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Pandora is an aggressive and sassy lady, but to her family and friends she’s a real angel. Her beautiful markings make her attract many males and females but she's most likely to reject them.
Feeding the pride always came before everything. Before taking care of themselves, before having the free time to do whatever they wanted, before they had a life of their own. Alas, the lionesses had been having problems. They couldn’t catch anything. Nothing that would hold their hunger, like a mouse. Nothing that could keep them fed for days, like a wildebeest. The cubs had started mewling weeks ago about how hungry they were, the young lions started a week after that. Now, the older lions had started. The hunters knew they had a problem on their hands when they caught nothing for a few days, but now? When weeks have gone by, and the once healthy cubs are now frail and weak? They had two choices. Hunt until they finally had gotten something, or risk the wrath of the Queen. Pandora wasn’t one you played jokes on, let alone disappoint. Forget about making her mad because you might as well have signed your death wish. The elder lioness looked at the other, fear in her eyes.
“What should we do?” She asked, nodding at the cave. “Sit here, try to hunt, or guarantee the food?” She wondered out loud to herself.
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The younger one shook her head, not knowing what to do. She stuttered, thinking of a way to reply. “We should guarantee the food.” She looked her mentor in the eyes. “And I should be the one to tell her. I could take it if she’s violent.”
“You're stupid to think she would be violent with any of us. Snarky? Mean? Yes to both, but violence? Never.” The older one warned the younger. She stalked past, shoving the younger one’s shoulder slightly. “Don't ever suggest our Queen is ever violent.”
The older one walked into the cave where their pride leader spent her days, quiet pad steps of the younger behind her. The Queen was curled on a soft spot into the ground, you could tell this is where she slept most days. The Queen got up, the darkness making the sharp snaps of her claws against the cold floor more menacing.
“Now, why,” She looked at them both. “Are you bothering me?” She hissed, circling them. The lionesses both lowered their heads to their Queen,
“The food stores have run out.” The mentor told her. “We need your help in replenishing them.” She looked down at the ground, a sign of submission.
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The eldest lion looked down, “Please, Queen Pandora.” She mumbled softly. “The cubs are growing skinnier by the day and-”
“Stop.” Pandora hissed at them. “You came to me. Now? After the cubs, the future of this pride, are at stake.” She looked them both dead in the eyes. She laughed darkly to herself, her rough voice making it as terrifying as the jaw bone that decorated her. “I will do it myself. Stay away from this cave. Next time.” She looked at the outside of the cave, then back at them, anger in her bright green eyes. “You tell me. Before the future, and the present of this pride are at stake.” She snapped the words out sharply. “Don't ever endanger our pride like that.” Pandora pushed past both of them, into the world. She looked out at her lions, noting each one that was not energetic, or didn't have enough on its bones to look healthy. It was a major part of her pride, and therefore her responsibility to take care of. The Queen looked back in her cave to find the two lionesses far enough from her, she couldn’t hit them, but close enough to where she could convey her anger.
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The Queen stalked off into the area, scanning it for any signs of the prey that she would bring back to the pride. Stupid hunters.. Endangering the cubs.. Pandora thought to herself. always messing up things that should be fine.. She shook her head, something catching her eye. The prey would be big enough for the pride, and keep them fed for a bit while the hunters got their things together. Learned how to hunt properly. Pandora smiled to herself, starting to stalk the poor thing she would soon drag to her pride.
A cub started mewling, smelling the fresh prey as Pandora brought it in. The older adolescents, and lionesses popped their heads up at the sight of it. The Queen had brought home a wildebeest. She dropped it in front of the cubs, and adolescents. Nudging them softly with her nose, and looking at each of the lionesses.
“The cubs and adolescents shall eat first,” She looked pointedly at her hunters. “Then the mothers, and broodmothers,” She smiled kindly at the pregnant lionesses. “The hunters shall take whatever is last. If there is nothing, there is nothing. It isn’t hard to find something,” She walked past her hunters, catching each of their eyes. “Next time,” She paused for a moment. “Try a little harder.”
Lore By: Lily Blue Lore | Jax (#336012) | Final Word Count: 828
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