the little cub is darling, saga decides, and she appreciates @Nero's fire. a frown touches her lips and she lifts her gaze to briefly drag it across the assembled group and sigh. "it's the way many prides run," she offers with a single shrug of a shoulder. how can she explain that adults - everyone, really - are greedy. terrible. warring creatures who spill blood at the slightest provocation. claiming and challenge was, really, just an excuse to brawl. the boy makes his decision, then, eager to join the club and all it stands for. aries' words are met with a neutral stare as she chews on his words. "i'm aware of what that feels like," she concedes, tilting her head to one side and peering thoughtfully at him. "it was only an offer." nero pipes up at wanting her to join the club, too, and she snorts in amusement. but it sours quickly at ryu's sharp words. her eyes narrow on the youth's backside as he whirls away and stalks off, a brows furrowing in dislike. he's prone to getting himself an ass kicking if he throws the attitude at the wrong lion and it's rather unfortunate that young nero seems caught up in it, too.

@Bhaskar takes her attention and she shifts, nodding as he promises they've seen worse. her eyes drift briefly to the albino boy and she swallows, hoping it's true. it's hard for her - as a mother - to let the young group march off into the madness of amaryllis. she has no doubt that the group will be claimed up and snatched away, perhaps in different directions, the moment someone else finds them. with firnen so keen to snatch the rogue cub up she knows it won't be long before they find themselves truly struggling. she sighs, defeated and unwilling to push the problem and drag any of them home.

while they gear up to leave, the youngest ( newest ) member of their little gang lurks, uncertain. his eyes find hers and she nods encouragingly, hoping he'll make his own mind up and be satisfied when he does. but as he slinks off, saga wonders just how happy he is - and if she should go searching for him soon. thoughtfully, she turns and meanders away from the pit to find the pride ( and maybe discuss with them what she should do ).

exit

table by ferus & lineart by eerien00dle

his exposure to adult lions had been limited, and to suddenly be surrounded by so many—with tensions clearly high—was frightening. he had already begun to outgrow mae before they'd left home with the group of boys, but chaiya was clearly still a lot smaller than the majority of lions. he couldn't help but to be a little envious though, as he noticed that ryuunosuke and bhaskar didn't seem to have that issue; they looked almost like they were adults already themselves. such as it was though, @Saga as the closest and defensive struck an imposing figure, and chaiya couldn't help but to be glad when it was made clear she wasn't invited, no matter how helpful she'd been.

stressed as he was, he heard very little of what was discussed. so long as there wasn't a fight breaking out, it seemed easier to just… stand and blank out for a little bit. he tunes back in though at the sound of ryuu's voice, folded ears curling against his skull at the cuss, but ultimately following the bronze lion's example when he announces it's time to go. what a relief. this place did suck. remaining mute, the boy prodded his brother gently to make sure he'd follow and then dashed off after the reluctant babysitter ringleader. exit.

There truly was a lot of personal attachments to sift through in these fights, especially when you had your own small stake in the matter. On both sides, it would seem, for Gareth. As he had personally known Drakon and had escorted him to Vermeda when he had officially joined. Then he knew Avaneira from before he knew anyone -- and yet, here she was @Morrigan's sister. Small world. Gareth leaned into @Nymeria's gentle kiss and attempted to plant his own, knowing that even if she was a mighty distraction in these events as he felt the need to watch around them that he always wanted her by his side. Or, in their case, he always wanted to be at her side.

A pleasure, he offers to @Arsynia as he was introduced as the husband to Nymeria. What a trophy title that was, eh? With that the focus was on to watch the fight unfold in which it seemed so closely mettled and yet Avaneira came out on top. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't be kind to those that were already in the pride, but he wondered how Drakon and Hecuba would take it in the days to come. They had a family and their love was strong, so how would that hold up when the crown is taken from you by force? So Gareth put on his best sympathetic smile and began to take his leave. He didn't wish to overstay his welcome here and wanted to give the new High Sovereign the room she needed to grow. exit gareth

table by ferus, art by munk