וᛁ ╵╮⸜, the Merciful

7/20/22 [10 months old]
וᛁ ╵╮⸜ watched you with narrowed eyes, crouching on the base of a large rock as you passed. You sniffed around the brambles at the base of the rock, smelling something tasty as the dark cub glared at you. You glanced at it for a moment, taking in the fact that its tail seemed to be cut short but disregarding it as you noticed a zebra corpse hidden in the prickers. Steading your feet against the dirt and barren grass, you grabbed it with your teeth and pulled it into the open looking satisfied. וᛁ ╵╮⸜ snarled, seemingly unhappy you stole his meal, and prowled to the edge of the stone, baring his teeth at the perfect level to look at you eye-to-eye. You stood, unblinkingly as the cub fiercely defended its prey and wondered if he had caught it himself (which he had, to your awed interest). Though impressed, you weren't scared by the small lion and waited patiently until he had calmed, realizing you were not a threat and deemed you worthy of his presence. After a moment, he sniffed your muzzle with a huff and nodded his head towards the prey, offering it to you. You gained a new friend, free food, and vowed to return to visit the cub again.


7/28/22 [1y 6 months old]
While wandering the open plains, in search of lionesses to add to your pride, or perhaps something interesting to bring back for your cubs you found yourself in familiar territory. After sniffing for a moment, eyes scanning the terrain once you were certain you were going in the right direction- you headed to fulfill your promise to a certain clear-eyed cub. Walking through the light brush and trees, you stepped into the clearing and you caught sight of the not-so-small cub anymore. He lay at the base of the rock this time, using one paw to brush his- mane? He'd significantly grown since you had last seen him, though his tail remained cut short. He caught sight of you, stretching his back legs and standing straight. He came up just below your chin, taller than the other adolescents in your pride. A dusky mane lay messily on his shoulders, trailing down his chest and halfway down his arms. Either the cub had incredible genetics or there was something off about him, but sharp canine teeth extended further as well, sitting outside of his mouth! There was something... primal about him that you just couldn't place. Though, you knew you weren't scared of him. וᛁ ╵╮⸜ seemed to remember you, not attacking or looking defensive, instead, he spoke. "You're back." It was his matter-of-factly tone that surprised you, you were his elder after all. You nodded in agreement, and he seemed pleasantly pleased, smiling for the first time you'd seen. "I thought you might not." He added, glancing around the clearing. "Quite empty here." You couldn't deny the truth in his words, you'd never seen him with any other lions and you supposed it must be lonely. However, you were here now and were happy in his company.