Nice Guy 𝕺𝖗𝖕𝖍𝖊𝖚𝖘

Oprheus, the son of Calliope

Born from a collapsing lioness, Orpheus' life began as any other cub. But, he had never known his father, and his mother made sure it remained that way. Adelaide had been Orpheus' other mother from the beginning, although it was adopted. The young male pattered silently to the hill to listen to the dead grass whistling in the wind-- preparing for the storm that was about to brew. He was only a year old, and his young bones were growing strong. The wet season was beginning soon, and Orpheus' nose tilted to the air.

Calliope had always been the contempt one, relaxing on the rocks as her orange fur soaked up the rays. She glanced to Orpheus every now and then, smiling with her teeth.
"Oh, Orpheus. How much you look like me." She always remarks, amused at her genes.
Orpheus now was growing his mane, and soon, he would be forced to leave his pride. His eyes glanced over the pale wheat-colored strands blowing in the wind. His mother was growing older with every day, and he could see it in the way Adelaide walked. Her paws were heavier, head sunk more often than not. At one point, his other mother settled at his side and raised her own chin to the clouds.
"Come with me," she says, gesturing out into the far distance. "I have something I must show you." Orpheus reluctantly agrees, following his adopted mother into the brush. He could sense his real mother's worry turn to warmth.

Amongst the grass and through the brush, Adelaide led her adopted son to a welcomed spot between three leaders of three different prides. They all came together to relax, and sometimes brought their pride to groom and care for one another. In essence, the prides were almost all family.
Adelaide dips her head to a blue-colored feline, mane white and grey with his piebald markings. He smiles, although cockily. They embrace by rubbing their heads against one another, a welcoming symbol between the leaders. Orpheus silently stands there, tail whipping side to side.
"I brought my successor." Adelaide's voice rang out and broke Orpheus out of his confusion. He was shocked for a split second, eyes widening before standing straighter-- almost like he was subconsciously correcting his immaturity. He was young, but the title of successor made him feel much bigger than he actually was. In comparison to the two leaders, Adelaide was only a few inches taller than Orpheus-- while Ferocious, the king of the other pride, shot over both of their heads.

"And I brought mine. I'm happy to see we have the same idea, Adelaide." He smiles, head tilting to her. Behind Ferocious, a young lion-- just a tiny bit older and taller than Orpheus crept forward. His eyes were the color of the morning, the night fading while the sun rising in a blend of harmonious colors. His coat was black and red, mane already half-way developed and styled in a charismatic manner.

"What is your name?" Orpheus' voice quivered slightly-- maybe it was the older lion's height in comparison to his. He tilted his head down, tail slashing back and forth.
"It's Ferocious," the response was rather quiet, soft eyes surveying the lions around him. Orpehus could see Adelaide's expression shift from surprise to annoyance.
"Really? You named your heir after yourself?" She asks, eyes narrowed in a taunting way. From her tone, the smallest lion of the bunch could tell that she was annoyed with the other king.

Ferocious' face contorts, eyes rolling as he bares his teeth at the lioness. "So what? He's a too much of a loser. He's gotta be like me, man..." He grumbles, paw raising to swat at his heir's timid posture.
Orpehus pads forward, ignoring the blue and white colored king to brightly smile at Ferocious II. "Let's get to know each other! Because we are next in line, we should be familiar." He adds at the end, and forcefully shoved the slightly taller lion away from the two kings, wanting to distance from the tension.

"Oh, sure." The reddish-toned lion mumbled. This interaction between them both sparked the most abrupt and odd relationship. The two would occasionally meet, grooming each other and talking about their own pride life-- with Orpheus explaining his situation with his father, and Ferocious II nodding, as his father had already passed. The two continued their close friendship into their adult years-- and after their mentors had passed. Ferocious II had become the king of his pride before Orpheus had the change to grow his mane fully.