The feeling of @Elijah pressed to his shoulder surprised him a little. Somehow, he hadn't expected the lion to seek out physical touch, but then, he also hasn't expected to become so protective over a lion he had now met three times. And maybe... he wasn't opposed to the touch. Maybe he even leaned into it a little as well.

He kept an eye on @Asteria as well, willing to jump into a fight to protect her if needed so that Elijah wouldn't have to. But when she joined another and Elijah didn't give chase, Gawain settled, content to only protect one lion today. A soft purr rose in his chest as Elijah spoke to him, a comforting, reassuring sound. In truth, he wasn't paying much attention to the battle. He didn't know either of them, and pride conflicts were not his forté. But if Elijah felt the need to stay, they would stay. "We are not far from my home," he replied softly. "When you are ready, we can either go there, or I will escort you home." There was no expectation placed on these words. He would be content with either outcome. His only intent was to make sure the smaller lion was both safe, and felt safe.

Though hoping to hear why the blind stranger was in such a rage, that would have to wait. The fight had concluded, and it had been @Gwyn who had been forced to yield. Even so, she felt nothing but pride for him, and relief that he was still standing. She would rush to his side again, already shifting back into healer-mode as she looked him over. That leg would need some cleaning-out, he couldn't afford to have the muscles heal improperly.

As much as she loved him, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement as he offered to take on an...advisor role to the new boy-king. Typical Gwyn. She wasn't surprised when @Cupid turned him down, though still extending the offer of a home regardless. She looked away from her mate to briefly nod at the young male, a silent gesture of thanks, before her attention went back to Gwyn, her expression softening. He was handling his loss with grace, and she was proud of him for that. "Wait here just a moment," she said, "I'm going to find something for those gashes."

She turned away and moved off at a brisk pace, back into the underbrush. It was difficult at times to discern one plant from the other among all this greenery, but after a short time searching, she found what she was looking for. Broadleaf plantain was a widely-spread herb, capable of surviving almost anywhere, and a good thing too. She'd pluck several of the namesake leaves and hold them in her canines as she returned to the dueling ground, ready to tend to his injuries once he was done talking politics.

+5 Collect herbs (2/2)
+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (2/2)

table by saph

The battle begins to draw to a close, and normally where Roarke could spot a winner before the middle, it’s impossible to tell who will prove themselves. The grey lion is more than ready to launch himself at the winner - if he cannot stop them from taking the crown, then he’ll make sure to take a pound of flesh as compensation for it. Cupid’s hunger for power stings nearly as much as Sangria’s death, yet he can’t do anything about the fallen woman. Her killer has already been whisked away, protected by an entire pride’s worth of lions. Not even he is a fool enough to try to take them on now. No, all he can do is watch while a stranger and - and the pale man fight for Firnen.

At the end of it all, @Cupid comes out on top. A new king, bloodied and very unsure about it all by the looks of things. For the first time Roarke can see how young he is - it had always been apparent before but now… it’s obvious. His claws sink into the earth, preparing to shred flesh - when wide eyes flick across the battlefield and find Roarke’s, pinning him in place. Even when Cupid looks back at the defeated, the weight lingers.

He does not like it.

Roarke shifts, abruptly shaking out his pelt as if to chase the feeling away. His attention flicks briefly to @Teuta, and he whispers to her. “I will not hold you to stay here - but do not join another pride. I will call us together this evening - we have much to discuss with the crew.” Much more than anyone could know yet. How to deal with the news Rivia had brought him - how to inform them the others would never arrive, and that they waited in vain? Roarke didn’t have the answers, not yet.

With a jerk of his chin he dismisses his crew mate, stretching back up to his full height in time for Cupid to address the crowd. Again, those eyes find him, and the unspoken message is awfully loud. Impassive as ever, Roarke manages to merely drop the snarl from his lips. Not that there’s time to react or say much at all - the small woman at his side steps forward, and so does another - when had the irritating bard arrived? In all the commotion, Roarke hadn’t placed him. Knowing full well that Cupid would be occupied by others and his new status, and have not a moment that the giant might strangle answers out of him, Roarke turns and slips out of the rainforest. Displaced and unsure, but haunted by the feeling of eyes too warm for their coloring on his back.

Exit.

ooc: skipping Gwyn to keep this rolling & everyone accepted in! feel free to create another thread for us if you're interested, Saph!

ic: It is after his speech that those in the crowd begin to speak up — it comes as a surprise to the newly crowned monarch who found allies in voices he doesn’t expect. Among them is a lion he’s seen around Wolfbron numerous times — @Roseate the bard, who joined and was cared for under the hand of Namara. They both have her to thank for differ reasons. And he is grateful for the bard who spreads cheer in an otherwise gloomy situation, especially when he sees @Roarke disappear out of the corner of his eye.

His body lurches in the direction of the draconic giant for a moment before he freezes — no matter how much he wishes to explain now, he must not leave his post. “Uhm, thank you,” he says instead, attention returning to the bard who shockingly wishes to join him here. Firnen’s first member underneath the Beaumont’s reign. “Of course I would be honored to have you join the Rainforest.” He approves just like that with a small grin — tired muscles relaxing just a tad from their tensed pose.

The next who speaks up is a small lass he’d spotted at the side of Roarke. @Lexa she introduces herself as, and where in her company had left, she, too, wished to join Cupid. It gives him a sliver of hope that he hadn’t screwed up entirely. He gives her a nod of his head; “Of course. Welcome to Firnen, Lexa.”

“I will meet back up with you two shortly, but first I… think we need to keep an eye on everything going on.” He gestures vaguely towards the ongoing battles not far from their position. Though he would not kick up the stink that the Mire Sovereign had not long ago — after all Cupid is in no condition to fight again — there is much in the ways of healing and politics that he suddenly must be thrusted into.

So with that, he gives a nod towards those present and limps in the direction of the battles — keeping an observant eye on the group and hopeful that they continue to disperse soon.

— EXIT —

table by sentinel / lion + rainforest

+5 - Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds - 2/2

gawain is a warm, comforting weight at his side and elijah is terribly ( selfishly ) glad that the brown-pelted man has decided to stay. there are surely others, he knows, who need a shield tonight. even from here he can hear the not-so-distant sound of anguish and grief and continuous scuffling. yet gawain sits here, next to him — and grateful is not quite the word for the emotion churning in elijah's chest. elijah hears the purr and feels it, too, thrumming in gawain's chest and rumbling through the connection point of their shoulder.

eventually the oppressive atmosphere is too great to bear and impossible to ignore anymore. gwyn is in well enough shape that his wife should be able to patch him up however he needed and elijah cannot bring himself to linger any longer. trembling softly he pushes himself up to stand, weaving a little as he turns towards his companion, ears dipped low. i want to go, he murmurs — eager and frightened both to leave. please, he says, or at least thinks he does, before it is truly too much.

this might have been a jungle, lush and green, but tonight it is easy to mistake it as the pits he'd clawed his way out of. exit

code; background; art;

Gawain is unmoved by the sounds of battles. None of those who are fighting have been coerced into it, so it does not concern him. The lion at his side is his only attachment, the only thing here worth fighting for. But no one is challenging that, no one is trying to take his... friend away from him.

He can feel the resolve fading from his friend the longer they stay. As the moments tick by, the urge to just carry @Elijah out grows stronger and stronger. He easily could, he was plenty strong enough. But unless Elijah began to lose himself, he would stay. He needed to make the decision for himself. And soon enough, he did. Gawain nearly sprung to his feet, but he kept his cool. "I'm here," he replied softly, on his feet before Elijah even had to finish his words. He wasn't entirely sure why that was the first thing that came to mind. "I've got your back. Let's go home."

-Exit Gawain

Its obvious Cupid is distracted. The new responsibility on his shoulders was hardly small. There was nothing in such a dury Roseate envied. But it was change, a new opportunity for himself. Roseate had liked the bluffs, but he was now pretty much fully recovered and growing bored.

Cupid accepts him and the Bard grins cheerfully, content. "Thank you." He utters, and pivots to peer at the forest. His new home now. But his positivity had had the intended effect, and Roseate is privately pleased to see even a little of that tension fade.

"Go, go." He dismisses the new soverign's polite excuse from the situation. Watching the crowd begin to dispere, so does Roseate.

/exit Roseate

Roarke is quick enough to leave, but Lexa pays him little heed for now. She doesn't doubt that she will see the herculean beast again, and she has other interests to occupy her for the time being. A smile curls over her lips as Cupid welcomes her into his new home, granting her the opportunity to begin with something new. It excites Lexa, who has only ever been part of old traditions and ancient pillars. The idea to be a foundation piece is intriguing, even if it is at the helm of a woman's death. She'd only met the lioness once before, as well as the man who had fallen, and while she doesn't doubt the grief of their friends and family, she cannot share the same sentiment. She finds this particular sort of chaos boring, and as the group begins to dissipate, Lexa herself heads into the shadows, eager to learn more of her new home.

Exeunt Lexa

high achiever, don't you see? nothing comes for free

table by sentinel / art

[OOC : wrapping up threads. So gonna skip.]


She was silent as thr battle came to a close as quickly as it had begun. Gwyn had lost, but she didn't figure him for a quitter and knew the lion would be back to take another stab at it. Jewel knew he wasn't one to simply sit on his ass and let the world pass him by. With one last glance towards the new Firnen king and the remaining lions thr ebon shadow took her leave.

Jewel slipped quietly into the undergrowth of the jungle as silently as she had come into it. A figure simply fading into the obscurity of shadow and history with no mark of her passing.

//exit//

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

as everything settled the child found herself a little bit lost. elijah left with gawain and gwyn was busy - his wife attended to him most capably. asteria recognized that perhaps it was time for her to leave. this was not her home and she truthfully had no place here.

so, while attention was elsewhere she slipped away in to the shadows while she made a mental note to track down gwyn again one day. he would have to heal, but she still hoped that he would be able to teach her how to fight. one day.

-exit asty-

Table by Amanda