Gods and Traditions
This pride believes in mainly six deities, though there are many minor ones they also believe in.
Ruena, The Mother Goddess
This deity is the Mother Goddess, and deity widely respected by all lions. She is also said to be the Goddess of the Hunt, Hunt Chieftesses and Kings, and Huntresses. She is the Goddess who sends her 10 Guardians to protect prides from greedy and tyrannical Kings and Hunt Chieftesses along with guiding lionesses on their hunt. She is usually prayed to before a hunt, before a female completes her Huntress Exam, and when a King is installed.
Tiosis, Goddess Of The Storms and Rain
This deity is the Goddess of Storms and Rain. She is the deity speculated to bring the rainy season to the lands. Her refreshing rain well loved and welcomed by all lions, her daughter is Kitduna who helps her during the wet season. This deity is revered for her power and authority. She is said to also be the goddess of fortune, honesty, prosperity, and knowledge. She is prayed to when one wishes for the dry season to end quickly, for pleasant weather, for luck before Exams, to have many cubs, and many other small things.
Xola, Goddess of the Moon
This deity is said to be the Goddess of the Moon. She is also said to be the goddess of the stars, souls, death, wanderers, and prophecy. This female is a goddess popular with most nomads and is said to be a very compassionate and merciful goddess. She is also said to collect the souls of dead lions and bring them to her stars and that's why many pray to her in their dying moments if alone. She is prayed to for a swift and painless death, to be called to the stars, for her to light their path when traveling at night or in general, or for a sign of something.
Ytuna, Goddess of the Sun
This deity is said to be the Goddess of the Sun. She is the twin sister of Xola. She is also known as the goddess of war, wrath, flames, and chaos. Unlike her sister who is compassionate and kind, this goddess is a stern and fierce creature. Her flames are said to be the cause of the dry season , and they say if she is offended then the dry season is longer and harsher. She is prayed to for warmth, a honorable battle, or a short dry season.
Vokhena, Goddess of Famine
This deity is said to be the Goddess of Famine. This female is also said to be the goddess of pestilence, disease, conflict, misfortune, curses/hexes, and illusions. This female isn't a popular goddess because of this and mostly all fear her. She is said to be the goddess to bring plagues upon prides for offending any other goddess or being evil and bad, any misfortune is said to be related to her. She is painted to be evil when in fact she is not. This goddess is usually used when you want to offend someone like "I hope Vokhena curses your to stub your toe.", hope to curse someone, she is also prayed to when disease and other bad things happen to make it stop or for leniency.
Kitduna , Goddess of Life
This deity is said to be the Goddess of Life. She is the daughter of Tiosis . She is also said to be the goddess of animals, beauty, love, and bonded pairs. She is the youngest goddess and said to be the prettiest goddess as well. She is well loved for her infectious joy and brilliance. She is prayed to when they wish for plentiful animals in the wet season, to be beautiful, to find their true love or before a bonding ceremony to stay faithful to their bonded partner. She is also said to be in love with the Goddess, Vokhena.
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Huntress Exam
This exam consists of 3 parts. Only two lionesses will be tested at a time, as this Exam lasts for almost a whole week depending on how fast the Exam goes for the lioness.
Part One: The huntress must exhibit her speed, she is to be chased by the Hunt Chieftess continually through the Pride Territory until they return back. If she is caught before they reach the territory then she does not pass this portion of the exam.
Part Two: The huntress must show her skill as a hunter. She is given the whole day to bring three specific prey items, and she is to be watched under the eyes of other Huntresses and Hunt Chief as witnesses. As long as she does bring at least 2 out of 3 prey items she does pass. She may not bring already dead animals because that is considered cheating.
Part Three: The female is to fight the strongest Huntress in a duel and show her fighting skill. She must strike the Huntress at least six times without using her claws since it is a non-lethal spar, however the Huntress she is dueling is allowed to use her claws. This is in place to test the skill and wits of the lioness. If she gets at least 4 hits in she will still pass but 6 is the usual amount.
Ranking Challenges and King/Hunt Chieftess Battle
Ranking Challenges are to happen only during the Wet Season. When a lioness wants to challenge another lioness for her dominance ranking, the challenger must speak with the Hunt Chieftess and then the one being challenge must be informed of it, and chose whether they accept or decline the challenge. They have 3 chances to decline it, but if it is challenged a fourth time then they must defend their title or it is considered shameful. The battle must occur in the presence of the Hunt Chieftess and 2 Huntresses and an Elder if the pride has one.
Challenging for King is quite different. The challenging lion must spar in the presence of the whole pride and Hunt Chieftess. He must then win the battle honorably himself. Even if he wins, it still does not mean he becomes King. He must then kill all male cubs the age of 2 and under remaining in the pride to rid it of rivals. After that he must state his claim to Kingship, however the lionesses will be observing him in all his moves when doing this. The Hunt Chieftess then makes a democratic decision whether she accepts this male as King and hears the voices of her lionesses whether they think him fit or not. If thought fit he is now the King, but if not, the lionesses have the authority to kill him or chase him off.
Hunt Chieftess is a rank that is not easily challenged. The rank is a familial rank and so it we'll know that only a blood relative can challenge for said rank.
Death Ritual
The lions gather around the body of the dead lion or lioness, and they collectively roar until the morning time. And for the rest of the day they tell stories about the deceased lion until the afternoon. And they fast for the day.
Bonding Ritual
They come before the King and Hunt Chieftess and the pride. The female is decorated with flowers and male in a pelt. They then intertwine tails and rub noses and recite vows.
Welcoming Ritual
They must prove they can hunt. And then they are gifted many pelts and flowers.