When Jinx had came to him, beckoning him to follow her Ira had not, initially inquired about the situation whether it had been because he had been still in the tresses of slumber having not quite broken free of sleep’s firm grasp, or because he did not truly want to question his new guardian was unknown. Ira’s knowledge was vague as to what had spurred the abruptness of their leaving, and idly the insolent child believed that she would come to tell him eventually. Gathering the rabbit fur he had stolen from an abandoned den - which was all he had really come to possess in his short time in Horizon Ridge (thankfully) - he clutched his possession betwixt his jaws and hurried after Jinx, leaving the den with a permanence. The journey north was long - granted, not as long as his journey with Tark, yet still. The rabbit fur weighed Ira down but he was as determined as he was stubborn. He did not want a new fur to possess, he wanted the one he had found because it was his. Despite the fur that was damp with saliva and was beginning to leave a fuzzy taste in his mouth, he still managed to inquire as to where they were going, prodding Jinx unabashed with questions even if they were a bit muffled. Eventually, Ira figured out that transporting his possession would be easier if he balanced it on his back. It hindered his pace, but he was able to keep up with Jinx well enough, given this.

In truth, Ira was just glad that Jinx had not left him behind. He had not met many of Horizon Ridge’s members but the one (aside from Jinx) that he had met, he hadn’t liked very much.

Eventually, Jinx had began to explain her reasons for their departure from Horizon’s Ridge. Ira gave his guardian his rapt and undivided attention as they walked, seemingly hooked with awe (as he secretly often was) on her every word. "I can be that," Ira assured her, quick to please. "Unforgiving and rule iron-fisted, I mean." He added after a breath, not wanting her to mistaken his assurance to mean he could be a weak King. He would never be a weak King -- especially not with her as his mentor, Ira felt confident. For a while, the child fell silent contemplating Jinx’s words, wondering why no one challenged him then, if he was a weak ruler. Not that he was questioning Jinx’s judgment - in fact, he wholeheartedly believed her.

Ira stopped when she did, the scent markers of a pack assaulting his nostrils. It did not strike Ira as familiar, and after he shrugged his rabbit fur off his back, he gathered it close to him, standing over it possessively as if he feared some shadow creature materializing out of nowhere to come and snatch it from him. Ira turned his milky blue eyes to Jinx, usually so fierce, colored with his confusion as he watched her lower herself to her uninjured side, asking him to be respectful. Ira’s jaw dropped open in a brief bought of shock, unsure if he had heard her right. It was the first time he had ever heard Jinx not encourage his normal behavior. Quickly, the child closed his mouth, needle sharp teeth snapping together with a little click. Her request was followed by an explanation of some bitch that didn’t like Jinx (Ira got the feeling it was mutual). "Then why are we here?" He asked in hushed tones, meant only for Jinx’s ears. Of course, he would be complacent and would act modestly and respectfully in the strange alpha’s presence - but only because Jinx had asked him too. He would put on a convincing show, to prove that he could do it.

While Jinx’s words made sense to Ira, stroking his ego with her talk of legions under his command someday, but he shoved it aside, a spark of excitement rising within him at the prospect of putting on a performance Jinx could be proud of. "Don’t worry,” The Princeling purred in his Guardian’s ear. "I’ll charm her ass off." Charisma was something that he had naturally when he wasn’t being a snobby brat - something Ira was about to dabble with for the first time.

Despite the confidence in his own abilities that radiated off of Ira, he had never before pretended to be something he wasn’t. He had always been extremely straight forward in regards to his spoiled, insolent, perhaps narcissistic personality, having never really been taught that he was acting in any way other than what was right. Jinx informed him that she had friends in this place, a Shaman - Ira wondered briefly what exactly that was - and said Shaman’s daughter. "Hmm," The child offered the noise thoughtfully at her words, though he trusted Jinx’s confidence that this unknown Alpha would accept them. Though the same amount of trust could not be placed upon this unknown bitch -- as Jinx had called her (pretty much anything Jinx said Ira thought it was ok for him to say likewise) -- and likely would not, no matter how charming and cute of a role Ira could manage to play. Though he was confident enough in his own abilities, he couldn’t help but feel that it might be really strange to be an angel when he really was the devil. It would be excellent practice for the future, Ira did not doubt.

Jinx’s words of counting upon him caused a swell of pride to warm his chest, and Ira glimpsed at his guardian for a moment, milky blue irises with flecks of fierce crystalline near the dark abyss of his pupils studying her as he offered her a impish little grin. The sound of approaching of footfalls claimed the boy’s attention quickly, though, and as if someone had flipped off a light switch the impish grin he had shared and meant for Jinx was gone, replaced with a wide doe-eyed expression he had seen other children invoke. A major difference from Ira’s usual haughtiness as he assessed the honey colored female that approached discreetly. The honey colored woman wasted no time asserting her dominance and though Ira did not allow a slip of his true feelings betray him he did not, frankly, like the way the woman dared to look at his Mambo - not realizing that for the first time he was feeling protective over someone else. He stifled such feelings quickly before they could even remotely show, instead blinking down at his paws when Jinx began to speak, pleading their case.

For the most part Ira stood obediently, plopping down on his haunches after a while, tail caressing the earth as he gave it a half-hearted wag. As Jinx spoke, he just sort of sat there and looked cute, maintaining this even when she mentioned him, figuring that cute little children did not rudely interrupt. It took as much self restraint as the child had in his entire being to look at the ground sheepishly when Jinx spoke of him one day being a powerful ally when all he wanted to do was let his ego accept her words as truth. Humility Jinx had beckoned of him, and so humility Ira vowed he would pretend to know. The name Atka sounded strange to his ears and he did not think much of the name odd name because he had yet to associate ‘Atka’ as one of the Gods Jinx had spoken of. Jinx seemed to have finished speaking then and demurely Ira peeked up at Lethe, wondering if he should speak up or let the woman speak up first. "Puh-pwease dun turn us aways…" Ira blinked his widened eyes up at Lethe shyly, his tone pleading and childish, his lower lip trembling as if he were cold or fearful (and while he was a little cold he was not particularly fearful - though Lethe did not know that). In truth, Ira thought he sounded just like those pathetic children that seemed to melt the hearts of adults but Lethe’s reaction would be the ultimate judge of if he was succeeding in charming her or not.

And if not, he would have to attempt a different method other than appealing to her pity.

Ira had to admit that the childish words that poured like sickly sweet sugar through his lips was stretching the truth massively, both in reflection of Ira's person and that he actually cared if Lethe let them in or not. In truth, though Jinx's words made sense to him, Ira could not say that he would've been able to lower himself in submission as Jinx had. In many respects, to Ira, this simply meant that Jinx was astronomically stronger than he. The words taste like ashes in Ira's mouth, the shy look burning him from the inside as if he were a demon and pretending to be something he was not was the holy water. Maybe that charisma had yet to develop, or maybe pretending to be a baby when he was intellectually advanced was his ultimate downfall. Whatever exactly it had been did not matter. The fact remained the same; Lethe exposed to fang towards him, and chided him -- as if she had any right to do so. Indignation caused Ira to puff up, the silver lined fur along his spine ruffling at his obvious irritation her audacity. Milky blue eyes flashed to Jinx, wordlessly studying his guardian for a few seconds, trying to decide if he should keep his mouth shut or not. He wanted to tell the honey colored woman to 'bite me bitch' but knew that would be impulsive and would likely ruin whatever slim chances Jinx and him had to begin with.

Everything I do, I do for you, my Mambo, Ira thought before his gaze move back to Lethe, deciding that he could play a new angle.

"You're right," Ira allowed the woman in a soft tone, all childish pretences dropped suddenly. Adaptation was a useful weapon, besides being a part of instinctual nature. Possessive eyes flashed Jinx once more before they flickered back to Lethe. "What will it take?" Ira inquired, because everyone wanted something. Jinx and him sought a home (though the word was thought with an extreme hesitance) and a place within Lethe's ranks ... which begged the question, what did Lethe want from them in return?