When Suriama was younger, she was considered a demonous representation of her family's failings as the rulers of their land -- it was struck by a great drought shortly after she was born, and because of her melanistic coloring, it was thought her mother had comitted an offense by mating with a panther. One day, her father had enough; and cast she and her mother out of the pride in hopes of appeasing whatever gods has cast the bad luck upon their lands at her birth. He gave them five days to leave the lands or he would kill them.

Distraut, an adolescent Suriama ran away from both mother and father... And wound up finding her way to the river that split their land from another, where she wound her way into the water, staring into the water at her reflection, praying that it would all just wash away...

Picture inspired by:
Down to the River to Pray (O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack)

Lyrics from: Old Folks Song (Down To The River To Pray)

Character & Picture © L. Morrigan