Leopeson & Others

The climb was not an easy one, but for the nimble cats, it wasn't too bad; the youngsters didn't complain, anyway. "Take it slow, you two. A tumble down this slope might see you with a broken bone." Leopeson warned Rampart and Iorie, who kept getting distracted and pouncing on one another, or batting at the tails of their older brothers, rather than paying attention and watching where they were going.

Iorie immediately flattened his ears back and scuttled back towards Little Tuft, "Sorry." Rampart grumbled under his breath, but followed suit and sulked back towards Tuft.

After they'd reached the top of the steep slope, Leopeson led the group to a small crevice, one of the few entrances to the basin itself, unless one had wings and could fly over the steep wall of rocks that formed the lid of the basin. "Here we are. It may not look like much right now, but it's very well fortified."

"Just don't drink that water down there." Little Tuft warned, nodding to a pool of water near one end of the basin. "It may look fresh, but we think it must be toxic - there's no animal life living in it, not so much as a crayfish or waterbeetle."

Gargoyle

Gargoyle had called his younger brothers attention before following after Leo. He leaped up and follopwed him with ease. He looked at the water and nodded. This was an interesting place.

Plaque carried her daughter as she followed.

Bubonic grunted and lagged behind but followed

Leopeson & Others

Once they'd all gotten into the basin, Leopeson led them to a massive, flat-topped boulder near the northern edge of the area, a rock plenty large enough to comfortably hold at least twenty lions. After leaping up onto this, he waited until Little Tuft had clambered up, followed by Rampart and Iorie, and whoever else wished to join him. "What do you think? It's the green fields and forests that you may be use to-" Having been born in the Valley, Leopeson knew nothing of the vast, open savanahs of his species' birthplace, "-but it offers us so much more. We have more protection here than anyone in the Valley. There are some drawbacks, but overall, you cannot find a better place to raise a pride. What do you say... would you like to join us?"

Gargoyle

He followed them and looked around. He listened to him speak. Hmmm as much as im not a confrontational type of male I still don't do well with taking orders. I should make that clear. If im asked to do something I may or may not do it and most of my family will probably only listen to me. If you can handle that then yes we'll joinHe spoke calmly.

Plaque landed next to her older brother and put her younger cub down but kept her between her paws.

Bubonic stayed down below. His mouth slightly open and he sneezed. HE looked back toward the entrance as if waiting for his other sister.

Leopeson & Others

Leopeson had to consider Gargoyle's words carefully, weighting the pros and cons. Gargoyle was a large, powerful male, and being an african lion, he was virtually built for fighting, and had one heck of a mane to keep his neck protected. He would be a valuable asset to the Family, and a desperately needed fresh source of blood for any new generations. But his bullheaded personality could weaken the cohesion of the Family, and potentially lead to squabbling and fights, and that was a major drawback.

"I appreciate your strong personality, it's a fine trait to have. If you are going to live here, we will have to play some give and take... perhaps there is room for you in the Coalition, if you can prove yourself worthy of our rank. If you can do that, you will be higher in authority than most of the pack." With Little Tuft no longer an actively fighting member of the Coalition, and Xuvan being killed two years ago, they could use another big male in their ranks, "There are two, however, that you must submit to without question, if you want to live here, though I doubt you will have any trouble with them so long as you don't cross the line. They are our Commander Bandit, and Oracle Velvet. One a wolf, and the other my sister."

Gargoyle, Paranoia, Plaque, Bubonic, Influenza

He listened carefully to his words. His ears fully on him though he was still looking around. He was impressed with the place. I can do my best to listen, I won't challenge their authority im just merely saying that If i don't like something or don't really want to do it I probably won't do it but I would never challenge anyone persayHe spoke calmly.

Bubonic snorted at his brother and just sat down.

Plaque remained silent keeping her young cub between her feet.

Leopeson & Others

"That is all we ask." Leopeson replied, pleased that Gargoyle wasn't going to try challenging either Bandit or his sister Velvet. After this rift in the Haunters, Leopeson knew that they had to work for a great cohesion among the Nuova Alba, and prevent as much internal bickering as possible, lest they break up as well. "Now that you're here, might I ask you a few questions? Where you came from how you got here?"

"Yeah!" Iorie bounced up towards Leopeson, rubbing his cheek against his brother's leg, and looking up at Gargoyle, "Were you from the circus? That's where my mom and dad came from, until these wolves and stuff busted them out. Uncle Call was from the circus, too."

Meanwhile, Rampart began to approach Plague and her cub, wanting to play with the other youngster, but a little wary about getting too close to the older female that he didn't really know yet.

Gargoyle

Gargoyle listened to him and then looked around. We are from our homeland. Hunters caught us intending to bring us to either a zoo or circus but the boat crashed when we got to these lands and we escapedHe spoke calmly.

Plaque saw the older cub but would allow him to play with influenza as long as it didnt' get too rough.

Influenza looked over and then up at her mother and then moved out from under her body and ran at the other playfully.HI Im Influenza!She spoke,.

Leopeson & Others

"Africa." There was a note of longing in his voice when he said that. He'd of course never set foot in their homeland; he'd been born here three years ago, and knew nothing of the open plains and arid heat, but he heard plenty about it from Dulsca and Leope. He spent a lot of time daydreaming of it, even, though he knew in his heart that he could never leave this Valley - this was his home, it always had been, and it always would be, but... he couldn't help but dream. "You're lucky, then. From what my parents told me, the circus is no life. Stuck in cages most of the time, separated from your family, they don't let you hunt... I'd go mad!"

Iorie was listening intently to the story, but rather than talk about the circus, he was focused on Africa. "What's it like there? Are their zebras and giraffes and hyenas? Is it really really hot there?"

"Hi, I'm Rampart!" The older lion chuffed back happily, darting his eyes from Plague to Influenza, and moving forward only when the mother didn't growl or otherwise warn him away. "You wanna play?" When the younger cub ran up to him, he batted a paw at her head, not actually waiting for her to agree to play or not.

Gargoyle

Yes Africa and I know, my father had returned from a zoo and told us about the zoo and circusHe spoke and then looked ot Iorie and chuckled. There are zebras giraffes and hyena's and yes its really hot there normally with the occasional rainy seasonHe spoke calmly.

Influenza had pounced after he spoke his name. Even if he was bigger she didn't care she use to play with her older cousins back home in africa.

Leopeson & Others

"Oooh, cool!" Iorie's voice was an awed whisper, and his eyes were wide with wonder. "Maybe someday we can go to Africa, and see all of the creatures there? Huh, Leo?" The older brother chuckled and shook his head, "No, I don't think we can do that. The birds say it is very far away, and surrounded by so much water that that we'd drown before we could swim to it."

Rampart mixed giggles in with his playful growling, and pounced for Influenza again, meeting the other cub head on. Then he tried to wrap his front paws around her and pin her to the ground, while biting at the side of her neck.

Gargoyle

He listened and soon found himself lying down to rest a bit. His mouth opened in a panting way.

Influenza growled playfully She ducked down to avoid his front paws and she ran around him and then jumped at him.

Leopeson & Others

Leopeson laid down as well, lazily letting his eyes go half-mast as he enjoyed a bit of a rest after all of their patrolling. The poor male didn't get to rest long however, because his younger sister was bouncing his way, and leaped up to tackle his dense ruff. "Haha, got you Leo!" Camanche growled with a mouthful of dark hair between her jaws. Iorie was distracted from his talk of Africa by this, and to Leo's misfortune, quickly joined in on the game by pouncing for his older brother's face. Leo growled in annoyance and batted at Iorie, but that did little to dissuade the youngster.

"Ah, some fresh recruits?" Velvet's rich voice, purring in quality, caught the attention of Rampart. The youngster was just about to spin around and try to swat Influenza down before she could pounce, but Velvet had made him pause long enough for the younger cub to tackle him. "What are your names, strangers?"

Gargoyle

Gargoyle watched them play and yawned then his ears flickered to Velvet. Gargoyle, this is Plaque, influenza and Bubonic He spoke calmly. His tail flicked.

Plaque stared at the other female but remained still.

Bubonic stood up now but wasn't sure what to do or say. His mane was obviously not full developed yet

Influenza ignored the older female and growled playfully aiming to chew on ramparts ear.

Leopeson & Others

"Enough." Leopeson growled with a little more authority. It didn't help. Camanche slapped him across the face with a paw, flipped onto her back, and swiped up at his muzzle with her front paws, while her hind ones clawed at his mane. Iorie tumbled off his older brother's back and sprang at his tail to chew on it. "Cut it out, you two." Leo bared a fang and rumbled more pronouncedly, not that this dissuaded the youngsters either - they kept right on tormenting the male.

"Behave yourselves." Dulsca was smiling slyly when she padded forward, abandoning her sleeping spot at one edge of the basin where she had been sleeping out of site. With her, her elder daughters Ginger and Dusk Stalker padding after her. Almost immediately, Iorie and Camanche left Leo and assaulted their mother, who was quite a bit more tolerant of their antics. "Velvet, we've dec..." The lioness's words trailed away when Dusqeui was spotted climbing through the deep crevice, leading her sister Nemu along with her. "Nemu." Dulsca chuffed in greeting to her grandchild, whom she hadn't seen since leaving the Haunters. Though a little tense, the lioness nevertheless padded towards the identical twins to nuzzle against them.

"I hope you enjoy your stay." Velvet responded lightly, with a pleasant smile on her own regal muzzle. Her rounded ears turned to her mother, and then abruptly to her two nieces that were just entering the basin, and her smile broadened, "Nemu, have you come to join us?"

Rampart was too caught up in his play to notice the reunion going on. Growling playfully still, the bigger male flopped onto his side and kicked out at Influenza, trying to knock her over with his strong hind legs.

Nemu

Nemu followed her sister. She took in all the scents the whole way. She was due in few days time. She looked over all the lions. Then her grandmother approached them and she nuzzled her back. then my aunt spoke and I looked at her. YesShe spoke and it was her only word. I knew I had to leave my mothers home as much as it killed to do so.My tail flicked.

Infleunza growled as she fell off and now was clinging to boulder falling off of it. She cried out.

Plaque's head shot up and she moved and grabbed up her daughter and brought her back to her sitting spot and began to groom her

Velvet & Others

Most others noticed the swollen belly of the female, and scent further told them that she was pregnant - very pregnant. "I am glad you've made the switch. It was the right thing to do; Family must stick together, after all." Velvet closed the gap between her and Nemu and extended her head forward to rub briefly against the ex-Haunter. "Nemu..." As she nuzzled the other, Velvet whispered into her ear, "I would like to have a word with you; in private." And then she turned, strolling casually away towards an area of the basin that was perpetually cast in shadow, thanks to a cluster of high cliff faces and rock outcroppings.

Rampart stopped his playing immediately, startled by the cries from Influenza. "You okay?" The young male quirked his head to the side, watching as Plague helped her daughter off the edge of the rock, and promptly set into grooming her. Mincing slowly forward, Rampart laid down on his belly near the mother lioness. "When you guys go hunting next, can I join you? My mom doesn't let me follow her very often, cause she says I get in the way... but I promise I won't get in the way anymore!"

Plaque

Nemu allowed her realitives to nuzzle her. It was a little hard cause her family wasn't complete. She missed her mother. It just wasn't the same. She nodded but glanced at her twin but then followed her to the more secluded area. My mouth hung open panting slightly.Yes?I spoke.

Plaque looked at the cub.That would be up to your mothershe spoke.

Paranoia had followed Martimoor here and she knew her younger brother was worring so she moved to him and briefly rubbed up against him to reassure him before moving back to Martimoor with a grin.

Velvet & Others

"I don't know if your sister explained things to you or not, but you do realize that we are not like those soft-hearted fools the Haunters have become?" She had to be careful speaking against the group they had defected from, because during her time with the Haunters, she knew that Nemu was close to some of the members there. But at the same time, she could not have a member in her own pack who was sympathetic for their enemies. "Tonight, I need you to go back to the Haunters. Surely there will be new youngsters there..." The lioness didn't grin, but the tenure of her voice turned a little mischievous there, "...I need you to take as many as you can and bring them back here. They should still trust you." It was quite the tall order for Nemu, yet it had two purposes. One, to secure more cubs for the Nuova Alba, and to make sure Nemu was committed to obeying orders and living in a pack like this. "I will send backup with you, to wait just outside the Ruins and help carry whatever young ones you can entice to follow you."

"Aww...." Rampart dropped his head down onto his paws and stared dejectedly at Influenza as she was getting her bath. "But she'll say - aww, moooooommmm!" Dulsca had padded right over and settled herself down near Plaque, where she proceeded to give her growing son a good back as well. Camanche and Iorie had stopped pestering her for now, and were playing a game of chase with one another.

Martimoor had a rather smug look on his mug when he entered the basin with Paranoia. He flicked his tail against the female as they walked, in his own show of friendliness, before he plopped down next to Little Tuft and Leopeson for a rest.

Nemu

Nemu listened to her and nodded at the first question and then she spoke about taking some of the young ones. I was not entirely sure about that. I didn't like stealing young it wasn't their fault. My ears flickered back as two others walked in but then back to velvet. She wasn't sure if she could do that. she could probably only swim that moat four or so times before tiring too much. I can tryShe spoke softly.

Plaque kept cleaning her daughter and then yawned.

Paranoia moved to sit next to him. I heard soft murmuring in the other area.

Velvet & Others

A smile lightened the feline's expression and her voice purred mildly, "I know you can make your new Family proud." It was a sly way of putting some pressure on Nemu to be successful at her task, without being outright demanding. "Go rest, Nemu. I'll send the others out to hunt, and when dusk comes, a support group will have been assembled to join you in the trip to the Ruins." Even though it was risky sending a pregnant ligress out to assault the enemy, it had its advantages. As long as the Haunters thought she was still on their side, they'd be less likely to hassle Nemu; and if she was caught, Velvet assumed they'd be more lenient on her as well.

Nemu

Nemu listeend and just nodded before turning and moving back out and toward her sister. Her ears against her skull as she lied down next to her sister.