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Daughter of a young prideless lioness, Marula, Skeleton was born in the dry season with her two brothers, Marrow and Jacana. Skeleton was originally named Fig and was the oldest of the litter.
Fig lived her first year happily with her two brothers and mother, they lived in shrublands, and had plenty to eat. Although being the oldest, Fig did not grow as fast as her brothers, and grew exceedingly jealous of them. Fig talked with her mother about this late one night as Marrow and Jacana slept under a large tree. Marula put her paw on Fig's head, ensuring her that in time, she could grow just as tall and be just as strong as her brothers.
Fig sighed, and told her mother that she felt as if one day she wouldn't be able to rely on her mother or her brothers. She leaned into Marula's side, and nuzzled her muzzle into her soft fur. Her mother wrapped her tail around Fig, and smiled. "One day," she said "You may not be able to rely as much on me and your brothers, but when that day comes, you will most definitely have others to rely on. And even in our parting, we will stay together."
"Promise?' Fig whispered, her eyes shut and her breathing calming.
"Promise." Marula began humming to her daughter softly, laying down and snuggling into her.
***
Morning came, and Fig opened her eyes sleepily. She breathed in the cool air of wet season, but suddenly she smelled the bitter tang of lion's blood. Jumping up, she looked around desperately, but her brothers and mother were nowhere to be found.
Fig called out for her siblings and mother, but got no response. She ran towards the tree, only to find a splatter of half-dried blood on the roots and the bark. Blood soaked the soil, and Fig felt her eyes blurring and her heart racing. She followed the strong scent and the splotches until she came to a river.
The water trickled and bubbled peacefully in front of her. As she continued walking, her breathing rasped, and her flanks heaved. She finally heard the scattering of rocks and breaths that were not hers from behind a large boulder. As she neared the rocks, she calmed a bit, and called out again.
"Marrow, Jacana, Mother?" She trotted around the rock with an anxious breath.
Blood. Fear. Death. All she could think of was those 3 things. As she stopped in her tracks, all she could stare at was her mother's bloody fangs holding her brother, Marrow, and her paw resting on her brother, Jacana. Marula dropped Marrow, and smiled at her daughter calmly.
"Why mother?" Fig choked back tears as she backed up a few steps.
"I just wanted us to be a happy family, Fig.. Jacana and Marrow were just obstacles in our way." Marula spoke with odd ease.
Fig shook her head, and bared her teeth. "This is not the way. Jacana and Marrow did nothing to deserve such an early death" She roared at her mother
"Now, don't raise your tongue at the correct decision because you must make a sacrifice." Marula hissed, and stepped over her dead son, licking blood from her lips. "It will all be alright, and we will be happy"
"How can I be happy when I lost all of my family?" Fig hissed as Marula came closer.
Marula furrowed her brow as she stared Fig in the eyes. "You haven't lost your mother."
"This is not my mother." Fig slashed at Marula's right eye, causing her to jump back in pain. She leapt forward, clawing at her mother's back. The two writhed on the rocks until they fell into the water. Fig let go of her mother, and swam to the surface, gasping for air. She is suddenly pulled down by her mother, and struggled to get free, bubbles burst out of her mouth, and she could feel herself losing air. Suddenly, her mother hit a rock, and was knocked unconscious
Fig finally got out of her grasp, and burst up to the surface, as she breathed in sharply, she suddenly hit a rock as well, wincing in pain, everything turning black, and she was left in silence.
***
Fig woke up, jumping to her paws, and looking around desperately. "Woah there, slow your roll, miss!" A soft voice came from behind. Fig whipped around, teeth bared, but she was surprised to see another lioness who was probably around 2 and a half years old laying calmly on a large rock. Fig stopped to look around and realized she was in a large den, bright light shining through vines that hug over a large entrance.
"Where am I?" Fig asked hesitantly.
"You're in the Garden of Ferns." the lioness answered with a sweet and soothing tone in her voice. "My name's Aphrodite. And yours?"
Fig thought for a moment, not knowing what to answer. "I don't have one at the moment." she concluded finally. Aphrodite nodded, and wiggled her ears.
"Well, No Name, I saw that whole scene from above, but I doubt you noticed. You seemed shaken up, and I would have too if I was in your claws. Feel free to stay as long as you'd like."
No Name nodded, and turned, stepping out into an open landscape full of rocks and caves. She glanced around, noticing many lionesses chattering and laughing together, cubs climbed small boulders, tackling each other excitedly.
No Name sighed and stepped away to find an empty cave to sleep in.
***
After staying to herself, No Name eventually began visiting Aphrodite, and they would talk for hours about things that were on their mind. Soon Aphrodite helped No Name find her own territory, and explained that starting a pride as a female would be hard, but that she know that No Name could do it. No Name finally picked the name Skeleton, and began successfully recruiting lions into her pride.
Aphrodite and Skeleton formed an alliance, but the bond quickly grew more than that. As they grew closer, it because quite apparent that they had mutual feelings towards one another, and they became a couple with completely opposite personalities.
Skeleton began growing harsher, and would set harsh rules for her pride members, but she was still very caring for them, although visitors were very unwelcomed. Aphrodite was happy to see that Skeleton was letting their emotions out in a (somewhat) nice manner, and continues to support them emotionally.
Aphrodite is sometimes too supportive and trusting, and can sometimes end up getting herself into problems with tresspassers, and so Skeleton often sends in scouts from her pride to help Aphrodite keep her territory safe.
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