Welcome to Gaia! ::

Today's council meeting was relatively short. Most of the conversation had been talking about the Firefly Festival, be it either the steps needed to run or just some small-talk about what the other's plans were. Needless to say it wasn't the most productive council meeting Ijara had attended, but he couldn't hold it against the others. Everyone in the Brotherhood was talking about it in some capacity, and moral was high.

They all agreed to an early release and most quickly felt the room. He was going to ask King Nahasi about something, but he saw him in a what looked like a deep conversation with his adopted son Chisulo'Enzi. Most likely about the royal family's plans for the Festival. It was no bother, he would simply ask him later.

Doing a quick check to make sure everything was in order, Ijara made his own way out. With the extra time he now had, maybe he could catch some of his old digging crew on their down time.

Hmm, at this time of day they usually gathered at- his thoughts disengaged as a leopard waiting outside the chambers asked about his identity. "Yes, I am Ijara, is there something I can assist you with?" He hadn't been expecting anyone to call on him at all. But then he took a better look at other leopard. He didn't seem familiar, a new Brotherhood member perhaps? Guests did not tend to know his given name.
But something was... odd about the male. It was as if he was trying to remember something that he had forgotten. But that was strange as well, he tended to have quite a decent memory.

His only outer response to the leopard's sudden claim of fraternity was a sudden blink. Related? Well, this was not what he was expecting today, nor ever really.

"I see." He looked around and saw that a side room used for smaller meetings was open. "Why don't we take this discussion somewhere more private?" he said, gesturing to the room.

He followed... Gods he didn't even know the other leopard's name yet- into the private room. He had been looking for a place to get started on this conversation and he guessed he now had one.

"I am sorry, my manners seemed to have escaped me, for did never did ask for your name." Ijara sat down, knowing that this conversation would be a long one with much to discus. He was glad now that he had the time to devote to it.

He thought a moment before responding to the other leopard's words. "I would not say that it was awkward, so much as... highly unexpected. You must understand that my mother died during my birth and my father died soon after. I have long accepted that I had no family aside from the brotherhood I share with the pride." He gestured to the entrance with a paw and shook his head.

"But I do not believe that has much baring on the matter at hand. Please, I wish to know how you may be related to me."

"Iregi..." He bowed his head in acknowledgement "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, even in these circumstances." Iregi... if this leopard was indeed what he thought he was, this would be the name of a relative that he never knew he had... It wasn't that he did not know that his mother and father had not been born in the pride. (A certain den-mother would not let him forget it.) He just had never had the thought of mind to measure the probability of such an idea. He was young, his parents both had gone to the gods and he pushed himself into apprenticeship early. Ijara had accomplished quite a lot despite his young age, but the ability to comprehend emotions, be it his or another's, was a skill almost utterly foreign to him.

But as Iregi spoke of his mother, Ijara knew of that emotion. Loss. It was a driving force that appeared to have brought the two of them together. "I am sorry for your mother's passing. I am sure she is welcomed with the gods." But the name brought him short. Erevu... how long had he stared at those records to burn that name into his mind? Both of those names...

But his calm stayed with him, as it always had, even with those small written letters practically stamped across his vision. "Yes, you are correct. My father's name was indeed Erevu. If he too is the father you are seeking, that would make us half-brothers, would it not?"

"Now? Well, I presume that you have traveled very far to find The Brotherhood and your answers.You are family so I offer you the use of my den if you wish to rest, though I will warn you it is fairly small and spartan." Ijara looked out the mouth of the room they were in. "If you would be willing to remain for a time I could show you The Brotherhood. The tunnel network is large and continues to grow, but if you know the tunnels the task is less daunting." He looked back to Iregi and stood. "This is my home and I would be honored to share it with my brother."

"It is... a pleasure, Iregi. Please, stay as long as you wish, and if you ... do choose to call the tunnels home, I can make all the necessary arrangements." He'd dig the den out himself, the process is quicker that way, once he obtained a land grant. There still was quite a lot of open space near his own den, but Ijara stopped himself. He was too many steps ahead. He still didn't even know if he would get along with his brother, a brother by blood not by pride. Some found his... aloofness to be disconcerting. He prayed that it would not create a void between himself and Iregi.

He actually had living family. The odds had been so astronomical...

"Lets see, I can show you the Primary Tunnels on the way to my den." Ijara raised himself to his feet and flashed a small, seldom seen smile to his brother.

What he would decide. Ijara hadn't felt anticipation in quite a while. It felt dangerous and almost overwhelming, like the sensation he gets when he has to go into the large, open caverns. He pushed it aside, and put himself into the present. He knew how to do this next step at least, he'd been able to navigate the tunnels since his early apprenticeship.

"Right this way then." Ijara moved towards the exit of the private room.

Gods willing, let this turn out well.