Bitterness welled at the loss of their home, anger towards those who had taken it. Wasn't it enough that the one stinky woman had come to try and take their home from them? Now they were adrift once more and they were uncertain where @Alizabeth, @Ransom, @Alabaster, or @Nero would wish to reside. They'd not live somewhere without family. To them, family was everything, and those who'd lived in the lagoon were as close to family as they'd get.

Since cubs were in the picture there was a natural inclination that the family would seek shelter among a different pride. Sorrow stirred within the thick lavender chest, now exactly thrilled to begin new relationships within a different pride territory. Dreams of returning to the pond from cubhood surfaced. Back when his fathers resided with them and their siblings. Just before all the good had been stolen and everything became a blur.

ART»CODE

The loss of a home was nothing Nazonal had, thankfully, had to experience. Not in the way that seemed so rampant around here. Her family flexed and they sometimes had more or fewer of them around but the Jungle, for now and forever more if she had a say, was secure. But they'd seen the turmoil and felt strongly for those impacted, seeing it happen at the Hollow had impacted them more than they realized. One lion did not have power to stop that, the whole pride couldn't... What good did Naz herself think she could do alone?

Excuse me- Their voice calls out, a warm hum but hesitant. Careful to break the silence of the moment with the stranger they've found here. Their brown eyes look steadily at @Kaloula, ears gradually curling their way. Hi, sorry to interrupt you just looked... Not ok.

Life had a way of casting them out, away from their family. First their fathers, now their mother, fathers, and siblings. Months, maybe a few at best, had passed since they'd found their pale mother upon the golden sands. Just the shortest time to feel as though they'd come home and their family was all under one roof. Bitter reveries became interrupted abruptly by a voice.

Deep purple eyes scanned the beach, finding another lion near them that appeared rather quizzical. Oh that... defeat fluttered across the pastel features, spots and stripes becoming a ghastly vision of devastation. Yeah I guess I'm not doing the best. Grumbled under their breath they looked away from darker, spotted form into the seafoam brimming atop the sea. Guess my family might join another pride. Not sure where they decided to go. Not that this stranger cared about what plagued them but it was nice to vocalize the emotions. Maybe they'd forge their own way, find a pride to join like their family or live as a rogue like their dads had.

Almost casually they glanced toward the deep pelted lion, underbite showing as they decided to seek information. You part of the new lions who took the lagoon?

ART»CODE

Kaloula's shift and the emotion brought forth on their face caused a twist in Naz's gut. The hurt there, the worry and unknown were somewhat overwhelming. It did not take knowing this lion to feel their pain which came forth vividly. They got to be out there somewhere right? Who is your family?

They noticed something. Her smile, with a lower jaw that jutted out just a little too far, was not unilike theirs at all. Seeing the tips of their teeth poking out brought a small but utmost sincere smile to their own face, lips curling wide over her teeth. No, no I live in the Jungle. Nazonal's face shifted a bit into a subtle look of worry. As troubled as @Kaloula seemed it still took Naz a decent bit of effort to not press and see if they knew anything about Nero and if he was okay...

Lost, not cast away exactly, but left behind unlike the others. Although they'd not been overly helpful within the pride they felt somewhat empowered by the ability to be there at important moments for their mother. Hope that she was well remained forefront, though they were not happy at the moment. Some comfort came in the form of @Nazonal, who seemed rather optimistic for the outcome of their endeavors to find their family. Alizabeth, Ransom, Alabaster, Nero, and the kids. Listed from memory they kept their family in mind, bringing forth an image of each face. Eventually they would turn up, they always did.

The jungle! Something about where the other came from excited them. Deep purple eyes took in the jungle lion's image, noting the rich earthy colors that would blend wonderfully into a tropical forest. I was born there. If memory served them correctly, they'd been born there. Those memories of early life felt so far off, though intrigue for the jungle pulled at their heartstrings. Do you like it there?

ART»CODE

To say she's surprised by the family that is listed is an understatement. Their eyes widen with clear recognition specifically as Nero's name leaves their lips. You could try the Plains. Nero's wife lives there I can only assume she'd have an idea where they all ended up. If that wasn't where they'd settled down anyways. And because what are timelines.

I do. I wasn't born there but I can't remember not being there. It was more home than anywhere that they knew of. It held every important memory, it held the voice of her fathers on the wind and their very life essence in it's tree branches. Come visit. The say with full intention of honoring a welcome for them if Kal came around to see where they were born at. A reintroduction of sorts. They can't help them find their family much but at least they can offer them something.

@Kaloula

Nero has a wife? Almost immediately the question launched from their lips. Since when had their brother gotten a wife? So much of the lives of their family members seemed to go by unnoticed to them, unobserved. For a minute they felt guilty for having missed such important facets of the Valentine clans lives. I'll go see her. At least they had a lead to something.

Talk of the jungle left a pang in their heart. All those years ago as a cub, left suddenly by fathers and siblings. Wondering if any of their immediate blood relatives had ever returned they considered @Nazonal's offer. I think I will. A slight smile found itself on their lips, hopeful that maybe they could return to the jungle.

ART»CODE

Oh. That wasn't a news they expected to break to them. Nazonal's eyes flicker with surprise and then a look of 'oops' before their lips again parted and they tried to smooth the revelation over a bit. Yeah, she makes him really happy. Ouch, it felt like she swallowed a thorn.

@Kaloula's acceptance then gave Naz relief, a growing grin on their goblin like dark features did appear and she nodded swiftly with sincerity. Whenever you want! I'm sure you're eager to find your family but the offer doesn't expire. At least for as long as Naz could help it they weren't going anywhere.