code (c) daanyen

The strawberry lioness had stayed beside Cassius for most of the part, but when Vincent had leapt at the lioness, she'd backed off a few steps, turning to find @Temero coming closer, a small smile graced her lips as she turned to greet him. Lorelei happened to look behind him, to the fight, her heterochromatic eyes gaining an intensity in them that had never been there, that was until the fight came to an end.

She feels bile rise up in her throat as she sees the lioness beheaded, she refused to let it exit though, she seemingly stared through her mate as eyes kind of glazed over, her chest stopping as she holds the silent gasp in her throat.

She'd never seen something so brutal, her mind screams to look away but it's hard to tear her eyes from the gore, she secretly hopes Temero will notice and step in to save her from embarrassment and from vomiting.

He knew it was a stretch to see them both fall. But even he cannot douse the relief that flares in his belly as his father strikes the woman down. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot cheer the loser; he had seen the brutal way with which she commanded the battlefield, had heard her promises of depravities even he considered off the table. For however shitty a father Kvare Tollaire made, at least he took a monster out of this world.

But without an antagonist, what do they have?

Hopefully, not enough free time on their hands to find Rhys hiding in plain sight. He shimmies himself through the flora once more, covering his dusky pelt in summery pollen, disguising both his scent and his sounds as he descends from the trees on the far side of the Pit. There is nothing left to see, now, and if he lingers any longer it will become much harder to hide.

---

Exit Rhys
+20 (x2) Learn something about pride/group/family relations (2/2)
+20 (x2) Remain undetected in a large thread (2/2)
+10 (x2) Practice hiding your scent (2/2)

At least show some respect! Snarled the lioness (@Khadija) beside the dead body, who seemed to be the only one mourning the death.

"Respect?" Asphodel scoffed. "Such things are wasted on the dead. There's hardly enough to go around for the living." Was he perhaps a little cruel to the mourner? No doubt, but he held no sympathy for her.

@Avreya had followed him to the body and interceded between him and the lioness. She gave the lioness a fair warning, and Asphodel smiled. You would be wise not to inherit her enemies. This lioness was very intelligent, an excellent trait for his asset to have. When had she become his asset?

The lioness then attacked the mourner, forcing her to back away from the body and allowing his to continue his inspection of the body's useful remains. He listened to the battling lionesses' conversation only passively.

Surprisingly, as he looks away for a moment, a cub darted into the body in front of him. (@Ciela) He stared for a moment, puzzled by this development, before being interrupted once again.

@Elaine ♔, his Sovereign, approached and claimed the right to the body. As his leader, he had to obey and stopped his already paused attempts to recover the useful portions. His nodded to show his respect for her claim and her demand.

Elaine then looked at Asphodel and although he wasn't sure what her gaze was meant to ask, he nodded again. "Whatever you need, my liege." And he meant it. For all his disloyal feelings, the code which had been drilled into him since he was young forbid him from subordination. He would wait until he could officially declare his dissent to the leaders. Now was not the time, especially since he still wanted access to the body.

He glanced over to Avreya, who's fight was wrapping up. It was close, he wasn't sure who would win. Once it concluded, regardless of the outcome, he would try to make eye contact with her and give her a nod of approval. She had shown her skills today, beyond simply fighting. Should he officially accept Fissure's offer, he would be sure to ask her to join with him.

there's a monster in the garden

and you call him God

code x art

@Elaine ♔ joined Remnant in facing off with @Zabrina, although the cub didn't know her or why she'd come to help. Nevertheless, an ally was an ally and questions could wait until the threat to her family was gone. @Zinnia, however, seemed to have different ideas, sternly calling her sister away. Rem was set to argue until the chimeric yearling continued. Let's go sit with Aphro. Remnant's aggressive posture changed in an instant, perking up her ears and causing her tail to swish behind her. "Mama's here?!" She asked with excitement, turning to look through the crowd for her mother. She eagerly following her sister towards where @Aphrodite sat. "Mama, Mama!" Rem cheered when they reached her, letting Zinnia brush against their mother for a moment before impatiently pushing her way to touch Aphrodite as well. "When are you coming home, Mama?" She asked, her tail drooping and a bitter note in her voice. She missed the end of the battle, and the grusome display after. She was too busy enjoying her mother's sorely missed company. @Reti ♔ then approached the trio, and the white lioness beside them (@Icefang ♔). "I don't wanna go back, Papa! I wanna stay with Mama." She cried out when he asked if Zinnia wished to return home. Tears welled up in her eyes and she pushed her face in @Aphrodite's fur to dry them. Reti's question to Icefang held Rem's attention immediately and she waited eagerly for her answer.

code by Shazaki

code (c) daanyen // art (c) Celestial-Drifter

TRIGGER WARNING!
This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of [Dismemberment, cultist activity, cub tomfoolery.]
Busy!

The former princess' time was absorbed with the task of trying to disconnect the liver from all the disgusting parts inside the fallen lioness's body and while she was a medic in training; she wasn't very good at it. The sound of tearing tendons and ligaments could be heard from within as Ciela tried her best to remove it from the rest of its encasing.

That was until she squeaked out in shock as something touched her haunches; something she couldn't see since her entire upper half was burrowed within the deceased lioness like a meerkat cleaning out its den in the morning. The momentary panic gave way to curiosity as she listened to the words; words that sounded awful inviting if she could wiggle around inside the guts of the fallen without being judged.

'You should come to the Bluffs where, that behavior is accepted freely.'

The cub would jerk back fiercely; liver held between her jaws as she stumbles back a few steps before flopping onto her side from the force of pulling the liver from the deceased's body. The girl's head would twist; her two-toned gaze would look up towards Elaine; her mind instantly made up — hesitation thrown to the wolves.

"Okay!" Ciela would chirrup her agreement through a mouthful of liver and gore. — she just now noticed that she looked akin to a blood-soaked manic. The girl would sweep her tongue gently along the surface of her lips; throat bobbing ever so slightly as she clears it. "Can I have her stomach?" The girl would quip curiously through a mouthful of liver. "Heard the acid is good for medicine." She would say almost uncertainly; her gaze drifting momentarily towards Asphodel - gracing him with an innocent smile.

'Sorry I took the liver.'

[ tags ]
@Asphodel @Khadija @Elaine ♔

[ EXP ] ( Double from Darhke )
Medic
+40 Learn something from a Master of your trade (2/2)
+10 Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+10 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (2/2)

— C A S S I A N —

---

The sound of Miaran's fall plays on repeat for a few moments inside his head. This would be a defining moment for the boy; a moment where it all clicks — the fate of women that defy the natural order. The boy would sweep his tongue over the top frame of his lips; gaze watching the body as a girl, a lion, and a lioness all take part in dividing it up.

His whiskers jerk back as he turns his attention back towards Arcania; listening as she explains how to use herbs to twist his scent into something more familiar to the targeted pride. The boy would not in agreement as he absorbed the lesson and turned his head towards Arcania. New mentor? As he accepts, the cub would chuff in agreement, his head turning just in time to catch a strange woman spectating him.

Who was she and who the hell did she think she was looking at? Displeasure was evident upon his face as the large cub spit a furious hiss but his attention is turned back towards Arcania as she gets up and leaves. A new mentor? The boy would grumble before also rising; paws as he follows the red woman out.

-exit Cassian-

[ EXP ] ( Double from Darhke )
Assassin
+40 Learn something from a Master of your trade (2/2)
+10 Learn something from another about your trade (2/2)
+10 Spy on an individual exchange (2/2)

[ Tags ]
@Arcania ♔ ♔

---

art by drifty ♡︎ code by scorpixia

With @Aphrodite and @Silas at her side, Icefang's attention shifts between the battle in the pit and the gathering of X'uekai members as more join in, clearly having followed her and @Cassius ♔'s lead. An ear flicks back when his sons join, but the queen remains seated, not wanting to draw anymore attention to the boys. She witnesses @Vincent fling himself into a separate fight, her blue eye gleaming with amusement when she realizes it is @Adeline suffering the consequences. Cub thief. While Cassius might of turned her away, Icefang knew that it was only a matter of time before she sent her henchmen after her. Cassius and @Velasco seem locked into conversation with another female, one that Icefang does not realize is the lioness that @Miaran had spoken to her about.

Aphrodite echoes her thoughts and Icefang suddenly locks her gaze onto the battle as the male eliminates the snake. He gives out gifts of her organs to a select few, the queen taking a moment to soak him in. He was the male she had met before, the previous high sovereign flanked by his circle of bitches that had shooed her from the Cove when she first became queen. My, what an amusing fate for the former ally, queen, and daughter-in-law. Another male ushers in, spilling what is left of the carcass. There is outcry from the female that her family had been arguing with causing her to be attacked by another. She watches, noting the careful promise of @Khadija. She would return the grandchildren stolen from her. She was the one to murder if she did not deliver on her promise.

She is unable to observe for long before two others approach, Icefang raising a brow at @Zinnia and @Remnant as they crowd Aphrodite, the latter yearling revealing its relationship to the mother. @Reti ♔ joins them then, Icefang listening casually with one ear flicked towards him when @Parthena finds her way to her side. "No," she hums softly to her daughter, noting that @Elaine ♔ is glancing over at her after calling out that the body belonged to one of their homes. "Go retrieve the body, dear. I'm sure your uncle Velasco will appreciate it." There were many uses for it. While most of them had little interest in consuming the remains, Icefang planned to use it as a warning for any other traitors lurking in the brook's depths and of course offering it as a chew toy for the many young X'uekai children. What better way to fuel their bloodthirsty genes than offering a sample of their own?

She turns back towards Reti, tapping on her chin with a claw in thought. "Hm, perhaps Miaran's execution does have me feeling generous today. Though it sounds like even your children wish to stay inside my home. Should I offer you an invitation as well?" A playful glint inside her sole working eye as she allows a few seconds pause to fall between them. "Fine. Aphro, you are released along with the children." The queen rises to her paws, brushing past the reunited family only pausing to call over her shoulder at the Plains king. "Don't leave me waiting long, lest I come burning hell on your kingdom because of your trickery." A warning before she continues onwards in the direction of her family, chuffing for them that it was time to go home.

@Freja @Temero @Lorelei @Kincade

ooc: Icefang releases Aphrodite & children back to LP

SPEECH

Destroying everything seems like the best option

code by corvus / art by NAKI

She breaks from the fight, not really wishing to harm the woman or atleast not too badly...she was angry but not towards her. more so to the situation. Her friend being used as a mere thing was making her boil. She knew she had angered even the spirits thmselves but disregarding her body like this was in her own mind too much of a punishment...

"Find me if you need patching up," She offered @Avrya before moving away.

She growled to the cub and those daring to come closer, but she said nothing; she was done with everything, and seeing her daughter's frightened expression, she knew it was better to drop the act and just stop. There she realized there was nothing else she could do...other than at least protect her legacy.

She sat down, dropping to her rump, both emotionally and physically exhauted. Yet there was one more thing to do. She would do as she promised and get over with all of this and have then time to properly grief and give her sister the respect no one seemed to be interested in giving, at least the Wolfbron seemed to show the less hate towards her.

A swirly male collected some stuff, unsure if to see it in good or bad but she was too tired to even react-

Slowly she lied down next to her daughter Barilla. There was nothing else to do..

"Let's go Bari.. Lets reunite with Lyla...we have to do something, then we can gi home." And liek that she walked out of the scene unless she was needed for anything else. The true monsters were these lions not Miaran.

exit unless stopped.

+20 Win a fight (spars not included, defaulted or judged)
+10 Complete a spar or fight

code by corvus - Art by Irish

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of [Gore, Cannibalism ]

She was late!

The trip from hunting near the bluffs took too much time and as the young woman arrived Mirai's slicked ears and narrowed eyes drank in disappointment at first noting the stillness of the pit and the lack of the sounds of combat.

But....she was not too late to note the mangled remains her mother stood protectively near. There was glee in this observation - the recognition that bitch was very, very, verrrrrrry dead now obviously having lost the match she called for.

Why was her mother guarding the remains? Are they to be a snack? Mirai would not complain if so. Approaching closer the royal noticed that a few rather vital parts were already missing. The head. Some insides. And the ... heart.

Disappointment panged sharply upon noticing the hollow chest cavity. She had really, really wanted to eat that. Had sworn to herself she would eat that one day - that day her father had been killed it was part of her oath.

Where had it gone?

Duel toned gaze swept the crowd taking note of her father, aunt, and a few other familiar faces before the organ in question was spotted. Moving towards @Pyrrha ♔ ♔ the young lioness paused a few feet away and dipped her head just slightly before asking.

" Hello. Would you be willing to share? I promised myself I'd eat her heart the day she killed my father." Mirai would ask the strange lioness who smelled of salt and sand. It was a different scent that that beach where the bitch had felled her father, but similar enough it reminded her of those dark sands.

----------
OOc: Mirai is asking for a few bites if Pyrrha is open to sharing the heart.

code by corvus

There was much that happened, and quickly.

The mad woman gouges out her own eyes, then, she was struck down by his father and torn to pieces. He watched every second, a flare of envy rising in his chest, in place of that strange, unwelcome sensation from before. How he wished it was he that struck the woman down. How giddy he would have been to feel his own teeth tear into his flesh.

But he finds something else to envy, as was his nature.

Father gifted the heart to Pyrrha and to him, a mere eye. He cannot even begin to voice his distaste before he watches the man he once thought to be so mighty fall. In front of so many witnesses, he felt that unfamiliar sensation return, yet before he can decide what to do with it, @Hanneth spoke. Tend to him, he commanded without thought, voice hard.

The woman Father called @Zabrina rushed to his side, speaking of a den somewhere near. He was certain to collect his gift before he offered another command. We will take him there and then to the Cove. He would hear no argument about it. Pyrrha, he was certain, would sort herself out, but for now—

We go. Now.

[exit drauhir w/ kvare to zabrina's den]

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE