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Kero had followed the crowd at a distance, not caring to be embroiled in the middle of the crowd facing this supposed Ambassador. Plain and simple, she didn't trust him. Granted, she didn't trust anyone, really. Trust was a painful thing to give, even more painful to have betrayed. Thus far the Firekin had been predictable and reliable in what she needed from them, and while she wasn't exactly proud to be one of them, she was accepting and fulfilled by being Firekin.

So when the voice rang out in question, her answer was immediate and heartless. "No, I do not trust them." It was not the first she'd spoken out, and her first words had not been heeded, but she spoke loudly this time, while she had stayed quiet the first time. "They have not earned the right to speak amongst us." The only words she cared to hear was that they were submitting themselves to justice for their crimes, and would become slaves to those they'd wronged. Her tail lashed behind her in agitation, her face stony. This was war, not politics, and should be treated as such!

Aquila was excited for the strange dark lion to come here- she'd love to get a good look at his face, if she got the opportunity to do nothing else. "Letting him come here and run his tongue can't be any harm. I agree, though, letting him go too could be quite unwise. Who knows, he might slip up and tell us something new." Aquila liked the Regent's attitude towards the situation. However unlikely it was for him to give information that was new. "It seems to me like we have enough warriors here to keep him in check if he decides to pull some sort of foolish stunt. Unless they can appear out of nowhere, I don't think we have anything immediate to fear from him." She also felt that, should he say something infuriating, he'd be cut off from speaking by roars from pridemembers- an annoyance for him and a pleasure for her, at least.

They certainly didn't owe it to him to let him talk, after all, and if it went South, well... His speech could easily be cut off.

Huozin looked around as the pride gave voice to their opinions. He could see merit in what had already been said...but the white lion disagreed on one fundamental point. Couldn't they see it?

"I vote we listen to what he has to say...but we should not take him prisoner," he said aloud. "That would make us no better than the Nergui, and do we really want ourselves to be seen on their level?"

The Nergui had shown themselves to be a wretched group, capable of great cruelty and little honor. Why should the Firekin degrade themselves similarly?

Morag lifted her head high as she jumped down from the rock. Apparently, she'd been speaking too loud if her father had heard what had only been meant for the Regents. Nothing to do about that now.

"I say let him speak. We are a fair people. We don't need to provoke hostility, but we don't back down from it either. If your hearts are so weak that meer words can turn them, then better we know it now and bring it into the open." She raised her voice loud enough for the pride to hear her. "All information, good or bad, is worth having. And if that information brings us to a peaceful conclusion, then it is all the more precious. The decision, in the end, is yours."

Her job was not to lead the pride, but to protect it... to find the danger lurking in the shadows and the twisted paths of manipulation... offering her opinion now was all she would allow herself, this time. Morag glanced at the Nergui, wondering what his reaction would be. Perhaps now was the time to make a stealthy exit, there was certain information she wished to obtain.

No frowned, debating the even split the pride seemed to be under. She could understand the rage, but she was also intensely curious as to what this fool had to say. Impersonating one of their ambassadors, coming alone onto enemy territory... nergui or not, that wasn't something for the faint of heart. Even more balls to think he could just saunter in and give his speech.

"I appreciate the hesitation," No rumbled. "But I have to agree. Any information is good information...although I caution taking him at his word so easily. As for whether or not we let him go..."

That was not something she was too keen on. But perhaps it would be best to leave that to the wills of the pride. After they heard what he had to say. "Bring in this ambassador. He's come a long way, hasn't he?" There may have been just the hint of fangs in her smile.

There was a pause as the crowd relayed the information. Then, the small group of guards split the crowd. Hraga at front, and Tarsa bringing up the rear. Sandwiched in between was the ambassador, who seemed about as pleased as the cat who ate the canary.

Elcca followed on the outskirts, giving the black lion a wide berth. Her face still like she'd seen a ghost.

"We've decided to let you speak, Ambassador," No crooned.

Tarak gave a sidelong glance to Morag, but seemed otherwise unphased. He made a move to climb up one of the stone 'pedestals', but was quickly hurried off by the guards.

If he wanted to speak, he'd have to do so from the ground level. "Such a lovely home, you all have here. I think if it were not for this desert, our first meeting would have gone... much differently."

Khindel agreed with Morag - surely the Firekin were stronger than to let words sway them and put down roots of doubt. And better they learn now who among them was that weak before any of the real battle bagan....

But then a little form, too young to yet be out and about, caught his eye, and he lept down from beside Azar, expression serious. Dead serious.

"Mate'moto, why are you away from the sitter?" Daddy was angry, "You are too young to be out alone."

He was going to have to give the sitter a talking to that they wouldn't soon forget - letting NEWBORN cubs out of sight when their eyes had but just opened. Especially with a Nergui in their midst that could so easily break away and kill her in seconds...

It scared Khindel, and infuriated him. If the sitter was lucky he'd have his anger reeled in before he confronted them. If not, the way he was feeling now, they would very well be blood. He had already lost one child. He would not lose another. And he wouldn't see Azar go through that heartache again.

Mwale'kono kept rocking tentatively on his paws, his muscles flexing. He may never gain full sight in his eye after the episode with the Greenwood monster, but this ensured that his other senses were peaked. What did the desert have to do anything? Would an intruding army have survived better in a lush land? Probably. The desert was their home, and they could thrive here. It was an advantage.

This stranger wasn't letting on much information though, and Mwale'Kono was losing his patience. No had only just granted him permission to speak, but yet he seemed to toy with the idea of releasing information. Maybe they should have just attacked. As Tarak made to move onto one of the pedestals, he let out a low growl.

"I appreciate being given the chance to speak with you all," Tarak continued. There was little tension on his face, something that was far from what one would consider 'normal'. In fact, if it was not for his easy manner of speaking and general pleasantness, one might suppose he was cut from the same cloth as Miah.

"I came before you today to say this: As we speak, our horde moves further south. If it has not come up in your fact finding missions, I shall explain our structure," his paw moved to the side, as if to indicate more than just his shadow. "We are a large group, but we do not travel together. The conflict in the Motoujamii is not the only conflict we face. We have many lands and many prides."

"Yet, despite numerous holdouts we could pursue, Graos Oma has chosen this land as his next personal project. There is a convergence here. Not just in this desert, but the other lands south of us. Of this, all his kaars agree," he said. Despite the reverence in his voice, there was something else too. Almost a barely feigned amusement. Like just beneath all of this carefully articulated persona, was a person laughing. "I only say this because you should know we do not intend to back away from this land."

"But we needn't be enemies," Tarak continued. "You are not like the others. You do not follow false gods or weaken the power of the One. Its quite rare that we face a group that would not have to undergo much conversion. The same could not be said of your allies."