The closer the due date to his son's birth, the more King Farena began to think of his missing brother.

As such, he dug up an old photo of Leona before he was taken and had someone professionally age it up to about sixteen or so just to be on the safe side. It was a wild shot in the dark, and it wasn't likely to get a hit considering it had been almost ten years since his brother was taken.

He did not expect a police precinct in the slums to immediately ask an inquiry about why they were searching for this particular beast kin. From the sound of the response, it was as if they expected him to be a criminal of some sort.

Farena's interest was now fully piqued. Considering the subject, his wife permitted him a week to investigate before she would send the guards to track him down and drag him back.

His father had yet to abdicate in favor of his son, and was still healthy enough to hold down the throne for a week.

For security reasons, Farena only took a single guard with him and took off most of his royal attire. With how close the precinct was to the slums, there was no need to openly tempt them into trying something.

Near the badlands...

Farena walked into the precinct and the local cops immediately knew he was a high ranking noble and thus they had to toe the line.

"Who do I need to speak to about the lion kin poster that was sent out?"

A gazelle kin nearly went straight out of shock, before cautiously pointing to the chief's office. There was also some vague recognition, which made Farena hopeful that he might actually find his brother.

"So...what did the lion do to piss off such a high ranking nobleman?" asked the chief gruffly.

"The picture is of my brother who went missing," said Farena calmly. That got the chief's attention. "Why exactly would you immediately assume he's a criminal?"

"He comes into our district, buys a ridiculous amount of medicines that could be used to cut illegal drugs, and he has close ties to the major gangs in the area," explained the chief. "And from the looks of it, he's a gang leader himself. What else am I supposed to think when a slum rat comes into my turf?"

That...did not sound good.

"Where is this lion now?" asked Farena.

"In the slums. From what the local stores say he only comes in to buy medicines or herbs in bulk before returning, usually with small denomination bills and change."

Farena left the precinct, more confused than anything.

"Sire, are we really heading into...there?" said his knight.

"I need to know, if only for my own peace of mind," said Farena. He still had three days to investigate.

The knight let off a mighty sigh, before mentally preparing himself to deal with any sort of...trouble.

It was almost a guarantee, as the slums were considered a lawless place.

Reluctantly, the knight and his king went into the slums. There was a stark change in the atmosphere once they crossed the border.

Farena observed everything with fascination. He had never wandered into this part of his kingdom. And honestly, even in the King of Beasts time, the royal family had little control over it.

It took him entirely too long to notice the fact that there were several people watching him, mostly with barely tolerant curiosity and no little amount of suspicion.

In another part of the slums...

"Leona, we have trouble!" said Nari, rushing into the bar.

Leona barely paused in cleaning his glasses.

"What is it? It better not being that hyena pack near the hot springs again," said Leona bored.

"Nah, they calmed down after Ruggie had a talk with 'em," said Nari. "There's a lion nob in the slums and he's looking for you. Or at least someone who looks like you."

Leona blinked. Lions didn't come into the slums... and the few males that did usually learned real quick who the alpha was.

From the sounds of things though, this lion wasn't one of the usual dregs that wandered into his turf.

Interest piqued, Leona looked to his 'boss'.

"Most of the usuals won't be here for hours. I doubt it'll be a busy night," said the hyena male who ran the place.

Leona put away his work apron, made sure everything was stocked, then sauntered out of the bar with Nari.

It didn't take long for Ruggie to meet them.

"What's this about a nob?" said Leona.

"Don't know who he is, but he has serious protection with him. Knight, by the looks of it," said Ruggie. "The pack already has a perimeter around them... no one will touch them unless you give the order."

This was what Leona liked about being the big boss... everyone knew to toe the line or else. It made things so much easier.

"Let's see who the idiot who wandered into the wrong part of the shadows is," said Leona with a sigh. Nobs were always such a pain in the ass to deal with.

If they made a big enough stink it took ages to get rid of their 'good intentions'. And that was with the 'good' ones, which were a complete joke.

The bad ones were just as bad, but were easier to get rid of. Enough show of force was generally the most effective way.

Leona took one look at the nob and his escort and was immediately struck with a weird feeling of nostalgia. He forcibly shook it off...it wasn't like he cared about the nobs and their petty problems.

Without any command, the area around the nob and his escort was promptly emptied. If there was to be a fight, there would be no support from the locals for the outsiders.

Ruggie stayed in the background, mostly in case she had to use her signature spell to cause mischief for the guard. Nari stayed at Leona's left.

"You don't belong here," said Leona simply. "I don't know why you strayed out of the light, but if you have any sense you'll slink back to whatever pampered cage you crawled from."

The guard's hackles raised at the sheer disrespect.

"Such insolence!" he growled. The lion raised a hand, and he backed down...barely.

"I'm here looking for someone," said the lion calmly.

"There haven't been any nobles in our area. I would know," said Leona not backing down. "The last one was chased out with prejudice, for damn good reason."

The only nobs here were the ones so down on their luck that their former power was long gone. They usually didn't last more than five years, if that.

"The person I'm looking for went missing around ten years ago," said the lion. "He was but a cub then."

"What makes you think he's here?" said Leona. "Most kids from rich families wouldn't have what it takes to survive that long here. Or they're found quick."

The knight was all but bristling at Leona's tone. He really didn't like the younger lion's arrogance.

"Someone matching an photo we had aged up was seen here," said the lion. He was paying particular attention to Leona's face.

That weird feeling of nostalgia kept bugging Leona. Like he should know this lion, but he didn't.

"Leave," said Leona. "If there were a nob's kid here, we'd know the difference and send him to the spoiled cops outside our turf."

"Listen here you insolent little..." said the knight.

Nari snickered, sounding exactly like Ruggie did.

"You're the arrogant one," he shot back. "Or did it not escape your notice that no one is going to come and help if you cry out?"

The knight growled, his already thin patience about to snap.

The lion took particular note of the fact that they were indeed surrounded...and that it was clear they were taking queues from the lion in front of him. The one who bore a striking resemblance to a much older Leona.

With great reluctance, they began to leave.

"Why can't the stupid nobs mind their own business?" said one of the younger kids. "No one wants them here."

That did it. The knight's patience snapped and he drew his sword.

He didn't see Leona's claws come for him until it was much too late.

The knight found himself in a rather nasty chokehold from a less than amused lion. There were zero doubts the lion would kill him without a second thought unless he acted very carefully.

"I suggest you take your charge and leave. You're not welcome or wanted here," said Leona carefully.

He felt a hand on his arm. A strange, familiar scent hit his nose, but he dismissed it. This was his turf and the nobs needed to understand that or no one would respect him here.

"Ferrus. That's enough. You've overstepped."

"But..." started the knight.

"I apologize for my bodyguard. I'll have him reprimanded," said the lion. Leona looked at him, and the feeling that he should know this lion hit him harder. There was something about his eyes that reminded him of a home long forgotten.

Leona reluctantly dropped the knight.

"Be glad I'm in a good mood. Next time you won't be so lucky," said Leona dismissively.

They were followed all the way out of the slums, and the pack dispersed the moment they had crossed the boundary.

Farena waited until they were out of earshot.

"That was reckless of you."

"But sire..."

"But it seems we're in luck after all. That was definitely Leona. I'm sure of it," said Farena.

"Sire?"

"He knew me," said Farena. He could see it in the younger lion's eyes, clear as day. Leona might have been too young to remember his home, but he definitely remembered the scent of his family.

Farena had seen it in the lion's eyes when he grabbed his arm. The younger male had recognized his scent and reluctantly backed down. In a way he was glad...Leona had grown into a fine young man.

Now the only question was how to bring him home. There was no way Leona would leave his turf willingly, especially considering he barely tolerated nobles. The odds of him agreeing to meet their father were pretty slim.

Which meant he would have to get sneaky about it.

Leona couldn't sleep that night, or the next. He was haunted by half-forgotten memories. Something he had buried years ago in order to survive.

There was a beautiful garden, high polished walls, no lack of food or clean water, soft beds... it was practically a paradise for a kid in the slums.

However that paradise held back a thin veneer of cruelty. He also remembered cold sneers, veiled insults, and a certain degree of disdain for reasons he didn't understand.

Nari was curled up next to him when he woke up the next morning.

"You're not going to go with the nobs, are you?" he asked.

"Not a chance in hell," said Leona, rubbing the kid's black ears. The roots of Nari's hair were black, but the bottom half was a dirty blond. It was a side effect of the magical adoption, not that either of them cared.

Nari cuddled up to Leona, satisfied with that answer. When he had gotten a good whiff of that older lion's scent, the first thing that struck him was how similar he smelled to Leona. Almost as if he were family.

A few days later, Leona became utterly enraged upon learning that several knights had arrested Nari on some false charge.

Like hell was he letting that go without a fight.

To add insult to injury, a knight showed up at his door with an invitation.

It looked like he'd have to show that damn nob who he was challenging. Half forgotten memories or not, he was not taking this sitting down.

Ruggie watched Leona get into the carriage outside the slums, unaware of the massive upheaval it would create for her and the rest of the pack.