The Hollow's were gone, and already being taken. His mind was tangled, his heart was pounding in his ears as he called out for his family. He had tried his hardest to get them all out, even went back for his Pa, but Jai was still worried. Why had this happened? Jai paced in the familiar grounds of the Labyrinth as he waited, thinking that maybe it was his fault. Pa had just asked him to be Heir had he hadn't been able to do anything yet. Were the spirits of Amaryllis upset with that decision? Oh gods, he hoped not. There was a trail already from Jai pacing back and forth but he was in a panic. This wasn't just someone coming to take their home, the tunnels collapsed on everyone and now they were homeless. Where would we go?

@Roan @Dero @Hanneth @Bakarea @Alvena @Hero @Avana @Faelyn @Isolda

If I missed anyone please tag them! And anyone who is a friend to Hodari family is free to join. Please calm this panicked child!

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

Her priority had been getting all her children out, and of course Jai had been included in that but he'd gone from helping to just plain gone in a heartbeat, and Faelyn hadn't known what to do. She couldn't leave her youngest hanging around by themselves to go back in and look for him and her mate, though she'd desperately wanted to. So, it was a relief to hear him calling from the labyrinth.

She made her way to him, the ability to locate the source of an echoing call a skill well-honed through the years living in the Hollow. "Thank goodness you're all right," she breathed as she drew near, attempting to rest her head on top of his neck, but he was bigger than her so even if he did allow it she'd still end up with her head awkwardly against his side. Not that she cared.

@Jai

His mother's voice rang in his ears and caused the albino prince to stop pacing and look over to the white woman. He didn't even make her reach as Jai would sit down and let his mother love on him. It calmed down his anxiety and Jai would close his eyes, sighing into his mother's coat. I'm sorry Ma, I didn't mean to worry you I just.. Panicked. He would admit to his mother. Where are we going to go now? Where would the Hodari's go now that the Hollow was gone and no longer under their control. Or perhaps one day Jai could take it back? He doubt it. He wasn't much of a fighter. @Faelynhi

Their castle had crumbled, their earth shaken. Now they were nomads with no true home, no place to go. A short time ago he remembered his father, so fierce, so impregnable defending their home. Today he didn't know what to think. Quiet musing crossed the masked face, deep purples crumpled as his mismatched eyes glazed far off. Somehow he'd noticed @Jai run off and followed his older brother. Within the labyrinth he met the two pallid forms, noting that their mother had followed as well.

Deep plum form moved to brush up against his mother, if she didn't move, in greeting. Heya, a meek smile crossed his copper muzzle as he looked between the two, where do ya wanna go Jai? In essence they were free - the most free a lion could be, but they were scattered from their family. Sorrow filled his mind then, nearly incapacitating though he was certain they would survive. The Hodari bloodline was strong and they had their ancestors to guide them.

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

ooc: being hella vague on how and what happened for roan to get out of the tunnels

All sense of time lost. How long had he been in the tunnels after the collapse? How long had it been until @Jai and Keir found him? And now, how much longer had it been since he passed out? Groggily, the man came back to the waking world as he heard his eldest's voice reverberate through the labyrinth. For a moment, it was all a blur on what had happened. How had he even survived? There was the faintest of recollections of the two males digging him out, but after that, nothing. Now, as he lay on the cold hard ground, the mauve lion struggled at a snail's pace to reach his family.

By the time Roan found them, only three came into view. Jai, @Faelyn, and @Bakarea had thankfully managed to escape the collapse. What about everyone else, though? Through a haggard limp, the fallen king approached the trio as he heard them discussing where to go. "Firnen will take us.... Or the Brook." The masked lion's voice sounded dry and gravelly. He wanted to make a beeline for his family, wanted to pull them all into a tight hug, but Roan struggled enough just to remain upright. Crawling through the tunnels to get to them was already more than he could have hoped to accomplish. "But it is everyone's choice where they go," Roan added as an after thought. His sons were old enough to choose their own home, even if the Hodari man desperately hoped they would all still manage to stick together.

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Her beloved oldest son apologized, though in her mind he had nothing to apologize for. He was alive and well and that was all she cared about. Well, perhaps not well all things considered, but at least physically healthy. "It's okay, I'm just glad everyone made it out okay. And I'm not sure love. To the Brook or the Rainforest I'd imagine."

Bakarea brushed up against her, his presence welcome as well, and she bumped her head against his shoulder. "Yes, is there any place you would prefer?" she asked, truly questioning both of them. They were both old enough to make their own decisions now, and while she wouldn't necessarily be happy about it so long as she knew where they were and that they were safe she wouldn't raise a fuss if they wanted to go to different places.

Her husband came to them, his body battered, nature having done what countless opponents couldn't. His words mirrored her own and so she waited for the responses of her family, nestled safely together here.

@Bakarea came in after their mother and Jai looked him over and took in that he looked just fine, but still there was a question of where they would go. The question was given to him but soon @Roan showed up and Jai looked over to the man he cherished beside his mother. As far as he had known, Thrain was still in the Rainforest but he wanted to stay close to his family now that he had the safe again. I'll go wherever you guys go. His anxiety wouldn't let him be to far from them, he wasn't even sure why he had grown anxious like that but he did.

@Faelyn

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

Well if @Jai wasn't going anywhere but where the family went then he wasn't going anywhere different either. Mismatched eyes blinked between his family members, grateful that their father was able to show even under such battered appearances. Dad! Quick steps carried him to the older Hodari, moving to press into the man's least injured side to help support him. There would never be a bigger idol in the youth's life than his father; that had been decided all those months ago when he'd watched his dad defend their home from a stranger.

Now they were all together beneath the labyrinth, sheltered away from the collapse of their former home. Their mother nor father held much sway in what direction they went, only offering up two separate prides that would take them in. His gaze fell onto his brother, query alight in the silver and teal orbs. Where do you wanna go? I'm fine with either. Dark shoulders shrugged, unperturbed by either direction they took. The rainforest sounds warm. Neither the rainforest nor the brook had been scouted by himself, so he had no real opinion on either pride. Whatever Jai, @Roan, and @Faelyn felt was best, he would follow.

Roan Hodari

i wanna taste love and pain wanna feel pride and shame

An appreciative smile crossed the mauve lion's face when @Bakarea came to his side. Roan would have never outright asked for the physical support of his son's frame next to his own, so he was forever grateful to have the boy to lean on. "Asante, mwanangu," the fallen king's voice murmured gently towards the plum prince as Roan shifted his weight just enough to be a bit more comfortable. He wouldn't place the entire burden of his large stature upon the yearling, but the ease of pressure was enough to be noted.

Turning his attention back to the discussion at large, though, it would seem no one particularly cared where the family went so long as they stayed together. Firnen was the obvious choice in the father's mind, and with no one being opposed to the option, it was as good as a done deal. "Firnen it is then." A firm nodded was issued with the words. "To the Rainforest to lick our wounds and gather whoever else is still missing." There was only four of them here right now, after all. Even if Obsidian had not been a large pride, there was still a notable absence of so much of their family. It seemed as if every year they dwindled further and further into oblivion. Would this cave in be the final act?

@Jai @Faelyn

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