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settle in folks, im about to drop this prides whole lore, told by Manx. (find her in my dynasty :3)
You sat before a large rock, many lions gathered below, as were you. From cubs, to the eldest of lions here to hear to tale of this pride. Manx, an elderly piebald lioness with pink fur and a deep scare going through her blind eye. Her fur was sleek, and her tail flicked across the rock. She almost looked young again.
"This story dates back many years from now, many, many years. Many of you weren't even born at this time. When a king named Furball was born. Like most juvenile males, he was cast out at two years old. He traveled the plains for many months, when finally he settled into this territory. He'd told me, it was lush green, with flowers blooming and trees growing. It was a beautiful sight." Manx spoke proudly, her gaze now not on the crowd, but glancing at the stretch of territory before her.
"Once he'd officially claimed the territory, he'd begun his hunt. He searched for items to add to his hoard, and lionesses to join him. One day, as he searched the outer areas of his territory, he spotted a young lioness. Her fur blazed a maroon-red color, and she practically glowed." Manx glanced down at the crowd with a smile, a purr rising in her throat. You guessed they must have been friends.
"She introduced herself as Crimson and was easily smitten by Furball's joyous charm. Before long, Furball had grown his territory more, and he'd grown his pride too. Though, he told me with a frown, none of his and Crimson's cubs had survived, and if they did they had left his pride. He longed for a son of his to take his pride, but he never did. Poachers came, and Furball's territory was camped by a group of them. He, Crimson, and I, and two lionesses went to investigate. The two lionesses checked one side, while the rest of us checked the other. We saw the poachers scatter, grabbing anything they could find. One of them grabbed a stick, with a sharp rock tied to the end.
They ran at us, and while Furball and I held them off, Crimson was struggling. I turned as I heard a blood-curdling roar, but it was too late. Crimson had been stabbed through the throat, and the poacher yanked the stick as she bled out. Furball grabbed her scruff, darting off with her, and the two lionesses and I in pursuit. We escaped back to the dens."
Manx inhaled sharply, closing her eyes. "Crimson was gasping for air, but she couldn't breathe. Blood clogged her airway and pooled below her. I could only watch as Furball begged her to stay as she slowly went limp at his paws. She was buried beside the King's den. Then, I became the lead huntress. Many years later, Furball found a primal cub, sitting silently in the cub section of the lion-selling area. He was chunky, a fluffy mane already growing in at 5 moons old. He had beautiful markings and he stared down at his paws sadly."
Manx deepened her voice as she spoke Furball's line. "What's wrong little fella? Furball had said. The cub introduced himself as Galactic. He later became the leader of this pride. He was loved by many for his kind and wise nature. He rarely if at all was at war or argued. Galactic thought fair and smart, no matter who you were. He named his leadership name after his adoptive father, his name changing to GalacticFurball." Manx smiled.
"He waited many years, and once he'd reached eight, he worried if he would ever have an heir fitting for his pride. It had been almost an impossible dream, but when one of our lionesses, Weakened Raspberry Vine, had a singular cub litter, it stunned the whole pride. She had birthed a little primal felis cub. A male, too." Manx pointed a paw at Devil, or 'Hell's Highest Bounty'. "Galactic had found his perfect heir. But he quickly realized an issue. Raspberry had been drinking at a water hole when a frail, elderly lion ran up to her, demanding she end her cub's life. The lion stated, he had a high bounty down in hell, and they needed those beetles." She shook her head.
"Devil grew up with the name Red, Both Raspberry and Galactic wanting to hide his evil being. But he dreamt of hell. He saw the flames, the blood, the death, but worst, he saw himself ruling over it-" Manx was cut off with a snarl from Devil. "This is none of anyone's business! Be quiet and quit telling people every detail about me." He hissed. Manx simply ignored him, continuing. "He was mentored in his dreams, being taught spells, and how to curse. Those who angered him met a horrid demise most times. But, he'd vowed to his mentor to not hurt any lions in his pride, considering he'd lose this power he had." Manx's paws moved as she did quote marks on 'not hurt any lion's in his pride'.
"Turns out, he did just the opposite. When one of the lionesses kept pestering him, he cursed her. That night, she began foaming at the mouth and her eyes bled. She let out a shriek as her body jerked, twisting its neck before she dropped dead. Galactic was horrified at what his own son had done. He took time to observe Devil. He was always rude and disrespectful to anyone but his father. Then finally, Galactic returned home with a piebald cub in his jaws as he returned from his trip to the cub sales hut. It was easy to spot, even at a young age, he had a defective mane. He looked identical to a lioness, lose his balls and he'd look no different." Manx let out a chuckle.
"Sure was a sweet lil' sucker though. Must've thought I was his mother with the way he never left my side. He matches me perfectly, though instead of pink he was tan and gray. Devil always seemed jealous of him, but knowing he was practically his brother, he never cursed him. When Galactic decided it was time to retire, his too heirs stood before him. Jupiter with his usual sweet smile as he watched up at his adoptive father, and Devil with a devilish grin. His gaze gleemed with the thought of power. But Galactic's eyes landed on Jupiter."
"He said, 'Jupiter, as my most respecful, kind, wise-thinking heir, I choose you to lead my pride into moons to come. What will be your King name, my son?' Galactic's name had been Galacticstar, Jupiter knew this. And he chose his name to be Jupiter's death wish, or Jupiterstar.” Manx tilted her head at Jupiter, who sat on a rock away from the group, grooming his short fur.
“Shortly after Jupiterstar took over the roll as the king, Galactic passed on. He roams the stars with our ancestors.” Manx raised her paw to the darkening sky. This tale had gone on long, and it was nearing the end.
“Devil want furious at the both of them, but he sucked it up and dealt with it. Something new for that blood thirsty beast.” Manx shot him a glare, in which was returned with a matching one.
“Didn’t I say you quit talking about me, you molten strawberry?” Hell’s Highest Bounty hissed, turning away once again.
“He threatened to curse the king, just as we thought he was behaving. His claws unsheathed as he barreled into him. The two fought in the middle of camp, tussling around like a bundle of sharp cubs.” She rolled her eyes.
“Jupiterstar was struggling, he was still young, only barely three, fighting a male over a year older. Finally, Devil held Jupiterstar down, his paw held on his neck as he bared a snarl. As soon as he began to chant the words of the curse, a fog swept over the camp.” Manx flicked her gaze dramatically over the crowd like any grandma would do.
“A Game Of Solitare, a goddess as some would say, stepped on Devil’s tail. ‘get off, this is no place to fight, and for no good reason.’ Solitaire ordered Devil off Jupiterstar, who snarled back at him. Solitaire raised a paw as rain began to pelt down onto the three, as the fog cleared, the lioness had vanished.”
“Jupiterstar didnt have the heart to exile his only brother, so he let Devil stay so long as he let the goddess chain his power, only to be used on those outside the pride.” Manx let out a yawn, her elderliness showing through.
“Jupiterstar chose Weakened Raspberry Vine as his lead lioness a few days later. And whilst no heir have been borned of the two yet, I presume the trend will continue of last minute heirs saved from the market.” Manx let out a chuckle as she hopped off to the side of the rock, stretching.
“Now, I think it’s time this ol’ lady get some sleep. Make sure to eat, drink, and take care of yourself. Sleep well, everyone.” Manx purred.
A message from Manx, but in all seriousness, listen to manx on that last paragraph, take care of yourself, and farewell!
—————— after Hell’s Highest Bounty’s death. ——————-
All was silent in the pride. They were ridden of the dark magic cursed apon their pride. The son of the Devil himself lay motionless in the middle of the pride’s camp.
While many were fearful of him, oldest and youngest gathered at his body.
Burnt WeedS, Thistle Vine, Weakened Raspberry Vine, Crimson Crisis, and the eldest, Orange Peel, all laid by the felis male’s body. The five of them had grown old beside Devil, who unfortunately had a sooner death than most of them. And between the five, a dreadful feeling was shared. In the next two to four years, they would all be dead. And even then, they probably wouldn’t get to see Devil, unless he tries turning his afterlife around to be better.
Before long, the grave was dug. The pride gathered to say goodbye, and while usually this would be heartwarming, nothing related to Devil can ever be heartwarming.
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