August 20 - 21________________________________
Eyal:
Eyal had been surveying the pride for the longest time. There was something missing. Something so important but he couldn't put his claw on it. It had just hit him the other day when he'd seen the Prince, who was well on his way to becoming an adult. Cubs. The pride was missing cubs. How could they establish themselves if they had no females?

It is with this idea that Eyal approached Rotem, seeking an audience. "My King... I would like to bring something to your attention." He started, sitting down just to the side of his old best friend.

Rotem:
Rotem was amusing himself with something small in between his paws. A small trinket from the strange stone sculptures that the pride had made their home. It had been covered by dirt and dust when he'd found it, and much of the last hour had been spent rubbing it along his fur to clean it off.

As Eyal approached he sat upright and covered it with his paw. "Eyal, what's got you looking so grim?"

Eyal:
Eyal gave his King an odd look. Was there EVER a moment he was doing something... un-kingly? He sighed and ran a paw over his face before taking on a stance true to his position. "Sir, I've been through the pride and I've come to a ... enlightening conclusion." He glances around to make sure he and Rotem are alone before he gets closer. "Sir, we are lacking in clubs and in females to further the pride."

Rotem:
Rotem shifted himself around and sat himself upright, his shoulders rolling back. It was apparently 'proper' to sit up straight. "Ah is that so?" He frowned a bit. "I suppose we ...are pretty small. What did you have in mind? I know you."

Eyal:
Eyal allowed a bit of pride to enter his voice. "Well I do... Have something in mind." He stood and started to move forward gesturing to himself. "Well, I going to suggest that I go out and ... find appropriate females and return with cubs for the pride to raise."

Rotem:
Rotem smirked a bit, "Eyal...if you were looking to court a lady and start a family, you didn't need my permission to do so."

Eyal:
"Start a family?" He snorts and holds up his head. "My King..." He says lowering his voice to a softer volume. "I wish no such thing! Starting a family is the last thing on my mind. I just wish to further along the pride. Wouldn't you like it if your sons had someone to court when they are of age?"

Rotem:
"Indeed I would. They're turning out to be quite the lookers." He sighed and glanced to one side. "But...haven't you ever thought of raising your own little ones? New little warriors?"

Eyal: (11:43:40 PM): Eyal cast a glance, that Rotem could probably recognize as a glare but to others would be a mild look of dislike, to his King. "No. In order for that to happen one has to experience love. Love is a warriors downfall. Besides, what would I do with a bunch of brats? All they are is a necessity to the pride." He snorted and looked head out at the pride. "My job is to aid you in the pride's health. As it stands we need more outside females to ensure our pride remains healthy. This has nothing to do about my wants or my needs."

Rotem: (11:45:22 PM): "Hm." Rotem got up to all fours and flicked his little token out to one side. "Come on, take a walk with me." The lion tipped his head to one side and started down the cracked steps of the ruin.

Eyal: (11:47:40 PM): The salmon maned lion waited respectfully before padding after his king. "What is you wish sire?" He questioned, now back to his eager to please voice. He hated to loose his temper. Control made a good chief. He just hated to see the pride fall to pieces over such a simple manner.

Rotem: (11:56:52 PM): Rotem paced out to a small outcropping of stone that overlooked the waterfall. "...this is where I fist saw Adara. She was young and so full of life. I knew at that moment that I would do anything to prove myself to her." He glanced sidelong to his friend, "Love can be a weakness, but it can also give us power..."

Eyal: (11:58:35 PM): Eyal stared at the waterfall with something of a jealousy. "Are you indicating that is how you won our fight, My King?" He asked keeping the bitterness out of his voice. "I was simply not as strong as I thought I was. A short coming, that should we spar again, will not be a problem. Love is an emotion and in battle all emotions must be put aside. That is how you survive."

Rotem: (12:01:58 AM): "It gives you a reason to fight, a reason to live on when all else is lost." He smiled apologetically. "My friend... love has many degrees. The love you feel for a mate, the love for your children, the love for a friend..." He looked out once more, "And the love for a homeland. I believe you act out of love. You just...express it in strange ways."

Eyal: (12:05:51 AM): "My reason to fight is my own." He stated then glanced at Rotem, catching his eyes then looked forward. His ears flattened as he stared deeply into the depths of the water where it crashed. "The only thing I love, sir, is my duty to protect this pride. It is my reason for living and will be the only reason I have for living. Even if this pride somehow failed us, I would never stop fighting for it. I didn't come to ask you for advice on my love life, Sire. I came to get permission for my quest."

Rotem: (12:10:14 AM): He smiled a bit and gave a slow nod, "You have my permission... I trust you, and your every action." He nudged his shoulder with one of his paws, a friendly jab. "Everything happens for a reason, Eyal. Keep that in mind. Our numbers have thinned over the recent generations. Perhaps there's some out there that would need a home."

Eyal: (12:13:37 AM): "Thank you sir..." Eyal responded with a sigh. He shrugged Rotem's paw off and started to leave the outcropping. He turned his head to look back at his friend. "I will do my best to choose the strongest, My King." He paused, tail flickering, as if waiting for his old friend. His green eyes turned toward where the sun set and he felt a strange urgency to run. He felt a sense of freedom. "Will you be safe without me, My Lord?"

Rotem: (12:18:08 AM): Rotem smirked and threw his chest out. "Of course! When have I ever needed a nanny?" He jabbed playfully. "I expect great things out of you, my friend."

Eyal: (12:21:59 AM): "The question is, when is the time when you HAVEN'T needed one?" He returned without missing a beat. The second half of Rotem's comment made him quiet down. The greened eyed male had been distant lately and it seemed the comment had caused it to happen again. "My King... if I should not return from my quest... The pride will go on without me. You should as well."

Rotem: (12:24:54 AM): He rolled his eyes, "This pride will go looking for you. That's the nice thing about a little place like this." He turned a bit, "We're family. All of us."

Eyal: (12:35:23 AM): Eyal sat down and watched the sun starting to die down in the distance. "There's no need for such. You'd only put the pride in danger. If you're going to be that way, I suppose I have no choice but to return." He casts a look back at Rotem that could almost be a smile before glancing back at the sunset, his pelt accented by the colors. "Remember when we were cubs? That old lion had us convinced us that if we roared at the sunset it would make us more powerful... You always roared the loudest, didn't you, Rotem?" He questioned using the other male's real name for the first time in the two years he'd been on the throne.

Rotem: (12:47:45 AM): Rotem chuckled as he settled himself down against the stone of the out cropping. "I couldn't speak for hours after that. Which...might have been the old guy's plan all along." He flicked his tail, his smirk spreading across his maw. It was about time Eyal lightened up with the formalities.

Eyal: (12:49:19 AM): Eyal chuckled slightly. "Probably was... We were always bugging him about something..." He trailed off then shook his head. "I'll be leaving tomorrow at dawn. I won't return until I have a litter worthy of the pride."

Rotem: (12:50:24 AM): "Just remember what I told you, Eyal." His tone hardened slightly. "We are a family... we are not looking to take others, but to welcome them in."

Eyal: (12:51:35 AM): Eyal snorted. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Sire?" He questioned narrowing his eyes slightly.

Rotem: (12:52:39 AM): "Perhaps... it is my prayer that you learn the power of love for yourself out there. As I said- there is a reason for everything."

Eyal: (12:56:03 AM): "I'm sure there is, My King..." He answered batting at a rock and watching it fall down the outcropping. "The Goddess of Love herself couldn't touch me with its curse." He stood and shook his mane. "I should get prepared. I will make sure the other warriors know I'm leaving... Make sure Jaron still does his training. Don't let him slack off while I am away."

Rotem: (12:58:51 AM): Rotem rolled his eyes a bit, "I will. And I'm certain he'll find some way to make a game out of it as well."

Eyal: (1:01:44 AM): "Games... does he think of nothing else?" Eyal stood and stretched out before digging his claws into the earth. "Maybe the cubs I bring back will show him how a prince should behave." He stares at the sun and draws in a deep breath, letting out a roar. He felt alive and excited about his journey. It'd been far too long since he'd allowed himself out of the pride borders, with or without permission.

Rotem: (1:05:02 AM): Rotem couldn't help but chuckle, but for the moment he would ignore that Jarom was behaving quite similar to how he had been as a young cub. As the sun hit the horizon line Rotem let a roar of his own rip free from his throat. A long-standing tradition couldn't go ignored.

Eyal: (1:08:31 AM): Eyal listened to their roars fade into the distance and chuckled again. As darkness began to decide upon the pride he started to leap down the dangerous outcropping, toward the bottom of the waterfall. Love... Such a stupid, silly notion wouldn't control his life ever again. He'd fought in the name of love once and he'd lost. He glanced up toward where Rotem was perched before moving off to where he would rest for the night.

Rotem: (1:10:13 AM): Rotem remained where he'd been, his silver eyes nearly glowing with the final light of the day as he watched his friend and warrior chief make his way from the outcropping. "Until later, brother."

Eyal: (1:17:55 AM): Eyal awoke just as dawn was starting to paint the sky. He jerked his head up and pulled himself to his feet. He was so excited even his body had woken up. He stretched out, feeling like a silly cub about to go on their first hunt. He took his time, making sure his actions were slow and deliberate as what was expected of him. He took a drink, ate the rest of a kill he'd made a night ago and did his rounds to make sure the pride was safe. Everything, as always, was in good order. The weather was clear, fresh due making the fur on his paws slightly wet.

He knew he'd be there. They were as close as brothers. Even if Eyal pretended not to notice. He glanced toward where the king slept. He felt a pang of guilt at leaving Rotem and the pride. What if they needed him while was gone? What if something terrible happened. He was obviously having second thoughts, hesitating was not something Eyal displayed regularly but he looked torn between leaving and giving up the venture completely.