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"We're not marching yet, Kosuke." Seide's voice was calm, collected. "We have no information yet." Aurinko's words rang true. It was dangerous to rush in.

When the second voice reached her ears, Seide wasted no time in turning slitted eyes to a different lion.

"Corporal Azar, you are out of line." The Legate's voice had turned cool, even, and authorative.

"Until our General makes an assessment, I am the superior to which you respond. If you find following orders from me hard, then I suggest you take them from Brigadier Azar."

There was a low growl in the back of her throat, a rare sound from the calm Legate. "Unless there are further complaints, I wish to hear Hraga's report."

Hraga watched as lions leapt to high alert all around him. His face fell. He didn't like disrupting his parent's meetings, and he certainly didn't like to be the bearer of bad news. Unfortunately, Tarsa had remained behind to manage the situation, leaving the task to him. "I don't mean to cause an uproar," he started. "There's been no attack. At least...I don't think so..."

She might have been his mother, but No gave out no special privileges. Anyone who interrupted a meeting had better speak, and quickly. "Out with it, Hraga," the black cat said. Her claws sunk into the sandy stone.

The young male bowed his head. "One of the guards was approached by a lone rogue out in the desert. At first he claimed to be the ambassador from the Bonelands tribe arriving for the meeting. The guard brought him to me," Hraga cleared his throat. "I, however, knew that the ambassador had already arrived earlier this month. He was not Machozi."

"When I told him this, the rogue said he was from the Nergui. He says he's been sent to negotiate the release of our prisoner, Miah. He wants to speak," the black lion said. Before too much of an uproar could emerge, he continued hastily: "Tarsa and Armada are with him. Another troop was sent out to patrol the area. From what we can tell, he's alone."

Admittedly, he had begun to forget about Miah. Their prisoner hadn't exactly been helpful, last Spaki had heard of him. The white male didn't think they'd get anything out of the strange looking lion, which meant his only real value was as a bargaining chip, if he proved important enough to the Nergui... and apparently he did. Very interesting.

"This is an excellent opportunity to have a formal talk with the Nergui." He said loudly, though Spaki had no doubts No and Kidondo, and their newly-appointed Spymaster, would be eager to talk to this lion and as such wouldn't need any convincing. What had they to lose in speaking with this guard without immediately threatening him with incarceration? They only had to gain here, more information and insight into the Nergui. All in all, Moto'Spaki thought this was good news.

Morag's eyes would not fail to catch Azulon. He didn't nod, but held the gaze for a few seconds before blinking and looking back at Hraga, so she knew he understood. He would be as effective as possible, whatever the outcome of this.

Once he heard what was actually going on, though, Azulon doubted he would be needed in that way. He anticipated that in this case Morag would probably go herself, since it wasn't a skirmish, and an actual negotiation with one of the Nergui. He stayed on alert just in case, paying attention to these proceedings so he would know at a moment's notice where he would be most helpful.

"Agreed," Aquila spoke after Spaki. "We should be able to gain some valuable information of our shadowy foes." She was unsure she would be able to be involved. Still, something in the back of her head told her that extreme caution was needed as they proceeded. A feeling of danger surrounded the simple idea of a Nergui to her. They had clearly done well in carving a name for themselves into the savannah, they couldn't be underestimated. Did that mean that they should shy away, herself included? Of course not. No, that wasn't an option at all. The stranger would need to be dealt with, and passing up the opportunity would be beyond foolish. It seemed strange, though, for him to come here with a weak cover in mind, then admit his "true purpose" so easily. The Nergui have to know by now that the Firekin and the Bonelands were an alliance.

Azar snapped quickly to what seemed like an uproar going on near her. She was okay with the others voicing what they thought but always she hated when it turned into any kind of bickering. It frustrated her and made her feel like she was listening to her cubs back at home. Her tail twitched behind her as she turned toward them. "Azar, Kosuke and Shula." She snapped staring at them, before speaking. "You guys need to calm down, my cubs behave better than this. It's okay to speak your mind but enough of the bickering." She stared for another moment before then turning toward the Siede and nodding.

Her attention then moved back to Hraga, were there really impostors about? This all just seemed to fishy that was for sure. She stood and then toward to her mother and father. "Shall I go back with Hraga?" She asked curiously wondering what was going to happen next, she wasn't that sure about the situation at all. Her ears flipped forward she was excited to get moving, she ddn't want to hang back for this one at all. At that moment she turned her attention toward her neice. "I'm not sure yet."


EDIT: It's not too late so I added some for split.

Huozin was unsurprised by the amount of fidgeting and number of calls for action thus far. His people had a strong predisposition towards action, instead of talking or even negotiation. So any convocation such as this was likely to entertain no few demands for immediate action.

But he was completely taken by surprise when Hraga brought up the fact that they did indeed have a Nergui prisoner. A prisoner...who wanted to speeak to them? Given what they already knew of the enemy, the white lion immediately mistrusted anything this "envoy" might say. Hadn't the sentinels already reported that the Nergui were trying to gain allies? Why else would one of their lions even want to be in Firekin lands?

Interrogation had its place, but that wasn't here in the middle of this meeting. But lions had already gone to retrieve the prisoner, and he knew they wouldn't take kindly to the notion of a wasted trip.

No ground her teeth. It was bad enough having a situation like this alone, but in front of the pride, it would be difficult to contain. Thanks to the summit everyone was on high alert, and now here they had a nergui willing to participate. Her lips curled. On the grounds that they release their prisoner? So much for the nergui not caring about their fellows.

To be honest, it was tempting just to unleash the mob at him and be done with it. Unfortunately, ruling with emotion was foolish. "Well, how polite of them to send an ambassador to our meeting," she drawled, her voice just pushing a growl. It seemed their enemies had their ears to the ground, if they were able to deduce the reason why the sentinels had withdrawn back to the Motoujamii. No didn't like that.

She nodded her head at Morag, and the others barking to go. "We're all gathered here. Why don't you go and collect our lost ambassador and bring him here."

Elcca fell in beside the others, but shuffled her feet with uncertainty. "Its highly unlikely this lion is just here to talk. He may be alone, but he has a plan."

Kero drew a sharp breath, mentally connecting a few threads of thought. What if... oh dear. Should she say something? She hadn't come prepared to raise her voice at all, and wasn't even sure if anyone would pay her heed. Still, she needed to try, in case noone else thought of it. She gritted her jaw and moved forward, toward the front of the crowd. Pausing just behind the front row of lions, she took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

"Perhaps we should be wary of this Nergui," she said as clearly as she could. "We know they sought the disease pride for a reason. They could have found an equal weapon from another source." She hesitated from pointing out that a lone ambassador would be plenty enough to infect them with some ailment that spread quickly. No, she'd let their leaders draw such conclusions. The very concept had her shuddering her hide, though. If such a thing was let loose in them, it wouldn't matter how strong a warrior was, nor what their prowess achieved... nor would it spare the young ones who even now scampered about their midst. The very idea was horrendous.