|
Lepidolite is the current queen of the pride, but she is also the first queen. Status is symbolized with a bottle of golden dust, thread on rabbit leather. 1 loop around means commander, 2 means heir, and 3 means king/queen. Lepidolite has red eyes and horns growing from her head, some theorize she came from beneath the land itself to protect their pride. She has the strange ability to plunge lions into her own memories, a strategy used to gain respect from enemies. This is incredibly energy sapping. No member of her own pride knows she can do this, and she’d rather keep it this way. She took over the pride at 2 years old, ending The Throne Wars, and a war between her and Azeria’s Pride.
You stumble across a lioness in a dark forest, red-orange eyes burning into your fur. You decided to stand your ground, taking a step towards the lioness. "And who might you be?" A hint of hesitation in your growl, an anxious shift in your stature. The red eyes are unnerving. "Why are you asking questions? Last I checked this is my prides land."
You notice a slight glow coming from the lion's chest, a small vial of stardust attached to a thrice looped leather string.
A symbol of status, only held by those higher up in the hierarchies. How many loops symbolized what status again?
"I wish to talk to your king, then." A growl, a wish to talk to the highest of ranks. A mistake.
"A king?" A laugh came from the lioness. Deep and rich, amused with this. "You must be mistaken. You are in *my* pride's land. I am the queen, Lepidolite. The sole ruler."
How, unexpected. With a red flash, you are flung into memories, a pathway that should not be possible to be walked.
A young Lepidolite, tussling with other cubs. Winning every fight. The king, long dead, watching. You realize Lepidolite is no regular lion, but stands out. A primal, a coat of stars and sunsets.
She appears in front of your eyes, a low voice, almost a whisper. "Be not afraid, it is simply a dream. You are safe."
You plunge deeper, now in the eyes of none other than the king. A young subordinate challenges you, a fight commences. He trained for this, a force stronger than you. Your vision clouds, lions along the sidelines grimacing. Cubs with covered eyes from mothers. Black again.
You witness multiple males trying to rule the pride, failing worse than the last. Wars, famine, failed hunts, stress. No rule lasts long.
A primal steps forward - Lepidolite - now grown. She challenges the adolescent in charge for the throne, a previously forbidden allowance. But rules have slipped, no longer a deal. Lions gasp, crowding around the battle ring for the instantaneous fight.
Lepidolite wins, crowned the first queen, instantly taking to fixing the pride. Everyone is at peace now, but she has to build up her impression, her reputation. How will that go, the pride's first queen?
You wake up, indeed safe. Underbrush glitters with fireflies. Lepidolite is sitting nearby, turning at the sound of leaves rustling. Scars litter her body, from defending her position, you assume. Cream horns curl out of her head, taking a ram-like shape.
"You best get back, I wish not for a war." There's a neutral expression on her face, a flick of a paw.
Off you go, back to your tribe. A new respect for this queen.
|
