The Firnen High Sovereign observes quietly as the mix of drama and carnage seems to unfold as it always did at pride challenges. As a multitude of fights come to an end, fiery eyes seem to wander to those that had gathered in the crowd. Whilst most members here seemed to be from Ecrosia (including @Alaric himself) and others from the Lagoon, there were a few Firnen faces scattered across the shadows. They seemed to be filled with expressions of curiosity more than anything else, and Maia was quite content in leaving them to their own devices.

Tensions appeared to simmer between Alizabeth and her challenger, Tiamat. It seemed as though the King wanted to keep the Mire lioness as a prisoner, which earned a shake of her head and a sigh as the woman rose to her paws. Politics was certainly a fickle thing, and Maia wanted no part in the tribulations between the Lagoon and the Mire. With nothing more to say, the Firnen High Sovereign departed and headed back home, making a mental note to visit the Lagoon in a month or so's time once the dust had settled.

Exit Maia

code © flea // art © kraken

She had observed the drama following the failed challenge with interest, not really having a horse in the race. The lioness that had tried to take it may have been of the Mire, but Bordeaux did not pay allegiance to the pride, only to her mother and sisters. Regardless of her neutrality, her continued presence as a cub of the Mire might just be met with unwelcome or even aggression.

Deciding it was time to go, the small girl would turn, following in the example of a few that had gone ahead of her. She would keep to herself, hoping her tiny stature would help her melt into the vegetation.

-exit Bordeaux-

image by moogle/code by saph

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. @Alizabeth was going on about her pettiness while simultaneously doing the same damn thing - trying to keep the loser of the challenge prisoner, complaining about Alaric not warning her. "You aren't even allies and you want him to report his member's intentions to you?" she said, following it with a sharp laugh. "And just what are you offering in return for that kind of information?" Maybe Aliza really was as dumb as her speech lead Tiamat to believe, to be expecting such things from someone who wasn't even an ally.

She was about to add more, but then the black lioness that she had smacked and sent tumbling away loomed in her face again, tongue out of her mouth and spittle flying everywhere. Tiamat reared her head back in disgust, her nose scrunched up. What in the hell was wrong with that woman? But before she could do anything more, @Marja retreated again, sulking in the distance. Fine. She could stay there. Tiamat was quickly losing what was left of her energy and didn't feel like chasing after her. Nevermind the other lions that were still blocking her path.

As Alizabeth stepped closer, anger in her eyes, Tiamat raised her head, making sure it was held high above the small sovereign's, and glared down at the bitch, letting her spew her bullshit for a moment before another smile stretched across her muzzle. "There's a little more to it than that," she chuckled. "You're so high and mighty about protecting your children, and yet you allied with the Sigrun scum who kill theirs. I want the Lagoon. Taking it from you is just the added bonus." Because at the end of the day it was the Sigrun that Tiamat disliked. It was the Lagoon she really wanted. Aliza was just a means to an end. But she rather liked the idea of getting back at the woman for the attitude she had given that day when Tiamat had tried to hold a training session.

"Take a look at yourself before accusing me of pettiness," she said with a flip of her tail before she started to turn away from the white bitch. "You held me here and ordered Alaric here, making a scene and threatening war, just to find out he knew about a possible challenge. What a waste of everyone's time." And with that she shoved passed anyone else who was blocking her way - taking Alizabeth's orders that they all leave as permission to go, and held her head high as she exited the territory.

/Exit unless stopped (tag me in discord if you try to stop her please!)

image by rabbit, code by anyu

The battle had raged as a few more smaller fights broke out. The bird continued to circle, head tilting back and forth so as not to miss a single second.

When everything finally came to an end, Chinook spiraled down and landed near Alizabeth's bloodied paws. Verbal battles raged higher and stronger than the physical one. But the politics were lost on the corvid. Instead he busied himself with plucking dirt, sand and fur out of some of the King's wounds. There would be no infections on his watch.
The lions spoke of imprisonment and Chinook croaked in his throat at all the protesting that followed. This was the Mistress's home. And thus it was her rules. If they did not like it then they could stay away. Even for a bird that seemed not so hard. But then again these cats could be thicker than bog mud.

A yellow eye narrowed up at Tiamat and a few others as they departed. Feathers ruffled up but still he continued to work on Aliza's wounds. Tempers could flare all they like but if anyone dared to try their claw again at the Nesryn Lady, Chinook would be more than happy to sink his talons into their gooey eyeballs.

Much ensued after they'd attempted to block @Taimat's exit. A frown fell across their pale muzzle, blonde face looking between many of the lions as they all spoke between one another. Though Tiamat was quick to respond to them, denying that she'd accompany them down the beach front. Well fuck you too then. Muttered under their breath they made no movement to leave the vicinity nor remove themselves from Tiamat's path. Deep violet eyes pressed over to the clamor of argument, noting the arrival of Alaric in all his glory, though they weren't familiar with the king.

Nothing seemed to be settled betwixt the two kings, nor those present within their homeland. Input from them wouldn't resolve much, nor prompt anything further to happen. Instead they remained near Tiamat, wavering between keeping the woman within the beach side pride or leaving her be.

Many words passed between those still lingering; eventually, @Nero dismissed them all, a sound decision. Lavender head bobbed in agreement with this decision. Spotted and striped canvas moving finally to stand nearer their brother. Get on with ya lot then. Nothin' more to see here. Underbite poked from his lower lip, their youthful face wrinkled in annoyance. Such anger from the golden lioness towards their mother made little sense to them, though they suspected that Ecrosia Mire found themselves an enemy to Scilla Lagoon now.

Whatever more needed done they would seek to hover the borders, ensuring that their unwanted company left completely. Exit Kaloula

ART»CODE

There it was - the end of the battle, the challenge for the land.

Aryana was quiet the whole time, kept to herself and secluded to the background. She was curious, but her thoughts would be left unvoiced as she watched the drama unfold. A sigh escapes from her lips gently, and she assumes it was best to take her leave now. This had nothing to do with her anymore, and while she knew the leader - vaguely - of Scilla, she wasn't sure just what reputation her mother had left around. Shaking her feelings off, she turned and began to retire back to the temporary den she had for herself.

/ exit

code by corvus

this world is dying in our arms

Amara slips up beside him and while her support is unexpected he appreciates it all the same. At the very least he knows he has somebody on his side if shit were to hit the proverbial fan. @Tiamet speaks up then, reiterating what he had already said. Alaric had known that his Gentry had her eyes on the Lagoon, but why the hell was he going to think to tell Alizabeth that? When the white King snarks at him for not saying anything he is, frankly, flabbergasted. In fact for a second he can only blink in surprise, leaving a long enough opening for Tiamet to speak up again. "Indeed, Alizabeth. I support the ambitions of those in my pride and I deter them from seeking claim over allied lands, but that is all I can do. They are all strong individuals with aspirations of their own, and while I value loyalty in my pride I also understand the desire to earn your place in the world." Just as he had done; just as she had done. "I am fairly certain you would not run to give me the heads up if you had members looking to take the Mire." An arched brow as he said it, barely resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the very notion. His.... relationship with Aliza was outside of pride politics, and she had made it very damn clear that they were not allies. Hell, he doubted she trusted him a lick, and less so after this no doubt, though he'd be hard pressed to figure out what the fuck he had done wrong. @Nero demands that they leave and he curls a lip towards the boy, annoyed by his insolence and his audacity to ask anything of his pride. Slaine, ever the peace-keeper, agrees, though, and so the King says nothing of the fact. It would be best to leave before things got too much out of hand, but he would be certain to be the last one to depart. Alizabeth and Tiamet spit a few more words at each other and the former tosses a thread his way, but he shrugs it off, far too empty to fight over something so ridiculous. If she wanted to bring war to his door because somebody sought to take her pride then so be it. He had nothing more to say about it and gestured for those of the Mire that were still present to head home. He would linger just long enough to ensure they all left safely before he, too, turned away from the Lagoon. -exit-.

code // art

Tiamat decides to run her mouth as she's leaving - then turns tail and leaves without giving Alizabeth the chance to speak. That's fucking fine. "If I ever fuckin' see you again, I'll put you in your fuckin' GRAVE." She yells out after her. There was no more holding back on this. Alaric wanted to stand there and act like he knew how she would act. Roarke had mentioned raiding and trying their paw at the Mire, but there was a huge difference in Alizabeth's eyes. No one from Scilla had ever mauled or killed a child - the same could not be said for the Mire.

It was also apparent that those within the Mire itself liked to stir up trouble and it had become a very conflicting pride in the eyes of some others. Alaric seemed to have no control over his members and played it off as 'ambition'. Alizabeth's nose wrinkled with distaste, a growl vibrating in her throat. "Say whatever ya gotta fuckin' say to help you sleep at night." She retorts, tail lashing behind her.

The Lagoon King didn't miss the look Alaric gave her son, causing the fur along her spine to raise. "Eyes off my kid." She snaps, then turns and immediately moves to leave. The Mire. Fuck the lot of them, she'd been attempting to stay neutral so Alaric never felt as if he had her against him, so that if it ever came time for a war to sprout against the Mire - she wouldn't be involved. Regardless of what her members might've planned - one of which she had strongly discouraged, a challenge wasn't a war.

Yeah, that shit was done now.

Alizabeth's magenta eyes roll over all the trespassing lions - those of the Mire and Wolfbron specifically. She didn't say anything more, they knew they weren't welcome. Turning, the King moves to return to her den for a very much needed healing.

/exit

I'm a King, not a goddamn princess.

you made your
sceptre with the
bones you've broken

From her ready and standing position, Morrigan listened as the two rulers exchanged verbal jabs and insults but war didn't seem like it was going to break out today at least... though King Alizabeth had promised the next she time met her challenger their fight would be to the death. Morrigan had no desire to possibly watch another friend die, but nor could she stop such a woman like Alizabeth from following that path. Anymore than anyone would be able to stop herself if she ever found that Rike again. Morrigan watched Alaric leave and took a last look at @Amara before she would assure that Alizabeth's exit was guarded before departing herself. exit morrigan

table by ferus, art by grav3wolf

Marja did not like the stinky woman who had slapped her, no, no, no. She did not listen to the small king. She did not listen when told to stay- and Roan had said that the king was a friend- and Marja had just tried to help. She watches but she doesn't really get all the mess going on now. The small Queen had won- she had the favor of Gromm. She was the chosen to lead this place. Gromm had decided by combat. The other- was not chosen. Marja ambles back towards her pride-mates, before she takes her leave- after casting her blessing and happy that her words surely swayed Gromm to pick the strongest- it is time to go.

-exit-

always alone and unwanted

I don't mean to be so crass about the situation -- But it's easier than breaking down -- The reasoning your loose interpretation --
In a sea of motherfuckers, man, you were no salvation

code by corvus |art by dispero