Caliana

Caliana was getting bored with things here lately. Her daughter, Toxic, had grown into a beautiful young cat who no longer needed her mother around to protect her. So she really had nothing to do with herself aside from hunting and laying out sunning herself. She had recently gone hunting, just this morning to be exact and had returned with the carcass of a relatively large white tail deer. She had left it for the pride to eat as they saw fit. Now she was bored once again. She yawned before she started towards her favorite sunning spot. Steps were taken without any rush as she made her way to the flat rock. Once there, she lowered herself to the rock to allow the sun’s rays to shower down over her ebony frame.

Callholm & Others

Leope had been among the first on the deer when Caliana had brought it in, followed by Martimoor and Yarrow who bickered noisily as lions will over a kill. Callholm already had a full belly from a recent hunt, so instead of trying to muscle his way in between the larger cats currently feasting on their prey, he let his golden orbs idly follow Caliana as she retreated to her favorite sunning rock. After a moment or two, the black leopard rose to his silky paws and started towards her.

"Hey, Cali." With a stride as casual and easy as Caliana's had been, the sleek-coated feline moved up onto the flat rock and stretched briefly after greeting her. "Looks like-" "Hey!" Callholm was interrupted by an excited bark from Shadowsong, the daughter of Lupanare. Before he could go on and start a conversation with Caliana, Shadow was scrambling up the rocks and pouncing in front of the two felines, with her thick, steel-gray tail waving merrily behind her, "Hey guys! Velvet says she's gonna send us on a special mission with Dawnbreaker, to attack the humans." Shadowsong wasn't exactly a pup anymore, being a year and a half in age, but she was still very much young at heart, and the prospects of going on her very first 'secret mission' had her very excited. "Do you guys want to go with?"

Callholm let out a heavy sigh. He had actually been looking forward to having a spur of the moment chat with Caliana, but on the other paw... it was hard to pass up a bit of excitement. "Well..." He started at length, as he glanced to Caliana for her opinion.

Caliana

Caliana had been sunning herself on the flat rock when she had heard the quiet approach of someone. Really, it was more that she sensed someone approaching rather than she actually heard him. Felines like herself and Callholm were very quiet movers, after all. Most of their species were. She nodded her elegant head in a greeting to him as he stopped near her and stretched. His greeting was met with one of her own.

It’s nice to see you again, Callholm.

Though, just as he started to speak once again, she heard the excited barking of a younger canine. She turned her head so her golden eyes could land on the canine that had interrupted their conversation. Caliana had not been introduced to this canine before, though she had seen her around the area and knew her to be part of the pride. The canine spoke of a mission to attack the two legged creatures and she had mixed feelings about this. They had always meant nothing but trouble in her opinion and were best avoided. Yet, as Callholm was asked to join the mission, he seemed to like the idea but wanted her opinion first. She thought for a moment before finally speaking.

Won’t they retaliate if we harm their own?

It was an honest and well thought out question. Maybe she would sound stupid or naïve, but she had very genuine concerns. If they came here with their weapons then they could all be in danger.

Callholm & Others

Callholm eased his haunches back against the sun-warmed rock, sitting near enough to Caliana that their ebony fur was a scant few inches apart. His tail flicked lazily behind him, twitching at the end in an idle way. With his greeting given to the huntress, and what might have been a conversation now interrupted, his large, rounded eyes focused on on the adolescent canine standing before them, her own orbs bright and lively, "Retaliate? Oh, uh..." Shadow tilted her head to the side in a moment of pondering, having not given this possibility a thought until Calian brought it up. "...I guess they might, but Velvet didn't sound worried about anything. Besides, we're going to be stealthy." A grin embraced her wolfish muzzle and her tail swayed again. The excitement of adventure easily overpowered and fear of consequence, or the very real risk of injury or death on such a dangerous mission. Then again, if Velvet had planned something, there was likely more to it than a simple assault on the two-leggers.

"I'll tell you what, Shadow-" Callholm spoke up, his voice cool and flowing, "-you go talk to the others who Velvet invited, and see what this mission is about. If Velvet wants more adults to join in, we'll go." Curious as he was about the plan, Call was more interested in talking with Cali right now, so he made the effort to shoo the young hybrid away, while being as polite about it as he could.

Caliana

Caliana could read the excitement all over the young hybrid’s face as she spoke of the mission. Though, some of it seemed to dwindle as Caliana asked about the risk of retaliation. After all, she knew very well that the humans could be very dangerous and she didn’t want Toxic in harm’s way if it came down to them coming after them all. She didn’t care for her own well-being, she could defend herself. But her daughter was still young and inexperienced. The young hybrid went on to explain about being stealthy and she nodded, though was thankful when Callholm politely shooed the hybrid away.

She waited to see if the hybrid would leave, and just for good measure she threw in her own confirmation that if she was needed that she would participate. Yes, if we are needed then we will definitely participate in this mission. This statement was made calmly, though she spoke the truth, if her new pride needed her then she would be with them. If she was not needed, though, she would be more than happy to hang back and make sure that the place that they called home remained safe in the other’s absence.

Callholm & Others

Shadowsong looked from one ebony feline face to the other, undaunted by their lack of bubbling enthusiasm for the mission. "Okay, I'll come back and let you know if we need more! You guys should really think about coming with, though." The young canine turned around and, after a second to gauge her footing, bounded down away from the sunning rock and back into the heart of the basin where the other young canines and felines were preparing for the outing. As she left, Callholm shook his head lightly and chuckled, "To be a youngling again." Of course for Callholm, his younger days had not been fun, as he'd been born in captivity and had been part of a traveling circus along with Velvet's parents, until being rescued six years ago. He didn't mention any of that though, and the calm, pleasant expression shining in his bright eyes betrayed no troubles. "Speaking of young ones, I see your daughter has become quite the hunter?"