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((Note: Before the war, before Saburi left his den))

The large Firekin was content. He'd been teaching Saburi what she needed to know about the pride of her ancestors and planning when he'd introduce her to the king and the others. When it was safe and the sweet girl was sure of herself. His den was one of the ones away somewhat from the central dens, and with her colouring, if anyone saw her at a distance they didn't question her presence straight away. He'd keep her safe and then...well. She'd be free to live openly in the pride.

Vuvi hadn't thought beyond that yet. He'd fallen so hard and so fast for her he hadn't recognised it. It wasn't simple lust that'd made him ignore several of his core beliefs. She was different and soft and someone to protect and cherish. Nevermind her rogue blood.

It was going to break his heart when the war came but for now he strolled peacefully to the waterhole, vague thoughts of bringing back his guest a meal on his mind.

"Oh. Morning Ilahle." He looked up from his drink, taken out of his reverie by a pretty voice, to look up into gorgeous eyes. Once upon a time such a lovely young thing would have had him wondering, laying on some charm. However his smile, while friendly, held no promises. Only startlingly bright orange-gold eyes turned his head these days. Vuvi didn't know why but he just....wasn't interested.

"Keeping well? And how is that Kadogo? I saw you two together earlier - thick as thieves as always."

"Now mark me, dear girl. When I returned to the pride -" His parents having their litter away from the land, as he'd told Ilahle before. " - there were rumors the Firekin were dying out, that our downfall was at paw. I even thought to take a mate just to boost our numbers."

And get some pretty little lady all of his own of course. He'd been younger and lust had ruled him for a while, as sometimes happened with young males. Of course he'd matured a lot since then so it came out as a joke, with a raised eyebrow.

Vuvi should have snorted and snapped at her for talking of her slave so fondly, as if he was her own flesh and blood. Good slave owners didn't treat their slaves like that. But then...he should have been keeping Saburi as a slave because of her rogue blood and he was training her to pass as a pure Firekin.

He was in no place to preach and Ilahle was a good girl really. She'd just been so young to receive her own slave to control. Especially a young cub. Cute and fluffy and eager, she'd probably felt sisterly or motherly affection for her Huang. It was just instinct. Instinct she should ignore but...

Vuvi'd overlooked a lot of rules and ethics lately for Saburi. He looked away a said nothing.

"She's no slave of mine!" Vuvimoto was swift to protest, so fast Ilahle assumed it was because he didn't like the idea of slaves at all.

"Nor a relative though that guess is closer. She's in the same position I was but not quite so fortunate. Her Firekin parents and grandparents didn't return to the pride after the old plague just like my parents didn't. Difference being the fools didn't teach her much of the ways of the Blood so yes, I've been teaching her. She's called Saburi." Now, someone whose grown up with another person around is bound to pick up a few things. They weren't family but they'd met often enough and become friends, so Ilahle just knew when Vuvi lied. He was wont to flex his claws, barely noticable but it was from nerves.

He was lying. He was helping a rogue or someone with more rogue blood than he was letting on at least into the pride!

"Thankyou. I'll have to remember to talk to her later about it. She is a good hunter from what I gather but socially it'd be good to see her out hunting with others." He beamed, thrilled at the thought. Saburi able to be a full pride member, to be able to stay here forever - it was perfect. Anything that helped him keep his friend was most welcome. Speaking of which...

"I'd best be going. I was just going to bring back some morsel of food to her. Shall we go on a proper large hunt in say, three days?" There was small hunts to stave off hunger a little longer - a few bits of hare for instance, which he planned now to find for Saburi - but there there was the real hunting. The real kills. The kind you feasted on and you could last for weeks.