Horizon had many duties as broodmother. She cared for the cubs, she made sure they were safe, she helped them find homes and she took them out on excursions, and set them up with mentors. She loved each and every one of these duties, and each and every one of the cubs. But there was one thing she didn't love to do, and that was what she had to do today. This morning she had watched the mothers say tearful goodbyes to their cubs, who clung to their muzzles and asked over and over again why they had to go. And then Horizon herded them away from their mothers, trying not to look at their faces, and they began the journey to the bustling crossroads, keeping them close so they wouldn't be trampled or stolen. They were so small among the mass of lions of all shapes and sizes. Snakes slithered about, advertising their wares and services. Gorillas with arms full of cubs haggled with slick-maned kings. Couples gathered around the glowing scrying stone, peering into it and remarking excitedly or muttering in disappointment. Horizon had been here plenty of times, but it still overwhelmed her, and she was certain it overwhelmed the poor nameless cubs. She kept her eyes on the towering branches of the huge tree which she was headed towards. As they got closer, she saw disappointed kings picking up small feathers, and nothing else under the tree, which wasn't uncommon. "You'll be safe here," she told the cubs, though she couldn't really know that was true. She wished she could have had time to find them good homes and be sure they really would be safe.

Monkey came chittering down from the branches, smiling in a primate-like way at the little cubs. "We'll find you homes, little ones," he said to them, his eyes sparkling benevolently. One of the kings, thinking Monkey wasn't looking, tried to pick up two feathers. Monkey turned swiftly and gave him a mighty slap which sent him sprawling. "Take one," he said, holding up one finger. Horizon couldn't help laughing at the king, who slunk away with growls and mutters. Then she turned to the cubs. "Be good, okay?" she said. "Remember to stand up for yourselves. And remember to be king, too. You'll have good homes."

She couldn't remember a time when they hadn't sent their cubs to the tree, but she imagined there must be prides that didn't. It simply wasn't safe for them to stay in this pride any longer, not with everything shifting the way it was. The lionesses were tough. They could handle it. But the cubs had no idea what was coming, and what conflict they would soon be embroiled in. It was better for them not to be there. Horizon wanted to have hope that things wouldn't get worse, but she could already see the seams starting to rip apart. Monarch had never been cruel, not when she was a young lioness. Only . . . lost. But he had started to act differently, and like Monarch always did, he wouldn't tell them why anything was happening. Lionesses said he had gone off to speak to a great black creature which was connected to the strange occurrences they had been witnessing. They said he had something to do with it, but when they asked him he said nothing was happening. It was better that the young ones stay safe until they knew for sure.

Horizon made her weary way back through the crossroads, seeming small amongst splendid rainbow lions, primordial beasts, and winged half-gods. She stopped to look at jewelry one vendor was selling, and another with fighting beetles. She wasn't terribly eager to get back to her pride, though she wasn't sure why. It wasn't as if she didn't like the lions there, and she had other cubs to look after - she had left Blushing Bride in charge, and she usually scared the kids more than anything. But being a mother as a job, as rewarding as it was, really did wear her out sometimes, and she deserved a little break. She thought she would browse a bit, though she was well aware she didn't have permission to buy anything. Maybe she would head over to the games area and try to have some fun. It had been so long since she'd had time to herself, she couldn't think of what she'd like to do.

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A flash of alabaster white pelt caught her eye in the crowd of unknown lions. Sure enough, she saw Bastet, the lioness she met in the hills where she was tasked to help Sweet Pea find a new home. It was a little strange that they were meeting right now, after days of chattering up a storm on that hill. It felt unnatural somehow, but it was a welcomed sight nonetheless.

However, unlike those times Bastet seemed more nervous. She was constantly looking around, clearly trying to sneak away from something or someone. Her ears lay flat against her head, and she didn't seem to notice Horizon in the crowd, much more focused on being stealthy.

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Horizon watched Bastet curiously, unsure whether she should go and greet her or not. It seemed like something might be wrong, but in that case, perhaps Horizon would be able to do something to help her. She wove through the crowd, accidentally trodding upon a very thin lioness's paw and pausing to apologize. She was, to be frank, glad to see a familiar face in a crowd of lions she had never met, and if she could help Bastet with whatever was wrong, perhaps she would cheer up and be willing to spend some time with Horizon. Horizon had seen plenty of lions getting nervous in the last year. It must have been the omens, and the terrible stench of death and doom in the air. But it seemed like something more with Bastet. Like she was trying to get away from something.

Horizon was already second-guessing her decision to go to Bastet, but she was practically there now. She began to slink, trying to be more quite, and caught Bastet's attention, flicking her tail. "Bastet," she half-whispered. "Are you alright?" She glanced behind Bastet to see if something was following, but the mass of lions made it impossible to see anything. "Is something wrong?" Horizon didn't know enough about Bastet to know what kind of king she had, but she had seen other lionesses forced by overprotective or tyrannical kings to sneak away from their camps if they wanted to go out once in a while. Perhaps that was what was happening here.

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The alabaster lioness nearly jumped out of her skin at Horizon's approach. She quickly turned her head towards the lioness, not taking long to recognize her.

"Horizon? What are you doing here?" She asked in an almost inaudible whisper. "Everything's ok, really. I'm just trying to get a moment away from-"

"Bastet, who are you speaking with?" A deep, slightly croaked voice interrupted her, which belonged to another, much older lioness now standing behind her.

The lioness was a piebald as well and was slightly bigger than both Horizon and Bastet. Her grey pelt and royal-like adornments made her look regal and almost authoritarian in posture, her head held high as she stared down both younger lionesses with her judging blue eyes.

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Horizon drew back as Bastet jumped, feeling very sorry for having startled the lioness. "Sorry," she said in a low. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." She kept looking around, nervous about whatever it was Bastet was trying to get away from. "I was just taking some cubs to the giving tree. It's okay, I can leave." She was prepared to do so, but at that moment Bastet was interrupted by a stately-looking grey lioness, apparently the source of Bastet's vexation.

Horizon Red gave her an apprehensive look, but as she addressed Bastet, Horizon figured she might be the lioness's mother or broodmother - thus the attempt to sneak away. Some mothers were the same no matter how old you were. No matter who she was, she was far less threatening than Horizon had expected, and the pink-pelted lioness relaxed, laughing to herself in her mind. She was getting so paranoid lately. Understandably, perhaps, but here in the crossroads she should have known nothing horrible and beastly could have gotten through unnoticed.

"Hello, Ma'am," said Horizon, figuring she should introduce herself. "I'm Horizon Red of the Ikogosi Pride. Me and Bastet have met a few times, I was just saying hello." Unsure whether Bastet would prefer she engage or leave her and the lioness alone, she decided to be polite and ask, "And you name is?" She certainly looked important, whoever she was. Not just in her adornments and posture, but also in the way she looked down at the two younger lionesses, the sort of judgmental gaze that often belonged to the upper class of prides.

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The older lionesses raised her brow slightly at Horizon's introduction. Bastet's ears flattened against her head as she lowered her gaze.

"I see" The grey lioness spoke slowly "I'm Isis, the Maiden of The Peaceful Spring." She announced, as though expecting Horizon to know what that position actually meant. "So, that's where you've been sneaking off to, isn't it?" The tone of her voice became harsher as she addressed her next words to the alabaster piebald.

"I didn't mean to!" Bastet tried to speak up in her defense "Not the first time, at least. I was drawn there. Something didn't feel... right to me."

"What do you mean something didn't feel right?" Isis's tone changed slightly, becoming less hostile and more protective. She turned to Horizon Red, her eyes filled with worry, which was a complete 180 from the attitude she had previously toward the red piebald.

"Do you know what she's talking about?" She asked Horizon, all the pretence of authority momentarily stripped from her expression.

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Horizon was feeling worse and worse for having gotten Bastet into this situation. She had never had much trouble with her family like this - if she was her family - but she had been treated like a cub by older pridemates before and she knew it didn't feel good. She was also slightly nervous as the lioness introduced herself with a position that, while it didn't make much sense to her, sounded highly important. "The Maiden of the Peaceful Spring" could mean quite a few things, so she simply nodded politely. When Isis's attention was turned to Bastet, though, Horizon could practically feel the judgement radiating off of her. She wished she could do something about it, but she just stood there awkwardly.

When Bastet mentioned being drawn to their territory, Horizon Red tilted her ears curiously. She had heard some pride lionesses claim to have been drawn there to make a home, but what Bastet was saying was something different. Horizon felt a sudden chill. Exactly how much did Bastet know? As Isis turned to her, her demeanor completely changed, Horizon quickly wiped the concerned look off of her face. It really wasn't her place to be telling lions she didn't know well about her pride's current weakness. She simply smiled and said, "Oh, it's all over, you know - the omens, the strange happenings. We're not unique, I think. Whatever's happening is happening everywhere."

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Isis's stare shifted slightly toward Bastet again, worried yet unfocused, as if lost in thought. Bastet seemed to get a little confused at this. It would seem she wasn't aware of what was going on either.

After a while, the older lioness turned her attention back to Horizon.

"I would like to ask you to please come with us to the camp of our pride." She said, startling both Horizon and Bastet with the unexpected request.

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Horizon was certainly surprised to have Isis invite her to her pride's camp, and her immediately reaction was to say no, for a great many reasons. After all, she did have to get back to her own camp - then again, she had told Blushing Bride she might be out all day. What about her relaxation time? Well, this definitely seemed more important, and she hadn't been sure what she was going to do anyway. She wasn't so sure it was safe to follow these two into unknown territory. What was their king like?

But she couldn't think of a good enough excuse to say no, and to be honest, she was curious. "If - well, if it's alright with your king or queen," she got out. "I wouldn't want to intrude." Of course, this was just silly politeness, because they had invited her and she was quite certain now she was going. "Is it far from here?" she asked.

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"Good. It isn't far." Isis said, nodding her head, before turning around and almost disappearing into the crowd. Fortunately, Bastet and Horizon managed to keep up with her, and soon they found themselves moving further and further away from the Crossroads, and into the thick jungle ahead.

None of the lions spoke during their journey, and after what felt like hours, they found themselves outside the rainforest, on a small clearing near a river. The water in it was crystal clear, to the point where the bottom of the stream could be seen. That was where they made their stop.

"It wouldn't be wise to go any further. I don't want to take any risks." Isis spoke, more to herself than to the two other lions accompanying her. "Bastet, go inform Alnair and Chara about our arrival. I'll stay here with our quest."

The alabaster lioness took a glance at Horizon and smiled. It would seem she didn't want to argue with the older pride mate, as she quickly made her way across the river and disappeared into the bushes beyond it. Meanwhile Isis settled herself on the lush grass, instructing Horizon to do the same.

"Tell me more about these... omens and strange occurrences that your pride has encountered." She said after both lionesses were sat on the ground.

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Horizon quickly followed after Isis, glancing back at the crossroads and peering into the distance, in the general direction of her pride. The jungle grew thicker, though, and soon there were fewer and fewer lions, and then none at all. There was nothing but thick underbrush and gnarled trees, and Horizon struggled to keep up, not used to such difficult terrain.

Finally they came upon a small clearing next to a beautiful clear river. Isis told them to wait, and said she didn't want to take any risks. That made Horizon rather nervous. What did that mean, risks? If they were allowed to bring her here, what could the risk be? Bastet was told to go tell other lionesses of their arrival, though, and Horizon was referred to as their quest. This didn't innately offend her, but rather made her vey curious what she meant to them. She gave Isis a side look and sat down next to Isis. Bastet gave her a smile and she returned it.

As Bastet left, Isis settled in the grass. and Horizon Red followed suit. She paused to think about it as Isis asked her about some of the omens they had seen. She tried to sort in her mind very quickly what was alright to tell and what wasn't. "Well . . . we've seen some of the same things other lions are talking about. Bad omens, omens of death and doom. Skulls, sinister animals, blood raining from the sky. We've noticed . . . some of our lions acting a bit strangely. And prey is becoming more scarce, our flowers are dying. Mostly just - mostly just little things." She watched Isis warily, waiting to see how she would react.

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(Btw, I mispelled the word quest. It should be guest. Sorry for that and the fact I haven't written much today )

The grey lioness listened to her every word. She stayed silent for a long while after Horizon had finished.

"Be honest" She finally spoke up. "Is there something you are hiding from me? Or let me put it this way, are there things you are sure you don't know about regarding your pride's current situation?" She asked, her stare burning into Horizon.

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(I was wondering about the odd wording :) Haha, that makes way more sense.)

Horizon shifted uncomfortably as she waited for Isis to respond to what she had said. The lioness's pure blue eyes bore into her, and the silence stretched on for just a little too long. Finally the older lioness spoke up, and she seemed to know immediately that Horizon had been lying to her - or, at least, not telling the entire truth. Horizon was disappointed in herself, but not too surprised. She had never been any good at lying, and she was sure she had a guilty look on her face. She paused as well, giving it great thought. Did she dare tell Isis everything she knew?

"All I can stay," she started carefully, "is that there's more happening than just the omens, and as far as I can tell it hasn't been happening to other prides. But you have to understand that we were never the most stable pride, and none of us know our king well enough to know if anything's wrong with him. I don't know how much I'm allowed to tell you - I suppose Sweet William would be the one who decides what I can and can't say. He's like our crownless king. But why are you so curious about us? Is there something you know?"

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"So, there is something with your king than..." Isis said, her tone cautious. Her stare became harder for Horizon to bear with every second. It was right at that moment that both of them heard rustling coming from the bushes near the river.

Soon a large grey primal with a dark mane emerged from them and stood before the lionesses. He looked odd, to put it mildly. He had ram horns sprouting from his head, and his worried eyes were purplish pink in color and reminded Horizon of faraway galaxies. Right after him, there was another primal, this time much smaller in stature. Her reddish fur nicely contrasted with her blue eyes, while her posture imposed an air of authority, something that the larger primal lacked at that moment.
There were two more lions present. One of them was Bastet, while the other one was an Ivory lioness, with a crown of leaves placed on her head. A few birds of different kinds sat perched up on her back, and a few smaller animals scattered from behind her, some of them climbing onto her tail or legs. Her eyes were yellow, with slits for irises, and were rather hard to read.

"Hello, and welcome to The Peaceful Spring" Said the large primal "I'm Alnair, the King of this pride. What may your name be?" He sat down on the grass right next to her, keeping some distance between them so as not to make her uncomfortable. His tone was soft despite his large size. He genuinely seemed more like a teddy bear than a huge primal lion. A bit like Boffo was, back in the days before Monarch became king.

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Horizon gave a fraction of a nod in response to Isis, but she was saved the trouble of thinking of an actual response by the arrival of several other lions. Horizon gratefully snapped her gaze away from the older lioness and onto the newly-arrived entourage. Though their appearances were almost regal, it was nothing that Horizon hadn't seen in her own pride. She was almost glad it was her who had run into Bastet today, because if by some unlikely chance another lioness from her pride had journeyed here, in all likelihood she wouldn't have the decency to remain humble. As it was, Horizon dipped her head to the primal, who she assumed must be in charge by the way he stood in front of the others.

Looking into his eyes, she felt as though she could see far-away galaxies. She looked for just a moment too long, caught up in the spirals and star-like shapes, before clearing her throat awkwardly and looking away. He was intimidating, certainly, towering over her with two twisted horns. Though she had seen her fair share of primal beasts roaming the crossroads and trades, she had never spoken to one before now. The others were in the corners of her vision, but until they spoke they wouldn't hold much of her attention.

"Thank you," she said in reply to Alnair's welcome. She smiled so the corners of her eyes crinkled up. "I'm honored to be here, though if I may be frank I'm not entirely sure why I'm here. I am Horizon Red of the Ikogosi Pride. I'm . . . just the broodmother," she ended, , giving the king a sweep of her tail to indicate deference. She might not be any kind of royal now, but she was daughter of a queen, after all, and she was raised with manners.

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