Post by Kiara on Jul 20, 2017 14:43:56 GMT
“Hm. You kids, always wanting to know about the war. It wasn’t as great as you’re imagining; you do know that, don’t you?”
(Picture belongs to Banister)
Aztec
Species
Lioness
---
Origin
OC – belonging to Banister
Territory
Tropical Mountains
Pride/Clan
De Falsis Deis
Status
Retired spymaster, den mother
History
Like most of her generation, Aztec was born into the middle of war. Her birth placed her in the middle of Meletus’ reign, and as a youngster she grew up knowing nothing besides the chaos of ongoing war. While some of the older pridesisters may have looked back on a time of peace, or hoped for another one to come, Aztec had no grasp of such a concept. Taught to fight from early in life, the adolescent female and her fellows were soon thrust into the thick of battle and expected to hold their own.
Which Aztec quickly proved she could do; but also, that her key strengths lay elsewhere.
Rather than charging head-on into battle, the young lioness proved her worth as a spy by sneaking near to enemy lines while the rest of the pride engaged in combat, and overhearing some key strategic information. When she returned home with less blood on her claws than her fellow soldiers, but with the information in paw, many of the pride were impressed, including the heir to the throne, Diogenes.
His father, however, was less so. While the information was put to good use, and while Meletus didn’t say as much, Aztec had a distinct suspicion that he looked down upon her work, regarded her as something of an inferior to her peers who had fought on the front lines. Maybe that wasn’t true, but it was the impression she got. Still, the role of scout and spy was one that Aztec felt comfortable in, and in which she proved herself very capable time and again. Even if the other prides caught on, no member of them ever seemed to grasp exactly how their crucial information so often fell into enemy paws; and while Aztec took no pride in doing so, any enemy who did catch sight of her on one of her spying missions was swiftly silenced. Such instances, however, were few and far between.
And, when Meletus fell in battle and Diogenes took the throne, her work quickly found its value. Diogenes appreciated her talents in a way his father never had, appointing the capable lioness as his spymaster. Working closely with the new king was quite the experience, for sure; all the same, Aztec kept the level head that had aided her so much on her missions. Aside from continuing to spy on the enemy prides herself, she was now placed in charge of any other spies and scouts; and though it was the king and queen who brought the war to its eventual conclusion, her contributions proved invaluable during that process.
And, with the war over… Aztec found herself at something of a loose end. She’d been born in war, grown up in war, practically lived and breathed war for her whole life. Now, it was taking some effort for her to adjust to living outside of wartime. Cullen helped her some – like her, he was a veteran of the war, who she had taken a shine to back in the heart of the conflict – and as the two of them adjusted to the time of relative peace together, it became clear that there was a spark between them. Not accustomed to romance as a factor of life, the couple took their time reaching the point where they mated; and soon after, Aztec was pregnant with a litter of cubs.
More than anything, that helped the former spymaster to find her new place in the pride. The war was over and there was no need for spying and scouting anymore; but she already held a deep love for the unborn cubs she carried, and that grew into a care for children in general. Settling into the role of den-mother was still not a transition she could make overnight, but soon she found herself filling it more easily; especially once her own cubs were born.
Of course, this isn’t to say Aztec has lost her edge. Still as sharp as anything and in excellent physical shape, she is a very canny lioness with a cheeky sense of humour, whom almost all the cubs respect. Though she doesn’t boast about her contribution to the war, she still has a reputation amongst the young of the pride, and it’s not unusual to see her being asked for war stories by the kids she watches over.
The pride’s branching out into new territory is something that intrigues the lioness. While a part of her anticipates an eventual call to return to her spymaster duties, for the most part she is content with life as it presently is and feels she would turn down the call in favour of her current role as den-mother.
Family Tree
Parents (unknown status), Cullen (mate), Adonis (son) and two daughters
Sample Post
“Miss Aztec! Miss Aztec!”
She raised her head, emerald eyes seeking out the young cub who was scampering towards her. If you’d asked her, once upon a time, Aztec would have said she could never see herself as a lioness who spent much time around kids; but between the end of the war and the birth of her own litter, a lot of things had changed. Though the female hadn’t grown complacent, by any means, she had taken advantage of the time of peace to slow down, and to discover that she actually liked kids.
It had been a strange revelation for her, at first. Now, she was starting to feel more used to it.
“What is it, little one?”
The cub skidded to a stop before her, regarding her with wide eyes. “Can you tell me a story about the war? You were really important in it, right? What was it like?”
A small sigh was blown out of her nose, before Aztec settled down to the youngster’s level.
“Child, let me tell you something about war. War isn’t something glamorous or exciting. Yes, I did play a role in it; and yes, I suppose I did become a hero. And that makes it sound like a grand old time. But war also means you have to do many, many things you regret later.” She didn’t look like a lioness who carried her fair share of regrets, Aztec knew. Still, she had ended some lives that weighed on her, when she allowed them to.
“I don’t wish to live in the past, when the present is what matters. Besides…” a teasing glint entered her eyes as she put her thoughts on the war behind her for another day. “Let’s talk about you for a moment instead. Weren’t you the cub I saw the other day, proclaiming yourself war hero over a couple of mice?”
She grinned to herself as the child hastened to deny it, rubbing his head affectionately with a paw. In truth, very little could make her seriously mad, and she did adore the cubs she looked after. Still… if there was one thing she’d prefer to avoid, it was telling war stories. She rather thought that would make the kids eager to experience such things for themselves; and if she could help it at all, Aztec would avoid that. Renewed war wasn’t something she wished upon any of them.
(Picture belongs to Banister)
Aztec
Species
Lioness
---
Origin
OC – belonging to Banister
Territory
Tropical Mountains
Pride/Clan
De Falsis Deis
Status
Retired spymaster, den mother
History
Like most of her generation, Aztec was born into the middle of war. Her birth placed her in the middle of Meletus’ reign, and as a youngster she grew up knowing nothing besides the chaos of ongoing war. While some of the older pridesisters may have looked back on a time of peace, or hoped for another one to come, Aztec had no grasp of such a concept. Taught to fight from early in life, the adolescent female and her fellows were soon thrust into the thick of battle and expected to hold their own.
Which Aztec quickly proved she could do; but also, that her key strengths lay elsewhere.
Rather than charging head-on into battle, the young lioness proved her worth as a spy by sneaking near to enemy lines while the rest of the pride engaged in combat, and overhearing some key strategic information. When she returned home with less blood on her claws than her fellow soldiers, but with the information in paw, many of the pride were impressed, including the heir to the throne, Diogenes.
His father, however, was less so. While the information was put to good use, and while Meletus didn’t say as much, Aztec had a distinct suspicion that he looked down upon her work, regarded her as something of an inferior to her peers who had fought on the front lines. Maybe that wasn’t true, but it was the impression she got. Still, the role of scout and spy was one that Aztec felt comfortable in, and in which she proved herself very capable time and again. Even if the other prides caught on, no member of them ever seemed to grasp exactly how their crucial information so often fell into enemy paws; and while Aztec took no pride in doing so, any enemy who did catch sight of her on one of her spying missions was swiftly silenced. Such instances, however, were few and far between.
And, when Meletus fell in battle and Diogenes took the throne, her work quickly found its value. Diogenes appreciated her talents in a way his father never had, appointing the capable lioness as his spymaster. Working closely with the new king was quite the experience, for sure; all the same, Aztec kept the level head that had aided her so much on her missions. Aside from continuing to spy on the enemy prides herself, she was now placed in charge of any other spies and scouts; and though it was the king and queen who brought the war to its eventual conclusion, her contributions proved invaluable during that process.
And, with the war over… Aztec found herself at something of a loose end. She’d been born in war, grown up in war, practically lived and breathed war for her whole life. Now, it was taking some effort for her to adjust to living outside of wartime. Cullen helped her some – like her, he was a veteran of the war, who she had taken a shine to back in the heart of the conflict – and as the two of them adjusted to the time of relative peace together, it became clear that there was a spark between them. Not accustomed to romance as a factor of life, the couple took their time reaching the point where they mated; and soon after, Aztec was pregnant with a litter of cubs.
More than anything, that helped the former spymaster to find her new place in the pride. The war was over and there was no need for spying and scouting anymore; but she already held a deep love for the unborn cubs she carried, and that grew into a care for children in general. Settling into the role of den-mother was still not a transition she could make overnight, but soon she found herself filling it more easily; especially once her own cubs were born.
Of course, this isn’t to say Aztec has lost her edge. Still as sharp as anything and in excellent physical shape, she is a very canny lioness with a cheeky sense of humour, whom almost all the cubs respect. Though she doesn’t boast about her contribution to the war, she still has a reputation amongst the young of the pride, and it’s not unusual to see her being asked for war stories by the kids she watches over.
The pride’s branching out into new territory is something that intrigues the lioness. While a part of her anticipates an eventual call to return to her spymaster duties, for the most part she is content with life as it presently is and feels she would turn down the call in favour of her current role as den-mother.
Family Tree
Parents (unknown status), Cullen (mate), Adonis (son) and two daughters
Sample Post
“Miss Aztec! Miss Aztec!”
She raised her head, emerald eyes seeking out the young cub who was scampering towards her. If you’d asked her, once upon a time, Aztec would have said she could never see herself as a lioness who spent much time around kids; but between the end of the war and the birth of her own litter, a lot of things had changed. Though the female hadn’t grown complacent, by any means, she had taken advantage of the time of peace to slow down, and to discover that she actually liked kids.
It had been a strange revelation for her, at first. Now, she was starting to feel more used to it.
“What is it, little one?”
The cub skidded to a stop before her, regarding her with wide eyes. “Can you tell me a story about the war? You were really important in it, right? What was it like?”
A small sigh was blown out of her nose, before Aztec settled down to the youngster’s level.
“Child, let me tell you something about war. War isn’t something glamorous or exciting. Yes, I did play a role in it; and yes, I suppose I did become a hero. And that makes it sound like a grand old time. But war also means you have to do many, many things you regret later.” She didn’t look like a lioness who carried her fair share of regrets, Aztec knew. Still, she had ended some lives that weighed on her, when she allowed them to.
“I don’t wish to live in the past, when the present is what matters. Besides…” a teasing glint entered her eyes as she put her thoughts on the war behind her for another day. “Let’s talk about you for a moment instead. Weren’t you the cub I saw the other day, proclaiming yourself war hero over a couple of mice?”
She grinned to herself as the child hastened to deny it, rubbing his head affectionately with a paw. In truth, very little could make her seriously mad, and she did adore the cubs she looked after. Still… if there was one thing she’d prefer to avoid, it was telling war stories. She rather thought that would make the kids eager to experience such things for themselves; and if she could help it at all, Aztec would avoid that. Renewed war wasn’t something she wished upon any of them.
((ooc: For the record, I'm afraid I don’t know a word of Latin xD; ))