Loyal

**Loyal** is a male lion that appears in *Broken Pride* and helped Fearless after he was cast out of Brightforest Troop. It is stated that he also has a crooked tail, possibly from a break that didn't heal right. He is later revealed to be the father of Fearless.

## Biography

### Pre-Series

Sometime before the events of *Broken Pride*, Loyal made an oath to Gallant that he will never mate with Swift, since the lioness agreed to become Gallant's mate. Sometime later, however, Gallant was presumably deceased for unknown reasons and Loyal decided to mate with Swift, since Gallantpride was unaware that he was still alive. However, Gallant was later discovered to be alive, but it was already too late for Loyal, since he had already mated and impregnated Swift with Fearless. Although Loyal didn't mean to break his oath, he was punished for it anyway, since Gallant, who trusted his old friend to keep his word, found it hard to forgive him. As punishment, Loyal lost custody of Fearless and was banished from Gallantpride.

### *Broken Pride*

Fearless sees the silhouette of a lion with a peculiar crooked tail. This lion is later proven to be Loyal. Later, Fearless visits Loyal's den, which is marked with pungent scent markers and is littered with bleached prey bones. This crooked-tailed lion arrives with Fearless when they meet up with the cheetahs. The cheetahs have bloodstained muzzles and comment that it's true that the hunting was good in the place that Fearless claimed to be loaded with prey. When they see Loyal by Fearless's side, they think Fearless tricked them because he promised that he would only bring himself, and not anybody else. Loyal also helps take back Titan's cub, Ruthless, from the cheetahs.

### *Code of Honor*

Before Swift died, she told Fearless and Valor to not trust Loyal, because he had broken an oath he had made in the past. Fearless quickly ran to Loyal's den and demanded him to confess what he did. Loyaldid not want to discuss what he did and tried veering away from the conversation by offering Fearless food. However, Fearless kept pleading him to confess and he admitted to committing a crime, but still did not say what he did. Loyalsaid he went against his own word and in doing so, caused a lot of pain, and that he will never regret it as long as he lived. He also said he did not care what any lion thought of him, even Fearless. Loyal proceeded to offer Fearless food, but the latter exited the den immediately.

### *Shifting Shadows*

Fearless constantly thinks about his late biological father and how the circumstances of the former's birth was an act of betrayal on Loyal's part. He then thinks about how he learned why Loyal betrayed Gallant. When Fearless is fighting Titan, he mentally notes that he will avenge Loyal's death alongside his mother and Gallant's.

### *Oathkeeper*

He is seen, alongside Swift and Gallant, bringing Fearless's spirit to the Spirit Lands.

## Trivia

* Gillian confirmed that Loyal broke his oath unintentionally by mating with Swift.
* Loyal's name is somewhat ironic, because loyalty is where you're supporting your allies, except, his affair with Swift was an act of disloyalty. However, he makes it up when he supports Fearless.