Teeth tore, flesh split and blood flew in almost graceful arcs between the two combatants. Sangria would shift, feeling his jaws clamp over the back of her nape, his grip tight. Absolute. It was here that she would smile, this was living! When life and death balanced on the edge of a knife, razor sharp with only the ones trapped within the violence aware of what would come. She would attempt to sink both fang and claws into the lion before her. Her talons attempting to rake down his front leg, her jaws, though held back by the grip upon her nape...gnashing wildly as she tried to leave the lion with scars to remind him of his folly. "Sangria" -vs- "Aquila" -for- "DEATH" -Round- "6"-of- "7" Hits: Rolling 7d20: 12 + 6 + 3 + 16 + 18 + 15 + 11 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 6 + 7 + 9

code by koi

Her vicious and violent hug pulled her sharpened weapons of tooth and claw through more and more of his flesh. His neck and lower jaw were draped in a cloak of blood, thin flesh hung lose from the muscles as connective tissue was severed in her grasp. Below her claws raked inelegant and rough lines into bronze flesh and through the light socks upon his Valour legs. Shouts around him rose but what did it matter the words or who said them? How weak words were... Words of Maua brought this future, their words woven this tale how foolish of any of them to think their own words could stand up to Maua's? No. No this made sense. As the lions around wondered why Aquila had his answer in blood and pain. He aimed to push his large frame forwards and tilt his head so he could attempt to grab across the back of her neck further down.

Aquila vs @Sangria
For: Death
06 / 07
Hits

Rolling 7d20: 4 + 5 + 14 + 11 + 3 + 9 + 6

Dodges

Rolling 5d20: 11 + 16 + 18 + 8 + 20

Perhaps in another life, they could have been friends. Maybe if either if them had been better at the whole talking thing...this bloodshed could have been avoided. But, neither of them were good with words. Both were creatures of action...and this...this was certainly action that spoke far louder than any words. Her breath heaved in her breast, her blood pounded in her ears before she would force herself forward. They were going to make history...and if nothing else, they would prove that neither side was willing to bend for their beliefs. She made one last attempt for his throat, trying one last time before her strength gave out to try and sever his jugular. She knew her own blood was pouring down her fur in rivers. "Sangria" -vs- "Aquila" -for- "DEATH" -Round- "7"-of- "7" Hits: Rolling 7d20: 15 + 20 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 16 + 18 Dodges: Rolling 3d20: 5 + 16 + 8 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 18 + 11 + 14 + 7 + 10

code by koi

The call was rather faint when he first heard it, which was unsurprising given the scream came from a pride territory and at most times the chimera had no interest in toeing other lions borders without inspiration. It took a minute or two for the vague feeling of familiarity to blossom into recognition, it had been a long time since his ears captured into them the sound of his Aunt's voice.

Yet there it had been.

And rather distressed.

So the twice warrior rose and made towards the call at a decently fast pace. Not so fast as to arrive winded, but certainly with more haste than would usually be demonstrated due to curiosity alone. Growing near to the rainforst border he noticed others arriving...and building sounds of battle. Yells. Curses. Snarls. His brows arched amusement twitching mismatched lips as a certain spark lit deep within odd eyes.

Now this ... brought back -oh so many memories-. A war? Certainly a complex and violent battle at the least. Too many voices for a simple pride challenge he thought. More contemplation might have been given to this however his desire to check on Furia if she was indeed present became more pressing with the sounds of battle and drifting scent of blood. He slipped towards the press of souls, eyes scanning what proved to be majority strangers. However several souls were familiar and he made note as his gaze drifted to lock on @Furia.

Defenses casually, almost lazily in place Reti removed the humor from his features as it would undoubtedly cause ... issues...for family if he seemed to entertained, he approached the golden lioness. Before reaching her however the sound of @Dero's voice drew his attention with a sharp little snap of his head towards the unstable lion, gaze noting @Hanneth present as well.

His Aunt was attempting to calm his father, who...was clearly...not alright for some reason. @Roan ..that was Roan right? Joined the little group and Reti moved towards them, noting a star speckled lioness( @Amara ) Reti was rather sure he had seen once or twice in his youth. His approach paused only for a moment when a odd looking lioness launched herself at Dero for some...unknown reason.

Lips pulled partly up and away from gleaming white teeth. Someone had a death wish didn't they? Attacking a lion flanked by family, and unprovoked would certainly lend her no assistance. But it did place her on certain ... lists. If the ugly brute ( @Walpurgis ) had not tossed herself at Dero so swiftly and had simply been on the approach Reti would have been happy to ... entertain. But as it was with such a close crush of bodies interference would be almost impossible at this time.

code by corvus

He was tired, his limbs were weakening below him and threatening collapse into her waiting jaws. Blackness tugged at his vision. He felt the pressure of her teeth around his neck, skin tore and he could not feel the blood or pain but he distinctly felt the pressure of closing jaws along his airway. His own teeth continued to reach for her skull and the back of her nape, trying to further wound the Rainforest's Sovereign. His few thoughts in those seconds were not what he'd expect to have while he flirted with death. He didn't think of his family, of his friends or the consequences. He settled on the dawning realization there was no win, there was no loss.

Only that there was change
and when you opened the door to change it came
the good and the bad.

Aquila vs @Sangria
For: Death
07 / 07
Hits

Rolling 7d20: 7 + 13 + 15 + 11 + 6 + 19 + 2

Dodges

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 3 + 17 + 14 + 4

Luck

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 20 + 6 + 8 + 19

Copree had indeed not been too far off. The shadow and flame creature was walking near the borders, taking time to catalogue the various helpful plants and resources that could be used for healing purposes. Her 'travel bundle' carried along as she moved so that anything particularly useful could be added to the hide and turtle shell 'pouch'.

Hanneth's call however broke her from the present task at hand, and with only a half second deliberation (wherein Copree decided that yes, she would bring her pouch) the large lioness was off like a shadow on @Hanneth's track. A path that led to a rainforest. Where, all hell was breaking loose it seemed.

Copree knew a budding war when she saw one and gave a soft half grumble/growl and half exasperated huff at the site. Certain things...never changed. Scanning the crowed she located Hanneth standing near @Dero, @Roan, @Amara, @Furia, Reti and...inbound a slightly familiar lioness but one whose name she could not recall. But that was hardly the concern. The concern was firstly how Dero was acting, and secondly that the large lioness was on the attack.

What. The. Actual. F***.

A scowl marred Copree's features as a snarl was ripped from her jaws clamped around the healing pouch. In a minute or two she was likely to shift from healing to 'wreck it' mode. The fur along her spine lifted slightly ... a far more noticeable and prominent display as her short and usually inconsipicus mane lifted and bristled as well. Copree moved to stand near Hanneth, protectively, but not so close as to become a problem for the fight or an obstacle should Hanneth need to move swiftly to get out of the way.

Although Copree worked on keeping an eye on the brutal battles already unfolding out of her peripheral, the mass of her focus was understandably on the tabloo unfolding around the Hodari's. There was not a lot she could do presently, but she would prepare for when the opportunity to intercede or aid presented itself. Meanwhile perhaps she would be able to glean WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON HERE and why the chaos had erupted in the meantime.

code by corvus

He had 'intended' to simply wait for the most opportune moment. Things were 'difficult' with so many bodies in close quarters. Ah, but everyone knows what the road to hell is paved with right? And his intentions melted away after a moment of attempted forbearance, a surge of 'fck this' causing his eyes to flare brighter and lips to pull fully away from his teeth. He might not be able to intercept, but he could most certainly join the party.

Reti would attempt to approach the heavyset lioness from behind and just slightly to the left. Reti attempted to lunge forward towards her with parted jaws and lifted lips 'MEEE TOOO!' he aimed to chirp in a borderline 'playful' tone that had an distinct edge of sadism.

Teeth would attempt to clamp down around her tail, aiming for a section a foot or so from the base. His right paw would aim to lift and turn upwards attempt to slam claws upwards between her legs into the flesh of her abdomen. All hail War no? And he would certainly enjoy this more than his father would.

--------------
+10 Use a creative move in battle
+10 Participate in a raid or war (actively fighting)
---------------

@Dero , Reti vs. @Walpurgis
Challenge Type: Raid
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 12 + 6 + 16 + 17 + 5 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 6 + 18 + 2 + 7

code by corvus

He smirked as the chaos erupted, fights trickling in and then beginning to gush fountaining from the volcanic tensions. However, he can only listen as he waits for the girl to arrive. To settle nearby his hulking form. Injured as he may be he wasn't about to allow her to get crushed, nor did he think she needed to be hidden away. Children had to learn of the world, and while perhaps this is on the early side, she still needed to learn of this. He would keep her safe and explain as she was bright for all that she was young. Inexperience is the only thing holding her back.

"The lady yelling her head off is some sort of relative of the last ruler of this place." he begins, pointing his massive muzzle at @Furia. He then shifts to the first death match, indicating @Sangria first then @Aquila. "She overthrew that family member. The man, the desert king, she is fighting did not like that and threatened her. I believe he trespassed and got a battle to the death for the trouble. The other pair battling for the death are doing so because one belongs to the red queen and the pink man supports the desert king. " he explains. Its basic, but truth be told he actually didn't know more about it. He had been at the challenge for the forest earlier, but, that was his knowledge. He did not know of any further incidents, nor had an idea of the eagle's deep seated distrust of those from outside the lands. The volume ramped up again and he looked away from @Asteria to the new fights breaking out. These he had no context on though his eyes glinted with a touch of bloodlust and interest. "Stay close. " he warns her.

image by Scarf. Code by Saph.

asteria watched the commotion with a combination of interest and uncertainty. there was a lot of yelling and screaming and fighting; more of which broke out as each moment passed. the fights turned bloody - very bloody - and the small cub couldn't help but flinch. for all that it was disturbing, though, she did not look away, taking some pride in her ability to be present and learn what she could. the moves that each lion made were stored away in some part of her brain along with the knowledge that one day she would be like them. one day she would be like her mother - and there was the familiar painful ache as she remember the ebony warrior - and father. she would live to serve the zero name well, even if she had none to make proud for it.

@Gwyn began to speak, naming names and explaining the general basis of the fight. from what she was able to understand it seemed like a silly reason to fight, especially to the death. while it was honorable (in her young mind) to fight for family, it was silly to trespass and cause all this trouble. but she was barely more than an infant, so she was sure that she didn't understand all the subtle nuances of the situation.

the commotion around them only grows - the blood that spilled was heavy and thick and made the air smell like copper. it did not bother her, she was a carnivore after all, but she could not help but feel sad for the ones that might lose their life. "not good reason to die." she murmured, scooting a little bit closer as gwyn issued his warning. "too much sad for not good reason." again her words were simple, child-like, but the meaning behind them held that same glimmer of intelligence. when one died there were always some left behind - family and loved ones - and perhaps it is the still fresh loss of hers that made her words weight heavy with emotion.

TABLE © DUSK

+20 (sneak into a pride, hide your scent, infiltrate a group) 1/2

It would be hard not to hear or smell the swelling commotion occurring in the rainforest, even at a distance well outside the borders. Asylum, being a creature of curiosity, could not help but investigate. She was not a foolish child though, aware of the need for caution and vigilance. The vegetation would make for excellent camouflage but might also house some unfriendly creatures such as snakes.

A few vibrantly colored and richly perfumed flowers would serve as her invisibility cloak, of which she brushed hastily up against on her way to the mass of lions. Hopefully, it would both hide her unique scent and allow her to melt into the background. Eyes would dance the collection of lions, some of them fighting, some of them merely looking on. She imagined others might be in hiding but she would not draw close enough to look. Instead, she would settle at the far distance, not wishing to be seen but also not wishing to be unintentionally trampled by any lion that might not notice her curled up behind a wall of fat leaved ferns. Here she was far enough away to be out of the way, but close enough to hear others speaking if they did so loudly enough.

image by moogle/code by saph