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Born with 905 stats, 09.09.22
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Stories spread of a lioness who aged backwards- a lioness who seemingly could not find an answer to fix her condition. Tales told that she had been wandering, speaking with prides shamans seeking an answer. She didn't know where she came from, but she knew she was getting younger. She made it her goal to make it to the forest of Kani, a rumored enchanted forest where no one aged.
She walked on weary paws day and night. She searched the lands, asking anyone amicable enough to spare her a moment if they'd heard of Kani, or knew where it may be. A few rumors, which she weeded through, eventually led her to a clearing before the forest. She was shrinking rapidly at this point, and could feel her own limbs becoming more clumsy with her new cub body, but she knew this was the right place. The forest had an aura of stillness around it, with the only lights in sight being the enchanting blue fireflies flitting in between the trees. She tried to move as quickly as she could, needing to cross the barrier into the forest before her life was reclaimed.
She had made it, but not fast enough. A thick, purple stone slowly engulfed her body as she wondered, why. What had she done, or failed to do, to deserve this fate. She laid there in despair as the stone continued its journey replacing her cells with it's own. It began audibly cracking in spots and revealing the same blue, glowing light the fireflies of this forest emitted.
As the years past, she became one with the forest. Her light pulsed with the trees, the ferns sheltered her, the moss clung to her and grew quickly. The local fauna was her only company, and even when a soul did happen to pass by, her stone tomb left her unable to speak. After seventy-two years (She had counted every rising and setting sun... Today marked her twenty-nine thousand, three hundred and sixth sun since she had arrived in this forest) she had lately come around to the mindset she would have rather died in the clearing than be succumbed to a neverending existence of nothingness. It was around this time she began to notice the comings and goings of a small pride that had taken up residence in the clearing she had once raced through to 'save' herself. She watched from under leaves as the pride grew. The leaders changed, the cubs grew and died... so, so many lions came and went, but it was something familiar compared to the local herbivores who called Kani their home, and it was something for her to escape her solitude by dreaming she could join them one day.
One cool fall day, she heard the pattering of small paws trotting through the forest. She longed to call out, for help, for company, for anything. She was ever so lonely laying here, under the shrub.
The footsteps came closer and she saw the leaves move out of her vision. A little head poked through the ferns covering her coffin of life.
The cub froze and looked at this even odder stone cub. She took a good look at this creature that had finally noticed her there, and realized it too was different. The cub was striped, and while it was certainly lion like, there were some qualities of it that just weren't. It reminded her slightly of a creature she had only spotted in this forest once before in all her years, a striped large cat. She hoped this cub would send help perhaps, maybe bring her to it's pride. Suddenly, larger footsteps approached. A lioness. She quietly spoke to the cub, in a fairly urgent voice. "Reginald, we must get back. We have to hope Blodreina will allow us to stay in her pride. She is a fierce leader and is not known to forgive betrayal such as mine. I need you to remain quiet. If anything happens, run to this forest. I hope it will protect you in your time of need as it did your father." The cub nodded silently, and followed its mother off towards the clearing. She longed to go with them. To have just one more conversation. Maybe she was just supposed to be alone forever in this cursed forest. Dwelling in her thoughts, she let her mind rest.
She was jolted from her ‘sleep’ by the sound of shuffling footsteps approaching her. She dug her way out of drowsiness to see the cub from yesterday approaching her, panic stricken, a look of terror, hurt and loss worn brazenly on his face. He seeked out the cursed lioness, and walked up to her cautiously. As he approached, the blue glow that seeped through the lionesses cracked stone cage seemed to glow brighter. "I don't know if you can hear me, but my mother is... well... she's gone. I hope it's okay if I rest here with you. You seem like you could use a friend, and I know I do." He paused, and curled up at the feet of the stone statue, surprised at the warmth of this stone cub, frozen in the shade of the brush. "I hope you can hear me." He let out softly. He was met with the glow growing stronger and stronger, the lioness inside's heart rejoicing that for once, in this hell of an existence, she was not alone. She knew if not for her stone eyes, she would be crying. The cub saw this and nestled up closer, closing its eyes and attempting to escape the reality of the past day and night. He felt safe with her, and knew she had heard his words. "I will not leave you alone." He whispered, knowing this forest could keep him safe for an eternity. The glow suddenly surrounded them both, and for a moment, her mouth was able to open. The lioness was overjoyed. She could not move to look at him, but instead, in a rough voice, spoke two shaky sentences to the cub. "My sweet Reginald, I have seen many things in my many years, and been alone for many more years than not. I will watch over you as I have this forest, and you will never be alone." With those words, her light faded, her muzzle returned to stone, and herself and the orphaned cub dozed off into her first truly full, peaceful, happy sleep since she had arrived in the Kani forest.
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