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Iyo listened with interest as the others spoke, listening to the thoughts of the others. She too had the feeling that the red lions could easily become a problem. "As long as they keep to themselves, things should remain as they are. I have no intention of interacting with them" She stated to the group. The golden lioness flicked her tail, the thought of those intruders really ruffled her fur. If only things could go back to the way they were, where the pride roamed instead of staying in one place.

"Gods?" Ainra whispered, shifting somewhat nervously at that. She had children, somewhere out there in the rogue lands, and both of her litters had been sired by 'gods'. She wasn't sure whether their heritage was a good thing or not, but she had not been pestered by either father since her encounters with them. As such, her view of such creatures was somewhat naive. Why would anyone waste their time overthrowing such beings?

"Why..." She faltered a moment, eyes flicking around the faces of the other females before settling back on Surkan. "Why would your people do that?" She asked him. To try and prove themselves, perhaps?

Her head was up; attentive. She didn't like the tension.

Ora had to bite her tongue to stop herself from laughing out loud when the sight of her mother tripping across her brother's path caught the little lioness' eye. It wasn't the first time something like that had happened around her mother, and no doubt it wouldn't be the last. Ora saw so issues in taking it all in stride and just being amused. Growing up where she had, the young lioness figured a good laugh was in order once in a while to balance out their otherwise merciless lifestyle.

She sat at attention as she watched Nja come pelting toward the group with Machozi in tow, waiting for them to near and join them. Ora had always wondered how she was so small when she had brothers like Machozi who had been larger as juveniles than she was now. Still, being small did have its advantages, and Ora would be the last to complain about her size. Size was not everything.

"That would be an act of war," Ora mused, turning back to her sisters. She didn't think the red lions would be so brash as to commit an act of war on foreign territory. They were big, sure, and had strength on their side, but their numbers weren't great and their understanding of the Bonelands poor. It would be anything but advisable for them to anger their currently-gracious hosts.

"Right," Matifa answered low, underneath her breath. "Always stay wary." It was not said with confidence, but with the air of one who was trying to convince herself this was the correct path. Her head turned and her ears perked as many others began to speak.

At the words shared over the red-pelts, Surtak seemed to not and consider. There was a low, musing rumble in the back of his throat. "We would be wise to watch them, and learn who they are." The hair on the back of his neck tickled, and he quickly ammended, "We should not be secretive about this. Doing so may upset the balance. But they may wish to watch us as well." His attention turned to the approaching Njalo and her still young son before he addressed Ainra.

"The gods take from the earth beneath our feet," Surtak explained, though his eyes had hardened. "I do not know their reasons. We are only told stories."

The tension in him eased and fled only a moment later. A content smile pulled over his lips and from his throat, a deep pleased laugh gently shook the air. "A pluthera of questions." His tone revealed no discomfort in this fact. "I can best tell you I came from the North. It stretches out without change past where the eye can see. It is cold, and the evenings have wind so loud it is hard to hear yourself think." The smile was retained. "We traveled--like the Ithambo now do here--many places in this north land. But now I am here. Here, all other things are very different."

Ainra blinked. The male named Surtak was a strange fellow indeed, with his accent and his strange words. He clearly came from a pride very different from this land, though she couldn't help but wonder why he had left it in the first place.

Well...she had been born in a pride. A pride she had left as an adolescent. She supposed everyone had their reasons. Hers had been to follow a sister, afraid of being left behind. So what had driven this male to them? Perhaps he simply fancies a change of pace. A chance to become something better. That was what she had wanted. That was why she was here now. To be a part of something more. A true family to which she could dedicate herself. But there was that look in his eye as he had answered her question...

She shook her head, determined not to get caught up in things. Ainra was not a judgemental creature and she did not mind the Firekin or Surkan being here. This was a good land. A good home. She didn't blame any of them for wanting some part in it.

Perhaps, she thought, she might talk a walk to the outpost and speak with some of these Firekin herself.

Baie decided to listen in silence for the time being. She didn’t know much about the “gods” that the Abazingeli of rogue origin often talked about. The idea of a giant lion that could fly and vanish in an instant was far too disconcerting for Baie to take it seriously. She would much rather doubt their existence and consider it all nothing more than old tales meant for gullible ears and this conversation did nothing to ease her mind. Hearing Surtak’s sure voice speak of the winged beings as if he and his former kin had seen them before was somewhat eerie in her opinion.

As a shiver ran down her spine, she decided to finally join in and do a little questioning of her own.

“Are you good in a fight, Umholi Surtak?” There was a hint of tease to her tone even if she looked quite serious. There were many less subtle questions she could’ve asked instead but Baie knew better than to openly question Gakere’s decision to accept the dark lion into the pride. It didn’t mean she wasn’t curious about the strange Umholi and the orange Umzingeli's eyes locked on the male’s gaze as she wondered if he’d answer her.

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Thuli watched with smiling eyes as Hlengiwe greeted their mother and brother, amused by the fact that her whole litter seemed to be present but for one exception.

“Someone needs to get Laini in here.” She commented with a grin, looking around for the shape of her darkest brother, the only Njalo cub missing. It was becoming harder for Thuli to look at her brothers. Already was she dreading the day when they’d cross the border and leave the pride lands, most likely never to return. Maybe they’d create a pride of their own or join an existing one instead. Maybe they’d roam the rogue lands alone or together as a group. Either way, she didn’t think they’d come back to challenge their big brother and there was a good chance she’d never see any of them again. Thuli hated that.

He paused for a moment, a low, "Hmm," coming from the back of his throat as he considered. His eyes remained on locked with Baie's.

"If I were not, it would be shaming." A tinge of offense colored his voice, and he began to elaborate. "I have fought, and I am alive. And if another tries to take Gakere's place, I will fight again. And I will win again." His voice was strong, as though he took his own words as fact. "Does this satisfy you?"

At Buna's question, he noteably swallowed. "No." His jaw clenched and for a stretch of time, he said no more on the subject. "I was not impressed with the lionesses from which I came. They were not fierce enough. Perhaps that will change here."