[MySpoons]

To adopt you must either have a founder and be level 1. Or, you can adopt this one as your founder!

#250, yay!

To win this one, tell me a story about a trait this lion has that is like another animal (for example, the lion is based off a maned wolf so I would make up something like... this lion gets confused with maned wolves that live in the area, causing shenanigans)-- but don't use that! As always, I'll looking for creativity! This is a writing competition only. You can go up to 750 words, and prettying up is fine but won't win you extra points c:

ENDS on the 10th of December at CS rollover!

Username: cactusgum
Lion Name: Jarlan - "man of control"
Lion Gender: male
Pride: Adesola Pride
Pride Status: Scout

*edits: pointed ears, slimmer legs, mane along spine, and fluffy tail

main thread I prompts/leveling up I artist search

[DraconisSumeris]

Oohhhh marking. Definitely

[Mercuré]

mark they're gorgeous!

[Firedancer77]

Username: Firedancer77
Lion Name: Cheka (Swahili for "laugh")
Lion Gender: Female
Pride: Isle of Roses
Pride Status: Assassin
Animal Trait Story:

"Good morning Maji, Learner Sasa," Cheka greeted the two with a laugh before speaking, her words a bit hard to understand, as she passed them.

"Why is she so creepy?" Sasa grumbled from behind his teacher, Maji, as she walked away.

"Sasa," Maji turned to her Learner and bared her teeth, "that was rude!"

The response set Sasa on the defense. "Well, it's true!"

Eyes narrowing, the Soldier pushed her Learner towards one of the nearest caves. Once inside, she resisted the urge to claw him and instead sat down. "Why would you say that about one of our pridemates?"

Sasa sputtered, obviously not expecting such a hostile response to something he thought was a rather innocent, innocuous statement as he too sat down. "Well, it's...it's unsettling! She's unsettling. You can't deny that!"

"Ah," Maji's tail lashed behind her. She had a reputation among the pride for being sweet, but Sasa knew that when Maji got upset, she could be terrifying, "so you think anyone who acts different is unsettling?" The younger lion gulped, feeling that he was walking into a trap as he nodded. "So you would say your sister is unsettling?"

"No!" He didn't even hesitate to shake his head. "Laani is just different."

"Double standards, then."

"No-"

The glare Maji wore quickly shut him up. "How are the two situations any different?"

"Because there's a reason for Laani's differences?" Sasa said eagerly after a moment of thought, looking pleased with himself. "After all, the ancestors told Akilia that she was cursed. But Cheka has no reaso-"

"Have you ever wondered about Cheka's life before she joined our pride?"

That suggestion caught Sasa off guard. "What?"

"Her life before the pride. Have you thought about it?"

"N-no..." Sasa stuttered, avoiding his teacher's gaze and feeling just a little ashamed.

"Well, let me tell you," Maji's voice had softened a little, but when he dared to look at her, Sasa could see that she was still ticked. "Cheka was abandoned as a cub, or perhaps her parents died. She herself doesn't know, but she was left to fend for herself. Luckily, someone found her. Tell me, Sasa, do you know what a spotted hyena is?"

He nodded, eyes wide. "Of course I do! Lions and hyenas have been at war forever!"

"Well, a hyena found Cheka, and could have very easily killed her and eaten her, but she was a mother mourning the loss of her children. Maybe she wasn't thinking clearly, or maybe she had pity on the little, helpless cub despite knowing what she'd grow to be, but she took Cheka in and raised her."

"She...was raised by hyenas?"

Maji nodded. "Yes, Cheka grew up among hyenas. It wasn't till she was an adult that her 'mother' told her the truth. She was only told because the alpha had said that Cheka was a danger to them by nature, and if her mother didn't send her away, she'd do it herself. It was soon after this that Nasaba found Cheka.

"Hyenas speak in a completely different way; that is why you will notice that Cheka has an accent of sorts, and at times will communicate through what we perceive as laughter. It's a habit she herself has tried to curb, knowing it makes some lions uncomfortable, but it isn't that easy. Hyenas are nocturnal, which is why Cheka will often be up late at night. Despite that, she tries to wake up with everyone else to be a good pridemate, even if it means she gets less sleep than everyone else. Hyenas at times communicate nonverbally, so Cheka is able to work with someone else in absolute silence, so long as they know each other. Her entire upbringing was completely different than yours.

"It is thanks to Cheka that we have any sort of peace with the hyenas. It is tense and not ideal, but it is still better than anything lions in the area had prior to her arrival and subsequent joining of the pride." Sasa knew what Maji was about to say before she even said it. "Do you still think she is creepy and unsettling?"

"I..." he trailed off, and Maji almost missed what he mumbled next, "I owe her an apology."

Maji stood up and went to exit the den. "I would think so. Come along. You are lucky Nasaba didn't hear you; he is far less forgiving than Cheka or me on this matter."

{ 742 / 750 }

[-Isabella-]

Username: Isabella45
Lion Name: Sinopa (Name meaning 'fox', also similar to Sinopia, 'a reddish brown color')
Lion Gender: Female/Lioness
Pride: xxXxx
Pride Status: Guard
Animal Trait Story:
Soft laughter filled the cave where Sinopa stood, gazing upon her mentor. He was unusually large but she was used to that and unafraid. His fur was grizzled but you could still see it was tan with slightly darker stripes. He'd come from a land far away he said, born from a lion mother with no small percentage of tiger blood. He had found Sinopa when she was young and raised her, training her to fight like the warriors of his tribe had in days of old. She was grateful for his help and for the lessons he taught her. Now her training had come to an end and as he had told her would be the case, it was time for her to leave this place and find her own way.

"I am ready," she declared, lifting her head, her eyes glinting in the faint light that came into the cave.

"You are my best yet," he said, his voice rough. "My finest trained warrior. Now, sit down. Before you go, there is a story I wish to tell you. You asked me long ago what I thought your Spirit Animal was, and now I believe I have chosen."
At his words Sinopa felt a rush of excitement. Knowing the significance of Spirit Animals in the land where he had come from, as guides who led you and guided your pawsteps all your life to what you were meant to find and where you were meant to go. She had asked him when she was young what hers was, and he had told her he would tell her when the time was right. Now she wondered, if it might be a bear for strength, or a fox for cunning and wit, perhaps a wolf for devotion. She tended to doubt devotion was an appropriate thing for her, however. Her mentor knew all too well what a loner she was.


"Once, on a sunny day when all seemed right with the world, an insect flew through a field of lovely flowers, finding their beauty captivating. He longed to find the loveliest of all to sleep on that night before continuing his travels. Finally he picked out one, unique and distinct among the rest. Surely the best of the lot.
He flew to it, confident he had chosen wisely, and just as he was about to land found himself caught in the jaws of the flower.
You see back in my land ,there is a bug. A Mantis. This Mantis is not like those you have here, it is beautifully colored. Like a flower. It seems so lovely and draws other bugs in as if they're entranced. They don't realize what a deadly thing it is until it is too late." He paused a moment, glancing at Sinopa with something unusual, almost gentle in his gaze.
"You and this Mantis have something in common. You both have the ability to draw others in and make yourselves appealing. But you're also deadly and not to be underestimated. And that is why I think this Mantis would be a fitting Spirit Animal." He paused there and Sinopa felt a little surge of pride at his appraisal of her.

"You don't need me anymore, and I have confidence you'll be fine on your own."

"I appreciate all you've taught me," she told him, meaning every word.

"It's been my pleasure," he murmured. "Farewell."

Sinopa didn't know what else to say so just hugged him briefly then turned and left, heading down the path and wondering what might be waiting for her. As she headed down the path, she noticed something sitting on a leaf on the side of the path. To her surprise, and delight, it was a Mantis. Plain, unlike those her mentor had spoken of, but nonetheless she chose to take it as a sign. A sign that she was on the right path with nothing but good things to come.

(659/750 words)

[Mid-life]

reserve for such a beautiful babaroo (elephant? buries and grieves the dead)
-guardian (blends in as to not scare the living), guides the lions who are near their time of death to live out their final moments to their fullest)

[Jantzi01]

Username: Jantzi01
Lion Name: Njia
Lion Gender: Male
Pride: x
Pride Status: Lead Scout
Animal Trait Story: up to 750 words

Njia is considered to be more like a Honduran White Bat (x) than an actual lion. He is found sleeping under large piles of the biggest leaves he can find during the daytime, and during the night, he can be seen deep in the forest, trying to find some nutritious fruit to eat that won't kill him. This has earned him many trips to the healers. However, he is actually very adept at a form of echolocation, on a wavelength he trained himself to be able to hear when he was very young. This proves to be very useful when he has the opportunity to hunt, and for his scouting missions. As a result of only being awake during the night though, his color vision is slowly fading. However, if he does notice it, it clearly doesn't bother him. He's always trying to hang from branches with his tail, but that ends in him falling and hitting his head, usually being found unconscious a few hours later.

[EchoIre]

Username: EchoIre
Lion Name:
Lion Gender: Male
Pride: Motoheri Pride
Pride Status: Magi/Hunter
Animal Trait Story:
res with an antlion!

[ToxicShadow]

Username: ToxicShadow
Lion Name: Beyral
Lion Gender: Female
Pride: Oddity Pride
Pride Status:
Animal Trait Story: up to 750 words

[nymx]

dropping- good luck to everyone!