Etihad's paws moved through the grass as he moved, following the scent of his distant cousin cooly. He didn't like this, at all, and the former Governor was less inclined to approve of where it seemed to be going. His eyes moved forward as the lion proceeded.
Arden was a good lioness and a suitable leader for the colonies, however Etihad didn't like the fact her scent mingled with the next Prime Minister's at all. As such he was of the mind to take her away from him now, before the other male could turn on her, too.
He didn't expect the sight he saw, however, seeing Treize and Arden curled together, tails entwined as Arden slept with her head on Treize's larger paws, the older lion grooming her softly. It wasn't until Etihad snapped a twig that Treize's head shot up, the male growling and looking his way, ears pricked, with an alert, angry graze indicating his hostile nature. Arden raised her head sleepily as well at her mate's reaction, before looking around. Oh, was something wrong?
She blinked when Treize rose, snarling.
"Come out, coward." Treize snarled. His tone was dark, threatening. Etihad emerged slowly, the male frowning with a disapproving look. Arden pinned her ears back unhappily, though Treize stepped in front of hjer.
"Yuy."
The sojund of his old clan name made Etihad's ear flick. Once had he been the Governor of the Colonies, HJeero Yuy, but now... Now, driven from his home, and older, her no longer responded it, adopting a new name from a tribe distantly related to the Fayez clan, gaining a new clan name.
Etihad, Unity.
The name he chose to suit his goals.
Etihad growled, eyes narrowing threateningly.
"It's been a long time, Treize."
"You were supposed to be dead."
"Ifr I recall, that was your job." Etihad scowled darkly, eyes narrowing. Arden pinned her earts back, looking between the two unhappily, the ten frowning.
"Treize? What's going on...?" She asked softly. Treize smiled back to her sadly.
"It'll be alright Arden." Treize spoke gently. Etihad frowned, lashing at Treize suddenly.
"You have no right to speak to her after everything your kind has done to the colonies. No RIGHT. And now you try to steal the Governess. You sick b*****d. Your no different from your grandfather."
Arden shivered, looking to her mentor, ears still flattened, then Treize. Treize narrowed his eyes at Etihad.
"Don't bring Arden into this. This is between you and I. Not her. She's innocent." Treize spoke softly. Arden huddled back, falling on her tail uncomfortably. She'd never seen either male confrontational, and she didn't like it. It didn't seem right.
"My son was innocent as well. But that didn't stop the aristocracy. " Etihad growled. Arden paled. Treize? Aristocracy? He didn't seem that way... He was too warm... Too kind.... Etihad looked concerned, moving towards her after seeing her look of confusion, speaking gently.
"Arden.... What has he been telling you?" Etihad's tone became soft, concerned. Treize tensed, jumping between them.
"I'm wartning you, Yuy..."
"He... He's not bad, Eti... He's nice... He's a good lion... Please don't fight... Please..."
Etihad sighed, still moving.
"Arden. He's using you. He's going to be the Prime Minister. He's your enemy. He'll kill you if he wills it. Please, child, think sensibly..."
"But Eti..." Arden huddled back again. Treize was silent, sighing.
"Ardenm.." Etihad reached with a paw for the adolescent's cheek, and Treize lashed out, snarling.
"Don't touch her. Don't EVEN law a paw on her, Yuy, or I. Will. Kill. You."
"Your ancestors would be so proud." Etihad snorted, and Treize lashed out, roaring violently at hyim. Arden squealed, huddling down and pinning her ears back unhappily, shivering. Etihad lashed back, the two males beginning to fight; biting, clawing, snarling as they battled. Arden was mortified, moving back, tail and head down, ears back, face a mask of terror. She was trying not to cry.
"Please stop fighting... Please..." Arden begged pitifully, crying. The two continued to fight, and Arden grimaced, crying several minutes. She hated seeing vEtihad and Treize fight.
It hurt. A lot, and the female shut her eyes several minutes, the snarls and snaps crawling into her psyche. She hated that they wouldn't listen. She hated this conflict...
Arden finally roared roughly, leaping in and clawing both, snarling.
"STOP IT!!!"
Both males jumped back, eyes wide. They tried to get at one another, but Arden refused to let them, panting, tears streaming down her face in rivers.
"Stop it." She repeated. "It's not right. Both of you want to make the pride better. Why are you fighting?" Arden demanded. Etihad frowned.
"He's a monster Arden. His father killed my mate... My children... He came to kill me...."
"I was doing what I was told to do, old man." Treize scowled. "If you hadn't promoted rebellion..."
"I did nothing of the sort, you beast!"
"Then why were colonists--"
"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU." Arden suddenly spoke, shaky voice slowly growing stronger. More vicious.
"Don't you see what your doing? This is wrong! If either of you gave a damn, you'd work together to stop the war! Not propegate more hatred!" Arden stood fully, shoulders squared defiantly at both males.
"All hatred breeds is more hatred. Don't you understand? Are you even trying to understand? Or are you both blind?" Arden was swallowing to keep from crying, flexing her claws to keep calm. She was afraid, and both had to know. Treize was silent, then nodded slowly.
"All aristocrats understand is manipulation, Arden. You can't trust him." Etihad spoke slowly. Arden turned, grimacing.
"I thought you wanted Peace... Safety... Not war. Not hatred." Arden looked miserable, but firm.
"If I'm going to be Governess... And you plan to become J.... Then you wiull obey me." She frowned. Treize remained silent.
"The colonies will have my paw until I right the wrongs my clan caused." Treize spoke softly, and approached Arden, touching her paw, laying subserviently. Arden blinked, then smiled, nuzzling Treize. Etihad watched in silencem, then nodded slowly.
"I... See. In that case... I will help as well. I'm sure I can conviunce others tyo help end the war, somehow. But there's still corruption..."
"Then we'll deal with it. Our pride has been divided long enough."
Treize looked to Arden gently, pulling close, and lay with her, resting his head on her paws to rest. Arden calmed, laying and grooming his woundfs, and Etihad finally smiled.
Perhaps... This wasn'ty basd. He turned, leaving the two to rest, moving to search for others.
He had work to do.
