Noir padded his way to the Broodmothers den. Calling out the familiar name to his prides only odd one. Graves. "Graves!" He'd snarl. Glaring at the Leopon who was watching over the cubs. Graves adjusted his gaze over onto Noir "Yeah? What?" He'd say with a bit of a sassy remark as he got up. Stretching his limbs. Noir glared with a bit of annoyance but also a hint or guilt. "Come with me." Noir plainly responded.

Noir, with a flick of his tail turned on his paws and walked out of the Broodmothers den. Graves limping over as he followed. "Your getting old, Graves." Noir spoke as he looked over at the Leopon who just nodded. "You realize your practically useless to us now.. right? Your to weak to hunt, if something came for the cubs you'd all be dead, and you can't produce Leopons anymore.." Noir sighed as he spoke gruffly.

"I know!- but wait just hear me out I can be some sort of use! Can't I?" The pon quickly blurted out. Gazing up at Noir with pleading eyes but was quickly shut down with a short chuckle and a head shake. "No.. no. I'll make sure your in good paws although..." Noir glared at the ground as he kept walking beside the pon. Leading the pon into the barren lands of The Collector.

"In who's paws exactly?" Graves hastily spoke. Looking at Noir nervously as they passed by a Lion skull.

"Well more like under them but you'll be fine. It's not like your a worth to anyone anymore.. not to be rude or course." Noir sighed as he approached The Collectors den. A tiny head tilt to Axel before nudging the pon forward.

Graves stared at Axel with wide eyes a bit nervous before looking back to Noir then at Axel. Noir just shrugged. Grabbing a heafty Lion skull his pride would have fun with before leaving. Not seeming to care about the Pon as it was now out of his paws thankfully.

A lone male stalks forward in the cover of darkness. Nearby, he can hear the broken ship creaking as the waves rock. As well as human voices yelling while they abandon it. He notices that they left all that precious cargo unattented! He may come back for that later. He walks forward on light paws.
Suddenly, a roar echoes back from the ship. He freezes. What is that? It sounds big and frightened. The son of the savage male decides to investigate. Maybe it's something Axel would like to know about? That is, if he dosen't know already. The Tigon king had an odd way of knowing if a zebra herd miles away so much as sneezed. Probably from some underling submale trying to get on his good side.
The creature on the ship roars again, rattling crates. He stopped to listen again. Perhaps I should roar back? Or maybe I could sneak onto the boat after the humans have gone to get a good look at this creature? Decisions, decisions...

A tiny hint of a smile could be seen on Axel's great muzzle as he approached the cave in which Anita resided. It was now time for dinner, and Axel dragged the carcass of a gazelle up for them to share. After this, he was planning to subject her to a little more hunting before he allowed her to rest. Axel reached the cave and dropped the carcass at its entrance, roaring for Anita to come outside. That she did, the majestic brown lioness exiting her den and stretching her tough muscles, white paws extending.

Anita was Axel's lover; not exactly a mate, but they did care for one another. Anita loved how protective Axel was. Axel liked how strong Anita was. A powerful Felis warrior, Anita took down prey better than any other lion around. Axel used this to his advantage, staying on Anita's good side and eventually courting her so she would bring home elephants and zebras that could feed the many mouths of Axel's subjects... and the cubs he raised to serve him. Normally, he would simply force her to do as he said, but he knew that he could reap the most benefits from her strength if he stayed kinda and favored her. What started as Axel permitting her to sit by him as he ate grew into him encouraging her and gifting her things; all of which was a part of his ploy. Axel suspected that Anita knew of his ulterior motives, but no one dared to question him. That was, until today.

Anita was sinking her teeth into the delicious flesh of the gazelle when a thought hit her. "Axel..." she asked. "Axel, may I ask you why you do this... operation? Why do you kill these lions?"

Axel eyed her suspiciously. "I thought you knew why, Anita. Why are you questioning this now?" Receiving no response, Axel continued. "It's truly just for power and control. Those are the two things I long for in life... And I can never have enough of them. I kill those who step out of line so lions know who's in charge. And that's me. Why do you ask?"

"I don't know," Anita said quietly. "I suppose it seems a little... Pointless?"

Axel said nothing. He looked at Anita with pity in his eyes and stood up, trotting off. Where to, Anita didn't know, but she knew better than to follow him. Anita finished off the gazelle and got up to go hunting, per her orders. She was searching down by a watering hole, trying to hide within reeds to pounce on a rhinoceros. What she didn't notice was that she was being followed by a much larger and stronger predator.

Anita would not return home from hunting that night, and the rhinoceros she was trying to capture lived another day.

Koszmar walked up to the lioness he claimed a few days ago, her new cubs squirming at her stomach. He sat next to her, peering at his offspring. Two were normal, just regular little cubs with no important features, maybe a nice marking here or there. The last cub was… different from the rest. He was feral, rowdy, big claws, paws, and jaws going for his siblings, his mother, even Koszmars paws. He couldn’t be kept, not for long.

It had been 5 moons, longer than Koszmar wanted to keep that cub around for, but it had to be done so his mother wouldn’t go after Koszmar for revenge. Koszmar took him, that cub, he was almost half his size now and still growing, still showing signs of his feral nature, only growing with his size. Koszmar persuaded the cub to come with him, to learn about pride leading, for sure. Cause he would live to see it, of course. He took him, through the grasslands, across the jungle, and to the Boneyard. Waiting for him, Axel.

The small cub looked around, terrified, what was this place? This place filled with bones and the scent of death and pain, and… cubs? He looked up at the… lion that stood before him. Well, he wasn’t sure if it was a lion. It looked like a lion, but no, more sleek, lean, smaller mane, just… different. He looked up at his dad, his security, his protector, and wondered why they were here at this strange scary place with this strange scary lion. His dad and Axel were talking, about… him? Why? Why him?

“So,” Axel muttered, looking at the little ferus cub before him, “is this what you’ve brought for The Collector?” Koszmar nodded, nudging him forward with his paw. “Take him. He’s yours to do with as you see fit.” Axel nodded in return, picking the cub up by his scruff, leading him to The Cave. “Where… where are you taking me?” the cub asked, looking around the best he could in the growing darkness, his eyes darting back and forth to the half skeletons he could see in the faded light. Axel set him down, staring into his eyes “Well, little cub, you get to go see my little friend Aiatar.” He turned his muzzle away before adding “…hopefully. Now.” Axel faced him again. “Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.” “Will… will I like this surprise?” the cub asked softly. Axel chuckled, “Little cub it’s to die for.” Axel led the cub farther into the cave.

The last thing that could be heard was the cubs shrieks.

A full moon provided light over the savanna as most of the animals slept soundly out of sight. Hyena’s calls and the soft chirp of crickets provided enough noise for comfort. Comfort would be needed, as important decisions were being made.

In a large marked territory, a well known pride was taking its turn sleeping. Having just gotten off duty, Cursed Claws and Gentle Earth switched off with their king for the night. It wasn’t who was supposed to take over, but he insisted. The Pride of Whispering Stars had been well known for its high mutation count at one point. Only the good mutations stayed; the other mutations, the ones who former great kings of Ashmir and Winter’s Cry had deemed unfit, were sent off to a lion who could handle them properly.

Things had changed, though, when the prophesied King of the Roses arrived in the pride. Mutation levels dropped, and only the few lucky stayed. The population of the pride was now almost entirely eyeless females. The drastic change turned many heads, especially from the ones in the pride themselves.

Early that week, four cubs had been born. Three to one eyeless, and one to one of his piebalds. Two of the cubs were perfect; females with beautiful bases and the king’s colors. The other two, however, were both males. Males that have patched of white scattered across their bodies, just like the king. While Evanthia had shown the mothers nothing but joy, deep dread held up in him. He knew he’d have to make a journey out of his territory later that week.

Once weaned, the night came, and under that light of the full moon, shrouded by sounds of the night life, King Evanthia took the two males away from their mother while they slept. He knew the path well; this wasn’t his first time taking cubs to The Collector. Both cubs slept soundly in his jaw as he walked. The determination in his eyes made it very clear nothing would slow him this night, not until he saw the daunting figure.

Waiting in the Boneyard, the exact lion he sought after was sitting patiently. He had warned The Collector of his visit after the cubs had been born. Placing them down at his feet, Evanthia stepped back to let the lion take a good look at the cubs. Axel eyed them over, spending extra time eyeing those white splatters all over them.

“Both male heirs?” Axel questioned, eyeing Evanthia carefully, “That makes six you’ve given in total, and you know how I feel about the males.”

Evanthia scrunched his nose up; what was with the questions? He never asked questions. “Do they work or no?”

Axel backed up, sitting down, “I can handle the cubs, sure, but I want to know why you only bring me the male ones. Surely you get more than just them, being an eyeless pride, after all.”

They had this conversation before, “Axel, my eyeless are not for the collector. I give you my outcast to help, you promised I could keep what I wanted.”

Axel nodded, “and I’m not asking for them,” he stood and began to circle Evanthia, “but I do wonder why you get rid of all the heirs that could match you’re stature. You won’t live forever, after all.”

Irritated, Evanthia stifled a growl, “If you want the cubs, take them. But leave my personal life out of this, Axel”

The opposing lion scoffed, “I want to know what I’m getting into when I take these two.”

“Why do you care? They’ll be dead in mere minutes after I leave.” Evanthia looked away, trying to keep himself from upsetting the much larger lion. Axel sighed.

“I like your pride, Evanthia. You’ve always been an asset. Don’t make me regret letting you participate in what we do here.” The words came out as a threat, and Evanthia understood what it meant: don’t drag Axel into his deal with Harbringer. Evanthia could corrupt himself to protect his own soul as much as he wanted and could kill as many possible threats through the Collector, but it couldn’t go past that.

Evanthia nodded, “I understand.”

Axel moved from his spot, swooping the sleeping cubs up in his jaw. One woke from the sudden movement, looking back at Evanthia with his father’s same blue eyes. The king cringed, but knew this was for the best for both him and for the Collector’s goals. Done, he turned around and made the walk back to his pride. When he got there, one of his older eyeless was awake and waiting for him.

“Vessel, go back to sleep. It’s a quiet night.” He assured her. Vessel of Suffering’s ears twitched; even without eyes, she had the coldest stare.

“You smell of death.” She simple said, before walking back to her daughters. Evanthia paused. It was never easy, but he would keep telling himself. This was right. They needed him to do this. They needed him. The next morning, Evanthia found two tiny skulls, cleaned but clearly fresh, right outside his den.

I was born with fur as white as snow. It reflects pure brightness in the sunlight that I must avoid, for my skin is frail and weak and will never be capable to withstand the summer heat as the other cubs skin can. I am a lion who cannot endure a star. An apex predator who is deterred by something that a hare could manage. Weather.
I am not strong like the other cubs. I am not capable. I know this, mother knows this, father knows this. My father has been away a lot recently. When he is home, I often catch him looking at me with a strange expression that I can’t quite explain. Maybe pity, maybe remorse, maybe fear, maybe all three.
On the third day of summer, my father took me on a trip. I finally felt special for a reason other than my looks, I feel like father had chose me. He guided me and ignored me when I asked where we were going. I couldn’t be too bothered, though, as I was ecstatic to be hanging out with him.
At the end of the walk, dad ran into his friend. When I asked whats happening once more, they said something about “sacrifice” and “the greater good”, but I could hardly listen over the distant sound of cubs screaming. As father noticed my concern at the noise, he told me that everything is fine and gently guided his paw on my back to ensure I kept walking. I walked. I trusted him.
I was born with fur as white as snow.
I was burned in fire as dark as soot.

A blood-spattered lioness draws close, mouth taut with a small body. As he draws near, Axel begins to make out the cub - no, dwarf lioness - trapped in her jaws, squirming. She drops the dwarf inelegantly and extends her vicious paw until it near-crushes its body.

"Axel. We have another for you." She rasps. Deep scars mar her muzzle and neck, and her voice rattles in the early morning. "She is of age, now, and we do not need her."

The callousness of her words makes even Axel pause, but the panting of the young dwarf fills the silence as the queen removes her paw and ushers it forward. Bone and chain clink together, hollow, as Axel moves forward to stake his claim. A small scattering of silver beetles, decaying and crunching underfoot in the brush, is proposed. The lioness smirks, teeth yellowed and cracked.

"I think you know what I want, and it isn't that." She growls, turning away with a certain violence to the motion. She is already stalking away when she looks over her shoulder. Her eyes narrow.

"I'll be back to claim my favor."

The winds howl around the queen, strikes of lightning filling the cold crisp air. A soft eerie humming can be heard as she walked through the lands. As her paws felt the ground, quakes rose from the bottom of the Earth letting her presence be known. Her tail swished behind her, a silent warning to those who were unfortunate enough to be in her path. Lions ran in all directions, thier fear evident in the yells that sounded. "She's here! The witch is here!" They yelled together, a harmony to her ears.
Her low yet cheery voice soon found its way into the ears of those close by. "If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise~ If you go down in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise~" The patter of rain hitting the ground and the sound of her singing only added to the atmospheres cold air. She climbed the rock that oversaw the pride and sat upon the highest peak. She seemed to glow under the moon light, almost in a hauntingly gorgeous way. The Witch, the queen, the Goddess. 𝔇𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔶 𝔑𝔦𝔤𝔥𝔱.