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 Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2026 11:29 pm
 Kulungu was a lioness in the Dawnlands pride. More specifically, she was a loner in the dawnlands pride, and she had been for qutie some time. She loved her homeland and she'd wished that she would have been able to stay longer in her parents harem, but that went against the rules of the Empress. All cubs must leave their parents' harem either to create their own and become a Matron, or join another as a Huntress.
Kulungu could hunt very well - her browns blended into the tall grasses and her spots played off of the light. However, Kulungu didn't want to join another harem. She was certain that there were plenty who would take her, if she'd asked. There were plenty of experienced Matrons and start-up beginners who would have been happy for the prestige that came with adding another to their rank. She didn't want to exist solely to boost someone else's power, however. Yet, contrary to what some may have thought, she didn't want power of her own, either. She didn't wish to become a political advice-giver to the Empress; what knowledge could she offer to someone like the Empress, who was surrounded by her perfect Entourage, with her perfect Champion? Plus, all the Matrons were already practically tripping over their paws to catch her eye. Join in that mess? No thank you.
What Kulungu wanted was unusual, she knew that well. She wanted a mate of her own, just to herself. She didn't want huntresses to fawn over her, because she could hunt just fine by herself, and more importantly, if she found a male lion to call her own, she would not want to share him. But that's what a harem was, wasn't it? Sharing one male among many lionesses. Surely no one would actually go for her idea, anyway.
If you were a lion raised in the Dawnlands, it was your expectation that youd' get a harem with more than just a Matron. Maybe it would take a while to grow your harem, but eventually more lionesses would join one way or another. Or, to rogues who joined the Dawnlands, they may have initially thought to settle with one lioness, as she'd heard was the norm in the roguelands and beyond, but once a lion got a taste of multiple lionesses instead of one, she saw one after another denounce monogamy and be content with the Dawnlands culture.
Kulungu didn't wish to leave her home pride. She loved the Dawnlands, even if her desires for the future would probably label her as a forever loner among them.
She spent more and more time on the outskirts of the pride's territories these days, thinking about her future... or the potential lack of it. She was pacing through the long grasses and finally came out to an exposed clearing. In the open air, she let a breeze ruffle her fur and she sighed, tilting her gaze to the sky. For a silly moment, she sent out a wish, that she might find someone of her mind, who would only want her as a mate and no other. Then, she shook her head.
"Don't be stupid." She told herself. "An eligible bachelor is hardly going to fall from the sky and proclaim his heart to you at first look. Be reasonable."
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 12:20 am
 Moto shook the dust from his fur and huffed as he got gracefully up from the dirt he had recently found himself in... again. He lashed his tail and stared daggers into the other lion he had basically let put him back in his place moments ago. The arrogant male didn't deserve the lioness he had attacked him over. As if one glace and a smile was reason enough to show off his prowess, dominance, or whatnot. Of course he had lived in this dust pit all his life and new when it was smarter to make a show and take some lumps than get himself truly hurt over the most trivial of nonsense. But he was very, very sick of this hell hole. Basically no food, foul tasting water, and only the most aggravating lions to deal with. More than a little peeved and wanting to blow off some steam, he picked up his pace and made towards greener pasture so to speak. There was juicier prey in other territories and he wasn't the only one that regularly ranged out of the outlands to find actual prey. When he had long left the lands of his pride he paused at a water pool for a drink and sniffed the air as the breeze lightly ruffled his mane. He smiled and looked about and the happy languidness he had been settling into as he prepared himself for a long hunt evaporated. His eyes caught a small movement from beyond the tallest grasses in a clearing ahead. He immediately crouched down entering stalking mode. Though if what he had glimpsed was an antelope or something it would likely be in a herd as it had not fled at his earlier lack of even the hint of stealth. Slowly he padded to the edges of the tall grass for a better look, almost hoping it was an injured antelope for some easy pickings. But his narrowed crimson eyes widened slightly at the sight of what he was certain was a lioness. She blended so well with the grasses and rocks about that even just standing there staring up into the sky she didn't stand out overly much. His nose twitched as he picked up her scent more clearly. Dawnlander, for sure. But what to do, he wasn't just gonna turn around an leave now that he was here. A smile crept onto his lips and his eyes softened as he relaxed his hole body in the same moment that he smoothly rose up and stepped proudly from the tall grasses like he owned the place. "Why hello there, fancy meeting someone like you all the way out here on the outskirts." He said is greeting, his words and calm and silky as the casual grace with which his continued to approach her.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 12:32 am
Kulungu started at the sudden appearance of a male lion and on reflex, she backed up four steps, widening the distance between them. She was no fighter - she could hunt grass-eaters, but lions were another matter entirely, and the one who stood in front of her was massive!
This is why you should've just, joined a harem! She thought. Because then you'd have a Warrior to protect you from rogue males you might mean you harm!
But she didn't have a Warrior male running to her aid, and this far from the main territory, she doubted her pridemates would hear her even if she roared for help. So, she'd have to figure out a way out of this herself.
But wait, wasn't this what she had asked for? She'd wanted a lion to call her own, and now one had presented himself. She wouldn't let her guard down, but she smiled at the newcomer, and cocked an eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean, someone like me?" She asked him. "Who are you, anyway? You don't smell like you're a rogue, the wind doesn't carry in your fur, and you're certainly not of the Dawnlands, because I know everyone that's joined the pride in the last three seasons." She raised her chin and tried to look more brave than she felt. "So then, what's your name, stranger?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 1:18 am
Moto's keen eyes did not miss the lioness's moment of worry of maybe it was only surprise he caught flash in her eyes as she backed up from him. He felt fairly confident that if she had help nearby she would have called for it immediately to chase off the invader. He was also much larger than she was, but at least for the moment he had plans that did not involve even threatening the striking female. He hadn't stopped his slow, graceful approach until her eyes told him she had made up her mind and she quirked her brow and smiled back at him in a way he greatly approved. His tail was held high with a slight hook at the end and his smile morphed into a grin as she spoke. He chuckled softly, a deep warm sound before he replied. "Why, I only meant a lone beauty of a lioness is not often found alone pondering the skies so near dangerous lands." He replied smoothly. He then tossed his head to send his mane billowing as he continued. "As for me, I'm Moto, Moto Chokeleti. And I unfortunately can not call myself a part of the Dawnlands." He stared at her steadily, calm and confidence in his whole posture. But a hint of mischief lie in the glimmer as if he knew he had not fully answered her question and wondered what she would do next.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 10:48 pm
Kulungu smiled at his compliment and she licked her shoulder, smoothing down fur that she already had groomed once that morning.
"Beautiful, am I? Well, at least I know you've got good taste." She rumbled contentedly. "Though you are wrong about something - these lands are not dangerous. Aside from the occasional boastful lion, who swaggers up to lionesses like myself with preconceived notions of power, we don't see much by way of danger here." She offered the lion, who introduced himself with a long name that stretched to both horizons, a coy smile.
"Unfortunately indeed. Tell me, are you familiar with the Dawnlands, or are you truly new to the area?" She flicked her tail tip. "Most importantly, are you here as a friendly face, or..." She didn't waver, but she did slide her gaze around her, checking in with her surroundings. "Or a foe?"
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 11:18 pm
Moto watched her his grin only seeming to widen with every word she said. His brow quirked briefly as she explained his wrongness. Her lip and sass was rather endearing. He had opened his mouth to make some probably not so clever comeback about wandering on the outskirts of a territory was risky behavior. But it never left his mouth as she just rolled right on and he let her go on without interruption, though his amusement twinkled in his eyes and his grin didn't fade. His watched her closely with his sharp crimson eyes observing her closely as she subtlety glanced about the clearing while she directly asked him if he was friend or foe. He was silent one long moment more as if he meant ominous silence as his answer. He let out a chuckle and notable did not move his confident gaze from her. As if he knew or frankly did not care nor fear what might be around them at this moment. "It is not trouble I seek, but I'd not say my presence would likely be welcomed. Those of other prides are rarely tolerated when caught sneaking in for a peek." He took one almost swaggering step forward. "But who could resist sneaking in for a peek. I've heard tale of the beauty of the Dawnlander lionesses." He swished his tail slightly and gaver her a overtly flirtatous look.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2026 11:27 pm
Kulungu waited for his answer. And waited. When she was finally starting to get bored of waiting, he answered and she huffed, rolling her eyes as if to indicate 'finally, he speaks!' in her body language.
"Those of other prides?" She echoed. "You're not a rogue, then. Have you come only to admire, or are you trying to sneak the beautiful lionesses of my pride away with you?" She leaned back, not to move away, but to size him up. "You're far enough from any other pride territory... If you've come all tihs way, why shouldn't I snatch you up for myself?" She took a step towards him, and then another, until she was posed just under him, her muzzle crooking up under his chin. "Come away with me, Moto Chokoleti, and be the Warrior in my harem." She proposed, because he was a strong male, and she hadn't asked the skies for someone bold, or kind, or loyal, though these were all things she hoped he possessed.
He can't be that loyal, if he renounces his pride the moment I ask it of him. She thought. But if he's come so far, without allies in his own pride, then surely he's expendable to his pride - so would they really miss him? Would he really miss them? She mused as she waited, grinning up at him, for his answer.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2026 12:10 am
He liked the sass on this one, having picked up the rather more fun exasperation at his silence than the more frequent anger or tension. "Look but not touch is a tall order." He said with a quirk that pulled the edge of his grin higher and eyes glinted with mischief. She watched her look him over with an appraising sort of eye and he was more than happy to shift his posture to show off further as she did so. Then at her words his lips pulled back into a wide toothy smile at her suggestion that she could just snatch him up instead. He held in his amused and please chuckle in favor of watching her as she made the move on him. An interesting and unexpected turn of how he thought this encounter might go. He let her touch him, tilting his head to be able to look down into her eyes with a quirked brow, wide smile still in place as he replied. "Your warrior huh?" He chuckled with a bit of a pleased note to the rumble in throat. "That could be nice my fair lioness, but I do believe not moments ago I declared loyalty to another pride. Thought doust wish to stain use both with the scandal? I don't even know your name." His tone more a sly mock formal with a humor note to it. In his mind he wondered if a better life could be this easy. Have a lioness outright offer him an out that wasn't just as bad or worse than staying where he was. But he wasn't about let another do the conning. He was supposed to do the con.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2026 12:46 am
Kulungu supposed that she liked that he didn't immediately take her up on her offer, but some part of her did mourn the fact that it wasn't as easy as just asking him to, and having him say yes.
"You're pretty far from the pride that you supposedly call home." Kulungu replied to Moto with a hint of amusement in her mew. "Where do you come from, Moto Chokoleti, that it would cause you to consider my fine offer?" She wondered if he was a cannibal in the Night Plains. Surely not, he didn't look the part. Then again, she'd never actually met a cannibal, so she supposed she couldn't be sure.
"My name is Kulungu." She replied easily. "And I'm pleased to inform you that pride hopping is hardly the most scandalous thing to happen in the Dawnlands." She thought of Nomvula's bold entrance to the pride and smiled."In a pride full of gossiping harems, you would cause a stir to be sure, but it would pass with the next newer piece of gossip. You know how it is." She said, with a casual shrug.
"I will say... If you joined my harem, it would be not like the typical harem that you may have joined, were you a loner in my pride. You see, I've been craving a very specific sort of lion. One who only has eyes for me, not for my pridemates. If I take on a warrior - my mate to be, as it were - I would not be willing to share him. The harem I plan to build will be made of myself, the lion I pick, and any of our cubs we have, until they move on to join and create harems of their own." She inclined her head towards him.
"So, I'll ask you again. Would you become my Warrior? Mine, and mine alone?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2026 1:23 am
"Pretty far indeed." He agreed casually as she spoke. He didn't bother trying to take a step away, enjoying that she was this close to him as he replied. "An offer so fine could tempt even the best I dare guess. I however hailed from the Outlands. I dare say though that you may see why I may have traversed so far i search of... well pretty much anything worthwhile. Even the gossip is overrated." He said with a knowing smile. "It is a genuine pleasure to meet you though, my fair Kulungu." He dipping his head rather than a more showboating bow so he did not have to step away from her to do so. He considered her more elaborate and seeming formal invite to ditch his pride and old life for a shot at whatever this lioness and their pride might offer him. And while he quirked a curious brow at her rather monogamous views that where not the norm in the dawlands from the things he had heard, he did not immediately dismiss it out of hand. He finally made himself take a step back from her to look down into her eyes. He did not quite understand wanting to make such an offer to one she hadn't even known for half a day. Trysts, hanger ons, or casual friendships was one thing but she was outright asking him to be her mate alone. He smirked coyly at her. He did not think her a fool, not really. She had shown herself to be some form of confident and capable in their brief and amusing exchange. But there was either naivety or a hint of desperation in her offer. And honestly he had very, very, little to loose in cutting ties and attaching himself to this lioness. She was pretty and it could be a good gateway to a better more satisfying future for himself. "If you're sure you'd want a pride hopping scoundrel, I dare say you make the most tempting of offers." He smoothly stepped in and shifted to press his flank to hers and curl his tail around her fairly possessively.
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2026 1:28 pm
Kulungu's ears perked when she heard that this lion was an Outsider. Or once was, anyway, since he had come so far this way. She inclined her head, considering him.
"For all the rumors I've heard of your pride, you don't seem to fit them." She replied, her tone contemplative. Sure, it seemed like he could use some more meat on his bones, but that could be fixed well enough, with her talent for hunting. "I am curious to know more about your former pride. You'll have to tell me of what life was like there, that made it so unsuitable for you." She said and her implication was that it was his pride no longer. She didn't want to make his choice for him - didn't want to insist upon him coming home with her, when they barely knew each other, but she wanted to be a Matron and he had heard her terms of monogamy. She wanted him to accept of his own accord, even if it was less for love (how could two lions love each other when they just met) and more... sanctuary that she could offer him. A way out of his old pride, a full stomach under a warm sun, and eventually, a line to carry on his genes. Wasn't that what all lions wanted?
She fixed her gaze on his, unwavering as she looked up at him and waited to see how he might react. There was no doubt in her steadfast posture, but a tension that may release for the positive, if he accepted her offer.
And then, there it was. The shifting of her shoulders, a quiet sigh of relief from a held breath. She blinked fondly at him as he moved to flank her and she allowed herself the small comfort of leaning her head against his shoulder; goodness, he certainly was a large male, wasn't he?
"I want you, Moto Chokoleti." She told him. "Come, I shall show you into the territory, and where I've carved out a piece of it to call my sleeping area. You may tell me of your past, and I shall tell you of your future with me." She offered and her own tail swung around, looping over his as she smiled. Eventually, she would need to present him to the Empress and inform her that she was beginning a harem with him, though she would carefully not mention it was a harem of one.
Such matters can wait for a time, however. I'm sure other matrons will notice my new suitor from the roguelands and word will get around. Maybe I won't even have to declare myself, for how fast gossip catches like wildfire here. She thought. Still, best to get him settled in, and then after such I can hunt for him. I'll show him what a fine choice this really is. She thought and hummed her contentment. Maybe she should wish on the sun and sky more often, for the results it so readily had yielded to her.
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