"I know you have a pride, we’re not meant to be together. Let me just enjoy our one last romantic meal together to have a closure. When Fluffballs disappear, so will I, as I do have a family back home. It’s okay, I always have been a lone lioness, it’s better this way. I am way too emotional around you, Worm-Cat."
(scroll for lore!)
Wenet and Wormwood
The story of the kind Wormwood and the rabbit-crazed Wenet is very odd, yet sweet.
Once upon a time in the African marshes, there were two lions named Wormwood and Wenet. Wormwood was a kind , selfless lion who always put others before himself. He worked hard to make his pride members of happy and healthy.
He had inherited the pride from his predecessor, Arkay; The God of Light. At first, the role and responsibility overwhelmed him. He struggled, but not for long. After Arkay had ascended, Wormwood was free to run the pride how he'd like. He was more easy going, a lot less up tight than Arkay.
Romea Thea, the immortal light, didn't quit approve of this. But there was nothing they could do about it now and it's not like he was hurting anyone. She watched from the side to monitor the new leader.
As April approached, Romea Thea had a gut feeling in her stomach. Wenet would soon come near the marshes and the hares would come after her. Like a plague. Wenet always seemed to seduce the leader of the pride- or at least attempted to. Wormwood was a soft-hearted lion and this would certainly work on him.
And she was right.
Wenet, on the other hand, had a passion for rabbits and constantly chased them in the hopes of discovering their secrets. One day, while pursuing a rabbit, Wenet came across a burrow deep within the marshes. She began digging deeper and deeper into the mushy soil. But she was unsuccessful. She ended up caving in the burrow, crushing the eggs that were inside. She let out a devastated cry, slumping down to the ground.
Out of seemingly nowhere, she heard a squeak behind her. She knew that sound better than anything or anyone. The sound of a rabbit being killed. It was too loud to have come from inside the burrow.
Wenet instinctively whirled around to investigate the noise, only to be faced with a large golden Ferus. This lion was bigger than any she had ever seen. He was truly incredible.
In his jaws, a large hare was dangling. It had been freshly killed.
The Ferus smiled at her nervously, "Thsorry, wasth dish yourth?" He asked with a muffled voice.
Wenet sighed, feeling relieved at his kindness, "No, I was just looking for some carved eggs."
Wormwood looked puzzled as he dropped the rabbit. "Carved eggs? What are you talking about?" He sounded genuinely confused.
Wenet sat down next to him to explain her whole mission with eradicating the Fluffball plague. They both began bond more and more as the hours turned to days. He even offered to help her with her research. For a reward, of course.
However, towards the end of the month, Wenet was growing more and more distance. Soon she would have to have the annual talk with Wormwood.
Despite their strong attraction, Wenet knew that their relationship could never work out. She was a lone lioness, after all, and she had a family to go back to.
After explaining her situation to him, they both decided to spend one last romantic meal together to have closure and say their goodbyes.
The evening sun was fading and the sounds of the marsh frogs were slowly being replaced by the sounds of crickets and bats. Wormwood and Wenet sat down to enjoy their romantic meal together. As they ate their roasted lamb, they talked about their feelings and some of their best memories together.
Despite the fact that they knew it could never work out, they both felt at peace knowing they could always cherish the time they had together. After finishing their meal, they both knew that this would be the last time they saw each other and their hearts ached with sadness .
As the sun set past the trees and beyond the horizon, Wormwood and Wenet’s last evening together came to an end . They looked at each other lovingly yet sadly, knowing that this was it. They would never see eachother again. While Wenet was immortal, like the rest of her family. Wormwood would die before she would return again.
After a brief moment of silence , Wormwood gave his respects and walked away, back towards his pride. His heart was full of sorrow and his eyes filled with tears. Wenet watched him leave, feeling similarly heartbroken and wishing it could all turn out a different way. She took one last glance at him as he disappeared into the marsh.
She would never see him again.
