The Pride had finally returned with a fully-grown buffalo, and just in time to see Lana and Kuendesha's cubs return. The tan lioness refused to make eye contact with Icarus during the meal, and had taken her two cubs with her as soon as they were done eating; the would be sleeping away from the Pride for the time being. Icarus decided that he would address that tomorrow, and he hadn't realized how exhausted he was until he lied down in the den. When he opened his eyes again, he was once again in a cave, in the Wastelands. And this time, he had woken up before Saul did, which was surprising, given that most of his dreams of the past begun with him being awoken by Saul.

But on this day, it was different. Icarus remembered not sleeping at all that day, and when he looked back into the den where Saul slept, he remembered why. They had been excommunicated from their birth pride for two weeks at that point, and Icarus couldn't help but worry about how Tsara would be able to protect the pride that Daedalus had protected for years at that point. But Saul was less worried; he had managed to find them a new pride to join in short order, and all 5 lionesses of this pride were definitely happy to see the two young males. Including, and especially, the mate of the Pride Leader, which had also greatly worried Icarus. In fact, that probably could have explained some things.

"Icarus, are you okay?" And speaking of the Pride Leader's mate, she had called out to him, and in the morning light her creamy, off-white fur glistened beautifully. As she hugged him, burying her face into his mane, he had to admit that she was one of the most beautiful lionesses he had ever laid eyes on up to that point. But then, he also remembered that he didn't fully accept her advances. "Not gonna lie, Jamira. I didn't sleep very well last night." He said simply, and Jamira almost immediately understood. Her smile was reassuring, at least at the time. "Don't worry about Caesar. He's always angry for one reason or another. Trust me, you and Saul are very welcome additions to this Pride." She said as she batted her eyes at him. Maybe that's the reason he hates us? Icarus thought as the older lion's mate was trying to seduce him. And then, as he remembered, he fell right for it.

And how could he not? He had known this lioness in life, but Jamira was the model lioness that most male lions would have dreamed about. It was unfortunate that she had been born in the Wastelands and as such didn't know anything else besides hardship and torment. And how unfortunate that her loyalties were taken by a lion such as Caesar.

"JAMIRA!" Oh, how different Caesar's morning greeting had been, as the red-maned lion woke pretty much everyone else up with his loud roaring call. Jamira nearly jumped out of her skin, and she would have been forgiven for thinking he was right behind her. But he had exited the cave and, upon seeing her so close to Icarus, ran up to the dark lion with murder in his eyes. "What in the hell do you think you're doing, boy!?" Icarus furrowed his brow at the aggressive older lion. He just woke up, and he's already pissed off. Wow. "Well? I asked you a question! Jamira, why are you talking to him?" He now turned to his mate, but before he could turn his fury upon her, Saul had exited the den. "Because she's her own lioness and not your property. How about that?" Saul answered in her stead, and Icarus nearly laughed at Caesar's change in demeanor as soon as he realized that it was Saul speaking. He truly did find it humorous how much Caesar's attitude changed as soon as Saul made his presence known. Given that Saul was clearly the stronger and more impulsive of the two dark battle buddies, the red-maned lion knew exactly what would happen if he tried to pick a fight right now. And so, with a growl, Caesar backed off and retreated into the cave.

"Can I kill him already?!" Saul asked, more to Icarus than Jamira. He already knew the lioness's answer, especially from the appalled look she had on her face from the mere mention of that question. "No, Saul. I don't like him either, but until we figure out where to go from here it's better that we have a pride backing us than not."Jamira then found her voice to speak up. "Besides, he's my mate. I love him and-" Saul knew where this was going. And he simply asked the simple, yet, pertinent question. "Why?"

Saul couldn't understand how anyone could put up with Caesar, much less actually love him. Neither could Icarus, but he could understand how someone might think Caesar could be useful. And he did have his uses; Icarus had to admit that he was foolish lion was a more dangerous fighter than him, although the same wasn't true of Saul. In fact, Caesar knew quite well that Saul was stronger than him and much less merciful than his darker friend. Which meant that Caesar would have to compromise, at least as long as Saul was around. But when Saul wasn't around…

"We need a plan for the hunt." Looking back, Icarus could now notice that an awkward silence had befallen the three of them after Saul had asked her why she loves the older male. She had been uncomfortable with answering that question, and was eager to change the subject. That wasn't lost on either of the dark males, but upon receiving a cue from Icarus, Saul simply let it go as Icarus answered her question. "Yeah, and I've been thinking that we should stick together this time. Especially after what happened to Tufani." Icarus said, looking at the lioness with the lazy eye exit the cave. She seemed very happy to have his attention, but frankly Icarus was perturbed by the fact that her right eye seemed to glaze over and move independently of the rest of her. Jamira cringed at her mentally damaged pridesister. "I just hope we don't run into Mwuaji again." She said, more to herself than anyone else.

Saul, however, still felt the need to reassure her. "Don't worry. If we do see him again, it'll be him who get's mentally crippled." Icarus knew what happened next, but the environment began to flash white, and when his eyes refocused, he was awake in the Royal Den, far from Caesar's cave and far from the Wastelands.