Ajali [Keep]

A gift from Shetani #29416 - thank you!

Her name means "destiny" or "chance". The only official consort of Matsieng.

Ajali was an older lioness that had lost her place in her previous pride when she met Matsieng, a young but half-lame male. While Matsieng was not the largest or the most impressive, he was strong-willed and a survivor. With Ajali's help, they became a strong pair and a small pride. Matsieng never had much luck with other females, but he and Ajali were content.

Their first litter was a trio of cubs. The firstborn was Kiongozi, named by his mother as their heir and legacy. The middle cub was a female and the last another male. Unfortunately, they were born near the time of the Great Floods. Food was plentiful, but the raging waters and displaced predators were a danger.

When the cubs were not quite a year old, the small pride was moving through a river when a sudden flood struck. The half-grown cubs were swept away, forcing their parents to try and rescue them. Ajali, though older, was a strong swimmer and managed to push Kion to the safety of the bank. She went back to help Matsieng with the other two cubs. Sadly, Ajali, her mate, and their young cubs were swept away.

Kiongozi was left alone, but he swore he saw on the banks of the river, a fiery-and-maroon colored male with a savage grin forcing Matsieng back into the water while the lame king struggled to climb out. Ajali met the same fate: a vicious claw across her throat that threw herself and the cub back into the raging water, never to be seen again.