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Miale closed her eyes at the news of Karana'Mzaana's death. She'd admired the Historian. She'd even helped give her some extra fuel to the fire in becoming a Tracker. Later, when she was alone, she would mourn properly. Why must the deaths hit close to home? First her brother, and now the eldest historian. She kneaded at the ground, wishing she could sink her claws into the ones responsible for the deaths...but she knew better. She was more patient than most Firekin. She would wait...and hope she was among those to deal any blows. Morag's news...was disturbing. While she wasn't fond of Gods...she wasn't out to kill them.

Kich saw her frown of disapproval at mention of what the Nergui did...and shared it. He was odd, in that he respected the Gods of the world. He followed none, but he'd been taught by his mother to respect them, and to pity some of them. At the thought that the Regents might be targeted, he growled. They were their leaders, the examples of what Firekin could be. It was a good thing that he'd returned. Hmmm...perhaps he'd talk to Iirte about patrolling with another. Two were stronger than one, even if only so one could go to get help.

Con let go of a low growl, tail moving angrily behind her. She was not amused at all with the news being relayed. Another death, God-killing religious zealots...Hmph. Religion. Believing in any power beyond that of your own four paws and the pridemates at your side was idiotic. Yes, Gods existed. Didn't mean they had to worship the winged lions. She resisted the urge to speak out, to ask why they didn't just attack these idiots NOW...because they weren't dealing with idiots. They were dealing with lions who planned and plotted and attacked them from the shadows. They were dealing with creatures that had driven the Hongshan south (she'd need to check up on Huo after this), and caused the pride to actually SEEK alliances. She looked over when Kucha placed a paw on her shoulder.

The dark lion watched the goings-on with sun-bright eyes, listening. He understood Con's frustration all too well. After all, he was a doer, not a thinker. But he also understood just why they were taking their time with all this. They couldn't afford a misstep. It was like a battle between he and his brother when Laini was pissed...Long, drawn out, and tiring if both parties weren't careful. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves, and kept his ears open. He would have to learn to be a thinker, at least a little.

Mikā'īl stayed close to Kich, uncertain. Things in the pride were tense. Alliances were being made, information was being found...or not found. Lack of information was both comforting and...disturbing. Mikā didn't like it at all, really. The news that they'd lost the eldest Historian was sad, and the ashen lioness resolved to honor her later. When Mikā was on her own time, not caught up in duties.

Morag's information was...disturbing. Greatly so. Something about it...didn't sit right with her. Not Morag herself just...why? Why would they actively seek out Gods to destroy them? It was...foolish. And the thought of an attempt on any leader in the Firekin made her shiver. Hopefully, they never went for the cubs. That just...wasn't right. She pat Kich's front paw nearest her own, and gave Miale a comforting look. They would get through this. The Firekin were survivors, they were strong. They would not fall to these shadow games and drawn out periods of waiting and watching.

Hraga's appearance was startling, and then he spoke. A situation? That was never good. She was standing before she even thought about it, on edge and ready if there was a call to fight.

Huozin's eyes had been flitting from one speaker to the next, as they built a steadily more comprehensive picture of just how widespread the Nergui's presence was. But when Kosuke mentioned the death of Karana'mzaana, the white lion's gaze was riveted. The Historian? Dead? Yes he was an older lion, but he was Firekin and wouldn't have gone down without a fight!

This was...a crime.

But why would these Nergui seek to recruit the Firekin, and through such bloody means? Well, okay, never mind that question. He knew the answer because he knew his people, knew they were only impressed by a show of force.

The real question would be which side in this war had bitten off more than they could chew? The Nergui...or the Firekin?

Seide bristled.

The skin on her back rolled, and her ears momentarily flattened. Her eyes narrowed at Hraga and she swallowed.

Moto'seide had been waiting, anxious for a worried, snappish interruption like this during her entire time absent from the Firekin lands. As a result, she had an immediate response. The Firekin General could punish her for stepping outside of her rank later.

"I want the soldiers and sentinels ready to march out," she quickly ordered. "Guards to remain here."

"Report, Hraga."

Things were coming to a head, or at least they were progressing along. The nuisance known as the Nergui that she had heard rumors about... And the associated deaths allegedly at their paws... All of this news was a bit much for the lioness. Emotions swirled in her, though her face would not reveal it. Anger at the indignity and blindness of the Nergui way, mild comfort at the fact they had allies, and grief at the loss of the Historian. Aquila had not known the lioness personally, but she already considered the Firekin her home, and the loss of anyone in the pride stung like the loss of a relative to her.

Aquila nodded solemnly as No finished. She would be certain to be extra vigilant. Their enemy was not only stealthy and lethal, but their beliefs, however misguided Aquila found them to be, made them strong. The only way to win their game is not to play- but simply breathing forced one to be a part of it. Knowing how they thought would give her a way to "search" for them by keeping an ear open for such talk. She nodded too to Seide, Aquila was ready to march out at a moment's notice- she kept herself that way consistently, if that was indeed the final order to be given.

Though, she turned her head quickly and most interested to Hraga, eager to hear what he had to say, and what exactly this situation might be.

Oh for the love of... Morag frowned as she waited silently for the situation to sort itself out. They'd been talking for mere moments of something that promised to take forever... and already there was something dire going on. It was hard to name it coincidence and her eyes sought out Azulon in the crowd, hoping he read in her look what she wanted him to do.

Unless they were short on warriors, this would not be one of the potential conflicts she would go rushing off to meet. She would need her second-in-command to be her eyes and ears.

Kasi's had remained silent in the discussion, listening to the Regents and those who had wanted to talk, but she kept her opinion firmly to herself. It was only when Hraga appeared did she tense and ready herself. She rose to her paws, but stayed closed to her mate's side.

Her eyes flicked to her daughter, and then back to Hraga, waiting for the news.

The sudden appearance startled Safi, and she unconsciously stepped towards her parents, staying close to her mother's side, but keeping her gaze flicking around the crowd, watching not only Hraga but the others, trying to figure out what was going on before the male reported. Surely, the 'situation' was not dire. Surely.

Meka barely reacted to Hraga, his gaze slowly making it to the dark male. He wasn't ready to jump to conclusions, or panic, or worry - not yet. There had been no indication at all. The 'situation' might simple, or administrative in nature, not deadly.

Sozin watched Hraga with narrowed eyes, claws coming out to grip the ground beneath him. This could be the start of something fun, he realised with an internal grin. Finally, something not just talking - or at least, he hoped it wasn't going to be just more talking.

He shifted on his paws, waiting impatiently.

He walked with a new seemingly vast emptiness in his eyes, Stone cold, silver, as his mother's. He had not been there to protect her, too far away, far gone.

It was no lesson, but life, and a foul play upon a kind and strong family.

His sister, returned like the flame from sindered ash and smoke rising up. He came upon the group and watched them speak, his eyes traveled to Kidondo, those in charge, but his heart felt a heaviness as did his spirit.

His mother's strength and legacy would live on in him.

And all of her children.

He would be sure of that. If he were to find the one who had come, he would be all that he was, and show himself to be strong in the eyes of his mother watching over them from the sun. That was what he believed, and hoped.

Moto'seide wanted the soldiers to be ready, and he was. Strangely enough, the almost always talkative Kooka, his avian, upon his should was silent, mourning in his own way. But the bird would be ready if called upon.

Nakama's avian wished to come in Nakama's stead as the female knew not if she were welcome, but the bird was not far off, flying in the air, keeping a watchful eye, but within a few wing-beats of Kooka if a message need be carried to where Nakama was, as distant as she had brought herself to be after what had happened.

"What happened cannot be changed," Mwako'Damu spoke aloud, coming closer to all, his paws, more rough as he had trained very hard on his paws and body after what happened to his family. It was his own way to mourn...to prepare, become stronger. "We can only act right in these next situations, next moments, there will be justice, in time," he said, looking to Kosuke.

That he knew.

Because he knew his sister's avian had seen the foreign female.

As Hraga spoke, his head turned to him, and he lowered his head, just slightly, to show respect, to take notice. Mwako'Damu was hurting, not as gravely as others, perhaps, but he would not lose himself to what he felt inside.