um.....my new pride king?" She finished lamely and sighed softly. Hopefully they didn't think she didn't like their appearance instead of her new pride king.
The fiery elder shook her head softly. "Our king was unable to leave the pride alone given that he has no subordinate males to assist him with border patrols and keeping all his females safe. Instead to help him, he accepted me to pick whomever to accompany and bring you to your new home. In a way it could help with feeling much more comfortable. The part that made us arrive a bit tardy was that all of the lionesses wished to come greet you." Was her amused response.
The two others blushed and averted their gaze before perking up and grinning. "I was picked because I gave a very good reason as the daughter and second eldest. I am Artimis." She bowed her head. The crimson eyed lioness snorted softly with the roll of her eyes. "I'm nowhere near as old as you though a much better warrior perhaps..." She teased then bowed her head. "I am Neculai."
The fiery elder sighed and rolled her eyes. "You are both still cubs." The elder smiled gently. "I am Queen Titaia. Artimis is my daughter and Neculai is daughter to Nasreen whom you will meet along with everyone. We are a big pride though I hope that is alright with you.....?"
Fascinated by the ease they all had with one another Puree blinked then flicked her ears forward. "My birth name is Puree." Queen Titaia nodded. "A very lovely name. Come let us leave here and return to the safety of our home....and when I say 'our' I include you." The elder turned around to lead the way home with Puree immediately following at her flank and the others trustingly at her sides like equals.
"We have a tradition in our pride and that is to be given a new name from our birth prides. It has to mean something unique and special as well as something that pertains to you as an individual. We tend to not name our cubs until they are weaned or if we know what our instincts tell us. You are welcome to keep your birth name, Puree...." The Queen looked over her shoulder as they walked with a smile.
Puree was truly honored for such considerations. Though she was born into different traditions it wouldn't hurt to become apart of the pride in every way possible.
"Do you have any questions for us before we reach the pride?" Neculai asked curiously.
Now that she asked...."Are you uncomfortable with my appearance?" Her parents were pure blooded primal's which made her larger in both body type and slightly taller than the normal lionesses as well as more fierce looking with longer fangs and shorter tail. The pink eyed beauty wanted to be honest upfront while these lionesses spoke to her with such openness.
"No." Came the simple reply from Queen Titaia. "Why not?" It was purely to understand and put to rest her insecurities. "That is a question that will be answered soon enough but to us you are a beautiful lioness and a strong one. No doubt you make your parents and birth pride proud that you have become the lioness that you are today."
Those words warmed her heart and made her love this elder lioness like she loved her mother.
All four lionesses finally approached the thickest tree line ever that seemed impossible to cross through but somehow the lionesses went through as if merging with the foliage of jungle. Puree went right after Queen Titaia surrounded by thick leaves, hanging roots, overgrown roots and thick humidity until they came through into a jungle paradise clearing surrounded in the protection of the trees and foliage while they had their own caves and a water source at the center of the territory that was fed from a stream no doubt from a nearby river. No wonder the pride king could not come greet her....he had all this beauty and wonderfully resourced domain to protect and the lionesses and cubs that lived here from anyone greedy to take it!
"Beautiful isn't?" Murmured Artimis with a smile next to Puree. "It's your home now and we hope that you come to feel accepted as our pride-kin." "Yes my goodness....it is gorgeous here." Feeling honored at the welcome she turned to look at Artimis with her own kind smile. "I'm glad to be home."
"Arti and Necu, please go inform Samil that Puree has come home." Queen Titaia said and the two without a word of protest bowed before bounding off to see who would find him first and who was the fastest to accomplish the task.
"Puree, you came during a transitional time." Tilting her head to the side, Puree stood next to Titaia without fear or feeling as though she was beneath the Queen to not stand on equal footing. "How so, Your Majesty?" Blinking, Queen Titaia stared at Puree then chuckled. "There is no need for formality. I am Queen from the old generation and only until it is time for me to reunite with my beloved Vlad." Her green eyes clouded over with emotion before it disappeared as quickly as it came. "You see," Titaia sat down and motioned for Puree to do the same so as to rest her weary bones and to show her equality. "My mate was King Vladislad the Third. The first Vlad I heard was a good first King and had a son named after him that had no interest in being king. It would be many generations before my Vlad would be born after the death of his father from old age that he was groomed during King Lazlo's reign. I came to his pride as well from my long gone birth-pride and....he was my soul mate. I was unable however to provide him strong cubs from our first litter.
"Anyways, we all did our best to continue this pride from the founding members and their descendants to myself and others who entered here for a new life and home......" Titaia looked at the pink eyes of Puree. "Samir became king after Vlad as he had no sons to follow in his paw-steps and I can tell you that Samil is nothing like the previous king. Samir changed his name twice and his madness grew with the constant death and disappearances of many of our beloved cubs and lionesses." Her voice became soft. "The largest cave belongs to all lionesses and cubs which is protected by me as no male unless invited including the king himself. Samil knows the laws and....." A faint smile touched her lips. "Has done well to follow them and now will enforce them with the respect that Vlad would have approved."
It sounded as though there was alot of history that needed to be uncovered....yet as she was about to ask questions to learn more she noticed to their left that a flurry of activity and noise sounded from welcoming roars of the other lionesses. It must be the king returning. Puree also noted that there did not seem to be any young cubs....
Looking at her paws in consideration and lost in her thoughts, she finally noticed that there was a looming presence in front of her with seemingly gigantic paws. Slowly looking up her breath caught and eyes widen slightly at the sight of another Primal just like her....and goodness he was the handsomest and largest primal male ever, if possible.
"Welcome to your new home. I hope you find it to your liking and comfort." Samil said with his voice deep and rumbling like thunder. "Th-thank you....." Samil nodded briefly to her and then bowed his head respectfully to Queen Titaia before moving away and leaving behind him the whole hoard of lionesses all eager to pounce and welcome here. "Oh dear....here is the welcome committee." Drawled Titaia with humor.
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