Of Thieves and Innocents

Now what was going on over here?

Rosy colored tail flicked back and forth as Amara got to her paws, green eyes peering over to where most of her Pridemates were gathered together. Amara had been dozing off a little aways, due to wanting her peace and quiet. That was something she hadn’t gotten much of recently, with her joining the pride. So, there was one thing that Amara was grateful for - and that was for the space to rest. When the pride had been travelling, they had always stayed close together. Here, the pride rock held plenty of places for the different lions to sleep.

But while Amara did enjoy sleeping by herself, that didn’t mean she opposed interaction with the rest of the pride. She found it would be rude to - after all, one of the most important foundations that a pride was set on was the relationships within it. Communication, Amara always thought, was a vital part of a pride. Even if the pride was altogether a bit… weird.

And it seems she was walking on a little arguement. Grass-green eyes focused on Bonnie - and Amara wasn’t surprised to see Clyde only a few feet away from her. Those two were inseparable - she almost never saw one without another. Xerxes - he could be both intriguing… and not. It was hard to tell exactly what that male was truly thinking. Delaney and Leisa were alright in her book - sure, they both had their own quirks, but didn’t everyone in this group? Finally, Mekonnen. Amara felt her muzzle wrinkle up in annoyance. While Xerxes could be classified as intriguing by Amara… Mekonnen could only fall under the category of insufferable in Amara’s mind. And, apparently, that was the source of the discussion. Delaney talking back to Mekonnen. Well, that was going to be interesting to see his response to it.

“Leisa’s right - couldn’t we do better than squabbling like a bunch of vultures?” Amara said, a tease clear in her voice, though her eyes were sharper than Leisa’s were as she looked upon the group. Another twitch of the tail was followed by a twist of her head towards Delaney. “I doubt it, to be honest… Do you really think that those over there would get prey? I was by their border, and from the looks of it, it looks about ten times as worse there than here.”

Xerxes didn't get to reply. He opened his maw, and then shut it again, amethysts blinking as he watched it all unfold. The animosity went up a steady incline that he could do little to prevent. Bonnie spoke, uttering a word he didn't understand but it sure sounded sweet, then laughed charmingly. He seemed pleased enough with it, but Delaney did not. Such a sour puss, he didn't know why they all had to get so worked up.

They'd been together for ages, hadn't they? Months in Bonnie and Clyde's case, but surely the fact alone that Kula trusted them would be enough? Well. It was enough for him anyways. And he liked Bonnie.

"Aww c'mon guys." he chuckled. "If we wanted a tussle we could've just gone down the hill to visit these Outland baddies or whatever they call m'selves. Yeah?" he suggested. Of course, they wouldn't be taking such a stroll for such a battle. Not without consent, any unauthorized fights would not be instigated.

"I don't want a rumble." he he drawled with a fake whine. Then without warning, and without flipping off of his back, the pale lion began wriggling. His long body writhed as he snaked his way over to one of the newer arrivals to their hostile little circle, who just so happened to be Amara. They'd known each other for long enough, Xerxes trusted her not to react aggressively to his childish advances. He curled around her base, peering up at the lioness and even reaching a mitt up to paw at her shoulder.

"Jus' lovin." he added to his earlier quip. Meanwhile, having curled around Amara, his black tail tuft flicked around Delaney's paws, whipcord lashing to tap at her gently but pointedly. Then he tilted his head back, neck exposing as he peered backwards at Leisa.

"What'ya say, stripes? C'mon over and give Xerxes some lovin." he fawned, stretching out fully and shamelessly. A flirt , but not truly malicious in any way. The male just didn't like to see disagreements, especially in Kula's absence. It felt cheap, like children taking shots at one another while the mom was away.

Vunjika gave a roll of her eyes at the dark maned lion as she hobbled towards the group. A soft giggle left her lips at Xerxes attempt at flirting, or at least she thinks it's an attempt on his part. She did always think of him as a little goofy.

"What'ya say, stripes? C'mon over and give Xerxes some lovin." She heard Xerxes say to her pride-sister which earned another almost scoffing sound from Vunjika . "How about I do that hmm?" she said teasingly, dipping her head to nudge against Xerxes pitch black mane in a playful manner. "Come on" she teased him.

“Come, come now,” a gentle voice called softly as another figure padded forward slowly to join those already assembled. “Must we bicker amongst ourselves when there are more important matters to be concerned with?”

Sachel’s pale form seemed to fade in from the darkness as he approached the group, his deep emeralds appearing to glow faintly despite the obvious lack of any source of light. The young male had been lounging nearby, content to simply doze in the heat of the day, a typical action of most males of his species, when the sounds of voices had roused him. Particularly those of the dwarven lioness Delaney. Sachel would never say that he disliked the female, as he actually liked all of his pride-mates equally, but he honestly couldn’t deny that times the small lion could be… Irritating. And truthfully that was saying something for the usually reserved Sachel.

Coming to stand himself next to Makonnen, Sachel let his gaze pass over those present. among them, Sachel’s gaze lingered on the two newest members of the pride the longest. He’d come to find that, while they often spoke in ways(and words) that he couldn’t understand, he actually liked the two of them. Bonnie for her playful nature, that in some way, greatly differed from that of Xerxes, and Clyde for his calm and reserved nature, which was one that Sachel could find it easy to relate to.

Once he’d taken note of those there, he turned his bright green gaze over to the lion next to him, whom he found he had to look slightly down at to look in the eye. “Greetings, Makonnen,” Sachel spoke, his voice as soft as ever, though now it held a note of respect behind it. “Have you managed to replenish the herbs you had to leave behind in our last move? I know that these lands are not as bountiful as elsewhere, but I do hope that you’ve found at least some things of use here.” There was a small smile lighting up the youngest male’s muzzle, eyes seeming to shine the slightest bit brighter as the expression colored his features.

"Watch your tongue."

Clyde's normally cool and collected demeanor didn't change a bit; however, the tone in his voice had the edge of a threat as he spoke to Delaney. Did she think it was appropriate or funny to not know her rank in the pride? Did she still think her nicknames were tasteful? Ice cold eyes focused on the dwarf for a moment, his piercing gaze nothing but indifferent to the rest; however, if Delaney was mildly observant (he doubted she could even see past her insecurities, honestly), she would get the hint that she was stepping over the line. Clyde was not a pridemate. He was a hired assasin. He played by the book, but the liger was not afraid to break the rules when others played foul.

And then, things got crowded and uncomfortable.

Clyde was used to being around the pride; it was simply the fact others had gotten plainly affectionate that bothered him. He wasn't cheesy with Bonnie in public, never. He new Xerxes had no shame. But now the lioness with the useless front leg had jumped right into the pale lion's game. Clyde's nose scrunched in annoyance for half a second, his tail flicking as he found himself seeking quiet in Bonnie's figure, as he often would. His ears perked as Sachel made himself known, and, although Clyde wasnt the friendly type, he appreciated and found comfort in the other male's calm demeanor. After a couple seconds, his icy gaze was tore from his Belle and focused on the cape lion, giving him a polite nod of acknowledgement. The liger would dare say Sachel's voice lulled a sense of calm into the previously heated conversation had he been more of a talker.

Decidin he didn't care nor wanted to witness the interactions of the rest of the Mbala pride, Clyde let his eyelids fall into a close as he listened, still set upon his haunches. He had no intentions to sleep, oh no; he simly felt better by tuning out the rest. Except, of course, for Bonnie, and Sachel perhaps, should the young male adress him.