Rift glared at the ground, torn between the two - go back on his promise and go back on the morals he was trying to build for himself or break the alliance with the Seven? He opened his mouth to respond but then a voice whispered in his ear. Listen? The emotions were sudden and Rift stumbled back, eyes widening with surprise.

And when the voices started every single fur on his body puffed. Because this was something he remembered, something he'd heard himself. And with those voices came the images of the memory, deeply repressed and forgotten underneath a sea of truma, confused thoughts and feelings, the need to do good and create understanding between all rather then enact blind justice. Pride's emotions suddenly seemed to mix with his own because this was when he remembered and for a moment he was back in the battle, as if he'd never left. Before all this foolish idealism. When rage coursed hot and fast through his veins as he stepped forward, hurting all over, but she was killing Enka. GET AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER. He'd tear her apart. He'd rip her to shreds. No mercy. No mercy. No MERCY.

When the memory was over, Rift looked very much like a flustered, angry, green puffball. His entire body was trembling with anger, both at Jayberry for doing that and at Pride for bringing it up again. But mostly at himself for forgetting. The whole battle was a hazy, distant memory, his own head repressing it, shoving it down because it hurt to remember even a second. And now it was back and fresh and Rift was angry again.

He'd been calm before, struggling to keep himself contained because that's what Mercurius had talked to him about. That's what he wanted to be - calm. But that was all gone now and his eyes blazed with fury. "Yeah," he rasped, voice dark with a snarl threatening the edge. "Fine. Kill her. Let her speak if you want - I'd like it if you waited at least for that - but I don't give a shit if you don't."

@Pride

That-... was an unexpected reaction.

It had been emotional, yes; but Pride had been trying to show Rift his side. His reasoning. His emotions, which he so often kept so tightly under wraps. He felt grief, sorrow, rage--but apparently the memories had reminded Rift of much the same, because now the cat appeared to be as angry as he felt, himself.

Unless it is an act..? he wondered, and then took a look over Rift's fluffed-out fur. ...I don't know if cats can do that at will, though, he thought, pondering. And then--It matters little.

"I am... glad you understand," Pride said after a moment, and his voice was a tight, hoarse near-whisper, choked down by his anger and his sorrow both. "I think it best that I try to find her before the trial, though. If she never turns up... then it will never be a diplomatic issue."

Seemed simple enough. Kill the problem before it became a problem.

...Again.

@Rift

Still seething and visibly shaking from the effort of not exploding and going hunting after Jayberry himself, Rift barely understood what Pride was saying to him. It was at least a testament to how much he'd grown as a king himself that he wasn't throwing a tantrum - he was building himself to be a king of peace, after all. He couldn't go hunting and killing just like that, even if his target was a monster. Claws were an absolute last resort.

He flicked his tail, pulling himself back to his senses. "Sure. If it's not too much to ask...could you handle that? There's still a lot to do to find Blackberry herself and I'd rather keep to my morals." He sighed, for once feeling a bit of regret that he had abandoned violence. "Besides, your magic is more cut out for this kind of thing. I'd more likely screw it up."

@Pride

"I will handle it," Pride answered simply, flicking his gaze to Rift. He'd inform Livius, and he'd go and deal with it himself. "And if I happen across Blackberry, I will be sure to deliver her to you for our trial."

Mostly intact, he added darkly to himself.

Truth be told, he cared little for Rift's simpering morals. In his mind, if someone went around murdering and torturing, you killed them and put an end to it; it was that simple. They lived in a lawless world where even one surprise attack had nearly toppled the largest "peaceful" kingdom. It would be easy to take over the caves as a violent monster; they had to be harsh to prevent that.

No, not even harsh; but decisive. Was killing a killer a good thing? Perhaps not; but they had chosen to start this shit. It was up to the strong among them to finish it.

@Rift

Rift narrowed his eyes. The gentle stag he'd met once in the forest, collecting sap for his weasel friend didn't seem to be the same anymore. To be honest, Rift didn't blame him, but that didn't mean he had to like it. He was dangerous and Rift didn't trust him anymore. Still, he made no visible sign of these thoughts and only huffed a short, "Thank you," before rising to his feet.

He glanced at the towering tree that he'd grown for himself and pointed an ear towards it. "You can keep the tree." But that was it. No other comment or protest. This wasn't Pride's trial, this was his own, but he wasn't going to point it out now, not while he was at such a disadvantage. Perhaps it was a better idea, though, to allow Pride to believe that, yes, this was also his trial as much as it was the Kingdom's. Because, it seemed, to defy that notion was an act of violence. And he did not want to bring another war to his kingdom.

He turned and began padding away, dark thoughts swirling in his head. Pride would kill Jayberry and Rift wouldn't have to worry about that shit anymore. But if he went back on their agreement and took Blackberry for himself, hurting her or killing her, it would be a clear message that the Kingdom of Eridanus was only living in the shadow of the Kingdom of the Seven. That...Rift couldn't have that. But if it happened, and fighting was the only option...fighting against Pride?

What would I do then?!

*exit

@Pride

Pride's own thoughts were far from Rift. He glanced to the tree, and half of him was thankful--it was a nice thing to have, here. Yet--hadn't the Kingdom of Eridanus promised to spread life in Orion, as well? What had ever happened to that?

It didn't matter, really--not now. His mind was on Jayberry. He'd have to speak to Livius, and calm himself down, before setting out on his hunt. As for Eridanus, he didn't care one way or the other. That place was his home just as much as Orion was, if not more so; he spent half or more of his time there, raising his children, grazing, or in Mercurius's garden. If Rift wanted to lead, there, that was one thing; if he wanted to throw his weight around and try to control things, though, that would have to be dealt with as it came. With luck, Jayberry would never make it there, and so it would never be an issue.

exit Pride