They never gave me a name. Such a pawn was not seen as worthy of a name. They don’t really care about me; they only use the worst of my fallen nature for their own use.
If they did call me by a name, they might would call me Justice or Vengeance. Those who see me, see for the last time, for they become my dinner. What can I say? They keep me hungry, so I eat whatever I can get my paws on.
Here they keep me, one of the King’s lions, in this den sealed by the great stone door. I live out my days waiting for whatever poor victim is sentenced to death by lions. Many of these prisoners I have seen. Some, no doubt, deserving of their fate. Others just innocents who fell into disfavor with the King.
One day, something strange happened. The door above me was opened. Light pierced the dark den. Those who opened the door ducked back from the scent of death wafting up from the den as it struck them in the face.
The prisoner appeared. Placing the ropes around him, they lowered him into the den. Some of the other lions licked their chops in anticipation. The prisoner was deposited on the floor of our den, the ropes were pulled, and the door closed. We could hear the muffled voices of the men as the King placed his seal on the great rock.
Suddenly, a change came over us. It was as though the horrid curse was lifted. We had heard from our ancestors of a time in which we lions were not such awful beasts, but lived happily with mankind. The beasts did not kill each other to eat, nor did men kill us. But we had never known anything but fear and hatred for these people. Now, that curse was lifted.
We saw a friend, not a prey, standing before us. I rose and walked towards him. At first, he stood still. I rubbed against him purring like the great cat I was. Soon, he relaxed. We would not hurt him.
This man had a name. As he looked at me with love I had never seen in a human before, he told me his name —Daniel, servant of the Living God. Daniel ran his hands through my thick mane.
My mate joined me in greeting Daniel. She also purred louder than I had ever heard her purr before. How lovely it was to love and be loved by the humans we were meant to serve in the Garden. Even if this was a cold, stone den, there was still a bit of paradise in the moment.
Soon, he grew tired. We made him as comfortable as we could. Daniel curled up against me while my mate lay by his feet. That night he slept as well as if he were in the royal palace. The King in his royal palace, on the other hand, was pacing so much we could hear him thumping around all the way down here! I purred loudly to cover the sound, so Daniel could sleep.
Morning came. The door was opened. The King called out for Daniel.
Before Daniel left us, he gave us names. Me, he called Ariel and my mate he called Lawbee. It was said in the Garden Adam gave the animals names. Daniel placed his hand of friendship and blessing on our heads, stroked my mane one last time, then left us.
The King rejoiced when he saw Daniel alive and well. Yet a cloud of wrath came over his jubilation. Turning to the wicked men who had schemed against Daniel, he ordered them to be thrown into the den with their families. Even as he spoke, the curse of the flood descended on us again. We began to growl hungrily at the people above us.
The wicked ones were lowered into our den. This time, we did not wait. They were all dead before they touched the floor of the den.
Though I remain a prisoner of the curse and the King, I have seen a glimpse of what paradise was meant to be.
Daniel 6:21-22 (KJV) “Then said Daniel unto the king, ‘O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.’”