AstraFrom the Shrubland | Joined in the beginning of the Dry Season | at 4 years, 5months old {Cubs born into Pride: 6 | Cubs rejected by the King: 3 }
*Interaction with the viewer/greeting*
BioAstra is the fifth lioness to join the pride.
Adult: {7 years, 5 months old} - Astra was terrified as Vesper made his way to visit her nest. It almost seemed like he knew she was unfaithful as well. She didn't know how, but she tried to not look guilty. Skadi had managed to get by unscathed with the exception of a death threat, Nisha lost two of her cubs and nearly lost her life as well. Astra didn't have high hopes for how her King would deal with her.
"My dear Astra." Her King addressed her when he approached her next, glancing at her daughters. "How disappointing it is to find you following in your sisters' paw steps. I don't know what is more frustrating though, that, or finding more cubs in my pride that are not mine."
Astra's stomach turned sickeningly. "I-"
"You broke my law." Vesper finished for her.
Astra looked down, ashamed.
"What am I to do? It seems my lionesses think it acceptable to court other males as they please. Loyalty seems to allude you all. Why do you think that is?" The question was asked on the end of a growl and Astra didn't know how to answer.
"I- I don't know, my King."
"Well, I'm forced to make an example of you. A warning for anyone else who thinks to do the same. The real question is, exactly how am I going to go about that?"
Astra's heart begun to race.
"You want to keep them, don't you? Your betrayal. You want me to give you all mercy, for your crimes to go unpunished."
"No," Astra said without much thought. She didn't know why she said it, but the silence that ensured made her uncomfortable.
"No?" Vesper cocked his head. "You are willing to give their lives for your own?"
The beats of silence were agony, so much so that Astra responded with the first thing that popped in her head. "No," she breathed. That earned a snarl from Vesper and she pressed herself into the ground. "I don't know!" She cried out. "I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say. I only know I wish I could change the past. I wish I hadn't done what I did. I wish to not be the center of your anger." Astra stopped her rambling, her breaths scraping in and out harshly.
"I see." Vesper said calmly, watching her with a chilling stare. His body language was stiff and angry, a quite furry resting just behind his gaze. Silence reigned in Mother's Den and that gaze landed on her daughters. It caused panic to flutter in her chest, waiting for him to strike at them. "I've decided." His voice was hard, that furry showing its face again. He looked at her once more, finding a hint of resentment in his gaze. "Know that this is your doing."
Astra furrowed her brows, unsure of what he meant, but the dread that awakened within her knew it wasn't anything good. Vesper left her and her cubs to stalk toward the cavern's mouth. "All of your actions have consequences!" He roared at the entire den. "Know this the next time you think of betraying your King. You are not the only one who is affected by your actions. The entire pride suffers."
For a split second, Astra had thought he had pardoned her, but his words wouldn't allow her to truly believe it. Something wasn't right. What had he decided? The wave of fear that answered her, drove her to leave her cubs to trail after her King. "What are you doing?" Astra scrounged up the courage to question him.
He swung his massive head around to glance back at her before continuing with his exit. "Following through with your punishment. You may keep your daughters, but it will cost you Astra. It will cost us all." He then broke into a run, leaving Astra's blood to run cold.
She took off after him, her heart drumming against her chest as her mind raced. What did he mean? The question screamed in her mind, until it became all too clear. Her king was heading straight to Pride Cavern. She gasped, the sound one of disbelief and grief. He was taking her baby away. "No!" She screamed as he disappeared from her view. She pushed her body harder and faster, to get there before it was too late, to save her daughter, to change his mind or force him to take her life instead. But when she tore through the threshold of the cavern, Adeen's body was already lifeless, laying at her King's paws. Astra let out a gut-wrenching wail, rushing to her daughter's side. She was almost done with her training, almost ready to join the pride's hunters and begin her life as a lioness, and all of it had been ripped from her in a single moment. Rage swept past the sorrow and Astra snarled at her King. He was too close, too horrible, too alive. He responded with a warning snarl of his own, his tail lashing as he gave her a bit more space.
"You forget yourself, Astra. Don't forget about the cubs I've let you keep." He spat, seemingly just as angry. "Perhaps you'll be more responsible with them."
"She was our daughter!" Astra yelled.
"There was no room for her after what you brought into the pride. I speak for all of us when I say our pride cannot handle another of your foolish mistakes."
Astra tore her eyes off of him and sobbed into her daughter's fur.
"You have the day with her, Celeste will care for your cubs in the meantime, then she is mine to bury."
{11 years, 3 months old} - Astra tended to her daughter as she waited for Vesper to arrive. She held no expectations for his visit. When he did come by, she was on her best behavior. Which might have made things a bit awkward, being that she always had something sassy to add at any other time, but Astra didn't feel the desire to add spice to the moment. She'd rather get this part over with as fast as possible so life could get back to normal. Ever since her big mistake during the Great Plains Drought, cub season always put her a bit on edge. They always brought back unwanted memories that would never let her forget the consequences of her past. They were both past it, Astra and her King, he had let her keep three cubs after her mistake and she was grateful for that. A fourth cub was in question tonight and to Astra's relief it was answered quickly. Her cub would not stay. Vesper carried her daughter gently out of Mother's Den and Astra went back to work, not wanting to spend another minute within the cavern walls.
Pride Interactions
~● Astra pushes away another lioness trying to greet you, demanding you greet her first. Right now. After all, the fun does not start until she's around. {7 years, 4 months old}
~● Astra pushes away another lioness trying to greet you, demanding you greet her first. Right now. After all, the fun does not start until she's around. {9 years, 9 months old} |
"
"
