Stumbling forward, he was rather late to the party after seeing how many had congregated here. He'd reckon this was a little bit bigger than the gathering he had seen in the Lagoon, too! A very similar sort of location, really. A giant hole in the ground that was filled with water but he had a feeling that this water was a little more drinkable. An Oasis that had a giant pond full of water with some trees littering the area, dens hardly spotted from where most of the strangers were. From his spot, though, he could see quite a bit more than the average joe. At least here, he could see the chaos that was taking place well within the sand and wondered exactly how they intended to fight on such unsure footing.

Not being the biggest fan of crowds this size, however, he kept his distance and lingered near the back. Keeping his eyes on his surroundings first and foremost, while eyeing the drama and chaos that seemed to continue unfolding by the second.

+10 Find a notable landmark in a territory
+5 Learn something unique about another pride’s territory

He was quickly distracted by the number of people showing up, the gathering of many voices making his colossal form shrink underneath the weight of it. He didn't like crowds, nor did he prefer whatever heated situation began to erupt around them. More or less out of instinct to stay with someone familiar he stayed by Talisa.

He noticed immediately when she sunk, her discomfort in the situation was almost as palpable as his. His insides were shaking, very easily overwhelmed by the toiling of what had become a chaotic world around him, but he swallowed it for a moment. A moment long enough to bend down and meet eyes with the Vermeda cleric, with light concern.

"A-are you okay Lady @Talisa?" He murmured, trying to make sure she heard it over the hum of all the others. Though he wasn't sure how much longer he could take this personally. If neither Faust nor Poppy was here was he wasting time sitting among them when he needed to be searching? But he was also tired, and his legs and wounds did beg him greatly to just.. Stop. But it was hard to. For now he'd remain for Talisa's sake, and later he would slip away. Until then and as he waited for her response, he peered over the many heads to seek out others.

Lion | Manip by Ark | Coding by Werge

(she is attempting to hide) Intended xp : +5 Spy on a thread without getting caught The senation of both disappointment and sadness were hard to ignore for the yearling. Someone who gave thai pride more trust that she ever gave to a group. And now here they were again homeless and without a clue of what to do. Eyes of pale blue rested on those around as she attempted to hide under the shade of a tree. She didn't know what to do now that another home of hers had gone again. A sight of annoyance bothered to come out of her lips as she didn't want to interact with anyone just to observe. She didn't after who would win the pride , all she knew was that as far a she knew she would leave. She didn't want to trust in anyone again. Twice it was that she was left shocked like this. She tested her chin on her frontal paws as she just limited herself to watch.

The voices around her were deep now and warped, the only thing clear as day was the heavy thump of her heart within its cage. Right foreleg pulling away from its comfort to wrap over her dark nose as if to try and make the darkness stop. A shiver brushing through her as she struggled to come to deal with this sudden influx of a realization.

Those from the Brook and those natives that didn't call the Brook home, surely had come to support Valhalla in his securement of a second pride for them. It hadn't even occurred to her that they were, in a way, taking a home from the others as they had done to them. The Natives being angry that they were coming in here and taking, when they were doing it right back for the same reason. To protect family. We're no better, she murmured extra quietly so that only Walthari would hear her (or Nym, if she ended up hovering closely, too). Walthari may not be a native to this land so he couldn't be considered with the "we" but maybe he would know what she meant. If not, he likely could be two and two together.

^{TABLE MANIP BY MONO, CODING BY DUSK}

The lioness considered it a failure on her part if there was ever a commotion that she was not either involved in or observing. So naturally she made her way to the deserted oasis with the rest of the crowd, her steps lively and gaze inquisitive as she surveyed the space. Gathered as the onlookers were, it did not take long to see who the contenders were, and Tua assessed them with an even gaze before glancing to where her queen and the other natives stood. It was when she was making her way to their location that another lioness interjected with a vicious statement- spoken to Roan but directed to the natives as a whole, and the Donnelly found herself blindsided by the words. Confusion swept through her, and she glanced between the stranger and Nymeria with wide eyes--what was she talking about? It didn't seem like her queen's prerogative to run off a single mother, but Tuathla knew all too well the reluctance in which the natives accepted the newcomers so she couldn't exactly dismiss the claim entirely. Regardless, she didn't have the details, and so could only listen as Nymeria fired back with her own side of the story as Tuathla drew to a stop off to the side, her attention torn between the claim and the two lionesses. Brows drew together and a frown weighed across her mouth when she noticed @Talisa lowering herself to the earth, but she said nothing for the moment.

All that glitters is not gold

Another challenge, another attempt at conquest from those who did not belong, or at least he considered it that way until he realized it was a native who called. Not that this challenge was the same as the others. There was a sort of tension hanging in the air, a sort of promise of violence that was impossible to ignore. He arrives as a woman, member of the former pride spits Vitriol. He narrows his eyes at @Aarani but offers no comment; in a way he understood. The next woman to speak had a snarl forming on his face, How dare she(@Furia) talk of @Nymeria so? His sister was not like that so there had to be a mistake. There was no other reason for such slander to be spoken and he arrived at his sisters side, making his stance clear without a word. To get to her, you would have to go through him. Not that it would be hard; he wasn't a fighter but at the same time it did not change anything. Nymeria was, and he would follow and protect. No matter what, even if those he protected her from simply meant to bring her happiness; unless they were worthy and he was asked to step down he would not. It was his duty.

His other sister was here, and he brushed past her as he came to guard his leading sibling, and in turn her because she was close. He glanced at @Talisa, and frowned at her bowed head, but it was a fleeting one. His snarl returning as his focus fell on Furia, her relative, and those around them. The challenge was an afterthought. @Soren 's presence was actually welcomed for once; his guarding of Nym's back and in turn his, appreciated. ""

Manip by Era, Code by Saph

By the time he had asked the question, Roan already knew the answer. This was a native going after a pride as one of the other natives shouted in support of him. @Nymeria's response only further confirmed it, calling the claimant a friend, and thus dousing any will Roan might have had to take the challenge. He didn't want to be like the same rogues that invaded his home and stole away so many lives. He didn't want to be the same monsters that killed his father. Before he could voice any disinterest in going against the natives, his aunt was quick to voice her own opinion of them.

Don't bother with her, Roan. She and her pride have no desire to commune with us after chasing off a single mother looking for a safe place to stay. @Furia's voice caused a fire to light behind his minty gaze. They did what? Masked head whipped back around to Nymeria, intent on asking if any of this was true before the woman was quick to defend herself. The sovereign seemed to put the blame more on his aunt's quick temper than on herself, which honestly, Roan didn't doubt, but still. Why did they need to ask much of a mother just wanting to find a safe place for herself and her child? In the end, it was Roan who felt the guilt of it all. Furia wouldn't need to go looking for a home on her own if Roan would have just found somewhere for them to join by now. It was his fault this was happening.

Nymeria went on, this time addressing Roan and her respect for his family. "It was out of respect that I wished to know who this man was to your pride before deciding if I would take up arms against him. I don't want to take from the natives like the invaders did to us back home, but I also can't walk on eggshells at every turn thinking I'm going to piss off someone who already lived here before me and my family." It was a fine line he had walked for months now. To know where and when to step into the fray, and so far, Roan had done nothing. He didn't want to be at odds with the natives, but he also couldn't sit idly by and wait for a home any longer. They seemed to gather around their queen now, a few more standing at her side than they had before. Roan wasn't here to fight her. It was out of respect that he had wanted to check with Nymeria first before deciding if taking the challenge was a good idea. But now? They all just seemed decided with their opinions about all newcomers to these lands. "And no, I haven't seen Hanneth lately. I've been a little busy trying to find a home for my family, of which I have apparently failed at if my aunt and cousin have to try joining the native pride only to be rejected." There was a cold edge to the mauve lion's voice that Nymeria probably didn't deserve, but he did little to hide it at the moment. All he could feel was the glaring presence of the native boring down him like he was some sort of locust to their otherwise fruitful existence. Turning to face his aunt, Roan heaved a sigh. "Let's just go, Aunt Furia. I don't even care who wins here today." They'd find a home somewhere else, somewhere that wanted them, or just take it themselves. Without a second thought, the mauve lion turned away from the gathered natives, aiming to leave without any further drama.

exit roan unless stopped

let me light up the sky

Men flocked to her side as though she was incapable of defending herself, and Furia didn't know whether to assume the queen was a delicate little flower or simply hadn't needed to fight for anything herself. If Furia had a slew of men drooling all over her, willing to puff up and fight over a snarky comment, she'd probably be queen by now too.

Her eyes narrowed on @Nymeria as she stepped forward, politely cutting to the point. "You lot think you're so much better than us, but we're all the same. You don't own these lands and neither do we. Your god does, and they lead us here for a reason." Her voice was sad, really, and the sting of being rejected by the supposedly peaceful pride was not a slight she could choke down with a smile. Her expression was pained, and it was beyond evident that the grief she carried was more than simply Nymeria's rejection. There came a forced apology and Furia frowned: "I wish I could believe you meant that. You'll all miss out on a lot of good people by carrying on as you do." Her voice was soft, not that it mattered. She half expected her harem to lunge at her for daring to question the great and magical Nymeria, a woman Furia couldn't understand. She was so plain and simple, why did everyone revere her as queen of the queens?

Furia stood, glancing to @Roan as he said his peace and then swiftly departed. A good idea. She turned to follow, pursuing one of the few in her life that had proven himself to be loyal. It was a rarity these days.

exit unless stopped

light it up for you

Table by Amanda

Talisa's words, at first, made absolutely no sense to him. It was cryptic the way it was said and worry fluttered through him trying to piece together what it meant. But he realized then perhaps it was in response to the woman who was confronting Nymeria. His eyes gazed back up to the Vermeda queen facing the maned woman, finally making an effort to tune into their conversation.

So then it was about natives and non-natives then? Something had happened between Vermeda and this woman to leave a bad taste in her mouth. But he was still fighting to try and understand what Talisa meant by "we're no better".

No better than... Non-natives? Perhaps that made sense. Well, perhaps the details of it really didn't matter in the grand scheme. He lowered himself to the ground with her, not knowing what to say but showing his silent support by just barely brushing her side. That's what people do right? To show support? Even if the mere act made his pelt itch with the unfamiliar touch, tense to it and definitely not relaxed. But it was a gesture... None the less.

What comfort was to be had anyway in a situation like this? No calm would be there for him even after this event was done. The angel he'd sold his soul to was missing, Poppy was too, now... His eyes still remained scouting around even from his laying spot, nervously darting from lion to lion for a sign of either of them, maybe the quick flash of a flower crown from one of Poppy's family. The one solace he could say he had was that he was among Vermeda lions. He didn't know them well but he at least knew them.

@Talisa

Lion | Manip by Ark | Coding by Werge

sleuth-
+5 spy on a thread without getting caught
+5 study the landscape of an area

albeit a latecomer, zoya showed up to the challenge with interest. this pride’s territory was unfamiliar but the closest she knew of to her own. she approached quietly from afar, skirting the golden dunes. her eyes scanned the landscape— the desert broken by a gleaming blue body of water, surrounded by foliage. she found a small boulder some distance from the rest of the spectators, which was topped by bushes. climbing on top, she crawled between the thick foliage and crouched low. it was a suitable vantage point that offered ample covering as well as a clear view of the ongoing challenge. her gaze traced the landscape further. the crowd was full of unfamiliar faces, although she recognised the carmine form of zulema. it was now time to observe what ensued.