This is Adala. Adala has five children and one very big problem.
Adala bint Attila is Hatun of the Qyrhyeshti faction of the Jahy Sarlarin, mate to its Bey - leader - Kotu sim Shan. The problem is that no one has seen Kotu sim Shan in over a month; search parties were sent out, but failed to return with anything more than new scars. Adala and the Qyrhyeshti must face the truth: their Bey is gone, most likely dead. His only living relatives are his mother and sister, no brothers or uncles or even male cousins to succeed him. It looked, at first, as though the unthinkable had happened, and the line of Beys had been broken, but it soon became apparent that Adala was pregnant. She could yet bear a son who could succeed! Perhaps more than one, as she seemed to be carrying a good-sized litter, if her growing belly was any indication.
When it was time for her to give birth, she made herself as secluded as was feasible, taking only a few lions with her to guard the area she had chosen, only one of which was allowed near. It was a week before she returned to the pride, with five cubs in tow.
Five. Female. Cubs.
No son to take Kotu's place. In the absence of both Bey and successor, another solution is necessary. Adala will continue to lead the Qyrhyeshti, and will raise her daughters to succeed her. One day, after they've grown and had time to prove themselves, one of them will be chosen as the next Hatun. Whatever male they take as mate will become Bey, and then the system of succession will - ideally - be returned to normal.
What this means for the cubs is that they will be under a great deal of pressure to prove themselves as warriors, even moreso than the rest of the pride's youth. It also means that if and when they are old enough to take mates, they will be expected to take into consideration the males' skills and leadership potential - and there could very well be competition amongst the eligible males of the pride for the sisters' attention! Not to mention competition amongst the sisters themselves...
And that pretty much covers all the background information you'll need, though I would like to be clear that despite all the pressure that Adala will be putting on the cubs, she does love them, even if it is very tough love. She does not resent them, nor is she disappointed in them for being female. As their mother, and a strong female herself, she would never tell them or imply that. She will probably never be lovey-dovey affectionate with them, but she will not be cruel.
