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A female lioness was wandering through an open savanna, dead brush cloying at her dirty pelt. It had been days since her mother, the only lion in her life, had died. Her mother never had a pride and her father had never bothered to stick around. It was rough growing up as an only cub. Her mother was forced to hunt alone and leave her to herself, making her survival thus far a miracle. She had barely learned how to hunt as it was...
A vulture circled slowly overhead, eyeing the lionesses Scoria colored pelt from above. She gave it a half-hearted snarl before shakily plopping down, defeated. She was weaker than most lionesses, certainly not close to the goddesses that her mother would tell her about. Maybe it was better if she just took a small rest... Just as the vulture was about to swoop down, a deafening roar ripped across the savanna. The female snapped her head around, fear evident in her eyes. There, by a dying baobab tree, was a male of golden pelt and mane. He eyed the vulture as it flew away in a hurry before slowly walking over to her.
"You're a weak lioness. I've been watching you for the past day as you crashed through MY territory." He said with a slight growl.
The female winced weakly, but held his gaze. She had learned to fear nothing. As a lioness without a pride you had to make up for the confidence that would have come with it.
"I had no way of knowing." She said plainly.
The male stood quietly, his eyes practically glowing in the summer sun."There are markings here and there... Where is your pride? I do not need another male claiming what territory I slaved to earn."
"I have none." She said sharply, turning her head away.
The male was quiet, a small glint passing behind his eyes.
"Then you will have to join mine." He stated simply before turning. "We will go to a small stream near my den before resting."
The female had a look of shock on her face. Her? Join? Such a weak lioness? She called out for him before he could set off. "I have no place in your pride. I cannot measure up to most females in this savanna. If you could lead me out of your territory and to a -"
"No." He barked. "I have claimed you as my lioness. Either that or I chase you out of my territory as it is my rightful duty. I cannot guarantee you'll survive for much longer after that."
She looked at this haughty male and assessed her options. Admittedly, there was only one that resulted in her living. The other...
She let out a small, relenting huff and stared at the male, thinking about their very strange encounter. He wasn't particularly bad, but he wasn't exactly a knight in shining armor either. The female gathered up all of her strength and pulled herself to her feet, following the male reluctantly.
"Oh, I must give you a new name. One for our ancestors to remember."
"But my name is-"
"Queen of The Red Canyons. That is your name."
Queen of The Red Canyons simply rolled her eyes and continued on.
Years later and the lioness that laid down to die in a parched savanna was no more. Queen of Red Canyons had ruled her pride along with her King and she had ruled it well. She had many lionesses by her side that hunted the abundance of prey that their territory had to offer. Cubs came into a happy and peaceful pride that boasted a very bright future. Then. on a rainy may day, her first and only son was born.
Queen of Red Canyons licked her precious son clean, tears nearly coming to her eyes as she saw him. His beautiful onyx skin reflected perfectly against his silver mane and markings. He would no doubt be a handsome King. Sometime passed as she nursed the newborn and finally allowed her King to visit, smiling as he named his heir.
"King of The Silver Sun." She whispered as he left. "May your light shine on this pride and the next."
Shine didn’t begin to describe the light that flowed within her sun. Prince of the Silver Sun was now six years old and ready to inherit his father’s legacy.
[Perhaps not the exact legacy he had in mind...]
“Mother?” A deep voice called. Queen of Red Canyons leisurely stretched out in the cool cave, stretching her limbs. She slowly blinked at Prince of the Silver Sun.
“Yes? Did your discussion with your father go well?”
Prince of the Silver Sun huffed a bit before sitting down next to his mother, back facing her.
“As well as it ever could, I suppose.” He stared absently a bit before continuing. “Father has inherited a great power from the golden sun, but my destiny lies with its brother.”
Queen of Red Canyons had known for a while that her son didn’t share the same ideals as his father. “Two brothers of gold and silver; one of unyielding heat and the other of eternal chill. So bitterly did they fight that the sky tore into two; half of light and half of darkness. Never again did they see each other.”
Prince of the Silver Sun had heard this legend before. It was famous among local prides and had been fervently re-told ever since he was born. “Mother I would never-“
Queen of Red Canyons chuckled. “Oh I know you don’t hate your father. You are simply different. Different lions that shoulder different fates. Our pride’s reign of day must be balanced with a reign of night. It’s a reality that we all accept.”
Prince of the Silver Sun smiled a bit before gently nuzzling his mother. “I’ll do well with my pride. I won’t let you down.”
“I never thought you would my son. Go, you have a patrol to complete.”
With that, Prince of the Silver Sun bounded out of the cave.
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