magnus: Magnus had remained vigilant since the chaos at the Lagoon. They'd all returned home frazzled - though the stoic man refused to let on - and from that point he'd upped his patrols. He did not know enough about Vermier's remaining legion to know whether or not he could afford to be complacent, and so he would not. It was far better to be safe than sorry, in his experience; it was the reason he'd lasted this long, and would be the reason he and his would continue to do so. With a steely expression he continued along the perimeter, brows furrowing when a familiar scent wafted in.... and the tang of blood alongside it.

ulla: Ulla had been tossed and chewed by the mouths of her so-called pride members. Bitter and angry she hauled herself from the remnants of her den in the lagoon, limping towards the one place where she could find safety. Vellen's waves were no longer tangible on her skin, as was his cries and rage. For this rage was hers and hers alone, and it was precious - to be protected - for in due time she will let it out. Now, however, she must mend her broken body, bloodied and stained. A strange longing to see family compelled her to move, despite her ache and pain. It was a path most traveled by the northern woman. In due time, she could smell Magnus's scent along the border. And—him. Her brother, staring out into the open. "**I'm back**." It was a soft sound, smothered by days of hellish battles. "**Vermier's lions, I held on for as long as I could, brother**."

magnus:: She was tattered and bruised; a pitiful sight, really. Magnus is unsure whether it is bile or anger - anger at them; those who inevitably did this to her - that bubbles from his chest to the back of his throat. Either way, it was acrid. "Sister," he huffed, closing the gap between them swiftly and offering his shoulder for her to lean on for support. They'd had their differences of late, but she was wounded and there was no way he would be leaving her exposed in the open like this. "Come, we will get you inside." His expression soured. "Vermier's lions," he repeated, a low rumble of terse acknowledgement.

ulla: Relief hung in the air when Magnus came to her. Ulla had always depended on her brother, in her own way, as family. Now more than ever, for he knew of this land more than she and had more experience in the ways of war. For now, she knew not what future will hold for her and the Sigrun. Except she needed a shoulder and Magnus was here, giving her his support. She gave a soft sigh as she leaned against her brother, allowing him to walk her into the cavern. She was home. "**There were..four of them. Most of them must've held rank to have the audacity to fight me but..**." Her voice drifted off as the shadow encroached around them. She never thought how much she love this place, despite its waterless state. "I think there are more, but those four. I remember their appearance well." For some reason, Ulla remembered the yearling and the starry-pelted lioness the most. There was of course, Kieran, yes, that was his name. "**They may wage war against us and our allies for further retaliation**." Her words were grim, remembering how aggressive the lions were during their usurpation.

magnus For once, she would allow herself to be guided; Magnus steered them towards the entrance of the Hollows with little difficulty, the scent of blood and injury thick in the air. The sooner she was tucked away to rest, the better. Aggression brewed in his gut at the description given. Four of them, against one woman already at a disadvantage from usurping their King. Magnus was regretful that he hadn't been there, and his brows furrowed heavily. "They may," he snarled, "and they will suffer for it." They would suffer for all of this.

ulla: "**We must bring the fight to them, brother.**" Somewhere, water dripped down. She had long recognized the importance of war and raids ever since she was a young woman. Never did she wanted her own family to be involved, even if they were battleborn creatures. They crossed multiple tunnels - Ulla had long lost track of where they were going - before finally she saw the familiar shape of her old den. Seeing it softened her heart somewhat as she detached from Magnus and slipped in just enough to rest against the ground. "I assume they will stay in the lagoon now. Someone will have to chase them out." Her green eyes settled on Magnus, though she wasn't sure what her brother would say.

magnus: To her statement he would simply rumble in agreement. They arrived at Ulla's old - and, for the time being, current - den, and Magnus would steer her towards the comfort of her bed. There he would hover as his sister lowered herself in to settle, taking a step back once she'd done so. "I assume so." Most of their prominent members would more than likely be injured to varying degrees. "The black furred woman, the one with yellow eyes - did she attack you?" He wrinkled his nose. "She made a lot of noise at your challenge. Had a lot to say." His lip would curl, revealing a pearly fang to show his displeasure.

ulla: The ground was dry, oddly warm, despite the cavern itself. Still, she loved the feeling of it in her own strange way. She listened to her brother, ears attentive and eyes lingering on Magnus's scarred face. He spoke and described the woman with crystal clarity, for Ulla was quick to recall her face. "Yes, she was one of them. Is she the leader of the pack?" Her inquiry was born out of curiosity. But now, she was even more worried - that perhaps the starry pelted woman was the one who could've started the uprising. "Maybe it was her, or Kieran." Her voice drifted into silence, recalling once again the dappled male who she fought not once, but twice. "Kieran was one of them, I fought him before in a spar which I won."

magnus: As expected, she'd been involved. It came as no surprise, really, but the verbal confirmation would only solidify things in his mind. Unless the position had been handed back to Vermier, it was probable that this woman was now the one who controlled the pride. These were only assumptions he could go off of, but there were plenty of gaps that would need filling in. Ulla, alas, would only serve to help a little. "I don't know, but it seems that way." Kieran was a name that meant nothing to Magnus, but he'd commit that to memory too. "I see." He took a step back, staring down at his fallen sister. "You must rest. I will send a medic here to tend to you." Perhaps Elijah, perhaps another; it would depend on who he found first.

ulla:: A soft sigh left Ulla's cracked lips. She was parched, but she was also tired. So tired that her bones cracked and muscles stung, now that she was conscious of them. Her eyes lingered now upon the space beside Magnus's head. Magnus remembered, he always had a good memory. That was what the Sigrun was like - remember the deeds done to them, no matter how small. But this, this was big. "Alright," she said, finally having no trouble obeying her brother for the first time. She was always a difficult sibling. "Once I heal, we can talk about what to do..." Though it seemed awkward, Ulla decided to curl her body into her den and close her eyes. [exit via sleep]

magnus: The lioness sagged into her bedding, weak and fatigued from the perils she'd faced over the last few days. To endure such highs and lows in such a short space of time would knock anyone for six. Magnus sighed, brow heavy and muzzle wrinkled. Only once she slipped into unconsciousness would he leave the den. Once help had been sent Ulla's way, he would seek out his wives; there was much to discuss, but alas, he was quickly growing tired of talking. [exit]