(2/2) +10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations (savante)
(2/2) +5 Observe a fight (kelligan vs caltáriel)
(2/2) +5 Observe a fight (alexander vs vermier)
Vulferam continues to watch, ears twisting as he listens to all the chitchat happening within the group. He'd hear murmurs of how the challenger was from Andal and that they perhaps had some sort of feud with the family that currently ruled Obsidian - a pride the Prince knew the Mire was at least friendly with. Coal eyes flick over toward the other fight that had caught his attention when he'd arrived, seeing that the much smaller woman had lost and that her challenger seemed to be herding her along to leave with him. Wolf knew that was none of his business so attention shifted back toward the pride challenge.

It wouldn't be too long that the upset would occur, Vermier falling and this Alexander being crowned the underground pride's new leader. He felt like he'd seen enough, and giving Vater a quick glance would Vulferam make his exit.

exit Vulferam.

_{BG — ART — CODE}

She remains beside her sister, panting softly as her wounds ache and burn- and when the challenger stands the victor over the Hollows- she is impressed. He speaks, and seems kind enough, and when her sister speaks to her- Eisa nods. "Let's go home." She breathed softly, before turning to walk back home, her minds spinning with the fight, the declaration of war, the prospect of telling her mother all of this and the chaos and pain that it would surely bring. And there was guilt, nagging guilt in her mind- that somehow she had caused this- that had she won- or been stronger... this wouldn't be happening.

-exit eisa-

code by corvus

The approach of Valerian's familiar form draws the faintest hint of a smile to the beast's lips, both pleased to be among family once more and amused by his nephew's words. "Couldn't miss it." He rumbles out, voice still rough from his time away while his tan gaze flicked towards the brutal conflict once more.

It ends just as he'd expected it to end. With Alexander standing tall as the victorious reigning King, and his opponent falling away into the dust, forgotten. Or at least, Mircea is content to forget him. The stranger has sustained serious injuries, certainly, but he expects that Csitri and Riordan will offer him the care he deserves. (And their idea of 'deserve' is likely far more generous than his.)

His newly-crowned brother will need care too, he knows. But not here. Not when the Savante are still surrounded by so many unknowns. Claws scrape harshly against the hard earth a final time as the warrior moves in closer to listen to the patriarch's speech, the gleam of pride in light eyes breaking Mircea's otherwise stoic expression. Cries of celebration ring out, and he too, adds his deep roar to the din, elongated fangs gleaming in the light. "My place is here." At long last, the Savante have a place that they can truly call their own. How lucky he was indeed, to be able to witness it.

The Mother truly has blessed them this day. The caves shall provide the security of connection that the desert lacked.

Yet for now, he does not move to familiarize himself with the Hollows just yet, no. He hovers near @Csitri and @Riordan both for a while, a silent, imposing figure to help deter any further conflicts that might arise from the passed out man's...allies? Family? Whoever they were, it couldn't hurt to be wary.

/exit Mircea (unless stopped) via fading into the background

Barbarian:
+5 Observe a fight (Alexander vs Vermier)
+5 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws or care for teeth)

Medic:
+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

ART BY MOOGLE, CODE BY DEE

Voices rise to join his, and Valerian’s chest swells with pride as he settles his sage eyes upon their kin. Here once more, with a place to gather. He will join them here, of course. He would bring Omena, and gather their things from the Oasis to make the travel safe and easy. With winter on their doorsteps it would make it more difficult, but he had never been one to back down from a challenge.

“I will return soon.” he rumbles - having already confirmed his allegiance. He would return to the oasis to spread the news, and then by the next dawn would begin his trek to the hollow to assist in the rise of the Savante once more. A joyous day, to be sure.

— exit Valerian

art © yumpy

The fight had ended, and @Halimede explained to the Savante that the girl she had attacked was actually her daughter. "My apologies," she spoke, feeling a sudden heat rise upon her ears and cheeks. She wasn't sure how many eyes were on her, but she couldn't help but feel embarrassed about the whole ordeal. She dipped her head, towards the woman and her daughter. "I will leave you two alone, I wasn't aware she was your family," she said. Though now that she thought about it, the girl did have a striking resemblance to her mother.

Celestia took a few steps back and then watched the fight between her husband and the ruler of the Hollows. Her anxiety was high, but thankfully it seemed that @Alexander ♔ had won. Her eyes lit up and he spoke, her tail twitching. Finally, his lovely blue gaze landed on her and she couldn't help but rush towards him. She pressed her form against his, "You did it!" she said, pride and love overwhelming her form. "You did it, you did it," she said. Happy tears began to fall upon her cheeks, others congratulated him as well and a few Savante agreed that they would join and live within the Hollows. "I love you so much," she murmured, and finally, she moved away from him. "I'm sure there are still some important matters to attend to, so I'm going to find a place to rest, I'll be waiting for you," she purred before placing a tender kiss on his cheek. She slowly forced her body away from his and slipped away into the darkness of the caverns. This was her new home now.

/exit Celestia

The reality of her situation began to settle in slowly. Led away from the over-eager stranger and her martyr of a sister-in-law, Sedona found that she and her odd companion fell into anticipatory silence as the fight for her homeland raged on. She took what comfort she could in the girl's looming presence even as she inched away, twitching the strands of her whiskers with each bite and tear the opponents gave. Her stomach twisted as she realized that she did not quite know who to root for. Naturally, the causes of the Andallians were Sedona's causes as well. Oh, but if Alexander won! Selfish understanding crept over her mental sky as she sat steeled amongst the crowd.

She hardly had time to mull over it all by the time she realized her dilemma, for the oasis champion was soon reigning victorious and addressing the crowd to leave. Sedona pursed her lips as anxiety rooted her in place, only a flicker of movement in her peripherals dragging her attention back to her begrudging neighbor. She stood to greet the victor, of all things, pledging herself to join Obsidian with him.

A frown had settled upon her expression without her realizing it, though Sedona was quick to snap it out of sight. If anyone met her gaze, they would see shimmering camaraderie for an ally and their victory. They would not see the sinking of her gut or the way her lungs did not seem to take in air. They would not see how she grieved.

---

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

image by moogle/code by saph

There were several lions that bore a very stranger scent that she wasn't all that privy too but something about the scent continued to make her curious. It was the sandy kind of smell but not the lands that were more to the east. Not the beach-ridden sands but a lot dustier, less saltier in natural -- though, she didn't know the name of what it was but certainly could tell what the smell was. It was the same smell that she swore the challenger had on.

Or, the new King had on. That scent would change within a few days, surely, as he accustomed himself to this particular smell here. She assumed the wounded Vermier who collapsed under the exhaustion of the fight would likely be under Amara's watch now. A good thing I didn't choose the Hollow. Because while she was certain that the Dieudonne was a good fighter, it was clear that he wasn't "the best". For, there was no such thing. There was a good fighter but there was no "best".

So with the King now crowned, she made one quick judgment of the land before she left. Not having ever crossed the border it was a lot harder to see anything more than what was available to the eye. A blank slate of obsidian and mountain that she could tell had at least a few entrances in but perhaps finding your way to those as an exit likely proved taxing. The outside didn't hold up to much in terms of beauty but it could be like a fortress to some and that was enough for Corinna. Moving out and away, having gathered the necessary tidbits of information, she headed for home. exit corinna

+5 - study the natural world
+5 - observe and study a new scent
+5 - observe a challenge and learn the results

ART BY LARS, CODE BY CALA

Roan took great pleasure in watching Vermier lose. He didn't know who Alexander was, but he didn't care at this point. The Dieudonne was not in power any longer, not that he'd done much with Obsidian in the first place. It was pretty easy to see who might be following the new king into the tunnels, though, as so many spectators seemed to share the red man's markings. The Hodari held no true affection for the Hollow, only the memories he took from its shadowy halls. It had just been a vacant land at the time. An opportunity. Wherever his family was would be his home. And so, with the show over, the masked man turned away, content to see the Dieudonne king fall.

exit Roan

table by amanda || background

Avana Hodari

Avana could do little else but simply stare blankly at @Marja. It shouldn't surprise the Hodari that the woman had done this to herself on purpose, but still, she didn't know how to respond right away. "Uh.... Okay," she finally stammered, gaze splitting between Marja and the fights around them. "Hope it works, I guess." The maned woman simply shrugged. Maybe Marja didn't like Vermier either, not that Avana knew the man personally, but she'd never heard good things about him.

When Marja seemed to realize that maybe she cut herself a little too deep, Avana's gaze trailed back down to the injury. "Here, put this on it." The medic's attention snapped back into the moment as she pushed some herbs forward, voice was firm with instruction. "It'll help slow the bleeding, and I can wrap it with some leaves if needed." But then Marja threw her for another loop and started chatting as if they weren't in the middle of chaos right now. "Uh, as much as I'd love to catch up, Marja, I don't think now is the time." There was a nervousness to the Hodari's voice, not liking being in the middle of such a scene, especially when it looked like the challenger had a whole bunch of support behind him.

When the maned woman finally looked back to the challenge, though, it was over. Vermier was on the ground, unconscious, leaving Obsidian in the red man's paws. "I guess your curse worked...." Avana mumbled while still staring at the combatants. Vermier looked badly beaten as the new king set forth his own healers upon the man. Well, at least that was kind of him. Alexander was already seen in a better light than his predecessor. Mismatched gaze snapped back to Marja, then, while the king addressed the crowd. "Let's get out of here before anyone get claim-happy. I can finish patching you up if you want." Though the swamp woman didn't seem concerned at all about her leg, Avana wasn't ready yet to simply leave Marja in this mess.

table | lines | bg | rose

@Celestia VS. @Aideen & @Halimede FOR dominance
— DEFAULT —

Due to Celestia forfeiting, this fight has defaulted.

Aideen & Halimede have WON THE CHALLENGE FOR dominance!

Please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first. As per the site rules, if 3 days go by without a post from the challenger(s), they can be skipped. Whichever comes first! Any posts made before this will be removed.