Pride Days (IC)

Var comfortingly put his head beside Kyra's in a sort of hug. His eyes now began to tear up. Seeing Kyra so distraught was something that brought him great pain. "Kyra, this world is far from fair. But it is because of people like us and our friends that keep peace, even if it is temporary. Given the lessons we will provide the future generations, I can only imagine the good they will do in this world." He then backed up slightly to look at her. "You're not crazy, and they'll know that. You're a young, beautiful lioness who has been through the darkest of this world. And if our children know the spirits as we do, they'll know that the things you suffer are not just ghosts inside your head, made by your own mind. They are real things, real spirits who call out with real voices. That is something no one can ever deny anymore. Not now, not after living here."

Var sighed looked down at his paws briefly, before returning to meet her eyes. The swift silver scar below his right eye that ran down his cheek shone brightly in the morning light. "If we do not have cubs, I fear there will be only a few things left apart from each other that can keep us happy. Cubs would provide us the ultimate distraction from all of this torment... I know it sounds selfish, but after all we've been through... I think we deserve it." Var glanced over his shoulder at the exit to the den, just for a moment. "This world needs more of you and I. There are so few good lions and lionesses out there. Every day we were in Somalia, did you see a single lion who was pure at heart?" He shook his head. "If this Pride dies, I fear there will be few, if not none who are good left," he said.

"Fate gives us a chance to spread our legacy to new blood, to teach, to save a life. Our children may change someone's life some day, bring them out of darkness.... One day we will be old, Kyra. By then we cannot do much more than tell a few old stories to help people. It will be in the paws of the Pride's youth to keep our goodness alive. That is something we cannot let die." He shook his head again. Var thought for a moment, he was careful with his next words. "Before I met you I would always tell myself that it wouldn't be right if I had cubs, even a mate. I was convinced that my father's bloodline must end with me, so that it may disappear from this world. I thought my blood was cursed, and maybe it is. But meeting you has taught me that good can come from broken places. That you can change even the most hopeless of people. Now just imagine what good our children can do for others. We may have a daughter as bright as the sun, and she could find a mate who comes from a dark home, but she draws him out with her light. Imagine Kyra, the things that could happen," he added.

"I love you, and I will never do anything that would cause you any more pain. If you do not wish to bring cubs into this world, I will say nothing more. But if desire strikes you, our family will continue." He then continued, finally adding, "But know this: I will find a way to free you from this curse, even if it costs me every bone in my body."

Var closed his eyes, sighing. "That is all I've ever wanted, Kyra." He looked back up at her, trying to hold back his tears. "Shebla will be back soon, and she may have Ramla with her. Let's go find them," he said. He led her out of the den and into the camp. Shebla, Fusan, and Ramla were already emerging from the other side. They met with Var and Kyra by the entrance to the royal cave.

"Everyone come inside," Sira said. The group then entered the royal cave. Jali and Taru had returned just in time.

Ramla spoke first. She seemed different. Without the gray coloring in her eyes, she looked much younger. Naturally as a blind cat she couldn't do much without Shebla's aid. Even walking was a challenge. Laying around and eating all day took a toll on her body, and since her vision had been restored she was very active and hunted frequently. Her body had lost a lot of weight, making her look twice as young. Many people in the Pride had often mistook Ramla as a much older lioness, when in actuality she was barely any older than Kyra herself. However, now it was obvious that she was still young.

"Should I go find Shadow? He may have some ideas that I won't," Ramla said. "Plus he comes from another angle of teaching that I haven't seen through." In response, Shebla nodded and Ramla retreated from the den. It would only be moments before she returned with Shadow and most likely Coglon as well, as a translator to those who couldn't read Shadow's messages clearly.

Before long, Shadow and Coglon had arrived with Ramla. "Now, I've informed Ramla about the dreams. Shadow may need a summary." She then explained the dreams to Shadow and as the group settled she waited for him and Coglon to answer.

Sira's eyes began to tear up. She looked at Thema, who was asleep just outside the cave, her brother Ramses sitting, watching the camp. Sira shook her head, looking worried. "What does this mean? What do our cubs have anything to do with this, and what does the mark mean?" she asked. Jali placed a paw on her flank, hoping his touch would calm her down. She was shaking terribly and Jali stepped closer to comfort her. But a simple glance into the king's eyes would reveal he was not exactly calm at mind either.

Ramla then stepped forward, her tail brushing Sira comfortingly as she walked past her. "I thought I made it quite clear to everyone that this next generation would be spiritually gifted, especially Gamba and Layla's cubs. They are about to inherit gifts from their ancestors. Protheus has been kind to us in allowing these children to obtain these abilities in the first place. Nonetheless, there's not much more I can say about these powers. The Spirits never gave me many visions concerning them and now that I have lost my Sight I can only provide my past knowledge." Ramla looked at Jali and Sira.

"You do not need to be afraid. Your children will be heroes. I think it is obvious that half the Spirits in the sky are watching this Pride simply because we are who we are and we've done what we've done. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a million sets of eyes watching us right now. It's just a simple fact that we are very involved with the Spirit World." She paused before going on. "When we were in Somalia, Kyra had already begun to experience visions. Most of them concerned Dalmaa visitations, for he would torture Kyra mentally every time she laid her head down to sleep. But a portion of these dreams also pertained to this set of prophecies, and I was disturbed that I was unable to help her." Ramla thought for a moment, as if aggravated. "I have been a Seeress since the beginning of my adolescence, I have deciphered thousands of the strangest, most foreign and unusual visions and fought off the most wretched, depraved spirits one could imagine and still I was unable to tell what this meant."

"But now we know," Taru began. "These are things that are yet to come."

"Precisely," Ramla said. "And Kyra has had the opportunity to see history unfolding before its time. She has seen individuals that have not been born yet or at this point are at least very young. And now a prophecy of the children of our own Pride. One can only ask what our place is in all of this. That may be yet for us to discover. Although we obviously see Shebla's place in the prophecy." Ramla looked up at Shebla sternly. "Shebla, do you love Ammon?"

Shebla's nose grew pink almost immediately. "What?" she asked, embarrassed. Ramla did not reply, because she knew Shebla had heard her. Shebla thought for a moment before speaking. "It's not really a subject I like to speak about Ramla...."

"I think we all know the answer though," Jali said, growing a grin as he looked at Shebla. "I think its safe to say that should Ammon return, the prophecy will fulfill itself. The only issue is him not exactly being here at the moment. His soon return would help things greatly."

"Egret promised that he would return," Ramla said. "Know that Egret is not a lying Spirit, far from it. Ammon will be coming, we can count on that."

"Kavis isn't a part of this prophecy?" Jali asked.

"No, he isn't," Ramla said. "The Spirits seem to be finished with him for the time being."

"Thank goodness," Jali replied.

"What's this moth symbol?" Var asked. "It's on Shadow's paw and Coglon's chest. It obviously means something, now that it's been pointed out to me."

Sira seemed aggravated, but wasn't going to let it get to her head. "Like what? Coglon, could you please be more clear?" she asked. "It's just... It concerns my children... Ramla?" Sira asked.

Ramla shook her head. "I cannot tell you what it means, I haven't the slightest clue," she said. "I come from a different type of teaching than Shadow does," she added. Sira then looked back at Shadow and Coglon, eyeing the moth symbol. She tried to make sense of the legend, but still could not understand. Ramla sighed. "This is beyond my understanding. If it does not concern spirits, mortals, or Auras, I can't be of much service."

"How would Protheus allow this?" Jali asked.

"I do not think Protheus is highly involved, but as the all-knowing, all-controlling Aura, he is aware. But he is not involved in this, obviously," Ramla said. Ramla looked at Coglon. "Is there any way you can describe this to us in simpler ways?"

Jali was silent for a long time, before finally speaking. He looked very troubled and his eyes were filled with anxiety and worry. "This is certainly a lot to take in," he said, eyeing Coglon and Shadow. He sighed, looking at his paws. Anger filled him and his nose wrinkled furiously. "Why can't we just live in peace?!" he shouted, swiping a few rocks on the cave floor with his paw, sending them into the wall next to him. He then calmed himself by taking several deep breaths. Taru then spoke up.

"So, we can expect to be meeting these creatures soon?"

Sira interrupted. "My cubs. Are they also chosen for this task? Are they part of this league of younger creatures which the entity has selected? Because..." her body began to shake with something akin to great worry and great anger. Jali quickly stepped in front of her, putting her gaze at his eyes. He put a paw on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. Sira's eyes began to drip and Jali turned back to look at Coglon.

"As much as all of this fascinates me, I must agree with my mate. My primary concern is with the youth of this Pride and their role in this," Jali began. "And I am distressed in knowing that they will be involved in these affairs, especially if it leads in their harm. I had such a deep desire of sheltering my little girl from supernatural ordeals, and I wanted to preserve the mind of my son, that he not be overtaken by the same madness and obsession that my father had with this."

"Layla and Gamba need to know," Sira said. "No getting around it."

"Of course," Taru said. "They must be made aware immediately. Not only that, but I think Saber also has a right to know." Jali cringed at the thought of letting Saber join in on this. Old hate burnt bright, but he knew Saber would try to force his own prophecies down their throats from the cave markings. Saber, a close-minded individual, would likely try to interpret these events in his own way, and he didn't want such a fool getting involved. But that would have to wait, now was not the time to sort that out.

Jali nodded, and then sighed and shook his head. "I can only hope Protheus ends this world soon, so that we may all be relieved of this pain, even if we are then expelled to nothingness. But even then, that's only a prophecy," Jali said, giving a glance to Ramla. "In the end, who's to say what will really happen. Last time we heard of Two Prophecies, and the actual unfolding of events was neither of them, but a place somewhere in between. And now we find out that time is not set." Jali looked back up at Coglon and Shadow. "Forgive me if I may seem harsh, but my cubs are my highest priority, and I want to know exactly what their roles will be, if they are among this group that is to complete such a task. Tell me this for my sake as well as my mate's. It will only be once we have been assured that we will truly be able to cooperate with everyone in this. And I'm sure Gamba and Layla would be the same way if they were in here."

Coglon sighed, “There are few things that are easy to say, but yes, your cubs, along with many of the others born in Sunset Pride, have been chosen to help seal the foe.” He said. The strange lion shook his head regretfully, “You might curse Fate for giving them this responsibility, for not choosing someone else, but it is doing all that it can to protect them, though you might not see it that way. By choosing cubs in a pride that is filled with individuals of great spiritual strength, Fate has made it possible for some of those chosen to still have families to return to, and they are surrounded by those that can better prepare them for what they would face in the future. This spiritual strength is also what makes it possible for the relatives themselves to survive, because otherwise…” Coglon suddenly stopped speaking, as though the words caught in his throat, and after failing several times to speak, flattened his ears and shook his head, refusing to continue.

Kyra’s ears lowered, “All the others…their families were…” She drifted off and looked away.

Shadow’s eyes shined as though they had a faint misting of tears, as he drew clouds over the large moth symbol, and then proceeded to draw shapes of young creatures with larger adults next to them. One by one, he drew claws scratching over the parents, and smaller versions of the moth above the remaining children, jaws above the moth trying to devour it, as though it were desperately trying to protect the young creatures from what had taken their parents. This image, though, was sad, for even as the moth threw its own body between the young creatures and the open jaws, its small, fragile body looked as though it would be destroyed with ease, and would never manage to protect them, though it tried. He also drew several images of eggs and females with unborn young, and crossed them out with claws.

Coglon looked at the images, “Fate does try to protect the chosen and their loved ones, but for all of its power, it is helpless to save their parents and families, and can only watch helplessly as the dark spirits that have escaped their prisons run rampant. It is not aloof; it wanted those that it selected to still have everything, and to grow up living the most normal lives possible, just as how you would wish for your cub’s lives to be. In the end, however, it can barely protect the chosen alone from harm, much less those around them. Fate has fought many losing battles, and many were chosen before these cubs, in the hopes that they would be older and more mature when the seals broke, but in the end, there is a cult of living followers of these dark spirits, and they always seemed to kill the mothers before they gave birth, or smash the eggs before they hatched.”

Shadow shook his head, and then drew another shape of a grown lion with a point between his eyes. He drew a cut across the lion’s left shoulder, and then sprinkled pale sand on it.

Coglon looked at the image, “It is not clearly stated, but it is apparent to everyone here that Ammon is involved in this. As I said, Fate had chosen others previously, but they were killed. Ammon is the exception. He is one of the chosen selected in the previous generations who has survived, despite everything, and it is this, along with his age, and the immense reserves of mana that were present in his body at birth, that have given him authority as leader of this next generation.”

Fusan’s ears lowered, “You mean the others like this lion were…killed…If Fate is so powerful, why was it not able to stop that...? Will these cubs and others like them be at risk too…?” He choked.

Shadow nodded slowly, and proceeded to draw swirling patterns, digging his claws deep into the ground so that the rich black dirt underneath showed within them. He then drew the abstract forms of several lions, seemingly bowing their heads to the spiraling shapes. Shadow flicked his tail around, and he grabbed a leaf off of the vine that grew on his body. He ground the leaf up between his toes, and dragged a claw along the legs of the lions in the drawing. The leaf’s juices were a deep, vivid red, like the color of blood.

Coglon translated the image, “The dark spirits, when they were mortals, gained followers who worshipped them like gods. When they were defeated, many of those followers dispersed and sought to make amends with the world. It was learned, however, that there was the possibility of their leaders returning, and so it was that several members of that cult remained. It continued to exist in secret for ages, and when the time for their masters to break free grew close, they began relying on a witchdoctor.”

Shadow, despite being a peaceful lion, made a horrible face, the corners of his mouth pulling back to reveal a grimace of disgust.

Coglon continued, ignoring the reaction, “The witchdoctor possessed the ability to determine when a chosen one would be born, and every time he successfully identified one, assassins were dispatched to kill the expectant mothers, or to destroy all of the eggs in a nest. Fate was not always able to protect those it chose, because that same witchdoctor would also create seals to prevent it from interfering. While normal mana could go anywhere, the being is susceptible to wards, and the witchdoctor possessed a disturbingly vast knowledge of how mana worked.”

Kyra padded up to her brother and looked down at him, “…If they killed all the others except for my father….” She said, seemingly in a sense of denial, “…then what about the cubs we have now? Will they be killed also?” She asked, “Are they all going to die?” She suddenly seemed angry, and perhaps also, deeply terrified.

Coglon remained calm in the face of his sister’s rage, and slowly shook his head, “No, the witchdoctor who knew how to create those wards one night threw himself into the rapids of a river and died. Having dealings in the forbidden techniques, he traded away his peace and happiness in the pursuit of power. I dare not say what he did, but day and night, he was tormented by malevolent forces that he himself summoned. It finally became too much.” His face was grave, but he forced the ugly expression down.

He continued, “The cult found a new witchdoctor, but she does not know how to create wards, and is very inaccurate in predicting where any who are chosen would be. She was not able to identify those in this pride, and without wards, Fate can now deliver the chosen safely from the cult’s claws. Mark my words, this time, all of the chosen shall live to see adulthood.”

Kyra’s teeth clenched, “How can you say that so easily? Why can’t we just have normal families? Why does some other strange, all-powerful being have to come and take that peace away?” She demanded. She had wanted to have cubs. Now, however, she was terrified that they, too, would be pulled into the fray. She looked prepared to fight, even though it would change nothing.

The lion tilted his head to one side, “Know this, it is easier to imagine Fate as another creature like us, rather than as a being of great power. It chose the cubs of this pride to endure these trials ahead, but in all truth, it is not much more different from a cub itself. Fate may have power, but it is bound by many limitations and laws that make it far weaker. It feels frightened, and it experiences pain and sorrow. It cannot directly control the future, and it must fight against all others who attempt to sway events in their favor, and it does not always win.” He said.

He suddenly tensed, and gritted his teeth, “Fate is not toying with us for its own amusement, Kyra, and do not think I am unaware of why you would say such things to me. There will soon be a war that could encompass all of Africa, and if left alone, it shall even spread across the great bodies of water to other lands. Sunset Pride might be fortunate enough to save itself and its allies from being caught in the fray, for you will know the signs and be able to prevent it, but while everyone here is dismayed because they have already fought in one war and lived to tell their story, entire prides, herds, clans, floats, flocks, swarms, and packs…will die...”

Kyra’s mouth fell open, and she was left completely stunned. She then looked down at her paws, suddenly filled with shame. Had Coglon known what she had been thinking?

Coglon looked slowly at everyone in the cave, silent for a long time, before speaking again, his voice eerily calm, “Shadow and I are here in Fate’s name, and you called us here to interpret Kyra’s dreams. We have done so. Your cubs have been chosen by Fate to seal the enemy, and regardless of how anyone feels, this era of peace shall soon end. Ammon will someday return to this place with the rest of the chosen, and they will need all of you to support them. You cannot protect anyone, not Sunset’s allies, or even yourselves, if you cannot first accept that this is the way things will be. Just because someone is chosen, does not mean that the responsibility rests on their paws alone. Every single creature that meets them, even if it is only passing them on a forest path, will play a role in the future ahead. It is their decision what that role will be.”

((I know the song might be unrelated, but it added so much more affect for me as I was writing))

Sira's eyes were streaming with tears, so much that it began to drip and form a slight puddle on the ground beyond her paws. Shebla, beside her, had also been moved to a few tears. Ramla was distanced from the others, sitting in complete silence, and looking down at her paws, diverting her eyes at any cost. The males in the room were too prideful to cry, but one could see in their eyes that they may have even been more fearful than the females, especially Jali.

"We must accept it," Jali said, shakily. "It will do us no good in denying reality. We must make every parent in the Pride aware. We must prepare ourselves for the future and enjoy this peace while it lasts." He was silent for a moment, before he went on. "One does not know what they have until it's gone. Most days we have the gift of never knowing when it will disappear. We often discard our peaces and take them for granted, when their ends are just around the corner.... I think we all have done this at some point. Perhaps now we should appreciate this time of rest. It will not be long...." Jali looked around. "If this meeting is over, I must go and warn Saber and Magira, and Skar and Feth. Kal and Mira must be warned, as well as Gamba and Layla."

Suddenly, Ramses entered the cave, unaware of what he had walked into. He stopped in his tracks, his ears drooping. "Mommy, why are you crying?" he asked. Sira only held out her paw, shakily gesturing for the cub to come forward. He ran to her, jumping to finally reach her. She sobbed into his fur, her tears glistening across each tiny patch of fluff. Thema was not far behind him, running to her mother. At that moment Jali's eyes burst and he exited the cave, his tail sorrowfully swishing the dirt on the ground and disappearing with him around the corner. Shebla sat next to Sira and tears poured from her eyes far heavier than before, watching Sira so heartbroken. She laid a paw on Sira's back, comfortingly.

"There is hope," Shebla whispered, in a tearful, broken voice. "There is hope."

Ramla remained in the shadows, her bright but sallow yellow eyes looking up at last and seeming a bit luminous in the dark. She turned and began walking out of the den, looking slightly over her shoulder towards Shadow as she left, her mind heavy with thought. At this time Var gave eye to Kyra and approached her. Shebla by now had also met with the two of them, departing from Sira.

"We should go," Shebla said. "Sira need alone time with her cubs," she added, walking out. As they had exited the cave and began walking back to where ground was level, Var finally spoke, being unnaturally quiet the whole trip down.

"Shebla, we wanted to talk to you about something after the meeting, but this definitely changes things..." he said.

Shebla stood silently for a moment, glancing off into the distance as she heard Var speaking behind her. "You planned to have cubs... didn't you?" she asked, her words were stained with sorrow. Var needn't reply, for Shebla turned around and looked at them both.

"I have always hoped that both of you would have cubs. It has been one of my many dreams for this Pride. But knowing all this, are you still willing to do this?" she asked, looking at both of them. Var was hesitant to speak at first and decided simply to nod.

"Coglon said that they would all reach adulthood... and that is all that matters to me. We all have to die eventually. I just want to be long gone already when the time comes for my cubs." He looked at Kyra. "Is this still what you wish?" he asked.

Var nodded. "Good point. We had better have cubs while we can be assured they will reach adulthood," he said, pausing afterwards briefly. "So it's settled then." He looked at Shebla, his mind cleared. He was worried, but at the same time this decision gave him peace for the moment. Shebla's nod followed.

"Very well. I'll hold you off from sleep herbs during your pregnancy, unless the dreams start again. In which case I'll either find a new herb or give you smaller doses of the same. It's not good to be completely influenced by herbs during your pregnancy, but incredibly stress can cause serious problems for an impregnated lioness. You can't go without in that case. If worse comes to worse I can always give you minute amounts of relaxation herbs, which shouldn't have any affect on your cub," she said. She began to smile a bit, even despite the heavy thoughts on her mind. "Oh how I wish your father was here, Kyra," Shebla added. "It is so good that you both are doing this." Shebla paused for a moment, thinking it over in her head. She realized she would have to help deliver Kyra's cubs, since Mabel was likely growing too old for the job. But despite this, she knew she would be delivering Ammon's grandchildren. It was something she felt she could not pass up. "If you both need anything, you'll know where to find me," she said, walking away.

Var smiled at Kyra, hoping to lift her spirits. "Let's go tell your brother and my sister the good news then," he said.

Var nodded, "she will be," he said. He scanned the camp for Subira. Scent didn't do much good in a place that was filled with a thousand smells, but Subira had a certain distinguishable fragrance that Var could identify. He spotted her pulling a piece of carcass over to the shore of the lake. Var directed Kyra across the camp until they reached her. Subira lifted her nose from the carcass and licked the blood off of her lips. She was a number of moons younger than Var, but still a mature, strong adult female. She had darker fur, taking after Snake. Her eyes, like Var's, were a deep emerald. She had an elegant posture and a certain regal form to her body, and despite her distant nature, seemed to fit her skin well, and was confident in her ability. She smiled upon seeing Var and Kyra approach. Her tail had a long strand of black fluff on the end of it, her sheathed claws were jet black, matching her nose. She had a grayish brown underbelly and strong limbs.

"Hey, Subira," Var greeted.

"Hello brother, and hello Kyra, what brings you out here today?" she asked, washing the rest of the blood from her face with water from the lake behind her.

Var wondered how to start. He simply smiled as he began to talk. "Well, Kyra and I have been talking lately and we've decided that we're going to have cubs, Subira." At that, Subira's ears perked up and she stood straight with interest. She walked forward towards them, seeming excited.

"Var, that is amazing!" she said, looking between both of them. "I'm so happy for both of you. And for myself, since I will be an aunt!" Subira said, overjoyed. "You are both so lucky to have one another."

Var grinned, adding, "Yes, we are." He glanced at Kyra, before speaking again. "I am very fond of the idea of being a father, and this is the greatest lioness to be their mother." At this, Subira grinned warmly, she seemed very pleased to hear about the news. She gave both of them affectionate nudges with her snout.

"Kyra, I'm so happy you found my brother," she exclaimed. "Who knows where he'd be without you," he said, laughing a bit,

Var nodded, "we will have to begin thinking," he smiled. "It should be unique so they'll stand out among the other cubs," he added. He felt overjoyed by this new happening and his love for Kyra was stronger than ever, even through dark times. But this was a time of rest, and with it would bring new life to the Pride.

"They'll be the most beautiful of all the cubs," Subira said. "But be careful, you might get a raw deal and they'll have my brother's brains!" she teased. Var began laughing. Once he had stopped, he looked at Kyra.

"Well, I know you said Coglon already knows... But we should probably go and officialize it with him anyways," he said. "We'll see you later, Subira." They parted and then as Var and Kyra were walking across the camp, Jali was moving out from the bramble with Saber at his heels. The black-maned jagged-toothed old croak was livid, his claws even unknowingly unsheathed and caught in the ground a few times. Saber would have to pick them out and sheathe them, only for his anger to increase and the claws to unsheathe again.

"This is an outrage!" Saber yowled. Jali snapped a sharp glance at him, warning him to quiet his voice to avoid causing a panic. Saber lowered his yell, but still talked loudly. "How do you even know this is true? Both of those creatures are shady! You saw what the Somalian Witchdoctors did to Moonrise Pride! How do you know Shadow and Coglon aren't using their craft to manipulate you and the parents of this Pride! Think about it! They're influencing every parent in the Pride, they're going to manipulate the life course of every cub! That includes your own!" Saber growled.

The King growled back. "Coglon and Shadow have been a loyal and valuable asset to this Pride and have aided in bringing us out of dire situations. You should be grateful to them rather than disrespect them behind their backs!"

"Have them killed!" Saber growled. "They are Witchdoctors in disguise! Just like those wicked hyenas. Have them ripped to shreds, throw them in that cursed cave!"

"Saber!" Jali roared, frightening those who were watching. "You are not a king any longer. You have no rule here. I have only come to make you aware of these prophecies so that you can prepare yourself for the day they affect your son." Jali's rage was deep-kneaded in his throat. Saber would not look him in the eye. Jali began to turn away. "Go back to your den, I don't want to see your face for the rest of the day."

"As you wish, your majesty," Saber replied, in a mocking and spiteful manner. They both glanced at each other over their shoulders before turning away. Saber gave a side glance to Kyra and Var as he walked past them. The fact that Kyra was listening while Saber wanted Coglon dead seemed not to bother him. Var rushed Kyra past the scene so she wouldn't be bothered by it.

"Saber's such an idiot," he mumbled to her as they pawed past. It was obvious to all that Saber still wasn't on friendly terms with the Pride, especially since Jali killed him. Saber probably wanted everyone dead no doubt. But he was in no position to do that himself, for her was old and he knew that what went around would come around.

Saber stopped along the edge of the Pride. Osiris sat on a rock at the base of a tree, looking sadly up at his father. His giant crimson eyes looked very eerie upon the dark-furred cub. "Daddy, what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing," Saber said. He looked over his shoulder. "Just an imbecile king." He then moved into the grass, passing Osiris. "Come on," he added. Osiris leaped off the rock and they began to move back towards their den.

Cyla, the thin, scarred lioness looked up from grooming her long, jagged claws to view Kyra. Cyla's appearance had altered slightly since the end of the Moonrise Pride. Where she was starved out by Zalika and Aziza, who swallowed all the prey and allowed her only morsels, she was incredibly tiny and weak, and eventually succumb to the command of the Witchdoctors who told her to resort to cannibalism. Now, being given food freely, she has grown substantially. She was still a naturally smaller lioness, Var noticed, looking over Coglon only slightly, but she had grown and become far healthier than she was when she started out in the Pride. Her eyes had darkened to a healthy burgundy instead of the strange, abnormal scarlet-brown that it once was. But Var figured this may have also been due to the lack of spiritual and occult influence over her life.

Cyla presently was still slim and small, but bigger than before. Her hair was no longer mangled and matted, but groomed decently. The same old tally collection of scars rested upon her left shoulder, shining like the moon in the night to onlookers. She still had a few clips in her ears, especially the right one. Her claws were abnormally long, which hadn't changed. But it looked as though she was at least trimming them, unlike before, so she didn't seem suspiciously equipped. All in all, Cyla still was not a threat. She would be unable to arise victorious from any single lion in the Pride, aside from innocent cubs. But Var did sense that she had no intention of harm anyways.

Cyla was silent, but remained listening to the conversation. For what it was worth in her mind, Cyla never intended not to listen, even if Kyra hadn't invited her to, but she felt more welcomed with the invitation. She gave an acknowledging nod to Kyra, waiting for her announcement.

Var was silent as Coglon spoke, nodding carefully. Then finally he spoke. "I will do my very best as a father. I will teach them everything I know and I will contribute to this world with something good. They'll be light in the dark," he said. Var looked at his paws for a brief moment, thinking. Cyla, during this, inspected everyone. She seemed fascinated with Var and his story. The lion whom was chosen by Protheus to fight against Kavis, her old mentor. It was Var's blood which was supposed to mix with Kavis' through Subira, to breed the perfect evil seed. It was Kavis who wished to create a master generation of lions who all shared similar traits due to selected inbreeding. It would create an army of smaller Kavises, smaller Snakes. All in the name of the Evil One, who sought to topple all creation, but in the end was toppled himself by creation.

Cyla, in many ways, was still afraid of Var, because she knew he still did not fully trust either her or Kavis, or anyone from Moonrise Pride. However, she felt more relaxed in knowing that he had forgiven her.