[[absence post 1/5]]

Funny thing about taking time to rest and heal was that it always gave his mind the time to work, following the tangled political threads to find a clear path to a goal. He'd found one, possibly the only one, but it was a path he knew would be blocked by his wife if she knew the whole of it. And he couldn't afford that. Nor could he move without some form of goodbye, which presented a problem. Ryker had never actually lied to Levana - not once over their years together. Omitted truths, perhaps, but never offered outright falsehoods. Which made things tricky, because he wasn't about to start lying to her now.

The morning had been spent relaxing atop a pile of miscellaneous bones he hadn't cared to identify, and enjoying the slight irony. Already settling into his place among them, wasn't he. But as the sun neared it's peak, he finally extracted himself from the landscape and moved to seek out his family. A series of inviting chuffs were made as he sought a clear patch of ground where they could gather.

@Levana @Abaddōn @Lucifer @Idoru @Kali @Enoch

Yeah, we're broken and bleeding in the name of love


Something was up, she could feel it, but she couldn't outright figure what it was, with the newest litter around, she was always busy, happily caring for her children, doting on her husband, and being with her family. She was finally at peace, she was finally happy, she was content and it showed with the way she glowed, the brunette lioness basked in the sun, her green eyes closed for the moment, she wasn't asleep, she was as aware of her surroundings as she always was. But she was enjoying the moment with the warmth on her fur, and the sand caressing her curves, along with the rock she's chosen to bask on. At this moment, there was nothing to ruin her.



And I hope that we meet in another life
We were broken and bleeding but never gave up


She is immediately aware of her husbands call, her emerald eyes pop open and blink out the attack from the suns blinding light, her gaze almost glitters under the summer sun, twinkling and shining bright when they land on @Ryker. She is immediately up on four graceful paws, her own lips parting to call to her children, aiding in Rykers call for them. And for her mother should she wish to join, seeing as how they were all living life as a tightly knitted family once more.


And I hope that I stain through your memory
As we echo through time in the melody
Now I hate that I need you

Though she is rightfully confused, she pads over to her husband, her brows furrowed with questions, she moves to butt her head under his chin and drag herself against him, purring as she does so. ""A lelkem..."" She nuzzles against his cheek and then moves to lean against him, chin tilted upwards to await his words. Would they be moving now that he was healed and the cubs were a bit older? Would they be leaving to join KIreena? Or something else.... She couldn't quite understand why her stomach felt like it may drop at any second but she awaited with curious intent.

If I can't let you go, will darkness divide?
For the fiction of love is the truth of our lies
We were playing for keeps but we both knew the cost
Now the only way out's in your heart shaped box

It wasn't abnormal for his father to call them together, but there was something in the air this time that Lucifer couldn't quite identify. A sense of...impending doom, maybe? Something ominous. Then his mother's came and increased his confusion. But Lucifer was no coward, not really, he wouldn't shy away and hide from potentially bad news.

He'd arrive before his siblings, and fix his father with a piercing, questioning, stare as he arrived. The look softened when he glanced to his mother, though the unspoken questions remained. What was all this about? Were they moving? He didn't expect they'd be leaving Amaryllis entirely, that was too much like running, and that seemed very unlikely. So what was it?

code by corvus

Abbadon kept herself busy around the little Haven they had created, she worked close with her grandmama, she cared for her younger siblings, and when she had time, she would often go off and explore, and survey what information she could.

She was on her way back from one such excursion when she hears her father calling for their family, she flicks a tail, obediently turning to make her way to the little Oasis garden they had. She is relaxed, for now the alarm bells are not ringing, there's no air raid siren blaring inside her mind, telling her that something bad was coming. No, for now she appears and greets her family happily with a few chirps, she moves to take to her brothers side, she knew she had the younger siblings but their bond was nothing like the bond she had with her own litter.... The disappearance of her twin sister had left a hole inside her that was like a dark chasm. But she had been slowly putting a bandaid over that would by clinging to her lilac brother whenever they were bear each other.

@Ryker @Lucifer @Idoru @Enoch @Kali

The child wandered in behind @Levana as @Ryker called, his gaze looking up towards his father before shifting to lean into his mothers leg, purring softly before he would settle down between her forelimbs. A curious look was given towards both @Lucifer and @Abaddōn as the child wondered what it was that was happening now. He'd gotten used to living here - even though it was sometimes boring.. Were they maybe going to find a new home?

Young as he was, the undercurrents of stress escaped the boy and he simply leaned into his mothers leg, absently trying to rub his cheek and jaw along the soft fur of her leg.

[[just gonna move this along a little for timeline purposes, @Idoru and @Kali are still expected]]

First, came his wife. Of course she was first. Always quick to answer his calls, always willing, eager, to join him. He never really thought he'd have that, or any legitimate children, either. Little bastards running around without his knowledge, maybe, but a functional family unit that didn't shy away in fear of him? Fuck, if he claimed one accomplishment in his life, he supposed he'd be glad it would be the ability to say, sincerely, that he'd avoided turning into his own father. He leaned into @Levana's touch, savoring what was very possibly their last moments together.

Then came his strange lilac son, a pelt he supposed must exist somewhere in the Savante blood. An independent boy from the start, always going off on his own to explore, but always returning to them safe and whole. And then the softer of his daughters, his little shadow. He wondered, again, how Haider and Iskra were, and hoped they were happy and healthy, wherever they were.

Then the newest bunch of little ones; he wished he had the time to see them grow, as well. To learn who they were beyond the simplicity of cubhood. Only once they all gathered around him would he speak, and it would be after a steadying breath. "I'm not going to sugarcoat things. I made an impulsive attempt to challenge for Wolfbron out of anger, and even though I didn't go through with it, the Dieudonné have put a target on my head. I don't expect them to stop with me." Here, a pointed look at each gathered. They'd already tormented one of his children for a far lesser reason. "I'm not a man who runs from consequences. So," and here was where he expected cries of objection, attempts to talk him out of things, attempts to convince him to hide or run or live with the knowledge that his death could come from any direction - which was generally true, anyway, but the chance was much, much, higher when there were lions actively hunting you. "I'm going to go have a chat. See if I can strike a deal...for your safety. Whatever happens, understand that it was the best choice, and do not seek revenge." He knew what he would have to do, but if they went in search of revenge, it would all be for nothing.

@Abaddōn @Enoch

The lioness closed her eyes and enjoyed her husband's touch, she relaxed against him and purred softly, only opening her eyes when she felt her young sons body press against her legs, the mother would kean her head down to kiss Enoch's head, then she would resume her position of cuddling up to Ryker.

She waited patiently until he began to speak, his serious voice and tone caused her to lean back from him for a moment to watch, to hear more, she'd knew about the challenge, she'd almost killed him herself for it. She feels her body tense as he mentions thinking Wolfbron would not stop at him, her instincts have her wanting to pull all her cubs close, but she's frozen in the moment, the beginning creeping of dread slowly crawling up her spine.

His next few words have her jaw dropping, fear flashed in her eyes and then she was up on her paws, one moment everything was okay and then next it felt like the air had been forced out of her body and she couldn't get enough of it. Tears had sprung up in her eyes and she looked confused to him then around them, like this was a bad joke. She'd almost lost him last time, not again, she couldn't, wouldn't do it again... ""Ryker... Don't do this..."" She whimpered, not as strong as she'd been the day she'd found him bloodied, but alive, after killing Apollinaire, no this wasn't that lioness who though had been scared, knew her husband was alive, this was a death sentence, this was a goodbye, and she knew it.


""You can't leave me... You're the only one who stayed by me...you have to stay by me..."" Her voice broke as she trembled, seeming so much smaller, her emerald gaze looked up at him with stained cheeks and quivering lips.

As @Abaddōn settled beside him, he'd lean over to bump his shoulder to hers in a greeting, and a small smile was given to @Enoch as the younger boy glanced toward him. It was all meant to be reassuring, but Lucifer still couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Their father wore his serious face - the real one, the one that meant things were actually serious. The one with no hidden glint of something else in his eyes.

Ears tipped back as the man began to speak, and that creeping sense of doom wriggled up his spine and curled around his heart. And his stomach turned to stone when their mother spoke and the reality of what must be about to happen settled in. His father was about to chat with the ruthless beasts who'd run them out of Firnen. Who'd captured and tormented Haider just to make a point.

The others hadn't made it to the wolfbron challenge, but Lucifer had sat high and hidden - until the more insane of the invading trio somehow spotted him. He'd caught most of what happened, knew enough to know there was a price on his father's head (and the rest of them were probably open targets as well), and that his father had killed one of their own already. It hadn't stuck, but he'd done it. Could he do it again, though? How many times before he fell to them?

Like he'd done before, when his father had nearly died after the Firnen challenge, he tucked the fear and worry down deep. Lips pulled into a frown, but they couldn't all fall apart. It would be hard enough to see how their mother reacted, and to keep her from charging head first into death after their father.

@Levana @Idoru @Kali

code by corvus

"Let me get this straight pops." Iddy speaks up, the dark child's eyes were narrowed upon Ryker. The whole while they have been listening with a sort of disdain on their face born simply out of the obligation. They didn't want to participate. Attendance mandatory meant time to try and sneak away. But they had not managed it before being corralled with the youngest litter to listen to their father. "You did one impulsive thing and now ... You're doing this without talking to Mama again?" They rise from where they sit and move to stand up against @Levana, they lean upon her and hope to drive the point home that this was all stupid.

"Looks like you're running to me." They were hurting, they were hiding being terrified. And most of all they were angry to see their Mama made so upset. Spikey dark fur across Idoru's began to prickle and stand on end for of all the very many big grown up grounds Iddy had they were only okay letting their family see the anger and biting attitude. It served well as a shield.

He would stare up at the adults, listening to his mothers words, and glancing towards his sister when she also rose in defense of @Levana. Ears pinned to his skull as the boy sat in relative silence.. It seemed father had his mind made up, but still.. he would simply stare at @Ryker with soulful eyes before leaning into @Lucifer and taking a small comfort from his elder siblings presence.

He watched as @Idoru spoke her mind and though he agreed, it wouldn't really do much difference - instead he would look at his father.. memorizing details so that in the end... he might see him at least in his dreams.