A little friendship is all you need (Hyper and Clary)

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby rolled her eyes and smirked up at him, "That's totally the case." She laughed up at him as she balanced on her hind paws and rested her forepaws on the tree trunk, growling mischievously at Xoren. Before grinning and letting her paws drop to the ground as she padded away from the two, her tail sweeping side to side as she sauntered away.

[Hypercube]

As Xoren watched Ruby leave, he felt a strange sensation, as if his stomach had filled with fluttering butterflies. Is this what love feels like? Xoren asked himself, somewhat frighted by such an alien emotion. "So you two are something more than 'just friends'" Sola said as her faced formed a cynical smirk. Xoren, a bit startled by his daughter's instant awakening, turned quickly, nearly losing his balance in the branch.

He looked into Sola's eyes and could not force himself to hold the secret any longer. "It's true," he spluttered, his head bowing in apparent embarrassment. "But you can't tell her; I want to do it at the perfect time." he said sternly to his interrogator. "My lips are sealed!" his daughter replied in kiddish fashion, her paw grazing across her lips like a zipper.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Iris woke when she heard two voices nearby, she opened her mouth in a small yawn and blinked up at Xoren and Sola sleepily. "What's true Xoren?" She asked carefully, her voice thick with sleep. "What can't be told until the perfect time?" She continued inquisitively, staring up at him with round red eyes.

---

Ruby continued padding along until the smell of gazelle caressed the hair, she licked her lips and lowered herself to the ground, the yellowing grass covering the top half of her body as she pressed the red into the ground and started padding forward slowly, he eyes fixed on a young adolescent herbivore. She allowed a growl to rumble in her chest as she padded forward and raced towards the creature before she dived forward, yanking it's hind leg with a sickening crack, causing it to tumble to the ground in a heap whilst the others all fled. Triumphantly the hybrid bit down on the gazelle's neck, puncturing the skin, she ragged it a little and dropped it down with a pleased grin before taking it's neck in her jaws and starting to drag it back the way she came.

The sun was warm on her fur as she finally approached her - now awake - sister, Sola and Xoren. "Bon appetite." She said beaming up at them proudly.

[Hypercube]

As Xoren saw Ruby approach with the newly gathered prey, he turned to Iris, struggling to fabricate an explanation. He was only successful in uttering a small amount of "ums" and "wells" before his daughter turned to Iris and did what her father was attempting to do. "He said that it was true that he had comrades he wanted to find up North," she said convincingly, "and that he didn't want to let your sister know until we were closer to meeting them again."

Just as Sola had finished her lie, Ruby approached the three and dropped the fresh meat she had just acquired. "Thanks again," Xoren said to Ruby, "I was never too much of a hunter myself."

[Ruby_Fehu]

"I enjoy hunting." Ruby replied with a smile stepping back as Iris leapt down from her perch in the tree and starting to eat the gazelle, blood flicking up and landing on the cubs fur. Ruby laughed a little as Iris continued eating, "Looks like someone will need a bath after this." Ruby grinned, only to be greeted by a groan from Iris.
She smiled and rolled her eyes good naturedly before turning her red gaze to Xoren, inviting him to eat, "Shall we start walking again after we've all eaten?" She asked the male curiously, her head tilted to one side as she anticipated an answer.

[Hypercube]

"That would be for the best," Xoren told Ruby, "We should move as much as possible to get there as quickly as we can." He and Sola ate silently, scarfing down the fresh meat as they felt the vitality return to their fatigued bodies. Soon, they had had their fill, Sola walking back to the shade of the tree and resting. Her father, on the other hand, climbed to the top of the tree, finding North with the aid of the blazing sun that had now warmed the air. From his perch, he saw nothing than what he had expected; the dusts of the savanna for miles along, speckled scarcely with patches of grass and trees. "We're good to go whenever you're all ready!" He shouted down to the rest of the group.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby waited until everyone was finished before starting to eat her fill, her mouth watering as a jaws locked around the tender meat. She ate a leg ravenously before licking the bone and dropping it to the ground as Xoren spoke, "I'm good to go." She called up to him before she started to gnaw on the bone to sharpen her teeth.

[Hypercube]

Xoren quickly hopped from the tree, using the branches as stepping stones until he was steadily on the ground. "Let us move then!" he happily exclaimed, leading the way. Sola waited to follow her father though, looking to Iris and then to Ruby. "Do you want me to take Iris with me again?" she asked, turning to the young cub with a friendly smile.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Thank you, but no it'll be fine." She smiled picking Iris up by the scruff and balancing her on her back carefully before she jogged over to Xoren and Sola and padding along beside them, smiling a little as she felt Iris nestle into her. "Let us move." She giggled, mimicking Xoren playfully.

[Hypercube]

Xoren turned his head with a smirk, showing his amusement with her brand of comedy. The situation of the group said much about them; a line of equals rather than a trail of those led and those who follow. Not only did Xoren feel this connection and mutual respect within the group, but Sola too felt the much-needed change in her social structure. For too long she had been the runt of the group, doomed to always be the one who is nothing but another body for numbers. For the first time since she began to form memories, Sola felt loved.

Her and her father shot the breeze together for the duration of the morning, jumping from topic to topic as the sun crept along it's path. The two were spectacularly in sync, and spoke of things that neither of them believed any other being would be interested in. By the time they had reached a hiatus in the conversation, the sun had reached its apogee in the sky and the two slowed down to a stroll. "You guys want to take a break?" Sola asked the group. "It wouldn't be a bad idea," Xoren commented, "we have been moving at a reasonably fast enough pace to rest for at least a few minutes." The two turned to Ruby and Iris, awaiting their answer.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Let's do that." Ruby agreed, lowering herself to the ground so Iris could climb down. She looked up at the sky before turning back to Xoren and Sola, "Maybe we should start looking for a place to rest - I know it's only midday but when we do settle down we'll need to hunt and quench our thirst; Iris will need a bath too." Ruby said to the father and daughter, "Besides, we'll probably be travelling further before we find a place to settle." She continued, her expression thoughtful. "What do you think?"

[Hypercube]

"That sounds like a suitable solution," Xoren replied surveying the area. There was not much to be found here, but in the curvature of the heat-waved distance he was able to make out a tall ancient tree standing alone not to far from their current spot. "I see a good scouting perch in the distance," Xoren told them, pointing the tree with his outstretched paw, "if one of us looks from up there we may just see some water." "I'll go," Sola exclaimed as she stepped in the direction of the tree, "I can make it over there pretty quick. I should be back before you know it!"

Before Xoren was able to say anything, Sola began to jog into the distance. Once she reached the tree, she quickly and skillfully climbed up its trunk and stood at the top, turning back and forth to find what they were looking for. To the East, she saw the glimmer of sunlight across the water, just over the nearby knoll that had blocked their vision. When she returned, she told the rest of the group of her find: "There's a body of water about a mile to the East, but it looked as if there are already others resting there."

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Should we risk it?" She said warily, "We need to be careful after what happened last night." She continued, gnawing on her lip a little.

[Hypercube]

"I'm not sure about it either," Xoren admitted, "It could be beneficial though..." "Also who knows when we'll find another water hole," Sola interjected, "they get a bit scarce from here until we reach our destination." Xoren and Sola both looked to each other and then to Ruby, allowing her to make the final call. "I will leave this one up to you," Xoren told Ruby, his leg restlessly bouncing about.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby gnawed on her lip, "Let's head that way and then when we get close but not too close, one of us can go on ahead and see how they treat us. If they're polite to whoever, we'll stay there. If they're rude we keep walking." She finally said after a moment, she glanced to the two hybrids, "Sound okay? She asked.

[Hypercube]

"Sounds good to me," Xoren said, starting to walk towards the water hole. "If anything goes wrong, I can worry about Iris," Sola told Ruby, looking at the bright-eyed cub, "just do what you have to okay?".

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded and set off again, they walked in silence before they reached a tree that was near enough to the watering hole they could see all that was going on but far enough that if they attacked they had chance to flee. "Who should go?" Ruby asked Xoren carefully, "One of us two, there is no way Sola is going near them, it's far to dangerous." She said in her mum voice as she glanced knowingly at Sola.

[Hypercube]

Sola would normally take such patronization to heart, but aware that she would remain the only protection for Iris if something were to happen, she slowly pawed backwards, exiting the main conversation. "Why don't we both go?" Xoren suggested, "One of us openly speaks with them while the other stalks through the high grass on the edge of the opening." He looked to the area that he had just referenced, making note of the similarity it shared to the scenario in which he an Ruby had first met. "Let me hide," Xoren volunteered, "I have endless experience in staying out of sight."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby gnawed on her lip and nodded steadily, "Just like how we first met." She laughed padding over to Iris who was rolling in the grass, giggling to herself. She nuzzled the cub before pawing at her affectionately. "Stay with Sola, okay?" Ruby said firmly. Iris nodded and started pawing at the teen, Ruby watched with a fond smile before turning to Xoren, "Come on." She murmured starting to pad away.

[Hypercube]

Sola toyed with the cub, keeping her occupied while her own eyes remaining glued on the possible danger. Xoren watched his daughter and Iris as he followed Ruby, chuckling softly at the furballs. "If they start something, just stay calm," Xoren warned Ruby, "we have the advantage as long as they don't know I'm here." Xoren moved to the grass slyly, becoming one with it, and slowly snuck towards a good vantage point.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded once and began following Xoren before she swung to the left and started sauntering towards the feline's gathered, she bit her lip nervously before scanning the area, she could sense rather than see Xoren nearby so steadily she padded towards the group, "Hey there, does this area belong to anyone?" She asked carefully, allowing her tail to sweep side to side in a flirty type of movement. "I don't wish to be of trouble, but if it is who owns it, and if it is no ones then may my daughter, my friend and his daughter join you- it's just we're looking for somewhere to rest and my daughter is only a cub so she tires easily." Ruby said carefully.

[Hypercube]

Xoren silently shuffled through the tall grass, positioning himself so that he would be able to leap between the group and Ruby of something were to happen. As she asked her question, Xoren watched as those closest to her turned slowly to meet her eyes. He counted six; three of which stared to Ruby the other three not moving from their rest on the other side of the small pool. The two adult males Ruby spoke to seemed indifferent to the situation, but it was difficult to tell as the adolescent they flanked was obviously tense. In preparation for the worst, Xoren began to move forward slightly, silently, and crouched close to the ground.

[Ruby_Fehu]

The felines in question shrugged dismissively and nodded once, with a gruff, "Just don't annoy us." They shuffled to the other side of the water. Ruby watched them leave warily, expecting a catch before she glanced behind her towards Xoren and nodded to him once, giving him the 'OK'.

[Hypercube]

Xoren peeked his head out of the grass, looking to the children atop the hill and with a quick nod to his side, he signaled them to come down. Aware that the strangers would not overjoyed that he was skulking around in the brush, Xoren moved towards where he had entered, awaiting the younger lions so that he would not seem out of place. Sola, seeing her father's signal turned to Iris and smiled. "It's all good to go Iris," she said, "let's head down okay?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Iris followed Sola down before skipping up to Xoren when she reached him. "Are they friends?" She asked sweetly, beaming up at the hybrid who had claimed her sisters feelings.


Ruby strolled towards the water and began lapping some up when the younger lion came up to her and started brushing along her flank flirtily. Ruby wrinkled her nose a little but didn't move away out of worry for causing trouble.

[Hypercube]

"Not precisely Iris," Xoren told her as he exited the grass, "but they won't hurt us." "Just stay with us," Sola said to the cub knowing that she wouldn't quite understands her fathers way of putting things, "they won't bother us." As she said this, she moved towards Iris, placing her atop her back as she had in the beginning of the journey and walking down to meet Ruby. As the three arrived, Xoren observed the flirtatious way that the unknown lion rubbed against and felt a slight fire burn in his stomach. Keeping calm, he walked to the two and inserted himself between the two, forcing the suitor to back away.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby exhaled in relief when Xoren pushed the lion away and she shrunk into his shadow, not wanting any more unwanted advantages from the males. "Thank you." She whispered to Xoren when the other males started to retreat, looking ever so slightly annoyed. The younger male came around the back of Xoren and began nuzzling her again, earning a growl from the female hybrid.

[Hypercube]

Sola drank with Iris, her eyes darting around the new surroundings. To her left, she saw from the corner of her eye what was beginning to unfold. She readied herself, but did not show that she was ready to switch into attack mode at any time. "Iris," she said in a stern tone, "if anything bad happens, I want you to run into the long grass and wait for one of us to come and get you okay?"

Lifting his head from the crystal water, Xoren glared into the eyes of the young male. When he would not stop, he turned to face the naive cub and took a strong step forward. The other lions at the pool noticed the movement and looked towards the unfolding scene. With his face only inches from the unwavering eyes of the male, Xoren whispered harshly; "I suggest you stop that. NOW."

[Ruby_Fehu]

The young lion smirked at Xoren, his eyes narrowing. "And why should I?" He purred gently, starting to nip on the back of Ruby's neck, causing a repulsed shiver to pass through the young female, she didn't like anyone showing her affection unless she trusted them, or gave them the okay, "This pretty little lady is obviously not your mate. Why would she choose someone scrawny like you?" He whispered so only Xoren could hear him.


Ruby began to back away, stepping closer to Sola and Iris, her protective instincts kicking in as she stood in front of the two protectively. "Whatever you do Sola, don't get involved." Ruby said in warning, as she watched Xoren and the nameless male, the stranger seemed to be eyeing Xoren up, ready to find his weak spot if necessary she assumed. She glanced behind her and saw Iris cowering against Sola, looking up at Ruby with worry, the older hybrid knew that look anywhere, it was Iris' silent question of whether they were safe. Ruby just nodded once at her daughter with a warm smile before turning her attention back to Xoren and the male.

[Hypercube]

Xoren chuckled and bluffed a cynical smile speaking a bit louder, "I don't believe it would be wise of you to pick fights with those you know nothing about." He squinted his eyes, staring directly into the soul of the younger lion, "And especially not when your insults are little more than reflections upon yourself." With that final comment, the younger male roared, startling those that rested in shade beneath the tree across the water. With one swift movement, he lunged at Xoren, knocking them both down into the water.

"Iris!" Sola shrieked, "Get on my back!" Xoren fought as well as he could with the water preventing any swift movements or time to plan his attacks. From the coastline, he could hear the approaching paws of the two other males but he could not escape the engagement he was currently in, It was not due to his opponent's skill but rather a lack of his own with the obstacle of the water.