[Citanul]

While he had his faults Kerberos was not to be underestimated. He was not called a Biohazard Mekka for nothing. "Why should I have an alliance with a creature whose fate is beyond his control?" There was a smirk on his maw, canines bared easily. "One more nuzzles from that old warrior and you dissapear."

Argus turned his head a little to watch the 'blind' Akail. There was an obvious movement, to the male... He was playing it up. Either he had once been a pet, or had adapted to being out in the sunlight. "I need not a royal mate. Malu needs my protection. Her current mate is nothing more than a bully. I am protecting her and getting her away from him. If she wishes to become my mate... Then I would be glad to protect her further."

[Kallile]

The little bleeder could hardly control the laugh in his throat. He blinked to Kerberos with acid green eyes, grinning as smile slithered out from between his tiny needle-like teeth. “You think he is a threat? He has helped keep me well fed these past few weeks—a child between them when she has just lost her lifemate not long ago would be a blessing to my hunger. However…”

He took a few gliding steps closer, still eyeing the mechanical dog. “It would be in our best interests to break up this little love fest early—wouldn’t you say?”

There was a shift in the Gyrraptor’s body language that let Clave know something was going wrong in his plan. He hadn’t made eye contact, had her? No, no…just turned his head towards the general direction where Argus spoke from. His mind whirled for an explanation, should one be asked of him. He tried not to let the worry show and just contained it. Outwardly, he grinned to no one in particular.

“I can hear in your voices there is something more."

Malu listened to Argus and felt her heart break in two. One piece leapt to her throat at the partial proposal. The other piece….fell to the pit of her stomach. Maybe…maybe this was moving to fast. But she couldn’t deny that she needed Argus right now—she needed that strong shoulder to go to for support. If it lead to more…that would just have to come with time. She did not look at either male, just focused on the ground before her and walked. This might be a longer journey than she had first anticipated.

[Citanul]

Bi-colored eyes continued to watch this little thing, determined not to let it out of his sight. Kerberos knew the havoc that even the tiniest things could wreak... That sparquill... Grah. It messed with his circuts with the tiniest touch. "Maybe I should just let it continue. If she mends her heart you dissapear - one less thing taking up space in my pen." He murmered with a low growl.

"There could be more, Akail. But for now our main objective is to get you to her Trainer, so that we may fix her situation. Once that is done we can worry about relationships." Looking to Malu he gently gave her feathery mohawk a nuzzle and a lick, trying to reassure her that all would be well. He was sure that it would. Her trainer would be happy for the Akail, and then she would be free to remain away from that pack that treated her so horribly.

[Kallile]

The little Bleeder scoffed and laughed at this accusation. “And what makes you think I would be slinking about your pen? If you allow it to continue at this rate I will be the least of your worries. You’ll have a protective father guarding his hundreds of offspring. So which would you rather have? A Bleeder willing to work with you or a wall of little ones who will ultimately work against you?”


Clave smirked again, giving a gruff noise towards the duo he was following. Noticing he was no longer touching anyone, he veered just slightly to the right and continued to walk a few paces until he was at a point where the footsteps would have sounded off. Then he veered back, nosing at the air to try and “find” Malu’s tail.

“You are both wild at heart—there’s no reason for this ‘objective’ wall to keep me out of the loop. The instincts are there--there's no hiding it.” He chided before feeling feathers brush his face and snapping them gently into his mouth.

Malu looked up at the touches, though she was jolted from her thoughts. She smiled to Argus: speechless. Did she say anything about a relationship? Or just let it go? Those thoughts left quickly as Clave latched back onto her tail and made her jump in surprise. "Right…we’ll focus on those things later. Right now we have a lot of ground to cover.” She whispered, nuzzling back into Argus. She was very much ready for this to be over with—for the worry and the hurt to be off of her shoulders and her heart.

[Citanul]

Kerberos only laughed. "Hundreds? How do you even know they can produce offspring? Besides... I know Argus will not abandon his duties at the farmlands to appease this female. He is a warrior, not a lover." Either way though... It would be good to nip it at the bud. "I will help you break them apart. Keep up." He smirked and gave a short, almost trot-like gait to make sure that his leg was fine before going a little faster, nose to their trail.

This one was a good actor, he had to admit. Argus was not fooled... But he just let it continue. The Akail hadn't harmed anyone yet, and there was no reason to think that he would now that he was so far from his home. "If your Kallile has been here for some time we may meet her on our way to the caves." Argus pointed out as he gently nuzzled into Malu.

[Kallile]

Of that, the Mekka need not ask twice. Seeming to float across the sand—the light little Bleeder kept to the large canine’s flank. Best that way; as far as he could see. Away from an ambush of teeth as well as poised to escape if it was attempted. He knew very well that he was no match for this big brute beside him and he certainly wasn’t stupid enough to try anything this close to Kerberos.  

“Is there a plan you have in mind, or are we simply going to wing it? Rather he would abandon his post or not doesn’t mean that the girl wouldn’t just follow him if he asked.”

Clave reminded quiet—only listening to them and clutching Malu’s tail tip in his muzzle. He could still sense the tension in Malu’s aura and in the way her muscles were twitching. He had struck a nerve, and from the state of things he could only assume that to upset the lady was to upset the male. So he held his tongue and waited for a better thought or topic to come into his mind.

Malu gave a weak smile and nodded, taking in every shaded step that she could the cooler air felt so nice despite the fact she was cold blooded. It felt refreshing to her skin and did not last long enough to truly slow her down. She nodded. “I can only hope she has had a successful mission and is returning home now. It’s been ages since I’ve seen her at the Estates.”

And, ages since there had been a buffer between her and her captor of a mate.

[Citanul]

Finally, someone who listened to him the first time he spoke. Kerberos' pace was an easy, loping gait so the bleeder could easily keep up, even at his flank. Few would be stupid enough to attack this Mekkyena. He was brightly colored for a reason.

"We will merely go along and if we see something... Wing it from there. I will take the Gyrraptor back to my pens and she will go to yours, as is right."

"I am sure that she has had a successful mission." Argus replied as they continued onwards. He was on alert - these forests were relatively quiet, but could not be as safe as an empty warground. "It would be much eaiser not to wander the caves and merely meet her outside of them."

[Kallile]

The plan sounded a little too vague,  but the Bleeder let it slide. He was at the disadvantage right now—he wasn’t going to dare pick a fight over planning. He only nodded and kept the pace.

“And if they protest?”

Clave grumbled a little to himself, listening to their surroundings. He heard…their footsteps. And that was it. Oh, but wait…or were they? There were small scrapping sounds against the broken bits of calcium from far, far behind them. Seemed maybe thing would get interesting soon enough—he could make out the Bleeder’s claw scrapping from anywhere.

Malu gave a gentle smile. “We haven’t had word from her in weeks…it will be so nice to see her again. I can only imagine that she’ll be complaining about her hair being long and unruly." She gave a forced laugh at this, still nervous and slightly sea sick. She leaned her head against Argus, sighing heavily. How she desperately wanted sleep…

[Citanul]

Kerberos didn't feel that he needed any more of a plan than what he already had. He was a big Mekka, there was no need to 'try' intimidating. Even the Gyrraptor, battle worn as he was, treaded carefullly around him. "I doubt that they will. If they do, then I will drag him back home."

"Most likely... I know Citanul complains when he gets back to the Expanse and warms up water to clean himself." Of course, a nice cleaning always helped, always felt good after one had been rubbing grime into their feathers/coat/skin.

As she leant against him Argus smiled softly. He let her stay with him, contentedly supporting her so that she didn't have to work so hard. She had to be tired, he hoped that they would find her trainer soon.