They had made it back.

Despite having the night of rest within the Grotto with Renfri, Aeistrios still looked like complete hell when arriving back to his borders. They'd been gone for a few days, and he was certain Reah had to be wondering what was wrong. Limping, his wounds had clotted up but the sight of them was still gruesome. Infection had probably sought to set in on his most serious ones, his shoulder and leg - and right behind his ear where the flesh separated from his frame.

Renfri wasn't too far from him. And he made note to keep his eyes on her. In a way, winning her had brought an excitement to him. The two of them being able to fight together and defeat the Brook had been a rush like no other. It was only the aftermath that had the Saxe male running low on fumes.

Crossing through his borders, the tall grass welcomes him and he wastes no time going for one of the many food storages. A grunt could be heard every now and then from him, his features often twisting in pain, but his pace increased just a bit faster. Pain pushed aside for the thought of food. Once reaching it, he swiftly flops down, removing the weight from his most injured side and drags a piece of meat to him with his unharmed limb. He says nothing, and merely feasts.

@Reah @Renfri

code by corvus

Renfri limped alongside Aeistrios, quiet rage simmering within her. Overnight, her scent had shifted, bringing truth to the lies she’d spilled on the battlefield. It seemed a poor time to wind up in such a condition, but it would help in covering her tracks. If anyone had called her bluff, they might think twice when they saw her next. It would also give her time to focus her efforts on more of the political side of things while she was forced to stay out of the battles. Recruit, meet with potential allies, and build stronger relationships with existing ones. There was a lot of work to be done. Her mind had lingered on how it had been to fight with him. Their first spat in the passage had been different. They were outnumbered, and their attacks had been more about sending a message and trying to stay afloat. In the claim, though, she had seen a ferocious side of her husband that had thrilled her in a way she hadn’t experienced. He made her want to be his, in all the ways that mattered, but maybe that was just the hormones talking. He leads them to the cache and flops down to eat without a word. The Heiress knew she should probably eat as well, but her stomach seems to be twisting in knots and her mind is racing too quickly to be able to think about settling down for a meal. She sat beside him, close enough to feel his warmth at her side, before letting out a few chuffs to call for Reah. So similar to the last meeting they had, after the last pride challenge turned war that they’d attended. This time the Queen hadn’t been present, and she needed to be updated on what had taken place. @Aeistrios @Reah

Art & Code by Vasilia

Reah had quickly noticed when both @Aeistrios and @Renfri had gone missing for a few days. The Arcane Queen didn’t dare leave her empire for those days. To leave it unattended during a time like this wasn’t a smart idea, and so she stayed. She kept herself busy within her empire and anxiously waited for their return. She didn’t know what had happened, but in order to keep her own sanity, she had tried her best to avoid assuming the worst.

It was hard, especially when she had to deal with the fact that a Brook man had mangled her wrist.

Thankfully, it was healing a bit better, and rather quickly much to her surprise. She was able to finally apply weight to it, and that was a good start.

Finally, Renfri’s chuffs left Reah quickly getting to her paws and approaching the pair. Both looked in bad shape, and Reah clenched her jaw. Who did this to you two? Was it the Brook? She couldn’t help but growl the words. Of course, immediately, speculating that their enemies had done this. Anger began to simmer underneath the surface, daring the boil over. She was not angry towards the pair, of course, but towards whoever had injured them.

Not only that, but Reah could smell the familiar hormones of pregnancy upon Renfri’s figure. Thus, pissing off the Queen even more. Once she got her answer, she would swear a wrathful revenge._{BG — ART — CODE}

@Renfri is just as quiet as she settles down at his side, the two of them eating. Or, so he had thought. His head lifts as he pauses mid-bite, a frown coming to his face as he doesn't see her inhaling any food. "Eat." He nudges her, unsatisfied at thinking her stomach was empty, at thinking his cubs were inside her hungry.

@Reah doesn't take long to arrive, and she does so with a clenched jaw as she takes in their state. He swallows down the large chunk of meat in his mouth, before nodding with a wince. "They were at the challenge for Obsidian - I went to attack Cassandra, but she had a body guard jump in to fight for her. Some Brook male tried stealing Renfri while I was engaged in the maim - and Cassandra's daughter too. A maned yearling girl with maroon fur, silver eyes." He didn't have to say that they had won. It was obvious, but at the sight of the two of them, Aeistrios the most, it came at a heavy price.

"She is with cubs. The Brook committed an act of war trying to take her - we need to prepare." A statement he was sure they were both well aware of, but they needed to discuss how.

code by corvus

Aeistrios’ voice pulls her from her thoughts, his nudge finally drawing her attention to the prey. The slight makes her stomach turn again, but she lowers herself to the ground and pulls a small chunk of meat towards her, tearing off a small bite and chewing slowly. To appease him, to give strength to her body and help the children in her womb grow and thrive. It makes the nausea swell, but she shoves it down and does her best to eat what she can. Reah arrives quickly, giving the Heiress an excuse to pause her efforts to get the meal down as she turns her attention to the visibly angry Queen. Renfri can feel it rolling off of her as she looks them over, taking note of the wounds, and likely recognizing the scent on the abyss lioness. Aeistrios was clearly worse for wear than her, but her condition added an extra degree of offense to her wounds, the additional consequences it could have caused. Aeistrios took the lead on filling her in, quickly running through the highlight reel of what she’d missed while they were away. “I warned him when he first made the challenge, told him of my condition and gave him a chance to back down. The move against me was intentional.” He would not be able to claim ignorance, not when she now had proof of her words, even if she’d only gotten lucky with her timing. “We will need to call the pride together. There is additional danger to us with the declaration of war, and they will all need to prepare as much as we will.” She was eager for it to be done, and would have liked to raise the call now, but she would wait. There was more still that they needed to discuss. “I learned recently in the passage that Vermeda Brook is allied with a northern pride called Illyria Summit. A man named Keligan from Caladan Cove said they have clashed with the Summit similarly to how we’ve clashed with Vermeda.” Another enemy, but also another potential ally in the war to come. @Aeistrios @Reah

Art & Code by Vasilia

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of harm to pregnant individual, harm to unborn children, homicidal thoughts and plans, death threats, talk of injuries and violence

Thankfully, @Aeistrios is quick to confirm her accusations. She couldn’t help but let out another frustrated and angered growl. They will pay! She immediately spat. Cassandra is a little coward, she shows up and refuses to fight her own battles. She is nothing but a pathetic brat, we will end her and her daughter. Reah snarled.

Her eyes fell on @Renfri, And we will end the man that sought to bring harm to you, and the unborn Saxe in your womb, she added. Her teeth flashed as she spoke, and a bloodthirsty look could be seen shimmering in her obsidian eyes.

Despite all the rage that formed inside of her, Renfri began to speak about logistics and politics. Reah took in a deep breath, her tail lashing. She needed to cage the raging beast within for now. But oh how she wished she had been there, to help tear into the useless Vermeda lions. Alas, she still knew it had been better that she ended up staying.

I’ve been meaning to gain intel on the rest of Cassandra’s family. Perhaps we should visit the rest of the other prides, to see where they stand. She added, I’ve been to the Summit before, a war broke out too. She continued on and paused for a moment. Cassandra likes to say Vermeda is the safest, yet they bring violence to themselves time and time again. They are no better than any other pride that wages wars or steals, they are the opposite of whatever sanctuary she claims it to be. She ranted to the pair. In Reah’s mind, Cassandra had to have been some moron with no common sense to call the Brook safe.

We must inform the other empires that the Brook are dangerous and actively seek to bring harm to unborn children. She told them. Surely, that would leave a sour taste in everyone’s mouths once the news was out to everyone.

They are violent, and highly dangerous. They aren’t afraid to maim and steal. We need to warn our pride about them as well. She added. She was growing increasingly concerned for the rest of their loyal followers. It was already horrible enough that the royal trio had gotten so beat up, but if they ever dared touch a hair on the innocent ones… Reah would unleash a hell they had never seen before._{BG — ART — CODE}

@Renfri adds on the the pieces Aeistrios left out, glancing to her before swallowing down another chunk of meat. His stomach thanked him, having had nothing on it since the start of his battles - something unusual for him. His body had been tested though, his skills too. His ego soared high at knowing he won both of his fights, and he pondered what the Brook was doing right now - were they sitting idle? Or taking heed to their warning of war? One could only assume.

@Reah is rightfully angry, and he observes her - the sight of the emotion among her face attractive to him. Both Reah and Renfri were ferocious women, women who had no restraint, and would do what was needed of them to ensure the protection of their pride. A pride he happily shared with them, trusted them to handle it perhaps better than he. Aeistrios was the bulk, the brawns, their weapon to tell when and where to attack. The rest? They seemed to be handling that just fine.

"That wheat, old lioness at the passage said the Summit and Brook were close. I'm sure they will help them in war." A noted observation, Tiamat sure had been dumb to offer the intel at no price. Renfri and Reah encourage warning the pride, and Aeistrios cleans off the bone of his meal. "Caladan Cove? I think... i've met their leader before. When I was rogue." Assuming the leader hadn't changed, but he had seemed pretty cool, laid back even. Maybe there was strength there.

"Wolfbron is lead by Amara - she saw me claim Sayen, was about to counter it for her own pride before the lioness begged us to not fight. They seem... strong. I doubt Vermeda likes them if they have no issues against claiming for themselves." He throws out there - but then his mind thinks of the Rainforest then.

"The Rainforest didn't aid us, and they had a fully capable male there. Levana came, set terms of an alliance with us - and yet their pride failed to deliver." A sour taste left behind as he spoke the facts, shaking his head. He knew they couldn't be counted on so much anymore, and that would be a problem that needed to be addressed - either now or later, it was up to them.

"Inform the pride - secure alliances - and bring the Brook to their knees." Three important tasks, and he was giddy about it- eager, because the wrath of the Saxe was untouched, and Cassandra was about to see just how horrible they could be. "Reah, can you check on the cubs?"

code by corvus

Renfri listened as the Queen went on, frowning. The Brook had made some risky moves that, yes, had put her at risk. Or at least, could have, if her pregnancy had been a matter to be concerned about a day sooner. Still, she was not afraid of them, and didn’t want other prides thinking that the Plains were so easily scared. Running around and trying to spin the story of the Brook being violent and dangerous so blatantly was just as likely to work against them as anything else. “We must be careful in how we go about this. Vermeda has maimed and tried to steal just like the rest of us, but ringing the alarm bells too loudly makes us look frightened. Vulnerable. When we go to the other prides, we need to keep calm. This is not about removing a threat, but about giving Vermeda what they’ve asked for.” She didn’t like this idea of giving so much power to their enemies by proclaiming them to be so dangerous. As Reah had said, Vermeda was just like the rest of them, and Renfri would take pleasure in showing them what they’d signed up for. She would allow her story to be shared with the other prides, but she would not be some damsel who needed the other prides to rush and defend her honor. “I can go and visit with Caladan to see where they stand, and if they will fight in this war as allies with us.” It was a safe option for her to go and visit, since it was confirmed that at the very least that they had mutual enemies, and Keligan himself had said they were neutral towards the Plains. There was little risk of her getting attacked or claimed there, and she wanted to ensure Aeistrios knew that regardless of her taking precautions, she would not stay idle within their borders. She was prepared to continue this conversation and then jump immediately to calling for the pride, but of course @Aeistrios had other priorities to attend to. He asked Reah to check her over, to ensure the cubs within were alright, and the Heiress had to bite her tongue to resist the urge to sigh. She couldn’t really fault him for wanting her to be looked over, especially after she’d hinted that the stress of the fight could have affected things. Or at least allowed her to go to the medic on her own when she felt it was necessary. She looked towards @Reah, trying to keep the irritation from her face at having to deal with this now, when she would much rather deal with the meeting, and then go take a long, well deserved nap in the comfort of her own den.

Art & Code by Vasilia

@Aeistrios spoke up about how an old lioness had talked about the Summit. They were allied with the Brook, and would most likely aid them once war struck. Reah gave him a silent nod in understanding then, making a mental note about the new fact. He then spoke up about Caladan Cove, and how he had met the King before but only when he had been a rogue. He also mentioned how a pride called Wolfbron was led by a woman named Amara, and he made the assumption that the Brook wasn’t too keen on them either, since Amara had wanted to claim Sayen.

Another issue arose, the fact that the Rainforest hadn’t aided them. Reah gritted her teeth for a moment, That’s disappointing, she murmured. Another discussion will be needed with them, then, she added. Aeistrios then gave them three main goals: inform the other pride, secure some alliances with them, and then ultimately, bring down the Brook.

@Renfri spoke up then, saying that they shouldn’t make themselves vulnerable. We won’t do that, Reah spoke up. It will just be information passed on to the rest, she assured the fellow Saxe. Renfri then spoke up and offered to go to Caladan. I will visit our neighbors first, the Rainforest, and the Mire, she told them. For now, be cautious with the Brook and the Summit, she added.

Reah offered another silent nod when her husband asked for her to check the cubs. I have to get close, she warned the other woman first, a heads up first before she invaded the woman’s personal space. Reah carefully and gently moved closer to Renfri, lowering herself to the ground so she could properly inspect Renfri’s stomach. Any abdominal pain? Cramping? she asked the Saxe. I will lightly touch your stomach, and tell me if there is any pain or discomfort, she would warn her first. I will be gentle, she added. She waited for Renfri to answer first before she began any physical inspection._{BG — ART — CODE}

Never surprised when Renfri speaks up, voicing her mind, Aeistrios finds himself listening rather intently. She is smart with her words, she knows how to morph them, spin them in all the right ways. The last thing he wanted was people to think he was scared of Cassandra. He'd rather rip his tongue out than allow someone to even have that inkling of a thought - the thought a child like her could even put a drop of freight in his dark veins. He doesn't speak yet, though, for @Reah responds back and Aeistrios is glad to sit in the background while his wives converse on the topic. A frown came to his face though - Cautious with the Brook? A laugh came, before his claws idly unsheathed into the dirt under him - remembering the way he tore into the Brook lions. They will be attacked on sight, as far as it goes for me. Could his wives really expect anything less? They tried to steal @Renfri, tried to steal his cubs - or worse, perhaps it was an attempt to end the lives within her. The more he thought on it, the angrier he started to get, and suddenly the wounds didn't hurt so much on him. Suddenly, he felt ready to go hunt down a Brook lion to harm. Thank the fates above that Reah began to check on the cubs, and Aeistrios slowly calmed down when seeing it. "We need to prepare for the fact we might be alone in this, and if so, what our plan will be. Regardless of numbers - he was sure they could take them down, find their own path ti victory against the Brook. Maybe the death of Cassandra would suffice, or the death of the one who tried to steal his wife away - or Eisa. The little kitty was too curious for her own good, after all. He found himself silent again, simply spinning his thoughts and imagining scenarios where it was different Brook bodies hitting the ground, lifeless.

art by era