NishaFrom the Temperate Savannah | Joined during the beginning of the Dry Season | at 3 years, 4 months old {Cubs born into Pride: 11 | Cubs rejected by the King: 8 }
*Interaction with the viewer/greeting*
BioNisha is the second lioness to join Vesper.
{5 years, 5 months old} - Nisha knew something was wrong when she came back from hunting. The stillness and somber atmosphere that hung over the pride confirmed that something terrible had happened. She picked up her pace, her eyes scanning through her pride mates, searching for any answers in their expressions. Every gaze she met fed her dread, there was pity in their eyes, a sense of sympathy she couldn't place, for her? The thought made her heart pound against her chest. She needed to find Celeste.
She couldn't believe her eyes when she found her lying next to her daughter. Hestia wasn't joking with the lioness, she wasn't laughing or smirking at her own punchline, she wasn't protesting an impromptu bath, she wasn't moving at all. Nisha let out choking kind of sound and raced to her daughter's side.
Celeste called to her softly, but all Nisha was aware of was the deep gashes in her neck. She wasn't even aware of Sombra until she heard her calm voice say that she would get 'him'. Tears streamed down Nisha's cheeks as she coddled her lifeless cub. She pulled her close and begun grooming her face, neck, and chest with more fervor than the last desperate, hurried lick. "I'm so sorry, Nisha." Celeste's broken voice caught her attention. Nisha snarled, turning all her attention on the pregnant lioness. "How could you let this happen? Who was watching her?" Her tail lashed side from side, her claws sliding out on their own violation. "Why did he take her?" Celeste backed away from her, her eyes widening with fear. "She was all I had! He let me keep her!" Nisha roared. "All you had to do was see that she made it back to me! Take care of her, until I had her again!" She screamed. "I was going to have her again! She was supposed to join me today!"
"Nisha, I-" Celeste's voice quivered.
Nisha almost lunged at her, but the feeling of his presence had her turning on him instead. She whipped around, setting her sights on her King. "You." She growled. "You did this."
"I did." Vesper admitted without a hint of remorse. Nisha bared her teeth at him, shifting the weight on her paws when he spoke, "Don't make this worse than it needs to be." It was a command, and a warning all wrapped in one and it made her hesitate. "My daughter is dead," she spat.
"And I don't wish you to follow her so soon after," he retorted in a chillingly calm voice. "I don't expect your forgiveness or your favor, but you were aware of my laws when you accepted me as your King. You were aware of what was expected of you, and that includes the cubs you birth into my pride. Taking Hestia's life was not easy," Nisha scoffed, her tail lashing. "But it was necessary," He finished. "I do not need to explain why, but you are expected to accept my judgment. Accept, Nisha, not agree with, like or pardon me for it. I will morn in my own way, and I will allow you to do so until the next sunrise. Then you may choose those who will have the honor of helping you bury her."
He attempted to leave her, but Nisha found her voice before he fully turned away. "Will you give me a reason?" Her voice sounded weak to her own ears and she hated it. Vesper held her gaze for a moment before simply saying, "Her place was no longer with this pride." Before she could reply he continued, "I've tried to put it into words before, but there are none to explain how I know this. It had to be done, so I did so. But know this my dear, I took no pleasure in the act. She was my daughter as well, and I thought she belonged here. I was wrong, and I'm sorry for the pain my mistake has caused you. I wish it was a burden I could shoulder alone, but I know as my lioness, you must carry it as well. Just know we are all here, and the pride will feel her absence long after she is gone."
Nisha lost all strength in her limbs when he was finally out of sight. With weak, shaky, steps she went back to her daughter's side. Vesper was right, she knew and accepted the laws he ruled his pride with, but she didn't imagine the sheer pain that would be the end result. She thought she'd be strong enough to handle the consequences, she thought she wouldn't have to face that her cubs didn't make his cut. She was simply naive. But she had accepted the Eclipse Pride her home, Vesper as her King, and she couldn't fathom the thought of leaving her sisters by circumstance. This was her home, no matter how dreadful it could get, this was where she would take her last breath. Nisha knew there would be more cubs, more chances to see her kin prosper in a pride that most could not call home, but today she only felt despair. Today she let herself drown in the sorrow and grief of losing a part of yourself, you could never get back.
{6 years, 5 months old} - Nisha couldn't calm her frantic heart as Vesper walked away from Skadi, leaving her and her cub unharmed. She almost thought she'd lost a sister tonight, but relief washed over her when their King surprisingly granted her mercy. But that relief was short lived when he set eyes on her next. Nisha had given birth to four cubs, a first in their pride. Four cubs that were not of his blood. Four cubs that could seal her fate for good. But she was dead set on not showing any weakness. Perhaps if she was confident enough, he wouldn't suspect a thing.
Vesper took his time making his way to her next, his tail already lashing side to side. He paused in front of her, his gaze grazing over her cubs, unimpressed. "To be honest, Nisha. I'm not surprised."
Her blood ran cold, but she forced her chin up. "Of what?"
"Of your infidelity." He stated simply. "I've taken your cubs, and you repay me, not with more of my own, but four cubs of another male. And then have the courage to stick around and saunter just beneath my nose as I care for you and your cubs."
Nisha's claws unsheathed and dug into the cavern floor, the action meaning to release the tension building within her.
"I think I should relieve you of your burdens." Vesper's paw struck like lightening, snagging one of her cubs before she could move and killing it with one swift bite. Her cubs erupted into squeals as they tried to hide themselves deeper into her fur. His eyes slid to hers, daring her to retaliate. "Starting with your cubs of course," He struck again, plucking one of her cubs and taking its life in his jaws in a moment's notice. Nisha pushed to her paws and faced him, putting her cubs just underneath her. He'd have to dive below her to get to another one.
Vesper smiled and it caused Nisha's insides to turn. "Don't worry love, I'm saving your life for last. These things must be done in order, you know? Let's not make it bloodier than it has to be."
"Wait!" Nisha barked as he advanced. He stopped and it was then that she knew there was a way out of this. She had gone about it all wrong and it had cost her the lives of two of her cubs. "Don't take any more from me, please." She stressed the last word, it had almost physically hurt to say it.
"You might have been able to keep all of them, had they been mine. But we'll never know, will we?"
"Vesper, please."
His eyes narrowed, his snout scrunching into a silent snarl. "You are asking for something you are undeserving of, the same is said for your cubs."
"I regret my actions! I regret acting on my grudges and trying to-" she hesitated, having a hard time admitting such intimate details out loud, "Trying to get back some sense of control. That's all it was, and it was stupid. I don't want it to cost my life, or the lives of even more of my cubs. Please, my King. Please allow me to keep them and you will never hear a word of defiance from me. I swear on my life, no matter what happens after tonight, I will be nothing but obedient."
Vesper watched her for a while, contemplating her words and causing her heart to run rampant once more. "Very well," he finally responded. "You may keep your daughters and your life."
Blessed relief washed over Nisha and she almost collapsed to the floor. She had been prepared for the fight of her life, and suddenly felt weak. "Thank you," she breathed, settling down beside her cubs as he walked away. She groomed her frightened cubs as Condor came by to retrieve her dead sons. They exchanged glances and she ignored the blame and judgment she was met with. She flicked her tail and continued to tend to her cubs, all that mattered were the two little lives she had saved.
{8 years, 7 months old} - Nisha had given birth to a Mulberry cub. Though she had no markings, she knew her daughter's coat was one of her King's favorites. There was no doubt it was a biased opinion that had to do with the Lead Huntress, but it could save her daughter, nonetheless. Vesper entered Mother's Den shortly after Senja had returned from notifying him. He entered alone, which was surprising given Ester, his special eyed female, had given birth at the same time as Nisha. Usually she was the first to be seen, with the lion known as Felice by his side. But this time he made eye contact with Nisha and went straight over to her nest. She stayed quiet as he gazed down at their daughter, a small smile lifting his lips.
"She's beautiful," he said.
Nisha didn't respond, trying not to assume his comment meant what she was hoping.
"But, I have to take her."
And then reality set in. Apparently, a mulberry coat wasn't enough. Nisha focused anywhere else on her King's face and nodded. She would take the day off, enjoying the familiar scents and sounds of Mother's Den before going back to her duties. When Vesper had disappeared with her cub, Nisha got up from her nest and walked over to Astra's. Seeing the female nursing her plump cub made her smile. At least she was able to be a mother again this season. She settled beside them, exactly where she would stay for the entire day.
Pride Interactions
~ Nisha is lying in your favorite sunny spot, fast asleep. You tried to nudge her off. Nope. A nip? Nope. You bodily flop on her. Nope, she is STILL not moving! Dang. {6 years, 9 months}
Nisha is lying in your favorite sunny spot, fast asleep. You tried to nudge her off. Nope. A nip? Nope. You bodily flop on her. Nope, she is STILL not moving! Dang. {7 years, 2 months}
~ You find Nisha practicing a hunting pounce that she was bad at. You tell her she COULD take a break, but no...she won't stop until she gets it just right! {7 years, 3 months old} |
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