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Ua was born in exile. Her mother tried to teach her, and her adoptive sister, Theluji, not to be afraid, but it was difficult.
They were always on the run, and every noise, day or night, could be a predator sneaking up to kill them.
While their mother was away hunting, the two sisters would practice fighting each other, teaching themselves how to defend against attackers, or at least to survive long enough for their mother to rescue them.
The skills they learnt saved their lives more than once - usually from snakes and other non-lion threats.
When they joined with Achilia's pride, Ua was against it. Over a year of surviving on their own had made her headstrong and judgemental. She didn't trust males - or anyone - easily, and she didn't think it was worth risking their lives on that trust.
She spent her days in a rocky outcrop out of sight from the den, and close to the border of the territory. She also refused to sleep in the den of a night, or even to eat with the rest of the pride. Ua certainly didn't lack for stubbornness.
That all changed dramatically, however, when Ua was ambushed one night by a rogue who had snuck into the territory looking for food or a quick fling. He had aimed to take Ua by force, and slashed at her face, wounding her badly.
Nuksi been on patrol nearby and came to her aid, fighting off the intruder while she cowered against the back wall of her small cave in terror. Then he came to her, and began to clean her wounds.
She snarled at him, even then, still not knowing how to react, and he backed off. But Nuksi wouldn't leave, or try to make her follow, even when Jivu came to investigate.
In fact, he stayed and guarded her all night, not even resting to lick at the row of deep gashes in the side of his belly.
After that night, Ua began to change her ways.
She started sleeping in the den. She still didn't know how to be around the other lionesses and lions, so she spent most of her days sunning herself on rocks, but always within sight of the den, or another lion. She also became friends with Nuksi, and started accompanying him on his patrolls.
Eventually, Ua decided to set things right. She went to Achilia and told him that she had judged him, and his pride, and that it was unfair. She apologised sincerely for her stupidity.
The King accepted solemnly, and offered her some important advice.
Trusting your instincts and your heart is important; they can keep you alive, and bring you happiness. Trusting what you see is important too, but many things in life go beyond that. Making a bad judgement can bring pain, suffering...even death, but always remember that for every lion you hurt with a judgement, the one you usually hurt the most is yourself.
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When Nuksi left to return to his old pride and become King, Ua couldn't help but go with him. She missed her former pride, her friends, her mother...but she was also acutely aware that her son, bastard cub of the former King Achilia, was in danger.
Ua means 'flower', 'bloom' and 'kill' in Swahili.
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