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Story
8/19/2024 - Cassius didn’t immediately recognize how different he was from his siblings.
Part of that, of course, was due to cubhood naivety. But most of it was because Briar simply wouldn’t let him. Kovu had made it clear early on that he was the favored son, but she treated them all exactly the same. And she insisted Kovu do the same, at least until the other cubs moved out.
Sure, he was bigger, but one cub always was, right? He was scruffier than the rest, with longer, sharper teeth. His paws were too large for his tiny body, and his tail was stubby - but he had the same stripes as his siblings and his mother, and so as far as he was aware, he was the same.
Even from a young age, and despite how much he looked like his mother, he was clearly Kovu’s son. He had his father’s quiet reverence, preferring his own company whenever possible. Briar, of course, immediately tried to love it out of him. She kept him with his siblings as long as possible, and when they filtered out, she tossed him to the older cubs and adolescents. It was exhausting, the constant stream of attention, but by the gods Briar wouldn’t let him end up like his father.
Between his mother’s machinations, he found himself exploring. Anytime he could escape prying eyes, he was sneaking around the pridelands, watching the other lions and looking for something interesting. That curiosity is what got him here - snuggled up to Neema’s side, listening to the huntress’s tales of what lie beyond their homeland.
“What the heck is a shark?!” Cassius squeaks, horrified by the news. A giant fish with razor sharp teeth? A fish that was bigger than him?!
“I doubt you’ll ever run into one,” Neema snorts in response. She was entirely unconcerned with Cassius’s fear, too amused to care. “And even if you did, your daddy’s a fighter - he’ll teach you well, and you’ll have no problem slaying a shark of your own.”
A pair of adolescents stroll in at that point, piercing blue eyes accented by their piebald coats. “Ms. Neema? The hunting party is ready to set out,” one says hesitantly.
Neema nods, getting to her feet. She stretches her stiff muscles, showing off the countless scars marring her pelt. “Duty calls, Cass,” she grins, padding over to the adolescents. “Maybe I’ll come back with a new story for you, eh?”
“No more sharks,” he says immediately, frowning at the thought. Fish were not meant to be that big.
She laughs at that, a hearty chuckle. “Sure thing, kid. I’ll stick to wildebeest, eh?”
9/25/2024 - Cassius was quickly learning that time waits for no one.
Long gone were the simple days of cubhood naivety. Gods, so much had happened in so little time he almost couldn’t remember such a simple time. He’d been busy - so incredibly busy.
He’d known, from the moment he was born, that he was the heir. The “Sunlit Prince”, as his title so aptly claimed. If he was being brutally honest, he found it a little stupid - he’d always been a creature of the night, more aligned with the stars than any amount of sun. But this was the Sun Pride, and he was set to be its next king, following after his dad.
Gods, his dad. Kovu was showing his age more and more with each passing day. He was no slouch, mind you - he still did his duties to a tee, ensuring that his pride was in perfect order - ensuring that Cassius has a smooth transition to kinghood.
He tried not to think about that too hard. He was an adult now, yes, but he didn’t feel like one. He certainly didn’t feel like king material. Komorebi had been training him viciously, trying to help him hone his skills. And Kovu was teaching him “king things” - what it takes to run a pride, the daily chores, diplomacy, territory disputes…but gods, it was all just so much. The more he learned, the more he wondered why his father had ever tried to do it alone - and the more he understood why his mother was so insistent on him “finding his flock”, and fast.
In the bits of downtime he got, he focused on getting to know his pride members. There were, after all, countless lionesses for him to choose from. Lionesses that already knew the Sun Pride and could assist him in ways an outsider couldn’t.
On the other hand, his own mother was an outsider, and she was doing just fine. Gods, sometimes it seemed like she knew the Sun Pride better than the lionesses born and raised here. She certainly understood it better than he did. Outside blood, outside perspectives…
Of course, Briar and Kovu’s relationship was simply practical. They were friends, co-parents, the Sun King and his reigning Queen. He was a product of that practicality - unlike his half-sister, who was the product of genuine, desperate love.
He was vaguely aware that things were different in the Moonlit Pride. A king who followed his heart above all. He’d heard that the Sun Pride used to be like that, too, before Kovu took the throne.
His gaze wanders - it always does, when a certain lion comes around - and he wonders whether love or duty will win for him.
10/7/2024 - The day had finally arrived.
Cassius strides gracefully up to the top of the Royal’s Den, joining his father. Kovu can’t help but notice how different this is from his own kinging. Cassius is calm, collected, focused. He’s so young compared to when Kovu took the throne, and yet he carries himself with a confidence far beyond his age.
It’s refreshing, to see this ceremony as a proper celebration for once.
Briar stands by Kovu’s side, beaming at her approaching son. Her pride is unmistakable, seeing the prince - the king - that she raised.
The pride is gathered below, all eyes on Kovu as the ceremony commences.
“Cassius,” Kovu begins, steadying himself. He’s almost as nervous now as he was at his own kinging, if he’s being honest. He struggles to remember the words Masked Fate spoke to him all those years ago, but he doesn’t show it. He pushes the thought aside, winging it instead. “You are the pride of my reign. Though the time has come for me to step down, I do so happily, knowing our Pride will be left in your capable paws. I have no doubt the Sun Pride will flourish to new heights under your reign. And so, as my final act as King, I ask you - will you take the throne?”
Cassius nods, bowing to his father. “I, Cassius, the Sunlit Prince, join my king today in the Ceremony of the Setting Sun. To take your place is the greatest honor one could offer me - one I humbly accept, with my Pride’s blessing.”
Kovu waits a moment, but of course there are no protests in the crowd. He returns his attention to Cassius, offering the Primal a smile.
“Very well,” he nods. “I now name Cassius the new King of the Sun Pride. With this, the Sun sets on my reign. Let the sunrise bring new light to our pride.”
The crowd erupts into cheers at that, clearly excited for the new era of their pride. “Long live Cassius! May the Sun shine on his reign!”
Cassius is quiet, his cloudy gaze focused on the setting sun. He knows that once morning comes, everything will change. But for now, he breathes a sigh of relief - night is falling, and the stars never change.
10/20/2024 - Kinghood had treated Cassius well so far.
He’d been raised for the role since birth, after all, so there was really no surprise there. Being king was a lot of work, yes, but it was also undeniably fun. He enjoyed his newfound freedom. Going exploring, battling other kings to defend his territory, it was wonderful.
And then there were the cubs.
He was used to seeing countless cubs constantly running about the pridelands. Whether they’d been his father’s or another king’s, there was never an absence of skittering paws about. Now, though, some of those cubs were his, and that was a feeling he was still struggling to get used to.
He could see himself in many of them. His mothers genes were strong, and the pride was slowly being filled with little pink, stripey cubs. Undeniably his.
But it was Lucius’s birth that really gave him pause.
Of course, Cassius had eventually learned he was different from the other lions. He was something primal - bigger, stronger, with vicious fangs and elongated claws. He hadn’t noticed it when he was a cub, and only really started to question it when he began to tower over not only his siblings, but the vast majority of his pride. Primals were not really a thing in the Sun Pride. He could count them on one paw - Fang, Krolia, and Eros. By the time he was kinged, only Eros and himself remained. She was an aging lioness, enjoying a peaceful retirement in the pride she’d joined as an adolescent years ago. She’d been the last primal to enter the pride until Cassius was born.
Until now. Cassius stared at his newest cub with an appraising gaze, carefully examining him. The bigger, sharper fangs. The stubby little tail. The scruffy fur. A primal, just like himself. His mother, Evangeline, tended to the cub with a careful tenderness, as if he was the most delicate thing in the world. Surely she knew milk teeth weren’t meant to feel like that, but she was entirely unphased.
She offers Cassius a gentle smile before returning her gaze to the cub. “He’s beautiful, isn’t he?”
The question pulls Cassius out of his gaze. He blinks, taking a moment to refocus before answering. He settled down beside Evangeline, their son nestled safely between them.
“Absolutely perfect,” he mumbles softly.
Notes and interactions
Born August 14th, 2024
Stats at birth: 348
8/19/2024 - Your lion flaps and shakes, feeling all weird and naked! (removed black pelage, slot 4)
Your lion puffs up, all colourful and fantabulous. (added briar coat, 100%)
How fancy! (dawn valiant, ardor inverted brindle, sunset feralis to 100%)
Your lion feels warm, as if the artist behind the galaxies blessed it personally. (Touch of Demiurge)
Your lion's eyes get all cloudy. Don't worry, they can still see! (Eye Applicator: Cloudy)
Your lion loudly roars, and you hear his bones snapping as he grows into a were-lion! Or... just something much more primal. (Mutie on Demand: Primal)
The background scene fades into view behind your lion. It is now gone from your hoard. (Charming Night)
The decor item is attached to your lion. It is now gone from your hoard. (Locust Earrings: Blue)
The decor item is attached to your lion. It is now gone from your hoard. (Call to the Stars)
Although he tried to hide it, you still noticed Cassius's triumphant grin after he won the race. He tried to cover it with a glare but you know better. +7% training experience!
8/20/2024 - It sounds like Cassius is muttering bad poetry to himself about the pain and tragedy of his life again. (My love...what pain?? What tragedy?? A loving two parent household and a pride that adores you???)
8/21/2024 - Cassius was determined to show his classmates that he wasn't useless today. He scrambled up the wall and grinned - he showed them! +5% training experience! (Cutie)
8/22/2024 - Apparently the “power of darkness and shadow” granted Cassius his success in stalking today. Well, if it motivates him, then whatever works! +4% training experience! (LIODEN IS SO UNSERIOUS)
8/23/2024 - Cassius is trying to wake you up before dawn. No. You don't wanna. Ugh. Before dawn, they're your pride mates' cub. You ignore them as best you can.
Cassius wasted no time in finishing his task, but he walked off afterwards muttering about conformists. +5% training experience!
8/24/2024 - Cassius successfully put his opponent into the dirt, then walked off without a word. +4% training experience!
8/25/2024 - Although he tried to hide it, you still noticed Cassius's triumphant grin after he won the race. He tried to cover it with a glare but you know better. +3% training experience!
8/26/2024 - 28% trained at adolescence, let's hope for a big stat boost!
8/28/2024 - Fully trained at 1 year, 2 months.
9/6/2024 - 410 stats at 1 year, 11 months.
9/7/2024 - 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 (#794225815125) - They got the following stat boosts from cub training: +15 STR, +14 AGI, +28 SPD, +14 SMR, +14 STM
Stats at 2 years: 495
First patrol: 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 successfully brought something back! He brought back a(n) Hyrax Skull! +1 stamina
9/13/2024 - You have some trouble finding 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 to ask him to watch a cub for a few minutes. No seriously, is he off staring at the stars again? (Looking at his background...yes, probably.)
9/18/2024 - 𝑪𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒖𝒔 is spread out in a dark corner, brooding intently. Your lionesses are looking at him, tittering and giggling. You have the sudden urge to swat him. (lmaoooooo)
8 stats on the honeycomb today too...good boy, Cass <3
9/19/2024 - 3 years, 871 stats. 376 stats gained year 1 (346 from patrolling, 30 from food/interactions). Not too bad.
9/23/2024 - 1000 stats! <3
10/1/2024 - 1250 stats at 4 years. 379 stats gained this year (336 from patrols, 43 from food/interactions).
10/7/2024 - Lifetime patrolling results: Total patrols, 453. Total stats gained, 875. Total items gained, 231.
Stats when kinged: 1418
4 years, 6 months old when kinged.
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +1 Strength, +1 Stamina, +2 Agility! (Level 2)
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Not Very Impressive!
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +1 Strength, +2 Smarts, +3 Agility!
(Level 3)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +1 Strength, +1 Speed, +4 Smarts, +2 Agility! (Level 4)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +2 Strength, +3 Speed, +2 Smarts, +3 Agility! (Level 5)
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Not Impressive!
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +1 Strength, +8 Speed, +2 Stamina, +1 Agility! (Level 6)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +3 Strength, +1 Speed, +7 Stamina, +3 Agility! (Level 7)
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Average!
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Slightly Impressive!
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +8 Strength, +2 Speed, +2 Smarts, +3 Stamina, +1 Agility! (Level 8)
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Somewhat Impressive!
First chased found <3
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +4 Strength, +8 Smarts, +2 Stamina, +4 Agility! (Level 9)
1511 stats :)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +9 Strength, +4 Speed, +2 Smarts, +2 Stamina, +3 Agility! (Level 10)
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Impressive!
Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Very Impressive!
1541 stats at the end of his first day (123 stats earned). Not bad!
10/8/2024 - Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Extremely Impressive!
10/9/2024 - Yeaaah! You improved your impression level.. And are now Dreamboat!
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +2 Strength, +1 Speed, +1 Smarts, +11 Stamina, +7 Agility! (Level 11)
Dreamboat again :) 1600 stats!
10/10/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +3 Strength, +3 Speed, +6 Stamina, +12 Agility! (Level 12)
Dreamboat again! And again!
10/11/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +6 Strength, +4 Speed, +1 Smarts, +13 Stamina, +2 Agility! (Level 13)
10/13/2024 - 1705 stats at 5 years old :)
Dreamboat again :)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +6 Strength, +1 Speed, +4 Smarts, +5 Stamina, +12 Agility! (Level 14)
Another Dreamboat!
10/14/2024 - Dreamboat :)
10/15/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +4 Strength, +20 Speed, +5 Smarts, +1 Agility! (Level 15, 1804 stats!)
Another Dreamboat
10/16/2024 - Dreamboat!
10/17/2024 - Dreamboat again :)
10/18/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +1 Strength, +16 Speed, +15 Agility! (Level 16)
10/19/2024 - Dreamboat X2 today :)
10/21/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +2 Strength, +17 Speed, +2 Smarts, +13 Agility! (Level 17)
+2 dreamboats :)
10/23/2024 - 2 Dreamboats :)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +8 Strength, +14 Speed, +1 Smarts, +3 Stamina, +10 Agility! (Level 18)
2023 stats now!!
10/24/2024 - Dreamboat
10/25/2024 - Dreamboat
10/26/2024 - 2042 stats at 6 years, one month old (because my dumb ass missed 6 years yesterday)
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +13 Speed, +6 Smarts, +9 Stamina, +10 Agility! (Level 19)
Dreamboat
10/27/2024 - Dreamboat
10/28/2024 - Dreamboat
10/29/2024 - Dreamboat
10/30/2024 - Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +6 Strength, +25 Speed, +3 Smarts, +2 Stamina, +4 Agility! (Level 20)
Dreamboat
10/31/2024 - Dreamboat
11/1/2024 - +90 stats through piety! 2287 stats at 6 years, 700 months old :)
11/2/2024 - Dreamboat
11/3/2024 - Dreamboat
Yeaaah! You levelled up successfully and gained: +3 Strength, +6 Speed, +19 Stamina, +14 Agility! (Level 21)
11/4/2024 - Dreamboat
11/5/2024 - Dreamboat
11/6/2024 - Dreamboat
11/7/2024 - Dreamboat
11/9/2024 - Dreamboat, and hit 2400+ stats! (2403 at 7 years, 3 months old)
11/10/2024 - Dreamboat
11/12/2024 - Dreamboat
11/13/2024 - Dreamboat
11/14/2024 - Dreamboat
11/15/2024 - 135 stats added with piety, hitting 2500+ stats! (2580 at 7 years, 9 months old)
11/16/2024 - Dreamboat
Passed 2600+ mark! (2608 at 7 years, 10 months due to a 20 stat blessing from White Fang <3)
Dreamboat again
11/18/2024 - 8 years old! 2621 stats <3
Dreamboat
11/19/2024 - Dreamboat
11/21/2024 - Dreamboat
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