The Fall of Darkness

Titan

Ember crept up to the zebra. It showed no sign of knowing she was there, but these animals could be cunning. Her heart pounded as she crept in for the kill. If she lost this feast, so fat, juicy and delicious, she would be disgraced and the pride would go hungry. Many a day had the lionesses suffered, left with little or no food, but recently it had been worse. The small amount of prey they did catch went to Titan. She was the strongest lioness left, the others weakened by hunger and some very young cubs dead for lack of milk. They were relying on her.

Ever closer did she creep, never snapping a twig or rustling the long, savannah grass. Silently she crept, forwards and forwards, hoping the wind did not turn. And it didn't. She crept closer. I am within pouncing range, she thought, ever grateful for the wind's blessing. Then she pounced.

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Ember proudly dragged the carcass back to the pride's home, high on a rock, jutting out into the sun. The other lionesses crowded around it. Titan watched from his favourite spot. When she glanced his way, he gave a tiny nod of approval. Ember's heart leaped. She resisted the urge to run to him, mane gleaming gold in the fading rays of dusk, and purr her heart and soul out to him. Instead, she blinked affectionately and turned to take her share.

Titan was the strongest, proudest lion around, King of the savannah. He strutted fearlessly along the open grass, other lions and lionesses cowering in fear. None dared to challenge him, and Ember was certain she was quite safe with Titan.

While they slept, it was savannah tradition for the pride's leader to pick his favourite lioness and they slept together. Currently, Titan's favourite was Ember after Glory had argued with him. Glory was now one of the most disgraced lionesses in the pried, lower than a measly cub. 

All the lionesses knew Titan was unlikely to pick another favourite soon. They had seen in his eyes that while Glory was his favourite he had slowly begun to lean towards Ember, the pride's best hunter, quickest thinker, the best at comforting cubs and friendly to top it all off. Titan would love Ember all his life, and they knew it.

But that did not mean he hated them. He was their friend, protector and for some he was their confidant in problems. When he wanted, Titan was a mischievous troublemaker, and perhaps this was a quality that drew them to him. But whatever it was, Titan protected them all, and they stood firmly by his side, as they would forever.