A Game of Chi Book II: A Throne of Tears

Chapter 6: Lennox I

LENNOX

Lennox climbed out of the pool and began drying his mane with his towel. His joints and muscles had been nicely relaxed by the hot water, but unfortunately, his brown mane had been left droopy by the steam. Even his goatee seemed to be weighing his chin down. Stretching his arms, he put his blue armoured kilt back on, tightened the blue strap on his chest, and placed his blue crown on his head. He still hadn't gotten around to embellishing it, despite the fact that he was now the Lord of the Lion Tribe. King, now, he mused, yawning and walking out of the door of the pool room. Heated by underground hot springs, the pools in the Lion Temple had been made to relax and reinvigorate lion warriors before going into battle, so naturally, Lennox had taken advantage of them. Leaving the room, he walked through the torchlit halls of the Lion Temple until he reached the atrium, where his mate Lyra, his mother Leona and his two guards Longtooth and Lothar were waiting for him. "Your Grace," said the guards in unison, bowing their heads slightly. "My king," Lyra said, smiling sweetly. His mother, however, only nodded slightly. She's still not happy about this, he thought. Brushing it off, he began to speak. "How are the troops?" he asked Longtooth. "Ready to go, Your Grace," the older lion replied gruffly. Longtooth was a lion with dark fur and an even darker mane, although the most striking thing about him was the long scar which ran through his left eye. His chest was covered in scars as well; three long claw marks were etched into his left breast while smaller, faded scars and cuts lined his lower back and arms. He was a veteran of a dozen battles, and his stories had entertained Lennox when he was a child. When my father left for the Citadel, Longtooth was the closest thing to a father that I had, he mused. Like his name suggested, Longtooth's fangs were much more prominent than other lions'. "Good," he replied. Then, he turned to Lothar. "The Speedorz?"

"Primed, Your Grace," he replied. The young lion had been Lennox' longest and best friend. The young lion had a tidy, brown mane which required no crown to hold in place, and bright, piercing eyes. Lennox knew full well about the way Lothar felt about him, but he paid it no mind. Nothing is more valuable than a good friend, he remembered thinking. Turning to Lyra, he put his hand on her cheek. "My love," he said softly. "Are you sure I can't change your mind? Must you come with me? I'd feel much safer if you stayed here." Lyra was a slender, beautiful lioness with golden brown fur. Her upper body was covered in a dark blue top, while she wore a blue skirt over her thighs. Lyra put her hand on his cheek. "I told you, Your Grace," she said, "wherever you go, I will go too. Nothing you say will change that." She planted a kiss on Lennox' lips, and he reciprocated. Then, he turned to his mother. "You're coming too, mother?"

"Yes, my son," she replied cautiously. "To make sure you don't do anything rash," she finished. Leona was a powerful lioness despite not being too large or imposing. She wore a set of golden plates which covered the sides of her head, each embroidered with patterns. She wore a resplendent white cloak which brushed the floor, and had a white gown which flowed to her feet. "I'm sure I'll be fine without you," Lennox said, but his mother shook her head. "I'm coming, Lennox," she said firmly. "Fine. Then get ready."

In a short amount of time, Lennox and his inner circle had armoured themselves up and taken their weapons. Lennox had taken his signature weapon, the Decalius, a twisted saw blade which Lennox had forged himself. If I'm going to win battles, I need to be seen doing it. I need to inspire the lions and the other tribes. Followed by his guards, his mate and his mother, Lennox strode to the Lion Temple's garage, where numerous lions were armoured and armed. The garage was just underneath the rest of the Lion Temple, with stone pillars and torches lining the walls. A variety of lion-themed Speedorz were parked along the sides of the spacious room. His forces were talking amongst each other, but upon seeing their new king, they quieted and looked to their leader. "Lions!" he shouted. "We set out today to reclaim our honour!" The lions yelled in agreement. "The crocodiles think that they can kill our lord! They think we'll bow before them like cowards! But they don't know the Lion Tribe!" Lennox roared, and the audience joined him. "They have wounded our pride! So they will feel our fury!"