Drowned in the Tempest

Mvua, meaning "raining," is the swift and unpredictable Lead Huntress of Matirhhim’s pride. Known for her spontaneity and wild nature, Mvua thrives in the brutal environment of the Red Sea, where only the strongest survive. Her sleek gray-brown coat is often seen flashing through the dry terrain as she leads the pride’s hunts with reckless abandon, her decisions made in the heat of the moment but often resulting in impressive kills. Mvua is fiercely independent, and while she respects Matirhhim’s authority, her loyalty lies more with the thrill of the hunt than any sense of duty to him.

Despite the harsh conditions of their land, Mvua and her huntresses—Moyo, Majira, and Kelele—have become a deadly force. Each huntress possesses her own unique skills, but they all share a common disdain for the concept of healers. In Matirhhim's pride, weakness is not tolerated, and those who cannot heal themselves do not belong. Mvua, in particular, embodies this philosophy, viewing injury and suffering as part of life’s natural order, and a test of one’s strength. To her, the hunt is sacred, and only the strongest lions deserve to live through its trials.

Moyo, Majira, and Kelele follow Mvua with a mix of admiration and wariness, knowing that her unpredictable decisions can lead to both victory and peril. Together, they uphold Matirhhim's harsh rule, where survival depends on cunning, strength, and a willingness to embrace the wild chaos of their world.

Mvua’s hunting party returns to the pride den site, and discover her two unnamed 3 month old cubs have brutally perished to hyenas while unsupervised. Mvua is heartbroken and devastated, and then outraged, forever despising hyenas.