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Camille sat still as she was fastened into the gleaming black harness and groomed meticulously by the lionesses working the trading center that day. Nerves began to set in as a pretty golden lioness who practically towered over Camille nudged her into the open and sat nearby to discuss prices with passerby. She watched as kings of various prides that she’d never even heard of looked her up and down before offering skittering silver beetles to her and occasionally stopping to chat for a while. She’d been told that there was a sort of fee to try and convince her to join a pride, and they could offer more beetles or interesting items for more time with her. One lion, a simple king with few silver beetles, stopped and seemed to weigh his options before passing some beetles into the paws of the golden lioness standing watch. He introduced himself as Admetus and spent some time getting to know her, sending more beetles to the guard to spend more time with her, and Camille felt happy, like she belonged. When the days were up and she had to choose, she chose Admetus. “I’m honored! And surprised! My uh- my pride is rather new, and the dens are rather empty, and not very nice—“ Camille had simply smiled and told him that it was okay, and she didn’t need much. Admetus felt like a father to her, and she never once questioned him as her king.
Cam looked up as Admetus entered the den and sat next to her. He smelled of the plains and she breathed in the scent, she hadn’t been able to hunt yet and she longed for the open fields and running outside of the dens. The king dipped his head to her in undeserved respect and she responded with a small bow. “I’ve found a mate for you, if you’ll accept him.” He said awkwardly. Cam looked up abruptly. They’d been talking about Cam possibly having cubs but now? She still felt so young, was she really ready to be a mother? Admetus went on, “He’s rather handsome. Lots of markings, strong, powerful, well built, he would be an excellent sire for your cubs, Cam.” She nodded, mentally preparing herself for that responsibility. Admetus raised his head and rested his chin gently on her head like he did when Cam had first arrived, barely more than a cub. She was much larger now, but he was still able to do it, and she leaned into his mane. “This is your choice Cam, I won’t make it for you.” He said, too softly for anyone to hear, and her heart warmed, “Of course I’ll do it, my cubs are too valuable an asset to this pride to go to waste.” She teased with a gentle purr.
Admetus burst into the den, panting. He’d been on a night patrol when it started, and it had taken hours for Crow to track him down. Recovering himself, he turned to Cam and the tiny, spotted scrap of fur suckling at the curve of her belly. He smiled, “He’s beautiful! Practically perfect!” Cam had nodded, licking the top of her son’s head. “Shall we take him to the Scrying Stone? He looks strong. He could very well be my heir!” Cam was thrilled at the news, and together they had gone to the Stone and gently laid the cub before it, Cam warily aware of the hawk perched atop it. Admetus offered up a pawful of silver beetles that the hawk greedily pecked up and swallowed before flying away to a nearby tree to let the lions be. Admetus pressed his nose to the Stone, one paw resting gently on the cub, and Cam copied him, thrilled to see a vision a perfect, strong, powerful, king before her. Back at home, Cam examined all of her son’s markings, trying to memorize every bit of him. She named him Hyena because of the splotches marking his tiny body.
Admetus slipped into the den after Cam. “Admetus, I don’t want to talk.” “Cam, I’m sorry!” “Sorry won’t bring him back!” Cam had hissed, barely stopping herself from launching at what she viewed to be a pathetic excuse for a pride king. In his defense, he did look truly sorry, but Cam wouldn’t let herself feel for him. Hyena was dead. Her perfect baby boy, gone, and he could have prevented it. She closed her eyes to try and block out the memory of his tiny, mangled body caught in the snare, only to find it more vivid than before. She wrenched her eyes open, “You know that poachers are all over right now! Prowling our lands, the territory you’ve promised to protect!” She spat, “And you refused to assign a broodmother to watch over him, and then you sent me night hunting?! You’re a disgrace.” She’d turned from him then and flopped down into the corner, feeling empty without the reassuring warmth of her son curled up next to her.
Months passed without their relationship being fixed. It dragged Admetus down just as much as Cam. It shocked her when he finally came to talk to her again.
“Cam, goodbye.” Cam froze, “Goodbye??” Had Admetus traded her for silver beetles like a chunk of meat? “I’ve fallen ill. The whole pride is being placed under the care of a new king.” Cam shook her head rapidly, “A new king? Admetus please if this is about us-“ “it’s not, Cam. He’s a bit of a ruthless king but he’s strong and he can protect the pride. No cubs will ever fall on his watch. You will be safe.”
Life in Bone’s pride was different than Admetus’s. He wasn’t kind and he wasn’t gentle. He didn’t make Cam feel welcome. In fact all of the lions adopted new names to fit the way the pride was set up. Only she had refused. And Bone had not been happy about it. He got over it. But he wasn’t happy.
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