"Your cubs?" Kuendesha had continued where she left off, and Lana swore that the atmosphere became 20 degrees cooler when everyone noticed her presence. Although Julia shrunk back out of instinct, David and Kyabe both stood resolute. For Akato and Malka's parts, they were happy that it was Julia and Kyabe that Kuendesha was angry at.

"Julia, did he just say what I think he said?" Kuendesha asked, her tone stolid with anger, disappointment and, above all else, disbelief. Kyabe, seeing Julia unable to look her mother in the face, answered in her stead. "Yes, she is my mate and-" Kuendesha cut him off. "Shut up, boy! I asked my daughter a question!" She more roared than spoke, and Kyabe's expression hardened even further. Kuendesha, however, simply returned her attention to Julia. "Answer me this instant! Are you pregnant?" Julia finally found her voice. "Yes, Mom! I am! With triplets, okay? Ajabu told me last week that I'd be having three cubs." Now that much wasn't news; to Icarus, that is. For Kuendesha, this was not only a surprise but an unwelcome sound to her ears. "How… How could this happen! How could you do this to me?!" Kuendesha asked, more for herself than for an answer. But, against her better judgment, Julia gave her an answer.

"You? I've done nothing to you! I love him, and he loves me! Why cant you let me be who I'm going to be?" The only words that Kyabe paid any real attention to were the words 'I love him'. His heart was touched hearing those words, because it meant that he had finally found what he was missing his whole life. And though he would defend his new treasure with his life if need be, at this moment he much preferred taking Kuendesha's life in lieu of that. "You…You cant possibly mean that! You don't love him! You love the sweet nothings he whispers in your ear, and his manipulative ways! All he wants is to get between your legs, and that's it! You think some Wastelander can ever truly care for you?" Kuendesha asked incredulously, which earned a glower from Icarus and Lana. Does she hear herself right now? Lana asked, wondering how she could forget from where Icarus and the father of her cubs had both originated.

At this point, Kyabe steps up so that he is now beside Julia and facing Kuendesha. "First of all, this 'Wastelander' doesn't treat her feelings as insignificant hindrances, for a start. Second, she loves me because I give her love, respect and the proper attention to the lioness she is. She's not a cub anymore, in case you needed any other reminder of that." Kuendesha, hearing that, faced right up to the larger male. "Oh, is that why you continued to see her after I told you to stay away from her? Is that why you don't respect her family and continue to defy her mother?! And is that why you are disregarded my warning and spoke when I wasn't talking to you?" Kuendesha's voice got more and more shrill, to the point where those watching swore she was about to break into a roar as she spoke. However, Kyabe was fast losing patience, and the gleam in his eye was one of anger. "You'd best remember that you are NOT my mother." Kyabe growled, and then Kuendesha did something that no one, not even David and Julia, would have expected.

She slashed the father of her unborn grandcubs, right across his face. And as soon as she did, the world seemed to freeze for just a second, as though preparing for the storm that would ensue. And boy did the storm ensue, as Kyabe immediately responded with a swipe of his own. Only his was much stronger, and able to knock Kuendesha off her feet and onto her back. She rolled over to her paws, and lunged right back at her adversary. And as soon as they met, Kuendesha closed her jaws around the young man's neck, although she received a mouthful of mane for her trouble. And, as a result, Kyabe grappled her with his arms and threw her clear over her two allies. Almost on cue, Miasa and Hazana (who the others were just now remembering had accompanied the angry mother) charged at the cinnamon colored lion. Rather, they would have if David didn't block their way.

"ENOUGH OF THIS!" David roared, causing his voice to echo throughout the Jungle and potentially beyond. Kuendesha, who was back to her feet and fuming, glowered at her son. "Stand aside, boy!" Kuendesha said, but David did not move. "I said stand aside, David!" David merely bared his teeth, and now more than ever did Icarus make the comparison between him and Saul when both were determined to see something through. "No, mother, I will not." David said, his green eyes narrowing as he did. Kuendesha's light blue eyes lit with fury, as she closed the distance between the two of them. "Why don't you stay in a child's place, and get out of my way?!" Kuendesha said, her voice becoming very shrill as she shouted in David's face. "I'm not a child no more, mother." David responded, as he stood his full height and bristled his fur. "And, little lady, I suggest you calm down." David said, a hint of cold malice in his voice. Kuendesha, at being challenged, did the opposite of calm down. "You think you're a grown lion? You want to be the second daddy? Then you can go ahead and get out of my den! You think you can do better, then go find your own pride!" David growled and his arms tensed, having heard this exact statement one time too many. Before he could raise his paw off the ground to finally do what he had always wanted to do, Icarus intervened.

"Ummm, as Saul's only cubs, he and Julia are to inherit the crown. It's their choice if they want to leave or not, not yours. Or did you forget that once again?" Icarus calmly reminded her, and as he did everyone present looked back at Kuendesha, to see her fuming at Icarus for speaking up. David began to chuckle triumphantly. "Yes. Thank you, Icarus, for speaking some sense to this situation." David said. However, Julia's response shocked everyone present, especially Lana and Akato, given what they've heard of Julia's ambitions for the future.

"Thank you Icarus, but I don't know if I even want to remain in the same pride as her." Julia said, staring daggers at the lioness who dared to attack the father of her cubs. "All Mom has ever done was hold our dependence on her over our heads. She acts like being the mother somehow means that she has the right to cross boundaries and disrespect us anytime she feels like it. Merely disagreeing with her can cause her to say what she just said to David. Since she wants to be that way, since she wants it to be all or nothing, then I'd rather just leave and find another pride." Julia turned to Kyabe. "I can't trust Mom not to do what she just did ever again. She just proved that she would do anything if it meant getting her way. And I'd rather not have to choose between loyalty to my mother or to my mate." Although Kyabe was still angry at the older lioness, Julia's words touched his heart. She's a better lion than I, that much is certain, he thought as he put the thought of beating Kuendesha to a pulp out of his mind for the time being.

But before he could give his answer, Icarus spoke up. "Julia, Kyabe. I don't think you two need to do that. No one is forcing you to leave. No one." Icarus had said that last part with calm force, directed right at Kuendesha. "Since you talk about being the 'top cat in this den', let's do just that. You want Kyabe or David to leave? Then do what most lions would do and fight them." Icarus declared, and Kuendesha, for the first time, was given pause. "That… I…" Icarus finished her sentence for her. "You are a lioness, who doesn't stand a chance against the younger and much stronger male lions? Well, in that case, the Order of Nature dictates that you're the one who has to leave. But, I'm going to extend the courtesy of decision to David, Julia, and Kyabe. What do you three think?" Icarus asked, but at this point he felt that question was more rhetorical than anything. After looking over to Miasa and Hazana, as well as the approving looks of the rest of the sub-adults (minus Malka, for a reason that Icarus could not comprehend), it was David who spoke what the other three were thinking.

"Get out, Kuendesha."