[PRP] Prideful Return [Ciro x Ledz]

[KasaiLoki]

Alpaca Chobi

It was purely coincidence Ciro had found himself near the dusty portion of the pride. Maybe the rain didn't reach here as much as it did other sections. The lion was on his way home from Njia's and the cubs. Already they were growing into their own independent personalities. Soon, Ciro would find himself with adolescence. The thought of that only caused stress to the Captain. He may not be the best father in the world, but that sure didn't mean he did not care for his children. Any having ten of them in one den....It was just a lot to take in.

The dark male walked through the land, but his sight stopped on the light colored female also on the scene. He hadn't seen her in a few weeks, attributing that fact to her recent viking she had mentioned. So, either she never went, or she was back. She glanced at her form - not many scuff marks on that beautiful pelt either.

Maybe it was an easier Viking mission?

His ears flickered as he slowly stalked up to the female who had what look to be determination on her face, but also something else hidden beneath it? What was that?

"Welcome home Gołoledź." Ciro said from behind the female, purposely using her full name instead of the nickname, a smirk always evident on his maw.  

[KasaiLoki]

Alpaca Chobi

Ciro didn’t let her calling him by his shorten name bother her. In fact, he enjoyed that name more than his given name. Even when meeting strangers, mostly male, he would introduce himself with another name. Those lions never deserved his true identity.

His ears perked at her comment at looking for him. If his smirk could widen on his lips, it probably did.

“Oh, were you now?” He purred out. “I must agree, our last meeting didn’t go quite as long as I personally wanted it too,” if Ciro made the decision that day, he would have tried to spend a longer evening with the Kirin. But what better time than the present?

“You know, I am heading that way now. The children have been put down for their nap,” the concept was foreign to him, but it was insistent kids needed rest, “so I can’t take you to see them. But my den is not too far. Perhaps as we walk, you can tell me about your Viking?” Here, Ciro would find out what type of lioness Ledz was.

“Tell me, Ledz, are your parents of this pride too?” For all the lion knew, she could have joined previously and learned her skills as an adult. He needed to know who he was working with.  

[KasaiLoki]

Alpaca Chobi

As they walked, the lion listened to the female's words of the trip. By the sounds of it, appears the group was successful. Not every viking had to be about strength as the lioness had almost insinuated their first meeting. Teamwork was a necessary skill amongst the groups. You had to be able to trust another to an extent in the Stormborn realm. There were always those...let's call them one-offs, where it was better to trust yourself than your band, but those appeared to be few and far in between.

"I bet that lion will think twice about travelling alone then, huh?" He chuckled by the end of her story.

Ciro noted her vagueness. He didn't push. Maybe her parents were thralls, and she did not want to express that side of her lineage. He could understand that. She really did not look like another lion he had met in the pride yet, so he was safe for now, he figured.

"Oh, me? Hmm." He pondered his viking missions. Some lasted a few days, others took months. "Probably my most fondest memory would be working with Astrus and Kristanf to find their mother who had wandered off. How a thrall managed to get past the borders undetected I will never know. But, it led to an interesting adventure in me actually finding out about a former pride where lions bonded with birds, me actually finding my own falcon companion" Where was she anyways? "And just really in the end, a few months later, becoming success at the mission, even though it took longer than what we would have originally expected it to."

He approached the familiar path, his den was amongst a few others just down the path.

"Ah, nearly there." He stated as he approached the entrance. He did miss Ruka. She at least kept the den in a clean condition. It wasn't terribly dirty in there, just more pelts thrown around. Gwen's nest up in the corner was clean, a clear sign she was gone for a while.

"This is my home, you may stop by any time." He grinned, extending a paw out so she could enter if she chose.  

[KasaiLoki]

Alpaca Chobi

Ciro never minded other families taking thralls in. However, he disliked the idea completely. That was why he eventually decided to let Ruka go. He wasn’t happy, she wasn’t either. Being a Captain under no other order but the War Lord’s herself, Ciro did not need to listen to anyone but her. It was how he finally came to the decision he did.

“Astrid is a funny creature.” It was all he said in the matter.

Her saying the two thralls just cemented the idea of her parents being such. “I don’t think Njia would appreciate a thrall completely raising children. She’s a bit too proud I think.” Ciro would much rather a reaver take care of his children anyways. But once again, that was his personal preference.

When the lioness didn’t hesitate to enter his den, the male’s grin from behind grew. Did he always take advantage of other’s naivety, not always. But this opportunity was too easy to even attempt to pass up.

“So, what is it that you want in your life Ledz?” It was a deep question asked to the youngest lioness. He purred as he approached he female. His shoulder lightly rubbed up against hers, the first initial contact the male had made on the female.  

[KasaiLoki]

Alpaca Chobi

Ciro nodded approvingly at her statement involving thralls raising cubs.

He, however, hummed at the cookie cutter answer about being a strong reaver. He pushed passed her, idly smoothing one of the pelts on the ground before turning back towards her. “Just to be a strong Reaver? Nothing more?” His golden gaze intensified as he stared at her, motioning her to approach him.

“I see great potential in you,” his voice was just above a whisper. He found his paw snaking it’s way through the air, resting on her cheek. “I think we just need to unlock it.” He dropped his paw, watching her intently. “I want to help you do that.” He saw himself a great Captain, not a reaver. “Will you allow me to do that?”

His shoulders shrugged forward. While normally a very patient lion out in the field, they were on his turf now. He held the rules to his game, and put pawns where he needed them. “Decide quickly.” He advised. “First sign of a true Reaver is the ability to make decisions fast.”