Saaya

Technically, Saaya is not a Floodlander. She isn't technically African. Hailing from India, Saaya was raised by a single mother in the dense, dry forest. Her mother was an escaped zoo lioness who didn't know how to get home to her zoo. Instead of risking her cub, Benee raised Saaya as best she could. She did however forget to explain to the cub that kings of prides where she came from were male... only saying that they had an Ayaal... which means both "mane" and "family". So when Saaya was old enough and set off on her own, she was ready to start an ayaal! She soon met another unfortunate friend. She came across a tigress called Garjan.

Saaya and Garjan hit it off quickly, and after exchanging cultures and living together, Garjan asked to join Saaya in searching for other lions. Both misunderstood "mane" so when the first lion they ran into on their long journey to Africa attacked them, and Garjan helped Saaya kill him... she suggested that Saaya just... take his mane! Now other lions could tell that she deserved an Ayaal!

Years later, the two ran into Pharoah Narmer Menes in Egypt. He was not at all disturbed by the mane or the tiger, nor by the lioness' stature. He said that one of his pridemembers would love to know another like her and invited both to join the pride.

Saaya still wears her mane with pride and as a sign of her strength. And Garjan still growls at any who get too close to her mate.