Yareha had been thinking about Sahak again. The other lion had spoken of how he'd seen the error of his ways and was now determined to remedy them. Instead of clinging to his pride's ancestral lands, he was going to find his family in their new home. The white lion respected this growth of the other's character, but that solution wouldn't really work in his case. Being forbidden to go back to the Mwezi'Johari meant that he really couldn't remedy that ill. He supposed he could find his other children, the rest of Ghazaala's litter...

Great Lion, he didn't even know how many siblings Kizev and Wazitandama had. What kind of awful father was he? Sure he'd done everything he could for Avahk and the girls...but he'd foisted the twins off on Kivuli with barely a second thought. White shoulders slumped and Yareha stopped moving.

Latitare was circling overhead as was his wont, scouting the area. Yareha had been fairly silent of late, and snappish when provoked to speech, so the eagle had concluded it would be best to leave his friend be. Obviously there was something on the lion's mind, and so it was best to let him wrestle with it in peace.

After parting ways with the young fool Amali, the pink lion had wandered here and there, searching for rumors and hints. Not a trace was to be found of his quarry, but he'd heard of a war that a large pride was involved in. Gathering clues, Facio aimed his path in the direction indicated, but slowly and casually. He was not some warmonger or even a vulture. He merely sought word of one who lived for battle.

And so as his pink gaze fell upon the white figure slumped off to the east, his first thought was to pick up more information. The lion paced swiftly over, eyes narrowing as he noted the defeated posture of the other lion.

Facio cleared his throat, announcing his presence to the stranger.

Lost in thought, it took three repetitions of the noise to jar Yareha out of his depressed daze. Slowly, the golden yellow mane shifted as the white lion turned his head to see who it was that demanded his attention so persistently. The pink lion was no one he knew, so why should he care? Sighing, Yareha returned his head to its earlier position and continued dwelling on his problem.

He knew of no way to find Ghazaala, didn't even know if she was the kind to keep all the other cubs, however many there were, with her. For all he knew, she might have dropped others with people he'd never met! Oh, how hopeless it all seemed!

Okay, that was rather obnoxious of the white lion. Facio bared his teeth at the other's back and would have snarled if he hadn't caught himself. Breathe. Relax. Yes this lion was an obnoxious idiot, but rending his lungs and devouring his heart would not provide information. And the satisfaction of such actions would be short-lived, replaced by fear of discovery. That was also assuming the white lion was no fighter. If he was, then picking a quarrel was the surest way to make the other remember him.

That was not Facio's way. He could not afford to allow his temper to rule his actions. But to accomplish anything, he would first have to jar the other from his miserable thoughts.

"Forgive me, my good man, but I was hoping you might tell me what you know of these parts as I am a stranger, newcome to the area," the pink lion offered, coming up to the white male's side.

Yareha sighed again. It seemed he wasn't going to be able to get rid of the pink stranger so easily. Turning to face the other once more, he jumped a little as he realized the other male had come up beside him. Had he been so sunk in depression and dark thoughts that he'd let his caution slip? That boded ill for his productivity as a hunter. But he must focus on the other's words, at least for now.

"I'm not from around here either," he answered shortly, voice harsh with disuse. "I can't tell you anything worth knowing." Maybe now the male would take the hint and leave.

There was...nothing. And more nothing. And some wild dogs fighting over a carcass. And look! More nothing. Shaking his head, Latitare headed back to where Yareha had last been seen. Even though the white lion had almost certainly moved on from where the eagle had last seen his partner, it wasn't too hard for the bird to find him again.

How strange, Yareha hadn't gone far at all. He was just...sitting there. And another lion was with him! The eagle hadn't seen that pink lion come up at all, and it worried him. Concerned, he circled lower.

Force of will and long habit were all that kept Facio's expression from changing much at the other lion's attitude. He was tempted to leave now, but that would ruin the image he was trying to project. It didn't matter if he'd met this lion in the middle of nowhere, he still wanted to leave a positive impression, if he had to leave one at all. The world was much smaller when it came to conversation between lions, and a single bad word could prevent him from ever finding his quarry.

"Well, that is a shame," the pink lion commiserated. "But if you can't aid me, perhaps I can assist you? I couldn't help noticing that you seem rather depressed. As you appear to be a rather capable sort, I would guess it's not bad luck at the hunt but something more...hmmm...personal. Family problems? Looking for a pride? Girl trouble?" He'd keep listing things, if necessary, until he got a reaction.

Sluggishly, the lion turned to tell the stranger he didn't want any help and that the pink lion should leave, but he was too slow and the other kept talking. Yareha couldn't help it, he started involuntarily at the mention of girl troubles.

Oh, what was this now? The other lion wanted to help Yareha? Latitare was in favor of his partner getting help, but he still wasn't sure he trusted this pink lion. Still, the avian sensed that if he interfered now it would do more harm than good.

Facio stopped himself from smiling in satisfaction as the white lion's reaction revealed the source of the problem. Instead, he put on a concerned face and made his tone more anxious.

"A woman? Oh dear, I'm so sorry. Perhaps I could give you some advice, to help? I've met quite a few females in my time, and I'm certain I can assist you through your troubles," the pink lion told the other. It wasn't even a lie. He had met a great number of women in his time. And because he was a perfectly charming male, they were quite open with him. Really, it was amazing how easy to charm they could be, if one only knew the right words.

"Hah!" The laughter was a harsh, broken sound. "I don't suppose you could find her, huh? A lioness that I spent one night with before she returned to drop two out of Great Lion knows how many cubs at my feet? Or any of the other cubs, if there even are any others?" The white lion shook his head. "No, I don't think you can help me, not when she was the second lioness to do so. Except I know Ieiunium gave me all four of her children and I raised them as best I could," Yareha went on in a more subdued tone.

"They'd be all grown up now..." he murmured, momentarily forgetting the pink lion's presence.

Ohoho, it looked like perhaps this stranger might truly be able to help Yareha, if only by being a completely neutral party. Even the eagle had been unable to get his partner to speak his problems aloud. And oh, how it broke Latitare's heart to hear the pain in the white lion's voice!

The pink lion was, for once, stunned. This male was talking about how he'd had a one night stand with not one, but two lionesses (separately, he hoped for the other's sake) and both had returned to leave cubs with him! Facio noted that while one lioness had been mentioned by name and the lion had claimed to have raised her cubs himself, the other did not get the same treatment. Idly, he wondered what had happened to those two cubs.

But if there was any lion that needed help with women, it was this one, and Facio was not about to go back on his word.

"I take it that this was not uncommon, for you to spend a night or two with a lioness and then never see her again?" he offered somewhat dryly. The odds of it being only the two lioness and then both of them having cubs were...astronomically low. No, he'd bet this white lion had been something of a player.

There was a glint of satisfaction in the blue eyes as the pink lion's reaction registered. Good, if he was surprised, he couldn't possibly offer useful advice and then he'd go, leaving Yareha alone once more.

Though...a part of the lion did want to know what advice this stranger could possibly offer him. That same part became excited when the pink lion pressed him for more information.

"I guess not," he admitted aloud. Then he realized how he must sound and hastily added to that statement. "I like lionesses, you know? But there was no one in the pride that I really wanted to be mates with. And rogues were just that, rogues, who traveled and never stayed nearby for very long. If they wanted to spend a night together, why not?" Oh no, now he was babbling. The white lion clamped his mouth shut, afraid he'd said too much.

Oh gods, just as he'd surmised. This lion had had sex with gods only knew how many lionesses, all because he was afraid of a bit of commitment! Facio forced his anger down as he considered this. No wonder the white lion was having trouble with women - this whole situation ensured it!

Though...what was this about being in a pride? And yet the white lion wasn't from this area? Facio had no feeling of being lied to or even deceived...so it would seem something had happened. But he didn't want to pry into a different, and potentially more painful subject, so he'd focus on what he was given.

"Well, that's your first problem! Lionesses, they like commitment. They don't want a male who is going to go off with the next pretty face to cross his path! They want you to stay theirs, forever! So here's my advice: if you want to get rid of your girl troubles, stop sleeping with every lioness you see! The rest will come in time." Or it would, if the white lion started thinking before he acted.

Well, that was certainly putting a claw on the problem! Latitare nearly cheered as the stranger flatly told Yareha what was wrong with his situation. Obviously he'd been overly worried about the pink lion - clearly he was just another traveler, and one willing to offer the advice that no one else would! Thank the Goddess of Birds, perhaps Yareha could finally turn over a new feather.

Latitare looked forward to that day. Unlike before, he could now see it on the horizon of possibility.

The white lion gaped. The pink stranger made it sound so easy and simple! But...could it truly be? And being chaste would hardly solve all of Yareha's problems....but he allowed that it might just be a good start.

"You...seem to know what you're talking about," he said at last. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to impart a few more nuggets of advice?" the white lion asked sheepishly. "My name's Yareha Afaer."

If he'd been alone, Facio's smile would have been wide enough and sharp enough to terrify any small creature. This foolish lion was playing right into his paws.

"I'd be happy to help out a friend," the pink lion answered aloud. "I am Facio. Now, perhaps if you can tell me a little more about how this all started...?"