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Name: Sāntira
Nickname: N/A
Pride Title: Queen Sāntira the Merciful
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Birth Pride: Unknown Pride
Current Pride: The Pride of Eternal Autumn
Pride Role: Ex-Queen, Queen to King Netirix
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Mother: Malaya
Father: Unknown
Sibling(s):
Mate: King Netirix
Cub(s): Queen Nadira
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Sāntira was born on the prideless stretch, a vast empty space between the prides where only loners live. She was born into a pride, but her and her mother had been given the boot because of her mutation. Sāntira's mother, Malaya, fought hard to keep her daughter fed and healthy even though she was the only one hunting. When Sāntira was just two years old, Malaya died from starvation. And suddenly, Sāntira was alone once more.
She wandered the stretch aimlessly, not knowing what to do or where to go. Until she met Netirix. She had happened upon him and his submale while he had been out on a patrol. He insisted on her joining his pride. He was insistent, if not a bit forceful. But in the end, she accepted. It was obvious to her that the male thought he was head over heels. But Sāntira saw his true self. She saw his horrific ways. She saw him brutally murder innocent lions and other animals alike. She would not love a brutal killer.
Ultimately, Sāntira made him promise to become kinder. He did. And so she became one of his lead consorts, the queen of the pride. However, soon after the deal was sealed, Netirix reverted back to his cruel ways. Worse, even. He took more land, killed more lions. He even started killing his own sons and daughters that didn't come out the way he wanted. Everyone knew his name. And everyone feared him all the same. Even Sāntira.
When her first cubs were born, she was afraid. She was worried for them, that Netirix would kill them on sight, too. But when Netirix saw his offspring, he smiled. For the first time in what seemed like years. But when he laid his eyes upon the first cub, however, his gaze hardened. One cub was born a Ferus Primal, like Sāntira. The other was a plain cub. Despite Sāntira's begging cries and horrified screams, Netirix killed his dud daughter, leaving Sāntira with one cub less.
Sāntira mourned for months, refusing to so much as look at Netirix. Much less grant him any more cubs after that. So Sāntira went without being a mother for years. She watched her surviving daughter, Nadira, grow and mature into a beautiful primal just like her mother. And she feared. Every day she feared wat might happen if Netirix changed his mind. If he decided he no longer wanted her. Would he kill her? Chase her out? Fatally injure her? Blind her? She didn't know. But she didn't want to find out. She taught Nadira to keep her head down, even though Netirix was her father.
When Netirix was finally killed, Santira did admittedly feel a bit or remorse. Of what could have been. She had wasted her near whole life in Netirix's shadow, cowering under him. She hated herself for that. But not as much as she hated the now dead king.
When Sequoia rose as king in Netirix's place, Sāntira happily accepted him. She was even more overjoyed when Nadira, her now grown daughter, was crowned queen of the pride beside Sequoia. She was proud of her daughter. And that was one thing Netirix gave her that she did not regret.
Sāntira bore Sequoia a few more litters before ultimately dying in her den from old age.
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You want to tell a pride mate that they need to correct their behavior, but you couldn't find the words and you felt bad. So, you approach Sāntira and ask her to do it for you. She laughs at your ineptitude, but agrees. You can trust her to say what needs to be said.
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