The Curse of Winter

The First Summerless Years

"Alexander, when did the world get so cold?" The lioness's deep brown eyes stared up in to the multicolored ones of the king. She was not being symbolical, nor was she referencing the attitude of others. She was talking about the cold white snow that covered their lands.

"When I was born," began the king, "snow fell from the sky for the first time anyone in my birth pride could remember. After that, it didn't stop. It never got warmer, the snow never melted. My father knew it was me that had caused it, so he cast me from the pride. He was right, for when I left, the winter followed."

"When I joined you yesterday..." She paused. Alexander had a patient look on his face. Finally, she continued. "When I joined you, I didn't know it would be like this. I saw the snow and I knew it would hide me from the lions hunting me. But this? I never expected your kingdom to always be like this." Her gaze lowered to the small bundle of silver fur nuzzled in to her belly. It shivered as the wind picked up slightly, bringing icy droplets with it.

"You can still leave," he replied softly, barely audible over the wind. She returned her eyes to his. He looked angelic in the moonlight, though his appearance would normally be considered strange. His tan pelt was thickly furred, and his blond mane had a streak of dark fur across the top. His eyes were two different colors, green and blue, yet they were still not the strangest thing about the large male. Two long fangs protruded from his upper lip. The lioness had never seen anything like them before.

"I don't know of anyone else who would take in a lone lioness with another male's cub," she said simply.

"You'll be safe here, Cassie. I promise. More lionesses will come, and we will be able to hunt soon enough. We won't have to live on rats anymore. But for now, you should come inside." Alexander motioned with his tail towards the yawning mouth of a cave. It was small and didn't stop much of the wind, but it was better than nothing.

The lioness nodded. "You're right. I think I'll stay. If you allow us, that is." She grabbed her baby in her mouth and brought herself to her feet. The cub mewled softly and kicked its back legs in to the air.

"Of course." The two lions gave each other genuine smiles before heading side by side in to their makeshift den. Cassie chose a corner farthest from the opening and laid her cub down on the rocky floor before wrapping her own body around the baby's. Alexander laid behind her, blocking what little wind got inside.

"You never told me why you were being tracked."

The lioness bent her neck to give her cub a lick along its back. "She's the reason. She was not fathered by the king of my pride. He figured out instantly and said she had to... to die. So I ran." She gave her cub a few more licks before she continued. "I won't let anyone hurt my Ashe."

Alexander sat up. "I'll keep watch then."

"Alexander, why are you doing this?" Cassie peered over her shoulder at his strong silhouette.

"What do you mean?" He paused mid step.

"Taking me in, protecting me and Ashe... A normal lion would have killed her."

"Do I look like a normal lion?" He continued to the entrance after he saw the lioness shake her head. He was silent for a while, his tail twitching back and forth across the snow iced floor of the cave. "I want to break the curse that was put on me when I was born, and I can't do that alone."