Marin'la

Hunt leader. Pride queen. Marinla, if asked, would never have imagined such a fate for herself. Even as a cub, she seemed to always say the wrong things, or fumble too hard under pressure. She eventually found it easier to keep to herself, roaming the savanna in lonely peace. She told herself that she'd find where she belonged in time, even as she struggled to befriend other lionesses, or to charm any kings she found compatible.

Seltumbra... didn't seem to mind. He spoke to her with the same respect as any other lion, with the same interest in what she had to say. He made no move against lost cubs, and picked fights only to protect and benefit his home. In the end, was it any wonder she fell for him? The other lionesses who later joined the territory were no different. When she led them, it was as if the pressure she'd always borne lifted off her shoulders. She found her confidence growing, her pounces more skillful, her heart more light. And when she bore two cubs in the middle of the wet season, a feeling of peace settled all around her. This was her home, and theirs. This is where they belonged, and always would.