T`Poi
Moricorm was rather excited, glad she'd acknowledged her demon-name so she could actually do her job. Of course...her first stop outside the pride wasn't to recruit. It was to visit her cubs, her little vampires. And their father. Tani was likely the closest thing she had to a friend, especially after Ketu wandered off. She growled as she maneuvered through the thick flora. That abandonment had hurt more than she'd ever be able to admit.

She slowed as she reached the familiar scents marking the edges of The Coven's lands. Ah...now all she needed to do was find Tani. It wouldn't be too hard...he tended to hang around the borders a lot.


Manda
Today, however, 'Tani was a bit farther inside the lands - spending a bit of time with one of his sons. He was teaching the little one some of the basics of fighting - since Caradhras had told his father that he wanted to be a warrior when he got big. It made 'Tani quite proud, as he was proud of all his little ones.

"Now do you see that leaf there...?" he murmured. "I want you to stalk it, and then catch it - pretend that it's something alive. This is the first step..."


T`Poi
Moricorm was a little annoyed by the time she found Tani's scent...but the annoyance faded away as she realized the second scent with him. Caradhras! She stalked forward, making sure to move so none of her bells would ring. She wanted to surprise her son and his father...Her grin was far from the dark expression it normally was.


Manda
Caradhras frowned at that leaf - rather wishing he could actually go after something alive. But... he adored his father, so he followed directions. Crouching down a little, he wiggled his small rear and slowly stalked forward. And his paw fell on another leaf, which crunched.

"Too noisy," Tani said instantly. "Whoever you're after could hear you from miles away... try again~"


T`Poi
Ri grinned and waited a moment in some nearby undergrowth...waiting...Until they came close enough she could pop her head out, with a slight smile and a 'boo'. "Hello dears, miss me?" She finished revealing herself, shaking leaves from her sleek black and red body. "Sorry I wasn't able to visit before now."


Manda
Caradhras made a squeaking sound at that, looking up at the female rather wide-eyed. Then he growled and attacked her paw, chewing on it with playful enthusiasm.

Tani blinked at that, then laughed softly. "Well, I'm not sure if that means he misses you or not... " he murmured, moving to bump into Ri's shoulder slightly. "But I know I've missed you."


T`Poi
Ri chuckled. "Well now...I've certainly missed the both of you. And the other cubs." She sighed. "I couldn't slip away easily to come visit. But now...I'm a Nuemare, so I'm often outside the pride and no one questions it." She purred at her son and carefully bat at him. Even if she was a small demoness, she was still larger than the cub. And she certainly didn't want to break one of her own. "Remember me, my little one?"

She nudged Tani's shoulder with her nose. "How've they been for you? Good little vampires?"


Manda
Caradhras stopped nomming on his mother long enough to glance up at her and nod. " 'Course I do!" he replied happy, licking at the spot he'd been chewing on. What he actually remembered was more ... her scent than anything else. But it was enough.

"What do you think?" Tani asked, smirking just slightly. "After all, they're -our- children. How could they be any less than perfect?" This was said in total innocence, of course.


T`Poi
The demoness leaned down to nuzzle Caradhras. "Good. You're growing well, Caradhras." She looked back up to Tani. "That is true." She chuckled. "I am very happy to see them well. And starting to learn! What sort of inclinations have our young ones?"


Manda
Caradhras purred at that, and nuzzled back at his mother. Then, before his father could answer, he bounced a little. "I wanna be a warrior, like daddy!" he half-chirped, trying to make his small chest swell up a bit.

Tani laughed softly at that. "Yes ... indeed. Thank you for answering the question for me, brat," he murmured, ruffling Carad's short mane with a paw. "They're all like that... willing to do whatever is needed for the pride."


T`Poi
Ri nodded. "That's good." She grinned at her son. "You'll make a fine warrior, little one. You've got the blood for it, and a fine teacher in your father." Even though she was a manipulator and a recruiter...she was also a warrior herself, perfectly capable of taking out a lion twice her size. Tended to happen when many in your pride were larger than you.


Manda
Caradhras made a face and dropped to the ground, then rolled over to capture his father's paw with all four of his. Chewing on a toe for a moment, he wriggled out from under Tani's paw, then grinned up at his mother. "I know that! Dad's an awesome teacher~"

Tani's grin echoed his son's, glancing up at Ri once Carad let his paw go. "I'm glad you came to visit, Ri ... "


T`Poi
Ri's laughter died as she leaned against Tani. She was glad her family was flourishing, doing so well for themselves despite her absence. But...it did hurt a little too. Would Tani have this feeling when it was time for the next litter? "Carad...could you go play a little ways a way, please? I need to talk to your Dad about something." Other than Kas, he was the only one she could really talk to.


Manda
Caradhras nodded at that and bounded away - planning to go stalk another leaf. Or maybe even a bug!

Tani turned his head to nuzzle just slightly at Ri's cheek, then eyed her. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"


T`Poi
Ri's ears drooped a bit. "That boy I had as a guard...he left. Just...wasn't there one morning after I woke. I've been scrambling in my head to fix my plans but...they don't turn out quite the same. I needed someone in the pride, close to me, that wasn't a rival too." She sighed. "Once again, outside causes are foiling the things I've so carefully calculated!" It was FRUSTRATING. Infuriating.


Manda
Tani winced slightly at that. "Ah ... that really sucks," he offered. He wasn't all thaaaat great at the whole relationship-advice thing. But he could offer to listen to her. Licking one ear, he murmured, "I'm sure somethin' will come up and things will turn out okay..."


T`Poi
Ri nodded. "I can only hope." She frowned. "I don't want Father's throne to pass to someone who will hurt the pride...The only other one aside from myself I would trust with it would be Kas." And Kas had Hewa, even if she wouldn't admit it. "Tani...I trust you. So...thank you." The words were hard for her to say...but she felt they needed said.


Manda
Tani smiled at that, and nodded, purring softly. "You're welcome," he answered quietly. "At times, I've thought of ... switching over... But then, I'm needed here." He glanced around the jungle for a moment. "And I like the trees."


T`Poi
Ri blinked and chuckled. "You're good for this place. And you're one of the few I'd much rather see happy then tangled up in the webs forming in the pride. I'm not the only one scheming over there. Never have been, never will be. There are few demons who don't hide another face."


Manda
Tani made a face at that. "Yea, I figured. There's some of that over here... but I mostly try to keep clear of it." He shook his head slight. Really, he was content to be right where he was. With his cubs, and his pride... and Ri, when she could visit.


T`Poi
Ri nodded. "I think there will be tendrils of it wherever you go. But not so thick as to choke you." She leaned against Tani, enjoying this small bit of freedom from her own web. "Think we should call Carad back? Before he decides to try munching on something bigger than he can handle?"


Manda
Tani glanced over to where his son seemed to have located a stick-bug, and was stalking it. "Nah... he'll be fine," he murmured. "Besides, I wouldnt' mind a little more time alone with you..."


T`Poi
Ri chuckled. "Alright then." She smirked at Tani. "Am I that irresistible?" At this point, she was teasing him, letting loose the masks she wore just a little so she didn't vanish beneath them.


Manda
"Mmm... perhaps. We could go over there a little ways and find out," he suggested, purring. Better to be a biiiit farther away from young ears before getting into this more, after all.


T`Poi
The demoness purred back, a grin replacing the smirk. "Perhaps~ But you'll have to catch me first." Oh sure, he was larger...but she was more agile. Something she proved as she danced just out of reach, bells chiming.


Manda
Tani blinked... then laughed at that, and darted after her. Despite his larger size - he was still fairly quick. This... would be an interesting race, he was sure.