The pride border of the Matembei was aq large expanse of trees and green, and Epyon decided it best to lay there with thje small, growing party for now. Nearby Cacao was watching Rhine talk to the demon Hera, Demon.
Epyon wondered what Rhine was on picking her up, but the feline wasn't about to whine. After all, the demoness seemed oddly loyal to not only her cause, but Rhine as well, though it was evident Cacao was nervous of her. All Epyon knew was, she'd planned to enslabve the duchess un til Rhine turned up and showed a rather frightening side to her personality. Epyon groomed her paws as she mused over her pride's hard time at the moment-- aqt least, her birth proide, and looked over. Birds spoke of changes-- those whom left where killed on sight. Rhine frowned, listening, Cacao shaking, and Epyon sighed.
Her grandmother was gone. And her mother's death had hurt her uncle Shupavu more than she knew. Epyon sighed, Cacao reaching and putting her paw on her friends', and opened her mouth to speak when Hera beat her to it.
"So, this Shupavu guy needs tyo get laid, right?"
Ackweard silence, the other three females lookingh in surprise to Hera. The demon usually only spoke to Rhine or some bird named Ithil, whome belonged to her mother-- this was a surprise.
"EEpyon should know, Hera." Rhine's ear flicked, Cacao blinking. Hera stretched, looking over. Epyon blinked.
"He's had two litters before, honestly.. But the women always left for other homes or places."
Heraqw frowned, stretching.
"Hmmm. Sounds like he needs to get laid." She stretched, grooming her paws, Cacaop paling.
"That's.. Disgusting! Your disgusting Hera!" Cacao protested. Rhine giggled, the black, gold, and red demon lazily turning to the Duchess.
"We're entering these lands, right? If he's playing these posturing games, we need a distraction. I'm merely saying I can perhasps provide one. Even if he's some pale thing, I could use a Na'artu anyhow." She grinned darkly.
"Hera, messengers of Death really have no use for slaves..." Rhine warned. Hera giggled, rolling over.
"But demons are the stronger species you know." She purred, licking Rhine's face affectionately, Epyon and Cacao both making odd faces tp it.
"Hardly pale. Maybe his toes. Mostly like Rhine with some purple and white accent you'd barely notie." Epyon spoke, fropwning. That piqued Hera's curiousity, looking over.
"Shupavu's her mother's brother. So you can say he's her half-uncle."
Hera blinked, purring a bit.
"Well... He sounds a delicious thing. No wonder he's so populart."
"Except he's a self-centered, self rightious d**k unless mother was concertned, or any of us."
Rhine and Cacao frowned.
"Why?" Cacao asked. Rhine nodded, echoing the sentiment. Epyon stretched out.
"From what Mama taught us... Uncle was cubnapped young and raised by a jackass. He escaped when she did... Neither one fully recovered. Mama lost her memory for a time and was broken until she died. Uncle just was insane."
"Define insane." Rhine reminded. Hera rolled, excited.
"Heraq might actually like him?"
The other two blinked, looking to the demoness whom gave a fanged smile, wrigglinfg. Cacao stared.
"Your actually encouraging her?"
"Yes. Jerk he is, after mother he took care of my siblings and I. And hell, I think my neice has a think for one so... You never know."
"Our family is made of ******** up, isn't it?" Rhine frowned.;; Epyon blinked, and laughed good naturedly.
"Probably!"
Hera snorted.
"Nothing wrong with a bloodline with so much potential for demons."
"Not sop, Hera." Epyon sighed. "My mother was mostly as white as snow. so are many cousins. My brother Melhor once said he saw a black and white neice of his when Nullpunkt was the same age named Circe... If any of us were demons, she was."
Cacao suddenly went quiet, the other three looking to her.
"My.. Mother was black, white... You can say piebald... But... It can't se the same right?"
Epyon frowned, Rhine shaking her head.
"No way. IYou said your grandfather was named Iartuupe right? Can't be." She smiled. Epyon spoke quietly.
"Well, my brother was named Tai'Ichi. Supposedly he went mad. At least, that's what Melhor says."
Silence. The group moved again shortly, beginning to go into pridal land slowly, each female musing quietly. Epyon lead the small band to a ledge quite away from the main entrance, the looked to Cacao.
"Don't let the family confusion bother you Cacao. It's all speculation anyhow."
Rhine moved to follow, minding Hera and Cacao, the latter stopping.
"I heard mother mention the name Taichi once to my aunt though."
Silence. Epyon blinked to Rhine, whom blinked back. Hera blinked, then scowled, moving and cuffing Cacao.
"Don't be weak. Tai'Ichi or Iartuupe, whomever it was doesn't matter. You cry so much-- the b*****d probably didn't care about your mother or father or their mother. Yo7u shouldn't act like a weakling if you plan on roaming with a demon, or so help me Morifae, I'll make you a Na'artu yet because . You still have a dark pelt, and if it does mean something, you are a demon on some level, then you best learn to act like one. Even Death doesn't lament her lot, or even thaqt magenta freak."
Epyon gave her an odd look.
"I'm not a-=-"
Hera ignored her, leaning into Cacao's face.
"Don't be so weak. Your nobility to your pride? Act like it. Grow a spine. Bare your claws. Act your place." She hissed, and swept past, flicking the female's nose with her tail as she joined the others. Rhine shot her a displeased look, the demon ignoring it as Cacaqo seemed frozen before stepping back. After a moment she lurched forwards, leaping onto the perch with the others, tackling Hera down firmly, fangs baring. Hera was knocked backwards at the pounce, blinking before laughing. Cacao snarled, pressing her claws down.
"Don't you ever call me weak. I'm not weak."
"Yes, but you just made a good step. Now get off." The demon roughly shoved her away, rishing and smirking.
"And keep taking steps." She tturned to follow Rhine, Epyon sighing and motioning Cacao beside her for now as they began to walk away, going into the pride land. Rhine frowned at Hera, saying nothing as they walked inwards.
It was a breif break, but they still had a long way to go.
-Fin.-
