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As you come near, Morning’s break lies down and shows you her belly, maybe to groom it a bit?
When you come near, resting Morning’s Break makes a little coo in her throat, then rolls over to show her belly. She blinks slowly at you and coos again when you groom her.
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You approach this lioness and sit down next to her, curling your tail around your paws. After a moment’s silence, you murmur a greeting to the pride’s second in command.
“Hello young traveller. Would you like to hear a tale? Don’t look at me like that, I’m no elder. I do enjoy a good story, though.”
You nod and she lifts her head to the sky thoughtfully.
“Alright... here is a good one. I was never told this, I saw it with my own eyes, happening right within this pride. It used to be a very large place, with many lions within, but the peace didn’t last. A young lioness began arguing with our queen, wanting new things for the pride, things that she she wasn’t willing to give. The arguing continued for weeks, so much so that she got a few others to join her, revolting against Flaring Heart’s rule. They believed they should have a king. Flaring Heart was furious, and as fights started breaking out she separated the pride, lions who wanted a king, and lions who didn’t. They shared the lands, but lived on different sides of it. This wasn’t a long term solution however, and hunting parties who encountered each other fought constantly. The other side had no leader, unable to find a king suitable for their group, and began to argue amongst themselves over hunting locations and whatnot. The jealous lioness who started all this was angry that Flaring Heart and I had our side under control, and declared war on us. She seemed to believe that we were privileged in comparison to her, as we had kept the original den sites of the pride. Whoever won the battle would win the lands, and the other would be forced to either leave or submit. The fight to end the fight, if you will. Though we did our best, soon our queen refused to keep battling, as these were lions who were once close friends. Finally she convinced the lioness to take her side and leave, to never return if she were willing to tear her own side and ours to shreds just for a king. The next morning she was gone, taking almost everyone with her. Only me and a few other lionesses remained, in a broken pride supporting Flaring Heart. Now we have rebuilt ourselves, with new laws and rules, though we still lack our former glory...”
She sighs, standing up and padding away and disappearing into the dim cave mouth of Vulture’s Lookout. What an interesting tale.
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