Schrödinger's Den

The Forgotten Forest of Oldwood

Oldwood, lions called it, stretched across the largest lands of the savannah this was before even time itself new about it, but the the elders that lived in it remember how it never aged them and it felt as though they were in a rift between the spirit realm and the living. There are very few lions elders left to tell the tales of Oldwood as it has been drained of its former strength and turned into a mere legend. The old lions tell stories of a beautiful forest covered in greenery and life. The forest thrived and when entered it felt like a dream and the waterwhole in the middle of it supposedly led to a magical land filled with draconic creatures.
The Beauty of the forest did not last long when black ichor began to seep from the watering hole when out flew a blinding light. The lions were forced to flee the forest due to the blast of light, many of them dying because their bodies could not live outside of the dreamlike forest causing them to simply disappear. One lion the assigned caretaker of the forest was able to withstand the blast of light and witnessed a lion with fur so dark he could barely see her in the decaying forest he thought it smart not to talk to her as she could very well be an enemy looking at the now devastated Oldwood but he followed her for months questioning what she was doing. The lion finally worked up enough courage to talk to her.
This lion's name was nightshade, a mighty lion blessed by the dragons. When nightshade approached the lioness she was extremely calming. Her movements were like water and her voice flowed through his ears, he was mesmerized by her. The two lions hung out a lot but Nightshade never knew the lion's name and one day she just disappeared leaving nightshade alone to guard the forest. Nightshade never really felt time pass by until he saw a lion trying to figure out the water portal to Atara. The lion looked just like the lioness he’d seen before but different, “Who dares to reach into the pool of dragons' ' Nightshade demanded, “Oh! I apologize I didn’t know any other lions were here, I am the mighty Shaia son of the dragon shapeshifter Shae.” “My apologies, my lord” Nightshade quickly lowered his head, “I shall open the portal for you immediately.” As soon as the portal opened Shaia dived in with a mighty roar. Nightshade never knew what happened to him or the Land of Atara but new green life seeped from the pool instead of black ichor. Nightshade soo began to see lions coming into Oldwood hungry and fearful. Nightshade decided to take initiative and started his own pride that would forevermore protect The Forgotten Forest of Oldwood