art by 353706
Shrouded in gentle rolling mists, his pale lavender eyes cast on craggy mountain peaks, Roulette pauses to take a breath. The air is thinner here— crisp with the scent of adventure. Survival in these climes requires ample resilience. This wandering King has it in spades. He knows precisely where to step to avoid crumbling earth or shifting stones. He recalls the location of each clean pool and the crevices where deadly serpents hide. His pride, going about their business hundreds of miles down, waits anxiously for his return. He will come home soon. This is the King’s time to ponder and reflect. His endless list of duties will still be there when he gets back. For now, he is accompanied only by his silver-furred companion, a joyous little cat that he found abandoned as a kitten. Roulette is known across the land for taking in strays. His kind heart makes it impossible for him to turn his back on a creature in need.
*****
Many prides cast out their mutated lions. Whether their leaders believed these lions to be bad luck, or simply ran out of space for the poor souls, there is always an excess of oddballs seeking safe places to rest their heads. Roulette always opens his doors to wanderers like these: exhausted and down on their luck. Whether they’re simply passing through on their way to a new pride or seeking out respite during their final days, this King’s generous hospitality is a balm for their troubles. Small wonder Roulette is famous for his empathy. Kings from territories near and far know of his goodness. For those who aspire to follow in his footsteps, he is an inspiring tale. For those vile enough to turn away from goodness, he is a legendary enemy. Roulette himself cares little about the chorus of whispers. Let them talk. His actions will speak even louder.
*****
The act Roulette is most proud of does not turn many heads. In fact, only his fellow pride members know this story. It is a tale of empathy, trust, and friendship. For Roulette, it is proof that caring for others will lead to a bounty of joy and good fortune. He was just a young lion when it happened— no longer a cub, but not quite an adult by any means. He had just begun to notice that other young males like himself were beginning to grow tufts of fur that would eventually become thick manes. He had none and was mocked for it, so he retreated to the mountains to clear his head. He knelt to drink from a large lake when he heard a loud splash, accompanied by terrified yowling. Roulette glanced up in surprise and noticed a tiny kitten floundering around in the water. The creature appeared to be drowning. Without a second thought, he leapt into action. Although he had little experience with swimming, he dove into the pool, grasped the soggy bundle in his mouth, and paddled to shore as best he could. By the time he made it, both King and cat were completely exhausted. Nevertheless, Roulette mustered his strength to lick the infant. He knew the cat would need to be kept warm in order to survive. The little one purred in gratitude and started kneading the future King’s wet fur. Not one to separate a baby from its parent, the lion scrambled to his feet once he was strong enough and began to seek out the rest of the litter. He traveled for many miles with the gray kitten riding on his back. There was no mother to be found. It seemed as if the creature had just fallen out of the sky. As daylight began to creep towards indigo twilight, Roulette and the kitten began to shiver. It was time to return to the pridelands. When he came home with a damp kitten curled up between his shoulder blades, the other males chuckled and asked what he had gotten himself into this time. Roulette shrugged off their teasing and went to sleep with his new friend by the fire. When he woke up the next day, the Russian Blue was still there. They have been thick as thieves ever since.
art by 25611
The tale of the King and his cat came full circle during the first few months of Roulette’s reign. He was traipsing through the woodlands, hoping to locate a few bundles of catnip for his shop. He stooped to gather from a particularly verdant crop when his cat, who always accompanied him on these journeys, leapt off his head and began screeching at the top of his tiny lungs. Roulette jumped, startled, and looked up just in time to witness an enemy male in mid-pounce. The stranger was lunging for the King’s throat! Thanks to his companion’s warning, Roulette was able to roll out of the way and square off against the fiend. Without his cat’s timely warning, he would’ve ended up with fangs in his throat. When he made it back to his pride with nothing more than a few scratches on his muzzle, he made sure to offer his friend the largest, juiciest piece of gazelle for his dinner. Acts of kindness are powerful— and good karma always has a way of coming back around.
art by 196201
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