Username: EchoIre
Lion name: Adelaide (the Mighty)
Lion gender: Female
Pride: Motoheri PridePride status: Princess Knight Errant
(This is written more as an overview of their childhood after they've reached adulthood, I hope that's alright!)
Adelaide was born a princess to a pride deep in the verdant forests of the Valley. Her parents, King Elliot and Queen Portia tried their best to raise their daughter to be a respectable princess. There were tutors aplenty, and numerous classes on manners and etiquette, but none truly seemed to stick for young Adelaide. No amount of rulebooks and mentors could dispel the fluffy cub's need for adventure and heroics, despite how dreadfully un-ladylike Queen Portia declared such things to be.
In truth, 'such things' likely would have been manageable, had it not been for Adelaide's ability to pull others into her games. The fluffy young princess got along remarkably well with other cubs, and managed to have just enough childish charm to consistently convince them to join in her games. However, their parents were often none too pleased with their sons and daughters galavanting through the palace hallways, so while Adelaide often got along well with other cubs, she had very few long-lasting friends.
As a princess, Adelaide wasn't truly raised by her parents. They were there for the 'big stuff'; balls and tourneys, and reprimands galore, but no true parenting came from them. Her parents were more... decorated strangers than anything else for the largest part of her childhood. Instead, Adelaide and her siblings were raised by a group of hardworking midwives and nurses. Perhaps that contributed to the fluffy cub's rebellion in some way - the lack of a consistent authority figure. Whatever the cause, the young princess's tendencies to challenge other cubs to duels, stage various heroics in the Court of the King were all great embarrassments to the Crown. As an adolescent, Adelaide was left to do as she pleased for the most part, so long as she didn't cause any more drama. Her siblings would be in the spotlight - the beloved heirs of the kingdom, and Adelaide could do... whatever it was the princess decided she wanted to do, within reason.
Very quickly after being told of this, Adelaide sought to become a Squire, and a Knight later on. She longed to experience the thrill of battle, the honor of protecting her pride, to earn her place among the legends of old. Much to her disappointment, however, none of the Royal Guard accepted her as an apprentice. Though given about as much free-reign as any royal could be expected to have, Adelaide was still a princess. If she got hurt whilst under the mentorship of a Knight, it could very well cost them their position, if not their head.
Just as Adelaide's hope was about to run out, she was approached by Tedric the Dragonheart, the Champion of her pride. He would take her as his Squire, so long as she did exactly as he said.
Throughout her years of training, Tedric became like a father figure to Adelaide. Where her own father seemed to be indifferent to her, the champion paid careful attention to her and her training. Patient, understanding, and wise, Tedric was there to provide counsel for the fiery teenager when her frustrations grew too great. With him Adelaide shared her greatest aspirations, which he encouraged in turn. The princess trusted him more than she had any other adult figure in her life prior, for unlike them, Tedric was constant and reliable.
He wouldn't ship her off to somebody else to train, nor would he simply tell her to do what she pleased as long as she didn't embarrass him. He put more effort into working with her than any of her tutors, and taught Adelaide not only how to fight, but how to be a good and balanced lion.
Now, Adelaide is not an unperceptive lion. Though it did take her a few months, she began to notice how Tedric's voice - despite the distortion caused by the mask he always wore - sounded uncannily similar to the king's, to her father's. Later, when their sparring became more intense, she noticed her father bearing wounds where Tedric had been struck before, though the king hid them well. Suspicious but not certain, Adelaide waited until she was knighted to confront Tedric.
The champion, the king, her
father revealed his identities with remorse, fearing the princess would hate him for his lies. Despite the elder lion's worries, Adelaide offered no ill will towards him for hiding the truth. She was simply grateful to know that he cared, and to have had a father figure in her life.
