Name: Rykerr
Pronunciation: Rye-ker
Meaning: Rich/ powerful
Gender: male

Pride: Asabi (originally), Badlanders (currently)
Rank: Protector of the Cubs
Crush/Mate: Amahle (c) Luscience

Personality: Rykerr is an introvert and large gatherings aren't really his thing. He prefers his alone time. Rykerr enjoys learning new things and is very protective of those he cares about. He is an extremely spiritual and respectful lion, honoring the animals that gave their life so that he could live. Rykerr dislikes injustice of any kind but is not very likely to do much about it. While he tries to be thoughtful and kind to all, he will not hesitate to crush those threatening his loved ones. Despite his somewhat standoffish attitude, Rykerr still maintains a friendly attitude towards strangers, and has a soft spot for cubs. He dislikes giving or receiving special treatment and believes all animals and lions are equal. He dislikes fighting and prefers a calmer life style.

Story: Rykerr was born as prince with an older brother and sister. The pride he was born into was extremely power hungry, and the lions lorded over all of the animals without remorse. He wasn’t particularly close to any of his siblings or his mother, preferring to be alone. Rykerr disliked the way his pride existed with the other animals, but never spoke out much against it. The young lion was made to train rigorously in fighting, resulting in him gaining several scars. As an adolescent male, Rykerr got caught up in the midst of a plot to overthrow his family. Some of the lower ranked lions in the pride did not want to see Rykerr’s family continue to rule, and seeing that he wasn’t much like them, they enlisted Rykerr’s help. While initially in agreement with their views, Rykerr was torn between his loyalty to his family and to his subjects. When he found out that they intended death to come to his siblings and mother, Rykerr alerted his older brother to their plots, resulting in the lions’ imprisonments. Rykerr felt extremely guilty over what he’d done, and his feelings worsened as his brother kept up his merciless slaughtering of the animals of their lands. Eventually, Rykerr had enough.

Seeking justice, Rykerr let the lions out of their prisons inside the caves. They did not believe he was sincere in his fight to change, but they didn’t have to. Rykerr planned to leave home, disgusted by the way his family ran things and the rampant fear that consumed the lands. On his way out of the hidden valley, Rykerr ran into his older brother, who was furious with Rykerr for what he had done. His brother swore he would return the land to his and their mother’s control, and that if he saw Rykerr again, Rykerr would be a goner. His brother then bit off a bit of Rykerr’s ear as a reminder to Rykerr to stay away.

Rykerr became a rogue, though he was not well suited to the lifestyle as he was a terrible hunter, resorting to scavenging. One day, whilst he was tracking the scent of a kill, Rykerr ran across two young cubs in trouble. The cubs were being chased by some very determined vultures. Rykerr saves the two cubs, and learns that they are friends from two separate prides. One of them, Zuri, was from the pridelands, and the other was Nafsi, a princess from the Badlands. Nafsi insisted that Rykerr come back to meet her parents, and the young male relented. When he met the King and Queen and spoke to them of his story, they were kind enough to offer him a place in their pride. Due to his non aggressive nature, and Nafsi’s pleading, Rykerr decided to become the guardian of the cubs, protecting them and going on adventures with the little ones, ensuring their safety.

Relation to TLK: Saves a cub Zuri from vultures; joins the Badlander pride, who are close allies with the pride lands.

Rykerr and Renders (c) me

Badlanders Pride (c) Badlanders

Original images (c) Disney