Before anyone could take another step, the Kuguar stood between his mother and Taryn, the air suddenly acrid with the scent of the ashen sands that made up the Warren floor. he let out a confused and enraged growl at his mother, fearless of her abilities only because of his purpose that stood behind his protective flesh.<br/><br/>"How could you say such a thing and expect something so cruel and horrid of me, Mother?! She is my mate! She carries my cubs! Your grandchildren! The goddess blessed me with second life so that I may stand at her and my children's protection! If Mother Gaea had not wished for them to live she would have let me pass or let the poison that had threatened Taryn take her..."<br/><br/>The feline was at arms without a moments thought to his opponent or opponents. Taryn had become his world and when their status as mates was sealed with the blessing of her pregnancy, his protectiveness of her livelihood became his first and, if need be, only priority.<br/><br/>"Our children will be born under the sacred mother's blessing an under my protection. I shall not harm Taryn..I shall not harm our little ones and I shall not allow you to do so either. The Wolves will go hungry this night.." He declared with an emerald stare directly into the bleeding pools of his mother's eyes. Those eyes that had given so many great terror and yet the woman could see none in her son's eye. His gaze often held a fear as the others did though it was a respectful fear and now he simply held none. Fallen low is the mother who is no longer feared by her offspring.<br/><br/>His stance had shifted offensively, as if to stand his ground and let his body serve as a barrier, his paws dug into the earth beneath him and his spiraling cracks and scars shown bright with the pulsation of his energy. The air in the small altar chamber had become sultry and acrid with the heat his rage emitted. He could not think on it now but the young Kuguar was in shock of his mother's words and how easily they left her lips. His gaze shifted quietly from his mother to his good-for-nothing brother and back to the priestess. Neither of the two would make it to Taryn if they tried.<br/><br/>"If you wish her punished for what the goddess has gifted her with..you will have to fight your way through me first.." He said without a hint of fear on his breath, his fur prickling with diamond shards.