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.. a necklace.

The gems sparkled in the bright sunlight and it was unlike any of the normal pieces the firekin themselves wore, made of foreign shapes in an unusual design.

Kuza had moved on when their defacto leader had pointed out the rocks and the red warrior was already half way up the cliff face, her large paws spread wide as she gripped tiny cracks with her claws, muscular hind legs bunched and straining as she pulled herself up onto a narrow ledge. Pausing to look down at the cry from below she spotted what looked like the residue of recent tracks, all but obliterated by the wind. The only reason she could see them at all was the very fact that she was high up the rockface and could make out the faint line across the landscape.

"Hey! There are tracks that lead that way!" She hollered down the lions below, lifting one paw to point in the direction the shadows had vanished as she carefully balanced on the ledge, her flank pressed tight against the cliff side.

A clatter sounded near by as......

Seide's answer from behind was flat. "No."

"It's a necklace. And as such, it is property of the Motoujamii government." The lioness' long strides took her past Zo'bwa. A few good paw-strokes unearthed some of the surrounding sand, and Moto'Seide gently used her jaw to remove the rest of the glittering object.

She hoped none of the lions were, or had any intention of becoming Soldiers. Their organization, and the state of their minds, was atrocious.

"If injury of your small band occurs, Veru, you can be sure that I will be speaking a report." Honestly.

The lioness pushed onward, and made her way up the splintered and scattered rock formations to join Kuza. Wind-whipping in her fur, and sand in her eyes, she could just barely make out that thin track. Further in the distance, more rocks. Unfortunately, they had found themselves at a bit of a junction in their travels. The direct way to the tracks was straight down.

"Ideas, lions! How are we getting down from these cliffs?"

...her clumsy paw stepped on the tail of some hidden beast.

Its yowl echoed sharply from the walls of the little cavern and the slither of daylight cast into the cavern lit a pair of fiery, wild eyes.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, lady! That really hurt." The small creature shouldered forwards and, in the beam of brilliant light, picked out the small form of Nur'yu; 'Future Watcher in the Making'. "What are you doing?" He stepped back out into the sunlight and shook the sand from his fur. "If you're trying to get through this way, you'll be out of luck. I should know!" He puffed out his chest with pride. "The smaller ones could get through but it gets too narrow for you fatter adults." He looked smug at that.

"Look, look, just down that ways a little more. There's a bit of rock fall that's left some nice steps for you bigger lions! It's the long way around and a bit unsteady, so...maybe don't go all down at once?"

Or maybe they should. He'd quite like to watch what happened! All fall tumbling down and what-not. So long as no one got hurt of course! Hurting would be bad! With a small grin, he bounded up onto one of the rocks and turned to look in the direction they had been intending.

"What are you--oh! Is that what you were looking for?"

He raised a stubby paw, pointing at...

“Ah. We could do that, but we’d lose time.” Xennek looked around the cliff. There really was little room on that path, but if they were to cut off their prey…The lion frowned. “Some of us can take this path ‘ere while the rest can look for another way down. That way the smaller group can move quickly to cut anyone off while if the others find a way down they can circle around and block off any escape routes.”

“Wouldn’t it be easier to cover more ground this way as well?” Sekayi asked, “As it is if we just keep standing here talking about it then we’re never going to be able to catch anyone. Just let some who are certain of their balance in this type of path go.”

“Right.” Even Suditi had to agree with the boys. They would just have to work this way. And if they were in groups the chase wouldn’t be quite so obvious. With this many gathered…her amber eyes scanned the group and she sighed. It was as handy as any mad mob. Anyone would be able to tell they were coming. And honestly, in cases like these, the lioness preferred stealth.

Walking towards the path Xennek looked around. “Anyone opposed?”

Sideways into Ute, who had been busy sleeping buried in the sand-attepting to try and conserve energy and keep the heat off her. She sprang up, her eyes wide and a startled noise escaping her muzzle. She glanced sideways at Mpeko; looking disgruntled at being found buried in sand. She stood, shaking herself of the sandy coat. "Well excuse me..." She murmured.

"What are you guys doing out here?" She asked, looking rather tired. Truth was; she was very tired. Tending to injured mother was rather... tiresome. She side stepped, away from the lioness who bumped her. "Wait... where am i?"

"They do seem to be," Veru mused. Probably because they'd been staring at them for far too long now! At this rate, Seide was going to have a novelization of infractions to report back to. "Well troops. There are some things you just have to do, and hope you live through them."

It was a good life motto! But come to think of it, it hadn't exactly reaped any benefits thus so far... but no matter. Veru started down the rocky crevasse, using his claws to keep traction as best he could. Which wasn't well at all, given the sand. What resulted was a rather admirable approach to falling headlong. Veru was lucky he was newly out of the med wards, or he probably would have found himself squarely back into them.

"Careful now, it's getting dark," he yelled back up. His side was a bit roughed up, but otherwise no worse for wear. Unfortunately, that wasn't about to last for long.

A second after he'd given the warning to the lions up on the ridge above, a bright shape lunged from the shadows of the rocks. It was Uriah! And with a quick flash of claws, she dropped Veru to the sandy ground below. In his defense, he was still dizzy from the fall.

Furiously, the red cat turned her head and faced the lions up on the ridge above. "Stay away!" She warned. "Who is your leader?!"

"Talk? Don't you think it's time for action?!" Ea'pavlov exclaimed moving forwards peppily.

"Let the white guy go and tell us why you're out here! No one can survive alone in the desert!" He frowns deeply standing edgily to one side he was a waterseeker not a warrior after all.

He blinked owlishly running out of questions, he was young after all, he looked to the others around him "Well? Doesn't someone have an important question to ask?"