I apologize in advance for this atrocity. xD
Artemis
Artemis
When Artemis was born, her mother Twilight was still young and naive. She was born to a litter of six other cubs, four females and two males. One of the male cubs drowned when Twilight failed to react. Two of the female cubs were killed by hyenas when she failed to hide the cubs properly. Luckily, the King of the pride and presumably her father, Caligula, rescued the remaining three cubs, including Artemis. But the King was aging, getting weaker and lacking in energy, leaving the pride vulnerable to rogue males.
Artemis was six months when two rogue males, brothers, entered the pride's territory. Caligula was attacked by the two brothers, and died of exhaustion. Being a large pride, a few adult lionesses could afford to try to defend their pride and leave their cubs behind to be watched by the older lionesses. Twilight was left behind to care for her cubs as she was injured, which turned out to be a stroke of luck, as if she were healthy that day, she would have had to fight and lose all of her cubs. Twilight, although ignorant, knew something was wrong. Her maternal instincts were kicking in and she instructed the three larger cubs to follow her, carrying Artemis. She hid Artemis and her siblings, and ran back to defend the cubs with her life. But one of the rogues fled from the lionesses and followed Twilight. Two of Artemis' sisters wandered out of the hiding spot, immediately killed by the rogue. He returned to help his brother after failing to find the other two cubs, and attacked the injured Twilight, killing her.
The lionesses surrendered, and the remaining cubs of the pride were killed or chased off. The lionesses were to have their new King's cubs. Artemis and her brother Kaiser were to survive on their own. Life in the savannah went on - the pride welcomed new litters of cubs, zebra foals were learning to stand and nurse, and Caligula and Twilight were forgotten.
Artemis is capable a short bursts of speed, although lacking in stamina and endurance, she tires quickly. Her eyes are a bright cerulean and very expressive, set on a dark tawny coat. Still young, only eighteen months, she's curious and naive, and often hyper. She is cynical and untrusting of other lions, but her curious demeanor tends to win her over. She tends to get along better with lionesses than lions, understandably as two male rogues killed her mother and two of her siblings, and essentially stole her cubhood. All for what? The sake of having their own litter of cubs at the expense of three precious lives. Though the one thing the rogues haven't taken from her are her memories and her hope of finding her brother, Kaiser.
Kaiser is a blonde-maned lion, perhaps a tint lighter than his pale tawny coat. He had bright green eyes, appearing almost golden or amber in the sunlight. He was only just developing his mane when she last saw him. He was optimistic, Artemis pessimistic, though she had always tried to take lessons from her older brother. He was always accepting of her mistakes, and reassured her that although Twilight never showed it, she really did care for her cubs - and it was their job as her first litter to teach her as she couldn't quite teach them.
Artemis had to learn how to hunt on her own when Kaiser had disappeared. It was difficult, but she managed by going after young, injured or aging animals.
There have been times Artemis has considered giving up, giving up on finding her brother, giving up on finding a pride, but her memories - good or bad - keep her going when she's in a rough patch. She remembers the good times with her mother and siblings. She wants to prove to the rogues that they hadn't killed her, that they hadn't taken away her opportunities, and that her mother still lives on in her.
Artemis
Nicknames: Arty, fun-sized cub
Hobbies: being a couch, burrowing into holes, sitting in the forever alone corner, screaming, running and hiding
Quirks: sticking her tongue out when she's content/sleeping
