Her mother had called. And she had answered. Yet the scene that she arrives to is something straight out of Lilliana's nightmares. Emerald eyes are instantly on @Levana. She could pick her twin out from a crowd of a thousand faces. Then she takes in the rest. @Camellia covered in @Ryker's blood. Ryker's broken body. @Florentina's questions and @Teodora's terrifying rage.
Levana moves to cover her husband from the Blood Mother's rage. Again. She stands defiant against Teodora yet again. The last time, Lilli had done nothing. Had only begged her sister to listen to reason. Or what Lilliana had understood reason to be.

But this time..

This time she cannot. Her heart had been drowning in regret for too long. Too long...

Lilliana is there, beside Levana. She did not meet her estranged sister's eyes but clay fur gingerly brushes against brown. Her eyes only for Teo and Tina. Élet életért. Life for a life. He saved Camellia's life. A debt is owed. She murmurs softly. Although she stands opposite her elder, her body language is submissive still. Most az Anyának kell döntenie.. It was now for the Mother to decide. He lays here like many warriors before him. His blood soaks into the Mother's mouth. He is hers now. He must be laid in a grave. Enemy or not. Family or not. This was The Mother's cathedral. And Lilliana, no matter how meek, would not allow the Mother's rites to be forgotten. The Savante had made their individual judgements on Ryker. Itt az idő, hogy az Anya meghozza a döntését. She repeats. It was time for the Mother to make her decision.

Table code by Zodiac

[[he'll continue to drift in an out for a bit, so you can continue posting around him. permission for light pp for healing purposes]]

There came a point, he'd discovered, where pain became something one could either fight against or accept. Fighting was for when he needed to remain standing strong in the face of enemies, to resist showing signs of any weakness lest he be targeted again and again. He'd always been good at hiding it, at keeping his feet under him no matter how desperately his limbs wanted to fail him. Because failure meant more pain. Always had.

To accept it meant to rest. To let the exhaustion and the ache wash over him in waves like the ripples in a pond spreading from each wound. The larges points were his jaw, where Apollinaire's teeth had clipped neatly through the skin down to the bone on the right side's lower edge. And his left forelimb, where the hound's teeth had plunged deep into the scarce space between the paired bones and cracked the one on the inner side. And that was the one where blood seeped continuously, though it had slowed since leaving Wolfbron. And whether that meant it was clotting or that he was running out of blood, Ryker really wasn't qualified to say.

He felt himself lowered to the ground, something soft under him. Eyes cracked open just enough to glimpse black and white fur beneath, and his wife's head coming to press against his. Again, he was glad to have learned her language alongside their first litter, "ruhi, lan 'adhhab 'iilaa 'ayi makan bieda."¹ Soft and slowed, defaulting to what was arguably his first language. A tongue that offered space to be...less what he made himself out to be.

And then @Camellia was there, prodding and working, and any sign of discomfort would be kept to just the most fleeting twitch in his face or tail. The ripples of pain returned, and he relaxed into it, letting the sensation wash over him and away as his eyes slid closed once more. Because he vaguely understood where he was, in the sense that he recognized the scent mostly obscured by his own blood as that of @Levana's family and that the prevalence meant he was either in Obsidian or some other Savante lair.

Or maybe it was whatever was in that skull Camellia placed in front of him.

He drifted slightly, slipping toward sleep, when an aggressive voice reached him through the haze. Though he still had enough of himself left to not respond; no need to let them all know he understood them these days. And after felling a man who had caused them all numerous injuries, well...one angry woman was little threat.

Would they thank him if they knew?

Wouldn't that be funny?

He tuned back in with @Lilliana's voice. Grave? A low groan, "Not dead yet." But as far as places to die went, this probably wouldn't be the worst. At least he knew the Savante wouldn't eat him.

---

¹My Soul, I'm not going anywhere yet.

No shackles on the demon in me

I'd rather be dead than average

code by corvus

If he were being truthful, the dark Savante had no sympathy for Ryker. The man was a blight upon the Earth, and signified everything wrong with Amaryllis. He'd stolen one of the most precious creatures to Valens and sullied her - alienated her against her own family. Why the brute chose now of all times to worm his way back into Savante graces, Valens wasn't certain. From what Abaddōn had told him in their encounter just moments ago, it seemed this favor that Camellia had decided to grant him was in place long before the fight he'd started with the Dieudonne.

He'd linger outside the Home Cave even despite hearing the anger-fueled tones of Teodora, hesitant. The warrior knew what he had to do, but it didn't mean he enjoyed it. The Blood Mother didn't frighten Valens - he'd met death enough times to know that there were far scarier things than the dark peace of rejoining the Mother. No matter how painful, he could handle death or near-death. It was simply the fact that he'd have to stand behind one side or another in the invisible line drawn in the sand. In all his years alive, he'd never had to choose so direly between kin; had refused to do so in some instances, and regretted minor decisions in others.

This would be bigger than any confrontation. Teodora was furious, but not so enraged that she'd attacked anyone - yet.

What sent him into motion however, were the dulcet tones of Lilliana. His daughter, the most precious jewel he'd ever been lucky enough to happen upon. Levana, his tarnished and yet still impossibly perfect child, was also present. But he still felt too confused about her. Much had happened, and betrayal still stung fresh. Yet, there remained the duty he felt toward all of his kin; most of all his little girls.

Broadening his shoulders, Valens would enter the scene with his chin tilted toward his chest. With Teodora's temper flaring as it was, one never knew when or who she'd strike. The need for justice was all-consuming in her heart. She was the judge, jury, and executioner of their family. Such a prestigious position was one of great difficulty and pain, he'd imagine. But she did what most would shy away from, and that had earned her the burning respect and reverence of the entire family. A healthy dose of fear followed suit, but Valens had long grown out of that.

The only one he truly feared the wrath of was the Mother herself.

His dark figure slipped through the cavernous space, paws sure-footed as he placed each step carefully along the sandy floor. It was with a purpose in said strides that Valens would aim to slide himself to stand directly in front of Teodora and shield the others from her. Calm reigned over him, expression stoic and placid as the pool that rippled somewhere within the network of glimmering crystalline structures and looming shadows. He assesses the Blood Mother a moment, tail ticking gently at his heels as he considers what words would suit this moment best.

"Veriemä." he'd drawl, head dipping slowly in respect to the fierce woman that stood stiff-legged and hackles raised before him. "Amit a lányom mond, az igaz. Én is azonnal megölném a szart, de egy élettel tartozunk neki. Camellia mindig is adakozó lélek volt, akárcsak Lilliana. Ezért ünnepeljük őket, nem? Szóval humorizáld őket most, és ezt a bolondot használhatjuk ügyek intézésére, ahogy csak egy bolond tud. Ha azonban meg kell büntetnie valakit, én átveszem a helyére. Vedd szemem a látott és elrejtett bűnökért; fogd a nyelvem a méltatlanoknak mondott ígéretekért." he stares at her singular blood-red eye with a plead in his own glacial blues. He would gladly mute and blind himself in their stead, if that's what the Blood Mother demanded.

Translation:
What my daughter says is true. I would just as soon kill the piece of shit myself, but we owe him a life. Camellia has always been a giving soul, as has Lilliana. This is something we celebrate them for, no? So humor them now, and we can use this fool to run errands as only a fool can. However, if you must punish someone, I will take it in their place. Take my eyes for the sins seen and hidden away; take my tongue for the promises spoken to those unworthy.

CODE / YUMPY

Abbadon had stayed when told, she'd been forbidden from going with her mother to find her father, she sat down, heart heavy and paws even heavier as she waited, and then her mother called from the entrance and Camellia ushered her inside, yellow mismatched gaze focused on her father's limp form carried by her mother. It was shocking enough that she froze, the silent cry held like choked air in her throat as they walked past. Her father, someone she'd always loved before her siblings and own mother, she was a total daddy's girl growing up and this shook her entire world, she finally gained strength enough to follow sitting out of the way and watching.

She watched her mothers exhausted body sit like a guarding gargoyle next to her father and grandmother, watched Camellia work on him, she watched her sit back and press her muzzle to Leveana's stomach, the girl worried too for her younger unborn siblings.

And then she heard it, a growl that sent chills through her body, her yellow eyes shot immediately to the frame of @Teodora, she'd never met the woman, never truly seen her, but growing up as a young cub during all the fighting and bloodshed, she'd been warned to run away from her. Now she understood why mother had said to run and not try and defend herself, the woman was terrifying. She seemingly stole attention and the breath from everyone, her very energy was so powerful that someone as young as Abbadon almost crumpled in a shivering mess of fear. But she held strong, like it or not, she had Savante blood, she would be strong, she would not shy away from things that scared her.

Her aunt joins her mothers side and Abbadon watches with wide eyes, watching the three woman face off against the crimson lioness, ""Eltemetni? De nem halt meg!"" She wanted to argue but then her grandfather walks in, to stand in front of his daughters and sister. She is confused, enthralled, and her heart aches for what could have been and her mother never been forsaken, but she knows that right now is not the time for that, she does not know if she should join her family, or stay back and out of risk of the crimson womans ire.

Trigger Warning: Touches on potentially sensitive subject material regarding pregnancy loss.

Camellia closed her eyes, leaning softly against Levana's belly and feeling the movement within. It caused a flutter in her heart as she remembered that feeling. The feeling of life, vibrant and new within her. She remembered as well, a far darker feeling - the pain of loss when her body had been unable to fulfill the task... She remembered a little cub, the pride and joy of her life time. How it felt to know that she was hers...

Camellia withdrew from Levana, turning around slowly at the sound of a low growl. She felt her heart flutter in her chest as her eyes met that single scarlet orb. Camellia drew in a steadying breath, rising to her full (though insubstantial) height to face The Blood Mother. Her face did not betray the rush of heightened emotion that the Medicine Woman felt as she surveyed Teodora calmly with those enigmatic hazel eyes of hers. Egyiket se csináld, Veriemä, she replied simply with a small frown of disproval.

Before any more could be said, the lair began to fill with others. Florentina, her beloved little sister, had entered upon the scene and surveyed the sight of Levana and Ryker with justified shock. Camellia turned to look at her, silently willing her to please just understand. It was well known among the Savante that Levana had been Cursed with Death, banished from the family and condemned to become a dark spirit and to walk the underworld forever.. It was less commonly known that the curse had been broken many times over, for to even look upon a dark spirit was to condemn oneself, it was believed by the Savante to be fatal. They should not have been able to see her, let alone engage her body in battle nor be rescued from a River Demon. No... the curse had been broken, or perhaps had never been accepted by the spirits at all. Camellia had possessed very little heart when she had performed the ritual, despondent from the grief of losing another daughter. Perhaps she had failed in performing the correct steps to the ritual. Truthfully, Camellia knew that she had failed in many ways. Once, she had stood against Teodora to protect Levana from the Blood Mother's fierce claws. But she had been a coward then, and had been complacent in the banishment of a daughter whom she dearly loved.

Camellia felt another presence beside them, followed by the voice of her other daughter, Lilliana. The Healers eyes widened, threatening to fill with tears as she heard the words that the younger healer spoke. When had her daughter grown up so? When had she become so beautiful, and so wise? The Earth Mother's heart swelled with pride, for she knew that someday when she was gone, that her legacy would continue. Lilliana was more than worthy of taking Camellia's place, as she had proven now and many times over. But never before had Camellia felt so moved by witnessing Lilliana's growth.

Valens was the next to arrive - her littermate and father to the girls whom she had raised at her breast after the death of their mother. It was a great relief to see her sibling there, for it had been some time since she had last seen him and she had often worried for his safety. She could sense his uneasiness when his pale gaze swept across Ryker, but she did not doubt his love for her or for the daughters whom they shared. He placed himself between Teodora and the rest, addressing their matriarch and suggesting an alternative punishment which he so graciously offered to accept on behalf of them. Camellia stepped out from around his massive form. Nem, ekäm. She had to take a step back and crane her neck to look up at him, but she fixed him with a firm look as she finally spoke up. Tévedsz. Ez az ember se nem bolond, se nem szar. Ő a vendégem, ráadásul a lányom férje, ami miatt a rokonom.

There was a sharper edge to Camellia's voice than usual, and her tail was flicking to and fro between her dainty ankles, betraying her agitation. Nem fogom eltemetni. She said, addressing all other those who were gathered there and glancing momentarily at her granddaughter, who seemed most alarmed at the thought. Camellia heard Ryker stir and she looked back over to her patient. De a sebeit fogom kezelni. Az anya meghozta a döntését. Levana átkát régen feloldották.

Glancing briefly at Teodora, Camellia would move to return to the pelt, to check on Ryker and to tend to the little glowing skull that she had placed near his face that had continued to produce a fragrant trickle of smoke that the injured lion would inhale. Perhaps inducing a very strange dream-like state indeed.

---

@Teodora @Lilliana @Levana @Valens @Florentina @Abbadōn @Ryker

•You shall do neither, Blood Mother.
•No, brother.
•You are wrong. This man is neither fool nor shit. He is my guest, and moreover he is my daughter's husband which makes him my kin.
•I'm not going to bury him.
•But I am going to treat his wounds. The Mother has made her decision. Levana's curse was lifted long ago.

There is a frenzy for violence blossoming in her heart. This defiance. Where did it come from? Their utter distrust in the Blood Mother. Who had yet to lead them astray - who had done her best alongside Alexander to ensure the family would be safe. Ebony lips quiver, saliva glistening along her fangs.

The first defiance comes from @Levana. The Cursed, the Dead. How dare she stand against her after all that she'd done. And it seemed obvious to the Blood Mother that death had curled it's gnarled digits around their Earth Mother - @Camellia. The hair along her back continues to stay upright, the aggression seething from her form practically palpable.

How brave they must think themselves, facing the wrath of their Veriemä. A low, near hysterical bought of mad laughter escaped her glistening lips. Her lungs burned from the action, her laughter echoing throughout the dark corridors of this cave.

" Anyád szánalmas próbálkozásai ellenére te még mindig HALT, kis szellem. Ne kényszeríts arra, hogy soha többé ne lélegezz. Despite your Mother's pathetic attempts, you are still DEAD, little ghost. Do not make me ensure you never breath again. After all - a shredded throat was far more permanent than a Death Curse.

The beast inside her quiets, that single blood red eye slowly turning toward @Lilliana. Oh, how wonderful cute it was that they would stand against her together - rather than on their own. They were still cowards. The information thrown at her meant nothing. They did not understand - or perhaps her family was too blind to see the issue presented to them.

Nostrils flare, the scent permiating from @Ryker like a seductive coo - not his, but his victim. Tongue slithers from her muzzle, coiling along her teeth in a slow sweep, saliva dripping from the corners of her lips slowly. " You do not speak for the Mother, girl." She snaps, teeth making an audible click as they came together with resounding force.

Ears flick, swiveling with a sharp movement toward the sound of the intruder's voice. Jaws inch open slightly, that saliva gleaming between her teeth as a hiss expels from her, a deep, guttural sound that vibrates the expanse of her chest. " I can remedy that." She drawls with a soft, manic little laugh that ends as soon as it begins. But once more she is interrupted...

A familiar scent creeps into her nostrils. @Valens - her nephew. " Nem tartozunk neki semmivel. Ha megmentette Camellia életét, az egy kifizetett adósság – nem.." We owe him nothing. If he saved Camellia's life, it is a debt paid - not owed. After all, it was his fault that Levana's life had been forfeit to the Death Curse - his fault that they had been forced to grieve a family member. By saving the Earth Mother, he was only paying them back for the life he took.

A dog. A foolish idea, to think that a man like Ryker would be content to be someone's dog. " Ha az ember annyira megelégedett volna azzal, hogy kutya legyen, nem harapta volna meg azt, aki etette." If the man was so content to be a dog, he would not have bit the one who fed him. She sneers, her voice holding tempered hatred - that single red eye locking onto Ryker.

Oh, and then it was Camellia's time to speak. To defy the Blood Mother. You shall do neither, Blood Mother. Her blood bubbled at the words, making the rage within her calm - steadily quieting until it was a muted force building deep within her - more and more with every passing second. Rage doesn't make a sound. Her lungs screamed at her as the Savante woman held her breath, the world around her seemingly slowing, time stopping as her skin crawled with fury.

Rage.
Rage.

" Milyen arrogáns lettél, kicsi Camellia." How arrogant you have become, little Camellia. As the healer turns to return attention to Ryker, Teodora moved with startling speed, closing the distance between them as her jaws hover near Camellia's ear for a fleeting moment - whispering, " Én vagyok az Anya dühe. Én vagyok a foga és a karma, én vagyok a Veriemä, és te engedelmeskedni fogsz." I am the Mother's fury. I am her tooth and claw, I am the Blood Mother and you will obey. Her voice shook with that tempered, barely contained rage.

" Távolítsd el erről a szent helyről." Remove him from this sacred place. She breathes lowly, looking to all those nearby now - her head raising, her features unrelenting, unwavering. They could leave, remove this piece of filth from their sacred Home Cave or Teodora would let it explode - that caged force ticking away within her wild, feral soul.

coded by flea + background credit + art

The forsaken Savante faces her great aunt, she is still exhausted but willing to throw herself in front of her mother and husband should the woman attack, emerald green eyes stare that one crimson eye in he storm, she feels her fur bristle but she did not speak just yet. She would respect the Mothers sacred place, she would respect her own mother, but she would only stay silent for so long.

Teodora threatens her, calls her little ghost, and snarls that Levana is still dead, the girl feels her muscles tense and she parts her jaws to speak, trying to keep her voice as steady as she can, but a low growl etches from her throat. ""Ha olyan halott vagyok, mint amilyennek állítottad, akkor én leszek az, aki magammal rángatlak a pokolba."" If I'm as dead as you made me out to be, I'll be the one dragging you to hell with me. She feels her muscles tense, her mother being called pathetic struck a nerve and she snarls loudly, ""Nyilvánvaló, hogy nem csak a szem elvesztése tette vakká. De nem fogja a családunkat elszenvedni ugyanilyen vakságban."" It is clear that it wasn't just the loss of your eye that made you blind. But you will not make our family suffer the same blindness.

The lost sister finds her attention drawn from the BLood Mother only for a second when her twin entered the cave, emerald green eyes soften, a sadness dwells deep in her dark eyes, she almost expects Lilliana to try and reason with her again, to cement their broken relationship forever, but she is surprised when her sister takes up beside her, brown fur brushing clay fur once more. Side by side, just as they were in the womb, as they were as cubs, Levana does not say anything yet, she listens to her sister, but she does shift just a bit closer, pressing her shoulder even more into her sister just to feel that connection she'd so deeply missed.

The way she answers Abbadons words of worry for her father have Levana taking a step forward, a mothers instinct to protect and to destroy any threat that would harm her child strong in her, she licks her teeth and peels back her lips, fur bristling but it is an approaching figure that causes her face to falter, she pins hers ears back and shrinks back a little bit, her head tilting up to look at her father, she swallows the bitter heartbreak that threatens to expel from her, ears flicking nervously as he speaks. He calls Ryker a fool, his words cause the girl to flinch as he calls Ryker a piece of shit, her head tucks. She was not ashamed of her husband, never would she find shame in the love she'd had for him, but the sharp words cut through her like a knife, even if they wouldn't have even bothered Ryker.

She looks back for a second to check on her husband, her eyes softening as she watches his limp body, her head swivels as Camellia begins talking, Nem, ekäm. Green eyes watch, wide eyed, tears form under her water line as her mother speaks, Tévedsz. Ez az ember se nem bolond, se nem szar. Ő a vendégem, ráadásul a lányom férje, ami miatt a rokonom She trembles lightly next to her sister, eyes watery, she not only claimed Levana was her daughter, her living daughter, but also claimed Ryker as family by being her daughters husband, it sent a warmth through the lioness.

Her mother then moves to return back to her patient, Levana shifts to allow her to move closer to Ryker and in that time Teodora is rushing Camellia and her wounded husband , the dark brown lioness snarls and whips around to face off with the Blood Mother, she could just barely hear what Teodora spoke, it was hard to hear anything over the blood rushing through her ears and the sound of the need and want inside her to rip into the crimson woman.

Távolítsd el erről a szent helyről Levana growls softly, she moves to Camellia's flank, staying at her hip, for protection but also to hear what she decided on.

@Teodora continues to boil before them. Lilliana remains as she was. Both defiant and submissive. She was no warrior. No blood thirsty creature. All she could do is hold fast to the decision she now made.
Her lowered head rises to take in @Valens as he enters. The look of confliction in his blue eyes mirrors Lilliana's own. To go against family was untural. But what were you to do when it was family on either side? He offers The Crimson his tongue and eyes and Lilli makes a small noise of protest. Surely Teo was not so enraged that she should would do such a thing to their own warrior.
@Ryker and his daughter both give voice to her previous idea. But she ignores them for now. There wasn't time to explain to them that a grave wasn't just for the dead.

Her anger is quickly coming to a head. The young medic can feel it. Can practically taste it. And then she is moving. Close to the clustered lionesses and the downed male. Raging into @Camellia's ear. @Levana, having pressed closer, now moves as well. Outwardly warning the Blood Mother away. Although Lilliana feared the wrath of this small woman, she could not fault her sister. Her child. Her mate. Her unborn. All were vulnerable.
A Mother will always protect.
I know you only have the best intentions for us. For our family. Lilli whispers. But what harm can he do? What harm had he ever done come to think of it. Alexander had made his point upon both Levana and Ryker's flesh. More than once. They had no pride. No army. And by the scent that lingered on Ryker now, no allies. I may not speak for the Mother but she has answered me. I prayed countless times for her to erase Levana from my memory. From my heart. Yet here she stands. In the Mother's paws. No answer could be clearer than that. If the Mother had truly forsaken Levana and her family, then they would not be standing here. They would not be breathing. All the healthy children that her sister bore. Camellia's life. Ryker still able to draw breath inside this cave. She would not have allowed all that had happened if it did not mean anything. As far as Lilli was concerned, nothing was that coincidental.

Teodora did not trust. Once along ago, Lilli had heard as a child, she did. That perhaps if things had been different Teo herself would be standing with them now instead of against. But someone had broken her. But she was not the only one. Lilli's eyes flick toward her mother. Not her birth mother but the one who had raised her. The one who was forced to sacrifice time and again as well. Her one and only mate. Her one and only daughter. Being forced to curse the girl she called her own. Being forced to abandon her grandchildren. Lilliana could see it now. Like a veil lifting away from her face. Despite all of that, Camellia was able to forgive. Teodora would keep the family in the shadows of the past. Would have them cling to grudges simply because she was unwilling to change. Perhaps that was why their Mother had brought them here. Not only to heal. But to evolve.

I have a garden nearby. She whispers. Unable to bring herself to voice what she know believed. Knowing that right now there was nothing that could be done to remedy Teodora. Not today. If they pushed, she would snap. And Savante were not meant to fall upon eachother in such a way. It had already nearly broken Valens, Camellia and Lilliana to watch it happen to Levana.

Table code by Zodiac

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of epilepsy & spiritual episode

There is so much anger swirling around the home cave that it makes Tina's skin crawl. This was meant to be a sacred place, not a place for these harsh words and actions. The spirits grew restless, beating against her with each word that was spoken between each individual. Feed us, feed us! They declared but she would not. Her eyes were closed for the vast majority of the back and forth, she had to block everything out visually if only to prevent it from being too overwhelming. But her delicate ears remained trained forward, listening intently to each family member as they plead their case. It was only with the scuttling of @Teodora's paws against the stone that Florentina's gaze would snap back open, glossed over and distant. "I have a garden nearby." The voice is distant but warm, familiar. @Lilliana.

Tina's steps are haggard as she moves only two paces forward, her voice uncannily steady despite the status of her vessel. "Vigye el erről a helyről. A Föld hív." Take him from this place, the Earth calls. Her gaze would snap to land on @Camellia specifially, see me sister. hear me. Florentina's face would fall slightly, her jaw going slack as the tremors began first in her paws than led upward, crawling like black tendrils up her skin. No, not now. Please not now. She falls to her knees, forehead pressed against the earth. She can feel the vibrations beneath her, as she takes, she too can heal. Blinding light cascades around her as she rolls onto her back with a gasp; icy hot tendrils form a barrier around @Levana and @Ryker, but the earth still vibrates and hums like a pulse. Feed us, feed us. The chanting continues before Tina gasps once more, her gaze leveling as she prys her eyes open once more. "A Föld!" The Earth! She trembles, her whole body vibrates but it is clear. She struggles to stand, tail lashing against her flanks. Regardless of what their Blood Mother wanted, the Earth was more important. The ground begged for Ryker's flesh, begged to feed and restore. Who was she to ignore a command so simple as that?

code by cala

There was much to consider, much to take in. His sister had betrayed them all - though it seemed like nobody else saw it is such a way. The blood on the beast was as clear and recognizable to him as his own. Apollinaire. What had @Ryker done? A low, guttural growl erupts from his jaws, aiming to interrupt any speaking. In this moment, Alexander had to go against whatever the others interpreted as the Mother's will. Surely she would not want to see the downfall of their family.

"We will convene with the Mother soon, but Ryker will not remain within these sacred walls. If he does, it will be me that will feed the Mother his blood, and it will not be something he comes back from." He looks to @Camellia then, disappointment, heartbreak on his features. "You have disappointed me, sister." He frowns, his chest tight. The Savante were not weak, they were not the type to forgive another simply for doing one good deed. It did not make up for the crimes committed - and Ryker's crimes were grievous. Camellia was naive to think that Ryker had helped her out of the goodness of his heart.

"He is covered in Dieudonne blood, and soon they will come looking for him. I will not have the Home Cave at risk because of him. Our feud with them will not be fueled even more by your foolish inclination to save him. He is not of the Mother, he will not receive Her blessing." Blue eyes settle on @Florentina then, "If you are so adamant to bury him, do so elsewhere. Not in our sacred soil." It made his skin crawl to think they would ever consider allowing an outsider be buried within these cavernous walls. How out of touch had his family become? How detached from the Mother? To think that She would want anyone but her chosen within these halls...it made him sick. Shaking his head, the beast came to stand beside Teodora.

Would the whole of his family turn their backs on their leaders for the likes of Ryker? When they could very well take him someplace else? Was this the day that the Savante were shattered? It boggled him that they seemed to all be so keen on helping this man, and a girl who had turned her back on her family. Just as they were doing now. Alexander could only look at the Blood Mother with remorse - regret. She was their rightful leader and they treated her as if she meant nothing. The disrespect from Levana alone made him see red. Yet, for now, the Savante beast remained somewhat calm - the coiling temper beneath his delicate composure was easily seen, however.

"Leave." It was his first and only warning.

table by aurora / art