I think I owe her an apology. Siofra came up from behind her father; her feet lightly moving through the sands to take her near @Gwyn's side where she planted herself contently. Her head reached around and she aimed a gently thump to his jawline. But as was Sio's way and manner, little more affection was afforded in this public setting. I would not have expected this strength of her. Her nose gestured outwards towards @Pistis where she magnificently stood, rising up when another failed her. And secretly Siofra could find no sorrow in the former Lagoon King's failings. For now though she was still, a calming neutral force settled beside her father with peach eyes carefully watching around the event.

He dread the rising cacophany and trumpets of lion's staking their claim. Each time it meant a knife into his home, a division. He could not walk the jungles as he had in his youth, could not take Caeso down to the shores for a date without risking running into a pride. And Maua forbid someone got lost in the desert because the only relief and water within was now owned. And a part of him was sick of letting the anger die down. He loved his family but he could not sit by much longer and watch them all watch these creature's invasion with morbid curiousity. Evidence enough- what they had, what Maua gave to them would never be enough. The Hollow's Sovereign's offer wretched him. He froze in a standing position and silver eyes turned to silver slivers. The bronze lion's lips recoiled into an angry snarl. The fur along his neck bristled erect and the muscles down his limbs became tight, tense, a loaded gun. Maua's lands were not tokens to be traded? Insult and anger burned like angry embers in his soul. As if them taking his homelands piece by piece was not bad enough now this action?This disrespect of Maua's gift to them all? Aquila cursed the lion Magnus; silver eyes boring down upon him with heavy, clear, judgement. The only thing holding him back was waiting to see what this woman's answer would be. Whether he'd be taking the Hollows or the Lagoon from Magnus in Maua's name.

The call to Scilla Lagoon took Tullia by surprise. Diruis was gone? How? Quickly she rushed to the Lagoon with both concern and hope to find out what had become of him. Quickly she arrived seeing many lions already there. A lioness was claiming the Lagoon and a nameless male was on that aswell. Trading the obsidian Hollow for the Lagoon. She didn't know what could happen but all she hoped was that Dirius was all right. She sat down beside @Aquila with her heart on her mouth hopping that whoever would claim the Lagoon would provide the same heaven for those who lived in there. She said no words she just observed.

art by irish

What the fuck? Xerxes hadn't expected much from the Scilla King (he was far too soft, if you asked him) but at the very least he anticipated him to stay around. The ghosting of the territory made his blood boil and a string of curses simmer in his head, eager to slip from his lips. He wanted to let everyone know he was displeased, but now he was far too annoyed with someone else. @Pistis was calling to claim the territory, and Xerxes was.. furious. If either of his mothers had the tenacity to rule, it certainly wasn't the lioness who couldn't be bothered to check if her cubs were still alive. She thought she could repair their relationship by being too busy for him? Ridiculous. Th yearling stalked forward with a predatory fluidity, locking his eyes on the woman and her.. husband. His step-father, he supposed. Gross.

with withered wings and broken bones

these vengeful thoughts trapped underneath / rage, scorn, misery / payback for what you took from me / hope, love, sanity / i heard that you reap what you sow / so here's to believing in ghosts

code by corvus

This thread has been paused.

Pending staff discussion.

This thread has been unpaused.

Staff has decided that verbal trades are not permitted. If a current pride leader wants a new territory, they must fight for it. By choosing to fight for a new pride territory, they instantly disband their old pride. This will be added to the guidebook shortly.

Please allow @Pistis and @Magnus to post first. If Magnus chooses to start fighting after this post, he will forfeit OH. All other posts made before those two respond will be deleted.

The fight timer for the claim will unpause once Pistis has posted.

Sorry very short very crap phone post time!

——

The call is alarming. Before he had a chance to process anything else - the reactions of the crowd, the reactions of Pistis - a sharp cry, a familiar cry, pierces through the arena. Elijah. Moves of a political nature could wait. The alarm call was startlingly loud, to the point where others might respond also, especially if they were old friends and pridemates of the medic. He would turn on his heel with a grimace and a growl, heading away from the group - uncaring of their opinions of what they’d just witnessed, whatever they may be - and moving swiftly in the direction of the cry.

EXIT

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

@Gwyn is the first to appear, and she smiled as he wishes her good luck and at his affection. It was nice to know he was doing better, the run here may have actually done him some good. Helped his sore and aching muscles repair. Next is @Kimagore and @Avreya. Although she didn’t know where they were from, they had similar scents. They way they sat spoke that the white female was in some sort of power, and she looked oddly familiar. But where had she seen the woman? But she offered the two an incline of her head. After all, they hadn’t come to fight her.

Then there is @Jewel, Pistis smiles at her words as well, wishing to nuzzle her but knowing it’s not entirely appropriate nor does she knew what’s going on with herself and that woman she had mentioned. So she just nods to her in a friendly manner, waiting as even more filter in, yet no challengers yet. Next is a large, fluff covered man (@Gareth) who takes a seat next to Jewel. Pridemates, by the scent. But he does not challenge her. Then there is a blue tinted yearling, but her eyes do not linger on him for long.@Metzli, silent and stoic, seeming to focus on her, good, her friend was accounted for.

Then a huge, dark male, @Magnus, steps up and her ears press back on her head. His stance both neutral and... not. Then he has the audacity to say he has an offer, and she listens with a furrowed brow, a frown on her lips, but fear in her heart. He says he will fight her for it, if she does not trade for the Hollow. Son of a... she glances around as more figures appear, @Siofra, a pair she does not know... and an angry, clearly irritated @Xerxes. She takes a deep breath before looking back to Magnus and speaking clearly so everyone can hear her.

“I will make my intentions for the Lagoon very clear, then. My friend, Diuris, ruled this pride previously, seeing as he has left this pride, and I was his highest ranking lion, I thought it best I make this claim. Furthermore, I gave birth to my litter here, and in my short time it has been a greater home than the Hollows were. I lived there under the previous King’s rule,” a quick glance to Gwyn, both remembering and wanting support, her tones are neutral and diplomatic, as she’d been taught as a child. “My closest friend, Jewel, rules the Cove west of here, so I would prefer the Lagoon were ruled by someone who can get along with her.” Eyes narrow once more, “either the Hollow is not worth having, in your eyes, or you are selfish, and I will not take your offer. I intend to claim this place for my children, family, and friends.”

But then there is a call and he is gone. Perhaps the snowy woman feels a bit silly, yes, but she feel relieved that there isn’t a threat at the moment. But she stays on guard, glancing around at the crowd around her. Surely someone else would come, vying to fight? But as long as they weren’t a king thinking they could make a trade... she would find her opponent respectable. But Magnus seemed a brute. She was glad he had left.

Pistis v ???
Round 0 of 5
For Scilla Lagoon

Code and image by saph

Maia had been keeping herself quietly to herself. It was no lie: she hadn't exactly had many friends and found herself more isolated than she had originally intended. The woman had approached Fíonn regarding her feelings, and the world that she had built around her quickly came crashing down when he revealed that he wasn't actually in love with her, but with Aarani. A soft sigh escaped her lips as the girl roamed freely through the neutral lands.

That was, until the call for a pride challenge erupted through the land. She had yet to witness one, and would be more than happy to oblige in succumbing to this temptation. Sooty limbs carried her from her thoughts to the Lagoon: a place she had not visited before but one that certainly inspired her curiosity.

Maia did not expect to find herself late to the party. @Pistis had challenged for the Lagoon - what had happened to its former Sovereign? A question she couldn't answer. The grey lioness took a moment to look around at the crowd that had gathered, but failed to recognize anyone in particular. There were a few familiar faces, but none she could put a name to.

Maia moved silently through the crowd, missing the dark frame of Magnus as he left. The Tolkien was about to do something she never expected. Standing in front of Pistis, perhaps a few metres away, and rolled forward her shoulders. Pistis seemed to have a fair reason to challenge for the crown. But... Maia didn't care much for strangers, so she found herself standing at the centre of attention. "Looks like you've got yourself a challenger," She drawls after a moment, ablaze eyes watching the pale figure of the ivory lioness carefully. "Ladies first," The Tolkien announced with a crooked grin. Let the fun begin.

Maia vs. Pistis
for Scilla Lagoon
Round zero of five

Eina

Eina had started following Kimagure, though her guardian's trail had gotten lost partway through. Anxiety trickled in at the idea of becoming lost, and the dark cub had taken a moment to pause and gain her composure. It took a while, but she had soon found Kimagure's scent once more, and her anxiety slowly ebbed away gradually as she walked along the invisible trail. She had heard Kimagure call for another, but Eina was curious. Besides, if it was Kimagure, she knew she'd be safe. The Rainforest was her safe haven, but so was her guardian. Enough was shown to prove that.

When the white woman was seen, Eina felt a weight of disappointment when she spotted the crowd. She hung back for a while, waiting until she had found her confidence to approach. Draw yourself to crowds, Kimagure had advised her. Attend every event. Eina wasn't set to disappoint the woman nor neglect advice from the intelligent woman.

She recognized no one except Jewel, Xerxes, and Kimagure. Slowly, Eina aimed to make her way closer and closer to Kimagure, intending to stand at her side if allowed. She took a moment to survey the crowd, taking mental note of each physical appearance before turning her focus on the fighters. A pale grayscale lioness with a scarred rump versus another grayscale, though darker, lioness with a unique darker band across her eyes. They seemed to intend to take hold of the Lagoon. She watched in silence, waiting their next moves.

⟺⟺⟺⟺⟺ Eina fidgets. "Eina questions?" 'Eina wonders'

Original Photo by Brynn Tweeddale on Flickr