My TLK - Age Chart part 3

13 years – usually when lions/lionesses start going through the first effects and changes of puberty. Along with gaining more size and maybe even muscle, a male’s mane begins to sprout from the top of the head, along the back and center of the chest, though the growth is slow. Although lionesses gain some weight and size, the difference in size compared to the males becomes more evident.

14 years – Along with more extension of there mane, males will start to take there spares and lessons more seriously, in preparation for the day they join the pride as protectors or leave to go start there own. Lionesses will start to take part in the hunt with pride sisters and even start preparing for their rite of passage, a solo hunt.

15 years – the final year of preparation before lions/lionesses will go through the final right of passage in the pride. While lionesses spend the majority of there time with pridesisters on hunts, getting advice from there peers and seniors, males will be finishing up sparing training and now devoting there time to other fields of interest. Depending on the future they have in mind, lions will either focus on honing their skills on how to hunt, track and take down prey (if they wish to become rouges or found there own pride/kingdom) or patrolling the borders and scenting for intruders (if they wish to remain in the pride). Royal cubs will be preparing for the role of regent and eventual ascension to the throne (if they are presented such a role).

16 years – the year that both lions and lionesses will be addressed by the king/queen of the land to perform their rite of passage and ultimately decide there position in the pride. Lionesses will go through a solo hunt that will decide their place amongst the pridesisters. The lioness will be asked to track down, hunt and potentially bring back a prey animal: being judged how long it takes, skill in tracking, stealth, the chase, decisions during and after the hunt and what she brings back. Once preformed, the Alpha huntress will console with the judges then tell the king/queen their verdict. Should the lioness being tested unhappy with the verdict, she can chose to take the test again or leave the pride altogether. Males of this age will be addressed and asked if the wish to remain amongst the pride, leave or challenge the ruler or their heir for the throne. Should it be the first or the last, males will fight the king (or whoever holds a similar position) till one opponent gives in or is defeated. Males wishing to join the ranks need only to fair well enough against their leader (not necessarily best them) while males vying for the throne must defeat their opponent or risk being chased out of the kingdom otherwise. Most lions, however, choose to leave and seek fortune elsewhere.

17 years – at this point, royal born children go through their own rite of passage. In order to prove themselves qualified for the throne, the royal borns are given a test of some kind that varies greatly depending on the king/queen there ruling and what they deem important for their heirs’ future ruling. If they should pass said test they can either chose to ascend to king/queen, or act as regent till they feel prepared. It is also around this time that all betroths connected to the royal cub are sanctified and the pair wedded, preferably before taking the throne. Lions and lionesses in the pride are also old enough to start seeking mates, either amongst rouges or in the pride, although they need the approval of the ruling leader to seek out, marry or produce cubs (to not do so could mean grave punishment). Lionesses that wish to retake their solo hunt test over again have till the 17 years old marker before they must settle with there position.

18 years – By this point, all lions and lionesses in the pride are considered old enough to be deemed true adults and in extension, true members of there chosen pride. They are ready to take responsibility and go forward with there chosen lives.
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The second to last age chart. Here you see the actual growth of the mane. Why has nobody ever done that before, its so much fun it is actually really useful in terms of figuring out a few key points.
For example, when Kovu and Kiara meet up in the movie, Kovu is about 17 years old while Kiara is 16. The Kovu and Kiara in the comic on page 14 are about 14 and 13 (respectably). That means that there was about a 3 to 4 year gap between when there separated and when the met up again in the movie (this isn't really a spoiler because my comic ties into the second movie).
Again, each individual is different and ages a different way so what you see won't always apply to the situation.

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