Formerly known as "Draco".
Personality: Vicious (Evil)
The
king and his elder council stood in a circle, voices soft and ears alert. Apophis' early arrival had been prevented, and his followers--snake and lion alike--had retreated to lick their wounds. Or so the pride had thought, before finding the subject of their current discussion: a lone cub with unusual golden eyes. Hushed whispers gave way to excited interjections:
"Did the cultists abandon it--"
"Look at its eyes--"
"It has the Blessing--"
"Aren't those snake eyes--"
"How did it survive here all on its own--"
"Even so, it doesn't look like a hybrid--"
"Its just a baby--"
"No cultist I saw had eyes quite like that--"
"Maybe it was cubnapped--"
"Enough." A firm roar from the king silenced the discordance. "The Serpent's influence must be removed from the land. No need to delay the inevitable."
The cub--who had so far done its very best to weather the attention of so many strange, full-grown lions in brave silence--finally let out a trembling wail. All but two of the lion council lowered their heads in submission; the only
other male stepped between king and cub while a
heavily scarred lioness cooed and pulled the crying cub close.
Minutes passed as the males maintained eye contact. The only sounds breaking the silence were the hiccups of the cub and soft shushing of the lioness.
"You object?" the king growled.
"No. Not if you've truly made up your mind." The other male finally lowered his head in deference, though a rueful smile remained on his face as he continued, "But I can't help but think of another Blessed cub, once ostracized by this pride through no fault of his own. And despite it all, the grand fate in store for him."
The king frowned, briefly, before regaining his composure. He looked past the other male, locking his gaze on the cub. Finding itself once again the focus of the pride, the cub attempted to back away--only to find the paws the of lioness comforting it provided both refuge and cage.
"You would keep an eye on it?" the king addressed the scarred lioness, but his eyes remained on the cub.
"I will," affirmed the lioness. She pulled the fidgeting cub closer. "I'll keep him out of trouble."
"So be it," announced the king.
