Usual •Phantom Heart•

Phantom Heart, who once went by the name Nama, carries a lineage marked by generations of inbreeding—a cycle only recently broken in his family. Though inbreeding was further back in his heritage, it still left its mark on his line. When Phantom Heart was born, he was his mother’s only cub, and she cherished him deeply. Due to her old age, he was the only offspring she could conceive, making him the focus of all her love and attention. Phantom Heart's early days were filled with warmth and affection, and he grew up a happy, healthy cub.

However, like all adolescent males, he eventually had to leave his birth pride to find his own path. The day he was chased out came as a shock—one he hadn’t expected, despite knowing it was inevitable. For four days, he wandered in a daze, trying to come to terms with his new reality. Eventually, he accepted his fate and found solace in forming a coalition with his older brother. They traveled together, and for a while, Phantom Heart believed he’d found a new sense of belonging.

But his brother’s ambitions soon came between them. When his brother found a pride he wanted to rule alone, he betrayed Phantom Heart, driving him away to claim leadership for himself. Heartbroken and once again alone, Phantom Heart wandered the wilderness for four weeks. Despite the challenges he faced, he had grown into a large, healthy male with a commanding presence. At three years old, he stumbled upon a pride without a leader—a group of lionesses and adolescents who had recently lost their king under tragic circumstances.

This pride seemed to be exactly what he needed, and the timing felt almost destined. Introducing himself as Nama, though encouraging the lionesses to call him Phantom Heart, he gradually earned their acceptance. Despite initial reservations, his strength and calm demeanor won over the lionesses, and eventually, he was welcomed as their new leader. Phantom Heart brought stability to the pride, revitalizing their numbers and siring cubs to continue their legacy. His past remained his own, while the pride around him kept silent about their former king, allowing Phantom Heart to create a fresh start.