The huge, angelic lion stared down at his frolicking subjects. Perhaps he should be happy with this. After all, his pride had become one of the strongest and largest in the region, ever since he’d come down to help them. But he couldn’t help thinking that this wasn’t enough. He’d sacrificed so much, and this was all? He sighed, resting his head on his paws. He had once been the messenger of the spirits, a powerful lion only known for the stories told about him. But when he’d seen the struggling mortal pride, he couldn’t help but feel sorry- and come to their rescue. There would be consequences one day, he knew, but they hadn’t come yet. He wasn’t afraid of what he would face in the afterlife, now that he was mortal, but he couldn’t stop being terrified for what the spirits might do to his pride as punishment.
“King Sacarver?” A voice whispered from behind him. He jumped as the young lioness appeared behind him. He flinched when he saw her, but tried not to show it. This particular lioness reminded him of an old accomplice, Shaman Tefnut. She was a gentle soul, but all he could remember of her was the angry, snarling face she’d shown him—along with that harsh smack— when he told her that he was leaving.
“Hi, Buttercup. What are you doing here?”
“Well, I just wanted to tell you, the cubs are running off.” She teased, her emerald eyes glinting. Sacarver looked to the horizon, shot a quick ‘thank you’ at the lioness, and ran off to catch his cubs. However anxious he constantly was, he had to be a good and strong leader. This was what he’d chosen, after all.

“Kalan?”
“Hm?” the cub replied.
“Where were you, before you came to the pride? What was it like out there?”
A fierce shock burned through Kalan’s chest.
She blinked away tears, the memories a whirlwind in her mind.
“I was a young cub,” she started, hesitating for a moment. “Humans caught me. I- I don’t think…” She looked away, then took a deep breath, scratching at the tight chain around her neck, digging into her fur.
“It’s how I got the chain.”
———
A bright flash of pain.
The sky turned white.
Kalan collapsed forward on her tiny legs.
She tried to stand, pushing up with her front legs, but a sharp sting in her back stopped her.
The world blurred.
Tall, dark figures stood close to her, but their strange voices sounded far away.
Clawless hands with long fingers gripped her sides.
Her vision darkened as she clawed at the air, desperately trying to hang on to her consciousness.
Wait-
Mama?
Where are you?
What happened?
She slipped into a deep sleep.
———
Kalan opened her eyes, and the world was spinning. She closed them again, placing her tiny paws over her aching head.
Where am I?
She felt warm sunlight on her body, and blinked her eyes open again, noticing lines of shadow along her side.
Standing, she bumped her head against a hard wooden ceiling. A heavy ‘clink’. Her neck hurt.
Ow! Why is there a tree growing so low?
It’s not a tree…
What’s going on?!
———
Kalan stared from her perch in the wooden cage as she curled away from the blistering heat.
Tall, lean male lions roamed the field across from her.
Are they here to rescue me?
They walked around lazily and snarled at each other. Somehow, Kalan got the feeling they didn’t even know or care that she was there.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the savanna, followed by a loud roar of pain. Several bangs followed, and Kalan watched in horror as a lion fell to the ground. She turned away and clapped her paws over her ears as the noises grew louder.
Are they going to do that to me?
———
Kalan’s breaths came in quick, raspy gasps as she opened her eyes, looking down at her feet. She didn’t know when the tears had started, but they were there, falling to the ground, huge drops of sorrow and terror.
“Kalan…” the older cub across from her whispered. Kalan looked up at Zepka, whose paws were pressed to his mouth in shock. She glanced away for a moment, then felt warm fur all around her. “I’m so sorry.” Another cub joined the hug. Quarna. She looked even more affected by the story than Zepka, perhaps because she’d seen the images in Kalan’s mind.
“I-it’s okay now,” Kalan murmured. “The pride saved me. And I have you guys now.” She saw tears in both their eyes.
“You have us now,” Quarna echoed, smiling through her tears.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”

The first thing Ebony remembers is warm fur surrounding her, and her mother’s pink tongue grooming the top of her head. Then, a bright figure, almost too bright for her weak infant eyes, looming dangerously over her. A burning red paw grabbing her, pulling her away from her bigger, stronger siblings, and scorching her silky black fur. Her mother’s devastated but resigned expression. And most of all, the content and happy expressions on her siblings faces. The first time she experienced jealousy, at less than a month old.
———
“All these stupid lions. Can’t take care of their own cubs…” a voice muttered above her. Ebony blinked, opening her eyes to see a nimble grey figure with long, slender limbs. It leaped around her, moving unlike anything she’d seen before. To her alarm, the thing picked her up, walking over and dropping her in the hollow of a large, thick tree. Small, wriggling bodies were packed around her. It wasn’t so tight that they would suffocate, but it was uncomfortable. There were so many cubs. She growled to the other cubs to get out of her way, and clambered clumsily over to the opening of the tree hollow.
Ebony’s tiny paws scraped against rough bark as she scrambled out of the tree. She marveled at the scene. Hundreds of lions and lionesses gathered in the huge clearing. Adolescent lions tussled and played, cubs leaned close to their mothers, and lions argued and played around with shiny silver and gold insects. It was so loud and overwhelming. A little ‘caw’ caused her to look down. She leaned over the edge of the tree hollow and tumbled down onto the belly of a young raven. The crow let out a short huff of air in surprise. She sniffed the weird thing with feathers. It squawked and mumbled. Ebony rolled off of it and cocked her head. The crow cawed again.
‘I’m going to name you Caw.’ She thought, not in so many words, of course, with her limited understanding of language.
‘Caw? Oh come on, you can do better than that.’ A voice taunted inside her head. And weirdly, she could understand it. It wasn’t talking in lion, but something else… something deeper.
‘Fine, smarty-paws. What’s your name, then?’ Ebony asked the crow in her mind.
He hesitated. ‘I’m Mirror. I gave it to myself. Just like you, Ebony.’ He cocked his head. ‘It’s a nice name. Do you know what it means?’
‘No.’ She said, interested. ‘I heard old Long-Arms say it. Do you know what it means?’
‘It’s a type of wood.’ Mirror explained. ‘Ebony is very valuable to humans, especially when its black. They really seem to like it. Its tough and durable, difficult to break. Its also used to describe something that’s a beautiful color of black.
‘Oh.’ Ebony whispered, although it wasn’t much of a whisper since their entire conversation was silent. ‘Mirror?’ She asked suddenly.
‘Hm?’ The crow mumbled. He cawed at a little beetle scurrying along the grass.
‘Can you- can we be friends? Can you stay here always?’
Mirror was silent for a moment. He looked to the horizon, then back at her. He smiled, tilting his head. ‘Of course. Always.’ He ruffled her fur with his beak and she mewed happily.
———
More than a month had passed at the tree, which they found to be called the Giving Tree. Small, disabled, or simply unwanted cubs were dropped off every day, and every day huge amounts of lions came to take a random cub. One day, as she was wrestling with an alarmed Mirror, the grey monkey scurried up to her and picked her off of his wing. He hopped back up immediately and cawed in distress. She growled at the monkey, batting at his long arms and showing her sharp white teeth.
“Now, now. Calm down, little lioness.” He chattered, his brown eyes twinkling. “Don’t ya want a new home?” Alarmed, Ebony just struggled more, but the monkey held on tight. As Mirror fluttered around her, cawing softly, she stopped squirming. The monkey flicked her gently on the nose and set her down in front on a huge, ash-brown lion. She looked up at his disapproving face. A long scar crossed one of his eyes, and his sharp teeth glittered menacingly.
“She’s too small.” He growled. “I said I wanted a good huntress.”
“Look, you ask for a female cub, you get a female cub. Besides, she may be small, but she’s quick and strong. You should have seen her wrestling with that raven there.” He nodded towards Mirror.
“The stupid crow doesn’t come with the deal, does it?” He sniffed.
“Well, I wouldn’t advise trying to keep them apart.” The monkey said, to Ebony and Mirror’s relief. “Now, I’m giving you a female cub, like you asked. Take her or leave her.”
Akumu snorted, pawing the ground and upsetting a few plants. “Fine. I’lll take her.” At that, he gripped her in his huge jaws and carried her away. Ebony looked back at the Giving tree. This was the second time she would leave a home. She looked at Mirror and smiled. At least this time she had a friend.

“No! Your Majesty, you can’t die!” Ant yelled at Sacarver, his head spinning from the terrible news. “You’re the whole reason this pride exists, you can’t abandon it now. I’ll do anything, just please. You can’t leave us.” Sacarver slowly lifted his head, smiling softly at Ant.
“There may be something you can do.” He said softly. “But I will not ask you to do it, for it is terribly dangerous, and… she might not even help, after what I did.” Ant stared at him, hopeful.
“Please tell me, King Sacarver. I’ll do anything. I promise!” Ant bowed, tears spilling from his eyes. His worn cloak fell to gently caress the ground.
“Fine. If you really wish to take the risk, go to the Divine Mountains, where the Shamans reside, before they travel to the common lands once an year. They will give you a challenge to face, and then they will give you the secret to immortality.” He shook his head weakly. “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this…” His face dropped, along with his head, and his face grew weary. “I am afraid of what I will face in the afterlife. Because I came here to help you… the spirits were not pleased.” He grimaced. “I’m so scared, Ant.” He whispered. Ant trotted over to his side, laying down next to him. He buried his face in Sacarver’s huge wings.
“You’ve been like a father to me, King Sacarver.” Ant admitted. “I’m scared to lose you.” After a few moments of silence, he stood up. “That’s why I’m going to save you. I will travel to the Divine Mountains and find the secret of immortality.”
———
Ant’s claws dug into the rock, and his eyes were squinted with effort. Why oh why had he chosen this route? His claws slipped on the rock, and a few pebbles fell down the dizzying drop. His heart raced, and he squeezed his eyes shut in fear. He just wanted to give up, but he couldn’t. He had to save King Sacarver. He climbed onwards, clawing his way up the mountain. He reached up a cliffside— and suddenly lost his grip. With a shout of terror, he scrambled to catch hold of the rock, but strong paws grabbed him at the last moment, and he was pulled up to safety.
“Hmm.” A strong voice murmured. “You made it farther than we thought you would. I suppose we can let you pass. Welcome to the Divine Mountains.” Ant blinked for a moment at the three figures, then bowed.
“I like this one.” One of them said. He could plainly hear the amusement in his voice.
“Shush.” Another whispered. She cleared her throat. “I am Sangoma Tefnut. This is Shaman Aker, and Sorcerer Sphinx.” She nodded at the two ancient lions. “What is your business here at the Divine Mountains?”
“I’m looking for the secret to immortality. Please, help me save my dying family.” He hoped that leaving out Sacarver’s name would help.
“Ah, you’re one of those.” Shaman Aker said disdainfully. “What is your name?”
“I am Ant.” He stared Aker straight in the eye. “I am willing to do anything.”
“Alright, Ant. Face our challenge, and you will be granted immortality.”
———
Ant was lead into a small cave, where boards of wood, probably stolen from humans, were covering the walls. Small black gaps revealed nothing about the cave. Ant shivered. It was so dark.
“Here.” Sorcerer Sphinx growled. “Spend the night in this room without making a single noise, and you shall have passed the test.”
One night without a sound? Should be easy. Ant nodded and settled down. “The test begins now.” Ant raised his eyebrows, but didn’t speak in fear of failing. The three shamans left the cave, closing the ‘door’ behind them. No light entered the room. It was dark, and silent. Ant sighed and closed his eyes, determined not to fall asleep in case he talked in his sleep. Suddenly, Ant’s sharp ears picked up a strange sound. It sounded like… scuttling. As if something was creeping along the floor with thousands of tiny legs. His ears swiveled around, listening for more. Then he felt it. That shudder-inducing feeling, everyone’s worst nightmare.
Something crawled into his ear.
He nearly screamed then, but he remembered Sacarver just in time. Tears of fear and shock formed in his eyes as he shook the thing out, clamping his paws over his ears. His eyes had popped open, and as they adjusted to the darkness, a truly horrific sight met his eyes. Thousands, if not millions of ants, their eyes glowing a sickly green. They all scuttled towards him, pouring out of the walls. Ant locked his mouth shut, backing away from the horrifying creatures. They spiraled around him, trapping him, crawling all over him. They occasionally bit him, but otherwise, they didn’t harm him.
———
The next morning, the door swung open to reveal a terrified Ant, cowering with his paws over his head. His whole body was shaking, and there were bags underneath his eyes. Sangoma Tefnut walked up to him, giving him a gentle pat.
“You have passed the test.” She said softly. “You have earned the secret to immortality.” They passed him a strange, stringy and transparent object.
“Eat it, and immortality is yours.” Shaman Aker said, nodding at him. “Congratulations. You are braver than you seem.”
“Thank you.” Ant whispered, still shaking. He smiled weakly. “This means everything to me.” The shamans smiled and sent him on his way, and he arrived back at the pride before a week passed.
———
As he approached the caverns of Sacarver’s pride, a lioness came running towards him.
“Ant! You’re back! You’re alive!” She yelled happily. “Did you get it?” She panted.
“Basis! I’m so happy to see you.” Ant said, hugging his friend, Unwelcome Basis. “Yes, I did. How is…” He didn’t have to finish the sentence. Basis’ face dropped.
“He’s been hiding in his cave recently. He’ll only let the co-rulers visit him, and I hear him whimpering and screaming sometimes.” She pawed at the ground. “I’m scared for him. I’m sure he’ll let you in. Go. Hurry.” Ant nodded at his friend, chasing through the caverns until he reached the King’s room. Tearing through the vine curtain— Ant was met with a terrible sight. Sacarver’s hollow eyes were staring straight at the doorway, whitened and unmoving. He was unmistakably dead. Ant gasped. Perfect Enhancement looked at him with a look of sorrow on her face. Sign of Nobody’s face was hard, and she turned away, her eyes watering.
“No… but I got the cure!” Ant whispered, disbelief warring with grief in his head. “I- if I’d come faster…” Network of Discovery shook her head.
“It wasn’t your fault, Ant.” She murmured, tears in her eyes. “He wouldn’t have blamed you. You know it.” Skroinkly Scrimblo, one of the stranger elders, smiled sadly at him.
“Sacarver’s throne is yours, Spiral of Ants.” She mumbled, her head bowed. “He declared you heir.” Ant was confused at the new name, but bowed his head, accepting his role. The pride would need time to mourn. But because of Sacarver’s sacrifice, they were able to become what they were. A pride of strong warriors, lead by the mighty Spiral of Ants.

It was so long, it didn’t fit! Here’s the docs link.
[LINK]