Cyrill's Den

Pride updates. Read from bottom to top.

2/15/24 - Rosella gave birth to one female cub today. She was golden like her father, and in the days after she was born Cyrill became sure that his granddaughter would grow into a beautiful lioness. He was greatly pleased with Rosella, and the cub was named Heliana. Cyrill’s rage about the previous weeks began to calm and he showed great favoritism - even more than before - towards Rosella and her daughter.
Nightglow also had a litter recently. The first cub looked, finally, like a beautiful mix of Cyrill and their mother, but the second did not, and it was given to the gorillas.
Silkie is ready to have cubs again now that her cubs Bluefire and Cosmo are grown, and she was sent to another male again.


2/5/24 - After the event with Amethyst’s cubs, Cyrill stopped trusting any other lion. His own son, daughter, and queen could disobey him, and he hadn’t done anything about it - worse, he relented to their request! Dark thoughts swirled in his head about what he ought to do with them. There was no good choice. He’d either get rid of his heir and most successful daughter, and start from nothing at a relatively advanced age, or he’d do nothing and appear weak. Surely the entire pride, all of his lionesses, had already heard about what happened.
Seraphine and Razyl were very jumpy after the incident and slept with one eye open. They could hardly believe what they’d done. After hearing about it, Cosmo slept next to Seraphine each night, vowing to protect her if her father should try anything in their sleep. Bluefire was also nervous, citing the fact that they were all of age now, and no longer had the benefits of adolescence for protection. She too stuck to her brother Cosmo’s side.


10/25/23 - Queen Amethyst had two female cubs today. To little surprise, they were not beautiful, but Amethyst loved them already just the same. Cyrill was most displeased, as he’d gotten his hopes up for nothing.
A few days after their birth, Cyrill was preparing to take Amethyst’s little daughters to the gorillas, a kindness shown just for a queen. As he entered the royal den, he saw Seraphine and Razyl with their mother and siblings, blocking his way.
“Move,” he growled.
“Let Mother keep the cubs,” said Seraphine calmly.
“They deserve to grow up and be given a fighting chance,” said Razyl.
Amethyst lay curled around her cubs, head bowed.
Cyrill looked between the three lions in front of him. He was suddenly realizing that Razyl was just about two years of age, nearly full grown and just as big as Cyrill. He began to see his son as a threat. If the two fought, Cyrill was sure to win, as Razyl had still not become a good fighter. But in this moment, Seraphine and Amethyst were there to protect the cubs as well…
Cyrill paced and roared at them, but they wouldn’t budge, and he was not prepared to fight his most likely heir, a favorite daughter, and a queen.
“They still until adolescence,” he hissed at them, and slunk out.


10/1/23 - As her mother predicted, Friday’s litter - just one male cub - did not meet Cyrill’s standards, and the cub was later killed outside of the territory so that it would not be adopted and become a competitor. Friday felt both grief and shame.
Cyrill also took Rosella to another male for a breeding. Though she was already nearly four years of age, this would be her first litter. She’d begged Cyrill to allow her to wait a couple more years, as she had aspirations for hunting and teaching the adolescents to hunt, but he did not relent, even for his favorite daughter. “The survival of the pride and the quality of our descendants come first,” he snapped at her. And since she was one of the most beautiful lionesses, and one that looked most like Cyrill, his narcissism trumped all else.
After all this, Seraphine visited Lily and Red, and confessed to them what she’d overheard of their conversation. The elderly lionesses were at first wary, but gradually they began to form a shared idea of what this could mean.


9/8/23 - Razyl, Seraphine, Bluefire, and Cosmo were lounging atop the den rocks during some downtime. Cyrill was out on a patrol, but could be back anytime, so they hid themselves among the boulders to avoid appearing lazy should he see them.
They collectively pricked their ears at passing footsteps.
Lily, the pride’s most elderly lioness, her daughter Kaia, Red, and White Flame were passing by, quietly, as if they did not want to be detected. They then huddled at the base of a rock that concealed the adolescents.
“It is certain that at least one of Alaska’s cubs will be abandoned or killed,” said Lily.
“She has had so many,” sighed White Flame. “More than all of us.”
“It must be hard for a queen to say goodbye to all of them,” said Kaia.
“It is hard for all of us,” growled Red. “My own foolish daughters were heartbroken at losing theirs, but they accepted Cyrill’s ways nonetheless! It’s not right. Friday is about to have yet another litter and she still hopes to please Cyrill. Can’t she see the maniac is never satisfied?”
White Flame fretted. “Cyrill is getting older, but not old enough. Another few years of this… I don’t even want more cubs…”
Bluefire and Cosmo glanced at Razyl and Seraphine. The senior lionesses were talking about their father and king after all, in a manner none had heard before, a manner that certainly amounted to treason.
“Something must be done,” hissed Kaia.
Lily flicked her daughter’s ears with her tail. “Not so loud. And the problem is the heirs. None are old enough, none are suitable enough.”
This was nothing Cyrill hadn’t already said directly to Razyl, but he recoiled a bit anyways.
Lily continued. “There are not many of us left who lived under Tyrannius during the old ways. Tyrannius was no saint, but he was far from this. If we die without trying, we leave a pride of brainwashed lionesses who are content to constantly birth cubs destined for death.”
After a moment of silence, Red growled, “But there is no talking sense into the young lionesses. I have tried! All three of my daughters act like I’ve gone senile, it is no use-”

At this moment, Cyrill appeared through the tall savannah grass, and the senior lionesses continued their walk with practiced smoothness, chatting about the weather and the hunts. The adolescents, with familiar looks, wordlessly agreed to not speak of what they’d heard for the time being, and also scattered.
Seraphine trotted to the king’s den and put on a show of helping her newly pregnant mother build a birthing nest. She thought about her future full-blood siblings, who in all likelihood would not please her father, and would be left for the monkeys or even killed in front of their mother. She felt twinges of sadness to see Amethyst’s cautious excitement at having a new litter.
Seraphine had always reluctantly accepted Cyrill’s ways, as it was obvious to all that the territory would never support so many cubs, but over time she’d grown to agree with Razyl’s suggestions to give away older cubs with a fighting chance. Or even Bluefire’s mischievous “King Cyrill could just be less prolific.” The four adolescents had been born after a two year lull with no cubs left living in the pride, and could see Cyrill’s older age, and could read the dynamics of the pride. In contrast, the younger full-grown lionesses had been born at the height of Cyrill’s vitality, handsomeness, and strength, and had also received the most experimental of his brainwashing, which had paid off for him. True, some such as Nightglow or Silkie did not much subscribe to his lectures, but others, such as Friday and Rosella and Cloudburst, could see no wrong in anything Cyrill did. To them, he was a genius who did what he must in order to keep the pride secure and happy. Seraphine was left thinking about the whole situation for many days after.


9/7/23 - As Cyrill had hoped, Queen Amethyst became pregnant again. Having proven herself with Razyl and especially Seraphine, Cyrill was optimistic about the coming litter.

One of the wild lionesses that lived at the outskirts of the pride den, named Ash, had a litter of cubs by a wandering savage rogue male. The wild lionesses kept their distance from the pride and hunted for themselves, but slept in the more distant unused rock dens. Cyrill allowed them to stay because occasionally, like the pride lionesses, they’d have cubs of his that he liked. This litter of Ash’s was not his, but one of the cubs was very unique looking, probably due to the father, and Cyrill took that cub to the nursery to be raised by the brood mothers.


9/6/23 - Seraphine proved herself capable in patrols, staying alert to danger, and she had a decent ability to protect herself. She grew stronger and more beautiful by the day, and Cyrill could not count the number of times he wished she’d been born male. He’d killed and abandoned many of his unworthy sons, and for the first time he was wondering if he’d done right.
The pride liked Seraphine more than Razyl too. She was more sociable and fun, though occasionally a harsh edge would show - curtesy of her father’s teachings, perhaps. The younger adolescents and cubs tripped over themselves to please her. Cosmo, himself growing into a handsome young sub male, stuck to her side like honey, which drew the teasing of his sister Bluefire.


9/5/23 - Razyl and Seraphine would be two years of age in a few moons. Cyrill continued to fret over Razyl’s progress. Queen Snowfall’s son, the pride’s only other male cub, had run away the moment he was old enough to understand what staying in Cyrill’s pride meant. Cyrill and Thunderstorm searched, but could not find him, to Cyrill’s rage. Snowfall had been ashamed.

Seraphine had already mastered team hunting. One day she boldly asked her father if she could instead patrol with Thunderstorm. Though Seraphine, aside from Rosella, was Cyrill’s most favored daughter, he gave a harsh reply: “Lionesses do not patrol.”
Seraphine did not relent. “I could go with both Razyl and Thunderstorm. We can mock fight in a real environment! I can sometimes even beat Razyl!”
It was true, Seraphine trained hard at Cyrill’s lethal lessons for lionesses, while Razyl was halfhearted and not strong for his age. Still, he possessed a male’s strength, so Seraphine did not always win over Razyl.
Cyrill finally relented, hoping that by having Seraphine there, Razyl would feel some shame at being no better than his sister, and finally shape up.


8/28/23 - Queen Alaska had three female cubs recently, which Cyrill decided to keep around for now. Of all the other cubs born to pride lionesses within the past two years, only Razyl and Seraphine, Snowfall’s son, Bluefire and Cosmo, Spiral’s daughter Tiger Lily, and Wren’s daughter Carmine were still here. Cyrill had also adopted an adolescent female named Vapor from his travels.

In addition, some of the wild lionesses that Cyrill allowed around on the fringes of the pride had given birth to his cubs too. One such lioness, Sedge, had two strange cubs: one with a bobbed tail, and one with bright pink rosettes that neither parent possessed. Cyrill kept them around as curios.


8/27/23 - Queen Amethyst’s cubs Seraphine and Razyl were over a year old now, and well into their training. Razyl joined Thunderstorm and sometimes Cyrill on patrols. Cyrill was not particularly impressed with his son, but Razyl was his oldest male cub in the pride, so he’d be trained out of necessity. He believed Razyl to be too soft - probably due to being coddled by his softhearted mother. When Cyrill told him cubs unfit to stay in the pride were to be killed or abandoned, Razyl suggested allowing them to stay until adolescence so they’d be given a fighting chance. Cyrill’s response was “And where would we get the food to feed these mouths?”

Seraphine was, in comparison, more beautiful and seemingly more intelligent than her brother. In addition, she did not question Cyrill’s way of keeping the pride in line, and only asked to learn more. She showed no signs of fear or disgust at what the older lionesses, including her mother, believed to be Cyrill’s cruel methods. Cyrill thought she had the potential to be as good a huntress as Rosella and likely command even greater authority among the lionesses later, being the daughter of a queen. Right now Queen Alaska was the the best huntress, though Rosella led more hunting parties. Seraphine could step into a similar role one day.

Both Seraphine and Razyl were great friends with Cosmo and Bluefire, the four being close in age. In addition, due to being the mother of the current most likely heir and a leading huntress, Queen Amethyst received renewed attention from Cyrill. He visited her more often and brought small gifts from his travels - oils for her fur, rare prey, and small ornamental items. He hoped she would soon have more cubs of high caliber.


8/22/23 - Silkie’s cubs Cosmo and Bluefire, now almost a year old, seemed to develop stranger colors every day, but Cyrill had to admit they looked unique. They would both remain in the pride, and Cosmo would train under Thunderstorm to become a subordinate male. Thunderstorm was getting older and the pride would need the extra protection. Cyrill would have to keep a watchful eye on Cosmo to ensure his loyalty.


8/21/23 - Cloudburst had a daughter today, a very ugly cub to be born to such a beautiful mother. Cyrill despaired. He knew he was one of the best looking males in the area, and all his lionesses were beautifully colored. How did none of them have good looking cubs?
Rosella, his favorite daughter, worked up the courage to tell her father: “Your lionesses’ colors clash with yours. The cubs come out… strange.”
Cyrill was furious. She wasn’t talking logic! Beautiful lions had beautiful cubs, it was that simple.


3/10/22 Snowfall had two cubs today, a male and female. Cyrill planned to keep the male cub for a potential heir. Razyl, his older son with Queen Amethyst, was nearing a year old, and Cyrill could not yet tell if he was heir material, though importantly the cub did not seem to display any authoritative qualities, even over the younger cubs and his sister.
Other lionesses had had cubs over the past months too. Not all could be kept, else the pride run out of food and space.
Cyrill received news of his neighbor Commander’s heir becoming king. Dakarai, his name was. Commander had apparently felt too old to be king. How weak! Cyrill was determined to remain king until the day he died.


7/20/22 - Nightglow’s daughter with Cyrill was to be sold to another pride. The adolescent sadly left her parents and her pride, but at least her fate was far better than many of Cyrill’s cubs.


5/13/22 - Seafoam passed away today. Nightglow and Thunderstorm buried her. The whole pride mourned her, especially those who’d experienced her and Tyrannius’s rule. Without Seafoam, the pride would enter a darker hour.

Ashen Fire and Silkie recently gave birth to one cub and two cubs respectively, fathered by a lion Cyrill had sent them to. Ashen Fire’s cub was disappointing, but not Silkie’s - lavender little things. Starstorm also gave birth to a cub, Cyrill’s, but it was very disappointing too. Only Silkie’s cubs were kept, fates to be decided later. Ashen Fire’s daughter Cloudburst from a previous litter, also by an outside male, came of age recently.


5/8/22 - Nightglow and Nebula, recently come of age, had their first litters today. Cyrill did not think highly of any of the cubs, but allowed them to stay to be sold when they were older.
Red had her last litter. Cyrill had high hopes for Red’s cubs, seeing as Rosella was born in her previous litter, but both cubs born this time were ugly and disposed of. Rosella, with her older sisters Friday and Wren, came to comfort her mother. However, being young and much more favorable towards Cyrill, especially Rosella, they couldn’t offer much. Red found more comfort among the other older lionesses who felt her pain.


5/7/22 - Rosella has turned two and joined the huntresses. She is Cyrill’s oldest daughter in the pride, and has lived up to her father’s high expectations, being both beautiful and skilled at hunting. She looks much like him, except for her gold spotting, which comes from Red. Cyrill is very proud at having fathered an exceptional lioness. That is what he demands of the cubs that are allowed to stay - exceptionality.


3/17/22 - Queen Amethyst had her second litter today, a male and a female. The female was, to Cyrill’s pleasant surprise, beautifully colored like her mother. The male was less impressive, but Cyrill was desperate for an heir, so he kept both. His son would have high expectations to live up to. Amethyst, after being forced to abandon her first litter, was desperately happy at being able to keep both. She named them Seraphine and Razyl. The rest of the pride were happy for their second queen, but felt inklings of despair at how she was allowed to keep her cubs and they were not.


3/16/22 - Friday had one cub today, and just like with her previous litter, Cyrill was not impressed. Friday has fallen dramatically from Cyrill’s favor, serving as an example to the younger lionesses of what could befall them.


3/15/22 - After the incident on Commander’s border, Cyrill decided it would ultimately be prudent to heed Commander’s warnings. Cyrill could easily destroy any lion in that pride, but his lionesses? They were not trained to kill other lions. He resolved to add that skill to the adolescents’ training. For now, though, his big pride was more a burden than help if it were to come to war, and the few daughters he liked would be in danger.


2/26/22 - Nightglow was now several moons past the age of two, and Cyrill decided enough was enough, it was time to take her away from under Seafoam’s overprotective wing. Lionesses belonged to him, not the former queen. But when he went to fetch Nightglow, Seafoam, though now old and weak, lashed out at him with claws extended. Quite shocked that she would get physical, he readied himself to get rid of her once and for all. But before he could do anything, Red and Lily and many of the middle aged lionesses all wordlessly stepped in to shield her.
“You will all regret this,” he hissed.

He stalked off towards the west of the territory, blind with rage. He walked and walked, seething about that disgusting, evil female. He would kill Seafoam. He would. She had humiliated him and turned his lionesses against him. His honor, reputation, position as a king was at risk!

A gray feline figure darted in front of him. Cyrill roared, and slammed it down to the ground with his front paws. A terrible crack sounded out.
Panting, Cyrill shook away the blood rushing through his ears, and looked at the thing. It was a lioness! He examined her, surprised to see that he’d killed her. Had he really pushed with so much force? She was small, though…
He sniffed her. She held the scent of his neighbor’s pride. Commander’s pride. Cyrill reeled backwards. He knew her. He’d trained with Commander when he was an adolescent, but mostly forgot about the insignificant male after leaving. This lioness was Mouse, a senior lioness, and agile hunter of small prey. Cyrill looked at where she’d been going, and saw a hare, watching silently from the tall grass. And then Cyrill realized that he was right past his own border, steps into enemy territory, and he’d killed one of their lionesses.


2/25/22 - It seems Cyrill’s breeding projects have finally amounted to something interesting. A little female cub born to a wild lioness had something strange about her. Cyrill hauled mother and daughter off to the Falcon, and his suspicions were confirmed: she was a mutant, but they would not discover what her affliction was until she was fully grown. Cyrill decided to keep them around out of curiosity - the only other mutant in the pride was Silkie - despite the fact that his little daughter was ugly as sin.


2/23/22 - Cyrill often has cubs with passing lionesses as well. He does not extend invitations for them to join his pride, but he lets them think he will, if they have his cubs. His obsession with having heirs knows no bounds, it seems, but he is always disappointed. This moon his neglect caused one of his young daughters with a wild lioness to die. The wild lionesses are allocated to a smaller, dingier cave den away from the King’s Den and Pride Den, and Thunderstorm is instructed to prioritize the latter two when on watch. The cub snuck out and was killed by hyenas.

Thunderstorm feels remorseful about this, but he has always been much more brawn than brain, and he is completely devoted to whoever the current king is. He did not even seem to feel offended when he himself was not named heir. He has no ambition, and is content to lounge with his lioness friends and protect the pride with his massive physical strength. So he believed Cyrill when Cyrill told him it was no fault of his, and those dirty wild lionesses should have kept a better watch on their cubs. If Thunderstorm was not the way he was, unquestioningly loyal and ready to follow orders, Cyrill would have sent him away or killed him the day he ascended the throne. And, well, it was always useful to have another male around, especially one as easily manipulated as Thunderstorm. Seafoam, though she loved her son, did not have much of a relationship with him, because she could never stand these qualities that earned him Cyrill’s tolerance. She treasured Nightglow all the more for this reason.


2/21/22 - Finally - finally! Cyrill has two new daughters that he likes. They are young Fiere’s, no surprise, and after an easy birth, Fiere is energetic and delighted to have pleased her king. With her first litter, no less!
Seafoam, the former queen, is troubled by the younger lionesses’ blind dedication to Cyrill. Fiere’s adoring delight at Cyrill’s satisfaction bothered her, and surely, the other senior lionesses. Lily, Red, and White Flame all feel as Seafoam does, but they rarely speak of it, out of fear that Cyrill will hear, or that a foolish adolescent would report their mutterings to him.

In other news, some males at the trading place, as well as some met on explorations, have seemed to take notice of Cyrill. They send to him their lionesses for breeding, and Cyrill happily obliges.


2/20/22 - All three queens have, a couple years into Cyrill’s rule, failed to produce satisfactory heirs. Cyrill grows more frustrated by the moon. The only cub of his that he has liked is Rosella, Red’s daughter. He blames the lionesses for this, of course, never seeing fault in himself. The sons and daughters he does not like get sold to other males, taken to the gorillas, or abandoned. The lionesses seethe and grieve, as Cyrill has taken all of their children away. Boorish as Tyrannius was, he rarely had cubs with the lionesses, and each one born was something to be celebrated. Now there were litters almost every moon, all of them tossed out like rotten meat.


2/19/22 - Fiere, Nebula, and Nightglow all passed age two in the past year. Fiere, lithe, sharp, and pretty, quickly became one of Cyrill’s favorites. Nebula was a little cub when Cyrill found her at the trading place, and bought her. Nightglow took after the beautiful Seafoam, fortunately, and only patches of white and gold on her dark pelt gave hint that she was Tyrannius’s daughter. Seafoam keeps her away from Cyrill, and as frustrating as that is, he will not risk displeasing Seafoam, as she commands more respect that even his three titled queens.


2/18/22 - Seafoam warns her daughter Nightglow about Cyrill constantly. He is cruel, he is fake, he only wants to use lionesses to make cubs. Cyrill, of course, knows how the older lionesses poison the ears of his young lionesses and try to turn them against him. He will not allow it. Today, he called together the adolescents for a lesson.
“I often tell you that a king’s role is to protect his pride. A lioness’s role is to serve her king. She does this by hunting for food and bearing his cubs. Can anyone tell me an additional task a lioness does to serve her king and her pride?”
“She protects its cubs?” Cloudburst offered.
“Yes, but that is not the answer I am looking for.” Cloudburst’s ears sunk.
“She obeys her leader,” said Rosella.
“Precisely. She obeys her leader and does not question him. He knows all that is going on in the pride, and she may not, but in the end her actions will serve all events that happen. Well done, Rosella.”
“Thank you, Father,” Rosella said happily.
At the end of the lesson, Cyrill brought out for them a special treat he’d gathered during patrolling: turtle eggs from the shrublands.


2/17/22 - Nymeria died today at the age of 15 years and 10 moons. Many of the adolescent lionesses are well into their training, and under Cyrill’s controlling - albeit effective - supervision, they have become very skilled huntresses. They all look up to him, which worries the older lionesses. He brings them gifts and sweet words when they perform well, and does not punish mistakes like he does with the adult lionesses.


1/8/22 - Cyrill bought several cubs and adolescents from other males, as there weren’t many young lions in the pride.


1/4/22 - Red named her newborn cub Rosella, and Ashen Fire named hers Cloudburst. Rosella was Cyrill’s first cub that would stay in the pride, and Cyrill had high expectations for his daughter.


12/31/21 - Over time, more lionesses gave birth to Cyrill’s cubs, some he were satisfied with, most not. He also sent his lionesses to breed with other males in hopes of having beautiful cubs. Ashen Fire recently had one daughter this way, a very beautiful little cub that entirely resembled the father. Silkie, a young long-furred lioness who’d been born in the pride to a loner mother stopping by, also had one cub this way, but Cyrill did not think it was worth keeping.


12/28/21 - The next moon, Red gave birth to one cub and Queen Amethyst had a litter of three. Red’s cub turned out to be much more beautiful than her daughter Friday’s cub, and Cyrill was pleased. Amethyst’s cubs, however, were all terribly ugly, Cyrill thought, and it was confusing because Amethyst was so beautiful. Feeling disgruntled and disappointed about his first royal offspring, he left them for the monkeys just as he did Friday’s cub. Amethyst was entirely distraught.


12/25/21 - Friday gave birth to one female cub. Unfortunately too, the cub was rather plain. Cyrill was greatly displeased with the single ugly cub, and punished Friday for it, confining her to the nursery for a full moon. He debated with himself on what to do with the cub - it was ugly, but it was his firstborn! Eventually, he decided that he had to stick by what he said when he rose to the throne. Only skilled and beautiful lions could remain in his pride. As an act of kindness, he left the cub under the tree for the monkeys to care for.


12/24/21 - Thunderstorm found out from a border patrol that Tabia, who with Tigris had been chased out at Cyrill’s accession, had returned to Commander’s pride, her original home, carrying Tyrannius’s last cub no less. He reported this to his king, and Cyrill simply shrugged. “I’ll kill them if I see them again.”

Many wondered why he’d ended up allowing Shadow to stay. The youngest lionesses, not knowing better, giggled about it and concluded that like Tyrannius, Cyrill had his uses for her. They were the ones who took Cyrill’s cruelty the lightest, not being used to anything else. To them, he was simply a strong leader.


8/5/21 - Seafoam turned 13 years old today. Cyrill, recognizing with annoyance that Nightglow would be her last cub, told the former queen that she’d need to retire from hunting and become a broodmother for the many cubs on the way. Nightglow, still a scampering cub, raced around her mother as Seafoam sadly moved to help the pregnant lionesses with their nests. Cyrill thought it such a shame that a gorgeous lioness like Seafoam only ever had two cubs, both in single cub litters, and both extremely plain to look at. Tyrannius and Seafoam were attractive lions, but it seemed neither had any luck in passing that onto their cubs.

In other news, Queen Amethyst had also become pregnant, and would bear Cyrill’s first royal cubs.


7/31/21 - Cyrill quickly kept his promise to produce heirs. The first lioness in the pride to become pregnant was Friday, and not long after, Friday’s mother, Red, announced that she too was expecting Cyrill’s cubs.


6/28/21 - Tyrannius died early in the morning. Seafoam mourned, probably more than anyone else. Tyrannius had not been beloved… Competence he had, the devotion of his pride he did not.

Cyrill emerged from the former king’s den as the rays of dawn hit the pride rocks. He leapt to the top of the rocks and roared a summons. His fiery coat was ablaze with the rising rays of light, and the sight of him struck awe and apprehension in the hearts of the pride.

“I am king now,” he hissed. “Show me loyalty and I will treat you well. I know each one of you already, and you will come to know me.”

Cyrill continued, his voice becoming fuller. “Tyrannius planned for me to have three queens to choose from - Alaska, Amethyst, and Snowfall, our most skilled and most beautiful huntresses. I say, why choose? I will have three queens. Alaska will be head huntress, Amethyst will manage den life, and Snowfall will assist with cub and training affairs.”

“You all know that I do not come from a bloodline within this pride. This will not be the case for my heir, and his heirs. I will found a long dynasty of my descendants, who will live on this land forever.” Cyrill’s voice had become more and more passioned, and some words were hisses. “One of my utmost priorities is producing an heir. Any of you can achieve this - not just my queens. Indeed, I will father many cubs, but only one will inherit. We shall see who the honor falls upon to bear him for me.”

The lionesses listened in silence.

“Finally, I will tell you this - my pride welcomes only those with skills, beauty, and preferably both. Unfortunately Tyrannius kept some of you around that do not meet these requirements. Tigris, Tabia, and Shadow,” he said softly. “You will leave.”

“Wait! Wait, please,” cried Shadow. She bounded up the rocks in a surprising show of courage to stand next to Cyrill, and whispered something in his ear. He nodded, but turned to the other two named lionesses.

“Goodbye,” he said.


6/26/21 - Seafoam gave birth to one cub, a little ebony lioness with a golden back like Tyrannius and Thunderstorm. She named her little daughter Nightglow. Tyrannius, who’d grown more and more tired lately, stayed in the King’s den with his mate, sleeping for the majority of the time, but he was happy to see his new daughter.


6/23/21 - Tyrannius was nearing his sixteenth year, and he knew his time dwindled. He’d aged quickly in the last few seasons, growing weaker and tired for most of his time. He didn’t want to leave with any regrets, and having somewhat repaired his relationship with his beloved Seafoam, he asked her one of his biggest remaining questions.
“Seafoam, we only have Thunderstorm as our legacy. I suppose that is one of my biggest failures as a father - not showing you or him enough attention, and not giving you more. You still have some years left, and I must ask: Do you want me to leave you with some cubs, as a small piece of me to remain with you?”
Seafoam stared at him with her gentle, sorrowful eyes. She wanted to deny it, say he still had a long time left, but she knew those words would be air. And then she wondered if she would want more cubs at all, reminders of her mate, who’d brought her so much love and sadness at once. They’d grow up without a father, and she would follow Tyrannius not long after. I can teach them to be better. Tyrannius will leave a good legacy behind. I will do that for us.
“Yes, Tyrannius, I’d like that.”


9/12/20 - Tyrannius spent most of his free time with Shadow, who appreciated him while Seaform shunned him. She served him when Seafoam batted his attentions aside. Though her pelt was mostly plain, her face was pretty, and she knew how to make a lion happy.


9/10/20 - The moons passed peacefully for Tyrannius. His heirs returned from Commander’s pride, grown and lethal. The young male, who Tyrannius named Cyrill, was extremely reserved, but sometimes small facets of his personality peaked out. On those occasions even Tyrannius was uneasy at what he saw. Once, Tyrannius happened upon Cyrill at the end of one of the sub male’s patrols. The sub male had caught a baby gazelle and was roughly playing with the still-living creature, batting it around like a cub would a skull toy. Another time, Tyrannius saw him sniffing around the lionesses in heat, and severely reprimanded him for it. Cyrill’s response was, “I am simply learning, for when I am king.”


6/14/18 - When Commander came to retrieve Ori, Tyrannius was prepared. He was not particularly impressed with this daughter, but Commander and his pride seemed to value her highly. Tyrannius allowed Ori to leave, on the condition that Commander dedicate two years of his life to training Tyrannius’s heirs. Tyrannius could then focus on building his pride, and more importantly, Commander wouldn’t be able to train heirs of his own.


6/12/18 - Tabia came looking for Tyrannius. She’d been exiled from Commander’s pride.
“You can stay,” Tyrannius told her, “But do not expect any sort of status. You must hunt as well as my other lionesses, and prove yourself more than a pretty face.”


6/11/18 - After the border confrontation, Ori came to live with Tyrannius. He did not particularly care for the lioness herself or their blood relation - he had innumerable other cubs, after all. He simply thought she could be a good leveraging tool, given that Tabia had said Commander cared about his family and pride above all. Of course, any cub of Tyrannius was welcome to stay, if they proved themselves a useful and valuable member of the pride.

Seafoam flattened her ears when she saw Tyrannius leading yet another lioness into their home. “Relax,” he growled, “she is a daughter of mine, living in Commander’s pride until now.”
“She is another mouth to feed, on top of Shadow, who still cannot hunt,” Seafoam hissed.
“I do not know why you begrudge Shadow so.”
Seafoam didn’t respond. She turned and beckoned to White Flame, and instructed her to show Ori around.


6/8/18 - Tyrannius and Tabia continued to meet at the western border. Tyrannius found the young lioness quite amusing, as she didn’t seem to fully realize how unimportant she was, and acted like one much above her status. She was also quite witty and a good actress when she wanted to be. He learned that Commander had two new daughters, and it seemed a daughter of Tyrannius himself was living in that pride…


4/3/16 - Soon after, Tyrannius was patrolling his western border when he saw a dark golden lioness hunting in the tall grass. She was on Commander’s side, making him suspect that she was part of his rival’s pride. She was stalking a gazelle, but it crossed the border onto Tyrannius’s territory. He expected the young lioness to give up, but she didn’t, instead crossing over herself and killing it.
“Thief!” Tyrannius roared, running over and pinning her down. She didn’t struggle, but hissed, “Let go of me, you brute.” When he didn’t move, she sighed. “It was from my king’s territory, okay? It’s my prey.”
Tyrannius slowly loosened his grip. “How dare you defy me? I’m king Tyrannius, and I own this land. The gazelle was on my territory when you killed it, making you a thief, simple as that. Does Commander not teach his lionesses the rules of the lands? Shall I march into your territory and take compensation for this?”
The golden lioness’s eyes widened. “No, please don’t do that, I’m in enough trouble already,” she said quietly. “You can have the gazelle.”
“I don’t want the gazelle. Tell me, what is your name?”
“Tabia…”
“Tabia. That’s a very pretty name.”
“Er, thanks?” she replied, confused.
“Tabia, I’ll let you go without attacking your king if you could just tell me how many lions there are in your pride, how many sub males, and where your dens are located.”
“There are twelve lions including cubs, no sub males, and the dens are around a waterhole that sits right in between the jungle and savannah,” Tabia said, without hesitation.
Tyrannius was surprised that she’d give up pride information so easily, but perhaps he could use that to his advantage.
“Well then. You are free to go. I hope I see you again,” he murmured, touching his nose to her ear.
Tabia nodded, and without another word scampered back into her own territory.


2/8/16 - Tyrannius spent much of his pride’s wealth and savings on three cubs. One male, son of a legendary king from far away, and two females, either or both of whom could become his queen.


2/7/16 - Tyrannius could see himself and his queen in their son Thunderstorm so clearly, him being a perfect combination of their looks. He’d done well as a defender of the pride in Commander’s attack seasons ago, and he only improved after that. However, Tyrannius could not help but think he was not the right heir for the pride. Thunderstorm didn’t seem to have a single ambition, and had no want for leadership or glory. He seemed content to nap with the lionesses and then go on a patrol, day after day the same.
Tyrannius had no other sons living in the pride. He considered having more with Seafoam, but she seemed cold towards him lately, and would likely get colder if he named a son with another lioness as his heir. Tyrannius came to the sinking conclusion that perhaps Seafoam, with her softer disposition, might not even be able to mother cubs suitable for the throne.
If there was one thing Tyrannius had to do right, it was to find a strong heir for the pride. Bramblestar’s best and final achievement had been to name Tyrannius his heir. Tyrannius would now have to do the same.


3/28/16 - Shadow recovered remarkably fast under Tyrannius’s care. All the lionesses expected him to let her go or sell her after her recovery, but he didn’t. She stayed, and soon starting joining in on hunts, trained by the experienced huntresses.
“So, when is Shadow leaving?” Seafoam asked Tyrannius one day, as they rested under the pride tree.
Tyrannius blinked in surprise. “Well, never, unless she really wants to.”
“That’s new. Usually you claim a hoard of lionesses each time you go out, and then chase them away a day later.”
“You know as well as I do that Shadow is different. She’s still recovering her strength.”
“It’s been three months!”
Tyrannius flicked his tail. “It would be wrong to have earned her trust all this time, and then make her leave.”
“Tyrannius…” Seafoam sighed. “Since when do you care about the trust of lionesses you find?”
“She stays! That’s final,” he growled.


3/7/16 - As soon as Shadow could walk, Tyrannius invited her out on a patrol.
“Shadow, what happened to you when I found you? You were… starving.”
The caramel lioness shuffled her paws. “I was banished by my pride when a new king took over. He sent me into the desert to the north. I crossed it and arrived here, but I was too weak to hunt.”
Anger grew in Tyrannius. What a coldhearted thing to do to such a pretty lioness! “Well, you’re safe here now. You can stay in my den as you get better, and I’ll bring you food and water.”
“Why are you being so nice? Usually lionesses like me don’t stay around in prides for very long.”
“You need my help. You’d probably die on your own.”


3/4/16 - The new lioness found herself waking up in a strange cave. The floor was soft and sandy, and some sunlight shone through the cave’s entrance. A slate and maroon lioness sat near her, and a huge brown and gold male sat further back.
“Hello dear, are you doing alright?” the lioness asked.
“Obviously not, Seafoam, look at her,” interjected the male. He turned his attention to the new lioness, saying “I’m King Tyrannius, and this is my mate, Queen Seafoam. I found you in the savannah. We have food and water, it looks like you need it.”
Seafoam pushed a halved coconut shell containing water and some small chunks of meat towards the new lioness, who accepted them gratefully.
“What’s your name?” Tyrannius asked.
“Shadow.”
“I see why,” he chuckled. “I nearly walked over you yesterday.”
Seafoam glanced at him. “I’m going to go organize some hunting parties,” she said softly, and left the den.
Tyrannius sighed. “She’s a little sensitive. Wary around strangers. Don’t worry, she’s very caring, as you can probably see.”
Shadow nodded, unsure what to say.


3/3/16 - One day while exploring, Tyrannius nearly stepped on a lioness resting in the savannah sunset. He was quite shocked to realize the lioness blended in almost perfectly with her surroundings, with a dark caramel coat of fur but a slightly golden head and back, like the sun’s rays. He then realized she was not resting, but was weak and emaciated. He carried her home on his back.


1/24/16 - Almost as if he’d predicted it, the other male attacked Tyrannius one evening.
“Who are you, stranger?” Tyrannius asked.
“I’m Commander. I’m here to take revenge for what you stole from my father and myself!”
Tyrannius stared at him, then gave a booming laugh, his great mane shaking. “Go home, cub. I’ve fought many lions. Get over it, I haven’t time for this.”
However, the other lion flung himself at Tyrannius in a fury, claws ripping at his fur. Taken by surprise, Tyrannius was slow to react, and Commander bit into his leg. Hard. Howling, Tyrannius hopped on one leg, blood pouring out of the nasty wound. Commander stood, satisfied, but Tyrannius knew what was coming. Thunderstorm shot out of nowhere and bowled Commander over, clawing him. Together, Tyrannius and Thunderstorm chased Commander all the way to the edge of their territory. “Don’t come back, ever!” Thunderstorm roared after him.
“Good work, Thunderstorm. You’ve learned a lot. Let’s get back home.”


1/22/16 - Once Thunderstorm reached two years of age, Tyrannius trained him everyday to fight and defend the territory. He sent his son on patrols to scout and defend the pride from invaders. One day Thunderstorm reported that a cream colored young male had marked out a territory to the west, just beyond the border of Tyrannius’s territory. Tyrannius kept that in mind, but didn’t want to do anything unless the other male attacked.


12/15/15 - Several more seasons passed peacefully. Most of the old pride Tyrannius inherited was gone, from old age, being sold, or being replaced by new lions that Tyrannius bought. He’d also developed a habit of bringing home every wild lioness he could find, though usually he sold or chased them away after a couple days. Most left pregnant, but Tyrannius didn’t see a problem with that, and Seafoam tolerated it, though he knew she didn’t like it.


9/6/15 - Seafoam gave birth to one male cub - slate colored with her pretty vitiligo, but also with Tyrannius’s golden back and dark mane. The king and queen named their son Thunderstorm, describing his fur very well.


9/2/15 - Seafoam soon became pregnant. These wouldn’t be Tyrannius’s first cubs as he frequently bred with the other lionesses. Those cubs were usually chased from the pride after cubhood if they weren’t very beautiful or skilled, but Seafoam’s cubs would be royal, and would stay forever. Seafoam was very excited, and her happiness seemed contagious.


8/11/15 - For the next few seasons, Tyrannius worked hard to unite his pride. Most of the young lions didn’t remember his ascension to the throne, or weren’t even around when it happened. Many of the older lionesses passed away during this time as well. Nobody had any reason to challenge his way of ruling anymore.


6/10/15 - A few days later, Grayfur passed away. Tyrannius’s mind was still reeling from what she had told him, but he mourned with the pride.


6/7/15 - Only a few moons after Seafoam became queen when Tyrannius’s mother, Grayfur, fell ill. The trader monkey said it was old age, and nothing could be done. It was true; Grayfur was more than 15 years old. Tyrannius went to visit his mother in the pride den, where she rested.
“Hello, mother,” he said as he walked beneath the rocky outcrop. Unlike his animosity for Bramblestar, he loved his mother. She was always the gentle and caring one.
“Hello, son,” She purred, lifting her head up.
“How are you?”
“I think we both know how I’m doing,” she sighed.
Silverpool walked in at that moment. She gave Tyrannius a brisk nod.
“Ah, both of my cubs are here. Don’t look so sober, I believe I still have a number of days left,” she wheezed.
For the next half hour they talked and joked, and all grudges were temporarily forgotten.
Silverpool finally stood. “I have to leave now, Seafoam wanted me for a hunting party.” She touched her nose to Grayfur’s, gave her brother another nod, and walked out.
Grayfur let out a long breath. “Well then, now that we are alone, I have something to share with you.”
“Yes, mother?”
“When Bramblestar was still quite young, he doubted himself and his ability to rule. He visited the graves of our ancestors, and they shared with him this prophecy: There is greatness in store for your pride, but only if the one to bring it overcomes challenge and hardship and finds peace on the inside. Before Bramblestar died, he realized that while his pride flourished, it wasn’t what the prophecy had foretold. He confided in me that he thought you are the lion it speaks of.”


5/31/15 - Tyrannius and Seafoam sat under the pride tree one day at sunset, grooming each other. Tyrannius nipped at her ear, earning himself a playful smack, but the gentle lioness then snuggled into his big, fluffy mane. Tyrannius sighed contentedly.
Silverpool stalked up towards them. “So the mighty king spends his time lying around when there is work to be done,” she snarled.
Tyrannius flicked his tail, unconcerned. “Silverpool, I’ve done five patrols today. I’ve earned myself a rest.”
Silverpool ignored him. “And don’t let me get started on you,” she growled at Seafoam. “There are hunting patrols to join, you lazy, good for nothing piece of-“
“Shut your mouth!” roared Tyrannius, leaping to his paws. “Have you forgotten that you’re not the queen? How dare you speak to Seafoam that way!”
Silverpool, usually calm and collected, bared her teeth. “And have you, brother, forgotten that until some foolish lioness accepts your request to be queen, I am still head huntress? I can order your lionesses to hunt and you cannot stop me, since head huntress is elected by the elders!”
“Not if I get a queen.”
“And where is she?” Silverpool mocked.
“Right here. Seafoam, I’ve loved you for a long time and I can imagine no better lioness to rule by my side. Will you be my queen?”
The young slate and maroon lioness looked at Tyrannius, wide-eyed. “Yes,” she whispered. “Of course. I love you too.”
Tyrannius purred and licked her head, then glanced at Silverpool triumphantly. His sister, shaking with rage, slunk off, perhaps to spread the news.


4/27/15 - “Hey, um, Seafoam?” Tyrannius approached her after a moon of being king. Seafoam was dragging a gazelle back from a hunt. “Yes?” She asked without meeting his gaze. “I… er… good catch.” She didn’t say anything, just shoved her prey into the trunk of the pride tree.
“Will you come on a walk with me?” He finally asked.
“No.”
“Come on! It’ll be fun.”
“You’re no fun anymore.”
“As king of this pride, I order you to come on a walk with me.”
Exasperated, she gave in. They headed to the stream in the distance.
“The pride has adapted well to my decisions. Why haven’t you?” He asked her. She shook her slate and maroon head. “I have adapted perfectly well. It’s the new you I haven’t gotten used to.” He sighed. “I’m just the same. See, I’ll prove it!” He bumped his shoulder on hers, then suddenly became horrified as she fell on her paws. “Ooph!” His training had made his unaware of his own strength. “I’m so sorry!” He exclaimed, and helped her up. He was nevertheless delighted to see the amusement in her eyes. “Race you to the stream!” He called.
He glanced back to make sure she was following, and she indeed was, gaining on him. He pushed harder and they reached the edge of the water at the same time. “You’re fast,” Tyrannius said, eyes glowing.
Seafoam looked down at her paws, and then smiled back.


4/19/15 - “Blossomspirit, Slatefire, Daisyfur, Fernpool, and Firestream, I’d like you to go on a hunt.” He looked around for Seafoam. Seeing her resting under the pride tree, he strode towards her. She sat up and he was hurt to see the weariness in her eyes. “Poun- Tyrannius. What do you want?” Tyrannius sat down next to her. “The pride must hate me. Can’t they understand that I just don’t respect our ancestors as much as they do? I can be different if I want to.” Seafoam didn’t reply. Tyrannius continued. “You know I tried to choose the most beautiful name I could think of for you?”
“I thought my name would have been Foampelt or something.”
“Well, it’s not. Seafoam is much better.”
She turned her head to him slowly. “I thought I knew you the best before you became king, but I guess I thought wrong.” She left him sitting alone under the ancient tree. Upset at losing his friend, he climbed up high in the tree and crouched there, watching his pride. He hoped they adjusted soon.


4/18/15 - “Mother, what have you called us in here for?” Tyrannius asked.
Silverpool sat some distance away from her brother, clearly not forgiving him for depriving her of the power she had trained for.
Grayfur spoke. “This is Bramblestar’s old den, which I understand is now yours.”
Tyrannius nodded. “Father’s den is very ideal. He chose right for once.”
Grayfur sighed. “Dear children, Bramblestar was not your father. He never produced an heir, so when you were born, the cubs with most potential, he decided his wait was over. But because you are not of royal blood, he knew he had to keep it a secret.”
“What?!” Silverpool screeched.
Tyrannius shook his head, surprisingly calm. “I knew I couldn’t be related to such a halfwit.”
Silverpool, however, was looking more distraught. “He was a noble lion… I really believed him.” Tyrannius turned towards her. “Don’t you understand? It doesn’t matter that we aren’t of royal blood! I am still the greatest lion the lands have ever seen.” Turning to Grayfur, he said, “Still mother, I am most curious to know who my father really is.”
Grayfur hung her head. “Your father was responsible for the death of many lions. He killed for pleasure. There was a cub many seasons ago, named Fangcub. He was killed by your father. Nobody but the healer knew, but afterwards it was revealed. That was after I met him, though, and your birth was irreversible.
Tyrannius didn’t know what to think about his mother’s news. “I’m not evil. Heritage doesn’t matter.”
Silverpool simply walked out of the den. Grayfur stood. “I will leave you to yourself now. Don’t ponder it too much, I know you are a good lion.”


4/17/15 - The next morning, Pounceclaw started towards the rocky outcrop, but Grayfur was striding towards him with his ever graceful sister padding alongside her. Her training had come along nicely. “Son.” Grayfur’s eyes shone with grief for their former king and queen, but it was masked by the pride radiating from her. “You are king now. It is time to speak to the pride.” Pounceclaw licked her ear, wondering if after his speech she’d have quite as much support for him. Silverpool spoke, her quiet voice steady. “Brother, it is time for us to rule together. May the stars light your path.” Pounceclaw merely dipped his head.
Leaping onto the rocks, he roared loudly. The pride gathered around him.
“As we have all heard, my father and our former king, Bramblestar, is dead. His queen, Leopardfoot, has also died. However, great change is inevitable, for now I am king of this pride.” A voice called out, “Pouncestar! Pouncestar! Pouncestar!” And several lions joined in.
“No, but thank you,” eyes gleaming, Pounceclaw said. “My name shall not be Pouncestar.” Confusion ran through the gathered pride. Grayfur stepped forward. “Pounceclaw?” She said, puzzled. “What is going on? Do you not accept the leading position?”
“No! Mother, I will make you proud. Of course I will be king.” He raised his voice to address the entire pride. “Unlike my fool of a father, we will not grovel to the dead lions in our dynasty! They have no control over us! I will no longer look to my ancestors. We may join them when we die, but until then, we are in control of ourselves. To help you understand the full extent of my decision, our names will no longer be in their honor. They will have a different fashion to them. Cubs are named from birth and that will be their name for their entire life. We are strong, but our names tie us to dead lions. We are changed! We are free.”
Shocked silence met his words.
“This is nonsense!” Daisyfur stepped forward, her jaws set in a snarl. “We have always looked to them. What will we do without them?”
“You misunderstand. Lions in the dynasty are wise and have much knowledge that I look forward to sharing, but they have no power. They can only watch.”
“Will we all be forced to change our names? We have had these names for seasons! How can we suddenly change them?” Cloudwing called out.
Pounceclaw shook his head. “You must see me as cruel! When did I say you must change your names? No. The adolescent lions will change their names since they haven’t received their full names, but you will not. Today they have reached two years of age, and this is their naming ceremony.”
Beckoning the young lions forward, he spoke to each. “Flowerpaw. You will now be known as Flora. Pantherpaw. You shall be Panthera. Ashpaw, your name is now Ashes. And Foampaw,” He considered for a moment. “Foampaw, you are now Seafoam.”
The young females looked at each other, trying to process their new names.
“Of course, there is the matter of the queen. I have decided that Silverpool will not be my queen, for I want a future mate to be my queen.”
More outrage greeted his words. Silverpool stepped forward, bristling at her brother. “Are you mad? Father chose for me to be queen! What about my training? Will it all be for nothing?” Pounceclaw loomed over her. “Sister, I’m afraid that your training indeed has been for naught. But I’m king now, and I will decide who I want to rule beside me and that lion is not you.”
Grayfur looked sorrowfully at her bickering cubs and wondered if it was because of their father. She came to a decision.
“Of course,” Pounceclaw announced. “I shall have a new name, one that isn’t ridiculous like Pouncestar. My new name will be Tyrannius.”


4/16/15 - Ashpaw raced up to Pounceclaw, Foampaw at her heels.
“Bramblestar is dead,” She croaked.
Pounceclaw stared at her. His father was dead? “Good. The old fool has lived much too long.” He smiled triumphantly.
Foampaw’s eyes grew wide. “B-but he was your father! Aren’t you sad?”
“Not really. He was too weak. Now this pride will know what it means to truly be great with me leading.”
Foampaw still looked shocked. Ashpaw turned to her. “Come on; I’m sure he’ll want to announce it soon.”
“No, Ashpaw, let the pride mourn today. They loved Bramblestar more than I ever did. I will address them tomorrow.”
Ashpaw nodded, and raced away, Foampaw at her heels.
Pounceclaw gazed after them, happy at the news but a little worried at the shock in Foampaw’s eyes. No matter. He had much bigger plans in store, and more shock was to come, but he was confident everyone would adapt.


4/15/15 - Bramblestar died within hours of Leopardfoot’s death, both of old age. Bramblestar passed away happily, knowing he was leaving his pride in good paws. Pounceclaw, though strong and skilled, could be arrogant and hasty in decision making, but with his gentle and thoughtful sister to guide him and his friendship with Foampaw, he’d be the strongest leader the pride had ever seen. He had faith Pounceclaw would not be like his father and that Grayfur would keep her secret for the rest of her life. He recalled Birdwing’s prophecy from so many seasons ago…
”Believe in your ancestors and yourself, and that will make you a powerful leader. Do not fear, there is greatness in store for your pride, but only if the one to bring it overcomes challenge and hardship and finds peace on the inside.” He knew now the prophecy didn’t speak of himself, so it must have been about his young heir.


4/13/15 - In Bramblestar’s last months, he could see Pounceclaw and Foamcub becoming good friends. They spent most of their free time together. Bramblestar often wondered if their friendship would develop into something more… But Pounceclaw was more than five years older than her. Besides, he doubted anyone would ever want to be Pounceclaw’s mate and so the chosen ruling siblings would be perfect. Even if Pounceclaw chose a mate, only one lioness could be queen, either her or Silverpool. He couldn’t imagine either being thrilled of losing the position.


3/10/14 - Soon after the cubs were able to play Bramblestar saw Pounceclaw showing interest in the cubs, often playing with them. Bramblestar hadn’t known the arrogant, haughty heir would ever have a soft spot for cubs. He watched as Foamcub bounced around his paws while he tried to wrestle with Flowercub and Panthercub. Ashcub snuck up on his left and leapt onto his back.
“He will be a good king one day, as long as you have faith in him,” Grayfur said from behind him.
“I know. He is doing exceptionally well in training. I think I’ll have him patrol again, a bit of food wouldn’t do us bad.”
Bramblestar walked up to the sub. “Pounceclaw, I’d like it if you went on another patrol, perhaps catch some prey along the way.”
“Fine. I don’t see why you must ruin my fun though, I just did a patrol.”
“You will not question my orders! Go, now.”
Pounceclaw curled his lip. “Whatever you say, father.” With that he stalked off.
Shaking his head, Bramblestar turned to look for Rosethorn. The maroon lioness was helping Blossomspirit and Cinderleaf get their cubs down for a nap. Flowercub and Panthercub had already closed their eyes, but Ashcub was still bouncing around gleefully. “I’ll have an adventure one day too!” Cinderleaf licked her head and said, “Of course, dear. But get some sleep first.”
Bramblestar beckoned to Rosethorn. “Could you lead a hunt? Pounceclaw has gone off already and it seems he didn’t organize another hunt. Take Pruneheart, Firestream, Brookflight, and Silverpool.” Rosethorn dipped her head and went to find the chosen lionesses.
“But why doesn’t Foamcub have to have a nap?”
Bramblestar jumped. It was true, there were only three cubs in the nursery. Cinderleaf looked around, puzzled. “You’re right! She’s probably with Slatefire. Bramblestar backed out of the den and saw Slatefire dozing under the pride tree. He nudged her. “Slatefire, where is your daughter?” He asked. “What? Foamcub? Cinderleaf said she’d put her down for the nap so I could get some sleep. I haven’t seen her since she was roughhousing with that son of yours.”
“Oh no…” Remembering Fangcub from many seasons back, Bramblestar raced into the territory. He searched, but he knew it was too big to do alone. Not giving up, he pressed on before seeing, in the distance, Pounceclaw padding along, sniffing at something. Bramblestar’s distrust of the young male’s father grew strong. What if he was tracking Foamcub? He wouldn’t kill her, would he? Suddenly Pounceclaw launched himself out of the bushes and with a enormous leap landed amongst a herd of gazelles. A little figure followed him on short legs, tail waving in the air. It was Foamcub! Bramblestar didn’t wait to see more and thundered towards the commotion. He saw Pounceclaw kill a gazelle and Foamcub raced up to him, bouncing with excitement. Neither noticed him arrive.
“What do you think you’re doing?” He snarled. The two young lions looked up in surprise. “Pounceclaw showed me how to hunt! He caught that gazelle! Isn’t he amazing?” Foamcub squeaked.
“So I saw. Pounceclaw, what were you thinking, taking a young cub out here? Death could be around the corner, yet you leave her alone while you hunt. That is not what a king does.”
“She wanted to come. I couldn’t keep her holed up in the dens, could I?” The heir shrugged.
“You are coming with me, young lions.”
“What happened?” Slatefire’s shocked voice came. Grayfur stalked up to her son, bristling with anger. Silverpool followed, her stride elegant. Bramblestar couldn’t count how many times he’d wished his young heir was like her. Grayfur cuffed Pounceclaw’s ear. “Why did you take Foamcub out with you? She could have been killed! How would I answer to Slatefire then?”
“For the last time, Foamcub wanted to come. She should have the freedom to!”
Bramblestar moved his face close to the young male’s.
“Come along, Foamcub,” Slatefire led her cub away.
“You shall be punished. You will not leave these dens for a moon and will not be able to eat, or go to the stream without my permission. Am I clear?”
“What! I can’t be confined here. What about my training?”
“I will train you from here. Now go to your den.”


3/5/14 - Bramblestar found in the lion gather place another male was getting old and was offering cheap breedings. He had rare maroon markings and the elegant vitiligo. He eagerly sent three of his females to him with the silver beetles in hope of having more valuable pride members. The cubs born were all beautiful and had special coats, but the most beautiful was Foamcub, a slate female with vitiligo paws and back with a maroon tint. He was glad of the breeding’s success.


3/2/14 - Pouncecub grew into a strong young lion named Pounceclaw. However, he was rude and disrespectful. He believed his ancestors were unimportant and that he would be more powerful than them. “Father is a fool. Dead lions can’t do anything.”
His sister was quite the opposite, and her training was shaping her into the ideal queen. Silverpool was greatly liked by the entire pride.
“What kind of name is Pounceclaw anyway?” Pounceclaw muttered to himself as he went on yet another patrol that his father had ordered him to take. “If I’m to be king, my name will be Pouncestar. Ridiculous.”
Silverpool always enjoyed her lessons with her mother. Grayfur was a great teacher and took pride in knowing her cubs would one day rule the pride. Silverpool knew her brother looked forward to their father’s death so he could be king. She however, didn’t want her father to die and thought that he was a noble lion, and she was proud that he was her father.


2/3/15 - Several more years had passed by, but Bramblestar and Queen Leopardfoot had never been blessed with cubs.
“I don’t like this, Bramblestar.”
“Neither do I,” Another voice replied.
Bramblestar growled. “Our pride was weakened by hunger. We know a number of lions left during that time.”
Leopardfoot licked his cheek. “I know how hard it is for you. But you must accept Thornfrost and Stormshine didn’t leave just because of hunger, they wanted a pride. Smallstorm left because of the hunger, yes.”
Bramblestar’s head drooped. “I can’t believe Thornfrost would ever be disloyal like that… He promised me that day I became king he’d serve me until his last breath.”
Grayfur spoke. “You must realize they aren’t young anymore. They must have wanted their last years to be together. In fact, none of us are young and you still need an heir. That is why this is important.”
“Yes… alright. Grayfur, your son Pouncecub will be king, and his sister Silvercub will be queen. They shall rule together as a brother and sister team.”
“You know the pride won’t accept them if they knew who fathered them,” Leopardfoot protested.
“That’s right. And that is the reason I shall claim them as my own.”
Silence greeted his words.


11/17/14 - Two moons had passed since Fangcub’s death.
“Bramblestar! Would you like to take a patrol with me?”
“Er… sorry Thornfrost, I was going to take a stroll around the territory, with Leopardfoot, enjoy the weather…” He broke off when he saw Thornfrost’s eye glitter with amusement. “Have her eyes got you hypnotized? Don’t worry about it, some other time is fine.”
He watched Thornfrost pad away, only to have Stormshine approach him. She said something, and he licked her ear before they both scampered off.
“Can subordinates have mates?” Bramblestar jumped when Leopardfoot’s voice sounded right behind him.
“I see why you’re called Leopardfoot. Don’t sneak up on me like that again!”
She snorted. “Coming?”
“Yeah yeah. So, what do you think about Thornfrost and Stormshine?” They started walking away from the pride tree.
“I think they’re fine together.”
“But I’m the king! Only Yellowstar bred his females.”
“So? You don’t have to do exactly what he did. Besides, would you honestly ever have cubs with Stormshine?”
“I might.”
She turned to face him, looking a little hurt. “Really? Haven’t you considered settling down for just one female? Wouldn’t you like to have a queen?”
“Yellowstar said queens were a waste of time. He never had one.”
“Yellowstar wasn’t some god. You don’t have to follow his exact footsteps!”
“Yes, but… I feel as if I should continue his traditions.”
She sat down. “I’d like to be your queen,” She said, catching him very much off guard.
“What? My queen? You? What about-“
“There isn’t much to it, Bramblestar! I’ll give you time to think about it,” She rubbed her head against his, then turned back to the pride’s dens.
Confused, he followed her after short time. Thornfrost had come back with a zebra. “Thornfrost, I’d like a word with you.” Thornfrost padded over. “Anything, Bramblestar. What’s on your mind?” Bramblestar replied, “I was wondering of your opinion on the matter of a queen.” Thornfrost flicked his ear. “Leopardfoot, isn’t it? Well her eyes are very pretty, I’ll give you that. She’s also commanding and knows how to deal with other lions well. Not the best hunter, but still quite good. All in all, I say she’d make a good queen.” Bramblestar thought for a moment. “Yes… I quite like her. I’ll tell her.”


10/16/14 - The following morning Bramblestar sat in his sandy cave, grooming himself. To his surprise, he heard a lioness call in, “Bramblestar, may I come in?”
“Leopardfoot? Of course.”
She padded in and shuffled her paws. “I’m sorry about yesterday… was that the right thing to say? The beetlebrain wasn’t right to say that about you.”
“It’s fine, and I appreciate my pride’s support. Thank you.”
“Well… alright then.” She started to back out, embarrassed.
“Wait! Would you like to share a gazelle with me?” He asked, surprising himself.
“What… no! I mean, maybe some other time,” she quickly said and dashed out of the den, leaving Bramblestar puzzled and a little hurt, though he himself couldn’t imagine why. “That’s more like old Leopardfoot…” He muttered to himself.


10/15/14 - Waking up, he ran back towards his pride in the dawn light. I terrible wailing greeted him. With a bad feeling, he slowed and saw Silverheart carrying Fangcub’s limp body out to bury. The little cub hadn’t survived the night. Bramblestar leapt onto the rocky outcrop and summoned his pride around him.
“We have all felt the grief of the death of one of our cubs, but our life will go on! I have spoken with ancestors in our dynasty. They have foretold greatness for our pride! We shall be stronger than ever.”
“And who will bring this greatness?” A lion called out. “The king who let an innocent cub die?”
A few shocked gasps came from the crowd. Bramblestar bristled. To his surprise, Leopardfoot stalked forward. “Who is the one to disrespect our king? If he is destined for greatness, then so be it. We are not ones to question our ancestors.” Another voice called out, “Young Leopardfoot is right!” A chorus of support followed and Bramblestar felt gratitude towards them. “Well, you are all dismissed. Thornclaw, I’d like you to organize a hunt and patrol the territory.”


10/14/14 - At dawn, crouched beside the river, he stared at Yellowstar’s grave. “Oh Yellowstar, I don’t think I can do this. Being a king is harder than ever.” He wanted to stay awake, but exhaustion from the last day tugged at him, and he let sleep take him.
He woke up and found himself in a beautiful landscape with golden dawn light filtering through lavender stained clouds. Looking around, he realized he could not exactly tell what the landscape was. Emerging through the mist were two lionesses. “Birdwing! I’m visiting our pride dynasty, aren’t I?” He exclaimed.
Birdwing grinned. “Yes Bramblestar, you are. Welcome. This is Sandfang, who was an elder before you joined our pride.”
Sandfang dipped her head. “It is good to meet you, young one. I’m glad to see that you lead my pride well.”
“Of course…” Bramblestar looked around. “Say, where is Yellowstar? I was hoping I’d meet him again.”
Sandfang’s head drooped, while Birdwing’s eyes clouded over. “Alas, he is gone forever. He has never been here.”
Bramblestar swayed. “What…? But all lions must come to our dynasty after death!”
“No,” Sandfang replied. “After I died, I walked through the air and up into the heavens. I walked these skies alone for moons until Birdwing joined me. She told me Yellowstar had been dead for moons but neither of us had seen him.”
“Oh… oh no… how can I possibly lead his pride without his guidance?” Bramblestar asked miserably.
Birdwing touched her nose to his. “Believe in your ancestors and yourself, and that will make you a powerful leader. Do not fear, there is greatness in store for your pride, but only if the one to bring it overcomes challenge and hardship and finds peace on the inside.”
Bramblestar watched them walk back into the mist from which they came, the prophecy lingering on his mind.


10/13/14 - The trader monkey informed Bramblestar that there was nothing he could do for Fangcub. “Trust your healer, and let the cub rest.”
Bramblestar felt sick. “This is all my fault. He wanted to patrol with me but I didn’t allow him to. He must have tracked me.” Even through her panic for her cub, Bramblestar saw pride light Silverheart’s face.
Bramblestar walked out of the den, not wanted to watch any longer. He headed towards the ancient pride tree and leapt onto a branch. This was one of his favorite spots, because here he could watch the entire pride Yellowstar had founded. The pride tree hung items to trade for beetles on its branches. The hollow trunk held a food hoard for his pride. The rocky outcrop with several low caves concealed big den areas underneath. He could stand on the rocks and announce news to his pride. Missing his former king and feeling more wretched than ever, Bramblestar jumped down and headed out into his territory. He spent the night out, but did not sleep.


10/12/14 - Bramblestar decided to patrol the territory a bit, since Thornfrost was busy organizing hunting parties.
“Wait, Father, I’ll come with you!” Bramblestar saw Fangcub, who was only five moons old, scampering towards him. Fangcub was even younger than Flowercub and Thundercub, who were 10 moons. “I’m sorry son, but you are too young. There are many dangers beyond our dens, and the territory is full of enemies that could kill you with a single paw swipe.”
Leaving Fangcub with his mother, he started patrolling the territory. Once he was sure there were no dangers, he decided to head towards the shrublands. Spotting a hyena on the verge of entering his savannah territory, he quickly advanced on it and swiped at it, leaving a claw mark on its ear. Blood quickly welled up around the scratch and the hyena, infuriated, rushed at him and bit him on his left foreleg, which he was trying to swipe at it with. The hyena’s teeth cut deep into his flesh, and Bramblestar howled out in pain. The hyena then proceeded to bite at his other leg, but Bramblestar hopped around on three legs and landed a blow in its back that made terrible cracking sound.
Bramblestar didn’t know what he’d done, but the hyena didn’t get up again. Another sound came from across the shrubland, and he growled. What now? He trotted towards to sound, and it began to sound like a cub. Picking up his pace, he started running and found Fangcub, his pelt ripped and stained crimson. One hind leg lay crooked. Slowly, Bramblestar inched towards the small cub and found him breathing shallowly. Unsure what else to do, he picked the cub up by his scruff and headed home.
The king was greeted by Silverheart’s wailing. “Fangcub! Bramblestar, what have you done to him?”
Bramblestar dropped the bloodstained bundle. “I don’t know, I found him outside of the territory! He must have followed me.”
Silverheart sniffed her cub and without another word she picked him up and walked towards Dewbreeze’s den. Bramblestar sighed. He hoped Dewbreeze’s herbs helped the cub survive. He beckoned to Firepaw. “Firepaw, take Fernpaw and find the trader monkey. If he has time to come over, ask him to.”


10/9/14 - Life was good in Bramblestar’s pride.
“Father! Father!” Bramblestar lazily opened one eye to see one of his daughters, Flowercub, dashing around madly with her brother, Thundercub, at her heels. With an excited squeak and a surprisingly big leap, she dove into his paws and almost completely buried herself in his enormous mane. Grunting, he rose to his paws, much to Flowercub’s dismay. He watched with amusement as Thundercub tackled her.
“Flowercub! Thundercub! Get off Bramblestar at once!” An apologetic Berryflower rushed forward and led her cubs away. Bramblestar watched her go. The pretty lioness was young and skilled, and could make a good queen. However, there were plenty of other lionesses in the pride to be considered. Stormshine was a beautiful maltese, but Bramblestar had a feeling she wouldn’t be as good a queen as Berryflower. She had been the adopted daughter of Yellowstar, and the kind lioness found it hard to imagine the evil of others. She’d been greatly shaken at Yellowstar’s death. Then there was Redeye, the only lioness in the pride with blood colored eyes. However, Bramblestar knew he’d rather go without a queen than choose her, as her tongue was barbed and she was never in a good mood. He could almost say the same about Redeye’s best friend, Leopardfoot, the other lioness with strange eyes. They always had something to complain about. Bramblestar liked Leopardfoot better though, since she was the only one who could look straight at him and not be distracted by his mismatched eyes, with her eyes being the exact same blue and green as his.


8/1/14 - Yellowstar did not stand by his word. He bought a new sub male named Bramblethorn to be his heir. Yellowstar passed away soon after that, much to the grief of his pride.


6/27/14 - Yellowstar ceased to continue his duties, even when the cubs wailed aloud their hunger and the lionesses had to steal food from the hoard in the trunk of the pride tree. The pride was falling apart, and it pained everyone to watch their once noble king sink like this. Yet Yellowstar just lied under the pride tree and stared up at the stars. It was moons before he got up and brought the pride together again. He vowed to never have a sub male replace Whiteblaze.


6/25/14 - The pride nearly went mad with grief in the following moons. Sandfang's death, then this. Yellowstar had also shared a special bond with Whiteblaze, and probably suffered most from the attack. The huge belly wound healed slowly and the trader monkey came to look at him everyday, as sometimes he had healing herbs. The loss of a senior lioness the day before. The death of his trustworthy friend. And the murder of his three cubs.


6/20/14 - On the night after Sandfang’s death, the pride was awoken by growls and loud rustling. Everyone turned their attention to Yellowstar, who was fighting another king. At once everyone knew Yellowstar stood no chance. The opponent was unnaturally colored and his pelt rippled with bulging muscles. His eyes, one ice blue and the other dark brown, were filled with pure malice. With one paw swipe he sliced open Yellowstar's belly and Yellowstar fell to the ground.
Immediately Thornfrost and Whiteblaze leapt into action. This was what they were trained for. Together they raced toward the attacker and tussled brutally together with him. As Thornfrost swiped over and over at his belly, he could see Whiteblaze go for his throat. And with a lightning fast claw the dark king slashed open Whiteblaze's neck, right between his chin and mane.
At Thornfrost’s hesitation, the attacker sent him flying against the pride-tree where he lay, winded. His paws wouldn't work and as he lay there gasping for breath, he could only watch helplessly through his fading vision as the black king stalked toward the circle of lionesses. The ones with cubs pressed their cubs close to their sides, and Goldentail, who had Yellowstar's son and daughter who were only a month old, curled tightly around them. The rest of the lionesses circled them protectively.
The rival king sniffed the air and stared right at Goldentail and then at Willowwind, who had Yellowstar's other daughter. He knew they were Yellowstar's. Almost effortlessly he pushed pass the snarling lionesses and towered over Yellowstar's cubs and their mothers. The last thing Thornfrost saw in his fading vision was Yellowstar's three cubs spending their last moments in terror.


6/19/14 - Several more years passed by. Yellowstar was now in his older years, and the first death in the pride arrived. The oldest lioness, Sandfang, passed away in her sleep. She was buried near the river that ran through the savannah.


2/5/14 - Yellowstar purchased a young adolescent male named Thornfrost, because the large territory needed more paws to help patrol. He tasked Whiteblaze with training the younger maltese male.


12/23/13 - The seasons passed peacefully and quietly. Many more lionesses joined the pride and bore Yellowstar’s cubs. He even adopted a young lioness named Stormshine as a daughter, even though her maltese fur and blue eyes looked nothing like his mongoose pelt. He rescued a sub male named Whiteblaze from exile in his old pride and trained him. Yellowstar had no queen, but was like a father to all the cubs and was a good king for all his lionesses.


7/15/13 - About two moons went by when Yellowstar saw the big tree on the vast, grassy savannas. He and his two lionesses, now heavily pregnant with his cubs, moved quickly after that. He came to a stop at the ancient tree. The branches spread far, providing lots of shade. The sturdy branches looked like they could be climbed, and sure enough, Yellowstar found it was very comfortable to lie among the large branches. On another section of branches he found a dry but still visible place to hang the gazelle carcass from an earlier hunt. He decided he'd try to sell it. As he climbed down, he saw that Brighthope and Goldentail already settled down in the shade of the ancient tree and were grooming each other. A hollow at the base of the tree provided a nice place for carcasses they were going to eat.
"Yellowstar, I think we have traveled enough," Brighthope said. Goldentail was nodding. "We need a place for ourselves, and our future cubs." Yellowstar looked at them. "Yes," he agreed. "Yes, we have found our new home."


7/13/13 - The journey to find his own territory wore on. The savannah Yellowstar’s small pride traveled on was ideal, but was already claimed by other males everywhere they went. Some were friendly, others not so much. It was only when he got into a vicious battle with one, and then won, that his two lionesses suddenly started respecting him.


7/12/13 - The two lionesses chosen to leave the pride with Yellowstar were named Brighthope and Goldentail. They weren’t exactly happy at being forced to leave the pride with him. And there was no end in sight for their long journey to find a home. “Let’s eat,” announced Yellowstar. Yellowstar quickly pawed off the leaf wrap that hung around his neck with a wilted vine. Inside, it contained one measly meal, a rat carcass. Though it was rather big for a rat, it would barely feed a single lion, let alone three starving ones. One by one, they took one bite out of the carcass and in three bites it was gone. It scarcely took the edge off Yellowstar's hunger, but he could not complain. "Perhaps we should do a little hunting?" Brighthope suggested. "Yes, we will soon, as soon as we find a suitable home, we will." Yellowstar replied. Goldentail rolled her eyes and said,"We mean now. We should hunt now. Unless you want us to die of hunger, that is." Yellowstar felt like a fool. "Oh, yes, of course, go on." As they bounded away, he grew worried. If they continued like this he feared they might leave and find another king to be with, one that didn't act like a complete idiot.


7/11/13 - Yellowmane sat at his pride’s annual Choosing. The females had already gone through, and only two of the young adult females had been allowed to stay. Yellowmane’s father and king of the pride, Raggedstar, was tough to impress, and Yellowmane knew now was his last chance to make a lasting impression on his father. Unfortunately, his entire cubhood experience led him to believe that his half brother, Blazefang, was his father’s favorite, and would likely win the position of heir. Yellowmane loved his home though; he watched the most recent season's cubs scuffle under the pride-tree, where the pride slept, groomed, and rested. Mothcub yowled, "Bet you can't catch me, Browncub!" Browncub, delighted at the prospect of a challenge, bowled her over and the two tussled in the grass. This was life in the pride, and Yellowmane didn't want to leave it.
To his left sat Blazefang, and to his right sat two more males. One of them was a weakling, the runt of Redcloud and Blazefang's litter. He wouldn't stand a chance at even getting a single lioness to go with him, which was the pride's custom. The cub that most impressed the king would get to be sub-male and claim all sixty lionesses and cubs Raggedstar had. The following male, who had to leave, got two lionesses to go with him and the last one got only one lioness. This time there'd be an extra cub who'd get zero. Yellowmane was sure it was going to be the weakling.
Raggedstar paced in front of the young males. Finally he stalked up to the weakling and said, "You. Go now." Murmurs rippled through the crowd. "No!" The weakling shrieked, "I want to stay here, with my friends, and family, and-" Raggedstar roared and lunged at him. "You are not strong enough to lead this pride!" With that, his dragged his son in the direction of the border. "Father, no! Please! I'll do anything! Please, let me stay!" Raggedstar chased the young male all the way to the border, coming back only when he was sure the weakling was gone. "He won't last a single day out there!" Blazefang croaked.
Raggedstar turned. "The next king of this pride will be Blazefang. Yellowmane shall leave with two females and Grayclaw with one. I name you Yellowstar and Graystar, now be gone."
As Yellowstar and his new pride trudged away, he could hear Blazefang saying, "Father! Where do we start?" Raggedstar chuckled and said "Tomorrow, son, we shall learn. Now come celebrate with our pride." The congratulations for Blazefang were too much for Yellowstar to bear, and he broke into a run out into the far world, away from everything he ever knew and loved.