Ran Hiru's Den

𝐿𝒪𝑅𝐸

You have been wandering for hours through a forest so dense that it appears to be cast in eternal night. Brambles claw at your pelt if you so much as stray a paw away from the pathetic excuse of a trail. It is damp and cold. More like a muddy trench than anything else. Suddenly you are blinded. In momentary panic, you freeze and squint. You try in vain to see before your eyes can adjust.

Soft murmurs languidly float to your ears. You can't make out what the voices are saying but they are gentle and calm you. As your vision begins to return, you scan the scene in front of you. The damp, muddy ground turns into the cool touch of a sandbank. Gone are the ominous trees. Now in their place is a crystal clear lake and lush meadows in the distance. A large cave is situated high atop a hill in the center of the meadow. Lionesses young and old form a loose ring around you. Some of them purr, others stared curiously, and those who show so much a hint of aggression are chided by their pride mates. A tigon lounges at the forest's edge nearby. Upon seeing you shuffle nervously, she chuffs softly.

Three lionesses approach you and the others slowly begin to return to their business. Two of them stand shoulder to shoulder with heads held high. Their kind smiles contrast cool toned coats. Meanwhile, the third lioness whispers something to the lead lioness before nodding at you. She departs as soon as she arrives and you notice how her paws seem to drag. "Welcome to the Haven. I am Moonglow, Queen of this pride.” Her pelt looked like a frozen galaxy. With a gentle tilt of her head, Moonglow gestures to the melanistic lioness standing patiently beside her. “This is Void, my sister and lead warrior."

This pride was definitely the strangest collection of lions you had ever seen. Tigons and leopons at the entrance, mutations of all kinds, and what looked like pieces of the galaxy scattered on the pelts of all the pride members. Despite this, you feel quite at ease with Void’s soft smile.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Traveller. The lost all find their way to the Haven eventually." Void smiles knowingly. "You must be exhausted. Please stay as long as you wish. Our hunters will return shortly."

You accept Void’s offer graciously, then it dawns on you that you have yet to meet the King.

"Don't worry about King Ran Hiru.” Moonglow glides over and leans in like cubs telling secrets. “Ever since the fall of our first king, it has been difficult for all of us. He is the last of the original pride founders since the others have all passed on. There's a lot on his shoulders.”

Without missing a beat, Void adds, “There is much hanging over all our heads with the coming chaos, but all those who wander through our territories are welcomed."

The two wander away from you and look back expectantly. As you follow the lionesses, Void splits away and walks with determined strides towards a second cave far in the distance. "That den is where our hunters and warriors reside. The Night Raiders are our main defense unit and is now lead by Void. That den near the water hole is the nursery. Eva is the head broodmother and she's had her hands full ever since Dusk and Avita returned to the sky realm."

You find it difficult to keep up with the pride's twisting history. Who is this first king? Why was there an air of tension beneath the peacefulness of the Haven? And who exactly is Ran Hiru?

Moonglow finally halts in the center of the Haven in front of a cave with overhanging vines. She notices you staring wide-eyed at the huge gorge that splits the ground open just nearby. "All will be explained in time. Should you wish to speak with our king, wait for Ran Hiru in this cave. But never step foot into the gorge."

Enter the Cave
Visit Whitefire Cavern
Visit the Nursery
Visit the Hunters
Take me back to the crossroads