Dusquei & Khala

The liger's steps became slower and more cautious the closer she drew to the Sora Asiatic. She wasn't as keenly familiar with these lands as Tuini was, but with Khala as her guide, the the ligeress was directed near to where the falcon had previously seen the other cats. A mile out from this spot, Khala had taken to the air and hid herself among the many trees.

Dusquei stopped not longer after. She didn't want to go too far and risk an attack, after all. Gathering her nerves, the tawny hybrid sent out a brief but throaty roar, announcing her presence.

Nemu

Nemu heard her and was wary of it but she got up signalling for Katara to come with her just in case while the others stayed back with the cubs. Her ears were forward and her fur a bit bristled.what do you want? Have you finally realized the Makucha are no better then the haunters?She said making it clear she would never like the Makucha.

Katara followed but stayed back to give them some privacy. She came to keep a look out.

Dusquei & Khala

Part of her hoped for a friendly reunion, but Dusquei knew that was not in the cards. How could it be, after what she had let happen to Nemu? Those events, and the look of betrayal on her sister's face, played relentlessly through the liger's mind as she stood and waited for the arrival of the pride.

Her head lowered when Nemu finally strode into view, turning her small ears down where the other had hers up and aggressively forward. "Nemu." She spoke, eyes flicking briefly to a bit of movement somewhere behind her sibling, where Katara had trailed at length. There was hesitancy in that single word, and more emotion than she could rightly describe. "No, I volunteered to scout for them. We learned of your presence here, and I offered to... investigate." Dusquei raised her dial, her ears slowly drawing upwards. "Why are you out here?"

Nemu

Nemu watches her carefully.You are a fool and cruel then. You should be dead if you agree with their ways.She growled.I came out here.I left the haunters intending on getting you free and to with family and that is what I am going to do.If you love your family so much you will join me willingly or I can make youShe said. You let them rape me, but I forgave you, You let them keep and steal Terri your neice! But I am willing to forgive you. The Makucha can go to hellShe growled.

Katara fur bristeld but she stayed back.

Dusquei & Khala

She didn't raise a fang to her sister's harsh words, or so much as bristle a hair across her striped back. How could she? She had failed her sister too many times, a sister who had always been loyal to her. A sister who had left the Haunters to be with her in the Nuova Alba when they were younger. The prickly weight of guilt kept Dusquei from raising her voice into a growl to meet her sibling's justified tone. Instead, the big cat's tones were sullen and regretful, "I can't undo the mistakes I've made, or the hurt I let happen to you... I'm sorry, Nemu. I should have stood up for you, and stopped them." Her mouth gaped open for a moment as she fought for the words to say, eyes roving towards the ground before lifting up to meet Nemu's again. "I do love you Nemu, even if my actions didn't show it. But... I can't just abandon the Makucha. They saved my life. It was one of the last things Father did for us; Tuini, Layra, and myself."

Nemu

Nemu snorted and then snorted again.and father would want you to choose me if he even cared about me. You will leave them you have no choice if you love your family if you loved father you will join me and Katara where you belong or I suppose I could do what those mangy cures did and force youSHe growled taking a slowly soft step closer. They did not safe you father saved you thats it but apparently he didn't care enough to safe me. Do what needs to be done and that is leave them Dusquei they are worth trash under our paws. Don't worry I don't plan on attacking them, they aren't worth my energy unless they try to step foot hereShe growled.

Katara watched sitting down.

Dusquei & Khala

Eyes widened for a moment in surprise, startled by Nemu's proclamation. She again scans the surroundings, but Katara is the only other cat she sees, and Khala hadn't raised the alarm on any others closing in. Despite herself, Dusquei feels a slight tension build within her frame. "Layra and Tuini are my siblings too, and I have my own children now. I can't abandon them." When Nemu took a step forward, Dusquei remained where she stood, long tail held still behind her and gaze unbroken upon her sibling. She was the picture of calm, even if emotions were swirling like a tempest within. "The Makucha may seem harsh, but they're no different from the Nuova Alba, or the Shadow Haunters. Out there, we're free and uncrowded, living a simpler life. And Martimoor... I only know father took me away because Velvet ordered him to kill me. If he thought you were in danger, I'm sure he would have done the same for you and the others."

Nemu

Nemu sprung then but only aiming to pin her sister below her not injure her.Then we will get your children and I suppose if the makucha want forgiveness tehy will join us and become subordinate to us and obey me Tuini and Layra do not deserve your loyalty! They are very harsh just like the haunters yet they claim to be better. That is a lie. Are they not my siblings? If they are yours they are mine and they betrayed our family by harming me and causing grief to Terri. How can you sit here and defend their actions!She snarled ath er sister.

Katara frowned a little. Nemu was now running on her emotions completely. She stood up her tail and head lowered and her ears back.Nemu She murmurs softly trying to diffuse the situation.

Terri had been watching this.How can you defend them? They like to tear families apart! Look at what its doing to a sister that loves you. My mom only wants to be with you. Do you not know what you put my mom through? She may be young but she was wise.

Nemu glanced to her daughter.terri go back to scar and the othersShe said.For all we know those that stole you before are lurking in the distance and I will not loose you againShe said.

Dusquei & Khala

A hiss of surprise escaped Dusquei when her sister pounced, and she fought the urge to lash out or snap at the other. "Nemu!" This time her tail did strike the ground once or twice as the full weight of of her twin pressed her to to the ground, making it difficult for Dusquei to move. And yet, the still refrained from swing her claws or turning her keen fangs against the other, unable to bring further harm to her sister after all she'd been through already. "They are only harsh to outsiders!" Dusquei squirmed a little, but didn't yet try to throw Nemu off, "They won't join with anyone they see as weak or threatening to their family. I know they seem cruel.. and what they did to you, I should have stopped. But... but they are the closest family I've ever had, they're loyal. Oh Nemu, I only wish father had taken you too, so that we could have been together."

Dusquei shifted slightly beneath her sister, trying to get all her paws squarely beneath her. An aud twitched at the sound of a smaller voice, and eyes darted quickly to Terri. She felt sorrow again as she watched her niece, and couldn't bring any harshness to her vocals, "I can't take back what I did... or what I let happen. I burdens me everyday, little one." Claws flexed into the ground, but still she refused to push back. "The Makucha are callous to outsiders, yes. But they do that to remain strong, and protect their own. I'm alive because of them, and I can't simply turn my back on that."

Nemu

Nemu stayed there and snorted at her.they are the weak ones. I AM YOUR CLOSEST FAMILY ME! YOU SHOULD SIDE WITH ME AND YOU WILL STAY HERE WHERE YOU BELONGshe growls.we will retrieve your cubs when we can but you are with us and if the Makucha wish for forgiveness they can come beg me for it but you are no longer a makucha. She growles then glared.so you can turn your back on me? She growled.The closest family you have? No I think not, you will stay here and you will tell your bird friend that i know hanging around that you will be living here and Makucha don't want trouble they can escort your cubs here to their home with their mother. Then they can beg me for forgiveness and either join us or be neutral with us but you are where you belong nowShe says backing off. But there was no way she was letting her sister return to them.

Katara frowns at Dusquei.That is cruel in it of it self Dusquei by not turning your back on them you want to turn your back on your twin? Yet you say you love Nemu? She said shaking her head.

Terri glares.You may not be able to take it back but you can leave them and be with your true familyShe siad before running off before her mother could reprimend her again.

Dusquei & Khala

A quiet growl rumbled through Dusquei now, drawn forth by the aggression from her sister. Still, she could not hold any anger against Nemu, and couldn't blame her for the wild throes of her emotions now. "They are no longer cubs, they are adults." She informed in a quiet murmur, then let her voice grow louder as her twin gave her demands. "Nemu, please stand back and look at what you are doing! You accuse the Makucha of ruining families and-" Eyes darted to Katara, with some amount of venom for the other she-cat, "-and stealing, but here you are doing the same. And I do love Nemu, I always have, but life had different plans for us."

Dusquei had gathered her paws beneath her by now, but held back. Her tail remained still, ignoring the impulse to lash across the ground. "Why not let me be an intermediary? Instead of splitting our families further, why not work towards an understanding between us? Layra and Tuini are our siblings too, and even if you can't forgive them, maybe... maybe I can convince them to make a truce with your pride, and eventually, we can be allies. And instead of tearing us all apart, we can finally be together again. All of us."

Nemu

She snorted.Ill do what i have to to get you to stay here, I left the haunters for YOU! I would rather die then see you live with them. She said letting her sister up.Your cubs can choose where they live but if you want me to live you will ive with me not them. We can be allies? no you live here and maybe ill let the Makucha become OUR Allies though I will not make the Haunters my Enemy either.She growled. She was trying to control her anger but her sister was tearing her heart in two.

Katara paced as she listened her ears flicking.Dusquei you belong here, I hold nothing against the Makucha but if you value your sisters life you'd stay here with out a fuss. Perhaps at some point we can work something out with the makucha and they can take part of this territory as their own but do the right thing here. Nemu thought you dead for the longest time, that is why her anger is coming out now. She left he Haunters as she said for you. She said.

Dusquei & Khala

"Sister..." Dusquei slowly raised to her paws after Nemu backed off, but made no move to run. And despite the mounting pressure of emotions within herself, her outward features remained calm and steady, in a polar opposite to her twin. "I've found happiness with the Makucha, and freedom. You may have left the Haunters for me, twice now, but I never asked you to do that." This was said as gently as possible, for she knew how deeply Nemu loved her and wanted them to be together again. "I do want to be with you, but not like this. Not under the force of your fang and claw. I can't forgive myself for what I let happen to you, and I never will be able to, but I also can't forsake the ones that took me in and protected me all these years." She lowered her head, ears back and face reflecting the guilt rather than any anger now. Dusquei took a single step forward, aiming to nuzzle her forehead beneath Nemu's chin, "Please, give me a chance to reconcile the differences between our groups, and maybe... maybe in the near future, I can live here with you."

Katara was not offered quite the same gentleness as Nemu. Dusquei's expression soured some, her gaze becoming pointed as she lifted her dial and turned her attention upon the younger cat, "This doesn't concern you, Katara. You have no right to speak after what you pulled with the Makucha, admonishing them for stealing, when you're trying to do the same to me. This is between my sister and myself."

Nemu

Nemu growled and lset her finished.No you live here now! I will not wait! You either come now or else there is no point in me living. I LEFT FAMILY For you! Makucha can ask me for my forgiveness and become neutral wit hthem so you can visit them but I will not live if you go back to them. You forsake me for them? I would of died for you if I had known what was going on. Your freedom lies here with me where you belong. Make your choice now, live with me and be friends with them or watch me die because that is what will happen because I have tried to go to the ends of the earth for you and now , now you tell me you love them more?She growled she was fading, her heart and mind was going every word her sister spoke broke her heart more and more and tears actually pricked her eyes.why can't you just make the right decision, why don't you love me. I did things for you and you forsake me. You say you want to be with me then be with me. I never said you have to forsake them you just need to live where you belong and that is here by my side as co leader of this pride. But I guess my life is not as important as theirsShe said now backing away.

Katara raised a brow at her.Your not a cubShe said.But your killing your sisterShe said and then turned and left because she couldn't watch this no more.

Dusquei & Khala

Her ears went back, not in anger, but distress as her sister spiraled further into her emotions. The sight of moisture building in Nemu's eyes further stung the other, who felt the weight of her twin's agony bearing down on her. "I don't want to forsake anyone." She tried, her voice softer yet as she tried to sooth Nemu's frayed nerves and calm her sibling, "I love you with all my heart. I always have and always will. It's not about loving you or them more, you're all family to me, and I care for each the same."

When Nemu began to back off, Dusquei stepped forward, ears still back and head low, her face softened in a look of sympathy. "I-" She paused, frowning as she tried to find the right way to make her sister understand her own sticky situation. "-What if I were to speak with Layra and Tuini? The four of us could meet somewhere privately and discuss things. I've already failed a sister once, I don't want to repeat that. Not with you, and not with them." Dusquei eyed Katara as she left, but kept her focus on Nemu. She smiled faintly, "I'm not the leader type, Nemu. But I want to support you, and all of our siblings. Just give me some time, okay? Let me talk to Tuini and Layra, and get the four of us together."

Nemu

She paced and growled.No your bird can go and talk to them I will not stay here while you stay there and I will not live with them under their rule. If you don't want to fail me again you will stay and let your bird spy go inform them of you staying here and living here and that they can come and try to negotiate peace with us but I ... I can't live another day without you by my sideShe said speaking the ultimate truth.

Dusquei & Khala

When the growling started up, Dusquei held her position and didn't move forward any further. It was a delicate balancing act she was trying to preform, but the big liger had always possessed a calmer nature, and that helped her now. "You won't be living under their rule, and I swear I will be back. I will return to you before the sun sets on this day." She wanted so badly to step forward and give Nemu a nuzzle, to try and sooth her frayed nerves and assure her all would be well, but her sibling was now pacing. "Khala won't be able to speak to them like I can. This is a personal matter, and I think we brothers and sisters need to deal with it together, at last. Nemu, I promise you that I will be back."

Nemu

She listens but shakes her head. " then tell the bird to tell them to come to our borders and i will b there for it. " she said that is all the leeway she could give her sister as her trust in her sister was low

Dusquei & Khala

She watched her sister for a moment, still torn on what she would ultimately do. A sad smile crossed her features and she nodded, "I'll sit with you by the border, and we can talk while we wait for Layra and Tuini." She approached Nemu again, confidently, and pressed her head against the other ligeress. Then she turned, offering a short roar to call Khala down from the trees.

The falcon was quick to slip from her hiding place and swoop down to a branch not far from her friend. Questioning eyes roved between the two twins before settling on Dusquei as she spoke. "Tell our leaders that I need an audience with them, here at the borders. I'd like to discuss a possible alliance, or at least a ceasefire between our groups."

Khala simply nodded, betraying nothing of what she thought of the situation. The falcon leaped from the branch and headed back towards the prairie.

Nemu

Nemu had no intentions on going against the haunters or even the makucha if her sister stayed with her and called this pride her home. She relaxed when dusqui finally agreed and rubbed her head against her sister