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this cub will look exactly like his father.
THANK YOU LONGFANG!! I absolutely love this cub 💛
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BACKSTORY:
Littlefang - son of Lunarlion and Littlestripe.
This cub was born in his father's pride within a lush savannah that sprawled in all directions. Born as the heir to the throne, Littlefang lived a lavish lifestyle. He was showered with love by his parents and pridemates, provided the freshest of meat and adored by his entire kingdom. And yet he still found the urge to wander nestled deep within his heart.
Lunarlion was close friends with Frosteh. It was in the time of Frosteh's third incarnation that the green king led his wayward pride towards the swamp, insisting that this was the territory to call home. Littlefang was intrigued by his father's friend. The tales he heard of Frosteh fuelled the fire of adventure within the young prince. What was this strange form the king possessed? Why would he live in such an inhospitable place? How did he inspire such strong devotion from his pride? Littlefang knew the only way his thirst for knowledge and answers would be quenched was to experience this lifestyle for himself.
With his father's blessing, Littlefang set off towards the swamps and temporarily joined Frosteh's pride, learning to live as they did. Frosteh welcomed him as if he were his own cub as the bond between him and Lunarlion was very strong. During his time there, Littlefang met a beautiful lioness called Nurisha. He was captivated not only by her stunning appearance but by her prowess as a hunter and the kindness in her heart.
The two of them quickly fell in love. Every night they would stargaze outside of Carviph, talking about life and their dreams. Nurisha learnt of Littlefang's home, of his duties as the prince and the responsibilities that burdened him. Likewise, Littlefang learnt of Nurisha's life. Of her desire for a close family to call her own. The two lions were inseperable until the fateful day of Littlefang's departure.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. Or so Littlefang believed. He knew his father and his own pride were waiting for their prince to return, to take up his rightful position of leadership under Lunarlion's guidance. Tearfully, Littlefang and Nurisha bid each other goodbye. Frosteh and the rest of his pride joined them amongst the marshes. Heartbroken, Littlefang journeyed out of the swamps and back to his savannah homeland.
Returning home, Littlefang was greeted by his father and his mother. He sank into their embrace, grateful to be home and surrounded by his kin once more. However, his younger half-brother Finnlief, was nowhere to be seen. Upon asking, Littlefang was informed that Finnlief had ventured off on his own journey in search of a mythical object. Littlefang snorted. Despite his love and respect for Finnlief, he had to admit that his brother was confrontational and often rude. Surely the least Finnlief could do was stay at home and look after their pride whilst Littlefang was away, instead of going on a wild goose-chase over a fictional item?!
The days dragged on. Littlefang completed his duties with his head held high, as a true prince should. He engaged with his subjects and pridemates, helping them in any way he could. He was praised and adored. Yet even as he kept himself busy, his thoughts drifted to Nurisha. Oh, how he loved her! His every waking moment was consumed with intense longing for the stunning lioness who had caught his heart as if it were easy prey. He knew it could never come to fruition. She would never leave her family in Frosteh's pride, just as he could never leave his.
It was on the eleventh day after Littlefang's return that Finnlief appeared. With ragged fur and tired paws, Finnlief gave Littlefang a curt nod, his only sign of acknowledging the crown prince's return. Littlefang sighed. Finnlief was always troubled and he knew he could do nothing to help his brother. For how could he help a lion who refused to change? Littlefang tended to his duties until the sun set and he retired to his den.
As he dreamed forlornly of Nurisha, a sudden piercing scream woke him. The prince leapt to his paws, claws unsheathing as he charged out and into the main den. Who was hurt? Was the pride under attack? Littlefang roared furiously only to be shouldered aside by his father, who pointed to Finnlief's den with his tail. Littlefang froze. A strange green glow was emitting from inside and he could hear the strangest of sound - cracking, snapping, screaming.
He realised with a start that this was... otherwordly. Yet how could he, a lion of logic and facts, accept this conclusion? Uncertain, the prince froze in the middle of the cave. His pridemates shrunk behind him, afraid of what they could hear and see. Littlefang resisted the urge to run.
Lunarlion stepped ahead of them all, speaking. `The otherwordly works in ways we do not understand. I have seen it myself, as has Littlefang. It runs in some prides, such as that of my friend Frosteh. Somehow, it has reached us here through Finnlief. We can do nothing but observe what will happen`
The pride bowed their heads to their king's decree and returned to their sleeping dens. Littlefang hesitated. He met his father's eyes, glowing red in the dim moonlight and fraught with worry. They looked so much like his own. He leaned forwards, brushing his muzzle against Lunarlion's cheek. Tonight they were more father and son than just king and prince.
Littlefang slept fitfully. As the light of dawn shone down upon the savannah, the prince stepped out. The first sight that greeted him was that of Finnlief. Littlefang gasped, disbelieving of what had happened. Overnight, his scrawny-half brother had transformed into a hulking beast! His canines hung out of his muzzle, glinting dangerously in the morning light. Littlefang could only watch as Finnlief flexed his new muscles and raked his claws across the rocks, leaving deep indents. The second-born now towered over the rest of his pridemates, inlcuding Littlefang. How had this happened? Finnlief was powerful... too powerful! The crown prince felt worry worm inside his heart. The balance that had carried them this far, that had ensured the survival of his pride, had been overturned in just a single night.
Finnlief gave Littlefang a scathing look, stalking towards him. `Oh brother, what has become of you now?` His voice mocked.
Littlefang suppressed a tremble, instead drawing himself up to his full height. `I am the Prince. Nothing will change that, not even your... strange transformation. I know not which shaman has cast this spell on you. It may have changed your appearance but it certainly hasn't changed your heart. You have always been jealous, self-centred and unworthy. That is all you shall ever be!` He roared, fury consuming him.
Finnlief raised a giant paw, ready to strike him down for good. At the very last moment, Lunarlion barged between them, hissing furiously. `Enough! You are both my sons. This changes nothing. Littlefang will lead and you will follow him Finnlief, as a younger brother should. Work side by side to better my pride, not to ruin it`
The two brothers bowed their heads. Lunarlion's authority was not to be challenged.
And so the days went on and Finnlief soon gained the hearts of his pridemates. Littlefang did not believe the act his brother put on, for he had seen the truth in Finnlief's eyes and words. The crown prince spent his days fulfilling his duties, as he always had. He hunted and patrolled, he explored and traded. All the while, he kept Nurisha in his heart. What would she be doing now? Did she still think of him as much as he thought of her? Perhaps she had found a mate and forgotten him. He wept at the thought.
One night, after more days of hard training, Finnlief approached Lunarlion and insisted that they go for a walk. Littlefang overheard this conversation. He didn't trust his half-brother one bit and discreetly followed after them, keeping his eyes locked on his father. The night was dark and cold. Littlefang watched as the two males conversed peacefully. He had almost turned away in relief, when Finnlief shattered the illusion and pounced.
The crown prince gasped as his brother's teeth sank into Lunarlion's neck, as his claws tore away at his father's throat. He was frozen in shock as the struggle between the two lions ensued. He expected the fight to be lengthy, for Lunarlion to put up a good defence. That was not the case. Finnlief was far too powerful, too strong. An ordinary lion would never be able to win against his primal magic. Lunarlion's body hit the ground with a thump, his blood pooling dark red and staining the savannah. Finnlief smirked. He turned suddenly and his glowing red eyes met Littlefang's. Littlefang's eyes shone the exact same way.
Fear coursing through his body, Littlefang pelted away. He could hear Finnleif chasing after him. Was he going to die tonight? Was this the end for him all? The prince screamed in fear, hoping his pridemates would hear. Hoping they would help him but he knew in his heart that they were as helpless as he was. He gasped for breath as he desperately ran, evading Finnlief's claws and snapping jaws only by a miracle.
He crossed the border and kept running, only stopping after he had stumbled on a thick tree root. Panting hard, Littlefang lapped at his injured paw. He had only barely survived. He would never be able to return home. He was no longer a prince, only a prideless submale. Littlefang would have wailed and cried if he weren't so afraid of revealing his location. For all he knew, Finnlief was still lurking nearby, intent on finishing what he had started.
Littlefang was heartbroken. He prayed that his mother, Littlestripe, would be okay. He wished he could have given his father a proper burial, he wished he could have saved his pride. Who knew what horrors they would experience now that Finnlief was king?
Struggling up on weak paws, Littlefang felt a glimmer of hope flare in his heart. All was not lost. There was still somewhere he could go. The lion stumbled forwards, marching on to his future. For he knew that Frosteh would never turn away his friend's son. He knew that the swamps would shelter him. He knew that most of all, Nurisha would never throw away the love they once shared. He was going home.
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