Blythe & Blake

Blythe missed her mother and had been debating on leaving the Makucha to join her but Blake on the other hand wanted to become a leader.Come on sis, lets make our own pride take control of what we like and don't like!he said as they leaped around on the ridges of the mountains.

Xhalia

The pair was being watched by a third feline nested in a rocky outcropping a short distance above them. Her pale tan fur, lightly dusted with even fainter rosettes, helped her toblend in perfectly with the late winter scenery of the mountains. Even at her hefty size, weighing just over five-hundred and sixty pounds, the liger hybrid was all but invisible to all but the most perceptive eye.

"More lions?" When the pair got closer, she offered that question, and shifted so that the could see her head peeking down from the rocks above. "Are you Haunter cats?" The calm manner in which she asked the question showed that she didn't particularly fear whether they were Haunters or not.

Blythe & Blake

It was Blythe who spotted the other first and snorted. "Whod want to be a haunter? Brother are you a haunter?" She asked

Blake hissed at his sister in response

Xhalia

Xhalia smiled lightly at the disdain she swore she'd picked up in the female's voice, which told her more than the she-cat's words did. "Fair question." Xhalia blue-grey eyes danced from Blythe to Blake, taking in the curious features that marked them as hybrids just like herself. Little did she knew that they also shared a common ancestor in Leope, but then the lion had quite the spread of genes through the Valley. "I'm no Haunter myself." She continued, feeling confident on her perch above them. "If I may be so bold, have a place to call home?"

Blythe & Blake

They watched her. "We do have a home yes'

Xhalia

"A nomadic pride?" Xhalia queried, her tones open and curious without seeming overly eager or too nonchalant. She shifted her giant paws and scooted a little closer to the edge of her perch, causing a few bits of loose lichen and moss to tumble from the rock. "I'm a loner at the moment, but a few acquaintances of mine are looking to start a band." Her smile returned and she chuckled, "Oh dear, I must apologize - the name's Xhalia. I should have introduced myself first."

Blythe and Blake

They watched her warily.Blyth and blake from the Makucha they said.

Xhalia

'Makucha, Makucha...' She ran the name through her head a few times, noting that it sounded vaguely familiar, but she had no real details about that group. Only that it was some cluster of felines that lived out in the open plains, a place where Xhalia rarely wandered. "I'm afraid I don't know much about that pride. It's out in the prairie, right? I tend to stick to the mountains here."

Blythe & Blake

Blythe nodded as they now sat down.

Blake tilted his head.Why the mountains?he asked.

Xhalia

"There's more coverage up here." She answered back, "More places to hide from humans, and to ambush prey." Curiosity continued to shine in her eyes as she watched the siblings, "What brings two prairie dwellers up here, anyway?"

Blythe & Blake

They tilted their heads. we were boredBlythe said.

Xhalia

Xhalia gave them a knowing chuckle, feeling the bite of boredom herself. "The Haunters live up this way, a bit more to the south of here. Bit of a rambunctious bunch, so take care to avoid them. To the north though, there's a grand temple that was once home of the Ancient Guardians. Rumor has it there's also two large caves somewhere in the area, but I've yet to find them."

Blythe and Blake

Blythe listened. haunters are really that bad?She asked.

Blake looked around.caves?

Xhalia

This was the first time Xhalia's smile wavered and disappeared. "They are. The blood of many is on their paws, though I do believe they've grown rather weak lately. Still, I'd advise not traveling near the heart of the Ruins." To Blake, she smiled once more and nodded, "Yes. One that travels through the heart of the mountain; rumors say it leads to the other side of the mountain, but who knows. The other one is said to be warm and colorful, but I've found neither."