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nyeusi ('black in swahili')
the dark lioness paces away from camp, tail lashing with an untold anger that breathes through her entire being.
the other lionesses accompanying her, kahawia, kuvunjwa and mkali, listen quietly to nyesusi's breathless ranting. "that, that cattle-brained asshole! how dare he evoke my rank? i was queen! i should still be viewed as queen! i am far prettier than any of these other rat-tailed females he's gathered."
she whirls toward kahawia and spits, "like you! what is your business in this pride? being in the den meant for royals? absolutely unspeakable! you may have the claws and the teeth and muscle from azrael, but you are no beauty. look at you. what an ugly creature."
kahawia's temper visibly flares under nyeusi's inspection, and with curled lips she lunges forward, smacking a mighty paw across nyeusi's face. "what a bitch!" kahawia snarls, stepping away. "i agree completely with matangazo. you are not worthy of being apart of his council, nor are you worthy to stand beside him." the primal lioness sashays away.
recovering from the shock of the blow, nyeusi lets out a low growl, "what are you two looking at? you're just as ugly as her; go on, go...go pitter patter away!"
clearly unimpressed, kuvunjwa shoots back, "you are no longer queen, therefor you no longer have a place alongside us royals. your position in the royalty den is hereby revoked." nyeusi scoffs and goes to speak when mkali cuts her off, "looks like you can't keep anything - your mate, your rank and your den!"
nyeusi chokes on her words and sends both lionesses a dirty look, teeth bared, claws on the ready. "how dare you!" she cries, charging at mkali.
lava rock erupts from kuvunjwa's toes, engulfing her whole paw, which she lifts and turns over. from the pawpad bursts a writhing, fiery whip that lets off dusty embers. the whip curls around nyeusi's neck, resting just below the jaw, effectively tugging her closer and strangling her.
nyeusi choked and gurgled, her head tipping back as she cowered before kuvunjwa, who held her especially close. "you will not threaten or attack a member of this pride, especially not your superiors! i am now the queen, as appointed by our lovely king matangazo, and you will respect that you lost the position."
the fur and skin where the whip touched nyeusi began to burn, and she squirmed, desperately nodding her head. the whip released it's grip and coiled back around kuvunjwa's ankle, who gave nyeusi a single nod of acknowledgement before turning and scampering away.
she was followed quickly by mkali.
nyeusi lay there, discarded by those who were once her friends, and felt a rage simmering in her belly.
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