Becoming mates in the Vita' is a lot like marriage in the sense of the Courtship Hunt, they're not considered of breeding age till they're adults because no adolescent is allowed to take part in an Om'riggor till they're of age.
When they are old enough and have completed their Courtship Hunt with their chosen, it's blessed by the Farseer and the two are considered 'mated' and eligible to raise cubs of their own.
Homosexuality isn't something uncommon nor frowned down upon in the Vita, it's just rare as normally Courtship Hunts are between two lions that've decided 'Yes, I want to be with this lion and start a family with them and bash some heads in with them at my side'.
Ofcourse, now and then you will have Courtship Hunts between two males or two females whom take in cubs that have been orphaned from war parties.
Flings/Adolescent Breeding/Rogue Breeding
Flings and Rogue Breeding in general is usually looked down upon in the pride since mating/mates is seen as a deep and meaningful bond between two lions that have undergone hardships to prove their strength in rearing cubs.
If a female came back saying she bred with a strange lion or a male said he'd bred with a strange lioness, there'd be some odd looks thrown their way - but nothing beyond that unless someone who'd sought to take them as a mate became bitter over it.
HOWEVER; The exceptions to this rule are,
emotion_bigvein If the lion/lioness had a friend or witness to acknowledge the rogue lion was of strong stock and the cubs would be good for the pride.
emotion_bigvein One of a mated pair was sterile/infertile wanted to start a family and it was okay'd by the pair (though it's usual for a close friend within the pride to surrogate/stud for them)
emotion_bigvein The 'rogue' partner is in fact of a neighboring allied pride.
Adolescents are only exceptions to these rules AFTER they have completed their Om'riggor Trial - no adult activities for lions not determined adults yet by the pride.
The benefit of having a mated pair on the list is that you don't have to send in an application for breeding permission. If you and your lion's mate have enough roleplays, go for it!
