Diva was the first lioness in her pride to have such a gorgeous mutation like her own. She was highly praised for her looks, and it had all gone to her head, making her incredibly egotistical as a cub.
But soon, it all turned against her, one fateful November evening...
Diva was playing around the edges of the main den, catching and releasing mice when she happened to come across a small lizard. The baby Giant Girdled Lizard had just hatched a few hours ago, its colors still bright and vibrant. Diva got into a crouched position, her split tail lowered as she wiggled her behind before pouncing on the little lizard. The lizard hissed and squirmed, but Diva didn't let go just yet, she looked at the lizard, admiring its colors.
Just then, a loud voice came from all around her, booming as it spoke.
"Diva.. your Ancestors did not die for you to pester and torture these poor, defenseless creatures.. we had blessed you with your beauty, but you took advantage of that. This shall not go unpunished.." The voice had said as it slowly faded, as if it were moving farther away from Diva.
Diva looked at the lizard, who was just sitting there next to her. Her ears were pinned back and her tail was between her legs. She didn't mean to piss off her ancestors, she just wanted to play around!
Diva's paws padded against the ground as she ran back into the cave, only to find the king, looking as mad as ever. She slowly backed away, not noticing the lizard who had hitched a ride on her back. The king roared, rapidly approaching her. She backed away again, and she started running. Running like she never had before.
Finally, she came to a stop at a nearby waterhole, scared and alone.
