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Starry Night snarled as she paced, tail lashing dangerously. "Glowstar would never have allowed this behavior. Much less the killing of our cubs."
"I agree. We need to do something about Rain's Light." Night Sky's eyes flash, ears flicking. "A pride doesn't exist without strong cubs. Already our numbers have fallen exponentially. We used to have over thirty strong lionesses to hunt and protect. If we are to survive, he must fall."
The gathered lionesses nod collectively, eyes sharp.
Star huffs, watching Night Sky chase Rain off again for daring come near the cubs, and remembers what the bat said. One cub, one little life, to be born in a couple of days. This month. She hasn't told the others yet, though she's sure they suspect. Her scent is starting to change, she knows that. She huffs. At least they don't treat me like I'm fragile. Like hell will Rain find out though. It's not his cub, we all know this. Her tail flicks, and she lays her head on her paws, listening to the night-bugs outside of the caves. Is Glowstar watching us? Does Glowstar know that his once-kind protégé has gone insane? Will we even survive? She looks at Speckled Berry, the once male lioness awkwardly grooming herself. She'd been given a strange liquid upon arriving by Rain. Whatever it was, it had caused dramatic and sudden changes to Speckled Berry's body, her mane had fallen out and she'd started joining hunts, though nobody checked to see why... until she'd gone into heat. Starry Night huffed softly. Not that it changed much. Speckled Berry seemed much more comfortable then she'd been previously, and certainly didn't seem to mind the change as much once she figured out what it did.
She knew her cub didn't meet pride standards. She loved him anyway, despite knowing she'd have to send him to the preserve before Rain found him. He was much too small right now though.
She hated to do it so soon, but she had to. It wasn't safe for him. At least she'd found a nursing lioness to give him to. He would be okay. He was safe there. She hoped Speckled Berry's cub would meet the standards. Even with Glowstar there had been standards, but at least a lion wouldn't die for not meeting them. They'd be sent to the nature preserve, where Poachers can't go.
She goes to the pride dynasty when she passes.
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