'𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐗𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬'

Prince Xeres was found by Queen Raja during devastating storm that left the land in ruins. The pride had been struggling to survive off the rationed food, the unforgiving hurricane making it impossible to hunt, so against Destan's orders, The Queen left the safety of the cave to search for some type of game to bring back to the pride.

Raja had managed to be left mostly unscathed, nothing but a few bruises and cuts from flying debris, which drew her to the conclusion that she was in the eye of the storm. The wind was still howling and the rain was still powerful, and yet she felt safer.

It was then she found a zebra carcass, impaled on a log undoubtedly due to the storm, poor thing. But it was extremely lucky for her, a realistic distance for her to bring back to the pride, big and juicy to fill all their bellies till the natural disaster passed. Raja began to free the striped beast from the wooden stake when she noticed the creature moving. Oh god, was it still alive?

As Raja inspected further, she noted a gash in the carcass far from the cut the log caused, this once was gaping and small, and she could see small teeth marks surrounding the flesh. "Hello?" She called out.

Peeling back the skin to get a better look, Raja found a small blue cub hiding inside the carcass, shaking like a leaf. He was disgusting, matter fur covered in both his and the Zebra's blood, tears welling down his cheeks, poor cub was traumatized from whatever he experienced before she had found him.

"Oh my, are you alone? Where is your mother?"

But the cub was far too young to respond, instead of pushing farther into the zebra to try to hide. A flash of lighting turned the sky white, indicating that the storm's peace would come to an abrupt ending. The poor cub cried at the sight.

She couldn't possibly just leave him there to die! With a newfound determination, Raja dragged the carcass all the way back to the pride's den with the cub still inside, only to be met with the other lionesses' joy and a very angry Destan.

"What were you thinking? You could have died, I would have never been able to reach you out there, do you understand me? I commanded you to stay put, Raja."

"You command me of nothing, I am not your subject I am your equal and I make my own choices. I did what was right for the pride and I'm glad I did." Raja turned to scoop the small lion into her arms, cleaning him up and gently cooing. "I keeping him whether you approve of or not Destan."

"You know I have never in my life met someone as hardheaded as you." Destan. commented, butting his head against the irritated lioness who accepted his affection. After explaining to him how she found the cub, Destan began to take him under his wing, accepting him as his new son whom Raja insisted he was.

"What will we call him?"

"Xeres, I always wanted to name one of our cubs Xeres." The brown lioness said one night, snuggling with the little blue cub under the stars.

"Long ago, when I was still in the circus, there was the cutest stray dog who would visit me every day. He would bring me food and would keep me company, always wish me the best, and to live a happy life. I never saw him again once they relocated me, but I miss him. He's part of the reason I think I found you, Destan. I wish nothing more than to name him Xeres, after a dear friend who gave me a second chance."

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Introduction: "Woah, a traveller? Where do you come from? Pretty far off I bet, we don't get many visitors here. Hey, do you have any cool stories? My dad has tons! Yeah, he once told me about teaming up with a snake god. A snake god! Isn't he awesome?"

Goals: One day, I'm going to be the best scoat ever! Just like Faer, I wanna explore and find cool places, I'm gonna bring back so much treasure. Huh? King? No, I've never wanted to be on the throne, I barely even like being in The Golden Thrones. As much as I like my dad, his job is terrible."

About Destan: My father's retired now. I'm sorta sad, you know? I enjoyed being the son of the King, and I know my father loved to rule. But he's getting old and he's not what you used to be. Cepheus had a big argument about his health the other day and for once I agree with him. The mighty King Destan's time has passed, unfortunately. But he's still as kind and as loving as ever. Plus, he still bosses around Cepheus regardless of his age.

About Cepheus: Ugh I hate him! Never in a million years will I call him brother, no matter how much my mother tries to force me. I tried bonding with him, I really did, but he can't seem to get it through his big head that I don't want the throne. As Destan's "first born" I guess I'm more entitled than him, but ever since I was a cub I never even liked asking for things let alone bossing people around. I simply am not built for king, but Cepheus keeps trying to test me. He even gets violent sometimes! What a jerk.

About Raja: My dear mother, oh how I love her. The toughest, kindest, and most nurturing lioness you will ever meet. She's not blessed by the God's the way the other lionesses are, but my mother still manages to command the room and hold their respect. I'd do anything for her to be proud of me.

Blessings: My mother says I was blessed by Tempestas. Oh? You don't know about Tempestas? Holy one of Storms and Weather? Bringer of fortune and emotion? Kayon can tell you, she knows everything about the gods. She usually hangs out in the main pride cave. Anyhow, Mom says that because I survived the hardest storm the savannah has ever seen in fifty years. I think she's right, sometimes when I close my eyes I can hear how the wind whispers. Or when I feel the rain on my back, it's as if it's spelling out messages to me. I've always had this weird connection with the weather.