Honestly, he was tired. He'd been awoken by the insistent howls of Diveen in the distance, apparently celebrating what he assumed was their leader's victory. Normally, he might have been gladdened by it thanks to his appreciation of Isola but for now, he was quite content to be agitated over it. After all, he had been doing his best to wake each day in his absolute prime so that he, too, might return victorious from any threats that came his way. With Diveen celebrating their win, it meant one additional threat had been sent back into the shadows of the free lands. Good for them, yes, but perhaps not good for whoever the challenger eyed off next. Understandably, he felt a little on edge come his waking. That agitation didn't seem to stop, either.

Of course, if having been woken in such an annoying matter hadn't been annoying enough, than surely his own daughter's complaints were. Usually he was quite tolerant of Cersei, allowing her to express herself freely and without fear of reprimanding and yet... today, it seemed so silly. She had complained tirelessly about Viora not respecting her and yet, he had to remind her that she'd done little to earn it. Of course, she did not take it so well, being told that her parents did not instantly make her a Queen. At least, he figured, it had gotten her to think and leave him alone to try and further rest. He felt bad, yes, but it was something she needed to hear. Maradona had always known it, and he was surprised his dark daughter hadn't berated Cersei yet. It gave him a chance to rest at least, and rest he did, sprawled out in the summer sun.

Voices, then, quiet at first but building in volume as his ears flickered towards them. One was familiar, and it brought one eyelid up as he peeked out from his resting spot - in the distance, he could make out the pale form of his daughter moving across the river. For a moment, he merely stretched out and continued to watch, smiling inwardly - so, she had been exploring? He supposed all children came to such an age eventually. Vesper had always been the more reserved of his daughters, quiet and thoughtful. But then he smelt blood, a faint taste of it lingering in the air as a stranger's scent, too, came to his attention. Just like that, he rose instantly to attention, his eyes seeking out the stranger in their midst. She moved behind Vesper, cautious it seemed and... for good reason.

A low growl rose in his throat though he silenced it as he made his way down the hill side, his tail arcing up over his rump in dominance. As far as he could see, Vesper was not gravely injured and yet, the blood was cause for concern, as was this stranger. Rather than stop at a respectable distance, he moved close to his daughter, standing beside her flank to flank as he eyed the stranger. For a moment, he moved his attention to his daughter, assessing her for injures once more before he licked at her forehead in affection.

"Unexpected guests make for the best guests, don't you think?"

He queried his daughter, a kindlier smile touching his features before it fell away as he moved to meet the stranger's eyes in suit.

"Though, I must ask our guest if she knows anything about my daughter's injuries."

Small as they might have been, there was always the chance of them having been inflicted upon her by another. It wouldn't take much to push another from the rocks, or to force them into remaining quiet, after all.