kibirka dhulka cas, also known as the red earth pride, are a group of lions that reside among the rolling plains and bush of
south africa. most of south africa is a mixture of
highveld, plateaus of flat plains and grasses, and
bushveld, plains dotted
by shrubs and trees. the territory belonging to the pride is both a mixture of highveld and bushveld, though their camp is
hidden within the bushveld. the camp consists of a rocky
outcrop where they gather to lounge about, and several dens lay
about for a lioness to birth and raise her cubs. throughout the bushveld, surrounding their camp, several
rivers or
ponds
provide hydration to the lions throughout the rainy seasons, though they tend to shrink and dry-up when the temperatures
rise to their peak, forcing the lions to traverse deeper into the landscape to find the few sources of water throughout. as
for hunting, this can be done all throughout both the bushveld and highveld. the highveld is great for hunting larger prey,
as they travel in herds throughout the plains, but the bushveld also houses more variety of prey.
the types of prey that make-up the diet of the lions of kibirka dhulka cas include
meerkats, rabbits, birds, scraps, boars,
warthogs, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes. the larger prey, such as zebras, antelopes, and giraffes, are all hunted amongst
the highveld. the smaller prey, such as the meerkats, rabbits, birds, wild boars, and warthogs, are all hunted amongst the
bushveld. scraps from leftover carcasses and such can be found throughout any areas of the terrain.
the red earth pride is unique in the sense that they derive the structure of their ranks and society much like that of a clan
of hyenas. in this way, the pride is always led by a lioness who is named their
matriarch. she is the most powerful figure in
the pride. following her are the
huntresses, which are all lionesses who take on most of the needed tasks throughout the
pride. the lionesses are always more powerful and dominant than the lions. in fact, they are even hostile toward them and
do not take favor toward their presence. following in the ranks is the
patriarch, who is the most powerful lion of the pride,
though still dominated by all of the lionesses. he is the only lion who has breeding-rights with the matriarch. he also leads
the other lions, what little of them there are. the few other lions there are are known as the
subordinates, and also take
on tasks similar to the huntresses, such as hunting and guarding the camp. they're the least powerful members of the entire,
even dominated by the youngest female cubs, and are usually weak compared to the lionesses. all males are allowed to eat
only after the females have eaten their fill. only the lionesses choose which lions they decide to breed with, and there is no
'romance' in such relationship──it is done for survival and to bring new life to the pride. finally,
mothers, cubs, and eldersfollow behind the huntresses, even above the patriarch and subordinate males.
the kibirka dhulka cas do not have a close relationship with the ancestors, and rather take to searching the plains for new
members rather than requesting the spirits to guide them one. it has been rumored that the pride separated themselves
from the ancestors many moons ago after they failed to help them and left many of their members for the dead. it is told
that many were lost during this time, including cubs and elders, but a powerful lioness, known as
habon, rose in the ranks
of the pride and overthrew their cowardly king, naming herself as the matriarch. it was from then-on that they adopted
their new structure of the ranks and their society. habons' name lives on in the pride as that of a hero to all lionesses. the
pride's name, the red earth pride, has been their name for many generations in reference to the redness of the dirt that
covers much of their territory underneath the grasses and foliage, peeking-through in patches.
