It had been 5 months since Lana finally healed, for a total of 7 months passed since the incident with the wild dogs. Icarus and Nyota, in addition to welcoming another cub into the world, had also noticed that Lana was close to two years of age, which meant that (just as it was with the other cubs in her generation) her coming-of-age ceremony was fast approaching. More than that, Nyota warned Icarus that she was becoming more and more beautiful as she began to grow into her adult body. Given Lana's tendencies to want to go exploring and exercise the freedoms that Icarus insisted that she have, Nyota grew concerned that young males would begin to become a problem that she'd have to contend with. Although Icarus swore Nyota was beginning to sound more and more like Kuendesha with each passing month, he knew exactly why she had every right to be worried.

Icarus kicked himself each and every day that he did not punish Iago for his wrongdoings, even if he made the excuse of honoring another king's request. As he thought more about that day, he wondered if he should have listened.

-Flashback-

-"IAGO!" Icarus had called out, his voice being carried for miles due to using his roar to project it. He had scoured the entire zebra plains and the family den that was hidden under the brush, but both had been devoid of the offender and the dogs that served him on this day. As though he knew exactly what was to come of his actions the week prior. Surely the sound of a foreign male roaring so grandly got the attention of at least one other predator, and the one he had called for was bound to be found if the dark lion could just talk to someone who knew him.

No response, so Icarus prepared to roar again. And just as he did, a sub-adult male appeared. Icarus instantly recognized him as Malka. "Malka." Icarus growled, making the younger and bigger male happy that he was not the target of the angry father's wrath. "I have an idea of why you're here." Malka said, and Icarus narrowing his eyes told him all he needed to know. "You'll find him at Ivory Tower." Malka said simply, and just as soon as he said that did Icarus turn and begin to break into a sprint. Malka had waited for a few seconds before following, and Icarus never saw the satisfied smirk on Malka's face. Icarus's rage simply built up, more and more, until he finally set his eyes on the wiry teen. And those violet eyes probably turned red as he locked on and began to race tirelessly towards his target.

"IAGO!" Icarus roared, his smooth and intelligent voice now more of an animalistic bellow than a voice. The look on Iago's face, as well as the faces of the young lionesses around him as they moved out of the way of the angry dark lion, was one of abject terror. For Iago, this terror lasted only a few seconds because in that time Icarus was upon him. Icarus bit down on Iago's head, and fortunately for the weedy teen he had moved just enough to prevent anything important from being caught by Icarus' teeth as the two rolled. Iago managed to slip out of Icarus's grip and immediately ran in the opposite direction. He didn't even look at Malka or acknowledge his half-brother's grin of approval as Icarus was hot on his trail. The dark lion was surprised at just how fast Blood's favored son could run, and then he was even more surprised to see how fast Iago could climb a tree, for in short order Iago practically jumped into a marula tree with all of his speed. Unfortunately for him, there was nowhere to run any longer and Icarus would be able to sink his claws into the marauder soon.

That is, until he felt his hind legs being pulled and then his whole body was being thrown. When Icarus landed, he saw… Miran. No, Miran was dead; he and Saul ensured that he was no longer among the living. Either way, the blonde lion who had just interfered was now going to suffer the dark lion's wrath. With strength Icarus never knew himself to be capable of, he charged right back at the intercepter. Although he attempted to catch the smaller lion, the blonde lion was still knocked down onto his back, Icarus' claws buried into his shoulders as he did. Although the blonde lion managed to throw Icarus off, in short order he was upon him again and forced the blonde lion to cover up and defend himself with an arm. That same arm swung out, and Icarus dodged under it and seized the chance to bite at the blonde lion's neck. Although he couldn't get through the thick mane, it was enough to send a shock through the tyrannical lion. To Icarus' optimism, he seemed to actually be damaging the blonde terror as he knocked him down again, but his anger was quickly overshadowing all other senses as he heard a lioness roar and then felt a sharp pain on his back.

It was Choyana, and upon seeing her favored son cowering in a tree and Icarus fighting who was no doubt their son's protector, she had leapt right into the fray to defend her son and attempted to bite through Icarus' mane. The Circle of Life was not on Choyana's side on this day, for her motherly instinct would be rewarded with Icarus' retaliation. In short order, Icarus turned around and slammed Choyana to the ground with all of his strength. She let out a plaintiff whimper as Icarus quite literally beat and sliced the life out of her. "No! Stop! Leave her alone!" Iago screamed out, but noticeably did not move to save his mother. He was afraid, and once it was clear that his words fell on deaf ears he merely covered his eyes and averted his face at the sound of Icarus's claws mutilating Choyana and the thuds of her head being slammed onto the hard ground.

After what seemed like forever, her screams of pain stopped coming altogether, and once Icarus realized that she was no longer struggling he let her go. Although he turned his focus back onto the lion in the tree, the voices he heard behind him got his attention for just a moment. "Mom!" Icarus looked over his shoulder, and growled at Othello and Jezebel. Although they wanted to go to their fallen mother, both of them cowered and shrunk away from the dark lion. The blonde lion recovered, and began to speak.

"Icarus! I'm no longer fighting! Stand down, please! Just… Listen. I just want to talk." Now that had caught Icarus off-guard. -

-Flashback Ends-

As the memory of what happened next replayed through Icarus' mind, he couldn't believe that he let his rage be abated by merely hearing the blonde tyrant want to talk things out. But, as he allowed that to happen, he realized that the 'Blonde Tyrant' was no tyrant at all, even if he was the undeniable son of Miran. As Mato told him who he was, and why he had defended Iago, Icarus began to slowly realize that Mato was nothing like his tyrannical father and perhaps his kindness extended too far, in fact. However, after it was all said and done, Mato had given his word, as one King to another.

That day, Mato ensured that as long as he lived, Iago would cause no further problems for Lana or anyone else.