Wilona the Wanderer

Uh-oh, looks like Wilona wandered a little too far from her den (VampireKetsuki #19097), and now she's off to roam the world! If ever you feel the urge to chase, she'd really appreciate it if you could just return her home instead, or to 'The Roaming Lions' thread

Owners I've Had:
VampireKetsuki (#19097)
Epitome (#17175)
Candle (#142363)
Hylocereus (#57173)
Epitome (#17175)

Detailed Bio
Stop One:
Abandoned by her first home, and found shivering in the rain beneath a tree, the little lioness had no real attachment to the pride she was found by. She was nursed back to health (and nursed) by the various denmothers. When she had her strength back she asked if she could leave to try finding her original pride. She was grateful to Ingrion (VampireKetsuki 19097) for saving her, but she wanted to keep looking to try and find a real home.
She took a few toys with her, as well as some food, and headed off to her next home.hi

Step Two:
Wilona found herself wandering into unfamiliar territory along the steep rocky embankments of the river. She came across a broodmother, who introduced herself as Faraja, comfort in the native tongue. Faraja beseeched Kito, King of the Tufani Pride, and after a moment of pondering, he gave Faraja permission to keep Wilona under her protection with the other cubs.
Wilona grew into adolescence and likewise into a sense of unrest. The Tufani lions had shown her great kindness, but still she wondered what awaited her on the rims of the horizon. Wiilona's impending departure saddened Faraja, but the broodmother did not dare stop her. She bestowed a rabbit's foot upon the young lioness, in hopes that it would bring her luck in her travels.

Step Three:
Frantically running from an abnormally large rat, Wilona found herself running into the long dry grass of a Kings territory. Not that she could care right now, her tail was practically being torn off! Suddenly, with a sharp and sickening crack, the weight on her tail was whisked away, but as an effect she found herself tumbling due to the sudden change. After re cooperating, she looked up at- oh. OH. There before her, rat skull in claws, was a dashingly handsome primal male, well, she thought, she couldn't really tell due to his face being covered in leafs, not that it mattered much, she declared him handsome nonetheless. With a flick of his small tail and another crunch of the rat between his claws, he looked at her, his eyes, despite his bulky and intimidating stature, was soft and worried. "Are you okay?" Wilona looked at him, maybe it was her Adolecent puberty talking but DAMN was he pretty, okay, stop staring, answer the question. She laughed shyly, "Oh yeah, yeah im, im fine now that youre here." She smiled. He looked around, peeking over the tall grass, looking for someone? Noticing her looking at him, he said "Im looking for my mate, usually he knows what to do in these situations." He bit his lip, panicking? Finally, seeming to come to a decision, he grabbed her by her scruff (not like shes objecting) and gently began his treck back to camp. Okay then. she thought, is this considered being stolen?
Its time for her to leave, It was another naming cerimony, lions being sent away with grace and wisdom, pride members being welcomed and named. That kinda thing. Suddenly, she flinched as she heard her name called by the king, next to him Konza, the primal who rescued her. She stepped forward. "Wilona, it was an honor for the Sunn pride to have you. We hope your stay has been ever sweet and joyous." he smiled down upon her. "It warms my heart, although you are not my cub, to have seen you grow so big." He dipped his head, "I wish you well on your travels." Konza noticeably puffed his chest, trying to look like a proper heir, and gave her a smile as she turned to leave. Her chest bloomed, what would her next adventure be?

Step Four

The young lioness travelled far. With the wind at her back and no anchor to prevent her following it, she grew wild and free and beautiful. But as time blew past and she matured, she began to feel stirrings of longing. For the old faces, or for new, it was hard to tell. Regardless, lions are social beings. And as a lioness maturing and coming into her own, she could not shake the fact that she was becoming lonely. Perhaps it was time to try and join a pride again, just for a little while. It would be nice to have another of her kind to talk to and hunt with...
... She didn't quite expect to find them where she found them, though. Weeks of travel had brought her to what appeared to be a large caldera surrounded by harsh badlands. On the outside, it looked utterly inhospitable - prey was troubling to find, water more so. Perhaps she was unlucky, or had come across a bad season, but there was no life to be seen here. With nothing else to aim for, she gravitated towards a swell on the horizon that may have been mountains. There was nothing out here for her anyway, and life on the road had taught her valleys often meant resources.
But within - well, as she crested the ridge that had teased her on the horizon for many leagues of travel, it was hard not to be in awe. Lush foilage nestled within the lip of the basin, the scent of life fresh water on the wind. Birds that she had never seen before bickered noisily within the trees, and open glades gave way to rolling grassland towards the caldera's center. The scent of lions was just as thick, but Wilona was too parched to pay it mind. Elated with her find she skidded down the steep slopes of the basin towards the glimmer of a small river- and tripped over a huge, mottled grey lioness she had taken for a boulder.
They tumbled down the rocky incline in a ball of fur and teeth and claws, breaking apart only at the bottom on impact with an actual rock. In truth, Wilona had never feared for her life more than in that moment, with a much stronger lion tearing at her. She wasn't sure how many injuries had been inflicted on her or how severe, adrenaline dulling the pain - but to her immense relief, after picking themselves up and dusting themselves off the other cat didn't continue the attack. She lay still on the ground, panting, every muscle in her body tense.
"You," the other cat suddenly growled. "have quite some nerve wandering into my territory and jumping on my back. I'd smack you around some more, but there's no fun in fighting a cub."
Uh oh. Wilona kept stock still as she watched what was now in fact clearly a mature male lion size her up, his tail lashing in agitation. While she resented the cub comment, she supposed it wasn't far from the truth. She'd only just made her second birthday after all, if her memory was correct. And now here she was, being stared down by a strange and very annoyed male. Oh. No, he'd turned and was... Walking away?
"You've got a lot of questions to answer. You can walk or I can scruff you, but either way you're coming with me, whelp." He grumbled over his shoulder. Deciding that running would probably be the worst possible decision here besides re-engaging a hopeless fight, Wilona limped after him with her head slung low in humiliation.
-
Allaidh, as he later introduced himself, was the reigning male of this territory. To her relief, he also did not actually seem to be in the slightest bit aggressive past their initial turbulent meeting. His pride was small, and seemed to consist purely of exceptionally intimidating lionesses and their cubs. That was, except for one - a distant, secretive female who seemed to be an outsider like herself. Ranrei was her name, and Wilona was ecstatic to discover another traveller, even if she didn't seem to be the friendliest. She was slightly less ecstatic when she realised that as transients there were expectations.
"Here," the regal lead huntress Scatha had said to her one day, as she rested by the den. With a loud mewl of protest a small, dark speckled bundle of fur was dumped into her paws.
"We need Rem on the hunt, so he's your problem now. Have fun!" Before Wilona could protest, young Shadowdance was already chasing her flicking tail and Scatha had dissappeared into the shade again.

Step Five
Wilona, true to her name, took to wandering yet again. In the scorching heat of the sun, the lioness returned to one of her many former homes, this one being Tufani Territory (Epitome #17175). The pride accepted her into their folds willingly with friendly chuffs, purrs and the bumping of heads. Here Wilona waited out the heat of the dry season before heading out on her way once more.