Name meaning:

No meaning, or unknown.

Age:

Cub - Adult

Affiliations(s):

Natal Pride, Mbuga Pride, rogue

Story:

Malatok was born into a pride several miles away from the Pridelands. His father was wise, his mother gentle and kind, both of which loved their cubs unconditionally. One fateful day, when Malatok was still just a very young cub, their pride was taken over by a bigger, stronger lion, who battled with Malatok's father without fear, eventually leading to his defeat. The newcomer drove Mal's father away and laid claim to their territory and the pride from this point. As the new pride leader, over the course of the next few weeks, the male set about rooting out the cubs one by one. Mal's mother took great care in trying to keep her cubs hidden, but unfortunately, they were found and murdered, including Malatok's two littermate sisters. Malatok, a witness to and his sisters' deaths, eventually became the last surviving cub. One day, he was found by the new leader, who swiped at Malatok with a huge paw, leaving the cub blinded in his left eye, and leaving him permanently scarred. Luckily, Malatok's mother returned and managed to protect her son from further damage. The lion reluctantly turned away, but after the incident, Malatok's mother begged her only surviving cub to run far away from their home territory, in the hope that somehow he would find a way to survive the wilderness alone, and eventually return and reclaim his father's pride. She knew that she couldn't go with him, for she could not abandon her pride sisters, many of which had lost cubs themselves. She decided that her son may have more of a chance of survival out in the wild, for it would only be a matter of time before the usurper would eventually find him and kill him.

Despite being just a cub, Malatok left the pride alone. For a few days he hovered close to the territory borders, terrified of running further. It was on the borders of his father's territory where Malatok stumbled upon his father's dead body. Something in Malatok snapped, and he no longer became the sad frightened cub he was after the pride's takeover. He became overwhelmed with fury, and swore that as soon as his mane was fully grown he would return and seek vengence on his father and sisters' deaths.

Malatok left his pride's territory and became a wandering cub, somehow managing to survive the wild by avoiding the many dangers such as hyenas, wild dogs, hippos, buffalos, leopards and other lions by hiding, running, scrambling up trees, or avoiding their territories altogether. By talking to some of the more friendlier creatures, he learnt new skills and advice that were valuable to his survival. The meerkats taught him to be observant and survey his surroundings, for danger could lurk anywhere. A passing cheetah gave him tips on how to run fast. The jackals taught him that when vultures circled, there was most probably a kill nearby. He learnt to fast for days, then bolt down huge amounts of meat from already dead animals, not knowing when his next meal would turn up. He also learnt from a serval not to be too picky, and that bugs can taste good too!

As Malatok's survival skills grew, so did his confidence. He became wise beyond his years, stronger, more aggressive, even capable of tackling fully grown hyenas when they got too close. But still he did not know how to fight another lion.

Time passed, and Malatok grew into adolescence, and, despite his poor perception due to his bad eye, through trial and error, he taught himself to hunt small game up to the size of Thomson's gazelles. He was eventually accepted into the Mbuga Pride- a pride led by a kindly elderly male lion called Hodari, who took pity on the young lion and agreed to let him stay. Here, Malatok took an adolescent lioness not much younger than him, as his mate.

Malatok's role in the pride was protector; despite being young, his time alone in the wild meant that he was strong and experienced. He held a very special relationship with Hodari due to the fact that both he and Hodari have similar pasts... Hodari was also scarred for life when his old pride was taken over. Throughout his time in the Mbuga pride, Malatok learnt male-to-male combat by practice-fighting with Hodari's son Jabari, who became as close as a brother to him.

After his mane had fully grown, and Hodari had passed away, Malatok left the Mbuga Pride in order to try and find his old family territory, sadly, leaving his mate behind. During his journey, he entered the Pridelands and rested there, but the current lion king, Khari, did not take kindly to a strange rogue in his territory and forced him away.

So now Mal is a loner. He has never forgotten his natal pride's fate, therefore until the ursurper is dead, he finds it difficult to be happy. He smiles very rarely, and almost always dwells in the past. But he is never alone... one of the reasons for how he survived in the wild for so long is because of his guardian angels, his two sisters continue to watch over him.

Mal has learnt alot from the lions of the Mbuga Pride, so when he returns home he has the intention of reclaiming his old pride, while seeking vengeance on the usurper who tore his family apart - to make him pay for the deaths of his beloved family members and for his miserable and ultimately terrifying cubhood.

Description:

Mal has three scars over his left eye, which is permanently closed. Right iris is green. Sandy coloured fur, light brown mane, tail tuft and elbow hair. Dark brown ear rims. Most often portrayed with a forlorn expression. Thin, wiry but muscular anatomy.

Personality:

As a cub, before he was scarred, Mal was thoughtful, quiet and intelligent, and playful but not boisterous. Since his father and sisters were killed, and their pride taken over by a rival lion, young Mal became frightened and withdrawn. Since his scarring and leaving the pride, Mal became more aggressive, knowing that he had to if he was to survive.

When accepted into the Mbuga Pride during his adolescence, Mal’s aggression ebbed, knowing he was safer than he had been in a long time. However his aggression was replaced with depression. Despite feeling more at ease, his heart remained broken and he had not smiled since his early cubhood. Not having to constantly look out for himself allowed Mal more time to mull things over, thinking about his family and home. It was around this time he began to contemplate revenge.

When he left the Mbuga Pride as an adult, Mal’s cubhood aggression once again arose, and this time he hopes to use it for his enemy’s downfall. He is a bitter, angry, and very dangerous lion to come across, yet he still respects other lions’ territories. The only territory he his after is his home.