Hecuba hadn't listened to a single word of Jewel's advice. The sovereign had encouraged her to stay local and keep her wits about her, but she had thrown caution to the wind specifically to bait an attacker into the light. She doubted anyone would mess with her as muscular as she was; Hecuba had been training quite vigorously and was not afraid. The lioness had been caught unawares by the couple who had beaten her before, but not again. Never again.

Now, just because she was attempting to bait an attack didn't mean she wasn't going to enjoy herself.

Hecuba waded into the hot springs with a happy little purr, enjoying the warmth against the bitterly cold air.

Let's not say that he kept an eye on his wife and other children. Nephthys had returned beaten and scared. Gostir was still inside the borders and Hecuba? Well, Drakon never kept a chain on her and never planned to do that. She was a free woman and that was what she had always been with Drakon. As long as she didn't go sleeping with another man, he was perfectly fine with her roaming where ever she pleased. But.. That didn't change why he was following her today. There were attackers every where and anywhere, so Drakon wasn't about to let her roam without some more protection. A smirk formed when she slipped into the hot springs. "Mind if I join you?"

Drakon wasn't necessarily trying to be stealthy, she assumed, but his massive white form was quite the contrast to the scenery around him. The lioness had known he was pursuing, of course, and perhaps that was exactly why she had drawn him to somewhere secretive. She may have been trying to lure out one of the attackers, but she was more than satisfied with her husband falling prey as well.

"Of course, darling," she purred, wading through the warm waters to settle down on her haunches in the middle. "Come relax with me, then." Not that Hecuba had a good reason for wanting to relax. She did absolutely nothing all day.

Drakon knew her answer before she said it but he enjoyed hearing her say it. Ears twisting in his thick mane as he would crash into the water. Smooth dragon. Smooth. Moving to sit down next to his wife, Drakon would aim to kiss her cheek and rumbling in his chest. "What's on your mind?" There were many things that Drakon wanted to talk about but he just didn't do social things. Nor liked starting them and figured that maybe @Hecuba would give some light on what they should talk about. Perhaps even figure out what to do next. He knew she was getting restless. And so was he.

Hecuba's eyes widened as he stepped in, falling more than anything else. She laughed and flinched as the warm water sprayed up against her cheeks, coating her whiskers with foam. "Oh goodness, you've gotten me all wet now," she teased, moving forward to meet his affection with a soft purr. Hecuba settled alongside of him quickly enough, enjoying the magical healing properties or whatever the hell hot water was supposed to do. As for what was on her mind, well, what wasn't?

"Ladon is missing." Hecuba knew her husband knew, but it needed to be spoken. "I came out here to see if I could find one of these bastard rogues to interrogate, but chances are he's just wandered off." She glanced to him for reassurance.

"Jewel is weak and half blind. The pride won't stand for long." Hecuba shifted, cracking her neck. "We should be prepared to move at a moment's notice." Or sooner, preferably.

He chuckled at her tease and nuzzled her now wet cheek before hearing her speak. "I know.. I've been looking." Should he mention Nephthys coming home injured? No, his daughter had asked him not to so he wasn't going to and that was a promise he planned to keep. Ears twisted at the mention of Jewel being weak, and half blind. It causes him to think. What if he asked Jewel to let him rule. He would keep the rules the same but if she wanted a break and her Sovereign and Heiress needed it to. Let another rule. "Where would we go?" He didn't want to make a wrong move. Not like last time.

Hecuba nodded. "Me too." She didn't let the unspoken fear manifest itself into the world. It already lived rent free in both of their hearts and minds, she certainly didn't want to add anymore fuel to the fire. "He'll come home." And that was all she would say on that, choosing not to dive back into the depression she had experienced after the loss of their first litter.

As for where they would go, well.. that was the question.

"I've been thinking about asking for sovereign in the wake of Jewel's attack. If she thinks herself capable of protecting the pride in her state, of being able to defend against a challenger or whoever these rogues are attacking women.. well, she's mistaken. If she doesn't listen to reason, I will challenge her myself." Here she glanced towards him, curious to see his reaction. "I don't believe in Jewel enough to protect our family. I believe in us to protect our family -- you and me, and that's it." And how did that make him feel?

He listened to her. Yes, eventually Ladon would come home and they would welcome him with opened arms but for now. They needed to think about the children they had here with them currently. And then she began to speak about going to Jewel and asking for the crown and he watched her closely. He had every ounce of faith in his wife but like she said. They could only count on them both but if they became a ruling pair again, they would need to protect the pride to. "I understand where you are coming from. Perhaps it is time we have a talk with Jewel. Ask her to step down and let us rule. We can protect our family and this pride. We have the strength and knowledge to do so." And we won't do it the same way as before. Would his wife agree?

It was funny how they always seemed to link up, wasn't it? They could be on separate planets altogether and still end up on the same wavelength, somehow managing to telepathically share the same thoughts. Well, mostly. It hadn't been so simple in the beginning, but at least now they had been together long enough to essentially unify themselves as one being. It wasn't something Hecuba had ever thought would happen. Ever.

"We just need to approach it calmly and logically, say it's what would be best for the pride. You should probably do the talking or she'll get suspicious of my intentions." Hecuba sighed. "It would be nice to have a crown again. I think it's time."

In all honesty, Drakon had never been in sync with someone till now. Not even Gala or Philo. Neither had lasted long enough for him to grow in sync like this as he had with Hecuba. Ears twisted on his head as he would listen to his wife speak. Yes, it was probably better if he did do the speaking at least then perhaps Jewel would have a better understanding of things and maybe her wife to. And right now, Drakon probably would be the calmest out of the two. "I agree. So shall we go back or?" He would wiggle his eyebrows at her teasingly.