Zoya had her head as she grazed in Eridanus, her long tail swayed back and forth. Though she considered herself a warrior, she spent a lot of time sleeping and eating. This time it was simple grass and not the garden. Zoya respected her mother, and thought that her feline mother made a dreadful mistake staying in the Kingdom of Eridanus. The kingdom was beyond weak, and their leader was disgustingly weak as well. But her mother, she never saw as weak. Her mother was strong, just hanging out with the wrong crowd. Zoya may have been banished from the kingdom, but they could not banish her from Eridanus. All the caves belonged to all the gembounds, not just one group. After all, Eridanus was a major food source for her. Though, she may have felt calm, she couldn't help what was going on with her mother, and how she was doing.

@Rift

Rift was back at the tree, spending all of his time, the last of his time most likely, with the garden he'd nurtured from nothing. 22 cycles of carefully tending and raising these plants and flowers from nothing but seeds, pruning, watering, cleansing, keeping it in a state of perfect natural harmony...and now it was all going to end. He would leave it all behind and, perhaps, never see it again.

It was breaking his heart to think that he'd have to start all over again, but that was simply nature. It was a cycle of birth, growth, death, and rebirth again. This garden had thrived for many cycles. It was time to move on.

Of course, that didn't make it any easier.

Deep in his bittersweet musings, he almost missed the scent. A vaguely familiar one that sent a bolt of anger into his stomach. That smelled like Zoya, the bull-creature that Orlaith had hatched that had disrespected the garden he was currently sitting in. What was she doing close-by? Rising to his feet, he turned and stalked off into the forest, jumping onto the first tree at the edge of the garden.

Leaping through the branches, he followed the source of the scent until he caught sight of her multicolored hide, stopping on a branch above, eyes narrowed as he glared down at her. "What are you doing in Eridanus?" he growled. "I thought I told you to leave."

@Zoya

Zoya casually looked up at the source of the sound. Ugh, it was Rift, how unpleasant. She could smell his scent, and just the small cougars scent had disgusted her. She took another bite and then looked up at Rift. It seemed the cat was mad still over her eating the garden. Zoya may have had her own ways, but she wasn't a murderer or a sadistic beast. She was simply someone who valued strength, and would gladly display it. She hated weakness. Zoya had no issue in explaining to Rift how the caves worked. So she spoke with a voice filled without fear, only bravery. She had no intention on fighting Rift. Rift had kicked her out of a group she was never truly a part of. That was the limit of what he could do. "The caves belong to all of the gembounds. No cave belongs to a single, let alone a group, of gembounds. If that were the case, some of the caves would not be accessible to any of us. You banished me from your kingdom that I wasn't even a part of, and that is within your right to do so. Though, you have no right to banish a gembound from any cave. I believe only the masters hold that right. You're only upset because I ate most of your garden for a part of my lunch." She gave a herbivore snort before she continued. Why did her mother have to stay in this squalor of a kingdom? She looked at Rift as she spoke, a hint of a worried tone in her voice. "How is my mother Rift? I wish to know of her current state and well being, if you will."

@Rift

Rift lifted a brow at the bull's brazen attitude and brave, borderline rude words. He scoffed. "Perhaps, but this is our area of Eridanus. Do not come any closer to the garden. You are not welcome there." His eyes narrowed at her mention of the masters, though. So, she was in alignment with them. To be honest, Rift hadn't felt such animosity to them before, but after Astraea revealing his true colors to them, of a brutal overlord instead of a benevolent father that Rift had thought he was, he was hesitant to trust anyone with association with them, even a little bit.

Her question surprised Rift, especially after the brash tone of her words only a second before. Did she really expect him to tell her anything about her mother after speaking to him like that? After disrespecting the garden, knowing how much it meant both to him and to his Kingdom? His eyes widened a little before narrowing again. He let out a single huff of laughter and tapped the tree he was standing on. The roots, as well as the roots of the tree next to it, rose out of the ground and blocked the way through that would lead to the garden. A clear sign for Zoya to turn around.

And without another word, Rift turned and disappeared into the canopy.

*exit

@Zoya

So that's how the little cat wanted to play it? Good, let him go, let him run. The golden bull had no use bothering such trash anymore. If her mother wanted to speak to her, she would know how to find her. She continued to graze, not even impressed at his magic plant display. Once she was done grazing where she was at, she then left to find other nourishment in Eridanus to eat. Though, now she definitely held a grudge against the Kingdom of Eridanus. They were weak and foolish, and Zoya couldn't stand the weak. The kingdom refused to fight. That alone in her book, was simply pathetic.

-Exit Zoya