Located in a series of valleys that are part of Africa's Great Rift Valley, the Aka'mleli ('Non-Feathered') pride has been in existance for three generations. The current king's grandfather was the founder, after he rescued a magnificiant martial eagle from the cruel claws of one of the pridal kings of the area at the time. Hestia, goddess of birds, was furious at the brutality to her then-mate, and helped the rescuer overthrow the existing pride and establish his own. She went even further, granting the pride a boon: each pride member would be paired to a member of the avian species, who would render them mutual assistance and companionship throughout their lifetimes. This pairing would usually only be between the lions and birds of prey, particularly raptors. If raptor or lion dies before the other does, they will be paired to another, normally a relative of the deceased bird or lion.
The Aka'mleli is the only lion pride, in living memory, that Hestia has assisted. The pride does not worship the bird goddess, but they greatly respect her; the birds they are bonded to, however, revere her.
The pride is always ruled by a king or queen and their consort; beneath them are a group of seers – always three in number – who advise the royal or royal pair. Extremely important members of the pride, seer children are always carefully trained and watched as soon as they're identified. Any cub who does not have a sense of honor or is callous or cruel must be dealt with carefully; if they continue that path into adolescence, they will be banished from the pride. Just slightly beneath these are a group of council members, appointed for life by the king or queen and his/her consort and each of the three seers, so there are typically four or five council members drawn from the pridal ranks. The general holds the next-highest rank, with three captains beneath him (or her). Scouts, guards, hunters, healers, storytellers, and nannies make up the remanining ranks.
