The sun had not yet peeked over the horizon of the Savana of South africa. Yet it didn't keep nature from gradually waking up for the species concerned and going to sleep for the others. One of the former were lions, often hailed as the king of the jungle. One particular pride of them slowly rose to wakeness, with the exception of one member. A female, who had sneaked away to give birth during the night and who was too exhausted by it.
With six little cubs mewling and battling for a spot at her tits, the mother certainly deserved her break. One of those cub was different, appearing a bit larger than her brothers and sisters, and white as snow. She was a white lion, almost extinct in the wild due to it being a recessive gene.
She looked healthy and energetic, as determined to survive another day an animal could be.
Alas, it wasn't to be.
The sleepy atmosphere was shattered by the sound of thunder coming from seemingly everywhere. And by a black rift shearing through space from sky to ground in a split second, making the area come to life by panicking wild lifes. Birds cawed and flew in drove from the trees as the earth bound animal roared in panics and began to ran everywhere at full speed.
An instant later, the rift was gone, as if it had never been there in the first place. Close from where the crack had met the ground, a mother stood guard over her cub who were mewlings wildly in fear. Upon verifying that there was no immediate danger, she took stock of her children, and noticed, to her confusion and anger, that one of them was missing.
She roared her wrath toward where the intruding phenomena had struck, a few meters from her position. A bit of hope that maybe it would be answered back.
Her second cry was weaker, as if a painful lament to the world before she went and curled up besides her remaining cubs.
At this point, she knew she wasn't going to be answered. Bith by the world, and her missing daughter.
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A small white form floated in the void, motionless. Life couldn't subsist in such a place. Here, there was no heat. There was no movement. There was no thought. Only what was in, and what wasn't.
The cub seems almost like a stain on the space. A sole, white drop of paint on a black canva as it spent a unknown amount of time floating, looking like she was remaining in place in the infinite darkness.
After an incalculable amount of time, a presence wandered by, and seems to pause as it brushed against the corpse.
The next instance, a regal looking, gorgeous woman with cascading light brown air and warm upturned amber eyes coalesced before the frozen cub.
Picking up the animal and cradling it softly in her arms, her face exuded pity and soft sadness. "Oh, you poor child. Yet to have taken your first step by a force so beyond you and that shouldn't be."
Bringing her own forehead to the cub's, she softly muttered. "The cosmos is cold and uncaring. It cares not for its individual gears. But I do. That's why I, and many other, exist."
Turning around, she took a single step, and the void vanished, replaced by a sea of stars and colorful lights. Under her, a large and vibrant planet lay. Softly glowing in a myriad of colors. Its surface seemingly hidden to the bare eye.
"But that's not all, you wouldn't have been robbed of your life if it wasn't for my foolish brothers. In a way, I am in your debt, little one... They should be, too. But they have lost their ways long ago." She closed her eyes and sighed sadly.
"One day..." She shook her head and lifted the cub before her eyes. "No matter, another chance you deserve. And another chance I will give you."
She smiled softly and kissed the cub forehead. "Lira shall be your name, and the gift of wisdom you shall be granted in this life. For a life squandered, and a chance at greatness, beyond your mortal restraints."
As the white lionet began to stir softly, she chuckled endearingly. "May you live well and fully, little Lira. And who know, if you use your gift well, maybe we'll meet again one day."
With a flash of golden light, the scene changed. And blue eyes opened.