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Sina arrived in Achilia's lands with nothing.
She was weak with hunger, haggard and scruffy, and her eyes burned with desperation. Sikia found her passed out just inside the Western border and carried her to the den where she could be nursed back to health.
When she finally awoke, she revealed to Achilia that she had been framed by her younger sister for the murder of their parents. A pride she had once called her family turned on her and chased away. She'd been wandering in the wilderness for a week, wishing for an end to her suffering.
Achilia was saddened by her perspective on life, but he smiled nonetheless, and informed her that her suffering was indeed at an end, and that she was welcome to join his pride.
Sina didn't even know what to say to him. She was overwhelmed and asked immediately what she could give him in return.
Achilia chuckled and told her she need give him nothing, but to thank the lionesses that had helped nurse her back to health, and Sikia, for finding her and bringing her to the den.
She nodded wordlessly, and complied, but didn't stop there.
Sina's pride had always been small and constantly under threat from other prides and rogues. As a result, all lionesses and lions were trained in advanced attack and defence at a young age. Sina was one of the best, and so she took to patrolling borders day and night, and keeping a close eye on the younger members of the pride.
Achilia couldn't have asked for a better thankyou.
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When Sina came into heat, she approached Achilia, wishing to bear him a cub. He declined pointedly, however, explaining that he wanted her to find her own mate - her sense of debt to him had carried too much weight for him to sire a cub to her; he was concerned that she partly wanted it out of a need to somehow pay him back for his generosity.
For two days she stewed over his decision, but eventually came to the conclusion that he was right; it wouldn't be fair to and cubs they produced if their parents mated for such reasons.
So she set out the following morning in search of a mate. She eventually came upon the RiverClaws pride. It was exceptionally large, with a huge territory to accommodate for so many lionesses and their cubs.
King Audren greeted her kindly and accepted her request, warning her sternly however that she was not to try and undermine his Queen, and that any cubs he sired would have no claim to his throne. He must have gotten those kinds of requests quite often; he was completely unfazed by her!
He had his lionesses gather some kills from earlier in the day and they shared a quiet meal. Sina was rather surprised by his methods. It seemed he felt compelled to welcome lionesses into his pride and make them feel at home.
He was caring and gentle and she thoroughly considered staying with him - especially the following morning!
But she had a pride. A King. A home. And that was where she returned - but not until three days had passed. She got to know the Queen - a delightful lioness - and played with some of the pride's cubs. She promised to bring her future cub(s) to visit as soon as they were old enough.
And with that, she left to return home, much more happy and whole.
Sina means 'I do not have' in Swahili.
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