Jehlani

Name: Jehlani

Meaning: Her name means "strong; mighty" in Swahili.

Rank: Lead Huntress

Bloodlines: Tshaka x Kika (outside lines)

Offspring: 0 (in current pride) | 0 living; 0 dead

Personality Traits: Jehlani tends to be standoffish and curt, though it is less from a mean temper and more because she is shy and uncomfortable around most others. She tends to be wary of other lions due to her odd appearance, which has frequently made her an outcast. Her voice is low and gruff, wasting no words and she doesn't suffer fools kindly. She can be patient as long as she feels the best effort is being given, but is quick to notice if it is not. While she lacks some social graces, she is an intelligent and experienced hunter.

Physical Traits: Jehlani is quite large for a lioness and often mistaken for a short-maned male at first glance. Thick necked and heavy-shouldered with powerful hindquarters, she is a masculine and rather fearsome-looking female with sharp, strong features and a piercing gaze. Her 'condition' has given her thick, fluffy fur particularly around her neck, shoulders, and ears, making it easy for most to mistake her as a male from even a short distance. The collection of scars marring her hide only add to the masculine impression and intimidating demeanor. Her eyes are a deep orange-ish shade, nearly matching her deep, vivid fur coloring, which reflects her strong nature well.

Companion(s): Jehlani has recently formed a friendship with the Lammergeier, Seso, who once was scout and messenger to Kiongozi I. When the old king died from rabies, Seso choose to follow Jehlani and now aids her in a similar fashion by tracking and scouting the herds in their territory.

Currently: Jehlani has only recently joined the pride. Devoted to Batuuli, she is helping to teach the next king on his duties. She worries now as Batuuli is reaching the end of her time, but this pride has given her a place and a purpose she lacked before.

History: From the moment of her birth, it was clear Jehlani was different. She was such a large, robust cub that her own mother thought she was male at first. It was the first time that happened, but not the last. As Jehlani grew, she only became larger and her traits more masculine. She was regarded as a misfit to most, resulting in the young lioness becoming a loner to avoid mockery and stares. Many of her scars are from her younger years when older cubs and adolescents would tease her, though Jehlani quickly learned to fight back. By the time she was a yearling, few would dare to taunt her as she had learned to be vicious in her own defense.

Never quite fitting in, Jehlani lingered on the edge of her birth-pride, often wandering far. Used to being alone, she became a consummate hunter, able to take down even large prey on her own. Having little need for a pride, at least in her mind, she tended to keep to herself more and more. As she matured, she came to realize that she had little interest in males and found females more appealing, which only increased her nervousness around the pride. Not only was her appearance 'male' in nature, but her tastes were too, it seemed. Not wishing to be regarded as even more odd, Jehlani kept such preferences to herself.

For years, she lived mostly alone, visiting her birth-pride now and then, but otherwise avoiding her own kind. Often mistaken for a Tsavo male, she was left alone by most wandering males to do as she pleased. It was sheer chance that one day, toward the end of the epidemic of rabies and illness that swept through the land, that she heard the yowls and desperate roars of a young male fighting. Though wary of others, Jehlani was good-hearted and moved toward the sound, thinking that the young male might need help. She was surprised to see a male near her age, clearly infected and mad with rabies, attacking a yearling that looked much like him. The young male was holding his ground as best he could, driving back the maddened king from two lionesses, who cowered among the bodies of several more. It was clear the infected king had turned on his own pride with only the three remaining.

Without hesitation, the red-gold lioness charged the raging king, knocking him away as he tumbled the young male to the ground. She drove the rabid lion back, relieved to see that the young male recovered quickly and moved to help herd him away from the lionesses. It was clear the old king was nearly blinded, blood spilling into one cloudy eye while the other had been torn by the young male's frantic attacks. The rabid lion spun and stumbled, turning toward one of the lionesses as she called his name, pleading. When the mad king lunged to attack, Jehlani moved to grab his neck, ending his life in one quick jerk of her strong jaws. It brought her no pleasure to kill the other, who was clearly ill, but she was relieved that the lioness had not been hurt.

Jehlani was even gladder when their eyes met and a rush of warmth filled her. The lioness was smaller and a little older than she, but her eyes were kind and her voice sweet as she spoke, explaining what had happened. Jehlani learned that she was called Batuuli and the young male was Nkanyezi, younger brother to the fallen Kiongozi. The exotic, silky-furred lioness with them was Uzuri, one of Kiongozi's former queens. As they were clearly shaken and unsure of what to do, it was Jehlani who led them away from the waterhole, leaving behind the terrible massacre.

As the days went by, Jehlani hunted for them, as Kiongozi and Uzuri were young and inexperienced while Batuuli was older and lacked the skill. As time went by, she developed a fondness for the earnest young lion, who was now king of the territory, though she regarded him almost as an adopted son as she had never had cubs herself. Uzuri, too, was kind to her and somewhat different, though far more feminine than Jehlani. However, it was Batuuli she was most drawn to. The soft-spoken, wise older lioness was endlessly kind and understanding, seeming to know Jehlani better than she knew herself. As the weeks went on, the maned lioness realized that she was far more attracted to Batuuli than she had been to any other.

For a time, she did her best to ignore the feelings, teaching both Uzuri and Nkanyezi how to survive and hunt. She felt somewhat responsible and in time grew to think of them as more her pride than the one she had been born to. Batuuli was wise and kind to her, seeming to enjoy her company, but Jehlani still feared admitting the depths of her feelings. One quiet evening though, the gentle Soothsayer curled against her and murmured that she shared the feelings, for Batuuli had seen into the fierce Jehlani's heart long ago.

The red-gold lioness was thrilled and happy, though still uncertain of what Nkanyezi and Uzuri might think. She had only started to gain acceptance and was worried they would shun her for such taboo feelings. Batuuli did not press her to declare her feelings, understanding her fears with her usual gentleness. Instead, the two older lionesses shared what moments they could in between working to teach Nkanyezi all he would need to know to be the pride's new Kiongozi.

Iklwa, the old long-clawed male, has been kind to them as well. He is less the king and more a friend that has been helping in training young Nkanyezi. He is growing old himself and it is nearly time to pass on the crown. Jehlani has flourished as lead huntress and training the other's well. Her odd, but gentle relationship with Batuuli is accepted easily. She knows that Batuuli will pass soon and after she plans to considering allowing Kiongozi to sire one litter with her so her legacy and Batuuli's might pass on.