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Description
I have no idea what to title this! If anyone has some ideas, you can suggest one, but honestly, I don't know WHAT to title this kdsjfdskjfhdkj

-

He was skipping his lesson, his lesson with his father, his mother was very specific that he attend his lesson. Surak's face scrunched up into a small frown, eyebrows pinching together, moving slowly along the slope, ears slicked down. He didn't need lessons, he was a nothing, the second born, just lead the Fraternity Pride, take orders, visit the Sorority Pride to fufill his... duty there and nothing more. What did he have to learn? Not like he truly lead the Fraternity Pride anyways.

Glancing down the slope to the rushing water, his ears perked up, humming. Dark, murky brown water barrelling through the once calm river, slamming against the rocks, waves crashing into one another. Brows rising, Surak tilted his head, his parents had been adamant about the youth staying away from the river, now he could see why. Flooding, or the beginning of one at least. Sighing heavily, Surak inched away from the edge, resuming his pace down the slope. He didn't see why they made such a big deal out of it, anyone with any sense would know better then to attempt that current.

He paused soon however, frowning, tilting his head to the side, ears perked up and quivering, hearing a noise, barely detectable over the crashing waves. A noise getting louder and louder, coming from the river. Glancing to the side, Surak moved slowly to the edge once more, peering over to the water, eyebrows narrowing, deeply frowning. "-lp! Help! Help! Someone help! Mom!" Blinking, his mouth started to part, making a noise of disbelief for just a moment, before he saw the small paws flailing in the current. "MOM! MOM!"

Surak's jaw dropped, seeing the dark furred cub, probably just a moon or three younger then him, flailing in the current, trying to get to the shore, only to be thrown back under with a shriek. Someone was in the water, someone was in the flood, there was a cub in the water, he needed to get someone, he needed to get his mom, his dad, she was being tugged further along the river, farther and farther -

He didn't even feel himself move, his mind had gone blank, but suddenly his paws were off the grass, and his body was slamming into the dark water.

Being tossed under the water, Surak released a grunt that was muffled instantly, keeping his eyes tightly closed, he pushed himself up to the surface. Gasping as he breached, he paddled shakily through the tossing water, slamming into him, trying to drag him under, eyes wide, trying to see where she had gone over the waves. "Where are you!" He shouted over the waves, cringing as water slammed into his side, momentarily putting him back under. Surfacing once more, he gritted his teeth, pushing himself forward, he needed to find her, find her before she got drug under for a final time.

He saw her, paws fighting the current, and Surak nearly cried out to her, "Hey! I got you!" She couldn't of heard him, still crying out for help, for her mom, as Surak pushed himself to her, growling loudly. She didn't notice him, until he had grabbed her scruff harshly, screaming and flailing her paws, trying to twist around to him, to grab at him or claw at him one. "Stop! Stop ith!" He grunted, starting to tug her to the shore, "I'm helphing!"

"Help me, help me, help me!" she was shrieking, completely unaware to anything he was saying, still struggling in his grasp, "HELP!" He wanted to growl at her, snarl at her to shut up, anything, but he instead just gripped her harsher. He couldn't let go of her, forced himself not to even relax his grip even as another wave slammed into him, though she did start coughing and spluttering.

Reaching the shore, he loosened his grip as soon as he felt her reaching out in a single motion rather then random flailing. She gripped the shore, claws digging into the grass, and she dragged herself out of the river. He could hear her coughing and gasping as he dragged himself out, she was flopped down on the ground, on her belly. Flopping down on his haunches, hunched over and coughing, trying to get any water out of him. His throat was burning, his nose was burning, he could feel tears in his eyes as he coughed, spluttered, his body shaking, he could hear the water behind him, the low beginning of a growl.

"Surak! There you are, what are you doing? Skipping a lesson- Surak!" He glanced up shakily, body shaking once more when he saw his mother moving towards him, her once stormy face falling into terror, "What happened?" She practically shrieked, moving with a swiftened pace towards him, "I told you to stay away from the river! Are you okay? Surak!"

He opened his mouth, ready to respond, but instead a soft noise sounded beside him, and Janna paused immediately, mouth dropping and green eyes going wide. The cub was up, moving around him, shaking just as hard as him, "Is..." she started, sniffling loudly, "is this," she inhaled shakily, "the Tree of Life?" She asked shakily, her blue eyes wide, looking close to collapsing.

Janna blinked, staring at the cub steadily, glancing to Surak raising a brow, "I," she started, before nodding her head jerkily, turning to face the cub solely, "this is." She reaffirmed, moving slowly to the cub, head lowering, "are your," she whispered, glancing to Surak shakily, before back to the cub, "what is your name?"

"Nirmala," came the meek reply, and the cub buckled slightly, but she was smiling weakly, tilting her head at Janna, "is my mom here?" She asked softly, and Surak felt his gut suddenly drop, and he stared at the cub blankly. "She told... she said to go to the Tree of Life... she said," she moved jerkily towards Janna whose eyes had gone wider, "she said we'd meet here. She promised me."

Opening her maw, Janna blinked slowly, glancing shakily, "I'm..." She frowned slightly, before forcing a small smile, eyes still wide with terror, "I'm not sure, what is her name? We get many visitors from many lands here." Surak gulped weakly, ducking his head, there hadn't been any lion visitors for a long time. Glancing up, he saw some of the pridemates moving slowly in, looking on as Janna spoke to the small cub, "come with us, we'll help you find her," she reassured the cub with a smile.

Nirmala suddenly slumped down, eyes closing, "Mom-!" Surak started, eyes going wide, jerking forward to keep the cub from hitting the ground.

"It's okay," Janna reassured him in an instant, "She's only fainted," and one of the pridesisters moved swiftly over to pick the cub, bowing her head as she passed Janna, "she'll be fine Surak," Surak shook slightly, and his mother was there in an instant, licking at his mane, his fur, pulling him close to her, "I could've lost you," she suddenly whispered softly, and Surak sagged in her grip, frowning slightly, "we'll get you looked over as well," he couldn't tell if she was reassuring him or herself, "come on, come on," she ushered him, moving away and nudging him to his feet, "you must be freezing."

"Mom," Surak mumbled, watching the lionesses disappear, along with them, the cub, Nirmala. "Her mom isn't here," he whispered softly, glancing back to her, "her mom isn't-"

Janna nodded jerkily, moving beside him, pressing close to him as they begun to return home, "I know, I know," she responded slowly. She sighed heavily, hanging her head, "it could be," she started, but cringed, before starting again "some call another place the Tree of Life," she paused as Surak glanced to her, "some stories outside our home, far from our land. The Tree of Life to some, isn't a place we visit in this life." Surak blinked slowly, glancing downwards as she continued, "she's so young to be alone, I don't think anyone would leave their cub alone, especially to find the Tree of Life. At least our Tree of Life."

The rest of the way home, both were silent.

-

I'm pretty fine with this really, a quick little thing to do, and post, and a little... idea of Nirmala's backstory? Or at least my idea at it.

Nirmala isn't from the Tree of Life, or the Sister/Sorority Pride of the Kingdom, instead she's from farther out. Her mother told her and her brother, (Peete, I think I named him), stories of the Tree of Life, a life that was beyond death where everything was peaceful, no more fighting, hunting, it was a santuary for all, where they could finally rest, live in harmony. Sort of an afterlife sort of place, but young usually don't know it's... you know the afterlife, they learn that later usually. Of course it's not always called that, but Nirmala's mom called it that. Somehow, she is left behind, who knows how. Maybe her mother took up with some male and cast of both Nirmala and Peete. Maybe Nirmala got sick, and she was left behind. Not sure. But either way, her mother told her that they'd meet one another again at the Tree of Life, she'd meet her there. One day.

Nirmala by some miracle does find the actual Tree of Life. Wherein she's immediately taken in, and brought back to full health (she traveled a long way, girl was exhausted). Janna and everyone is... pretty convinced her mother meant the afterlife Tree of Life, and while they promise they'll send someone to look, they don't hold much hope. Soon enough, Nirmala comes to the same realization as the others, and becomes... sad. Just sad and disappointed that she'll never see her mother again. No matter what her mother did, she still remembers how pained she was when she told Nirmala to find the Tree of Life, how much her mother didn't want to leave her. She can't find herself to hate her mother.

Nirmala is one of four cubs that her mother had; she's the only one in India(?). Her brother Peete is travelling Africa searching for their mother, her younger (half?) brother is also traveling Africa, though not for her (he and Peete may have met, and they don't like one another), and finally her younger (half)sister is married to Malka. Making Nirmala the (half)aunt to Timira and Afua.

Nirmala may or may not have developed a puppy crush on Surak as well for saving her. Her Knight in Shining armor. He never noticed, though he did hang out with her sometimes and visit her. Nah, it would be when they were adults and when Rani and Baliyo were young cubs when he realized (also when he realized he kind of likes her too oop). The two do eventually marry, helping Janna raise Rani and Baliyo, but they don't ever have cubs. They're childfree as hell.

As for colors? I didn't change anything for Janna, but adjusted Surak and Nirmala for... younger colors I guess. Not sure if I should change Janna, since she is a loot older then any other TLK character we've seen, but I don't know.

Ohhh and for an... adult restructure(?) for Surak, I made this sta.sh/0udvfwxbjen which isn't set in stone, but I just wanted to tame his mane a bit. Surprisingly or unsurprising, I actually like him and Nirmala the most of the Night Pride Lions. The mark is the most unset in stone, since... it's atrocious.

That's it for now :^)

Characters Belong to Disney
Art belongs to Me

Description
I have no idea what to title this! If anyone has some ideas, you can suggest one, but honestly, I don't know WHAT to title this kdsjfdskjfhdkj

-

He was skipping his lesson, his lesson with his father, his mother was very specific that he attend his lesson. Surak's face scrunched up into a small frown, eyebrows pinching together, moving slowly along the slope, ears slicked down. He didn't need lessons, he was a nothing, the second born, just lead the Fraternity Pride, take orders, visit the Sorority Pride to fufill his... duty there and nothing more. What did he have to learn? Not like he truly lead the Fraternity Pride anyways.

Glancing down the slope to the rushing water, his ears perked up, humming. Dark, murky brown water barrelling through the once calm river, slamming against the rocks, waves crashing into one another. Brows rising, Surak tilted his head, his parents had been adamant about the youth staying away from the river, now he could see why. Flooding, or the beginning of one at least. Sighing heavily, Surak inched away from the edge, resuming his pace down the slope. He didn't see why they made such a big deal out of it, anyone with any sense would know better then to attempt that current.

He paused soon however, frowning, tilting his head to the side, ears perked up and quivering, hearing a noise, barely detectable over the crashing waves. A noise getting louder and louder, coming from the river. Glancing to the side, Surak moved slowly to the edge once more, peering over to the water, eyebrows narrowing, deeply frowning. "-lp! Help! Help! Someone help! Mom!" Blinking, his mouth started to part, making a noise of disbelief for just a moment, before he saw the small paws flailing in the current. "MOM! MOM!"

Surak's jaw dropped, seeing the dark furred cub, probably just a moon or three younger then him, flailing in the current, trying to get to the shore, only to be thrown back under with a shriek. Someone was in the water, someone was in the flood, there was a cub in the water, he needed to get someone, he needed to get his mom, his dad, she was being tugged further along the river, farther and farther -

He didn't even feel himself move, his mind had gone blank, but suddenly his paws were off the grass, and his body was slamming into the dark water.

Being tossed under the water, Surak released a grunt that was muffled instantly, keeping his eyes tightly closed, he pushed himself up to the surface. Gasping as he breached, he paddled shakily through the tossing water, slamming into him, trying to drag him under, eyes wide, trying to see where she had gone over the waves. "Where are you!" He shouted over the waves, cringing as water slammed into his side, momentarily putting him back under. Surfacing once more, he gritted his teeth, pushing himself forward, he needed to find her, find her before she got drug under for a final time.

He saw her, paws fighting the current, and Surak nearly cried out to her, "Hey! I got you!" She couldn't of heard him, still crying out for help, for her mom, as Surak pushed himself to her, growling loudly. She didn't notice him, until he had grabbed her scruff harshly, screaming and flailing her paws, trying to twist around to him, to grab at him or claw at him one. "Stop! Stop ith!" He grunted, starting to tug her to the shore, "I'm helphing!"

"Help me, help me, help me!" she was shrieking, completely unaware to anything he was saying, still struggling in his grasp, "HELP!" He wanted to growl at her, snarl at her to shut up, anything, but he instead just gripped her harsher. He couldn't let go of her, forced himself not to even relax his grip even as another wave slammed into him, though she did start coughing and spluttering.

Reaching the shore, he loosened his grip as soon as he felt her reaching out in a single motion rather then random flailing. She gripped the shore, claws digging into the grass, and she dragged herself out of the river. He could hear her coughing and gasping as he dragged himself out, she was flopped down on the ground, on her belly. Flopping down on his haunches, hunched over and coughing, trying to get any water out of him. His throat was burning, his nose was burning, he could feel tears in his eyes as he coughed, spluttered, his body shaking, he could hear the water behind him, the low beginning of a growl.

"Surak! There you are, what are you doing? Skipping a lesson- Surak!" He glanced up shakily, body shaking once more when he saw his mother moving towards him, her once stormy face falling into terror, "What happened?" She practically shrieked, moving with a swiftened pace towards him, "I told you to stay away from the river! Are you okay? Surak!"

He opened his mouth, ready to respond, but instead a soft noise sounded beside him, and Janna paused immediately, mouth dropping and green eyes going wide. The cub was up, moving around him, shaking just as hard as him, "Is..." she started, sniffling loudly, "is this," she inhaled shakily, "the Tree of Life?" She asked shakily, her blue eyes wide, looking close to collapsing.

Janna blinked, staring at the cub steadily, glancing to Surak raising a brow, "I," she started, before nodding her head jerkily, turning to face the cub solely, "this is." She reaffirmed, moving slowly to the cub, head lowering, "are your," she whispered, glancing to Surak shakily, before back to the cub, "what is your name?"

"Nirmala," came the meek reply, and the cub buckled slightly, but she was smiling weakly, tilting her head at Janna, "is my mom here?" She asked softly, and Surak felt his gut suddenly drop, and he stared at the cub blankly. "She told... she said to go to the Tree of Life... she said," she moved jerkily towards Janna whose eyes had gone wider, "she said we'd meet here. She promised me."

Opening her maw, Janna blinked slowly, glancing shakily, "I'm..." She frowned slightly, before forcing a small smile, eyes still wide with terror, "I'm not sure, what is her name? We get many visitors from many lands here." Surak gulped weakly, ducking his head, there hadn't been any lion visitors for a long time. Glancing up, he saw some of the pridemates moving slowly in, looking on as Janna spoke to the small cub, "come with us, we'll help you find her," she reassured the cub with a smile.

Nirmala suddenly slumped down, eyes closing, "Mom-!" Surak started, eyes going wide, jerking forward to keep the cub from hitting the ground.

"It's okay," Janna reassured him in an instant, "She's only fainted," and one of the pridesisters moved swiftly over to pick the cub, bowing her head as she passed Janna, "she'll be fine Surak," Surak shook slightly, and his mother was there in an instant, licking at his mane, his fur, pulling him close to her, "I could've lost you," she suddenly whispered softly, and Surak sagged in her grip, frowning slightly, "we'll get you looked over as well," he couldn't tell if she was reassuring him or herself, "come on, come on," she ushered him, moving away and nudging him to his feet, "you must be freezing."

"Mom," Surak mumbled, watching the lionesses disappear, along with them, the cub, Nirmala. "Her mom isn't here," he whispered softly, glancing back to her, "her mom isn't-"

Janna nodded jerkily, moving beside him, pressing close to him as they begun to return home, "I know, I know," she responded slowly. She sighed heavily, hanging her head, "it could be," she started, but cringed, before starting again "some call another place the Tree of Life," she paused as Surak glanced to her, "some stories outside our home, far from our land. The Tree of Life to some, isn't a place we visit in this life." Surak blinked slowly, glancing downwards as she continued, "she's so young to be alone, I don't think anyone would leave their cub alone, especially to find the Tree of Life. At least our Tree of Life."

The rest of the way home, both were silent.

-

I'm pretty fine with this really, a quick little thing to do, and post, and a little... idea of Nirmala's backstory? Or at least my idea at it.

Nirmala isn't from the Tree of Life, or the Sister/Sorority Pride of the Kingdom, instead she's from farther out. Her mother told her and her brother, (Peete, I think I named him), stories of the Tree of Life, a life that was beyond death where everything was peaceful, no more fighting, hunting, it was a santuary for all, where they could finally rest, live in harmony. Sort of an afterlife sort of place, but young usually don't know it's... you know the afterlife, they learn that later usually. Of course it's not always called that, but Nirmala's mom called it that. Somehow, she is left behind, who knows how. Maybe her mother took up with some male and cast of both Nirmala and Peete. Maybe Nirmala got sick, and she was left behind. Not sure. But either way, her mother told her that they'd meet one another again at the Tree of Life, she'd meet her there. One day.

Nirmala by some miracle does find the actual Tree of Life. Wherein she's immediately taken in, and brought back to full health (she traveled a long way, girl was exhausted). Janna and everyone is... pretty convinced her mother meant the afterlife Tree of Life, and while they promise they'll send someone to look, they don't hold much hope. Soon enough, Nirmala comes to the same realization as the others, and becomes... sad. Just sad and disappointed that she'll never see her mother again. No matter what her mother did, she still remembers how pained she was when she told Nirmala to find the Tree of Life, how much her mother didn't want to leave her. She can't find herself to hate her mother.

Nirmala is one of four cubs that her mother had; she's the only one in India(?). Her brother Peete is travelling Africa searching for their mother, her younger (half?) brother is also traveling Africa, though not for her (he and Peete may have met, and they don't like one another), and finally her younger (half)sister is married to Malka. Making Nirmala the (half)aunt to Timira and Afua.

Nirmala may or may not have developed a puppy crush on Surak as well for saving her. Her Knight in Shining armor. He never noticed, though he did hang out with her sometimes and visit her. Nah, it would be when they were adults and when Rani and Baliyo were young cubs when he realized (also when he realized he kind of likes her too oop). The two do eventually marry, helping Janna raise Rani and Baliyo, but they don't ever have cubs. They're childfree as hell.

As for colors? I didn't change anything for Janna, but adjusted Surak and Nirmala for... younger colors I guess. Not sure if I should change Janna, since she is a loot older then any other TLK character we've seen, but I don't know.

Ohhh and for an... adult restructure(?) for Surak, I made this sta.sh/0udvfwxbjen which isn't set in stone, but I just wanted to tame his mane a bit. Surprisingly or unsurprising, I actually like him and Nirmala the most of the Night Pride Lions. The mark is the most unset in stone, since... it's atrocious.

That's it for now :^)

Characters Belong to Disney
Art belongs to Me