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It wasn't going very well. Oh, certainly Tahka was beginning to be more sensible again... but things were hardly broaching 'fixed' between them. The children didn't help--no, the children really did not help. The fact that their fathers were good for nothing douche bags were bad enough, but now the four them would be raised in the pridelands with its decaying morals and ideals. Sara bristled.

She was out near the border again--a place she found herself quite often these days, and looking for the one lioness in this entire mess that she could truly talk to. Sukari had become her sounding board over the past few weeks, the one to go to when she needed a mind as sharp as her own to see occasional flaws in her logic and plans. There was another problem, of course.

Their 'cousins' on pride rock. They weren't much younger than Sara and her siblings, and there were rumors that Kamilika would be handing the throne over to them shortly. Rumors, yes, but... disquieting ones to Sarafina's ears. Much too frequently a voice whispered in her ear, telling her to spill their blood and take the pride as her own...

But what of the things she had told her brother? The snapped judgments about the sanctity of family? That what he had done to Matishou was just as bad as what Mufasa had done to Taka... possibly worse. Would two wrongs make a right in this case?

Oh there was no doubt in her mind that she as queen would be far better than the two on the throne. No doubt at all, but was brute strength the way to win this, or Taka's way? The way of the scholar? Planning, patience, perseverance.. Would she have to become Mufasa to save this pride, or should she wait out her years as Taka?

Sarafina didn't know. So instead she roamed--nay, prowled--at the border, looking for the one she'd deemed her conscience, at least until her brother fully returned to her. Perhaps it was chance that caused her to look up, to the other side of the river and see the termite mounts there. They were beautiful, in a sad strange way, in the sunset light.

Sukari had been likewise prowling; her instincts as a mother persevered in her, forced her to continue walking.... searching for the children that had somehow become dispersed from her side. They were hardly old enough to be out on their own; she knew that, as a female and a mother. Jani had said otherwise; that every cub had to leave at some point, alas, Sukari would not take that as an answer to her problems. That was hardly a reason, and hardly an excuse for her to abandon hope.... to abandon her family, her blood. That what she had created; she refused to, and so instead she prowled the borders, high and low whenever she wasn't with Sarafina or Jani himself.

Not once had she spotted even the smallest indication to tell her that her children were nearby, or even alive, really. Oh, she knew she wasn't the only one with problems; hardly. Sarafina had her fair share, as she'd come to learn. Both lioness felt strongly for their own, and right now, all what Sukari could think of, was how similar they were to each other; the younger female was losing her siblings, like she had, long ago, while Sukari had lost her children. It was no doubt, that notion that left Sara mildly concerned aover her nephews... Sukari could not blame her.

Letting out a sigh that hissed through clenched front teeth, she turned around, heading towards the patch of jungle jani resided in when she spotted a scent in the air; one that was unmistakable to her.

Arching a brow, the older female moved with grace and experience over the plains till she met her 'match', per say. Slowly stepping to stand at Sarafina's side, she gaze towards the distant termite hills, "Magnificent, isn't it, that such small creature can create something so large. All together, as a colony. A family."

"Mindless insects," Sarafina replied, not even jumping at Sukari's voice. Somehow it was as if she'd expected the other female to find her, even though she'd really had no--well.. little idea that would happen. It seemed to be the case more often than not, however.

Yet as they spoke, Sara's eyes didn't leave the mound. "Mindless insects that hail to their queen. Amusing, isn't it, that despite this they still hold the values and morals of a true society. They work together for the greater good of all, not just one... Each one knows its place and is content to stay there, doing as told because it knows that what it does makes it possible for the others to live." Her eyes narrowed slightly and then she turned from the sight.

"My cousins grow," Was all she said, and sighed. There wasn't much reason to explain every detail to Sukari, she'd learned easily enough; the other female just seemed to know. Sara could weep for the fact that it was the same way she and Tahka had been, once long ago... but she wouldn't. "And no luck on your end either, i'm guessing."

"They work; they prevail. They make great structures, mind their own business... live their lives," she shrugged somewhat, allowing herself to sit down, hooded gaze still fixed on the distant hills before she sneers, "I find it to be horribly pathetic, and downgrading that insects are able to manage what we seemingly can't, with our superior intellect - do others even USE this intellect more often than not, I wonder?" she shook her head mildly, then turned to finally regard the other female; they'd been on more than friendly terms as of late, and thus a hello wasn't even necessary past this point.

"And you're worried that they grow," her lips lifted slightly, her teeth visible to the light; oh she understood that worry fully.

It was a worry that the children would turn from her, from their family, dragged away by others and their ideals, "It's not a safe place, but right now..." she murmured, "There's not much you can do, unless you use force and at this point, I'm not entirely sure it'd be wise." she sneered; oh had it been another, she'd have told them to go for it. It'd amuse her to see an empire fall, no matter who got in the way. No skin off her back. but Sara was different and deserved a real opinion, "Actions and consequences. Traitors and betrayers..." then again, her own children had not been under anyone's influence... and were gone, "I could not find mine. first Fenris. They're all gone now. They're gone, or dead," she spat out the words, but seemed to have accepted this fact.

"Traitors and betrayers," Sarafina agreed. She too settled down, never bothering with mentions of salutations. What point was there? They knew they were here. "Your children will regret it, more likely than not."

That was the most in condolences either lioness would have offered one another, truthfully. Sorries were for something one had done personally, after all, and Sarafina wasn't sorry though she did feel badly for Sukari's situation. "And perhaps they will come crawling back as well."

She shook her head, once more glancing over her shoulder to the termite mounds. "No.. brute force would be suicide and I am not suicidal. It has occurred to me as well that such force would be... remniscant of a distant uncle I do not care to emulate."

She frowned. "Even if i were to consider such... crude tactics, as my heart longs too--" indeed, she'd 'seen' her claws ripping into the princesses throat in many a pleasant dream, "--there are other factors to consider. Even if I were to act alone, there is little doubt in my mind that those close to me would be targeted for my supposed crimes. Some could take care of themselves, but... I was right of my brothers. There are little ones now."

"They will, if they haven't yet," which was what worried her; as much as she wished to sneer and forget about them, she could; she'd given birth to them, and they were a part of her. She'd loved them, for better or worse; it was obvious... it'd been for worse, really. Her eyes narrowed at Sarafina's words, "Doubtful, corrupted.... it was their choice to leave."

She waved a paw, dismissing the thought; what was done was done, and not worth mentioning any further. As far as Sukari was concerned, saving those that still hadn't left, or been corrupted was better; it was what they needed to do. Sara's cousins were still there. Still able to be saved, their efforts should be focussed on them, not on cubs that were not physicaly there anymore.

Nodding she turned her sapphire gaze behind them, where she knew pride rock lay even if it was hardly visible, "Don't need history to repeat itself," she knew of the history, more or less; Sara had never told her the full story, but she was certain of what had happened. She'd gathered tidbits from one conversation and another till they had weaved out the story for Sukari to see; no decency was all she could think off when she'd added two and two.

"Strength is good; sometimes a fight is necessary, but at this point.... even if you were to sink your claws into the proverbial problem, you have a pride against you that will only see the spill of blood," she shook her head, "It'd be a bad move; this is a conquest that must be done with finer methods.... using this," she tapped the side of her head with a claw twice before lowering her forearm back to the ground

"I was thinking that," Sara nodded, not bothering to say she'd wanted another's opinion on it. She frowned a little, looking down at her paws. Claws out, she raked little furrows into the loam and watched the soil cave in upon itself. "The question is how. There are many methods of that nature one could use... albeit, some more attractive than others."

Sara looked up. "I'd considered taking an inquiry to the source of the problem. Making a formal statement... but to do such without backing from other pride members does little more than single me and mine out as troublemakers. The few we have in support won't give us enough backing to our words... the rest are blind to their faults, or else so guilty of them that they'd die to protect these so-called 'rights'."

She snorted her disgust. "But there are rumors, rumors I'm inclined to believe, that the two are taking the throne fairly soon. Things will become even more degenerate as soon as that happens, mark my words."