Usare was bored. His brother had gone off to do something else today - maybe talking to some lioness, who knew. But that left Usare on his own and usually ... that meant he was bored. Sure there were always things to do here, but it wasn't nearly so much fun without Amin.

Frowning slightly at his own thoughts, the young male shook his head, newly grown out mane flying about. This was no way to think! He was supposed to be an adult now, contributing to the pride and standing on his own. He didn't need his brother. He'd just... go and patrol the borders for a while. That should be fine.

Just moments ago, Rhaen had left her little group of followers close to a copse of scraggly trees, having gone off on her own to scout ahead. She liked these times alone... as it gave her a chance to think without constantly watching her back. Much as she "trusted" her followers, one could never be too careful.

Smirking faintly, the lioness lifted her head and peered forward. Ah, now what was this...? Quite a handsome male there, and he looked rather lost in thought. She wondered if they might, perhaps, finally be getting close to the demon lands. And so decided to go and ask.

Thanks to the fact that she wasn't even trying to hide her approach, Usare had no trouble spotting the female and he stopped pacing to face her, paws planted wide, slightly crouched. She looked... like Iartuupe. What in Sparda's name..?

"Who are you?" he challenged when she got closer. "And why have you come to these lands?"

Rhaen stopped as well and tilted her head a bit. "Oh my, have I wandered where I shouldn't?" she half-purred, claws flexing out and in. She had no desire to fight this male, but she would make it clear that she wasn't afraid of him. "My name is Rhaen, and I'm trying ... to find something, if you must know."

Usare didn't relax yet, eyeing her suspiciously. It couldn't be a coincidence how much she looked like the Aran'shale. Couldn't be. Was she family...? Perhaps a daughter, or even a sister? He didn't know for sure if he was prepared to handle this on his own. But he was going to have to, now wasn't he? Since no one else was here.

Stepping forward just a bit, he inclined his head. "Rhaen. I am Usare, and you have 'wandered', as you put it, only the lands of a pride. What is it you're looking for?"

"How fortunate!" Rhaen replied, sounding please. "As it happens, I'm looking for a pride... a particular one." It was amusing to lead him on - able to see that he was nervous. He knew something, or suspected something, an easy read this one.

Usare growled softly. "What sort of pride?" he asked. He was getting tired of these games. And really, who gave a crap if she was related to Iar? She obviously wasn't part of the pride now, and it was part of his job at the moment to get rid of intruders. Or take them to an Aran'shale if they wished to join the pride.

Rhaen laughed at that, a sound both amused and slightly chilling. "A pride of demons. I suspect you've heard of them.... or is this that pride, young Usare?"

Sister, then. Usare didn't think her old enough to be Iar's mother or aunt or something, so it had to be sister if she was calling him young. "Yes," he replied simply. "It is. If you wish to come any farther, however, I'll have to take you to one of our leaders and let them judge whether or not you can stay here."

Rhaen blinked slightly. Well, it seemed her suspicion had been correct! "That's actually very good to hear," she purred, all signs of aggression suddenly gone. "I've been searching for this pride for a long while. And I have gathered several followers who search with me... I believe that they are demons, all. Aside from one slave who is also attached to our group." Her mouth twisted slightly at mention of said slave. She would almost have preferred to kill him instead of bringing him along, but it didn't really matter in the end.

More of them...? Oh dear. Now Usare really was unsure. He didn't want to just go tromping back into the pride lands with a large group behind him. For all that he knew, they could mean harm to someone here. Or he oculd get into trouble for bringing them all in at once. Frowning slightly, he asked, "How many of you are there?"

"There are two other demons, and then the slave I mentioned," Rhaen replied easily - confident now that they were where they belonged.

Ah ... well that wasn't so many. Still ... "Then I believe it might be better if you got the rest of them from wherever you left them and waited here, Rhaen," he said, attempting to sound as confident as possible. "I don't want to bring all of you inside the pride lands at once. But I can go and get one of our leaders and bring him here to meet with you all at the same time." He would get his father ... as he wasn't sure how Iar would react. Verge would no doubt have sounder judgment.

Rhaen blinked slightly, obvioulsy not having expected that. But she nodded then, and backed off a step or two. "Very well. I give my word not to come any farther into your lands until you return with a leader," she said with a small nod.

"I'll be back soon," Usare promised and turned to run off, back toward the leaders' dens. Clearly, she was more reasonable than her brother. Which the young heir found himself very glad for. Of course, she could be lying about not coming farther into the lands, but if she was ... he was fairly confident he and Verge could drive them out again. And if he could find Amin too, it would be even more even in odds...