𝔄𝔪𝔶𝔤𝔡𝔞𝔩𝔞's Den

Lore of the Pride of the Stars -

You had been stumbling around in the dark for ages, with no idea whose territory you were in or where even you were. The only thing that stood out the most in this place was how spectacularly bright the moon and stars were. You continue on your path for a long while until you come across a very odd lake. The water in the lake was very clear, so clear in fact that the reflection of the moon and stars in the water made it look like you were walking in the sky itself. There was a small path that cut through the middle of the lake, and following it you come to a very small island, completely surrounded by the starry lake apart from the path you just walked down. The island was small, only large enough to fit maybe 40 ish lions, but the lake around it was much bigger than the island. On the far side of the island, there was a large smooth, flat stone where a lion could comfortably lay. And perched upon the rock was multiple stone tablets with words carved into them. Completely abandoning whatever kindle wandering you were doing before, you lay down on the stone slab and begin reading...


This is what they say -


Long ago, this pride was nothing special, not like it is today. Gather round cubs, lions and lionesses of all ages as I retell the story of our pride.


Our first King, Limbon, may his spirit ever guide us, created this pride to join together those who felt lost and out of place. Where we sit today was never our territory in the beginning. Our old territory was nothing special, a swamp here, a lake there, it was ideal for living but there wasn't anything much worth protecting, especially not with your life as other prides were known to do. Not to mention, the stars were hardly visible, like looking up at an empty void. We stayed there a long time, pride members came and went, but our territory still never felt quite right. That was until one night, Limbon heard a call. He wasn't sure who from, or why, but he knew this was what his pride had been waiting for. So we left that territory, and travelled for a long, long time. May have been centuries, may have been mere months. That record has been lost to time.


But eventually, Limbon found this lake. And when he saw the stars and their reflection in the lake, the whole pride knew deep down that this was their home, where they were always meant to be. They didn't feel lost or misplaced anymore, they felt at peace. And this island, where you're sitting right now, is where our pride spent their first night in their new territory. Over the next year's, they built traditions, embraced the stars and sky into their life, and thrived in their home, now understanding the will to fight tooth and claw for their territory.


As time went on, our elders tried to learn the language of the stars, but always fell short. They could never understand what the stars and their deities were trying to tell them. But that changed on the night of the blood moon. A mother, pregnant with what was suspected to be three cubs by the elders who had supposedly 'seen it in the stars', went into labour at the blood moon's zenith. When the cubs were born, there were only two. One still born, and the other with fur unlike any have seen before. Half black, the colour of our pride's sacred night sky, intermingling with half crimson red, a sign of the blood moons mark and mirroring its hue. This was the birth of Amygdala, our first leader who could read the stars. Many took her birth as a sign from the stars, vowing their allegiance to her as their next Queen. But some took her birth as a curse, taking the matter to Limbon for guidance. Limbon never commented on this, his reason still unknown.




When Amygdala had completed her training of rituals, fighting and hunting and officially became a member of the pride, Limbon came down with a terrible illness. This only strengthened the divide between the belief of Amygdala's prophecy or curse. But right before his death, Limbon said words that will be forever repeated throughout history.


"Amygdala has been chosen by our deities and the stars. May she be the pride’s queen from my death."


Most accepted Amygdala as queen after Limbons passing. Though some doubts remained, they quickly died out as Amygdala showed her worth as queen, leading the pride to greater hunt success, blessing births so no stillborn have come since, and strengthening the pride's sense of connection with our deities and the stars. May Amygdala lead us forever more.


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You stand up, stunned by what you just read. You then realise a few things. One, how late it really is. Two, you probably shouldn't be trespassing on such land that's so sacred to a tribe you haven't met before. But it's too late for that as you hear an ethereal voice come from behind you.


"Can I help you?"