Bonum Mane

"Salve!"

The little cub was just excited that he had remembered the proper word. He didn't exactly remember it, mind you, just parroted what their large king had said. But he'd never actually admit that. He was just happy he could impress the king with his Latin. His tail batted back and forth, a smile on his face, head high, chest puffed.

Mom and Dad said to always carry yourself with honor when the king was about!

His smile dropped softly though...what was he supposed to say next? He screwed up his face, trying hard to remember the next words. He blinked, excitedly.

"Oh-Oh! I remember!" He cleared his throat. "QU-omO-do es dominEE?" He winced, hoping the king wasn't in a mood today and his lessons would go unwelcome.

Moist air glided from the maintain canopies and with that a cool but humid breeze. Whilst the sun rose overhead, many of the inhabitants hauled forth with the waking of the sun. Hestia had lingered within her chambers instead of venturing with her mate and son to visit the avian of the Sky Council. Mornings are usually her hardest times, the ache sleep left within her lack of limb stirred deep and the trek up the mountain sometimes proved too steep for her. Hestia wasn’t one to admit her problems; if she was hurting she attempted to stifle such turmoil but her other half usually noticed. The leg was a reminder of how much he loved her, or so it seems. Joints yearned for relief which prompted her to rise from the nest she shared with Diogenes. Dense muscle churned like rippling wine, her unique gait uttering against the solid stone beneath her paws.

It was a gradual movement, her pelt of ruby hues welcomed the sun’s gaze which erupted it into a dazzling shimmer like jewels. Dropping her chest she inclined to reach forward into a stretch, her single hind keeping the balance as she allowed her joints to utter forth their relief. Diogenes was probably down conversing with the fire birds and she decided it was time to leave the confines of her cave.

Dipping past the yawning arch the regal lioness took smooth but hobbled strides into her territory. Passing fellow lions they offered their greetings but Hestia wasn’t in the mood for conversation when the status of her mate was unknown. While the birds didn’t leave him foul she didn’t want to limp up on him flaring his temper at Xerxes or perhaps another irritating thing. Rosewood toes pressed smooth prints into the moist dirt, the footprints one short of a full set but it marked her usual stride. Hestia inclined her skull with the pride and regality of a warrior and a queen, she had seen the decline of wars brought by many and it was rare for her placid face to mar into an expression other than its stone like tranquility.

Lavender irises fastened upon the large physiques of two identical males but to the eye of a mother and mate she could clearly discern them. Diogenes’s appeared looming but serene and resting below him was the small form of a two-toned cub, a spawn of Cullen’s. Hestia strode past Zues first, fixing her first born and future of the pride with a faint smile before returning amethyst to the stuttering tot below. Ruby ears had heard their exchange on her trek towards them and the cub elicited an amused smirk.

“You mean, ‘quomodo es domine’, modicum deus,” she addressed him with a fond title that Hestia often adorned the youth of their pride. “Salve, Zues,” her voice hinted that of a purr, despite her horrid awakening earlier seeing them brightened it ever so slightly even if her face indicated barely a change. Hobbling towards her mate she took a stance adjacent to him dipping her crown in respect before swiping her muzzle beneath his chin.

“Salve lux vitae meae,” her breath fanned against his ear as she withdrawn from him, “How was the meeting with the fire birds?” she prompted with curiosity, glancing around to see where their messenger might have flown too as well.

He looked upon the child with his golden gaze, impassive and wordless as the cub made an attempt to utter words of their latin tongue at him with minor success. Cullen's child which granted him some immunity to Diogenes' paranoia that often set in. That, and he was but a cub. No real threat to anyone and when he looked upon his eyes he saw his mothers gaze. Aztec had always been a creature of great reason and capabilities, perhaps that was what really soothed any unpleasant behavior that might flare up in the beast of a King.

"Negotio utilitatis militabat." he returned coolly, commended the child for his effort without correcting him himself. Diogenes really was in a favorable mood this morning and it seemed to brighten slightly with the twitch of an ear at the approach of not only his own first born but his favorite as well. Zeus was greeted with an incline of his head in return, his copper mane dipping in front of his eyes for a moment before straightening themselves out in time to watch Hestia correct and endear Cullen's child. His maw wrinkled only slightly with a grunt and without taking his eyes from Hestia and Adonis he spoke to Zeus.

"As it does these mornings." he said. Most were quite quiet, especially when he thought back to the days of war that they'd endured. He then turned to actually look at his son when he spoke next.

"And the borders?" he inquired. He spoke on business but perhaps it was Diogenes way of returning the pleasantries. Somehow unable to speak casually and ask him how his walk was this morning Diogenes instead asked of his land. If anyone would know this pattern well enough it'd be his own son. To the brief bump against his chin Diogenes was suddenly greeted by the touch of his beloved. Hestia's contact soothed him almost immediately, a gentle rumble expelling from his chest that was only ever heard within her presence. Not unheard of to the pride but never bestowed in any gentleness to them as it was to her.

"Amica mea." he returned easily. He inhaled deeply as she retracted and inquired of the Sky Council. "They had much to say." he replied shortly. In truth they always did, but this morning had been rather interesting. He'd speak of it later, now was not the time especially with more of his pride closing in upon the morning. Delaney was a welcome site with a fresh kill within her jaws. The stout lioness brought it in with very little trouble, small but exceedingly capable for as long as Diogenes had come to know her.

"Salve." he spoke simply to Delaney, cocking an eyebrow before he continued, "You rose early for that one." he commented. It was a statement, not a question, and one that was accompanied by a pleased tone in his deep rumbling voice. This was in part is thanks, and to add to it he inclined his head.

"Praesta meae fratribus." he spoke, inclining his head to invite the pride to have the breakfast that Delaney had so kindly brought. His gaze then turned upon Adonis once again.

"It is said our ancestors spoke only in the Latin tongue. If you can tell me what I've said you may help yourself, young one." he explained. Diogenes thought this was fair, as he had quite literally almost just told Adonis what he had said. Paired with the gesture he'd made to the food towards the other members present of his Pride it should be easy to guess.

Zeus knew his father's inquiry for what it was. He'd long since realized the king simply wasn't one for casual conversation, and long since grown accustomed to it. "Tutum solito," he replied. The wars might be long over, but since he'd begun his morning ritual, none had dared approach so close to De Falsis Deis' home uninvited.

Before he could say more, Hestia arrived, walking past him as she approached Diogenes. His impassive gaze fell upon her mangled leg, but she showed no outward sign it was any bother to her. His gaze shifted down to Adonis in time to see the cub's expression change to shock, and even though his expression didn't change, his eyes glinted slightly with suppressed amusement at Adonis' predicament, although he was proud to see how the cub handled himself.

"Salve, mother," he replied, raising his head again to meet her gaze, the faint ghost of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as his gaze softened. When it was his time to reign as king, he could only hope he found a queen who could be to him what Hestia was to Diogenes.

Another voice cut in, and Zeus glanced at Delaney who was, to no surprise, carrying a fresh kill as she approached the small gathering without hesitation. While he might've been irritated by such familiarity from most anyone else, th short lioness had more than proved her worth to the pride. He returned her greeting with a short, respectful nod, not quite managing to return her smile.

He turned his impassive gaze towards his father just as the king addressed the pride, inviting them to take part in the fresh prey Delaney had brought in. He took a step forward, lowered his head, and tore a chunk out of the klipspringer's carcass before stepping back, swallowing the warm flesh and licking the blood from his lips, deliberately seating himself right next to Adonis, signalling he would take no more from the kill while others were waiting to eat. His gaze shifted down towards the cub as he cleaned the last bits of blood fro his jaws and teeth.