ADOPTED FROM CLAIRE COOPER

Name: Inaya (meaning 'providence')

Parents: Scar and Mthama

Siblings: Nala (half-sister), Mheetu (half-brother), Nuka (half-brother), Vitani (half-sister), Rickon (half-brother)

Mate: None (Is in love with Chioke)

Cubs: None

Pride of Origin: Nyasi

Personality: Inaya is a fiery young lioness with a love for life and adventure. She is fiercely loyal to the pride who raised her, particulalrly the pride's General, Rubanza, and his two youngest cubs, Taji and Raisa, who are her best friends. When under pressure, Inaya always does her duty despite any misgivings she may have and she believes that her word is her bond.

History: Inaya was one of the many cubs that Scar attempted to sire in hopes for a strong male heir. He chose one of the Bahari Pride females believing that the mixing of the two pride's bloodlines would produce a stronger heir and for that he chose the unfortunate lioness, Mthama, one of Queen Neema's huntresses. Although the lioness tried to resist, she wasn't strong enough and Scar had his way.

Ashamed and horrified, Mthama fled the Pridelands. To escape the hyenas that attempted to pursue her, she fled north to the mountains. After many days and nights of solid running with no stopping for either food or water, Mthama arrives in the lush plains which the Nyasi Pride calls home. She is immediately apprehended by the pride living at the foot of the mountains but instead of killing her, as Nyasi law dictated she should be, they took pity on the exhaused lioness and allowed her to recover before explaining why she trespassed on their lands. After hearing Mthama's sad tale, the General of the pride, Rubanza, granted her a place in his pride and for any cubs she may be carrying.

Soon, it is time for Mthama to give birth and unfortunately she doesn't make it through the ordeal and neither do most of the cubs she was carrying...except for a little female and they named her Inaya.

The young cub was swiftly taken by Rubanza's mate, Taabu, and raised alongside the General's cubs. The eldest son, Chioke, was several seasons older than her but she was the same age as the two youngest cubs, Taji and Raisa, and she would be their playmate.

Inaya grew up relatively happy, raised communially by the pride, her origins were never spoken of for fear that King Makwetu would find out and kill the young cub as she should have been. She was fast friends with Taji and Raisa and it wasn't uncommon to find the three playing on the rocky border between the Nyasi lands and the mountains that the Kilima pride called home. 

As she grew older, Inaya began to feel very deeply for Chioke. She often spent time with him solely because she was so close with Taji and Raisa...but there was a problem. Chioke was not only the General's son and heir (and she, technically, was no more than a common lioness) but also because of Chioke being an almost white lion which made him even more reverred by the pride and therefore even further out of her league. Therefore, she was shocked to discover that Chioke had feelings for her too.

However, things were not to last.

When Rubanza sent away for a mate for Chioke, the Princess of the Kilima Pride called Hiari who's betrothal had been broken, Inaya was heartbroken but she knew she never really had a chance anyway. Raisa and Taji were quick to notice her more depressed moods and their brother's sullen attitude and quickly figured out what the problem was. Inaya's heart was beyond salvaging and only time would be able to heal her wounds.

Then, horrifying news reached the pride, that Hiari had been kidnapped on her way to their pride and her escort party was missing. Despite her sadness, Inaya was shocked and concerned for the princess's wellbeing. Quietly, Rubanza took her, Taji and Raisa aside and tasked them with finding Chioke's lost bride and bringing her back safely. Unable to say no to the lion who had all but raised her, Inaya agreed and set out with her two best friends to find Hiari and bring her to safety.

Relation to TLK: Daughter of Scar

Body Base (c) SilverBreeze