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Gael hummed softly to himself as he snuffled through a large patch of flowers. It wasn't an uncommon sight, especially for the younger lot that really had only ever known the dead lands they called home. He had another purpose for them, though.

After gathering up a bunch he got to work carefully threading the flowers together. It was a delicate process and he broke more than he thought he would, but by the end he had made a very nice little crown of flowers. Satisfied with his work - even though some of the petals were a little crushed - he gingerly picked his prize up in his mouth and set off to find Gren.

What he found when he came across her made his eyes narrow in disapproval. The son of the deceased Warlord was there speaking with her and Gren didn't look too thrilled about it. He walked over with his head high, flowers still dangling from his teeth.

"Nokhoi," he said before resting the flower crown on the ground. He lifted his head up again, staring down the younger male. "You look like you're bothering Gren. I can't say that's a good idea." He knew his friend was strong and smart enough to knock the cocky lion onto his rump, but he also knew she'd only do that as an ultimate last resort. He'd chase the pest off himself if he had to.

Gren's reaction bolstered Gael's stance as well, his fur bristling along his back as he bared his teeth. The words that accompanied Nokhoi's retreat, however, made the growl stop and a laugh erupt from his mouth. It wasn't a 'haha that's funny laugh', though. It was mocking and harsh.

"You? A War leader?" he asked, stepping forward to keep the distance between them the same as it had been. "It's not a birthright, you know. I'd be a better pick for the position than you." He turned his body a bit, blocking off Gren from the other male, a challenging look on his face.

"Let's see what you're made of then, Nokhoi. I'm not going to let you touch her." He had known for a very long time now that he cared for Gren as more than a friend, but since she had still been wary of him he had kept it to himself. Now, however, his true colors were out there for her to see and he hoped she wouldn't pounce on him from behind as he tried to defend her. He knew that physically she didn't need someone to protect her, but in Nergui tradition females were to be fought over if two males sought the same one. It was time to stake his claim and hopefully she'd be accepting. Alternately, he hoped if she really didn't want to become his - and he hers, of course - that she'd wait until after he had chased off the challenger and then put him in his place.

Phew. This was stressful.

"Exactly," Gael said with a sneer. "A flower-toting lion is more suitable than you to lead the Nergui into battle." Even if by some strange occurance he did come in to some position of power he'd not let his flower obsession die. Now that he had someone to share it with he took no shame in having one or two tied into his mane.

The younger male seemed to be ready to fight for Gren, which he was more than fine with. He let Nokhoi get a bit closer before lifting one paw into the air to give his head a powerful smack, claws fully extended to induce as much pain as possible.

Gael wasn't terribly surprised when Nokhoi kept the charge coming. He obviously wasn't experienced and for a moment he almost felt bad for the other male. That moment came and went, though, as he surged forward to meet Nokhoi head on. He sacrificed his shoulders to the scrabbling paws as he set his jaws to the task of finding something to bite.

And find he did. His teeth sunk into Nokhoi's neck where his mane began, just to the side of his face. He got a good grip before starting to shake his head, tossing the other male's head from side to side to disorient and hopefully take a chunk of tender flesh with him once the other male broke free.

Gael heard Gren behind him and he hoped she wouldn't dislike him for fighting for her. Hopefully he could put on a good enough performance to get her to possibly return his feelings.

As they broke apart Gael knew he wasn't covered in just Nokhoi's blood anymore. His claws were sharp and he had enough natural strength to make the wounds on his shoulders burn as they oozed blood. His muzzle was covered with the other male's blood, though, giving him a menacing look that was only furthered by the snarl he kept on his face, ignoring the pain.

"I'd like to see you try," he growled in return, lowering his head for another attack. It never came, though, as the eyes of the pride grew heavier on the scene playing out. Nokhoi was clearly retreating, but Gael stepped forward quickly anyway with a threatening roar of his own. It was clear what it said - get out of here while you still can.

Gael stopped as Nokhoi fled, snorting softly in the dust kicked up by the other male. He watched until he was out of sight, hidden by the other lions around them. He heard a few hyenas cackling somewhere and a murmur rose up among those gathered. He lifted his head and stared down a few others lions who looked at him, but eventually they all began to disperse now that the fight was over.

He turned back to Gren after taking a deep breath. His shoulders were bloody and dark and stung as he moved, but that wasn't of any concern to him. Would she be mad that he stood up for her without asking? Did she think he thought she was weak? The look on her face sang a different tune, though. Surprise, to be sure, but not angry surprise.

"So...um." He cleared his throat a little bit as he returned to her side. The flower crown he had made had taken a bit of a beating as he had stepped on it to intercept Nokhoi, but he picked it up anyway in his teeth as delicately as he could. A bit of blood got on the flowers but that suited them, he thought.

Carefully, so very carefully he rested the crown on Gren's head. He stepped back, a nervous expression on his face. This was far more terrifying than facing down an old Warlord's offspring.

"I..uh...made you that. And. Sorry about the fighting. You deserve way better than him." Like me? was the silent question that hung in the air between them. Hopefully she'd pick up on it.

Gael's confidence would have wavered if Gren had reacted any differently. Instead she accepted the crown and held his gaze which was certainly electrifying. They were both unsure and nervous, but that helped them both as they saw it in one another.

The question made him laugh weakly as he realized she was on the same page as he was. Good. "That...that's up to you," he finally said. "I know traditionally it...ah. All this," he said, waving a paw back at the bloody ground where the short fight had taken place. "Means we're together. But I don't want to claim you as mine if you don't wish to be."

He may have the mindset of a Nergui for the most part, but when it came to things like this he was much more soft-hearted than his kin. He didn't want Gren to be his by force, he wanted her to be his by choice.