King of the Jungle

Inari stretched, somewhat awkwardly, wary of the tiredness that has crept its way into his bones. He began to pad along the well worn trail of his borders.
The setting sun highlighted highlight the beautiful contrasting colours in his pelt, cool celestial blues swirled through glistening inferno red hairs. His tail trailed slightly behind him, leaving a small dust cloud in his wake.

Inari paused a moment when he reached a hidden oasis, a beautiful waterfall which fed into a clean, clear spring surrounded by lush grass and vibrant, fragrant flowers. This was his safe haven, a quiet place to ponder. He settled on a flat mossy rock by the waters edge and peered at his reflection in the crystal waters below.

He was no longer youthful and powerful, the days of his prime were long since passed, The territory had grown under his rule, food was bountiful, the lionesses beautiful and yet despite his best efforts he had been unable to sire a suitable heir. Given his age, his chances of producing a worthy heir were slim to none and so he had to select one from the pride. There was much work to do to prepare the new prince for rule, and so little time to do it.

There were a few possibilities, but one cub stood out the most to Inari. He had a soft, golden coat and was beautifully marked, however there was one pressing issue. The cub possessed a rather evil disposition. This pride had known its fair share of evil rulers, and it deserved better. Inari held hope that with careful guidance, the cub may grow into a good leader.