Sybil
Daughter of Jericho
{Cubs born into Pride: 1 | Cubs rejected by the King: 1}
● Bio ●
Newborn : Sybil is the 63rd cub born to Vesper. She was birthed at night at the end of the Wet Season.
{Vesper's paws tingled as he made his way to Mother's Den, the ever-calm Felice at his side. Celeste had reported the births of that night, but the only one he was concerned with was Jericho's. She was the second lioness with the potential to give him a daughter with the gift of sight and she only had one cub this season. His other lioness, Ester, hadn't had any luck in giving him such. With each birth Vesper was only given disappointment, so it was all riding on this single cub. His hope of returning the power of the Soothsayer rightfully to his pride and everything that came with it. Insights into the future, otherworldly aid and wisdom during the pride's harshest times, and overall, the great eminence that he had once belonged too.
He was anxious as they entered Mother's Den, a mixture of excitement and dread swimming through his veins, fighting for dominance at the possibilities that were waiting for him, all curled up in a nest and nestled to a warm belly. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Felice's posture perk up. Her head tilted up as if she smelled something and her tail curled in the faintest hint of delight.
Vesper's heart drummed against his chest. "Do you sense something?" He asked, excitement brimming his voice.
The ethereal female didn't respond, almost as if she hadn't heard him. She simply took the lead, passing nest after nest, weaving between lionesses and cubs alike until she stopped right in front of the spot where Jerico rested. Felice smiled gently, greeting her with a nod of her head before her blank gaze settled on the cub sleeping at her belly. She was a mulberry and took more after him than her mother. A fact he wasn't sure was for the better or for worse.
Felice bent down to his daughter, touching her nose ever so lightly to her shoulder. Immediately, the cub begun to move as if awoken, violently. Her little body jolted upright as she cried out, her head swinging side to side as if in search of something.
"What did you do?" Jerico spat at the Soothsayer before quickly attempting to calm her cub, checking for invisible wounds as she did.
Felice stepped back, giving the mother some room. "Forgive me for waking her. The initial connection can be quite alarming."
"What?" Jerico snarled.
"Connection? Does that mean she's one?" Every muscle Vesper had clenched tight with anticipation.
"Yes." Felice nodded, that gentle smile reappearing. "She has the gift."
Vesper was so ecstatic he could have leapt straight into the air and given his mightiest roar. He didn't know what to do with himself. A part of him couldn't even believe it.
"I will report back to Bedisa and return promptly after."
"Can you carry the news to Kiran? I want him to know as well." The pride was already coming off of Vesper in waves.
Felice nodded. "That I can do. And I will take your daughter as my apprentice, teaching her all the ways of the Soothsayer until she is ready to take the title itself. Only then will my duty be fulfilled."
There was a whisper of loss in the last of her words and Vesper didn't like how it made him feel. "You know, you always have a place within my pride Felice."
She shook her head. "Do not worry about the future, King of the Eternal Eclipse. That is one burden I am able to take from your shoulders. Allow me to keep it." With that she parted ways, leaving a mystical presence behind and a new hope that burned like a wildfire inside him.
Young Cub: Sybil wasn't like the other cubs. And that wasn't because Felice told her a hundred times already. She knew things the others didn't, could see what would happen before it happened for everyone else. The only one she couldn't fool, was Felice. It was like
she knew and saw things Sybil could not. That didn't stop her from pranking the whole lot in Mother's Den. It was just as funny the second time as it was the first and soon glares and suspicious looks were a common occurrence when Sybil couldn't hold back a snicker, seemingly out of nowhere. She was not the favorite among the Den, to say the least. But she was her father's and one of the only cubs that could summon all of his attention at a moment's notice. She was definitely the Felice's favorite as well; they were connected after all.
Cub: The moment Sybil was weaned from her mother; she was beyond busy. All she ever did was train. Not only was she expected to go through basic cub training, but she had Soothsayer lessons as well. It wasn't fair, even though she excelled at both. She supposed it wasn't all bad, both training had its perks. Training with the other cubs proved more fun that she could imagine and ridiculously easy given her 'talents'. Wrestling was a breeze when you could predict your opponent's moves. Pouncing was effortless when you knew where your prey was going to be, a moment before they were there. And chasing wasn't all too difficult when you could set up traps you knew they would run right into. Stalking and climbing came naturally to Sybil as well, and the occasional peering into the future was helpful to critique her strategies.
Training with Felice on the other had was a bit more challenging. She had to work really hard during lessons and some days she felt so drained she would sleep the rest of the day away. It was tough being a Soothsayer's apprentice, but she wouldn't want to be anyone else's student, besides Felice. She was the best in many different ways. Far better than her companion, Bedisa, another Soothsayer that mainly resided near the Rising Sun Pride. Sybil had met the lioness during her first lesson with Felice, where they 'connected' their energies to become one eye or something like that. But it quickly became apparent that neither of them was a fan of each other. Bedisa would only show up every now and then when the lesson called for more than one Soothsayer. Sybil hoped it would stay that way.
Adolescent:
Adult:
{ 2 years, 10 months old} - Sybil gave birth to a male, who she knew was coming for a couple of months now. She also knew, the moment she touched him that he would meet his end at his father's teeth. He was not worthy of staying and so he wasn't very worthy of her attention. Sybil allowed him to feed so he wouldn't cry and cleaned him up so he wouldn't make a mess but that was about it. Really, she didn't feel much attachment to the little cub. She considered offing him herself that way she could deliver the news herself and get back to her duties, but an enraged Vesper soon came to her in a vision, and she decided on something better. Sybil hid her cub within her nest when he was sound asleep a minute or two before Vesper arrived. A smile pulling at her lips threatened to out her before she could even begin her prank, but she managed to relax her mouth before Vesper arrived.
"Sybil," He greeted her and then it all went quiet.
Again the whisper of a smile wanted to ruin her fun, but she kept her act. "Is something wrong?" She asked calmly.
"Where is my cub?"
"Well into the afterlife, I suppose."
There was a snarl and it sent a thrill through Sybil. "I'm not in the mood for games, Soothsayer." The title was drenched in scorn.
"Lead Soothsayer, my King."
Another delicious rumble sounded near her. "Enough, Sybil. Show me my cub."
"There is no cub, Sire. I foresaw you disposing our cub so I thought to save you the time and did so myself."
She waited for the grand finale, for the rush of wind as he lunged at her, for the thunderous roar that would rip through the cavern, but she was left disappointed.
"Are you really trying to lead me to believe you are that stupid? Or do you think that I'm the one that's dimwitted?" Her King asked in a low tone, his voice dark and dangerous. She shivered, the thrill returning, just not in the way she had predicted. "I know my son is here and I am running out of patience, even for you. Present him to me or there will be consequences."
Sybil allowed her mouth to slump into a frown. Her tail lashed back and forth as she dug him up and tossed him at Vesper's paws. He growled at her, displeased for some reason.
"I might not keep him, but he is my son and I expect you treat him with respect." He spat.
She sighed. Not expecting such a possessive response. She seemed to be a bit off her game tonight and she didn't know if that annoyed her or excited her. "Yes, Sire."
"That is my King, to you." He snapped. Sybil could hear his composer splitting.
She bowed her head to show she meant no disrespect. "Yes, my King." Sybil corrected herself, making her voice melodic and genuine as to sooth his irritated nerves. That seemed to do the trick, because he grabbed a mouthful of their cub and left her be.
● Pride Interactions ●
~● You went up to munch more on a carcass you started eating yesterday. As you bite in, a spider suddenly scurried out of a hole in it! You heard Sybil cackle nearby. Thanks for the heart attack.
{ 1 year, 7 months old}
~● Here
{ # year, # months old}
As you pass by after typical greeting, Sybil watches your butt carefully only to bite it and run away! Oww. 3 years, 3 months
