We Watch

((February 28th))

Bellatrix had told Dotty to run. She told her of the rebellion in the pridelands, and of the Queen who now rose to oppose the pridelanders king. About time really. As far as Bellatrix had ever heard Simba had been an oaf. She was barely around for his time though, as she hadn't been born into the pridelands and it hadn't been very long before the war had begun. But this rebellion was Dotty's greatest opportunity. Sending Dotty was something of an experiment, to test the Red Queens promises and if she really stood for what the rumors said she stood for.

She'd given her plenty of time, but there was still another matter to attend to. The test would be no good if she was dead, and Bellatrix needed to make sure Dotty had the time and safety she needed to. Which involved something much more dangerous than traversing across the lands to seek out a well rumored queen.

It involved talking to their own queen.

She'd demanded a hearing, and Bellatrix was brought into a darkened den, allowed passage by two hyena's. As if they posed any real thread to her. But she played their game of royalty and pomp. When she came into the den it took mere moments for her eyes to adjust but those crystal blues did, as they always do. She could see Zira clearly now, the large female with her sharp shoulders and crimson eyes. Nothing like Bellatrix, who was rounded but angular, dangerous in her own way. An alluring beauty, the kind you wanted to pay attention to you. But anyone who knew Bellatrix wouldn't want her attention.

But no one knew Bellatrix well enough for that.

"My Queen." she greeted in a soft formal force. As part of the formality, she inclined her head deeply to Zira, before raising her eyes and looking to the great female once again. She'd begin talking, before Zira could have time to complain about her wasting time. Best cut to the chase, right?

"I regret to bring you this information in such a manner," she confessed, tongue sitting between her teeth a moment as she eyed Zira and continued, "Dotty. She has taken her last remaining cub and left. I did not truly think she would do it when she spoke of needing to leave. But it has come to my attention that she is absent from the outlands now, and has been for less than a day now." she informed the queen. No doubt Zira would be enraged, and this brought wariness to Bellatrix. Somehow she believed shooting the messenger was not beneath Zira, and losing any lion or lioness was a blow. It was the principle.

"Queen, if I may-" she interjected before any true rage could be withdrawn from her depths, "I may know where Dotty has gone. I've heard rumors, rumors of some place someone like Dotty could go. Someone Dotty could go to. I know some of the lionesses in that area, they would not be alarmed by my presence. And with you so busy with your newly birthed princes's. Well. You may have your hands full here. I would be obliged." Bella suggested almost tenderly. Send me with a message. She practically enchanted. She wanted Zira to think it was her idea.

"If you so chose." she added. Again, Bellatrix inclined her head to the female, treating Zira like the regal leader she was not. Leader, yes. Regal? Not quite.

"She WHAT!?!?!?!"

Her crimson orbs narrowed to slits. "WAIT UNTIL I GET MY CLAWS ON HER!" Dotty running? At least Bellatrix had told her. Truth be told, Zira hadn't quite bothered with the female before. She was Sabor's friend, if the leopard could even have friends, so she knew she had been saved from the pit. That was about it. She shared the same pale complexion as her precious cubs, however, which put her more in Zira's favor. Perhaps she could teach the boys to blend with the ground when they grew old enough. But right now the female before her with the crystal eyes was the bearer of bad news.

"Queen, if I may-I may know where Dotty has gone. I've heard rumors, rumors of some place someone like Dotty could go. Someone Dotty could go to. I know some of the lionesses in that area, they would not be alarmed by my presence. And with you so busy with your newly birthed princes's. Well. You may have your hands full here. I would be obliged."

Zira let out a spiteful roar. "A bloody new pride? Among Simba's army? Or are they just a bunch of refugees? How is it we haven't heard of this?" Her ears flicked back as she paced back and forth. She stared down at Bella.

"Your loyalty WILL be noted and rewarded, Bellatrix," she purred, "I assume Dotty left because of the daughter she lost, yes?" She paced back and forth again. "Nooo, I do not take kindly to runaways..." She turned to fully face the beauty before her.

"What would you suggest you tell them?" She asked, curiously.

Bellatrix's only reaction to Zira's yelling and unleashing of her temper, was to squint her eyes very slightly. She would not coward and she would not flinch. Though most before the queen probably would have. It was nice to know she would be rewarded in some way for this, but that's not what this was about. Bellatrix stood with her head high, and only tilted her chin upwards upon Zira turning and asking her one simple question.

"What would you suggest you tell them?"

"Me?" she asked passively, as if she'd expected Zira to ask her. The female tilted her head and seemed to consider the stone before her feet. She'd return her gaze to the ill-tempered queen, "I'd buy my time. Let them know you know she's fled, and that no possible alliance would be made in the event that they keep and protect her. This new pride does not want Simba's support, but they may want someone elses." she offered. Whether this was true or not remained up for debate.

"Perhaps the gracious Queen of the Outlands would consider lending a hand if you were to retrieve Dotty, or see some justice for her abandonment." Bellatrix suggested, following it up by humbly bowing her head. It was more diplomatic than it was aggressive, though it did hold that typical cut-throat Outlander pride. Of that, Bellatrix was convinced Zira would appreciate.

Though Bella knew Zira to be an action first talk later kind of lioness.

Zira paced back and forth, claws clicking darkly on the termite mound beneath her feet. This just wouldn’t do. If she worked just on impulse Zira would have rushed to the pridelands and slaughter the girl. Toss her child to the crocodiles and make her watch as they ripped her in half and devoured her corpse before snapping Dotty’s neck. However, perhaps the white lioness in front of her was right. Perhaps it was time to take a political stand. Perhaps it was time for her to act as a queen. Her teeth gritted as she sneered towards the female.

“And why do you know of this?” She said, “Been slipping through cracks of our security and making friends with other prides, have we?” She snarled, lifting her head as she let out a small roar.

“Tell me of this pride,” she snapped, “Why do they oppose Simba? Why should they want my help?”

Bellatrix remained entirely calm throughout all of Zira's displays. Such was to be expected, of a female like Zira. She was brutish, crass and had a reputation to uphold. Whether she did all of these things because of said reputation Bellatrix did not know. But she watched her belt out a small roar and then demand more answers. If Bellatrix was alarmed by any of this her cool blue gems did not betray her. Not solemn by any means, but observant.

"I am resourceful..." she replied simply to the inquiries of how she knew so much. If you're smart, you'll utilize that, her eyes said, speaking the things she verbally could not. Unless she wanted a scuffle. Still, Bellatrix wasn't foolish enough to leave an answer to a question like that so vague. It asked for scrutiny and Bellatrix didn't like such attention.

"Some of the felines who helped capture the lionesses." she supplied, recalling how they had delivered Sabini and Kula and the others to Scar, "I was involved, and there are faces there." this wasn't entirely a lie, but she continued. "The lionesses themselves, who were captured. I won't deny that I conversed with them during their time here. We were in fact pride sisters at some point. Were we not? It's only natural, and in the end it has given me an... interesting advantage." she said decidedly on her words. She turned her head to peer at Zira sideways.

"I'm afraid my knowledge of this new pride ends here." she confessed, "I only knew of their arrival and differences with Simba. As I am not directly involved with them, I am unable to have gained anymore information on the matter."

She weaved her words carefully, dancing around Zira with a humble silkiness. To finish, the pale female even bowed her head. A sign of respect? Perhaps. Bellatrix hadn't learned real respect for anyone, but she played the part like she did flawlessly. Zira should be pleased with that, anyways.

The lionesses. "Scar's whores," Zira scoffed, eyes half-closed in an annoyed look as she turned to the side, ear flicking back in annoyance. "You mean this pride is made up of Scar's concubines?" She scowled. A blow to her pride and now they kept taking shots. "What an idea..."

She paused. She thought back to her meeting earlier in the month with her fat majordomo. Kula had a pride she was running. Looks like this pride that opposed Simba was one in the same. Simba being opposed by his family. How interesting. She smiled evilly, chuckling softly to herself as if Bellatrix wasn't even there. Oh this was delightful. Internal discord.

"So you suggest you become involved?" She asked, "I like your idea of delivering the message. Delivering the knowledge that my son's slut and my beloved granddaughter have taken flight." She tapped her claws on the ground.

"And," she said, "Offer them an olive branch if they...how did you say before...were to retrieve Dotty, or see some justice for her abandonment, was it?" She wasn't stupid, however, and stared towards the pale female before her. "And what exactly is it that you wish to have in return, fair Bellatrix? For you...loyalty..."

Bellatrix didn't speak. She allowed Zira to speak, mostly to herself it seemed and became the bystander. Interrupt Zira's verbal train of the thoughts? When she was laughing like that? Not likely. The pail female didn't react visibly, her blue eyes carefully watching Zira as she turned away and scowled. When she seemed to be finally addressing her again was when Bellatrix finally spoke up.

"Couldn't hurt." she reasoned, "To see where they're at. Who can say if it could become mutually beneficial." Bellatrix said the proposal, but deliberately left it open ended so as not to come off like a promise. In all honesty, Bellatrix didn't have much of an interest in whether the Outlanders and this new rebellion pride came to any agreement or disagreement. It wasn't her main focus but it was necessary to put the opportunity forth. And then she was granted the permission she wanted to set out for the Pridelands. Her radars twitched as the rough words fell like music upon her ears. But then came the last question.

And what exactly is it that you wish to have in return, fair Bellatrix? For you...loyalty...

Bellatrix looked genuinely surprised, blue eyes widening and her ears flicking back for just a moment. Regaining herself but still looking confused, the female shook her head briefly before faltering and tilting it to the side.

"In return?" she repeated the words in puzzlement. She then shook her head again, "I wish for nothing in return..." she answered truthfully, "I am as much a part of this army as anyone else here. It's a duty, not a favor..." she assured Zira. The silver lioness then closed her eyes and bowed her head once again. It was no question in her mind that the ordeal would leave her well esteemed. That was enough for Bellatrix, and unless Zira had any further details to pursue then she awaited dismissal.