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Draugr had left a thrall behind in the pride when Aesir had fallen and they'd left their homeland. He'd left that thrall with very distinct directions - that he should send for Draugr when there was a new Warlord so that he and his family might return to the pride.

Draugr knew that it would take a year. Probably it might take more, but a year at least.

To say that the large dark lion was pleased by the fact that Njal was no longer warlord after only a year would be an understatement. And so, once the thrall had notified Draugr that Njal had been usurped, Draugr had herded the others together.

"We're going home."

It did not take long for the foursome to make their way back to the Stronghold.

"Nearly there, Ottir."

Draugr spoke slowly, the rich timbre of his voice commanding.

Ottir chuckled and glanced over at his brother.

"Aye. Almost there." He turned to peer at Rorik and Katta who were much younger than he and Draugr. They'd spent the entirety of their travels bickering back and forth, which amused Ottir but tended to exasperate Draugr.

"You hear that, Katta? Rorik? We're nearly home. I wonder if they've given our dens away. If they have, I'm not sharing with you, Katta, so don't ask."

Draugr chuckled, and Ottir turned to grin at his brother before glancing back at his sister, who promptly stuck her tongue out at him.

In truth, the brothers would do anything for their sister.

Kattakyn shook her head at Ottir and immediately turned back to face Rorik. He was younger than she by a few moments, and those few moments were enough to make her far superior to her littermate.

"Draugr will let me stay with him, I'll bet, or I'll kick Rorik out of his den," she bumped her shoulder against the younger male's, grinning all the while, "and steal all his furs."

It had been a long time since they'd been home. Katta sometimes wondered if they'd have left if she hadn't been a reaver. She was not the sort to settle down and look after a den. Kattakyn was far too robust for that. Even though she was smaller than her brothers (who she thought of as rather massive), she was still larger than most female lions in the pride.

Rorik merely snorted - loudly - and rolled his eyes at Kattakyn. As the youngest of the four, one might think that Rorik would be babied. It wasn't the case. All three of the males looked after Kattakyn. Ottir had once told Rorik that she reminded him of their mother, who had died during childbirth bringing Rorik and Kattakyn into the world. That made Rorik love Kattakyn even more, simply because she was the closest thing he had to their mother.

"Draugr would let you have his den. You know he doesn't like to sleep indoors anyway."

It was fun to tease their oldest brother.

In the distance up ahead, Rorik caught sight of another lion. Dark of pelt, the lion was large - but he was outnumbered, which Rorik took comfort in.

Even still, Rorik moved ahead of Kattakyn and placed himself directly in front of her. Ottir moved to her side, and Draugr moved ahead. Together they were a formidable sight.

None of them saw Katta roll her eyes.

Bruten had taken patrols more and more often these days. He was furious. There was such an anger in his chest that he couldn't really articulate it. His father was no longer warlord. In fact, his father hadn't even answered the challenge. It was disgusting, and it filled Bruten with rage. The lion couldn't even stand being near the pride these days - and so most of his time was spent out on patrols.

He caught scent of the small band of lions before he saw them. When they came into his field of vision, Bruten narrowed his eyes. He did not recognize any of them.

Four. He was outnumbered. He hated feeling weak.

As the lions drew closer, Bruten called out, "Halt, you --"

Draugr remained silent, eerie eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Bruten, son of Njal. He wasn't the sort of lion to demolish another's pride simply because he could, but a sideways glance at Kattakyn was enough to keep her mouth shut. She had a habit of speaking before thinking, and while it did not bother her brothers it did bother others.

"We thank you for the welcome," Draugr moved past Bruten. His voice was filled with steely politeness, but that was all. A politeness that was expected of him, and nothing more. Ottir could clean up the mess, as far as Draugr was concerned. It was far more suited to his personality than Draugr's.

"Ah, yes. Thank you for the welcome. It's good to be home, Bruten Njalson. Though I must admit, I consider myself lucky to have had my family during our travels. Our father is dead, gone of age. My brothers and my sister are all I have left."

Ottir was blabbing, but it was what he did best. It was good to blab when faced with someone who had a short temper. It was not obvious whether or not Bruten did have a short temper, but there was something about the dark, odd-eyed lion that hinted at a sort of danger.

Ottir did not actively seek out danger.

Kattakyn caught Draugr's look, and she knew that look well enough to keep her mouth shut. She knew that sometimes she could be a little foolish, and Draugr was always the first to let her know. Never entirely ungentle about it, either, which Katta was thankful for. He had a way about him, Draugr did, that made his displeasure obvious without being demeaning. He was stoic, but he was wise, and Kattakyn never doubted that he loved her, never doubted that he cared for all of them.

She was lucky to have them all.

Sticking close to Ottir, Kattakyn kept her mouth wisely closed.

For now.

Rorik merely grunted and followed after Draugr, leaving Ottir to worry about Katta. He did not want to dally, and he did not want to be forced into idle chitchat with the son of Njal. This was the sort of lion he actively avoided, and would continue to actively avoid.

As he padded along behind Draugr, Rorik's thoughts turned to their home. He'd missed the pride. There were so many beautiful females to dally with, so much mint to enjoy, so many different sorts in the pride. He'd loved living there, and was so very glad to be home.

Rorik fought the urge to break into a run as the distant stronghold loomed closer.

If Bruten had not been raised as the son of the Warlord, he might have felt a little intimidated by the small group of large lions. He might have been especially intimidated by Draugr. The lion was thickly built, broad as any Bruten had ever seen - which led Bruten to believe that the lion was also slow.

Slow was almost as dangerous as small, in Bruten's mind.

He ignored Ottir for the most part, and continued to ignore the female. Instead of walking behind with the two, Bruten caught up with Draugr and chose to walk with the eldest lion, instead.

"I have never heard of your family," Bruten spoke the off-handed insult softly.

When Kattakyn and Rorik tore off, Draugr glanced over at Ottir before his gaze flicked across Bruten's form. The brown-maned lion was immediately dismissed. He'd served whatever purpose he'd planned on serving, and Draugr was through with him. Watching Katta and Rorik run towards the stronghold made Draugr chuckle. The sound was low and rusty, and he turned towards Ottir only to lift his brows.

And then he was off, running after Katta and Rorik. They were home where they belonged, and they were together in the pride they'd been born to. The last year hadn't been awful, but in all reality, there was no place like home.

Ottir gave the back of his brother's head a scowl as the larger lion took off in a lumbering run. He hadn't seen Draugr act so dismissive in quite some time, nor had he seen his brother act so carefree.

"Excuse me," Ottir (ever polite lion that he was) spoke to Bruten before breaking out into a run. He had little doubt that he'd catch up to the bulkier Draugr, but he wasn't racing. It was fun just to see the younger siblings feeling a little lighthearted. Rorik was fast, but Katta was nimble, and Ottir would bet that Katta would win.

They were home. They were home, and if she had her way they'd never leave again. Part of Kattakyn feared that the pride had changed drastically. Would there be many strange lions there? Deep down she knew that there would be plenty of new faces to acquaint herself with - but then again, there would be friends to see once more, as well.

It was exciting.

It didn't take Katta long to catch up to Rorik, and she passed him with ease. She was the smallest, and she'd always loved to run.

They were home.

After a year, they were home.

Rorik glanced over his shoulder when Katta passed him. He saw Draugr running, and then Ottir, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter. It didn't matter that he was losing the race against his sister. It really didn't. They were home, and they were safe, and they were together. That was all that mattered.

Everything else would fall together the way it was meant to, Rorik believed.

Even if the majority of the lions in the pride were new, or strangers, or assholes like Bruten Njalson had been, Rorik didn't mind. With new faces came the chance for new friends, and he'd always have his family.

Then there was one. Bruten was left behind, and he couldn't help but feel a little envious that he'd never grown close to his family. Save for Naaja, he rarely spoke to his brothers and sisters.

The Captain watched the lions run, and part of him - a small, small part of him - wanted to run with them. Another part of him was utterly jealous.

Perhaps it was time he found Sjurd. They'd not been on a viking for quite some time. Maybe that would make him feel better. He always felt more relaxed after their adventures, that was certain.