Burn Bright

AUGUST STUD

https://www.lioden.com/lion.php?mid=239442



Hazel is accompanied by her spirit animal, a banded wattle-eye bird, Saltator ('Dancer'). He represents her graceful nature and dancing spirit.

It was clear from the first time Burn Bright's soft brown fur touched the sunlight, creeping in from the mouth of the cave she was born in, that she was special. They call her fur 'seer', a treasured and spiritually charged gift to those who wear it. Her cubhood was one of spoil and attention; Sharena, her mother, would spend hours grooming her with gentle care, and telling her tales of the world that lay beyond the territory of king Hookfang. She grew strong and capable; and then came the day she ventured from her nest and was inspected by the king. "She is lovely, Sharena", he sighed; "but not worth the space and feed. She will go on to another pride next sunup". How her mother pleaded; she had been allowed to keep just one cub in all her years. But he was firm, and as the sun rose, she was carried from her home by her scruff.

They traveled for three days, sleeping among wild lionesses in ramshackle caves as they went- and she was admired by all they encountered. At last they came to the borderlands of a real territory; From beneath a willow tree, a soft blue lion emerged. "Hookfang?" he asked.
"Indeed. The cub, as discussed. Is she as you expected?", Bright stood tall and proud in front of the stranger, knowing she was far too precious to shy behind her father like any old cub.
"You are lovely, aren't you, little one?", the lion said gently, stooping to her level. "I am happy to have her".
Bright watched her father walk away, and felt a mixture of hope and fear in her tiny heart.

The king raised her among the pride's own cubs, inattentive in his old age, much of her rearing was left to the wild lionesses who stayed just a few nights before wandering away once more. The freedom suited her well, though she missed her home and mother often. Alongside her, a gentle, pink lioness was raised; the future queen.

Burn Bright grew strong; though elderly, the king ensured great amounts of food was secured and rarely did she feel any tinge of hunger. On her fourth birthday, she saw his retirement; and soon she bore a singular daughter to his heir, and watched her departure as her mother watched hers. The gaping hole her daughter left encouraged her to become the pride broodmother, protecting the weanling cubs.

Her spirit guide is a banded wattle, representing a graceful nature.