Vespar

Brought through a trade, the King intends him to be his heir for now. He will be trained, kept and well-fed into a strong lion like him to prepare to take his place in the pride one day. However, he will always be in competition with any sons the King has and will have, since he is not a descendant of the King himself. If he does succeed in taking the throne, he is obligated to mate with the daughters of the king and choose his heir from one of THEIR cubs in order to honour the previous King's wishes to let HIS legacy and bloodline continue.

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As the King stepped in the lionesses' resting area, all of them stood up to bow him. The two lionesses, Asali and Tesra, the mother of his first two cubs, picked up their cubs and kept them on the ground near their paws as they stood up. The cubs stopped chasing each other around, and stood straight, looking up at the King. As the King walked by them and stood at the right side, another male lion walked in, to their astonishment. The young male lion stood in the middle of the circling lionesses, followed by their silent gazes.

He was hardly even a young adult male at this point, he was a teen male at the most. Tufts of light colored mane have recently started to grow around his neck. His bright, pink eyes showed a hint of savagery, although he seemed polite in his body language. His dark fur held a different kind of aura, not the rest of them who were mostly light furred.

The cubs, for some reason, slowly stepped back between the paws of their broodmother Asali, perhaps due to being unfamiliar with a foreign male other than their King. The lionesses exchanged glaces, as well as questions in their minds. The King looked proud, he was proudly gazing at this new male. Who was this guy? Is he here to join their pride? It is unlikely that pride leaders would allow male lions other than their own sons and brothers. Their confusion was cleared in a moment after the King stepped forward and stood beside the new young male.

'Meet your new pride member, my dears. This is Vespar, new sub-male of the pride....and your Future King!' Announced the King.

With his last words, the lionesses exchanged glances at each other. They were much more confused now. Why did the King choose this male as his heir? Is he, by any means, related to him? Tesra looked between her paws, at her newborn son Anton. What does this mean for his future? Tesra was worried. She knew that her son was bound to not be chosen one way or another, since the King was not exactly impressed with his first son, but she had hoped it would be another son of the King who would be the heir, a brother (or half-brother) to her son, who would probably show mercy upon him. But now...this male? Who knows whether he will be the same once he takes over? Who knows whether he will look at him, and any other son she may have in the future, as a threat? Worries flooded her mind, but she didn't dare to say a word. She didn't want to risk her son's any more that it already is now.

No other lionesses dared to say anything either. Slowly, the female cub, Dikela, in all her innocence, tried to utter,
'Y-your Majesty? Why is he your heir? Is he your brother?'
The King chuckled. 'No, little Dikela. I brought him from the trade market. He came from a nearby Kingdom, born to that King. He is royalty, although we aren't blood related. Of course I wouldn't choose a non-royal to be my heir.'
At this, Tesra couldn't hold herself any longer.
'Your majesty...forgive my boldness but...why him? You already have a son. Besides, you are still young. You can have more sons of your own.'
The King seemed prepared for this question.
'Well, yes. But life is not certain, Tesra. I may not live till tomorrow. Or the next week. Or the next month. While a son needs a few months to be born, and even longer to grow up, this pride shall not be left unprotected if I'm gone.'
The lionesses remained silent. The King kept going,
'I want a worthy male to take my place. I want to make sure he is well-trained, well-behaved, and is taught the proper laws and rules. I wasn't impressed with what you gave birth to, Tesra. But I need an heir, the sooner the better. Do not worry about my legacy ending. I shall make a rule, a union before I die. My heir, Vespar, shall follow them, otherwise he shall be cursed.'

The lionesses curiously stared at the King now, eager to know what the King has planned. Vespar looked at him, too.
'I firmly intend to continue my legacy. I want my bloodline to go on, rule this pride for generations to come. Vespar is not of my blood, yes. But his can be united with my blood, yes. A union, a pact. Vespar shall only take my throne and have this power for the rest of life IF he only agrees to mate with my daughters, and choose an heir of my kin.'

Now, Asali, the mother of his daughter, looked down between her paws, at her daughter. The King explained,
'Surely my pride will expand. I will have daughters. They will carry my blood, and so will any cubs they have. Vespar is obligated to mate with my daughters and choose THEIR cubs as his heir.'
'So, your majesty....', began Asali, 'Does that mean no new lionesses will be joining the pride once he is king?'
'Why not? Of course they can, and they will. But those cubs will be deemed illegitimate for the throne. The only rightful heir will be of my own kin. This way, my bloodline will go on. Do you understand, sonny?'
He gently, but firmly put a paw on Vespar's shoulders. Vespar could feel the firm claws of the King on his neck, gentle night he behave, he was being very serious. Of course, he would not hesitate to kill him if he refused to obey, and wouldn't even hesitate to curse him if he didn't follow his wish. Why would he not obey him, anyway? He was lucky enough to be chosen as an heir to a land rather than being chased off by his own father, who didn't want him as his heir, or getting killed in the wild. He will, of course, respect the King's wishes.

'Listen, my new pride.' He began, in a shaky voice, 'I hope you accept me as your future king. Do not be wary of me. I mean no harm to you. And I fully promise to oblige with the King's orders, I will honour his majesty's wishes. I hope you will co-operate with me.