"Ew, men."
The pride's second lioness.
(For previous context, refer to [https://www.lioden.com/lion.php?id=794207351386])
Imani arrived behind Zuri, she was visibly more wary when she saw Nnamani, the Pride's first king. She was reluctant but ended up following Zuri once Zuri decided to join. Imani spent months healing in the cave, she was surprisingly satisfied. She had always associated male lions with dread, but after his care, she felt somewhat comfortable. In the first few weeks, Imani refused to speak with anyone other than Zuri. She'd be wary of interacting with Nnamani and never felt comfortable enough to say anything.
"..."
Nnamani settled onto the ground in front of Imani, consciously adopting a less imposing posture. Not wanting to appear threatening, he avoided direct eye contact, understanding the potential threat it might suggest. Patiently, he waited for the tension to dissipate before gently breaking the silence.
"You can speak freely around me, you know?" he reassured Imani in a soft tone.
Imani, visibly uneasy, averted her gaze and dug her claws into the nest beneath her. Nnamani, sensing her discomfort, cleared his throat.
"Uh.. I understand that you must have gone through something terrible to get here with those nasty wounds. I just want you to feel alright talking to me. I won't react negatively, and I won't be angry if that's what's holding you back. I know it might take time, but I want to tell you that I'm not a threat, okay?"
Imani felt an unexpected sense of relief, prompting her to meet Nnamani's gaze. He reciprocated with a slow blink, a gesture of peace. Imani felt a surge of assurance in the new king, blinking back as a sign of trust.
Imani eventually felt comfortable enough to speak with Nnamani, and both Zuri and Imani finally trusted him enough to engage in play fighting. Imani was eventually pregnant with cubs, the father being Nnamani. She went into a secluded den far off and returned 5 months later with 2 beautiful cubs, Winda and Fukuza.
