Stargrief's Den

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You awaken on the shore of a strange land, unsure of how you arrived. There is an endless ocean at your back, the water clear and blue and reflecting the shining morning sun. The tang of salt wafts in the air. Beneath your paws, the sand is loose and fine, glimmering with luminous fragments. You are conflicted and struck with worry; you must get back to your Pride, for you are their leader and protector - and yet, with nowhere else to go and no idea how to get back, you look around. Ahead of you stands a towering treeline, shrouded in mist, colorful and exotic plants blooming at its edges. It is a great rainforest, you recognize, just as a subtle path seemingly forms before your eyes, beckoning you inwards. You move towards it.

The rainforest is even more beautiful within, and you find yourself reveling in the luscious plants, the clean, humid air, and the fragrant floral scents that drift on the breeze.Ancient trees tower over you on all sides, their canopies thick and green. You follow the trail, which is bordered with plump mushrooms and brilliant flowers of all shapes and hues. You pause to sniff at an unusually large hibiscus growing at the edge of the trail, and find yourself suddenly energized! With a sneeze, you bound forward, tail lashing in excitement. What a strange place! You stop several more times to peer at flowers and other greenery, and the occasional gems that seem to be scattered amongst the foliage. When you prod them, your skin tingles oddly. You are curious, but nonetheless stick to the path, hopeful you will be able to follow it back and return to the shore if necessary.

You race onwards, only to pause in your steps as a tiny feline - slender and striped with coppery bars along its orange fur - crosses the trail, flashing you an green-eyed glance that glimmers with intelligence. You spot a strange strip of…something, wrapped around its throat, with a glimmering flat disc hanging at the front, before the creature quickly disappears into the underbrush with a graceful leap, seemingly chasing some small quarry. How unusual! You have never seen such a creature, so similar and yet so unlike yourself, and so incredibly adorable. Blinking curiously, you continue onwards.

It is not long before you come upon an opening in the path, which widens to a modest glade. You startle as you spot a large male lion settled on his haunches at the far end of the area. What you can see of his coat that’s not splashed with a piebald pattern is a vivid shade of gleaming blue and pink. He is perched alongside a solid wall of rock that you presume must be the bottom of some unseen mountain. A stream pours from the rock in a gentle waterfall, filling a bubbling brook at his feet that crosses through the glade. He blinks at you with large, gentle eyes, their shade a brilliant blue hue, and bows his head in greeting, seemingly unsurprised to see you. You stand stiffly, uncertain and confused, but bow back. You are certainly in no position to instigate a fight with a stranger if you can avoid it.

“Welcome, newcomer,” the male’s voice booms, calm and authoritative all at once.
“I am Stargrief, the King of this territory, and you have entered the Island of Felidaeun. Please, be at peace, for we are kind to travelers here.”

You murmur a polite, confused greeting and move closer. As you enter the glade, you find that it stretches farther than you had first thought, and around the bend of rock, a cluster of brightly coloured cubs and a group of equally vivid lionesses are lounging quietly within the dappled shade. Their coat colors range from the soft violet and pink of tropical flowers to patterned reds and blues, and even greens that blend into the ferns around them. How unusual!

“I am sure you are wondering how you arrived here,” Stargrief infers, and you nod. “I must admit that I cannot give you a full explanation, for we do not truly know ourselves how the magic of our Island behaves. All we know is that Felidaeun is unique, for a mysterious meteor shower struck the land many generations ago. The space rocks broke and shattered into a thousand pieces, leaving brightly coloured remnants all around the land. Ever since, the flora and fauna have behaved and grown in unusual ways, and the lions, such as ourselves, have mutated past the more common coat colourings. In addition, the land is susceptible to Crossings - what we call the arrival of newcomers - through portals that randomly appear. Lions and even other types of felines, known as the Felis Catus Clan, are able to Cross. But do not fret,” he says, with a calming smile, seeing your rising distress. “As long as you drink from Felidaeun’s waters before your next rest, you will fall asleep and reappear where you last recall yourself being, in your own land. Some newcomers make the Crossing and do not even meet us, and still are able to return safely to their homelands. It is thought that Felidaeun is a doorway between worlds, so to speak.”

“And of course,” a turquoise-and-sapphire lioness purrs, sauntering out from the shadows. Her coat glistens like the inside of an iridescent seashell as it catches the light, while her eyes are bright and friendly. “There are ways that allow you to stay for longer, or permanently, should you wish to remain. The choice is always up to you.”

Stargrief humms. “Indeed, you may stay as long as you wish. Every so often, a lioness or lion makes the Crossing, and chooses to stay permanently and form a new life for themselves on Felidaeun. Other times, one of us may choose to do the Crossing back with the newcomer, should they feel so tempted. This encourages strong and diverse bloodlines on the Island, and a balanced population.”

You find yourself thankful for the explanation, and with a relieved sigh, you drink eagerly from the brook, and then look around. The iridescent lioness seems to sense your shift in mood, and prances forward. “Well, now, we mustn’t waste any time, for I am sure you are eager for a tour ! I will introduce you to the others, and show you all the best places, and you will have many grand stories for your pride upon your return.” With a respectful bow to the King, you take your leave, following deeper into the tropical landscape, a sense of wonder filling your chest. What an adventure this will turn out to be!
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Just a gal in her 20’s
Have a great day!

Current breeding goals: Colourbombs and pies, slowly experimenting with mutations breeding as well.!!