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The cubs were, thank the Great Lion, asleep. For now. And Orion's duties had not yet begun for the night, so Halili was taking advantage of a rare opportunity to spend some time out in the open air by herself.

It seemed she wasn't the only one with such inclinations tonight, given the familiarly colored form not too far off. There was still enough light that she could be certain of what the colors actually were, but how could she fail to recognize her own cousin? Especially when she'd tagged along after said cousins so much as a cub, they weren't too dissimilar in ages, and they were all born to the same class. The low class. Which created all sorts of interesting conflicts that had only grown more so with time.

"Good evening Manyara," Halili called out, shaking off the melancholy thoughts.

The younger lioness laughed. "Time away from cubs, what else?" she replied. It was common knowledge that she and Orion had a new litter - with, amazingly enough, a boy - that they of course loved but also needed a wee bit of time away from here and there.

She didn't remember needing so many breathers while raising her first litter...but then again, maybe that was why things had turned out the way they had. Spiralia had left the pride entirely in disgust, and while Halili hadn't seen Nyeusi in a while, she was starting to hear things about dark daughter.

"What about you?" She was genuinely interested, if only because this was one of her few cousins. Orion might be related to a quarter of the pride, but Halili only had a few true cousins, as only one of her parents had a sibling, and he, only the one.

Of course, Halili hadn't spoken with Uchanjaa in many months. His choice.

"That's fair," Halili acknowledged. She'd been fairly young when she and Orion married, and yes, he was much older than her and Manyara as well. But she'd been fairly happy with her life.

Until about a year ago. It seemed that everything in the whole pride had gone downhill then. But none of this was answering her cousin's question.

"They were born in the middle class," she answered. "And I know Orion and I would love for you to visit when you have time." But the smile she gave the darker lioness faded as she considered what else Manyara had said.

"You're...right," Halili agreed quietly. "I haven't spoken to my father since, well, you know." Everyone knew how Uchanjaa had stood up against Shangyue...and how Halili had stood up between the two, stopping her father.

Halili nodded her acceptance of her cousin's congratulations and promise. They were kind thoughts, but she was distracted by the other topic Manyara had brought up.

"I know what you mean...but at the same time, more is right with the pride than it has been in our lifetime," she replied. "You know what it was like, being a Slave before Shangyue. Would you really want to go back to that, having people's eyes pass over you like you were nobody?"

It was why she'd been offered the position of Royal Guard. It wasn't why she'd refused the advancement, however. And even that had been a nearly useless gesture, as Orion now...held...that particular rank.

Pale eyes narrowed. Halili didn't really want to argue with her kin - especially not family who was willing to talk to her! - but she wasn't going to just stand calmly and accept what Manyara said.

"Things may not be perfect right now, and I'll be the first to admit it, but even a bit of fear is better than just treating you like landscape, as if they're entitled to enjoy the fruits of your labor without even a thought for you yourself!" she returned hotly. "Maybe it's good that they fear us, because it sure didn't seem like they noticed us before...unless if they were directly related. And not widespread cousins like most of the pride either," Halili added darkly.

Halili gazed at her cousin as if the rusty lioness was a stranger. Her voice was cool when she finally deigned to respond. "I am happy with what I have. Of course I can wish for better, but I refuse to overlook the happiness the Great Lion has granted to me." The pious words fell off her tongue easily, but there was no indication in her voice whether she meant them literally or sarcastically.

"The fear will always be there, thanks to Shangyue," the pale lioness continued softly, each word harshly cut as if she was severing their ends from her mouth. "It may not be the best of worlds, but it's the one we have."

"And you know, as well as I, that there have been no more deaths since he took the throne," Halili added in a tone that said quite clearly "and that is that." Sure, she had her own personal issues with Shangyue. Most of those being about his assumption of her loyalty, but again, that was just between her and the King. But things were still better now than they had been for the entire Low class and she wasn't about to lose that.

"No, we'll be fine tonight," Halili answered the last question. She didn't agree with what Manyara said outside of the innocent family topics, but there was no sense in antagonizing her cousin and have yet another family member stop talking to her. And it really did seem to be her problem, and not Orion's. Which said something about the pale lioness as she turned away from Manyara with another nod.

There had been a time when her whole life had been full of wide-eyed happiness as she went around fulfilling her duties to the pride, proud to be a member of the Low class. What had happened to that lioness?

Time, came the answer, unbidden. Halili sighed as she headed back to her den, her mate, and her cubs.