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Claimed with 33 stats
10/3/15 - 104
6/20/21 - 308
Tyrannius found Shadow beyond the territory one day while exploring. He almost tripped over her, having not seen her at all, because her resting figure blended in so perfectly with the sunset-cast savannah. No, her pelt was not sunset colored, being more of a dark tan, but in the last rays of sun she was the color of shadows cast across the land. Her head and back had tinges of gold like the dying rays of the sun. When she got to her feet, he could tell that she was even more shapely than Queen Seafoam, the envy of all lionesses. Tyrannius was completely mesmerized.
When he came home with her, Seafoam had not expected it to be anything more than the usual house-and-play for a couple days, and so she paid little attention to Shadow, especially since she'd been on bad terms with her mate for the past few moons. When Shadow stayed longer and longer and seemed to be taking the role of Tyrannius's new mate, Seafoam was even more hurt and furious, deteriorating their relationship even further. Shadow did not mind this at all, because it raised her even higher in Tyrannius's mind.
There was talk, of course, about why Tyrannius kept this plain, low-born lioness around. It was not too hard for any of the grown lionesses to guess, knowing that his relationship with his queen was poor. Shadow was younger and skilled in ways that others were not. And Shadow had a way of making everyone like her, even when they did not want to. Someone could be gossiping about her behind her back one moment, and the next talking to her, charmed, wondering why they'd been so harsh.
When Tyrannius died, Shadow was still young. She'd been at the top of Cyrill's list to chase out once he ascended the throne, yet that did not happen. He had gathered the pride and announced the names of those to leave. Shadow had been preparing for this, and boldly bounded up to meet him on his perch. She whispered in his ear something, and he temporarily changed his mind about her leaving, and then permanently. The lionesses talked about this with renewed vigor, and Shadow's reputation among all but Cyrill has been deteriorating ever since.
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