Heather [BG]

Two Sisters: Part 1 - Heather

Heather, the first-born twin. Like most first born siblings, she is a quiet and patient character.

As a cub, her and her sister Holly had always enjoyed listening to her broodbothers scary stories. Stories about Shamanic spells, Celestial Gods in war, and many strange and horrifying creatures. She had always had a curious and adventurous nature, so eventually she decided to go on a journey to the Northern lands - a territory she knew was unknown to most members of the pride.

Holly, however, could not stand the idea of being separated from her "Sis" and loudly insisted on going with her. Although Heather was hesitant at first, knowing oh-too-well hoe Holly would often bring them into very twisted situations, she finally agreed to let her come.

Several months passed until the two sisters returned to the pride. When they did, the whole pride joined to greet the pair. However, the tail-wagging stopped rather quickly when the two approached. The pride's Leader, Chamoto, looked at each oh them for a long second, before giving them a quier snarl and walking off towards his favourite spot.

The pride's healer, Kofi, watched as he left and sighed wearily. She was one of the few pride members who knew the Northern Lands, as she had been there herself. And Just like herself, the two cubs - who had become young, strong lionesses, as she noted - had returned changed.

Heather had made the biggest transformation. During her youth, the lionesses had never been too sure if she was a male or a female. Her smell was neither. Before she left she had even begun to grow a mane, so they had assumed that her urge to leave was just the instinct of any adololescent male approaching adulthood. Chamoto was known to have defeated any and all challengers in the past, and mostly the fights ended fatal for the loser. They had known Heather to be smart and observant, and therefore wouldn't have been surprised if she - or he - had chosen not to take the risk. Yet, they had been wrong. Heather had returned, a stong and slim lioness.

However, this wasn't the main reason for the pride's collective shock. It was the dark Aura surrounding her and her sister - the same Aura they knew from Chamoto and Kofi. One of her eyes was blind, yet it seemed to stare at them so very intensely that those she looked at, involuntarily ruffled their fur. She didn't say a word. On her head she wore a feather crown, ornated with a small skull. Kofi knew that this crown was made by Northern Shamans, one of whom they had likely encountered - as had she, she thought with a sad smile on her mussle.

Heather stood still as the pride members examined her. She lifted her head proudly as Chamoto left, and her eyes met with Kofi's. They exchanged meaningfull looks. Finally, the pride members seemed to relax (after all, they were familiar with this sight) and her mother approached carefully to welcome her daughters.

(Part 2 will be Holly)