Ariel felt sweat coat her palms as for the first time in almost seventy years she came face to face with one of her would be murderers. The lion before her was condemning his own daughter to death and it did not even surprise her, as he had once held her down and let his brother attempt to slit her throat, so used to committing such acts was he that he didn't even recognise her as the one that got away.

She kept her mask inscrutable while inside her chest her heart was hurting as it worked overtime to combat her sudden rush of fear, she masked it expertly and held herself straight and proud. Her eyes raked over him, Aldo Fernandez, brother of Ramirez Fernandez, he hadn't changed much over the years. He still had a thick mop of brown hair and beard covering his rugged face that was so much like his brother, his genes were strong in his son who looked very much like his father and uncle, except he was younger, his face unlined and unscarred, his eyes troubled but not full of anger or hate. The Katagaria jaguar spoke and she forced her eyes away from Aldo who was still trying to figure out who she was.

"This cub is not rabid," Ariel insisted. She turned to Aldo once more and looking past him she forced herself to speak politely to his son, making her voice calm and reasoning.

"You said she was feral, what would make you say such a thing?"

The boy hesitated again but when he spoke it was with certainty. "When she was a cub she was alone a long time … and when she was going through puberty no one helped her, she was just left to her own devices. She still doesn't know how to talk or act as a human when in human form."

He looked away blushing, "I'm ashamed to admit that I did not move to help her, and when I did realise that she needed assistance she was too far gone."

"Why, in the name of Artemis, was she left so long on her own?" Ariel demanded, unable to keep her voice neutral. "Why was she left alone!"

The boy flinched and could not meet her gaze and the crowd unable to draw their eyes away from them now began murmuring in agreement.

"That is not the point!" Aldo cried, "why she was left alone was not the point! The fact that she is a danger to us all is the point!"

Ariel swung her desperate gaze to Savitar when many of the Arcadians who were willing to see Katagaria blood shed at any price made noises of agreement.

"Just because someone is feral does not mean they are rabid!" Ariel knew that the animals and humans around her were baffled by her defence of a Katagaria, but she was after all her niece of sorts. Feeling as though she was fighting for her life she raised her voice over the many others.

"She has not been taught any of the fundamental rules of our society, anything that is wrong with her is her family's fault not hers. She has been left unaided and uncared for, the only lessons she knows have been dictated by her environment and the innate predatory instincts she was born with. She acts like a lioness but that's not what she is, not really. She is a Were."

She forced her voice to take on a tone of pride knowing it would subconsciously create a sense of unity among them all for a moment, so there would be no offence felt when she differentiated between animals and Weres.

"Her brain and thoughts and her emotional configuration even are more complex then that of a mere animal, yet all she has to rely on are her animalistic instincts. Instead of guiding her through her turbulent years of puberty she was left helpless and alone! If there is any crime here it is against her! If anyone should be on trial it should be her father! If you suffer this young cub to be left to teach herself the laws of the jungle … surviving the only way she knows how, then to throw her into a trial to be executed, what else is to be concluded other then that you are murderers?"

After her voice rang a silence so filled with tension Ariel felt it almost tangible, her aunt Leona had once compared her to Hitler in her oratory talents. Suddenly the tension was broken by the sound of clapping, slow and deliberate Aldo brought his hands together mocking her as he stepped closer, his daughter began to stir but one of her captures yanked the chain to keep her still.

"Absolutely charming," he sneered, "but what you forget human is that I have at least three witnesses here who will swear to her being insane with the trelosa!"

Ariel did not let her calm façade slip for a moment, she merely raised an eyebrow and said in a icy voice that caught everyone's ear. " And I thought animals didn't lie."

Aldo gave a lion like roar and pulled his hand back that changed into a lions paw with its lethal claws extended, quite suddenly a streak of gold obscured Ariel's vision as a man stepped in front of her and caught Aldo's paw. The Omegrion drew a breath as a whole and the man before her yanked Aldo close by the collar of his shirt.

"Do not think to harm anyone here, ass wipe," he growled menacingly, "or I'll break that paw!"

Ariel stepped back when the man threw Aldo from him in disgust, and then turned to saunter back to his seat.

"While we all loved to see Paris playing the hero," Savitar said with a definite laugh in his voice, "I think its time to put this to the vote. Animals. Humans. If you will."

"All who find the lioness in question guilty raise your hand," the lion named Paris growled, sounding wild, Ariel felt a shiver run through her. None of the animals present raised their hands, a smattering of humans did and to the surprise of all, Damos, the Arcadian Drakos rep spoke up.

"I think the case of this young lioness's innocence was represented well, by -" he looked pointedly at Ariel and she jerked out of her stupor.

"Ariel S-Sophronia," she stuttered and Damos inclined his head respectfully before he continued.

"By Miss Sophronia here. It would be a complete miscarriage of justice to sentence her, she should be acquitted."

"Is it then in agreement that the lioness, who by the way is named Aiyana, is innocent of the crimes brought against her?"

A murmur of agreement filled the hall rather reluctantly and Savitar waved a hand and the chains surrounding Aiyana vanished, she collapsed at the unexpected removal of the weight, she lay on her side panting heavily. Ariel stepped forward but her father cut off her path and Ariel, who had kept her anger under strenuous control heard it splinter slightly.

"Don't touch her!" he growled, hating the fact that a human bested him, Ariel raised a mocking eyebrow and spoke loud so the hall could hear.

"You think this council is stupid enough to deliver a innocent cub into your care after you tried your hardest to have her murdered."

Aldo looked as if he were about to say something else when a look of recognition crossed his face, "you!" he muttered furiously but quietly.

Ariel leant forward so only he could hear her and whispered, "me."

"What then do you propose, Ariel?" Savitar asked, his ever present mocking grin in place, Ariel took a deep breath.

"That she be given in to my care."

There was an instant uproar the Katagaria shouting just as much as the Arcadians, it was only when the Katagaria panther called for order did the noise level drop low enough for individuals to be heard, Ariel almost wished they were shouting again.

"You are Arcadian!" Anelise cried, in shocked disgust, "how can you take a animal into your house? What are you going to do? Keep it as a pet?"

Ariel had taken an intense dislike to the snow leopard and it only increased with her looking at Ariel like she were defected.

"No," Ariel argued back, her reasonable voice wavering with her anger. "She will be a guest in my home, I'll provide for her, teach her to use her powers!"

"Why would you do such a thing?" Nicolette Peltier asked more curiosity then animosity in her tone.

"Why not?" Ariel countered, feeling like she were the one on trial. "Someone has to. If she is left alone again she will become the very thing her father named her. If not me, who else?"

"She could go to a Limani," Dorian, a black haired Arcadian Pardalia spoke up, they were an exotic Arabian cat, Ariel couldn't help being impressed she had never seen one before.

"Who's? Yours?" Ariel was getting tired of defending herself, she could feel the lioness in her pacing and snarling, wanting to attack those that would not give her her own way. "Your Arcadian you won't train her. Dante -' she looked at the panther who jumped and looked around guiltily - 'you have your own family to care for, you've just had a litter of cubs you couldn't do it."

Ariel turned her eyes on Nicolette Peltier, the renowned and respected bear, but Ariel had never been scared of someone's reputation, she was fast building her own.

"No offence, Nicolette but look what you tried to do to the last wayward cat that came to your sanctuary, I mean by all account he's lucky to have his hide intact."

Nicolette's mouth thinned and Dante, Paris and a few others stifled laughs behind coughs.

"That's a thought where is Wren?" Fury called out, and Ariel turned to him with a disbelieving stare that he could ask such a flippant question at a time like this.

"Maggie's just dropped her first," Savitar informed them all, idly stroking his goatee, "little girl .."

Ariel cleared her throat bringing the attention back to the issue at hand.

"You're a traitor to your blood," Constantine, the Arcadian jackal sneered at her and Anelise nodded beside him, Ariel felt her face grow warm as people looked at her with disgust.

"I'm not a traitor to anything I just know what's right and I will never let an innocent die because your too pig headed to see past your petty prejudices!"

Constantine roared and Ariel gave her animal side a little leeway and roared back, it appeased the lioness in her immensely and Constantine sat back in his chair shaken.

"While your sentiment is admirable," the Arcadian bear Leo spoke next in a wheezy voice, Ariel suppressed a laugh, he looked like father time he was so old. But his voice was kind and she liked him for it. "You are new on this council and your title is yet to hold no real influence to over throw a council decision if we feel you are not to be in charge of this young cub."

Ariel's liking for the old bear went down the drain and she had to talk through clenched teeth in effort to hold the reins on her temper.

"I have been afforded the honour of sitting upon the council, whether or not I am twenty-two or a hundred and two I should be given the rights that everyone here is given. My opinion here perhaps matters more then most as she is after all a lioness!"

"I will not stand for -" Aldo began to say but Savitar threw him against the wall.

"You have no say in this, you little punk!"

Ariel looked around at the many hardened faces and was tempted to give a weary sigh, but that in itself was a sign of weakening.

"Let Aiyana decide if she wants to go back to her father," Ariel said with a shrug, "I only want to help her but should she not wish for it there is nothing I can do."

Savitar leaned forward from his throne and pointed at Paris, "you speak lion, come and ask her."

Paris pursed his lips and gave a nonchalant shrug and flashed himself to the Aiyana's side, he bent to her but watched Ariel under his lashes. She was fascinating, the way she spoke, the passion she showed … and he had thought her cold! And then that roar she let out, this was a lady he would gladly claim as his own - if he were the claiming type that was!

Paris shook himself and bent to the lioness, he winced at the sight of her wounds, the dejected hurt look in her young eyes, Paris wholeheartedly agreed with Ariel, her home was the best place for this little cub.

Ariel felt her breath catch in her lungs as she got a chance to look at Paris. His hair was a few shades lighter then her own and brushed the top of his collar in rebellious curls. Six feet tall in biker boots, worn black jeans and a black leather bikers jacket, Ariel licked her lips as she spied his bare chest through the jacket opening. His heavy chest muscles were covered in succulent tanned flesh and dusted with blonde hair that was lighter then that on his head. As he lowered himself to the floor he took off his glasses and revealed beautiful molten golden eyes beneath sinfully long lashes. Forcing herself to breathe again, Ariel found herself looking anywhere but at this man, he so wasn't her type … even if he wasn't Katagaria.

Paris stood back up and let out a long breath, he fixed his gaze on Ariel who had brought her eyes back to him expectantly, however she didn't completely meet his gaze.

"She didn't say much, she says she doesn't want to go back to her father though."

Paris watched Ariel throw a triumphant, shit eating grin at Aldo Fernandez, there was something about her under that completely sophisticated and chic exterior was this adorable, down to earth girl the lion in him was completely drawn to. Well hell! He was drawn to her on every level.

"She did not say anything about going with Ariel then?" Vane asked and Paris just shook his head, watching Ariel closely, her face was once more stern and emotionless, though he had a feeling that behind her eyes her mind was working over time.

"W-what if," she began slowly looking up at Savitar, who seemed uncommonly obliging in letting the trial go on so long, normally he wanted out as soon as possible. "Someone - a Katagaria, I mean - acted as a … a custodian of sorts. A chaperone that could be an unbiased observer of how she is treated within my home and then could truly assess if she is mad with the trelosa and give a full report back to the council."

She spread her hands wide as if encompassing them all and Savitar held out his hands with a expression as if to say, its not up to me ask them. A fleeting look of impatience with the ancient mediator past over Ariel's face, Paris couldn't suppress a smile, there was something innately good about this woman. Well, it seemed that way but in truth no Arcadian was truly trustworthy and good. All were capable of deceit and lies, she was no different, what could she possibly gain though, Paris wondered to himself, his eyes drinking her in, from taking in this Katagaria cub as a ward?

"It's a good idea .." Dante admitted somewhat reluctantly, stroking his chin thoughtfully, then his gaze sharpened as it rested on Ariel. "You must really want this cub if you are willing to let a Katagaria into your home."

Ariel's face if it were possible became harder and colder, Paris felt it like a blast of cold air and he was sorry for it. She was adorable when she smiled … He shook his head and forced himself to concentrate.

"I assure you, panther, should any Katagaria come into my home and try to fuck with me or mine, he or she would not make it out again." She said it loud and defiantly, as much a warning as a statement to all the Katagaria present, all of whom were candidates for being the chosen chaperone.

"Very cocky," Paris smirked and she turned on him, spinning on her heels to face him with a saucy swish of her ass.

"I'm not cocky," she said with a mirthless smile, "just capable."

Paris felt as if all the blood in his body had centred in his groin and he was a nanosecond from exploding, Paris licked his lips when she turned back to face Dante, who met his eyes and raised an eyebrow.

"I can't see any problem with what she suggests," Vane said, "the cub gets a place to stay and she is looked after, as long is she is monitored and is not abused I don't see why the request shouldn't be granted."

Paris could almost feel Ariel's relief, however he also knew that most of the Katagaria present did not trust her and suspected an ulterior motive. He was suspicious of humans and Arcadians by nature yet he could not bring himself to condemn her on sight the way he normally would.

Ariel walked over to Aiyana and leaned down, murmuring soothingly to her in lion then she touched her paw and flashed them both out of the Omegrion, again that blast of noise from all sides made Paris wince and he looked up to Savitar wondering if he had the power to shut them the hell up.

"Don't tempt me, lion," he raised his voice to call to Paris over the din, Paris smirked and went back to his seat.

"We haven't chosen a chaperone yet!" The Katagaria jaguar called out.

"Well, I thought that would have been easy," Dante said with a grin, "Paris can be the cubs keeper."

Paris past a hate filled look to Dante who's eyes were alight with silent laughter. "Why me?"

"Because you're a lion," Fury grinned and at that moment Paris knew the wolves and the panther were in this together.

"Yeah, but I also have a life!"

"You don't have to live with her or anything, she'd likely chop off your balls for suggesting it. Just check up on them a few times a week," Vane piped up, his lips twitching.

"No!"

"Shut up, Paris, you've been drafted," Savitar said, he just looked as if his birthday and Christmas came all at once.

"Not you too!" Paris snarled and shoved his sunglasses back on, folded his arms and brooded miserably. "This isn't fair!"

Even he admitted he sounded whiny but damn it, why did he automatically get the job? Just because he was a lion, he thought childishly, its discrimination!

The wolves, Dante and Savitar erupted into laughter and Paris flashed himself out there and back to Ax.

Ax looked up as he walked in and grinned.

"Finally man, I was getting bored!"

Paris kicked the chair out from under the table and slumped in the seat, Ax raised an eyebrow.

"Do I want to know?"

"I have to baby-sit a cub and a woman with a sexy ass."

Ax looked confused then shrugged. "Things could be worse."

"How? I have to track her because she didn't leave directions and then I have to go back there and give reports back to the council all because I'm a lion!"

"She could be Arcadian," Ax suggested trying to mollify him, Paris groaned loudly.

"She is."

Ax looked like he felt sick.