OOC thread
forgot to add it

Athena's dead, Peach Butterfly will now be used

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Walking along a winding river, you come to a curve that almost loops around itself, essentially creating a small peninsula. All the sides facing the water are blocked by steep hills covered in thick trees. From the side that connects to the rest of the land it appears as a well-worn path, and as you walk down it you notice the area is lightly decorated with various items like rocks, feathers, and bones. Eventually you enter a clearing. A handful of lionesses lay to one side, busy grooming cubs. Some adolescent females play and wrestle in the clearing, and older lionesses gossip on the fringes. A single large male, wearing the fur of a jaguar, watches over them all, though you can tell he isn't the King of this territory. From the inside, it appears that the tree covered hills you saw before eventually drop off into a steep, rocky wall. There are five caves dug into the wall, you recognize one as the dwelling of Athena and her many charges. Which will you choose to enter?

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Along the winding river, Kuchuana felt a bit parched, but kept moving forward. Looking for something to keep his mind off the troubles of his pride.
Finally, he found himself bounding down a very old path like
a happy cub. His tail swaying with delight. He stopped,
noticing the decorated area.
He purred and slowed his pace, taking a moment to appreciate the nice scenery before continuing onwards with another purr. "What a nice,
Calming place to find myself in."
Without noticing, he made his way into a large clearing filled with life. Lionesses grooming cubs, adolescents tussling and playing,
and the elders gossiping. Kuchanua respectfully stayed far from the crowd, and silently slipped away while taking a good look at the jaguar pelted male gazing upon The lions. "He couldn't be king." He nodded in a whisper, but his muscles tensed.

Kuchanua had finally made his way to a steep rock covered wall that are carved into. "Caves?" He chirped. A feeling of comfort washed over him
As he noticed the lioness known as Athena.
He thought he might as well go inside of one, as he had..well, nothing better to do. So, Kuchanua slowly walked inside of the third cave.

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Some young lionesses see the piebald walk into their dwelling, giving him strange, somewhat exasperated looks. They all have a few similar features. They seem normal, barring the strange cub who is grooming a young fawn wrapped in wire. Her tongue doesn't seem to fit in her mouth, and when she hears the foreign King she looks up at him, pink tongue lolling.
More pink catches his eye, as another lioness stalks forward. She seems just as annoyed as the others, her dove-colored eyes seem disinterested.
"So, did you wander here by accident, or are you here for our... shall we say services?" She flicks her ear in annoyance at the last bit, and lashes her maroon tail. "I assume you're either here for us, or for Athena. I'll go get her."
She trots off, not giving the royal a chance to answer. A moment later she prowls back in, after the familiar silver lioness. "Oh, good day, Kuchanua! Have you come for another adoption?" She smiled at him and looked around, not seeing any cubs, so it couldn't be a drop-off. "Hm, it seems different this time. Is something troubling you, or have you just come for a visit?" She gave a grin at the last part, and he notices a few missing teeth.

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Kuchanua was a bit surprised on how rushed he was
to be there, but gave a friendly smile. He was a bit concerned about the,
well missing teeth, but he wouldnt be rude about it and decided to stay
quiet. "I have come for a visit! Im sorry for just wandering in here un-
announced, but its very nice to see you. How is everything
going?" He asked, his dull eyes seemed bright
and glittered with happiness. His tail curled around his back paw
and he carefully sat down.
"And im sorry if im causing a problem, the others dont seem to
Like me that much, hm?" Kuchanua chuckled softly.

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Athena's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Oh, no! I'm so sorry if these girls have been rude, it isn't their fault. They're normally quite sweet, they're just... not fond of their situation." She beckoned the King to stand and follow her out of the cave. "Come, come! Let us speak somewhere we won't bother the poor things."
She leads him back to the pride's clearing, and sits away from the others by a small pool of water. "Here, we won't be disturbed now. Again, I'm sorry about the trouble my King's daughters caused you. He doesn't like to mix up his own bloodlines, but some of his children he just can't bear to part with," she looks around for a moment and her smiles drops slightly before she continues, "and we need to bring in beetles somehow. Selling their heats ensures his bloodline and the financial security of the pride. So you understand if they aren't particularly fond of males coming through the pride." She shakes her head and turns away slightly. "It's sometimes a sad thing, but that's not why you're here, is it? You still haven't told me." her smile returns, her attention now on the male.

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"Oh goodness, im sorry that you are struggling with beetles right now. I will find a way to help somehow." Kuchanua dipped his head quickly before looking back up to answer Athenas question.
"Well Athena, I myself don’t really know why im here either." He chuckled with a sigh mixed in. "I was just wondering alongside a river. Oh, but I don’t think you really need to hear the entire story of how I got here." He smiled.
For a moment, he paused. His gleaming eyes jittering around his paws. "Again, about the whole beetle thing. What do you think? I could talk to my huntresses and ask them if they could gather extra food to give to the monkey business. And then, I could give you the beetles. Then, your pride would probably be much happier..Hm?" Kuchanua offered. He felt heartbroken seeing another pride so gloomy.
"It wouldn't be too much trouble."

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Athena quickly shook her head, "Oh no, please don't! You've done so much for us already, and we are hardly in need of anything at the moment. Of course, we were when the girls first came of age, but we're doing quite well now! You're very generous, and I thank you for it, but it isn't necessary now. I'd rather not take from you, you understand."
She dipped her head slightly, before letting out a soft chuckle. "Oh, you're not the first. In fact, that's how our king found this place after leaving his father's pride. I've gotten lost and found it on accident a few times too."
She let out a quick laugh at that last part.

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Wither Rose wandered into the Adoption Center again. He occasionally found himself here, for some reason. He wasn’t sure why, it just made him happy to be here. He smiled and waved to Athena.
‘Don’t let anything go wrong. He told himself sternly. Seeing her chatting with another lion, he decided to join the conversation.

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Seeing the split-faced king waving at her, Athena smiled at him and beckoned him closer. "My, so many visitors today! What brings you here, are you just here to visit us as well?" She gently swishes her tail behind her and makes a face when it accidently skims the top of the water.

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“Mostly, yes.” Wither Rose said with a smile. “I came to see how you and the cubs are doing.” He bowed courteously to the old lioness. Casting a look around him, he sighted the raven following him around. “She said she was documenting your story.” He commented lightly.

((Heehee I love breaking the fourth wall a little))

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"Oh, how nice. We don't get many who come just to visit. I'm glad you did; I haven't got much time left for any visits..." She trailed off, shaking her head. "But enough about me, have you been well? Are your cubs well? I haven't seen them since they went to live with you." At the mention of cubs, a couple of lionesses walked by followed by bundles of them. A few of them stop to ogle the two strange looking kings before Athena nudges them along.

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“Seed is doing great. She has a big future ahead of her, I’m sure.” Wither Rose exclaimed. “As for… ‘Calliope’, he came out as transgender and said he wanted to be called Python. He’s doing wonderfully as well.” He smiled, raising his eyebrows at the chattering passers-by.

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Turning back to them from the cubs, Athena grinned as she spoke, "oh, I'm so happy for the both of them! Another of my former charges came by the other day to adopt another cub, and she even said that she planned on opening her own Center because of me! I'm so proud of all my cubs..." She trailed off wistfully, gazing out at the groups of cubs playing in the clearing.
Just then, a group of lionesses walked into the clearing from the hidden path to the outside. They dragged fresh carcasses behind them, seeming to be huntresses returning from a day of work. One of them, upon noticing Athena, perked up her ears and waved in her direction. The lioness had white speckles along her coat, similar to Athena's.
"My daughter, I'm very proud of her too, of course. I wanted her to work in the Center with me, but she prefers the hunt. Either way, I'm glad she has something that she enjoys."

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For a while, the three spoke. Eventually though, the two kings were needed in their prides. They left the territory at dusk. Athena carried on, touched that strangers cared enough to visit.
A month or so later, word was sent out to the kings, that Athena had passed on. It was peaceful, in her sleep. Condolences were offered to her daughter, and then life moved on. Peach Butterfly took over as the Head Broodmother, and Amaranta and Jade were made broodmothers in the Center as well.
Still, the Adoption Center is named after her, and carries on her legacy.

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