[[mandatory meeting for him to get a feel for who's around, no post order, next round hopefully next friday]]

It had not escaped his notice, how few Andal members had appeared at the challenge. For a moment, he'd wondered if they were scheming to invade the bluffs, but no war cry had come. Upon reaching the oasis itself, he discovered the reason. The scent of the place was weaker than it had been the last time he'd come near the borders. Had Seneca's loyalists abandoned him, or had they anticipated another attack and cleared out early?

He had plenty of time to muse over the possibilities as he methodically eradicated each of the previous ruler's markers along the borders. Only once the perimeter was coated in nothing but his own scent did he turn his path inward to seek out a space that looked likely for a gathering.

Once a space was located, he sat himself down to call whoever remained. Perhaps his voice rising over the sands would be a surprise to those within. Perhaps not. He really didn't know or care. He intended to gather the remains of the oasis to see what he was dealing with, and if any seemed likely to cause trouble for him.

Of course the call didn't come well for the red Sugrun. Quite the opposite. It brought both fear and anger, irritation that now threatened with turning into violence and rebellion. She had been on her own thing, unwanted of the challenge but not from the scares heads in the past few days. Ears pinned as she sprinted with anger on her face. She wasn't taking shit, she never did. An stranger came into view and of course she didn't have any kind words to deliver for the new king. And if he would be the new Sovereign she would rather be a rouge again than be here. And as well known of yeh Sigrun, she was willing to fight for her freedom. No fear, nothing to feat. "I don't wanna be here with you. Let me go now and save both of us the bother of me making you regret having me here against my will." This was her only warning, or else she would right away fight. She spoke firmly, without hesitation while low growls left her chords. @Ryker

art by ulfied+ code by spu

Well shit. She hadn't gone to the fight because she'd heard that song and dance before, and Seneca was always the one to come home. But this time it was another who called for them, and she sighed deeply as she left her herb garden to go grace the new king with her presence. It was tempting to remain here as she did have quite the stash of poisons, but she didn't have the patience to test out the upstart. Although...

Arcania briefly returned to the patch, picking her way to the milky mangrove nestled within and carefully coating her claws with its sap before heading on her way. If he found the patience to test her, then he would find that a mistake.

"Yes, fun as it would be to wreck havoc here, I'd suggest you do the same for me," she cooed as she prowled into the gathering which was, for now, sparsely attended.

To say he was pissed was... quite understating it. Not at Seneca, no, but at the situation. He'd quite liked the life he'd built here, and now it was time to leave. He had no doubt that Ryker wouldn't allow him to stay, nor would he want to even if the new sovereign did.

He was crossing the territory to his den when he heard the man call, and immediately adjusted his course to come stand before the man, pulling himself to his full height. "Release my daughter," he said, the deep bass of his voice reverberating through his chest. He'd brook no discussion on this, and was more than willing to fight the man for it here and now. He'd beaten him once before, and he would do so again.

He would, of course, also fight for the freedom of any of the lionesses here who were not granted their request, but his primary concern was for Solanum.

Solanum, now six months old, crept from her father's den, she was still small, smaller than most, her eyes were filled with concern and confusion, the young chimera trotted towards the strangers call. What happened to Seneca? What would happen to them? Her father? Bright yellow eyes looked up at Ryker, brow furrowed, she stood before Ryker, fur bristling at the stranger, the chimera was small, but had a big attitude when she felt necessary, she hissed and spit at him, clawing at the air.

Her father's voice, strong and proud was enough to cause her to take her eyes off of the new king and stop her aggression, she froze and reality set in, she looked back up at Ryker, ears pinned against her head. She slowly backed up, before turning and running under her father, peeking out from his mane and softly asking, "What happened? What's happening?

"My husband and I will likely be leaving as well," she murmured, striding up to the scene as though her body wasn't slowly falling to pieces on the inside. Hecuba was nothing if not a prideful woman, so to let this new boy king see anything but icy eloquence was a mistake. She came to stand among her friends -- Arcania, Seraphiel -- and settled in among them. Hecuba didn't know who his daughter was, but it didn't matter. She greeted them both with head bumps before calling for her husband, eager to see him make an appearance as well.

table by sylph | stock 2

CALLISTO

Ah the fresh scent of drama.

Did Callisto know a thing about the Andalians? No. Had she ever set foot in the Oasis before? Absolutely not. Was she sticking her nose where it probably didn't belong? You can bet. Knowledge was after all, one of the many currencies of real power; which was more than she could say for the scene unfolding in the short distance. What could she say, the call had piqued her interest as the closer she drew among the small mass, it was easy enough to decipher what was going on ; hell even if none of them recognized her as a trespasser, they were all too busy wanting an out. Perhaps they'd assume she came with this new regime. Or could pose a means as a way in to find what she was really looking for. Even Kings of No One needed outside resources... Callisto thought with amusement. Of course he could deny them, but was he really in a ship-shape position to do so? Still, she hung a bit in the back of the growing crowd not yet eager to bring any attention to herself.

coded by flea

Iofiel was the odd one of the bunch. Everyone that had gathered were stating their desire to leave. That was not for him. The desert was his life. It was where he knew how to survive. He wasn't looking to pick up roots and go elsewhere. The Oasis needed someone whom knew the ins and outs. It needed someone who could safeguard those who knew nothing of the environment. This wasn't the easiest place to live but it was what Iofiel knew best.

The large male stood silently at the back of the group. He spoke nothing but was waiting to see what would happen. He knew nothing about this new ruler, other than that he had attempted for this place before. He inferred that he was backed by Vermier given what had happened at the previous challenge.

Sure, the others of the Oasis might hold something against the Bluffs but Iofiel never had. Politics mattered nothing to him. Why should they when he was never in a position of power to need to deal with such things? Besides his loyalty had always been to the land itself. He remained when all left.

//Vague af

Of course Alma wasnt any happy, her eyes only saw red. How dare, how dare the idiot. Steal her home, a home she worked her ass for, one Seneca worked his ass for..and this boy had just destroyed years of work. And that gave the woman growing wishes to bring him down for once. But, she would rather just leave, pretend he didnt exist. She arrived with anger on her features. "I am fucking leaving. Wanting it or not, but I wont abandon who held this pride for many years now. And watch al the fucking work put on here by a fucking bastard. I dont see a worthy place to work for anymore. Fucking let me go, or else...I will make sure your fucking leadership becomes a fucking hell." And Alma's promises were never jokes, she was talking serious.

@Ryker

CODE • ART • BG

[[seems like most (all??) have posted so i'll just nudge this along so we don't drag potential limbo out any further than necessary XD ]]

---

It wasn't as if he'd expected to be welcomed with a lavish celebration. Especially after finding the place emptier than expected. He'd assumed those who remained had either been the most loyal to Seneca, or the most reluctant to leave a place they'd made a home.

He was, however, a little insulted by the immediate refusal to even give him a chance.

Brows lifted at the red woman who first appeared, a slight scoff coming through a shadow of a wry smirk. "You don't know the first thing about me." Neither she nor the one who came behind her.

@Seraphiel was a semi-familiar face, and his smirk grew into something more noticeable. "You're trespassing, as of the minute Seneca lost." And Ryker would like to think it was a testament to his rare patience that the man hadn't been attacked on sight for stepping over the borders. "Get the fuck out and she won't be touched." Or make a scene and make it harder for the little girl if he failed. His choice. The child herself (he assumed, as she seemed to be the only cub present), was ignored while she hissed her disapproval - an assumption that would be confirmed when she hid under the man.

A grey woman appeared, also demanding release, followed by a silent lilac figure and an equally silent male. Which were both immediately overshadowed by the exceptionally not quiet @Alma. Her rant earned little more than a blank, vaguely bemused, stare. When he spoke again, it was to address the crowd as a whole.

"Most of you don't know me. The rest might only recognize me from encounters with Seneca, or personal fights," here, he glanced at Seraphiel, then Alma. As he spoke, his posture straightened, refined strength replacing casual and lazy confidence. Here was a glimpse behind the front he offered to most everyone, a glimmer of the sharper mind behind the quick tongue. "You're all victims of politics, but that's nothing new. It's happened before, and will happen again - to you, and others. One day, probably soon, someone will come and try to unseat me, and like those before me I'll do everything I can to prevent that." Probably. He'd actually accomplished the goal he'd set and hadn't really planned much further than that. Now it was the 'see what happens' phase.

"Andal was an enemy to Wolfbron, I've eliminated that enemy and, at the very least, put a pause to the cold war between the prides." If Seneca regained the pride, that could change. Or if someone else usurped him and held a grudge. "Politics and tactics, nothing personal." A pause, then a slight shrug, "Okay, maybe it was a little personal." But they were even now, so he was as content as he'd ever be to let the grudge against the former ruler die.

"I'm willing to offer a one-time deal to those present. Wanting to leave out of anger isn't unusual, or out of blind devotion. However," sharp, a click of teeth and a shade higher volume accompanied that singular word, "I won a fair fight, and if it hadn't been me it would have eventually been someone else." Probably also from Wolfbron, but who knew. "If your desire to leave is not purely out of a sense of loyalty to Seneca, give me one month to show you your way of life will not drastically change under me, and if you're still unsatisfied at the end of it, you won't have to stay." Would he let them go? Trade them off? Oh, who knew! Suspense was half the fun, right? "If you're willing, stay and hear the new laws."

@Zahra @Arcania ♔ @Solanum @Hecuba @Callisto @Iofiel