Epyon lead the small band after the pawsteps they found, prints leading to some secret, sacred place. Years-old, older than any there, blue, white, gold, blue-grey fur lead the way through the thick of it, the small band looking. So much resembled Epyon's fur, some, so vibrant, so old as the magenta and black, spoke of old warriors.
Long ago the ruins they walked had seen great conflict, from the cracks, two great forms deulling. Epyon almost wished for a seer to read the walls, tell them what they'd found.
Next to her Cacao shivered, walking slowly as her soft eyes took everything in, the emptiness of the ruin echoing their thoughts, the female band wishing they'd not left Maisha outside to guard it as they snooped.
Rhine sniffed slowly, Hera tense beside her as she leapt on a ledge, stretching her lanky, adolescent form as she looked. She saw nothing and signalled to Hera, the demon taking that signal and turning, nodding to the others. It wasn't easy travelling with non-demons-- but she'd adapted to the idea they weren't Na'artue and just allowed them to be, especially her 'cousin'. Rhine nearby climbed down, ears back as she moved, padding towards the darkness, her own black fur letting her blend in well, and she sniffed. Death, recent too, and she stopped at the decaying form of an old male lion, looking around tensely. He'd been old--and scarred badly, and she turtned.
"Founds something. Don't puke, Ca."
Epyon pricked her ears at that, leading Cacao over, Hera following before the three were met with the scent, decay, death, age, and Cacao stifled a scream, looking away.
Her eyes rest on old bones, bits of white, gold, and blue around. ancient, brittle feathers of white lay around, and the brown lioness stepped back. Epyon bristled, Hera looking before spying a similiarly large skeleton, with magenta and black. Nearby the source of greys was the slaughtered bones of a hyena, the largest any had seen.
The groupo huddled close, Epyon's fur bristling as a voice rang from behind, close, almost playful.
"They were ancestors of the priests in my pride."
The group turned, startled.
She was white, with grey head and tail fluffs and blue markings like Treize, tail more akin Treize's grandson Ein. Hera spoke first.
"Na'artue! Whom is your master!"
Epyon facepawed, the female entertained.
"A demon huh? My family encountered those." She grinned a bit, stretching.
"I am no Na'artue, simply the exiled b*****d child of a noble."
Hera huddled, gruimbling. Damnit. Rhine snorked.
"Nobility? Where?" She stretched.
"The Ardhi'Mavringo'Patano."
Silence. Cacao stepped forward.
"You look a lot like the Prime Minister, my lady. Why is a Baroness out here?"
The female scoffed.
"Why? The Prime Minister decided he didn't wqant his daughter contaminated by bastards. So he had my father, brother, and I thrown out once we were weaned." She looked away. "So he brought us here, to the bones of our ancestors."
Epyon frownbed, letting Rhine pass to address her.
"The Prime Minister? Treize ain't old enough for three litters."
The female stopped, looking.
"Treize? No, my oldest brother is the Vice Prime Minister. I'm referring to Sucant Khushrenada. Feller of the Dermail clan."
Silence, and Rhine spoke, surprising everyone. Being the daughter of Deathscythe offered perks, and she was going to use them.
"Sucant died before I was born. Treize Khushrenada sits as Prime Minister, though the pride is on the edge of a war."
The female hesitated, and looked to her paws, then the body, shivering.
"Father would be proud. Maybe then he could have come home." Lynde sniffled. "And Van... If he were still here."
"I'm sorry." Epyon moved, rubbing the white lioness. She shook her head.
"No. Don't be." She smiled. "Things happened for a reason. Just as fyou found the bones of Wing Zero and Epyon for a reason. And me. And Libra."
"Libra? Whazzat?" Rhine piped up. Epyon, Cacao, and Hera nodded. Lynde sighed.
"The Gundams didn't disappear. They weren't even Gods. They died. Gundam was the rank of our pride's greatest warriors, the strongest." She looked away.
"Every colony had a Gundam. When these were in power there was 7. Epyon for the mainland, Wing Zero for all, his brother Wing for L1, Deathscythe on L2, Heavyarms on L3, Sandrock on L4, and Shen-Long on L5. Altron was training at the time. They were revered for their power and when the aristocrats be3gan exploiting the Colonies, they rebelled, except Epyon. Because they were outnumbered, the Gundams chose a mate each and ensured they had children. As soon as able, they had children until the warring drove them all to a standstill and Epyon began to go... Mad. So they began to draw him away, and he.. Kiolled them as they fled excepot QWing, whom hid, and Wing Zero.
They kept fighting until they found a Hyena pack close by with a hyena equivalent of a Gundam... The pack... They left... But the strongest... He was worse.... See, his pack was peaceful... He... Exiled himself and attacke3d some Ardhi children. Wing Zero and Epyon drove him away to these ruins whewtre...."
"They finished each other off."
Rhine frowned.
"My ancestor wasn't a God?"
The female blinked and laughed.
"No, but since the battles were so bad they looked it. It's a good image to keep." She nodded. Hera looked devastated, Rhine patting her back. Cacao frowned.
"So their descendants?"
"Well, Wing's wasn't really found. He took them to safety. Wing Zero's line was Governor when I left. My dad was Governor Yuy's Nephew."
Silence.
"The Prime Minister has colonial blood!" Cacao exclaimed delightedly. The female grinned. "OPh, all of those old ******** do, likely. All of 'em can be whotres. But the Prime Minister's Heir? Blasphemy."
"Wing's descendant was found." Epyon spoke. The female perked.
"Ha. They aren't even relatives anymore. Is he sexy?"
"She's your sister in law." Rhine snorked. Lynde blinked, then snerked.
"Oh, so classy. Sooooo good." She stretched.
"Oh, my name's Lynde. Lynde Khushrenada."
Epyon bowed hesitantly.
"Epyon Mikanos. These are my companions, Cacao Verdah, Rhine Makkeseweru, and.. Hera."
Lynde blinked.
"I guess Epyon had cubs out of pride. There was talk."
Epyon preened.
"My great grandfather was the previous incarnation of the God of Leadership."
"Well, least the Gundams are sane-- er, tell me two of you are Gundams."
Epyon looked sheepish.
"I'm mistaken as the reincarnation of the original. Rhine's mother is thought to be Deathscythe reincarnate, and, well, Cacao's a noble. Hera's some weird mi9nion of Rhine's.,"
Rhine puffed, Hera staring and puffing herself.
"Minion, HA. I am a follower of Death, mortal, Demon, or God!"
Lynde stared.
"Your a teenager. Your Momma's gonna kick your a**." Lynde snorked. Epyon sighed.
Hera ignored her, stretching.
"And I expect, then, your going to their pride?"
Lynde looked surprised.
"Go... Home?"
Cacao smiled.
"Living amongst the dead can't be healthy, and you'd be among friends, if not family."
Rhine nodded.
"Epyon can overturn your exile. She's EPYON. It matters."
Lynde smirked.
"Any cute boys?"
Rhine looked coy.
"Uncle Duo."
"Well, one is enough, I'm game." Lynde raised a paw, ignoring the horrified looks Cacao and Epyon gave Rhine. Epyon sighed, shaking her head.
"Let's... Let's just go. Before I lose my stomach for Rhine's insanity today." She turned, beginning to pad away. Cacao was close on her heels, though Hera and Lynde walked alongside Rhine, more deliberate in motion, the two amused. HA. Victoly.
Lynde stopped once as the others filed out, and looked back, closing her eyes.
"I'll follow your last wishes Daddy. The pride won't fall." She sighed, and turned, padding out. All that remained in the ruins were the bodies of the past.
