I am Tiritiri, a brand new member to the boards, and these are my OCs. They will soon be featured in a story I'm working on, so watch out for these three little cubs, amongst others. I'm searching for other characters, so if you have ideas or OC you'd like me to include, please mail me!
The Amani Pride literally translates as the Peace Pride, and for good reason. The pride is renowned for its peace with all the surrounding herbivores, despite that fact that the lions, y'know, eat them. The pride has a special relationship with the zebra herd, and it is forbidden to hunt zebra within their borders.
Kifalme has two pictures, the lucky boy. Kifalme is the only true son of the king and queen of the Amani pride. When he was only a few days old, the den his mother made in patchy woodland was disturbed by a herd of buffalo. Buffalo will kill lions, if they can find them, and this herd was not from the prides territory. In trying to negotiate an alliance with them to protect her son, the queen was killed.
But all was not lost for Kifalme. A herd of zebra stepped in and saved him, shielding him for the baffalo's eyes. Not guessing that a fellow grass-eater would hide a lion, the baffalo were tricked and gave up. Since then, the zebra herd has become very friend with the Amani pride.
As for his personality, Kifalme is cheeky and thinks he's the best thing since chopped meat, a view that's not helped by Reati. His name translates as 'royal', and he pretty much does what he likes, with a little supervision from some of the other animals. He always takes charge, but when things get tough, he breaks down and goes to hide behind Mana. Although his life was saved but zebras, he looks down upon any other animals apart from lions.
Reati was born to a rogue lioness out on the plains. Without a pride to support her, Reati's mother had trouble finding food, and Reati knew hunger in her earliest days. When they found the Amani pride, and were accepted into it, Reati immediately noticed Kifalme and the royal family. At that time, Mana wasn't in the pride yet, and Kifalme was the oldest cub. Being the same age, the two cubs began to hang out with each other, but Reati wasn't doing it for the company. Kifalme and his family always ate first, always got the best sleeping spots, always were the first to get everything. She wanted that. So Reati put up with Kifalme and his whinging, and even encouraged him in some of his delusions. Now that she's in with the royal family, she's left her own mother behind.
Mana, in the far-distant language of the birds, means a person of great character and honor. Mana, like Reati, was born to a rogue lioness. However, unlike Reati, Mana's mother wasn't strong enough to keep going. She died with his name on her lips, and Mana spent a week wandering and looking for other lions. He found the Amani pride and was immediately accepted because of his young age. Although he is the same age as Kifalme and Reati, he is a bit bigger and has a more pronounced mane. Mana is strong, and tough, but all he really wants is acceptance.
I like the feel of the story "world" you have set up, too.