Boy: Yanisin (Storei) (That one guy 8'D) "Ashamed"
Girl 1: Mafunde (Safaia) (sister to Lololi) "Overcast skies"
Girl 2: Lololi (Aris Ravenstar) (sister to Mafunde) "There is Always Love"
Culture: The three are from a very ritual-based pride. When the males become of age and are ready to take a mate, they are offered two females. The first female that becomes pregnant with the male's cubs is declared his mate, as the second is sacrificed to the fertility god in hopes that the pride will survive on and the new pair of mates will have a large and bountiful litter.
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Like every other young male lion come into his mane, Yanisin was gifted two young wives to choose from. One was black and white, like clouds drifting across the midnight sky. And her sister was white, with a speckled lower back.
One to be mated with.
The other to be sacrificed.
And it all depended on which one became pregnant first.
He followed the ritual as cleanly as he was trained to do and the rest of the small religious pride had no qualms in the steps he took...Since they all seemed to be the right ones. So they looked upon him with pride and nodding heads.
After some time, Mafunde announced one overcast day that she is bestowed with blessings from the fertility god and is pregnant with his children. Due to the sacred law of the pride, Lololi is to fertilize the growth of the pride with her own blood. Even more so, that it is her sister who will be bearing the children.
The closer the bloodline, the better the harvest.
Unknown to the preparing pride, Yanisin...Has fallen in love with Lololi. Fates should have left him with Mufande, to raise their cubs in peace and blessed union, but... His heart was with the white lioness. This kind of treachery, Yanisin knew, is punishable by sacrifice, of himself and his two lovers... But he had to do something. He couldn't let Lololi's blood be spilt, and yet he couldn't change Mufande's pregnancy. Yanisin knew that there was a choice he had to make, lest he risk the wrath of his pride, so he came up with a secret plan to save both of his precious wives. So, underneath the cover of dusky shade and new born moon, Yanisin quickly hides Lololi away, claiming that he has sacrificed her himself for the blessings with his new mate, Mafunde and her coming children.
Moons raise up in the sky and fall. Time passes and, although several weeks had gone by, it is clear that Mafunde's belly is not swelling with the ripeness of cubs. The pride begins to turn suspicious eyes upon Yanisin and his mate, judgmental and worried.
It was then that the fog of deception cleared and they realized the sudden treachery: Mafunde was never pregnant to begin with. In fact, the frightened lioness lied to save her own precious life, even though it would sentence her own blood and flesh sister to death.
Cornered, Mafunde and Yanisin were about to feel the sharp burn of teeth in their throats and the feeling of the cold sacrificial stone against their backs when suddenly...
Cries of agony echoed against the stone about them. They were the screams and roars of labor from Lololi who was, at that precise moment, giving birth. It was then that the truth bled into the pride's minds. Lololi was the one pregnant! She was to be sacrificed bearing children and Mafunde was to have lived in her place! And Yanisin had hidden Lololi from them? They had lied! Traitors, liars, HEATHENS, THE LOT OF THEM.
So, taking advantage of the pride's overwhelming disturbing understanding of the situation, Yanisin and Mafunde bolted at once to the place of Lololi's cries. Behind them, on the trail of their stench was the pride's justice dealers. They would find them and deal the death that had to be dealt.
In a panic, Yanisin and Mafunde came upon Lololi several moments after she had finished. Without even a chance to catch her breath, Lololi was ushered onto her feet once more time. This time she had to run. Run for her life.
Each adult, in a dizzying fluttering panic, closed their soft maws around one or two of newborns and without a second's hesitation left the secret den. They had no time to think, just grab as much life as a mouthful can gather and go! GO!
Claws scratched against the ground behind them and angry roars and growls heated the chill night air. It was coming close!
They were chased from their pride with words of hate nipping at their heels, newborns dripping from their maw, and an overwhelming sickening feeling of shame and relief. They ran away from sacrifice.
They ran away from pain...Towards pain.
