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Kwana's eyes narrowed, scowling disgustedly at her siblings. Oh, yes, let's all dump even more attention on the poor whimpering Kavuasi, shall we? Really, it was pathetic. Her smile quickly faded to a faint smirk, and she climbed to hre feet, sauntering calmly towards her siblings. "Aww, don't worry, Kavu. I'm sure there's no reason to be scared of that bird. Everything will work out perfectly, just watch."

Kinja allowed herself to break down right there. Never had she gone through such a thing, but the emotions were far too much for her. She knew, deep in her, that Kiu would go against his love for her because of his father. She oculdn't count on him to protect her and the cubs should she decide to have the 'guise removed but to continue living this life as a lie was getting more painful, but she had to protect her little ones.

Looking up from where her tears had fallen and speckled the ground she turned her attention to the dune that the little clearing that her babies were in. Their lives came first, but what would happen to Kavu...

"Fine, you win, but can't you at least tell me what will happen with Kavu?" She asked as she continued ot look in the direction of her cubs.

Kimeti had enough of the bickering and sobbing as he could take. Lifting himself from his thorughts he growled quite loudly. "Why can't you all just be quiet and stop fighting!? Don't any of you see that no matter what we do mother and father will always be there, telling us what to do with our lives, if not them, someone else like this Hestia bird. We'll never be our own lions here. Not here with the Firekin. We're all being used and that thought is the worse out of it all."

"He won't die, if you're concerned about that," Hestia says, impatient with the mothering attitude Kinja is displaying, and snappish because of it. "Nor will he be enslaved, or anything so ridiculous - he will be my strong right paw. But he will never see you again, except from a distance. He will be lost to you - but rest assured, he will be well taken care of." She figures she owes that much to the lioness; she understands the feeling, at least a little. Are not all the things of the air her children, in some way?

"I must go, before the sun sets. I do not want to have to wait for a sleepy child, Kinja."

"If something like this were happening to me, I'd figure out what was actually happening, then find a way to use it to my advantage," Kwana snapped in reply, rolling her eyes. "Of course, eveyone must always be waiting on you hand an foot, so it's right that you're shaking with terror. Anything for attention, eh?"

Abruptly, she switched her attention to Kimeti, sneering. "Mother and father can't control us forever. No one can, unless you let them. If you was to sulk and pout and let everyone walk all over you, by all means, I'll be joining them. But no one will rule me." Kwana didn't think Moto warranted a reply. She wasn't fighting; she was stating the truth.

((.. woops, shadow posting. xD Oh well, I guess it kind of made sense. o.O))

The next few moments happened quickly. He felt himself tensing up, ready to fly off the handle at Kwana... And then he was being picked up, and talked to. No. No! He couldn't leave, not yet! He hadn't said goodbye!

"Wait!" He screamed, dashing away from Hestia as soon as he was set down. Without thinking, he ran back to the clearing, tripping over himself as he went and ending up, face down, in the grouping of his siblings. He sputtered, picking himself up, then stared at all of them.

Kwana.... She hated him.
Kimeti... He didn't care.
Motomilla... Worth a goodbye.
Kijinga.... Had always been cold.
Kafara.... He'd miss her the most...

So, he slipped himself back in between his two sisters, and quickly nuzzled them both. He would leave... But he'd say goodbye first. So he did.

"I love you..." He whispered, though it was aimed more at Kafara than Motomilla. Both of his sisters had been there for him, that was true. Kafara had stuck the closest, though. He then slipped away, head lowered and tail between his legs, sulking back to his mother and the bird, Hestia. Then, with the most dignity he could muster, he sat down before the black sparrowhawk and did his part, like...

Like the perfect little heir.

Like momma's perfect son.

"I'm ready."

Maybe Kwana was right. Maybe he was an attention hog. But he'd get his mother out of this, one way or another.

As Kavu was carried off, Kwana's mouth dropped open. Kavu was....leaving? Inwardly, the cub cheered in triumph. Oh, sure, she would be a -bit- sorry to see him go... He was her brother, after all. But this meant... this meant he wasn't heir! And a quick glance around the thicket told her none of her other siblings would be stepping up to take his place. Her path was cleared. Firekin would be hers.

She was turning to Kimeti to reply when Kavu returning, and watched impassively as he brother said his goodbyes. It didn't bother her in the least when he ignored her, and she smirked a jeering farewell after him when he left to return to Hestia. Kavu was leaving. Kavu would not return. ...Kwana grinned.

A grin which faded when she turned back to Kimeti. Her grin melted to a faint smirk, and she shrugged. "I am of the Firekin. I can't help that, I want to be of them. But I shaped myself." She paused, realizing how true that really was. Again shrugging, Kwana continued. "If we are not already, it's Grandfather's fault. Sooner or later, we will easily be the best pride. I'll see to that. And this has nothing to do with who's better. It's about power, and control, and survival. Kavu's gone, and good ridance, I say. He wanted to leave and you know it. He's gotten his wish."

Motomilia watched Kavu leave, glad at least that he had given her a goodbye. Perhaps they'd see each other once more... perhaps not.

In that instant, Motomilia vowed that she would seek out her brother, some day. Even if it meant striking out on her own, abandoning her kin. But her heart still harbored doubts. Vows didn't always become fulfilled.

((Ooh, possible plotness for when Motomilia gets older. n.n))