Her legs shook, the blood loss and the fatigue of the fight wearing on her. The grip upon her nape tightened and she felt a fresh wash of blood that poured down her nape helped to steel her nerves, to press against him and to withstand the force in which he used. She refused to allow herself to fall now, though she knew in her heart that the outcome of the fight would not be what she had initially hoped. Perhaps, had her children not been there, the ebon female would have allowed her hips to fall, but she steeled her spine and wrenched herself from his hold, sheering fresh wounds in the scruff. The female would draw back, her breath heaving in her breast, a fire in the cerulean optics of her gaze as she attempted to put a few paces between herself and the lion. No need to shed further blood when the outcome of the fight was obvious. Instead, she would find a place to shelter and tend to the gaping wounds upon her nape. "Jewel" -vs- "Drakon" -for- "Caladan Cove" -round- "5" -of- "5" Hits: Rolling 5d20: 9 + 15 + 11 + 4 + 20 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 14 + 17 + 16 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 10 + 3 + 13 + 6 + 20 ""

Table coding by Jolee

Jyzara had noticed the fog lifted. And with Jewel as part of her group, her and her cubs were not far behind her as she ended up passing along a shore and to a costal area. She had called for Hiba and Vern beforehand however. It reminded her of home so bad. The cubs took a moment to wrangle, also watching out for the stragglers of jewels hoard. It took her a moment to get there. And when she did she wasn't surprised to see jewel and drakon fighting it out. Drakon had a costal pride before. So she wasnt suprised. But if either won, it wouldnt be bad for her. She afterall wanted Drakon to be an ally once more.

For now she would watch, as the fight seemed pretty even. She was sad she didnt get to fight Jewel for it. But it was what it was. They could still do their own spar later.

DRAKON VS. JEWEL FOR CALADAN COVE
— RESULTS —

Jewel Hits: 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 luck = 11 hits
Jewel Dodges: 1 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 3 = 7 dodges

Drakon Hits: 0 + 2 + 4 + 4 + 2 = 12 hits
Drakon Dodges: 0 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 6 dodges

Jewel Successful Hits: 5
Drakon Successful Hits: 5

---

TIE-BREAKER

perfomed on discord by @Squid
Drakon Hits: 2
Drakon Dodges: 2

Jewel Hits: 1
Jewel Dodges: 3

Jewel Successful Hits: -1
Drakon Successful Hits: -1

TIE-BREAKER 2.0

perfomed on discord by @Squid
Drakon Hits: 2
Drakon Dodges: 1

Jewel Hits: 2
Jewel Dodges: 2

Jewel Successful Hits: 1
Drakon Successful Hits: 0

JEWEL HAS WON THE CLAIM FOR CALADAN COVE!

the challengers may now respond to the fight results.

The fog had lifted, and the lions moseyed over the stretch of sand, spreading out once they reached the interior of the island to all go their separate ways. Amra presumed it would only be a matter of time until claiming calls rang out over the land, as lions and lionesses alike sought to pee on their little piece of territory to make them feel better about themselves. It was laughable sometimes, the lengths some went to. 'I need a home for my family, therefore I'm taking yours'. Because, y'know, raising a family in an already established pride is too pathetic. You either rule the pride for your family or you have no spine.
Amra snorted. Quite the cynic she'd become. She had no interest in ruling a pride herself, only in being part of her family, where ever they went.
Thus, she was following Ambrosine, like a starved dog follows it's master. Since when did she become so dogged down in following a single individual? Brow lifted. She loved her family and only wanted to be with them. No harm in that right?
Eventually, amra found herself on sand again, hot on the heels of a fight Iver one such piece of land. And who else was fighting but Drakon. Amra sighed, shaking her head. He had been a good, but brief, King to her before, but she had no interest in being his subject again.
Amra looked around the gathered faced, recognising some and not others. She sat apart from those gathered, preferring to watch this battle from a distance in case the male should win and try to claim her. No way that was going to happen. No today.

He had stayed behind her close at her heels when she had called them, and when the fighting started, Kyon did as his mother bid and stayed low, keeping hidden in the shadow of a rock, peeking out between the tall strands of dried seaside grasses. When the first splash of blood fell, he felt his stomach churn, eyes grow impossibly wide. When the snarls and snapping and growls of the fight reached a vicious climax, the child had his tail tucked firmly beneath him and was shivering where he sat hidden.

Mothers hide, dark as it was hid the blood well, but it left the gaping wounds she received open in stark relief against her midnight coloration. Seeing the color of red that he only attributed to his food had him hurriedly swallowing the bile that rose from his stomach. One thing was for certain, Kyon would not be a fighter in his adult years. The sight of crimson staining the pristine sands between the two combatants had him wanting to run.. The sight of open flesh rent so from fang and claw? That made him want to vomit.

The battle was over, and he broke his cover, the fear and general illness he felt too much for the child. Too much to keep him hidden any longer. Pale paws skittered over the sands, avoiding the patches of blood as they soaked the ivory grains as he charged the ebon lioness. Reaching her, he dove beneath her protective shadow, unaware of how shaky the female was to press against her front leg.

Which leg? He didn't care - but he just wanted to get contact with the female that would make it all better. She would chase the sick away, and wash the red from his memory.. Right? "Momma..." His little hide shook and quaked, hooking one forepaw around her wrist so that he could press his skull against her hide. It didn't dawn on him that the fighting was over. It didn't cross his mind that he was endangering himself just by being there. Only that he wanted to get as close to his mother as he could after witnessing such a thing.

keir

Time to go! It was time to push on and see what else this land had for him to explore! Keir was the first one to dart toward mother, only to skid to a halt when her voice chimed and told him to not forget his shell. Oh yeah! He would turn on his heels and back to where he kept the shell, grasping it gingerly between his jaws before heading back toward mother. "Got it!" His words were muffled from the shell, and as he kept it between jaws he would follow mother to wherever she led them.

It wasn't as long of a walk as the last time they were on the move, and Keir was happy about that. He wasn't sure if he could handle another long journey so soon in his short 4 months in this world! Once mother would stop so would he, blue eyes looking around at new surroundings. Cool! It looked like a fun place to explore, and of course there was more sand and saltwater. When mother took dashed forward the black cub would watch with curiosity, which turned to awe when she leapt onto a boulder with grace. He would drop the shell in front of his paws, his body flinching just slightly as she let out a bellowing call, one that he wasn't too sure what it meant. But it wouldn't be long before strangers would gather, and one took interest in mother, so much so that they were wrestling!

Were they wrestling?

Bright blue eyes would widen as he watched what unfolded before him; this was not how he play wrestled with his littermates. Keir was entranced at what was going on, watching mother and then the strange lion go at it. It wouldn't be until he heard Kyon take off that he came back to reality, quickly grabbing his shell before following behind his brother. "It's okay! Mother will be okay!" It was Keir's duty as firstborn to keep his siblings together and feeling safe, even if he didn't feel safe himself. He'd press his body against Kyon's, a soft purr sounding from him to attempt to calm him. But Keir would also keep his gaze on the fight, watching with intensity.

As quick as it began would it end, and as his brother took off so would he, bounding over in leaps to mother. "What was that?" His question would be asked while he rubbed up against her other leg, wanting to figure out everything that had just happened. it was nerve wracking to watch, and it was exhilarating to watch.

"SPEECH."

table coding by ferus, lineart by rach, background image from here

Roan Hodari

---

The sounds of a fight drew him in, but in navigating these foreign lands, by the time Roan arrived, the fight was already over. Just like that, a new pride would be formed and lands would be claimed. The fog still held many secrets, but lions were eager and greedy to take anything that was offered. Among those gathered, the Hodari recognized the Jungle's former allies in the pair of Tollaires who had traveled with Hanneth to these new lands. It came as no surprise that Drakon and tried probably tried to fight this woman, even after having so recently having to fight for his life. Hanneth would not be pleased to hear that he was throwing himself into a fight again so soon after the last, just as the man's wife didn't look pleased either.

Even though it look as though Drakon had lost, it was still worth hanging around a little while longer to see who this new monarch might turn out to be. That and it was probably important to Hanneth to make sure her uncle was alright after the fight. Roan didn't know Hecuba well at all, but he knew who she was to Drakon, so the masked Hodari lingered in the background near her in wait for the alabaster male to return to her side. Roan kept a considerable distance, however, not making it obvious that he was trying to gain an audience with the fallen opponent. Should anyone glance his way, Roan was just here to await word from the new queen.

---

Line art by Adoptadpoles | Image and table code by Amanda

There was a moment of time where things stood still, the motes of dust in the air hung between them and the lioness could only heave jagged breaths from her lungs. The arrival of some of her children had her reevaluating the desire to simply let her legs fold beneath her. Especially when both pressed themselves to her limbs.. Spine steeled, and the female dug deep to ensure that she wouldn't simply collapse on her children. Slowly, the female lowered her head to gently nuzzle first one fuzzy skull and then the other. "It's allright, my darlings. It's allright.." She could feel the shaking of the pale cub attached to her wrist and felt bad that he had been scared.. Perhaps she shouldn't have brought them after all. With a frown at Keir's question, the newly risen Sovereign lifted her skull to look towards the pale lion that stood apart from her. "You're welcome to stay.. you and your family.." She didn't know what family the beast had, but she knew he had to have - given his need to challenge her claim. Shifting to look around at those that had gathered, it surprised the ebony lioness that so many faces had arrived... a lot she barely recognized. A gentle chuff to her other children, Jewel hoped that those remaining three spirits would come so she could ensure they were safe by laying her eyes upon their hides herself. "If anyone wishes to join the pride...You are welcome to stay and do so.." Jewel shifted, giving into the fatigue and allowing her haunches to sink in a controlled fashion to the sands below. Certainly not muscle weary, no. Her nape stung like hellfire was being poured upon her hide, but she had business to tend first. "My sons and daughters shall become princes and princesses of ...." She thought about the name of the pride before her lips. It came as if whispered in her skull. "Caladan Cove.." Cerulean optics looked towards the familiar form of Jyzara and she gave the other a nod, and a smile warmer than she gave those gathered - she did recognize her after all. "You and yours... are welcome to join us.. I know we didn't get our spar.. but perhaps after I've recovered?" There was a joke in there.. But she still wished to see if her new friend would be willing to stay - it would give them all a safe place to live for a while.. Without having to wander. As it were.. she would need to retire soon.. To find a den and a way to tend to the wounds she could feel upon her nape. The shoulder wasn't that much of a concern.. but she could feel some of the skin upon her scruff flapping as she moved and knew that it likely looked a bit... grotesque... @Cootie @Naya @Reef""

Table coding by Jolee

The fog was gone, but so much is left in its place. Call it instinct, self-preservation, mother's orders, but the boy had kept a low profile during his her daring summons, the gravity of what she was doing not entirely lost on him even if he didn't fully understand it. Regardless, he feels in his bones that he should stay out of sight, that the tendency to not involve himself in things right away might be in his best interest. A strange male arrives, with a red mane and stark white fur, and suddenly he and his mother are fighting, and he grits his teeth and digs his own small claws into the ground as both an outlet and a way to ensure he anchors himself to this spot. You can't help. She'll win.

Perhaps if he wills it, so shall it be.

The fight is quick, as fights are, but the metallic tang of blood fills his nostrils - his mother's blood - and even from here he could see it staining the sands of the cove. His siblings had moved towards her, and his ears flickered as she chuffed for them to all join. This time he heeds her promptly, something reverberating in his body after what he has just witnessed. Was it fear? Exhilaration? Perhaps his head was just a bit fuzzy with relief, but he's quick to join Kyon and Bright Heart all the same, wordlessly as he finds a part of the ebony lioness not already occupied by another cub to lean against... and when he does, whatever blood there stains his own dark pelt even darker. Oh. Guess she would get that later. Because she was okay.

She talks of princes and princesses and a place called Caladan Cove, meaningless words that actually mean far more than he could fathom right now.

The fog has lifted and he looked at the sandy beach that reminded him of his birth home but he didn't speak. He followed after his sister helping her as much as he could with the cubs. It had been awhile since he'd been around them but still he didn't speak. He watched a male and female fighting but stayed off to the side closest to his sister. The male seemed familiar but he didn't recall the name. When Jewel spoke to his sister he dipped his head in greeting. If his sister wished to stay then he would as well. He would not fail her once more. She did say that he didn't have to feel guilt but he did. It would take a bit for him to come to terms with it. For now though he would stick by her side.