Remember Your Crimes

"Where is the little demon?" The growl reverberated inside the cave, causing the small cub inside to pull herself closer against the wall.

There wasn't anything to hide behind, and the cave was small. It didn't take long for the lion to find her, roughly grabbing her by the scruff and dragging her outside. The poor thing didn't even bother struggling, obviously aware that nothing she did would cause him to release her. Outside, he unceremoniously dropped her in the middle of a circle of lions.

She could see, if she looked past some of the lions crowded around, the collapsed body of her mother. She wasn't moving, just laying in a puddle of red. The little cub stood up on shaky legs, starting to stumble towards the lioness, but was quickly smacked backwards by one of the watching lionesses.

"This mongrel," the lion who had fetched her from the cave spoke from behind her, "is the hideous amalgamation of leopard and lion. A halfbreed," he spit the word, "that never should have existed. She was created because of her mother's crimes. To fully cleanse the Coalition, we must destroy-"

"She's only a cub," one lioness murmured to her neighbor, only for them to scowl at her, warning her that it was not her place to speak.

The lion in the center evidently had heard her, responding with, "A cub that is a stain to the Coalition's name. What message do we send by sparing her?"

"A message that we are not completely heartless, Wrath." It was one of the princes that spoke, drawing every eye to him as he made his way into the center of the ring, standing almost protectively over the young cub. "It was her mother's mistake, not hers. She does not deserve to die for the sins of another."

"And what do you propose, Your Highness?" The other lion sneered.

A lioness, wreathed in orange flowers, stepped forward. "She shall be burned. It will serve as a reminder to her and anyone who looks upon her that rules are to be followed. Does that suit Your Highness?"

"Yes. Take Ruin," the young cub had been unable to follow most of the conversation, but was at least able to gather that they were referring to her, "and mark her, Flamecaster."

It was a blur from there. There was movement, and she was picked up brought to a dark cavern, lit only by burning flowers. The lioness from before took off her wreath of orange flowers as Ruin sat on the floor, practically cowering before her.

"It's only your face," the lioness murmured sympathetically, or as sympathetically as one in her position could, before fire spurted from her paws, licking at Ruin's face as she screamed and writhed in pain.