Their Majesty Nyon's Den

You notice a path...

...you take it. You aren't totally sure where you are, but this is what you were planning to do. Explore the unexplored territory near your lands, so here you are. The road is dirt but well-worn, it's shaded by overhanging tree branches that shift in the breeze with a flutter. Colourful flowers dot the edges of the road and their scent fills the air, all in all, you find it beautifully relaxing. You find yourself following the road at a sluggish pace, enjoying the quiet; that is until it is slowly broken by the low splashing of water. You hear muffled laughter under the splashing and think that you perhaps have found a common watering hole. Feeling slightly parched, you follow a narrow break in the road through the trees.

As you step through the light of the sun blinds you temporarily. The sight is beautiful, lionesses, lions, and felines alike all jump around in the water, splashing each other in the sun. They race around making taunts and jokes while evading pounces made by soggy-furred friends. In the mix of paws and fur of large felines, many other creatures seem to mingle as well. Ranging from birds, insects, canines, smaller felines, reptiles, and more.

Your eyes follow the lions in the water for a moment but you eventually peel them away and find many others lounging around the water as well. Some seem to be resting while others quietly chatter amongst themselves. A few in the group shout or snarl at the soggy-furred felines when they get too close, but the recipients of the grumpy behaviour take it in stride and simply smile or laugh at the comments. The grumpiness seems to be a façade anyway, as when they try to hide their smiles almost directly after. Curiously, most, if not all, of the felines present have many visible scars.

You suddenly feel eyes on you, piercing your very being. You look around quickly looking for the source, it is not hard to find them. A very large lion with bright colourful fur and what seems to be a mutation stares at you with dangerous dark violet eyes. They are perched above all the felines and other creatures on a rock in the sun, seeming to have previously been sunbathing while keeping watch on everything. As you both stare at each other some of the other felines around the water seem to notice a growing tension in the air and pause. In no time, all eyes are upon you. The grumpier felines slowly stretch to their feet and show their teeth while the more playful felines take a few steps back but show no immediate hostility.

The large lion slowly climbs down the rock, however, their lazy-like approach proves to be more a show of power and control. Their body oozes strength, their muscles glide under their skin and their eyes never leave yours. They only halt their approach right out of the average lunging range. They obviously thought about the limitations of those they may consider enemies.

"What is your purpose for coming here?"

Their voice is very deep and gravely, you can almost feel the rumble in your chest, it catches you off guard momentarily.

You respond with the truth, you had been simply exploring the lands around your pride's territory when you heard splashing water and conversation. The lion seems to consider your words for a moment, their eyes pour into yours, they seem to be searching for something. You take a second to mentally thank that they had not attacked you immediately, you don't think you could take on a whole pride.

When you come out of your thoughts you find a look of slight disapproval from the large lion in front of you. With a huff they begin looking over you dismissively, you find it in yourself to feel just a tad shy with all of the sudden attention. The lion still does nothing, however, their eyes are still trained on you, perhaps trying to read your posture and movements.

The quiet is long and for a moment you wonder if time has frozen. Luckily, a feline from the water steps forward and around the hulking mass before you.

"Xiro, let them be. There is no need for bloodshed, today is a day of Soothing Rest, not a day of Brutal Sacrifice." They give a charming smile before looking back at you, sending a wink your way.

The mutated lion, Xiro, begins to move again. With a deep sigh, they seem to relax and suddenly their eyes look very tired. However, before they turn away, they give you a warning growl and say, "Cause trouble and even the Spirits will not save you, Un-Tethered."

They then turn and quietly return to their rock, which, looking now, had a fairly large white and yellow snake laying atop it. The felines parted for this, Xiro, and when said lion settles back onto the rock, snake now strung around their neck, the energy seemed to rush back into the felines at the watering hole.

Before you can thank the feline named Bel, a new commotion is heard as cubs and adolescents stumble into the small opening; with them is four felines that all seemed to be watching over them. The new visitors tumble all around and seem to not notice you as they hope at the legs and paws of their... pride? Some even clamber up to Xiro, who completely disregards them and instead keeps staring at you. The cubs don't seem to mind being ignored though, instead, they seem to delight in it.

"Don't mind them... Xiro can be... a lot; and yes, they have their... cruel moments, but deep down they are kind, very very deep down, but it's there. Anyway, stay out of trouble and you'll be fine," they turn to leave before you can respond, but pause and warn, "oh, and mind your footing, don't step on any of the creatures here. We will know if you do, and there will be consequences." With one last smile and a flick of the feline’s tail, they trot off back into the water and continue to play with the other felines and creatures in the water like they had never stopped.

The world blinks...

...and in the brief darkness, you see gashing teeth and bloody claws. Roars of rage and yelps of pain echo in your head, you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and a freezing feeling washes over you, resulting in sudden shivers, even with all your fur. You feel suffocated, your lungs crackle with frost, and the gory scene before you has steam rising from the warm spilled blood. You gasp for air and open your eyes in panic, suddenly the world is fine, normal, just as it had been before. What was that?