"She doesn't trust the ones she saw attacking... In the invasion. As for how she would act in front of one of the Czars, she stood in front of me then too. Would your own companion not seek to protect you from one she thought a threat?"

Ktulu had rolled her eyes as she turned back to the filly when she defended her hound's actions because she obviously thought the girl was full of shit. "Did any physical harm come to you after we took over the Falls?" The dark mare had demanded. "No. And so long as you remain a member of the Hidden Falls no harm will come to you from any member here." The tone of her voice promised that there would be consequences if she found out that anyone in the Falls hurt another herd member without due cause. Of course with how emotional the girl was it wouldn't have surprised Ktulu if she thought that the tone of her voice was directed at her. "And as for my companion ...  he knows better than to disrespect any member of this herd because I taught him better." And she would leave it at that.

"If you want to kick us out just because of her growling, do it. Not like any of you have given a shit about me since you took over. Only reason I stuck around was hoping my parents would come back. To bad my mom can't, cause she's dead."

Every fiber of Ktulu's being wanted to snap at the child to grow up and stop acting like a brat, but she bit her tongue. "Walk with me." She said, her voice leaving no room for argument, and she walked away from the new warrior and the mason that had brought him. "If we didn't give a shit about you," The Constrictor said as she walked. "Then you would be homeless, wouldn't you? If none of us gave a shit about you then we would have kicked you out when we took over. But you're still living here, you're still being taken care of, and it seems to me like you're taking it for granted."

'Take it easy.' Eytan murmured from his place at Ktulu's side. 'She lost her mother.'

"She's not the only one." The dark mare snapped, her crimson eyes finding her companion, who just shook his head at her.

"I know what its like to lose a parent." She finally said. "I buried my mother not long before the invasion. I also know what its like to lose a child." So that pity me bullshit isn't going to work on me. "Sitting around feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to make yourself feel better and it isn't going to bring your mother back." She was quiet for several seconds as they walked as she debated on what she should say next. "The best thing you can do is find someone else to fill the void they left behind or find something to keep you busy so you don't feel that pain all the time."
 

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"It may not of come to me, because I was a child. But what of those who defended thier home? Czarina Ghost, Elsa, My parents? They were hurt. For all I know my Dad is dead too because of all of you."

"Oh, give me a break." Ktulu snapped irritably at the filly. "Do you think it was my decision to invade? Do you think it was a decision that came easy or just spur of the moment? Do you think neither of your parents ever took part in an invasion that hurt someone else?" The dark mare snorted at the girl's audacity. Honestly, if she didn't like what they had done, how they had taken over, then she could walk her little ass out of the Falls and not look back.

"Age and time is little more than an excuse." Came Ktulu's flat reply to what Vitani said next. "I was young when I had Eytan, but I still taught him respect from the day I bonded with him." But, of course, not every parent taught their kids to respect anyone, let alone someone who was far stronger than them. 

Whatever.

"See you around, if she doesn't kick me out and ban me from the land."

"What are you so worried about getting kicked out and banned for?" Ktulu asked when she really wanted to tell the girl to stop acting like a bitchy little brat. "You seem to hate us so why should it even bother you?" Part of her was so very tempted to escort the child to the border and make her leave, but she knew that Archibald and Kaj would be upset with her because of it... and Lakota. Lakota had a soft spot for children that the dark mare didn't and couldn't understand.

Honestly, talking to the girl was like talking to a stone, except she honestly though the stone would have more common sense. "Excuse us." Ktulu snapped. "Excuse us for wanting to fortify defenses and patrol to protect your ass and everyone else. And excuse us for trying to get the healers settled and the masons squared away so they can start building. Excuse the fuck out of us for not taking every second of our day to tend to you and your needs alone when we're trying to take care of an entire herd."

'Calm down!' Eytan snapped through their bond. 'She's just a child. A grieving child.'

"More like an insolent little brat." Ktulu snorted.

"Have you even bothered trying to talk to anyone?" Ktulu asked next. "Or have you just sat by judging us for not taking notice while we were busy working?"

"What who says I feel sorry for myself?"

"The way you act and the way you complain about everything says that you feel sorry for yourself." Was Ktulu's blunt reply. Vitani could deny it all she wanted, but it would not change Ktulu's opinion that the girl felt sorry for herself.

As their conversation turned to the void left behind by her parents Ktulu remained quiet. She knew quite well feeling like nothing would ever be right again after finding her mother's body. She still felt the emptiness from Hototo's death, but having Lakota and Murtagh made it easier. The child would learn in time that it would get better.

"Besides, who would willingly put up with me, or keep me busy just cause?"

"Do you think I'm walking and talking with you for my health?" Ktulu asked as she finally looked down at the girl. 

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"Why not just ask? I'm sure the Czar and Czarina would of worked something out with your old herd... Why make the choice to invade?"

"Its political." Ktulu responded. "Do you really think a leader from another herd would ask to join a herd when he can invade and keep his position?" It was truly a naive view of the world, but what else could be expected from a child? "Your Czar helped invade these lands many seasons ago." So don't you dare put him on a pedestal and bash everyone else who's done the same exact thing he has. Learn your history before you start to spout off nonsense.

Ktulu could have said more about Vitani's companion and her lack of respect, but it was like talking to a tree... except the tree would have been far more understanding of what she was saying.

"Why do I care? Because I was born here! I probably know the land better than any of you ever will! This was my home, the one place I felt safe... Till you all showed up..."

"Is that so?" The dark mare asked as she finally stopped walking and turned fully toward the young brat. "I was the Chieftess of this land before you were even born. Your Czar helped me invade this place when he was still nothing more than a warrior in the Dragon's Throat. So don't spout that bullshit at me." But the real slap in the face was that she didn't feel safe in the Falls with all the warriors there to protect her ungrateful ass. It was enough to make Ktulu want to grab the girl by the neck and throw her on the ground and show her what danger was. "You said it was your home. If you don't like us here and if you don't feel safe then leave." Ktulu finally said. "No one is making you stay."

With that said Ktulu turned and began to walk again, her ears tilted toward the girl as she spoke yet again and, once more, it made her stop and turn to the girl. Stop trying to put all the blame on everyone else, child. Boohoo no one notices me, boohoo you only noticed be because Sarabi growled at you. This is the first time I've met you and I was greeted with nothing but hostility You'd rather sit by and demonize us and live by your own narrow minded view of who we are just because we did something you don't like. You want to blame us for your isolation when you hardly go out of your own way to make yourself useful to a herd that is busting its ass to protect and provide someone as ungrateful as you.

Somehow, by the grace of everything holy, Ktulu was able to keep her rant entirely mental to keep from pissing the girl off and driving her away. "This is the first time I've met you." She said instead. "You wanted to be noticed and you were."

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 "If you were a Chieftess, then that was before Father Earth changed the lands. They aren't the same as when you ruled."

Oh, didn't the smartass have an answer for everything?

"How do you how much the land was changed if you weren't born?" Ktulu asked, but she continued on fairly quickly. "Oh, that's right. You don't. Pity." Her tail flicked and she kept walking. "I've walked these borders every night since we won this land. I've traveled over these fields, though these cliffs, around waterfalls, all over. I know this land just as well as the land I ruled and you can't tell me otherwise because you don't know." Could she just kick the girl around a little and call it a night? Honestly, the little brat was working her last nerve and it was a miracle beyond all miracles that she had not snapped.

But it was coming. 

Just keep pushing.

For whatever reason the girl stayed quiet and Ktulu found it strange and very unlike the little brat that had been matching her step for step. She glanced down at the kid and snorted. Was there really going to be no snotty comeback about her finally being noticed? Really? It was a blessing as much as a surprise, though, and Ktulu was grateful for just the few seconds it might last that the girl was being less of a brat.

"You will begin patrols next season." Ktulu decided, rather suddenly. Now she would have no reason to complain about being ignored and not seen by anyone. As long as she went on her patrols she would have all the interaction with other herd members that she could possibly want, but it was up to her. If she remained ignored it would be her own fault for not making herself seen and known to her patrol partners.

"Its getting late." And she glanced up at the moon that was rising higher in the night sky. "Where do you usually rest? I'll walk you there"

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