Hinode

Hinode arrived to this world like everyone else. A loving mother, a warm nest, and plenty of siblings to cuddle. But she was born with a curse; blinded. She never even knew what her own body looked like, she just had to go off what everyone else told her. They'd always tell her she shined just like her mother. The blazing orange fur adorned with dark black markings, just like her mother. She was always compared to her mother, the one person she craved to see just once.
Hinode tried to be upbeat about it, but deep down she hated it. Why did she have to be punished this way? She was only a cub, after all. Her siblings had the gift of sight, but she only had blurry darkness. To her, it wasn't fair, and never will be.

Upon reaching adolescence, it also reached a breaking point for her. She was off playing with her siblings when the king had pulled her off to the side. Though not seeing his face, she could smell the despair on his shaggy fur. He had informed her that she wouldn't be able to join the others in hunting, or adventuring out in to the forests. It was too dangerous for her.
It hit her like a rock in the face. She felt useless; she had always wanted to join her siblings in the thrill of the hunt, or help bring herbs back for the healers. But instead she just had to sit and look pretty. So, she did. She sat in her little nest, tucked away from all the others, and wept.

For days she refused to move, it took heaps of convincing just to get her to eat. Hinode felt like a burden to the others, she couldn't help with anything and she wasn't allowed outside of the dens. What was the purpose of her even staying here, then? Of course, every day, she'd get the same dull compliments. Always about her mother, wasn't it.
She hated being stuck here, hated her eyes, and hated being compared to everyone else.

That is, until a new, strange lioness joined the pack. She smelled bizarre to Hinode, like blazing fire that was scorched by a furious river. She learned her name quick; Tsukiakari. It was screamed almost every day by the broodmothers and the king. The opalescent lioness was always getting into trouble, and eventually, that trouble made it's way to Hinode.

Tsukiakari had discovered her secluded nest one day, loudly barging her way in. "Hey, you! I haven't met you yet, what's your name?!" She piped up, trotting in circles around the smaller lioness. Hinode nearly jumped out her pelt, swiveling her ears in an attempt to keep track of the other. "O-oh! Uh, hello. My name's Hinode and-" She was cut off by even more incoherent rambling, mostly picking up on the little compliments. Hinode was having trouble keeping up with the opal lioness, her head spinning in circles at this point.
"What's up with you, anyway? Y'stuck inside, I've never even seen you before! How come y'never join us?" Tsukiakari nudged her with her nose, settling down next to her. "Well, Karmroge doesn't like it when I leave the den. He says it's too dangerous, 'cause I can't see." Hinode's soft voice squeaked out, still surprised at how loud the other's voice was. "Load of zebra dung! I've seen five blind rats take on tigers. I bet you could climb mountains!" She snapped. That comment got Hinode thinking, and she'd prod on it all night.
Their conversation lead on for hours, drawing on into the night. Tsukiakari rambled on about how she was worth so much, and Hinode was just happy to have a friend. Their chats went all over the place, but Hinode was finally happy again, she had more spring in her step to be able to talk to someone who wasn't so focused on her looks.

They had met up every day, their rambles keeping them occupied. Eventually, they had grown close.
Close enough, Hinode had caught feelings for the rambunctious feline. Every time they talked, she'd always get little butterflies in her stomach. Her paws would ache and her whiskers would twitch. But she was just too nervous, how could anyone like her if she can't live up to the pride's expectations?
Little did she know, Tsukiakari had thought the exact same of her. So, one night, when the moon was at it's highest, they met underneath a willow tree.

"I brought you out here for a reason, y'know." Tsukiakari's voice was surprisingly soft for once as she brushed up against her friend. "I wanted to talk 'bout somethin'." Hinode's heart practically rang in her chest. She wasn't used to this sudden quiet from her friend. Did she do something wrong? "Of course, Tsuki! Anything you need." She hummed, trying to keep the knot in her throat down.
"We've.. Known each other for quite a while now, yeah?" The opalescent lion rumbled in reply. "I suppose it was only natural but.. I love you-" She was cut off by Hinode tackling her before she could even finish, noisy purrs and gentle licks was all she got. That was enough for her.
Hinode had a wide grin, the butterflies finally escaping her stomach. "I've always loved you! Your energy keeps me going, Tsuki." Tsukiakari leaned down, giving the small lioness a few laps at the ears. "You keep me goin' too, my little morning glory."

From then on, they refused to leave each other's side; Tsukiakari even dragged her into her own little mischief. Hinode didn't need the pride's approval anymore, she only wanted her moonlit dreams.