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Tena was part of a relatively small but prestigious pride. Her father ruled with an iron paw and was harsh and somewhat detached from family life, but a good leader - his lands prospered even during the dry season, and his lionesses never went hungry, even if it meant he had to occasionally miss a meal.
Tena's father prized strength and resilience above all, and she was something that brought shame to the pride.
You see, Tena was the only female of four cubs born to one of the huntresses in their pride. Her brothers always picked on her, with no intervention from their mother or father. In fact, their mother encouraged the bullying - her perspective was that it would cause Tena to grow into a strong lioness...if not, it would only prove she was unworthy to belong in the pride.
Her father was a little more helpful - but only a little. He encouraged Tena to stand up for herself, to fight back fang and claw. But he would not intervene.
Unfortunately for Tena, she was much smaller than her brothers and retaliation against their constant assaults only brought forth worse punishment. On one particularly bad night, they tore one of her ears almost clean off, and she decided she had had enough.
She ran from the den, out into the soggy lands, and sought out her father on the far side of their territory where he was patrolling. He accused her of running from them, horrified at her shameful cowardice.
Tena's response only was to snarl at him angrily - the first time she had ever stood defiant in her father's eyes. She yelled at him that she was leaving the pride. She was strong enough to survive on her own, and she had endured so much cruelty that surely she could endure the cruelty of the outside world.
Her father was shocked, then full of pride. He praised her courage, wished her well, and continued on.
More confused and angered than ever, Tena simply exited her lands and followed the stars to the dim but growing lightness on the distant horizon. What else could she do? There was nothing for her here any more.
Eventually she met up with a great golden lion named Adhabu who generously welcomed her to join his small nomadic pride, or at least to travel with them for a time until she wished to return to solidarity.
And she's been with them ever since.
Tena means 'anew' in Swahili.
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