The Beginning (well, of this story)
(written in Hare Pounce’s perspective)

Living in a pride comes with as many challenges as rewards. This just so happens to be one of those challenges. A no-mane has been circling our territory for a while now, probably trying to determine whether our pride would be easy to over take. We do have a large pride, but our numbers wouldn’t be of much use in a Mane’s battle. There have been other no-mane’s that try to kill Snow Mane. They haven’t been even close to successful. But I can feel a chill in the air when I speak to the other lionesses about this male. He’s different, which worries me. You see, Snow Mane is my son and I’ve been happy to watch him grow and take over his father’s pride. It saddens me that our time together might come to an end soon.
The no-mane has been harassing our lionesses whenever they try to go hunting. Every time Snow Mane tries to go out, he hides. Clearly he is uncertain whether he wants to fight our mane. After several days of this, Snow Mane went out to find the no-mane. He had intentions of killing him. Nothing goes as planned. The no-mane surprises Snow Mane, giving himself an advantage. I want to help my son, but tradition says that I mustn’t do anything but watch. I can’t watch though; I turn my back and watch my pridemates’ faces as the battle continues. Soon enough there are several cries of grief and I know that Snow Mane lost the battle. Sometimes, life is too short. I turn to see the no-mane standing triumphantly over my son’s body. The other lionesses start to move towards the male and chase him away from the body. While the no-mane won the fight, there will be time later to worry about him. For now, we grieve.
The next morning, I stand, signaling to the other lionesses that it is time to bury the body and move on. After the burial is executed, the no-mane stands before the Pride and offers us a speech.
“Your old mane is dead, which means that I am your new mane. I will be known as Dash Mane and you will follow my orders.”
He’s a bit brash and rude in my opinion, but he was able to take down my son. I’m not going to start swooning over him, like some of the lionesses are already doing, but he’s not the worst mane that could have taken our pride. Well, I won’t speak too quickly.

Only a few days have passed since the death of my son and already, many of our lionesses are warming up to Dash Mane. Deep Stare decided to carry his cubs and I’m sure several others will be soon as well. I’m getting older, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to think about having one last litter. Dear Asra, please let me live that long.

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Update by Hare Pounce

A couple of the newer lionesses have taken their turns with Dash Mane and are now pregnant. Deep Stare had her cub yesterday, a female. As with tradition, female cubs don’t get a name until they find their familiar, so they are called sister, daughter, etc. It’s a little disappointing to see only one Cub in the litter, but we have four wonderful cubsitters to watch her. So long as there aren’t any no-manes around to take Dash Mane’s place, she should be fine. We have high hopes for her as she grows. The other pregnant lionesses, Rising Blossom and Graceful Stalk, will have their cubs within the next few months. I hope they carry more than one cub. Cubs grow the Pride, but many of them don’t make it to adulthood.

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Update by Rising Blossom

Many of the lionesses resent me for warming up to Dash Mane so quickly. The thing is, I didn’t really get along with Snow Mane. He was young and inexperienced; it was just pure luck that he hadn’t been killed yet. Throughout my years, I have seen many kings rise and fall. I’ve had many cubs, but many of them have been chased away from me or killed young. I, along with a couple other lionesses, decided that we would help grow the Pride instead of sitting in our grief for Snow Mane. I understand Hare Pounce’s pain, he was her son, but even she will move on and probably have cubs with Dash Mane. Anyways, my cubs were delivered only a few days ago. They are such precious things. Two females. I can’t wait for them to receive their names. I can trust in Hare Pounce to give them good and strong names.

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Update by Hare Pounce

Graceful Stalk had her litter last night. There is only one cub. And it’s a male. She waited to name him until he showed a little personality. Eventually she decided on Mud. Now, because he will grow a mane, this little boy will have to leave the Pride. He will join the lionesses on hunts, learn a thing or two, and then leave. Unless he wishes to challenge his father. If he does that, there is no way for him to ever leave. Either he’s killed or he takes over as the Mane.
Anyway, I believe that a good portion of the lionesses in the Pride right now are in heat. I can tell that by Dash Mane dancing around like there’s no tomorrow. I understand that he wants to create a strong bloodline, but can’t he get to know the Pride first? If he’s going to stand for a while, the Pride needs to feel like we can trust him.

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Update by Soft Rain

As a Cubsitter, it’s my job to help care for the cubs in the Pride. Whether or not they have a mother, she can’t care for them all of the time. The cubs have recently been weaned from their mothers and are now as rambunctious as ever. Mud is constantly trying to convince the little lionesses to run off and do something dangerous. His father isn’t very helpful; he’s the one putting so many silly stories into his head. It’s getting difficult to keep the cubs in the camp.

Update by Hare Pounce

We have lost a member of the Pride. Raging Storm passed away a couple of days ago. She was the first to pass of old age since this Pride began and we had to take several days to say goodbye. Her familiar stayed around the Pride for a while, but after we buried her, he left. Familiars don’t usually stay around long, just enough for them to say goodbye. Then they continue their life as though they hadn’t befriended a lion. If we ever do see them again, they normally act like any prey would in the face of a lion.

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Update by Hare Pounce

Three of the pride’s male cubs have left to find their own prides. Mud, Haze, and Storm have left us and several other cubs might follow them soon. It’s always sad for the mother when her son goes out into the world, but this is tradition. And Dash Mane hardly tolerated his sons. They are much better off somewhere else. Under their father’s rule, they are always last to eat and are left out of hunts. I try to help them practice their hunting at night, so that they can survive by themselves.

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Update by Pale Sunrise

My daughter decided to leave the Pride today. She was tired of the other cubs teasing her about not getting her familiar before she turned 2 years old. There have been several lionesses who have had to wait longer, and I told her that, but she also said that she had been thinking about leaving for a while. The Pride is getting to its max with so many lionesses, and is not uncommon that a couple lionesses go hungry after a days worth of hunting. Prey has been getting hard to find recently even though we have so many lionesses to help with hunting. Anyways, my dear Sun is growing his mane and Dash Mane will likely chase him away soon. I’m sad that neither of my cubs will stay with the Pride, but they are smart and they will find good prides to call their own.

Update by White Shadow

I’ve grown really close with Sun. He’s been like an older brother to me and he has to leave the Pride soon. Although, he has been hinting that he might stick around and try to take over the Pride one day. I know he would make a great mane and I wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him! I’ll definitely try to visit him every once in a while when he leaves, just to be sure that he is coming back.

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Update by Gold Star

Former Chief Huntress Hare Pounce passed several days ago and, since I was her chosen heir, I have taken charge of the lionesses. While it seems like a mane rules the pride, he's only really there to produce heirs for himself. The lionesses are the ones who hunt and protect the pride. While a mane takes care of no-manes, lionesses are the bulk of the pride and so are the ones to face larger threats. So the Chief Huntress leads the lionesses on hunts and is generally the most experienced of the lionesses. While I am far from experienced, I am well-loved by many of the lionesses and, while Hare Pounce appointed me as her heir, it was done with the approval of the pride. I have also been chosen by several different familiars, which is a rare feat.

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Update by Gold Star

Several of our younger lionesses left the pride this morning. A couple of them were complaining about the scarce prey, other the lack of territory to support our pride. A young mane followed them in hopes of inviting them to make a pride of their own. He was indeed a smart one. But the lionesses are right, there isn’t enough prey to go around and the pride is having too many cub bursts. I know we are very close to our limit, but so many lionesses are getting older as well. This makes me worried for the pride as time goes on. Will we get too small to support the pride?

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Update by Gold Star

I fear that with Dash Mane mating with all the females, too many of his daughters are staying in the pride. Myself included. One of my sisters is showing signs of pregnancy, but I know for a fact that our father isn't her litter's father. She loves Dash Mane as a father, and would never do something that would threaten the life of her cubs. Although seeking to breed outside of the pride is very dangerous. She and the cubs would be killed or chased off if Dash Mane found out. I hope she is smart and chooses to lie, saying that he is the father. It would bring shame to the two of them, but everyone would make it out alive and well. Either we need to find new lionesses or another mane needs to take over the pride. Only then will the threat of inbreeding leave our pride.

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Update by White Shadow

My cubs were born yesterday. It was a risk to breed to a male outside of our pride, but I succeeded. My cubs are not inbred within my family and so far Dash Mane doesn’t know they aren’t his. They look a lot like him, so I’m hoping that will put him at ease. Many of my sisters think that I bred with my father, so they think poorly of me. I only told a few of them who the real father is. While they might grow up in shame, my cubs will be safe in the pride.

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Update by Gold Star

Most of Dash Mane's daughters within our pride have continued to breed to other males under the protection of night, myself included. He is getting a little suspicious but knows that he can't chase all of us out of the pride. He knows especially that he can't chase me out because I am the hunt chief. If he did, there wouldn't be any lionesses left for him to lead.
On a side note, an accident has occurred. While hunting, we came across a strangely acting beast. It was a kudu, but its behaviors were not that of a normal, healthy animal. I suspect that I might have had rabies, although none of my lionesses have shown signs of the illness. Either way, my hunting team was able to kill it, at a very high cost. Unfortunately, my eyesight was lost during this fight and I will forever be blind. Many of the lionesses say that I should step down as hunt chief because I can no longer hunt with them. I am heartbroken that my time serving my pride is ending so soon, but I must listen and do what is best for my pride. I will choose the next hunt chief soon and guide them to be a wonderful hunt chief.


Update by Sun

I know that Dash Mane grows older by the day and I can tell that his pride is growing more full of his daughters. Some of them have left the pride and I've talked to them about what is happening in the pride that I used to call home. Some of them refuse to speak about it, not knowing that I am most likely their brother, but others are willing to give me some information because they dislike Dash Mane. None of the lionesses have wanted to make another pride with me, which I understand. They want to find a pride that has fully established territory and roles. It's a comforting feeling.

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Update by Gold Star

I have taken great care in choosing the next Hunt Chief. There are many younger lionesses in the Pride that would be great candidates. However, I have chosen Night Flower to be the next Hunter Chief. She is caring and gentle, but very passionate when it comes to our Pride. I believe that she and her fox familiar will lead my Pride well. Now, because we have never had a Hunt Chief retire early, there was never a title for the former leader. I have created one, so that I can retain some of my power. I have become the Elder Hunt Chief.


Update by Night Flower

I’m very surprised that Gold Star chose me. I know it must have been a tough decision for her to make and that she hates the idea of stepping down. But I am glad that she will be alive while I lead, to help me make decisions for the Pride. Now, I suppose I must give an update on how the Pride is doing. Several lionesses have passed recently and the Pride is in deep grief right now. However, there have also been a surge of cubs popping out during the wet season. Many of them haven’t made it; they got too close to the raging rivers that surround us. However, some of the other cubs have developed strange white patterns on their bodies. It almost seems like a mutation; although it doesn’t appear to harm the cubs or bring them any disadvantage. It might inhibit their hunting abilities, but we will try to come up with a way to help them in the future.

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Update by Night Flower

Dash Mane is beginning to grow old and the pride is growing restless with anticipation. It is rare that a mane grows gray hairs without a challenger, but somehow he has kept his power looming over our lands. I notice that no lioness spends the nights with him anymore and the cubs within the pride no longer look like him. He has no power over the breeding of his lionesses and I'm beginning to think that he will pass soon. Either that or one of the males within our pride will take him down. They are many handsome ones, but I have my eyes set on one in particular. Quail is quite a spectacular sight, with his deep brown coat and white markings. There are a couple like him in the pride, but he is the only male. I have started taking him out to train with him during the night and he grows stronger by the day. Soon he will be strong enough to take down Dash Mane and take over the pride. So long as Dash Mane doesn't find out about our training sessions.

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Update by Quail

I hunk I’m ready to take over the pride. I know many lionesses know about Night Flower training me in secret, but I’m nervous about how they’ll react. I’m quite popular within the Pride, but I’m not the biggest fighter. I like to make peace whenever possible. I know that I can’t show any mercy in a fight like this, which makes me antsy. I’ve never fought another male before, only the lionesses who help with my training. I call to Sunce as I pad over to Dash Mane. Sunce is the goddess of wrath, so I hope she can give me a little bit so I don’t just throw my life away. I also call to Asra to grant Dash Mane a little mercy on me. He is an old guy anyway. When I reach him, he looks at me with a look of recognition. He knows that I have started to grow a mane and that my time to decide my path is almost here. I tell him in a (hopefully) confident voice that I wish to challenge him for the title of Mane. He nods softly, looking me up and down. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve never seen a male fight before. He stands up and bows his head and says, “I’m too old to fight, even if my challenger is as young as you.” I take a step back in surprise. This is Dash Mane, a terrifying male who took many lions out just to stay leader of our Pride. Is he really going to back down from a fight before it even begins? I stare at him for several moments, studying his movements. He doesn’t appear to be bluffing. Then I say, “Uhh, okay. As the new Mane of this Pride, I’m going to grant you mercy and allow you to stay within this pride as an elder. You may not continue leading or mating with my lionesses and you will remain in camp for the rest of your days.” I hope I sound leader-like. He chuckles slightly and I lift my eyebrow. “You were always a strange cub, Quail Mane,” he says as he walks away. I let the breath that I didn’t know I was holding go. Night Flower said that there was always a fight, never once has a Mane backed down from a fight. Well, until today. I pad over to the lionesses who were staring at me like I was on fire. “I am your new Mane and I will forever be known as Quail Mane!” I roar and the lionesses join me in celebration.

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