"You've been afraid to be different, and you've been looked down on because you don't fit in. But there is something to embrace about a lion's uniqueness. If you can see what it is to be special, you can make that change. Far away there is a place that is very different from our own, with a culture just as unique and beautiful. They have a name for the way barren winter turns to vibrant summer. You may not understand your name. You may hate that it is different. But if you can embrace this difference, you can let others embrace it too. So you are Puawhananga."
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Original Name
Fickle
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Personality
Puawhananga has never dedicated herself to anything. She's too scared to care enough to get hurt, and she holds herself at a distance from other lions. When they try to interfere or get too personal, she grows irritated and bickers with them. She worries constantly about every aspect of her life, and failure and humiliation are two things she can't cope with. She hates to be pitied, and she hates to be helped. She often rejects other lions forcefully, and is willing to hut their feelings to get them to leave her alone. She has no sense of humor, and is easily offended by things other lions say in jest. She's overly-serious and hates when other lions fool around and waste time. She has a good imagination, surprisingly, and likes doing art but hates showing anyone. She rarely tries hard because she thinks she'll fail and be embarrassed. She's surly and defensive with her adopted sister, who tries too hard to help and protect her. She's very devoted to the orishas, and looks to them for guidance and reassurance.
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Background
Puawhananga was born disfigured, her face twisted strangely. She was daughter of the king who ruled her pride, and who many of the lionesses hated and feared for his frightening appearance and demonic heritage. Her mother abandoned her shortly after she was born, and the rest of the pride avoided her because of her heritage and disfigurement. But young Blue Fortune took over as her guardian, becoming her adopted older sister. Growing up in a pride where she didn't feel welcome, Puawhananga was constantly running off and getting herself into trouble. She and Fortune fought over this often. Fortune loved their pride, wanting to fix and protect it. Puawhananga hated being among lions who always made her feel unwelcome and different. The only lion she could feel any connection to was the Silence, but she knew if the rest of the pride saw her near him she would be more of a pariah. Sometimes she went around to watch him hunting or resting. He, for his part, didn't seem to know what to do with this, but as long as Puawhananga kept her distance, he never did chase her off. She imagined he treated her like a real father, and she kept all of this from the rest of the lions in the pride. But she couldn't help asking about him once in a while, and one lioness told her where he'd come from. This pride, she thought, would surely be far more eager to accept her. She told Fortune she wanted to join it. Fortune tried to stop her, they got into a fight, and Puawhananga left anyway. She was about halfway there when Fortune caught up with her, and said she would go with her. They didn't talk much on the way there, and when they got there, Puawhananga explained why she'd come. Some lions were wary, and it seemed Silence was hated here too. But Sweet Cicely, her half-sister, took an interest and offered to train her. She began learning to be a healer, but Puawhananga was afraid to apply herself and fail. So she did the bare minimum. Frustrated, Fortune took over a lot of her duties and pushed her to try harder. During that time, Puawhananga met Double Madness, and the two became good fiends. When the time came for Sweet Cicely to test Puawhananga, the young lioness wasn't ready at all. Scared Puawhananga would humiliate herself, Fortune jumped in to help her. Puawhananga was mortified, and Sweet Cicely, though apologetic, knew she had no choice but to let Fortune take over instead. Again the two fought, and Puawhananga stopped talking to Fortune, furious that she had embarrassed her.
  
How do you feel about Rose Queen?
"It's been made very clear to me how lucky I am that Rose Queen let me into this pride. I keep wondering if she'll change her mind . . . not that I care, anyway. It'd be no great loss of mine if I had to go back home. Leave Fortune with her precious, perfect pride, just like her. I'll go back to some place I belong."
Who is your favorite lion?
"Since I came to this pride, my best friend has been Double Madness. She's tough, but I don't need her to look after me, and she knows that. She just sticks by me when I'm right, unlike other lions I know."
Who is your least favorite lion?
"Blue Fortune acts like I can't do anything myself, like I'm sort sort of helpless loser she picked up out of pity. I don't owe her anything for her 'kindess,' if you can call it that. If she wants something from me in exchange, she should know that I never asked her to do anything for me." |
