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Phaedrus, a name that quite literally meant bright.
Surely I could at least try to fulfill that name and bring honor to my mother, but I was wrong, as usual. I was just a clumsy lion with little to no sense of direction, how the hell was I going to survive as the king of a pride.
"Phaedrus, dear. What's wrong, was it your father again?" Layla, my mother nuzzled me, attempting to soothe me and end my tears. I remained silent, clenching my jaw. "You know he only means well, he is only trying to motivate you to be a leader." I say nothing, instead I turn my back to her. She's silent for a moment, seeming to take in the blood layering it with wide brown eyes filled with tears. "What have you done Phaedrus?" I lick my lips to clear them of blood and turn to clean my back, but my mother gets to it first, humming as she licks, waiting for me to speak patiently.
"He attacked me mother. He told me that he would kill me if I was weak." I pause, huffing and dropping to the floor. "So I fought back, and I killed him." My voice hushes into a whisper, and I feel another tear rush down my fur. "I'm sorry. But at least you'll be here, right Ma?" She pauses in her licks, and responds to my tears in a sorrowed voice.
"I did not wish to tell you so soon, but I'm afraid I cannot live long. Its time for me to join your father in the stars. But fear not, for I will always be there watching you?" I nodded, and told her of my plans to leave. She tried to convince me to do otherwise, but my mind was set, I refused to live in the place where I spilt the blood of my own father, in fear of retribution and shame. I would rule my own territory differently than he did, with kindness and a firm hand. I wanted to be a great father, in my own way. With that in mind, I stepped across the boundaries of my father's territory and left, mind already dreaming of grand adventures as the leader of my own territory.
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