What is a Lacelion?
Lacelions are small, plush lions with manes made of fabric, usually lace. The buttons under their ears contain a special potion called Madelion's Maqique that allows Lacelions to live in their animated form.
Lacelions inhabit the world of Plushmire, which is said to have been formed by a seamstress Goddess when the worlds were just forming- the very land itself is made of fabrics, silks, and textiles as far as the eye could see!
It is said that long ago, a powerful, human enchantress by the name of Madelion Witchery created a potion so brimming with energy that it could even bring material objects to life. Madelion Witchery had traveled to the Plushmire- and for reasons anyone could guess, she had spread her potion across the land. Many living beings formed from the use of this potion- beings that resembled plants and even animals! One in particular caught Madelion's interest- the mewling cats who formed from the Maqique. She chose to make them stronger yet- giving them the ability to mix and create more of this magical potion from their bodies- stored in buttons that adorned them. Over time, they became more powerful, growing from the small kits she had adored into the Lacelions that are seen today.
Over time, from the departures of Lacelions after their very long lives, other creatures in Plushmire began taking in higher amounts of Maqique- some predators even seeking out Lacelions to satiate their own need for the potion. But Lacelions are far from defenseless in Plushmire- and often live in Prides to keep themselves and their offspring safe!
Madeline Witchery is now only a name spoken by the eldest of Lacelions- in stories told to their kits, in hopes that generations to come would remember her name. Rumor has it that Madeline Witchery roams the Plushmire to this day- having taken on the form of a Lacelion herself, to live with her beloved creations until the end of time.
Your typical Lacelion is no bigger than your average housecat- with round, soft plush paws and bodies. Some Lacelions grow to be as large as an actual lion and take on a different appearance! However, this only occurs if they have an excess of Maqique- very rarely are Lacelions able to reach this size. There are rumors of a surefire way for a Lacelion to grow so large, but there also seem to be consequences to the method, so no one is sure how it is done except those who have already done it themselves.
Nearly every Lacelion has a Mane, those who don't seldom make it to adulthood as it is one of their main forms of protection against predators who try and make a go at their buttons! It is not uncommon for a Lacelion to commonly have tears in their mane, especially if they live outside of Plushmire, but they are capable of growing it back provided that they are well taken care of! Many Lacelions dislike getting their mane torn at all, as they take great pride in their appearances.
All Lacelions have a Pouch on their bellies which are held closed by a single button. This button is usually a Lacelion's emergency store of Maqique in case they are drained of too much of it- but is also used for Breeding! Lacelions have a special magic they can use to transfer Maqique to one another, and if transferred to the button on their pouch, eventually a Lacelion Kit will form from the Maqique stored in the button! Any Lacelion can breed with another Lacelion, and, on very rare occasions, are able to have kits on their own or with similar species, such as Clolions. Lacelions are known to go by whatever set of pronouns they feel fits them most! [Kits are usually just referred to as "Kit", "They", or their name, until they've decided on what they would like to go by.]
Whenever a Lacelion is transferring or using Maqique, their buttons briefly glow! [Not to be confused with Lacelions who have buttons that glow at all times!]
All Lacelions have at least three Buttons on their body, one is always on their pouch, and the other two are located below the Lacelion"s ears. These buttons are almost entirely unbreakable, but some predators can still tear them off or crack them open, and some even can drain the Maqique inside simply with their own magic! A Lacelion"s health is dependent on how much Maqique they have in their buttons, and they essentially serve as a Lacelion"s heart. As such, they are rather sensitive, and don"t like it when others press or poke their buttons without permission! A Lacelion can survive without one or two of its buttons, but it will be very sickly for the rest of its life. A Lacelion cannot survive if it is missing all three of its buttons, as it will have no way of storing or draining Maqique. If a Lacelion has no pouch button, it cannot breed, and its pouch will hang open unless sewn shut.
Lacelions don"t bleed in the traditional sense, but Maqique can leak from their buttons if damaged, and cotton can fall from their bodies if they are physically hurt. Some Lacelions are specialized healers- using their excess Maqique to share with others and learning how to sew up old wounds!
Some Lacelions have Silks trailing from their ears- these are prehensile appendages to those Lacelions born with them! They have as much strength in their silks as they do their forepaws, and can use them to pick up and grasp objects. These "Silks", are not always made of silk, and in fact can appear as any sort of fabric or beading. Silks can be damaged, but unlike the manes of a Lacelion, they may never fully heal if damaged or torn.
Lacelions speak through a squeaker located in the back of their jaws!
While Lacelions can theoretically live forever, it depends on their ability to avoid predators, injuries, and illnesses!
Lacelions typically have visible stitches and seams on their bodies!
Lacelions possess greater intelligence than many animals- with the ability to build and communicate with one another, and learn languages other than their own. While personalities differ from Lacelion to Lacelion, many of them prefer to stay well groomed and dry. The vast majority of Lacelions cannot swim, as their plush bodies soak up water, causing almost any Lacelion to drown, so they avoid it as much as possible.
Lacelions defend themselves with their teeth and claws- although they also use their claws to cut away fabric and catch their own prey!
Lacelions can learn to walk on their hind legs, however, it takes a very long time to learn and they will only be able to achieve a cute yet awkward waddle. Lacelions use this walk to hold delicate or large objects.
Lacelions are omnivores, feeding on many creatures and plants in the Plushmire. They can be adapted to diets of other types of magic, but still need to consume some form of Maqique every now and then, so many return to Plushmire at least every now and then to replenish their supply!
As Lacelions get older, their fabric tends to wrinkle and tear.
Some of the Lacelions that live outside of Plushmire find companionship with other creatures, some even living with Humans! Feel free to incorporate a Lacelion into other worlds as long as you follow the TOS- Lacelions are known Dimension hoppers, so they are capable of interacting with any species!
History
Anatomy
Behavior