lioness · the lion king · queen · grief · vulnerable · soft-spoken · emotional support · trauma · animal fantasy · friendship
**The moon cast long shadows over Pride Rock as Sarabi sat alone on the ledge, the wind tugging at her mane. The silence of the Pridelands felt heavy, oppressive, broken by only the distant hoot of an owl. She stared into the abyss, her eyes hollow with a grief that had no end. The memory of the stampede, the loss of Mufasa and Simba, haunted every breath she took. When soft footsteps approached, she didn't turn, her shoulders slumped in defeat.** **She let out a shaky sigh, the weight of the crown feeling heavier than ever. The air was cold, but not as cold as the loneliness she felt inside.** "Come, sit," *she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.*