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Mother had been acting rather odd lately. Fireheart couldn't put her paw on what it was exactly, but she had confronted her a few times about what it might be. Each time she had just been smiled at and told to go off and help some of the pride members with their daily activities. She had gotten to know quite a few of the pride members now, and more and more lions were smiling and having conversations with her rather than just passing her by. It was odd to have so many know her, but nice at the same time. Even if her work ethic was different from the majority of her fellow Kizi, she felt very 'at home' among her pride members.

She had no idea she was being conditioned. Well, perhaps conditioned was too strong of a word. Trained might be better. Her social skills had improved quite a bit over the past few weeks and, when her mother told her that the King wished to speak with her, she thought nothing of it. Before she had always been just a bit nervous to speak with him. He was the King, after all, and even though she had spoken with him many times before, seeking him out to simply talk was slightly odd to her. She spoke with him in times of tension between other prides, for things concerning the hunt, and in passing as they walked by each other. But this...this was different. Something about the whole situation made her legs shake as she moved to Riddle Mouth's den.

"Hello?" she called out, not sure if he was inside or not.

Fireheart stopped in her tracks as she heard Riddle Mouth from the depths of the cave. She finally spotted the light-colored lion as he moved forward and dipped her head in return.

"Thank you," she murmured quietly before moving in to the den. It was odd, being summoned here of all places. Usually when they talked about large hunts it was outdoors somewhere, not in the King's den. Perhaps this was for something completely different. Whatever it might be, Fireheart knew she'd do her best to please her King and work for her pride.

"What matters?" she asked as she sat down. She couldn't think of the last time she had seen Riddle Mouth anywhere near his den. He was usually out and about, patrolling the pride's land and making sure everything was running smoothly. Her mother, on the other hand, had to deal with the more emotional aspects of the pride. She had no idea how she could remember little details about all the members of the pride...it seemed like she had a special place in her heart for every single one of them.

Fireheart accepted the offer and moved a bit further in, sitting down once she reached the older lion's side. It was rather odd to her to be here alone with him, and for the smallest of moments worry took over. Had something happened to her mother? No...certainly not. She had just seen her the other day...

As Riddle Mouth spoke, though, her worry grew. Certainly she wasn't sick...right? And if she was, shouldn't he be speaking with her sister? She was the heir, after all. "Perhaps it has," she mused quietly, claws lightly scratching at the ground beneath her paws. She had been born before the Insanity had left them, but she had never found her muse. She had just been a cub when the goddess had left.

"Why is it you've called me here, then? Shouldn't my sister be here to talk about things of this nature?"

A frown crossed Fireheart's face as Riddle Mouth continued to speak. Her sister wasn't up for the task, either? It didn't take too long to realize why she was here, after that. She was next. The Queen needed to pick a female heir, and other than herself, her only other sister was far too spacey to take up the title. It didn't have to pass to someone of the Queen's bloodline, if she remembered correctly, but she the King had similar ideas about pushing the pride forward. She could see how she would be a good candidate.

It was just terrifying to think that she'd be, for lack of better words, in charge.

Riddle Mouth came out with it then, and she nodded just a bit. She was the one that had been selected. Or perhaps not selected...fit the job description might be a better way to put it. She was quiet for some time, turning the proposition over in her head.

"I'm not sure how the older lions and lionesses might react to that," she said finally. "The ones that still have their muses, or remember them. I was just a cub when Insanity left and never had a muse so...I can't relate to them as much as I'd like." Her mother, though, and sister and brothers and others she was close to had muses, and she dealt with them fairly well.

The male's words hit home. The Kizi had to move on. Living in the past would mean certain destruction now. If any of her siblings were to take over, they'd cling to that past and drag things down. Perhaps that was another reason her mother decided to pass the title on.

She lifted her head, sea foam eyes narrowed in determination. She could help lead the pride from their past into their future. Fireheart's demeanor was perfect for that and, even if she wasn't as personable as her mother, she could certainly try to be. She was warm deep down and did care for her pride, after all.

"No. The pride needs someone and I'm the one that best fits the requirements. I'll do it. But I'll need help." Her ears drooped a bit at the admission and her resolve faltered just a bit. "I don't know what is expected of me beyond the traditions. You know I'm a warrior, not a peace keeper, and that's what the Queen should be. What if there is war? Will I be expected to sit on the sidelines and watch?"

Riddle Mouth's words made Fireheart nod a bit. They were living up to their gypsy titles now rather than the insane lions they had been before. Drunk off their muses and unaware of the outside world, it was a wonder they hadn't been wiped out before she came into existence.

She nodded her head slowly as the older lion continued to speak, her worries slowly being eased. She was glad he was in charge. Their old traditions were nice, but at the same time she knew she'd never be able to fit the role the old ways required. If he didn't mind overlooking those ways then...what was to stop her from taking up the position?

"Ahead it shall be," she promised, lifting her head a bit higher. "I'll do whatever is best for the pride, and if that means becoming Queen, then that's what it means. I'm...honored that I was selected," she added after a moment, realizing a bit belatedly that out of all her siblings - and other lions in the pride, of course. The Queen didn't need to pick her own offspring, even though that was the tradition - she was the one that had been picked. "And I'm eager to help rebuild this place. With your guidance I feel like I'll learn the ropes quickly."

"I will take it as I see fit," Fireheart said confidently. "And if I join you in that villain status, so be it." She would do what she thought was best for the pride while not trying to be too overbearing. Sometimes her own thoughts and ideas weren't what the Kizi needed. They were fun and fancy-free, for the most part, so instructing more cubs to take up the roles of fighters wasn't something she'd do, even if she thought they were under trained in that area.

"Thank you," she added after a moment. "I'll do my best to keep this pride strong." Or rather, re-gain it's strength. She hoped she'd be as effective a leader as Riddle Mouth had been thus far, and as kind-hearted and well-liked as her mother.