Kesi

[Kesi]

Name: Kesi (means "born during dark times" in Swahili)

Age: Teenager/Adolescent

Gender: Female

Species: Lioness

Pridelander or Outlander: Outlander

Rank: Young Huntress (training herself)

History: Born in the Outlands, before the union of the two prides, Kesi is very familiar with the hardships of hunger and famine. Growing up, she rarely had a regular meal, and thus she is thinner and leaner than most lions. Because of the lack of food, she was abandoned by her mother and left for dead. But she survived. She learned to fend for herself in the harsh conditions, and stayed away from the other lions in the outlands. She is now the only lion left in the Outlands; the other lions leaving to join the Pridelands after the union of the two prides.

Personality: Clever, quick-thinking and usually quite vicious, Kesi is alone in the Outlands. She has an eye for detail, and a short temper. She is very distrustful of other lions, because of the betrayal by her mother who left her to die, and it is because of this that she did not leave to join the Pridelanders after the union.

Prominent Trait: Wit. Kesi is very clever, and can calculate exactly what the outcome of her actions will lead to e.g. in a fight/out hunting

Fears: Betrayal. She distances herself from others so she doesn't have to have even the slightest chance of being abandoned again.

Goals: Despite the fact her greatest fear is being betrayed, the main thing Kesi wants is a family. She remembers the closeness and safety she felt when she was a young cub, before her mother abandoned her, and longs to feel safe and cared for once again. But because of her fear, she has not yet acted on these feelings.

Character Development: Kesi needs to learn that not everybody is cold and cruel, and that she can act on her feelings and find a safe home where she wont be betrayed.

Description: Kesi is a very pale creamy colour, with golden eyes. Her underbelly, tail tuft and inside of her ears are a darker cream, and her nose is a reddish-pink. She is very lean, due to her lack of food growing up, and thus her body has adjusted to being able to function on little food. Her light build also means she is very fast, and has very good stamina over long periods of time. Despite her lightweight frame, she is also very strong.

Markings: A slightly darker cream dappling effect over her haunches and rump

Role-Play Sample: Kesi paced back and forth inside the huge empty termite mound where she had made her den. She flicked her tail from side to side and tossed her head fretfully. No food, No food for 3 days. Her pacing became more and more feverish, her ears flicking back and forth. Where was all the prey? They surely hadn't ALL migrated so quickly out of her territory... had they? She lay down, trying to relax, trying to calm herself, but within only a few seconds she was up and pacing again. She slipped out of her den, and up onto a large golden rock beside the entrance. Kesi raised her head, scenting the air. Nothing. No Prey. No Scent. She leapt off the rock again and stood, staring out at the barren outlands. Nothing. Not even a bird. Brilliant. She rested on her haunches, and sat there, thinking. She though for a long time, and the cloak of night had fallen before she stood up once more. "I have to find food." She muttered. And then again. "I have to find food". She had made up her mind. She was going to leave this small part of her world, and find a new place, where food was plentiful. And so, without hesitation, she stalked forwards silently into the night.