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Korkea is named after my first stuffed animal.
Disjointed lore:
Korkea was forced to take over the pride early when his older brother Kalise was found dead, fur scorched and limbs broken. His brother's star emblem was faint, wavering in the muggy air. Korkea touched Kalise's fur with his nose, taking the crown as his own. The emblem disappeared from his brother, and manifested as a crescent moon above Korkea's head.
Korkea was the fuzzy runt of the litter, and remained the size of an adolescent male into adulthood. He was never expected to rule, as his job was to patrol the territory for his older brother. The pride was devasted by the loss of their king, and reluctantly had to accept Korkea, as he was the only male that Kalise allowed in the pride. Korkea followed the laws that Kalise created for the pride to the best of his ability, but he proved to be more merciful towards submales than his brother. Korkea always made sure that his pride would be left in good paws if anything happened to him. Many of the lionesses respect his leadership decisions, but many doubt his physical capabilities. Since becoming king, Korkea has sired a small army of primal daughters. They are fiercely loyal to their father, and act as his muscle when he needs backup.
Moons later, during a routine exploration through the pride's lands, Korkea came upon an intriguing lioness. She sat underneath a sparse tree, grooming herself meticulously. Her fur was darkly colored, with white freckles over her back and face. As Korkea approached the tree, a screeching cry caused him to wince. A large magpie fluttered down from the branches, and landed on the lioness's shoulder. She glared at Korkea, annoyed that a submale would disturb her afternoon. Korkea bowed low to the ground, both to show he wasn't a threat, and to show the stranger the emblem glowing brightly on his head. The lioness stiffened and squinted her eyes.
"You are a King?" She asked, wary.
"And you seem to be friends with a bird."
Korkea crept closer to the lioness. As he approached, the definition of her muscles became clear. Korkea also noticed that the lioness had a faint, dark smoke circling between her ears.
"You used to be a Queen," Korkea mused.
"That should be obvious," she scoffed, "It's none of your business."
Korkea nodded, "That's true. What's your name?"
The lioness licked her paw and extended her claws.
"Maluid."
Korkea traced a small map of the surrounding lands in the dirt in front of Maluid.
"I'd like for you to join my pride. We live here, past the lake. Come around whenever you please, Maluid."
Korkea bowed once more, turned, and left Maluid and her bird alone under the tree.
Days later, at dusk, Korkea and his pride were enjoying the last scraps of the day's hunt. As the lions shared stories and news, a bird's cry alerted them to a stranger approaching. The lionesses surrounding Korkea stood low to ground at his feet, waiting for his signal.
Korkea chuffed, "Greetings Maluid."
Maluid stepped towards the pride.
"I was hoping you would stop by."
"I have nowhere else to be presently."
Korkea approached Maluid and offered his nose to her. She hesitated, her gaze flickering from Korkea, to the pride, and finally up to the bird on her shoulder. She took a deep breath, and touched her nose to Korkea's. The dark smoke above her head swirled and shifted into a crescent shape to match Korkea's emblem. However, her crescent stayed a midnight black.
"Welcome, Queen Maluid."
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