Made King on 3/5/2023, made primal on 3/25/2023
Xavier (or Zane), Hank and Mer couldn't decide on a name for their adopted son so they let him have both.
Xavier loves his dads, they make him happy and he loved doing things as a cub to make them proud. He would catch bugs and show them. Maisie and Zane would wrestle together to see who would win. Now that's he grown, he isn't that close with his brother. He still loves him and spends time with Maisie when he can. With them both as choices for heir, there's tension between them. Xavier hopes that fades soon.
Zane doesn't spend a lot of time with his sisters but he finds them amusing, especially Hanna and Aria. He's spoken with them a few times but he's talked most with Taylor and Emily.
[Hank's passing]
The day before Hank passed, he spent the whole time with his family. Before they went to sleep, he pulled Xavier aside. Hank's eyes lingered with worry, Xavier noticed this and his anxiety peaked. "Zane.." Hans started to say, he looked down for a moment. When he looked up he had a new expression on his face, he was proud. "You're going to be the next King." Hank said, smiling softly at his son. Xavier stayed silent for a moment, processing what his father just said, "Are you sure..?" he said quietly. "Of course, son." He replied. Merman approached them, Zane assumed he knew the news. "You'll do great kiddo." Mer said, grinning. Xavier was lost for words, all he did was nuzzle against his dads, he was overwhelmed knowing how much faith they had in him.
[Xavier becoming King]
The next day, Hank passed. Mer woke up beside him, he was sobbing. Xavier cried too, he realized that Hans must of told him last night because he knew he was going to pass on. Zane nuzzled against Mer to comfort him, Mer said quietly, "You'll be a great King, Hans will be so proud of you." This made Zane cry more, but good tears.
[The Dream]
A few weeks after Xavier was made King, he had a dream. This wasn't a regular dream, it was real. He was standing in complete darkness. He saw a light flickering in the distance, he tried to walk towards it but he couldn't move. The light got closer, it was no longer flickering. The light stopped in front of Xavier. It outlined a shape of a lion, a lion he knew. The glowing light was a figure of Hank. Zane opened his mouth to speak, no words came out. "Xavier.." Hank's voice echoed around him. "We have something to tell you." As he said that, two more figures appeared by Hank's side. Xavier didn't know these lions personally, but he heard stories of them. On Hank's left was Eddie, the first King of his pride. On his right was Popia, Hank's father and the second King of his pride. Zane's eyes widened, he couldn't believe what he was seeing but he knew it was real. Eddie stepped forward and spoke, "My boy, you have been chosen to become something very.. special." Once again, Xavier opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Eddie continued, "You'll undergo changes to your body, it may seem scary but it will not harm you." Zane was as confused as ever, what was going to happen to him? This time Popia spoke, "The changes will be slow but very noticeable to your pride. They'll want answers that you cannot give, you may not speak of this dream to anyone." Xavier stared at his father, begging for some kind of explanation. Hank spoke kindly to him, "Trust us my son, you will become something great." The glowing figure of Hank smiled at Zane, then he slowly faded. As he faded, he turned around and walked into the darkness. Popia nodded at Zane and followed. Eddie left last, grinning at the young King and turned around to follow. This dream was the start of something that would change Xavier forever.
[Becoming Primal]
The changes happened slowly. It started with his teeth, they started to grow. It hurt and alarmed Zane at first but there was nothing he could do about this. The pride started to notice, they showed concern. He wanted to reassure them that he was okay but he didn't know how. He couldn't tell anyone about The Dream. During Xavier's transition, it was awkward and tense in the pride. No one brought up the changes he was going through. Maisie was the only one who asked him directly about it, Zane told his brother he didn't know what was happening. It hurt to lie to him. Spiral threw him confused glances but he never mentioned it. Lykoi joined the pride at the end of Xavier's transition, the young lion thought the King always looked like this. Over the days, weeks and months, Zane got bigger. His paws grew and his fur. The most concerning part of the transition was losing his tail. He woke up with it gone, just laying there. He couldn't believe his eyes, it didn't hurt which shocked him even more. Xavier didn't know but that was the last step of his transition. He was now a Primal.
He had another dream that night. It was very short but Hank appeared. He was a glowing figure of light, like before. The past king smiled at his son and spoke these words, "It's done, it's complete. You are now Primal." That was all Hank said, Xavier woke up after that. Everything he went through made him a Primal.
(Before Primal)
[Lykoi's eye]
Zane's head jerked up as he heard his name being called out, he was with his pride gathered around the kill pile. He recognized the voice, It was Lykoi. He turned his head and stared at the young male in disbelief.
His eye was gone.
Xavier immediately stood up and raced over to him, "Are you alright? What happened?" He looked around frantically, "Where is Spiral?" Lykoi leaned heavily against his King, unable to hold himself up any longer.
"S-Spiral, he did.. this." He managed to say quietly. Xavier's ears burned with rage "Spiral did this to you!?" Zane longed to find him and scream at him but Lykoi needed help. He looked at his pride who was staring in shock, he called for the first two lions he spotted. "Maisie, Confetti!" They broke their stare and rushed over to him. "Take Lykoi to Hanna, have someone else watch the cubs, she can use herbs to help with the pain." He said quickly, shifting Lykoi's weight onto Maisie so him and Confetti can carry the young male.
Xavier watched the two walk Lykoi over to the cave where Hanna and the cubs stayed. He sighed heavily, he knew Spiral was short-tempered but he never thought he would harm a pride-mate. He looked around his pride once again, "Aria, go to Hanna and take the cubs out so they don't have to see Lykoi." Aria nodded at her King (and brother) then padded off towards the Broodmother den. "Taylor, Emily." He said as he turned towards them, "Get food for Lykoi and use moss to get him water. Then help Hanna if she needs anything." Like Aria, they both nodded and went off to do their duties.
The rest of the pride was still sort of staring at Xavier, wondering what just happened. "I'm going to find Spiral, I'll be back later." He said, addressing the whole pride before running off in the direction Lykoi had came.
(See Spiral's biography.)
