Oracle

Oracle had taken her time in returning, and had at one point doubled back as anger pushed her back towards the Canyon. Upon catching Zanarah's scent and trailing it a short ways though, the pale ligeress decided against attacking. Zana was larger than her, after all. And more experienced in battle.

An hour after Hades had returned, Oracle came sauntering through the tall grasses and approached the rocky outcropping. Unlike her counterpart, no blood stained her maltese coat, though irritation was clear in her brooding gaze. "Tuini, Layra! I have news." Even as she called out to her leaders, her alabaster lips pulled back and her muzzle wrinkled. She could smell Menace and Teri.

Hades

Hades was in the cavern sleeping under watchful eyes.

Menace was sleeping with her daughter still unsure what to do. She had no intentions like Layra thought on returning to the Haunters. She could stay here but, then they'd expect her to turn on every haunter she sees no matter who they were and that wasn't her way.

Teri worried for her brother not knowing where he ran.

Layra leaped down from a rock. That news better give a good explanation on why you just sat back and watched hades fight instead of helping him. If he dies I will hold you accountableShe growled.

Oracle

Oracle stopped short, holding her posture carefully as Layra sprung from her rock and approached with an accusing growl. "I was coming to check how he's doing." She answered carefully, taking a seat so as not to look threatening, while watching her leader's movements and gauging her tone. "I ran into my brother out at the Canyon, and warned him to leave us Makucha alone. As for Hades, he came out of no where and attacked Mael. I would have helped him, I wanted to - but he gave me no warning." Oracle snorted and shook her head, irritated at both males, "As fiercely as they were fighting, there was no opening for me to jump in without accidentally hurting Hades, and it was over just as fast."

The ligeress sighed now, her nose twitching as she analyzed the scents coming from the cave. She was curious about Menace and Teri being here, but decided against asking at this moment, given how on edge Layra seemed. "I would have made it back sooner, but I doubled back to check if Mael was alive or dead, and that's when I discovered Zanarah had found him. And they're both headed towards Nemu's territory. I don't know the significance of that, but I worry that the two might make an alliance, and that wouldn't be good for us."

Layra Excuses. You should of never approached your brother in the first place. " She growled. "But attacking maelertech was the wrong move. However as Hades was not here he won't be punished. We are not to attack any young generation unless they give us cause" she said." She paced now. "Nemu hasn't cut ties with the haunters and won't as long as senka is still with them. Nemu is a neutral party. But mael going there may ruin that" she growled. "I will still be holding you accountable to hades life." She said. "As you still didn't have my full trust. You turned to easily against your family." She said

Oracle

"You're going to punish me for talking to my brother? I was trying to warn him away from us!" She rose now, not to confront Layra, but to have all four paws beneath her in case her leader tried an attack. Her ears laced back with uncertainty, "Look Layra, Hades bolted out of nowhere and attacked Maelertech, so don't punish me for that. If anything you should commend his bravery for trying to put down an enemy, even if he went about it recklessly." Her legs begged to move, to pace as Layra was doing, but the ligeress held still. Her voice grew sterner and her expression hardened, "I left the Haunters to be away from these senseless, suffocating rules. And I proved myself when I helped to hunt down two Haunters, and I even killed one of them myself, and saved Khala's life. The fact that I reported all of this to you should have proved my loyalty. What more do you want?"

Layra

Originally she wasn't going to but now she made to pin her. "Your own brother? This is what I mean your too quick to turn on family. Your brother could of been persuaded to join us" she snorted. "I never agreed to hunt down haunters. Tuini understands now killing your generation right off the bat is not the way to go about this. To me that was not proving loyalty, just proving how easily you are to change prides" she said. "Now we are forced to clean up the both your and Hades mess. Nemu is meant to eventually side with us. But now I don't know if this will be possible." If she had pinned her she now backed off. "We will not judge every haunter the same, not the younger generation."

Oracle

A low, dangerous growl rolled through Oracle when Layra jumped at her. She didn't fight back, but her limits were being pushed. "You're just like Senka and Nemu with these damned rules! You care more about outsiders than your own pride mates who risk their lives to show you loyalty and keep you safe! I thought you'd be happy to hear I put my neck on the line to help us." Her temper frayed now. When Layra backed off, Oracle stood quickly, fangs bared and claws unleashed. "Go join the Haunters if you're so concerned for them! You clearly care more about them than me or Hades. At least Tuini has faith in me, and sees my value - he's a true leader."

Layra

That was the last straw. "Do not question my loyalties. My loyalties are to tuini and my pride. Just because I rather sway the younger haunters to join us then out right kill them has nothing to do with my loyalties." Her fur was rising. "The older haunters are on the kill list." She growled. "If you question my loyalties again there will be consequences. What you seem to want is to rule the valley which is not what we want. And if that's what you want then you do not belong here." She growled. Oracle was lucky she had self control. "My objective is to make our pride bigger. Including swaying the younger haunters to join us."

Oracle & Little Tuft

"I don't need to question your loyalties, I know they lie outside of your pride." Oracle challenged with tensed muscles and a poisonous glower. "All I want is a pride that has my back like I have theirs. And don't confuse me with Tersek; he's the brain-dead mutt that thinks his struggling band of misfits can take over the Valley. I want freedom from that bullshit. And freedom from supposed leaders that sympathize with enemies instead of their own pridemates!"

The quarreling voices had gained the attention of Little Tuft, who so far had stayed out of the arguments between his pride members. The elder lion hobbled from his sleeping spot, moving with a grunt of pain and an audible pop of worn joints to bring himself a few yards behind Layra and Oracle. "If I may interject." He said, his voice soft and dragging, "A good, coordinated hunt might help shed some of this tension between everyone? All this aggression would be better spent against our future dinner."

Layra

Her fur was raised now.MY loyalties lie with my pride you insolant child. She growled. I do not sympathize with Terserk or Senka they are the generation that needs to bee killed offShe snarled. yes a hunt, thought when we kill something Oracle eats lastShe growled. Given her and Tuini always ate first. you want to proof your loyalty a little you will be the one staying behind and making sure Hades is safe and comfortable She said. She released the hunt roar turning her back on Oracle.

Oracle

"That's strange." Oracle retorted, her wounded pride not letting her remain silent, "Because I'm pretty sure you took our enemies side over Hades and I. I don't know why you hold such a grudge against me, but at least I'm loyal to my pride and help defend them, unlike you." The liger sidestepped around Layra and Little Tuft and headed deeper into the den. As she found Hades and laid down beside him, Oracle tried to put her focus on the big male, cleaning his wounds and offering him what comfort she could.

Outside, Little Tuft gave a quiet cough, standing awkwardly as Oracle had shoved past. Though he usually stayed behind at the den during hunts, due to his age and lame hindlimb, he would go with today and provide what help he could.

Layra

She growled at her. "Keep questioning my loyalty and you'll find yourself to patrolling our borders" she said as the others gathered. She made to lead them for a hunt. After she would try to mend things with nemu