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When you come to greet her, Fodder quickly gets up, shuffling her paws on the ground to hide something she drew with her claw.
Looking for a while, you find Fodder sitting between large rocks, away from the rest of the pride. She greets you warmly, though.
-
Fodder.
Something unwanted, cast aside without meaning in order to gain something better.
Something killed by kings, for their own barbaric purposes.
That's all she was.
She'd heard it being spoken of, muttered words between her mother and the king. Was she trying to protect her? Maybe. The king always seemed irritable, bitter, giving her the same look he'd give a select few other lions, until she was weaned and split from her mother, moved to what she learned was called the 'Trading Cave.' Where lions who did not meet the king's satisfactions were sent to be traded like carcasses, or, if they did not sell, die.
She avoided the few others in the cave, most of which being cubs or adolescents, and stuck to herself, angry, fearful. She knew she wasn't as...'flashy' as some of the others, but it wasn't her fault! If she could change her fur, be nicer, 'prettier,' she would if it meant she didn't have to spend every day afraid, cowering in the shadows, watching as others were taken one by one.
Her day came too, when she was an adolescent herself.
-
The air was hot, dry, the scent of smoke lingering in the dull breeze that did little to cool. Fire was in the distance, smoke gathering on the horizon. Many lions, especially the older ones, were antsy, anxious, waiting for the order to evacuate camp.
But the King seemed content to continue on with business as usual, at least until the fire presented itself as an actual threat. She was basking in the farthest corner of the cave when a husky growl announced his presence. She twitched her ears, eyeing him anxiously as she slunk up, belly low.
His striking eyes pierced into her very soul, making her all-too-aware of the fear scent rolling off her, but she refused to lower her gaze. She may have been what the others called 'fodder,' but she'd cowered her whole life, and was going to look her killer in the eyes. She knew it wouldn't make him feel remorse or back down, but she hoped that maybe, her spiteful, proud-or so she hoped-expression would linger in his dreams.
This seemed to displease the King, for he raised a massive paw, claws glinting in the low light, and slapped her across the face. She whimpered as she was knocked onto her side, her face burning with the many bleeding lines gouged across her face, one of which just barely missing her eye. Blood dripped down, obscuring her vision; there was so much red. This really was the end, then, wasn't it?
A shadow loomed over her, just then, contempt rolling off of him as he sank those massive claws, now stained with some of her own blood, into her shoulders. She was just able to make out the shape of his massive jaws nearing her, lowering down, slowly, watching her every twitch and raggedy breath. A sinking feeling of dread sent cold chills up her spine as she realized that he was toying with her, it was a game of hunter and prey, and she was being hunted for the sake of it, he was enjoying her suffering, her pain.
All of her sudden realizations, though, were cut short when his jaws locked around her throat, squeezing. She could barely get out the strangled shriek (Why was blood erupting from her mouth as she cried out? That was kind of odd.), her forelegs jerking to kick up at him as her hind legs pummeled at his belly, just out of reach, before she twitched once more, limbs going limp as he crushed tighter, as if trying to squeeze her very soul out. She was gasping wetly, tasting her own blood thickly. A sob tried to wrack her body, but she was in too much pain and could only twitch, hoping that something would spare her mercy.
But no, nothing seemed to smile upon her, for even as she could just make out the acrid tang of fire over her own, coppery blood, the pain she felt increased as spots clouded her vision and she grew weaker. She couldn't even struggle, but she just got to hear a sickening rip as her life faded, her mangled, bloodied throat ripped away by her former King, who'd designated her as nothing more than Fodder.
-
Fire.
The very air around it burnt and scorched as it licked away eagerly at all those foolish enough to challenge it, easily consuming both flora and fauna alike that could not move. Its harsh smoke darkened the sky, tainting the lungs of anything it touched.
But she didn't feel it. In fact, as she walked calmly through the burning grasslands, she didn't feel much of anything. Occasionally, a frightened gazelle or even a panicked, burning lion would dart away from her, but they wouldn't notice her at all. Her suspicions grew, only confirmed as she charged after the the third encounter, lunging at the startled hyena. Her outstretched paws went right through it.
All of a sudden, she recalled the events before she'd 'come to' in the midst of the flames. She felt a stab of hateful anger go through her at the unfairness of the situation, not noticing how the fire grew more intense with her fury. No, thinking about what had happened to her made the scars on her face and body hurt. She wanted to make that king hurt But...there was nothing she could do, was there?
She flexed her claws into the ground, tail lashing. All her life, she'd lingered in the shadows, keeping to herself, not getting under paw, If she wasn't annoying, then they wouldn't want to just cast her away, surely. Well, how wrong she'd been. But no more. She was going to fight. Every evil lion, just like the king who had hurt her, and every lion who'd merely stood by and watched. She would save cubs like her, cubs wronged simply for the whims of the adults who'd brought them into the world. Because even bystanders were evil, and they all needed to be taught a lesson.
But just then, a young cub stepped through the flame. Or well, what had once been a cub, for while its body was before her, its head was nothing but a skull, blackened and burnt. They stared at her, but the gaze was not hostile like that of...him, or even going through her. No, this cub, smaller than her, clearly saw her.
A gentle smile spread over the cub's bony muzzle, and had she not been so confused, her anger melting away, she might have though it somewhat eerie.
"Who-What are you?" she asked, rather rudely. Or, well, she tried to. She mouthed the words, but her throat screamed in protest, and her words came out as nothing more than a feeble croak.
"Do not be afraid," the cub spoke, nearing her. Normally, that would make any lion afraid, but she was already dead. Nothing could hurt more than her death. "I mean you no harm. You're here because, like me, you died a miserable death, taken too soon."
She felt...oddly comforted by those words. Yes, her death had been miserable, unfair, and cut short! Maybe she could get this cub to help her figure out how to get revenge, but first she had to figure out how to communicate.
They seemed to be waiting for a response, but naturally, none would come from her. A look of understanding flickered across the cub's face, and she briefly thought about how oddly well-spoken they were, despite being younger than her-or so they looked.
She felt that much-to-intelligent gaze sweeping across her, and felt slightly self-conscious, only just becoming aware of the blood still sticking to her fur.
"Come with me, will you? These fires blaze with fury. It is becoming almost painful for me," the cub continued. Upon noticing her hesitance, they smiled again. "Do not worry, you will be safe with me. I promise no one will ever hurt you again," they reassured. They made as if to approach her, but as she stepped towards them, seemed to think better of it. She followed at a close distance, and although she was very much confused, she knew one thing for sure, that cub was right.
No one would ever hurt her again.
-
She hardly noticed as the world turned frozen, covered in snow around them. In fact, she swore that all of that white was not there before she blinked. But the cub hadn't spoken to her since she'd followed them, and she was in no hurry to break that silence, so she opted to just wait, bide her time, and hope for an explanation.
She began to understand what the cub had meant earlier. The cold was becoming so evident around them, even as they walked easily on the surface of the thick, glittering snow, that she almost felt an icy headache at the back of her skull. Her many scars, too, tingled. She wasn't sure how much time had passed when they approached a dark, foreboding cave; the moon remained firmly fixated in the sky, not engaging in its typical nightly movements.
Without faltering, the cub lead her into the mouth. In fact, their pace seemed to quicken, almost excitedly, as they went in, and she couldn't help but notice how dark it got so quickly. She could still see, well enough to make out her guide, but the shadows themselves seemed thick, thick enough to chomp and slice through just like her throat and fur, just like how he'd bitten and clawed and ripped through her nononononoNO.
"Are you alright?" a soft, unfamiliar voice whispered in her ear, jerking her out of her ruminations. She whipped around, spotting the peculiar cub to her side, peering up with concern somehow evident in their blank eyes. But they weren't the one who'd spoken.
No, that had been done by the older lion before her, his pale grey fur shimmering like ice, his void-like eyes staring at her, also in concern. She had to slightly angle her head up to meet his darkened gaze. Jerking her head back, she glared at him with bared teeth. He didn't seem to be startled, only watching her with an unreadable expression.
"We don't want to hurt you," the cub spoke up, sensing her tension. "This is who I wanted you to meet, but you just..stopped. And you were staring at nothing or seemed to be able to hear anything."
She side-eyed the cub, relaxing her facial features (which didn't seem to like being used so much, if the scars on her face were any judge). She tried to say something, but her throat seemed to be telling her how terrible of an idea that was.
"Do you have a name?" the adolescent-that much was obvious now, what with his utter lack of a mane, only scruffy fur spiking where one would have grown. "That is fine if you do not have one, this cub doesn't either," he continued, almost...awkwardly? after her silence.
"Fodder," she rasped, feeling her throat tense but ignoring it as her voice turned off once more. For that was all she was, wasn't she? Fodder, something to be tossed away, cast out, useless and unwanted. It's what she'd been told her whole life.
"Fodder?" He seemed taken aback at a peculiar name, astonished for a moment, glancing briefly at the cub beside her. Or, she thought he did. It was hard to tell, as his eyes were devoid of any light. "Very well then. I go by many titles myself, titles known through out those cursed lands, but none of them know my true name, because they are mortal, uncaring. But I share my name, Kafu, with you, because the three of us are different."
Fodder felt an odd prickle go through her, as if 'Kafu' had just said an ancient, magic word. She had so many questions right now, but the constant pain from the gaping wound in her throat (she was dead, she'd accepted this, why was she in pain?) prevented her from doing little more than a croaky wheeze.
The Unknown cub just then made a flicking movement of their ears. Kafu peered at her, making her self conscious once more. "Is that why you are called what you are, Fodder?" he asked gently, ears pinning slightly. It was obvious he was talking about the many scars littering her; she could feel them, even now. They were really the only things she could truly feel, since everything else was absent, empty, numb. She went for a nod, only hesitating and instead craning her head back, doing her best not to agitate the ever-present wound on her throat.
Two small, quiet gasps were heard, the gaping bite marks around her throat now somewhat visible in the dull light. "You poor thing," the cub murmured softly. Kafu seemed to look down at his paws, then at the cub for one moment. As far as she could tell, they were almost having a silent conversation.
"I..I might be able to help that..or at least make it hurt less, so that maybe you might be able to talk and ask any questions later," Kafu offered, directing his attention it was easier to recognize his actions, was that a bad thing? back to her.
She gave a slow nod, swallowing. Anything to make the pain stop. Even when she tried to ignore it, it was still there, flaring up in the back of her mind, a constant reminder of her anguish, her bloody suffer-
"Here, let me just.." He drew near her once more, slowly, hesitantly, giving her ample time to draw away. She held incredibly still, giving only the slightest twitch when his nose-so cold, he was so cold, but how could she even feel is utter lack of warmth? Was she that cold herself?-brushed against a portion of the massive bite-marks wrapped around her throat. His presence, looming over her in the cold, dark, empty cave as he neared her throat slowly, pinning her down, enjoying her suffering as her face stung from the clawed-slap.
With a sharp breath, Fodder jerked away with a cry, panting as she realized that no, she was not back in that awful place, she was here, with Kafu and the nameless cub.
"I'm very sorry, I was not meaning to hurt you..but it is better, is it not? You were able to get out some sound just then," Kafu's concerned face was once again filling her vision. She let out one last heavy breath, shaking her head. She didn't know what he did, but she couldn't feel the throbbing pain, so it must've been good.
"Thanks.." she let out a wheezy rasp, although it was the strongest her voice had been yet. Still, it was a start. Maybe when she could talk without pain, she could get them on her side. It might be nice to have some powerful, knowledgeable allies on her side when she eventually formulated her revenge plan.
"Do you need rest...Fodder?" the cub asked. She nodded. Could she even sleep? Maybe not, but the thought of simply lying down and pretending none of this was happening sounded nice.
Without word, Kafu lead them into a smaller cave-perhaps this place was simply one underground cave system?-with a small hole, open to the dark, unchanged sky. Fodder gratefully followed him, easily stepping onto a small, close-to-the ground, flat rock.
"We have business to attend to, so we may not be here if you need either of us, but we will come check on you when we can," Kafu dipped his head solemnly before turning to leave, the cub giving her one last glance before following.
-
Just as she'd thought, she didn't sleep. Was this a dream? She couldn't tell. Maybe she'd imagined that frosty cave, Kafu's quiet, solemn kindness and the cub's subtle eagerness, masked behind the layers of sadness. Regardless, she was very much aware of what has happening, something she knew didn't happen during her dreams, even though the sight unrolling before her eyes filled her with horror.
She lay on the ground, weak, cowering, bleeding from the gouges across her face. The king lowered his massive paw, claws now dulled, wet with her blood. But he wasn't finished yet; he stalked towards her, keeping that piercing, neutral gaze locked on her. The uncertainty, his not giving any sign as to his next actions, only made her more scared. But he was toying with her, trying to make her struggle just so he could pounce on her.
A strong paw pressed down onto her shoulder, claws digging into the dark fur, blood welling up. The pressure made her wince involuntarily, and this made the huge lion only increase his force, his paw practically grinding her small shoulder into the ground. Realizing what was to come, her hind legs began kicking , pummeling at his belly, but he was tall, and her claws only just grazed him.
Still, this was enough to cause pain, for he grunted, using his other paw to slam her other shoulder down as one of his back legs pinned her hind leg, crushing it. She gasped for breath, trying to wriggle away as he slowly, painstakingly leaned down, lip curled back just enough to reveal those massive yellow fangs. He grazed her throat, making her jerk again as she knocked her head against his.
An angry growl rumbled through her captor. Play time was over now.
Fodder could only watch helplessly as the king locked his jaws around her dream-self's throat, crunching, grinding, twisting. Once more, blood spurted out, coating everything nearby. Just like then, there was so much blood. She felt her legs tremble as some of it splashed near where she stood. She felt weak, so pitifully weak, as finally, the king dropped her, ripping away her throat, blood staining his muzzle and dripping down his chest.
She barely heard the distant shouts of fire as the king dully kicked her limp, still oozing, bloody corpse before turning around, sweeping his gaze over the cave as if checking that there were no other unfortunate cubs in there. His gaze settled where she was, eyes narrowing.
No, no no! She was dead, she was a ghost or whatever they were, he couldn't see her! Still he gazed exactly where she was for a brief moment, but she couldn't tell if he was staring at or through her.
Thankfully, he seemed to realize what she was telling herself, for he turned, tail flicking irritably, leaving several moments before fire began to creep into the den. Right before the fire threatened to consume her, she blinked, finding herself back in the empty cave she'd lay down in.
"Fodder?"
she woke up, finding Unknown beside her. They were staring up at her with those hidden, hooded eyes, sitting below her head.
She grunted in acknowledgement, letting out a small snort of air.
"Bad dream?" they asked softly. She sighed, giving a small nod. Her throat didn't seem to hurt quite so much after her...'rest,' but she didn't particularly feel like sleeping. She was so weak, how could she ever hope to enact her revenge and possibly even help other cubs like her?
(during the bonding she gonna ask him if she was as cold as he was and he's gonna tell her that nah she was burning ugh my hEART i am soft for my babies. when life gives you potatoes make french fries <3)
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