I bet you're super taken aback by their designs huh

When first viewing Askari, my first thought was that his eyes looked like that simply as part of TLG's stylistic way of depicting ancient pride ancestors. I figured the older the generation, the more primitive they appear

lmao anyway say hello to Askari's parents, Mfalme (meaning "king") and Malkia (meaning "queen"). The sleepy cub is little Askari and the vocal one voicing his opinions is Askari's older brother Warithi (meaning "heirs")

In ancient times, strong, dominant males like Mfalme would mate with several lionesses in order to establish a strong pride. This means Mfalme has many children, but they were all lionesses. Yes, they would make for strong, skilled huntresses, but Mfalme needed a strong male to carry on his leadership. (Also yes this means Askari and Warithi have many older half-sisters.)

When a lioness named Malkia produced two male cubs with Mfalme, Mfalme and Malkia became mates for life, creating an early form of the betrothal, a tradition that would be passed down many generations to come. In creating betrothal, they had established a royal monarchy. The monarchy had only applied to the pride at first, but when Mfalme and Malkia's youngest son Askari led the elephants to Mzimu Grove, and eventually their distant descendant Mohatu led the Pridelands' animals through a drought, the monarchy had since applied to all of the animals in the entire territory.

Askari inherits his father's golden pelt, wrinkled nose, reddish mane, and bright golden eyes. He inherits his mother's overall face shape, black eyebrows, dark eyerims, dark earrims, duller colors, and white underbelly.

Warithi inherits his father's face shape, auburn eyebrows, lack of earrims, and two-toned eyerims. He inherits his mother's dull cream pelt (slightly darkened with his father's pelt color), deep amber eyes, and brown hair.

https://www.deviantart.com/silver-wolf-17/art/TLG-The-First-Monarchs-855082690