Leaving from the Rainforest, Zoticus treks to Vermeda a little bit less willing than he’d like to admit. His cubs had just been born, and he would much rather be spending time with his family than tending to his duties- but he couldn’t shove this off. And he was certain Arjana would understand. Nearing the borders, he comes to a halt and stands calmly, face and body language neutral as he makes a summoning call for @Aquila - or any other leaders around. He had news that he was certain they’d be looking for, and he hoped maybe this could ease some tension…

She may not have been a leader, but she was a member of the family him and his had so brazenly attacked. Truthfully, how was it possible to make enemies with the most gentle family in all of Amaryllis? Furia frowned as she trekked closer, making no attempt to hide herself from the man that stood on the borders. "You maimed my nephews. What do you want here? This is a peaceful pride, we want nothing to do with you." Her eyes narrowed on the man, daring him to take one step closer towards her sanctuary. She had nothing left to lose and knew @Aquila would have her back; their friendship was more important.

She hoped.

The voice that called his name was like a knife into his gut. Zoticus was not a lion Aquila had afforded much thought too in the last months. Time had dulled The sharpest of the edges but did little to heal in his heart. He marched forwards with intention, given haste not because he looked forward to this at all but because he refused to take the chance of anyone else alone with him before Aquila arrived.

Furia... As he arrived his pace became slower and more steady, silver eyes laser fixed on the lion beyond. He recognized his friend there already and Aquila aimed to come up along her side, striding ahead so he was just a bit ahead of her and could more quickly act as a wall and protect her. "The last time I had visitors from the Rainforest one was trying to take my home from me." Aquila did not welcome Zoticus to the borders. The lion on his own was no face he wanted to see, there was not a good memory tied to the pale brute whose voice echoed over the trees. Old tension mixed into a toxic and frightfully hot feeling in Aquila's gut as the scent brought fresher memories to mind. Of that lioness and the fight she brought here... He couldn't know what brought Zoticus here today. All signs he knew did not point to anything good.

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Talisa had begun to leave her den when she had been stopped by one of her children that suddenly had an end-all kind of question that they certainly pereceived to need an answer right then and there. So her arrival to the gathered group had been delayed but it was enough to allow her to see who it was that called and the information that spiraled. Vague memories rolling in her head as she came near to @Furia and @Aquila, keeping her stance protective as she did have children in this pride that she wished to protect. Hers and others, and from what she could guess @Zoticus was not one so readily accepted. Hell, she hardly wanted to hear him out as she might have done a year or so ago.

* feel free to skip if i lag behind! *

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He didn’t expect to be “welcomed”, but perhaps he thought common sense would play a factor… an unliked lion coming to a pride he knew didn’t think kindly of him? Obviously there was a reason- an importance. However he is greeted by a woman who speaks of his maims, instantly speaking on how they want nothing to do with him. Aquila arrives next and speaks in a similar way- and a brow raises. “And you declared me enemies for playing politics.” He countered, looking to the next arrival and shifting his weight slightly.

He was easily outnumbered, and could easily be attacked. His gaze went to @Furia again and narrowed slightly. “I come with important news relating to family of your own… but if what she speaks is true, I will not waste a second more of my time here.” because he wouldn’t allow himself to be belittled- he showed his good faith by aiding members of their family, he’d not let them disrespect him like so or continue this on without it being less hostile.

@Aquila @Furia @Talisa

+10 Patrol your borders (double exp from site-wide boost) She was walking the pride borders when she heard a call for Aquila. It would cause for the Viking's brow to rise and her defenses to be at the ready, unsure what this call was about or who it were from. After remarking a scent border would she be on her way toward where the call had come from, taking deep inhales of the air and noting that several Brook members seemed to have been just as curious. The Brynmawr would take this time to practice her stealth, crouching low and stalking forward. She wouldn't stop until she were within hearing distance from the gathering, periwinkle gaze flicking over each pride lion before landing upon the pink male. The scent of Firnen permeated from his body and Valkravn would feel her body tense at the signs of slight hostility seeming to be given toward him. Finding herself settling behind brush and a large rock would she watch from afar, not wanting to be seen and also ready to charge if she needed to defend her fellow pride members. valkravn is hidden

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Her hackles raised at the audacity, but she kept her tongue still. Aquila was more than capable of handling things, and now Talisa was there as well. Their presence reinforced her confidence that Zoticus would go no further, and she settled into a stance similar to Talisa. She would gladly fight off the man if it came down to it, but it was clear Aquila wasn't going to let that happen.

Furia leaned to Aquila, whispering for his ears only: "Do not trust him. Roan is permanently damaged from this man, and Kiton was as well before he died. That's not politics. You know the Hodari aren't monsters deserving of that. He instigated it both times." She shook her head, waiting.

Aquila nodded, content in, and claiming ownership of, the actions he'd taken. He couldn't undo them any more than any other decision. As impulsively as they had been. He did not regret them. Especially not when Zoticus then threatened to withhold information on family. The word struck Aquila across his face and the lion looked vulnerable, worried, for the briefest of moments.

"Why would you do us any favors and bring this news to us?" Aquila said with a flicker of his ears backwards along his skull, frustrated and agitated by this lion teasing them with meat hanging before their starving faces. He did not know if he could trust Zoticus but he did know a number of their allies, friends, and family had suffered, undergone upheaval, and gone missing. It was not impossible he knew something. Cruel as he was being holding it back for his wounded pride.

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The earthen Sovereign listened attentively to what @Zoticus had to share with them and could not help but feel a strange air to them. Coming to their pridelands and knocking on their door, expressing in no short words that he would not take blame for having apparently attacked @Furia's nephews (unknowing that Kiton was one of these, as he had been a good friend of hers in the brief time that they'd known each other). It was only made worse by the Rainforest leader's admission that he had news relating to their family. Eyes squinted, not wishing to believe him and assuming that he had heard wrong or saw wrong but in the instance that he wasn't... what could it be that was so urgent that he would risk coming to a pride that would not take kindly to his arrival? So she stood, quiet and reflective and waiting for the bomb to drop.

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Aquila's question finally seems to get things moving in the direction Zoticus had hoped things would be- productive. Constructive. "Because I am not a monster you all probably think of me to be- any and all attacks I have done have been in protection of my family." He says this as he looked slightly to the lioness who had spoke of his maims to him at first arrival. Family over everything- no? Surely they understood that.

"I found Astrid wounded severely, I am unsure of how it happened but her and her mate are back in my pride recovering- her mate just had a litter." At least, he assumed Pandora gave birth by now. No doubt with how close to term she looked, she probably gave birth while he walked up here. "My medic has tended to them and both are in safe hands. As a father myself, I wasn't going to let a family with newborns on the way suffer because of my issues with their family." He pauses for a moment, studying them, and wondering what they thought.

"Issues I would like to put to the past and align our prides as friendly- or neutral in the least. I am not looking for violence or hostility. Hopefully this proves that to you." Because obviously his words were less than favored by some he had found out. And don't actions speak louder than words?