It was time. He had settled on his decision whenever mother had visited him, and even though the lion loved the Cove with ever fiber of his being he just knew he had to close this chapter of his life and start a new one in a whole new pride. It was a bittersweet feeling, his emotions running rather high with nostalgia and a little bit of guilt. He felt as though he were doing more than just leaving them, and maybe it was because as their Lead Hunter he felt more responsibility than most pride lions. But he couldn't let that sway his thoughts; no, he had decided that this needed to happen.

And so as he emerged from his den, taking one long last look at it and at all of his belongings he had collected over the years tucked into the roll of several pelts he would be taking with him to the Mire, Keir would go in search for @Morrigan, releasing several deep chuffs for her as he moved toward where her den was. He knew that Avaneira was still badly injured and wasn't wanting to bother her. If only he knew that the High Sovereign had just given birth...

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The birth had not been an easy one, but Morrigan had been recovering in the days since with the help of her caregivers. Still… she was supposed by the ferocity of her desire to remain tucked around the three big newborns as often as possible. Cassandra had taken over her patrol duties in the last couple of days and when @Keir called as he had said he would, Morrigan chuffed in return, inviting him into the warm depths of her den. She had her suspicions about his intentions but there would be no blame on her heart when they were confirmed by the bundle he carried.

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He wouldn't be kept waiting long, instead hearing a response from the dark lioness from the confines of her den that beckoned him in. He would pick up the pace, nostrils flaring and finally filling him in the the most recent happenings, and the most recent arrival to Caladan. Slowly would he push himself inside, making sure to still keep toward the outer area of the den to give @Morrigan her space, not wanting to intrude. Blue gaze would glance down at the cubs with a soft expression, trying to imagine himself the same size as them once upon a time. After a moment would his gaze shift, looking over at his Queen. "I guess congratulations are in order," he would begin, keeping his tone soft. He would allow for his hind end to fall to the den ground below, taking a seat and making sure he wouldn't hit his head on the den's ceiling. "Are they well?" He didn't want to dive straight into the reason why he had called for her attention, and he was genuinely curious to know how the latest litter was faring.

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He entered after a few moments and Morrigan nuzzled the four sleeping children closer against her side, shoving down the mild protective instinct that still arose whenever someone new entered her den now. But @Keir was to be trusted. He'd never done anything to show Morrigan otherwise and she doubted he would start now. "Thank you, and yes. Maua even blessed me with a foundling on Talisa's way here," she murmured, gesturing to the boy who didn't quite fit in with his trio of large sisters. Her thoughts lingered briefly on how she wanted to feel as though Maua owed Talisa much more, but even Morrigan knew enough to not presume to know a God's ways. "Is there something I can do for you?" She kept her tone soft, even though she suspected he might be spreading his own wings. She didn't want there to be any thinking of resentment left behind, after all. But it only made sense he might want to join his mother again, and likely Sanson would join them... though a part of her still hoped she was wrong about them both.

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he would watch in observing silence as she spoke about the newborns, offering up the information that one of them weren't birthed from her loins but still taken in as one of their own anyways. If @Morrigan hadn't mentioned it Keir wouldn't have known, but now that he knew he could see how the little cub stood out from the other three... He would blink as she posed her question, nodding his head.

"Ah, yes," he would begin slowly, front paws kneading the ground below him a little. "I'm sure you're well aware by now that my mother has taken the Mire temporarily, and she stopped by not too long after my challenge for Obsidian to offer me the spot of Heir." A brief pause, watching the dark lioness to see if he could gauge where she were at currently. "I told her I would accept the rank. It pains me to even think about leaving Caladan, but I need to figure out what it is I really want in life right now." Whether it was to lead a pride of his own or to simply be in a position like Lead Hunter he wouldn't know unless he branched out to figure it all out. "I just wanted to let you know of my leave and not have you wonder where I went."

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Morrigan listened patiently as Keir began to speak and a small smile played around her face as she thought of the similar situation Cassandra had recently found herself in. And look how good the change of scenery had been for her. “I understand. My daughter had only ever known the Brook before she joined me here, yet she has been finding her place in the world beautifully since joining me. As much as we hate to lose you, Keir, I would never want to try to deny you the same benefits.” She thought he could flourish, too, and even imagined she might be seeking an alliance with a High Sovereign Keir one day before long. “You’re welcome to visit when you like, of course. Just as all my friends are.”

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He was glad he wasn't the only one that had to fight the inner turmoil of what to do. Hearing that not too long ago did one of her own daughters have to face this same decision made Keir feel a little better about what he himself were doing. And with @Morrigan calling him a friend would cause for his lips to curl in a soft smile, nodding his head to her words. "If you ever need anything, anything at all, you can ask me and I will try to help as best as I can." To know he had made a positive impact in someone's life, enough to be seen as a friend, showed Keir that he were doing something right in his own life. Sometimes he wondered about where his life would lead or if he were even doing enough at his age, but now he knew that he was.

"I will leave you be with your newborns now. Thank you, Morrigan. Take care." With a dip of his maw would he slowly rise, giving one last glance at the bundles at her stomach. After a moment he would suck in a slow breath before turning on his heels, exiting the warm den and making his way back to his own, ready to say goodbye to what he knew and ready to start this new chapter in his life.

exit Keir.

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@Keir was ever graceful and polite, yet Morrigan knew he had an innate strength like his mother, too. She might have been too buried in grief and rage to attend his challenge for the Hollows but there was little doubt in her mind it was only experience that had won the day and with a little more time she would see the Khulani man flourish fully. “Maya’s grace go with you,” she told him in farewell before tucking herself back around her newborns to finish her nap. Without a lead hunter the duties of hunting would have to fall even more on her shoulders and it would be something she needed to figure out. exit Morrigan

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