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A young adolescent peered up at the maned lioness next to her. The queen had a warm smile on her face as the adolescent watched her leave her side to greet another queen from a pride; both lionesses were quite affectionate with each other. But alas, the adolescent was called up after some time, shuffling her paws awkwardly as the two queens separated from each other's sides.
"Azrael, this adolescent is here. I have trained her since she was a cub. She has remarkable strength, like a warrior." Kesari started, her gaze flickering away from Azrael to look down at the adolescent beside her. "I believe she'll be of use to you. A powerful warrior who will protect your pride lionesses, day and night." The maned queen seemed to pause, furrowing her brows as she looked back up at Azrael. A slight hesitance marked her tone before she eventually finished. "Lord Harkūrn had his daughter, Icicledew, who protected the others in his pride. She was strong and worthy. And hearing she had died, I assumed your pride needed another guardian. That's why I entrust Ethelred to be the next guardian. She's strong enough to take down elephants!"
Kesari chuckled, tail flicking to brush off Ethelred's flank, who responded with a slight frown. Clearly, Kesari was just exaggerating, but Ethelred was genuinely strong for such a task. She stepped up, taking Kesari's tail flick as a sign to introduce herself and set her role in stone.
"Queen Azrael, I am Ethelred. Kesari taught me plenty, and I am here to devote my life to protecting your pride." Ethelred bowed her head to Azrael, who only nodded in response, the queen observing Ethelred's features. "Your pride's guardian, I will be of use in protecting the camp and hunting patrols." The adolescent finally finished, raising her head up again as she took a small step back, her eyes meeting Azrael's as the pair essentially made eye contact. Ethelred wasn't at all nervous in the presence of death—well, she didn't know it was death in the first place! Still, she had been passed on to serve under this queen's wing.
Azrael muttered something under her breath, glancing at Kesari as the two conversed in hushed voices. Ethelred heard a few words, but most of them were jumbled or too quiet. Regardless, Azrael said her farewells to Kesari, the maned queen leaving to return home, leaving Ethelred with the deathly queen. "Come." Azrael said, turning away as she began to walk, her paw steps treading lightly on the ground.
Ethelred immediately followed, taking up Azrael's rear until the pair arrived home. The adolescent's new home to protect.
After some time, Azrael had handcrafted bone armour for Ethelred, wanting her to wear it to show her devotion and affiliation with the queen. Also just for basic protection in general. Over all, the mask of a buffalo fits perfectly on Ethelred, and the animal's horns will match Azrael's perfectly.
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Moons had passed, the young adolescent was no more than a young lioness who sought after her new home and role. Ethelred had grown into a tall being, with a rugged mane that flowed like wind. Her skills were passed down onto the adolescent’s of Azrael’s pride, earning herself a cave that was spared from its previous use.
For a while now, Azrael had called a meeting, well, more like a deathly whistle that summoned the pride at once to Seven’s rock. It was then where the queen announced changes to the pride. If she were to rule for eternity, why not make herself more at home?
Azrael changed the lionesses titles; Warriors were more Kesari’s thing, to Harbingers. And in the land of Valefar, the lionesses were to call themselves such thing in greeting. It was a change that struck uproar, some questioning it and down right not agreeing. Azrael shrugged her shoulders, wings flapping to silence the crowd. It wasn’t the only change but for Ethelred as well.
The lioness perked her head in interest, dipping her head as she took her place next to Azrael. Of course, Ethelred wasn’t expecting her title from a Guardian to be changed so soon. Envenomed Executioner sounded a little too hard, doesn’t it? Naturally, she had no qualms with it, thanking the queen for her time and stepping back to sit behind her.
From that day on, Ethelred was referred to by that title, although she often shook her head at it. The name sounded extra, which she preferred to be called by her given name instead. But on important discussions and matters, she’ll accept the title as is.
Oh well, it was her role. She won’t dare disrespect the queen for such a silly name. Her main focus was on protecting the pride and welcoming a newcomer into her cave.
Seems this Eimhir had a lot to share to Ethelred..
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