🛡️ Monroe: The Gentle, Ever-Loyal Protector 🛡️
Decor Plan:
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Monroe was born to the candy-hued lioness Etheria. At first, he seemed like a normal cub, but upon closer inspection, the newborn was clearly something more. He had long fangs and a much stockier build than the other newborn cubs of the pride, and it was discovered he held primal blood from his biological father.
While some of the pride was unsure about the cub, since the pride hadn’t had a primal lion since the days of King Doriian, Jask accepted him with open paws. Etheria named him Monroe, and introduced him to the ruler soon after his birth, and the leader took one look into Monroe’s bright blue eyes and stated that the cub would have a home in the pride, if he so wished.
As Monroe grew, his nature was revealed. He was good-hearted, almost to a fault. He held a loyal ear and fierce protectiveness of the pride. Jask often joked with him that if they didn’t know better, they’d think there was some wolf blood within the young male. Monroe had no interest in being a leader of a pride of his own, and simply learned the territory when Jask and Loki, the head sub-male at the time, took him patrolling. When he was of age, the ruler asked what his wishes were, if he would stay or go, and Monroe chose to stay within the pride. It was the natural decision of course, and the male became the sole protector of the borders when Loki became one with the stars.
Of course, being a sub-male didn’t stop Monroe from having friends. He was close with Juliette, a lioness slightly younger than himself. It was his friendship with Juliette that would introduce him to his soulmate Rosalee, the daughter of Jask. The two met one night when Juliette beckoned Monroe over the where she and Rosalee were relaxing, and for the both of them it was instant adoration. Monroe fell head over paws for the rosy lioness, and the pair would spend many a night under the stars.
Monroe was initially worried about Jask’s reaction, fearful the leader would see his relationship with their daughter as a threat to their rule. However, when he stood before the monarch, head bowed in submission, Jask simply chuckled and stated that they could not have thought of a better match for Rosalee. The ruler knew Monroe would be protective of their daughter, and would never bring her harm, and made sure to tell Monroe that. Monroe relays the outcome of the conversation to his beloved, who laughed and simply told him ‘I told you so’.
As the couple’s relationship grows, Monroe starts to learn Rosalee’s studies, helping her find herbs and mix healing salves for the pride, after a curse was placed on their friend Juliette. Monroe was Rosalee’s rock during this time, and he tried his hardest to help her find the antidote for their friend. Eventually they were successful, and things more or less started to go back to normal.
The two are near inseparable, but the primal lion fears deep down that all good things must come to an end. Rosalee assuages his worries and the two lie awake some nights simply talking and watching the stars.
Eventually, the idea of cubs is brought into the mix. Although Monroe feels guilty for not being able to give her cubs himself, Rosalee reassures him that they can be parents in other ways. They can adopt, or turn to other rulers, and neither option is one Monroe takes issue with. He’s simply happy to be able to be a family with Rosalee, no matter how that family looks or came to be.
Though, he can’t help but wonder if he’s imagining the furious pink gaze he sometimes notices during the night, watching him, Rosalee and Juliette from the shadows. He must be, right?
As the seasons change, so does the life of the couple. They have twins, Alchemilla and Helleborine, both with rosetted pelts, and the latter equipped with abnormally long claws. Monroe and Rosalee are the perfect parents, and by the time the twins are about a year old, the Protector and the Herbalist have yet another daughter, a strange-eyed cub who they name Delphinia. Rosalee swears to Monroe that this one will have a special role, she just knows it.
Alas, the duo wouldn’t live to see that happen.
One fateful evening, Juliette shakes them awake, clearly uneasy. Monroe catches sight of the reason why quickly, spotting a transformed Adalind with claws posed to strike. Monroe steps in front of his mate, silently grateful that the twins had wanted Delphinia to sleep in their den that night.
The ensuing fight leaves Juliette dead, a feat that enrages Monroe. He sees his mate hunched over the body of their friend, and her sobs awaken something in him. He whips around to face Adalind, though the maniacal lioness is already lunging towards him. He can’t finish his turn in time, and gains a blow to the shoulder, hearing Rosalee cry out. He falls, his great strength ebbing away as the rosy-pelted Herbalist crumples over him. He curses himself…he was meant to protect her. He had -promised- to protect her. As his chest begins to weigh as much as an elephant, he uses his final breath to whisper to his mate, the other half of his soul.
“I…..love….you…..”
With those last words, his kind, protective blue gaze shudders closed.
🛡️ 🛡️ 🛡️
*’A gentle giant, one whose purpose was to save,
Has lost his battle, now his lover must be brave’*
Design Progress:
- Rainbow Petal Fascinator [Left]: Crafting; Needs 9 Falling Petals [Rainbow] (150-500 sb each Branches)
