"A black adder is known as deadly, and many fear it. But there is more to it than that. A black adder is also the shedding of old skin, a new beginning, and a new perspective. Known that you may be feared, but you are also the beginning of something new."
Retired
Personality
(Concept by Uchawi)
Black Adder has never been great at listening - she's rather like a rebellious teenager in the way she interacts with the rest of her pride. Which is how she acted towards her father for the longest time, though things have started to change now. She hates to be told what to do or have anyone try to "rule her life." She's quite sharp-tongued and can be both clever and rude when she wants to. She tends to be more timid about lions she doesn't know, more quiet and subdued. Despite her many flaws, Black Adder has a very good heart. Some lions wouldn't believe this, but she loves to see others happy, and she loves what she does because she feels like she's really helping.
Background
(By Uchawi)
Black Adder was born to a loving mother and a mostly absent father. And by an absent father, I really mean absent. Monarch was as interested in his daughter as he was in leading the pride. As a cub, it made Adder rather upset. Sure, she had a fantastic mother, but it was her father that she wanted to impress, for him to notice her finally.
To be able to play with him or even just talk to him. Her desperation boiled over one day, and she did something she would regret for the rest of her life.
It was during the dry season. A terrible drought caused many animals to die of hunger or thirst, or just of exposure to the sun. Adder's pride was struggling as well, barely able to find enough food. It was during this time that a forest fire started near the pride's camp. Adder, being a teenager at the time, wanted to prove herself to the pride and to her father, and in a desperate act for attention, rushed into the open flames. She tried to save as many animals as she could, but it quickly stopped mattering after she was trapped by the fire. A fallen branch, engulfed with flames caused her fur to burn. She passed out of the pain and was later found by her pride mates after the flames have subsided.
The Herbalist did everything in their power to treat Adder for her injuries. She survived but ended up with painful sores on her paws and face. She was also permanently blinded by the flames.
For the longest while, Black Adder's life was a misery. She couldn't hunt with the rest of the pride, she could even barely walk without bumping into something. One day, she was unexpectedly visited by the pride's Ìyánífá - Velvet Moon. The lioness was holding a small sack in between her teeth. She dropped it in front of Adder, much to the other lionesses' surprise. Velvet told her that the orishas have big plans for her, therefore they decided to give Adder their blessings. Right after the Ìyánífá said those words, a snake slithered out of the sack. It was a black adder. It slithered up to Adder and coiled itself gently around her neck. She felt a sudden pain in her eyes. She opened them, to see Velvet Moon standing before her. But her vision was blurred and coming from a strange angle. It was only when she moved her head to look at the snake that she found it staring right back at her, and she could see her own burnt face that she knew. She could see through the snake's eyes. Before she could thank the older lioness, or even say anything, she felt a sudden, stabbing pain in her back. Through the eyes of the snake still coiled around her neck, she could see black, feathered wings, growing from her back.
Since that day, it's been way easier for Black Adder to function in the pride. She still couldn't hunt, but she quickly found herself in a different role in the pride. She became a Matchmaker after many of her pride mates asked for her advice regarding their romantic endeavors. She was happy to help them until someone who she'd never expected visited her.
To say Adder was stunned when Monarch of all lions walked up to her would be an understatement. At first, she got defensive. How dare he, after all those years of ignoring her, not giving a damn about what happened to her, now he wanted to talk? And he had the absolute nerve to ask something of her. She growled at him and made sure he knew he wasn't welcomed. That was until she heard those few words escape his mouth: "I'm sorry." It was then that she decided to listen to what he had to say. And he talked. He told her everything. Everything that was heavy on his chest. How he didn't want to be the king in the first place, how he met Windward and the reason why he left the pride for so long. And she listened. She paid attention to every word, as her father poured his heart out in front of her. She calmed him when he cried and encouraged him to get everything out when he was starting to question why he was telling her all of this.
Now, Black Adder has a mission. To help her father, no matter what. She did not forgive him for everything he's done. Not yet at least. However, she feels duty-bound to help him, and maybe she's willing to give him another chance. All she knows is that she'll do everything in her power to help.
She struggled to find a cure for the sickness taking over his mind. She could see that same sickness seeping into Wine and Roses' mind, and saw that it was too late for her. Black Adder knew there was only one lioness who could help Monarch - Windward, his old flame. She could contact her through The Moon at Dusk - she could have, except that Moon had been countering nothing but bad spirits lately. She had to try and push through, though, to speak to Windward. Moon agreed to try, but the strain was far too much, and her soul became lost in the spirit world. Feeling awful, Black Adder chose to visit the shamans who were there, asking them to contact Windward. They searched but said they couldn’t find her soul in the afterlife. Returning home, Black Adder was ready to give everything up for lost. Days later, though, Prairie Charm began acting strangely. Black Adder noticed, but unfortunately, so did Wine, who Prairie went to first. She told Wine she had been having strange flashbacks of experiences she’d never had, and feelings of deja vu. Black Adder wasn’t fully aware of what had happened, but knew Wine was. She also knew it was going to be too late for Monarch soon. With little time, she immediately told Prairie what she knew and that she needed Prairie’s help. Prairie was quick to agree, but stayed near Wine so she wouldn’t grow suspicious. Lions were still dying, and now something far more sinister had fallen over the land. Something demonic, something which threatened all they knew. Black Adder began to feel it taking her over as well, and the pride was fighting, falling apart. She knew they had to release Prairie’s soul to help them, but wasn’t sure how. Seeking help from a neighboring pride, she found out about a far-away place of gods where, if they made it, they might be able to free Prairie’s trapped soul. So they left together.
Their journey was long and complex. But finally they did release Windward's soul, and with the newly-awoken Windward, Prairie travelled back to the Ikogosi Pride. There the guard, Color Crackle, tried to stop them. She had always hated Black They got back to the pride and found several lions dead, many corrupted, and Wine and Roses with a new son. Mostly importantly, they found that a false Windward had been given to Monarch by Morpheus. They tried to talk to Monarch, who wouldn't believe them. He accused Black Adder of killing Color Crackle, and stripped her of her title, warning her that she would be cast out if she tried anything else. She stood back, unsure what to do or how to help.
  
How do you feel about Monarch?
"I used to hate him, and at the same time want him to love me. But I've moved past that - both of those. It's strange to see your father as small and vulnerable, but I want to be able to help him. Even if I can't totally forgive him for how he acted, I can understand what led him there."
Who is your favorite lion?
"Windward is the last hope this pride has for a good change. I may be struggling to help, but I believe she knows what to do. Maybe it's all up to her now."
Who is your least favorite lion?
"There is a fake Windward taking the place of the real one now. It must be disposed of, or all if lost. That thing is not natural."
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