Glory and fame

Blood is our name

So much was happening at once. The big fight started and she was hopping up and down to see something past all those larger than her. But to no avail. Nothing worked and she just couldn't see properly. What she did see was a large lion very close to her fighting with a yearling. And that was enough to send the little princess running. Way too close, definitely way too close.

She ran, away from the pit and huddling in the snow until she found more leaves to rub against. Anything to conceal her scent. Maybe this would help. It's supposed to help, right? Still shaking, the girl made her way back to the arena, wide eyes staring at her surroundings. She couldn't spot anyone she knew, but she still tried, squeezing past watching lions, hopping into the air from time to time in hopes of spotting anything like the familiar white pelt of her mother. "Móðir?" Mother? Calling out in hopes that maybe she was somewhere and she just hadn't spotted or scented her, she tried to stay away from any of the fights.

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+5 Practice covering your scent (leaves and dirt)
+5 Practice concealing your scent (leaves and dirt)

code by corvus

[open for interaction!]

A call for death rings above the frostbitten plains, and Freckle's attention is immediately snagged. Nosy as a rule, this volatile situation seems the perfet opportunity to insert himself with intent of observing. Maybe if he was lucky, he'd find someone wanting a taste of his claws. His coat muddied and damp with melted ice, he picks up into a trot.

It isn't long until the spotted lion crests the edge of the pit, casting eager golden eyes down upon the combatants and those come to watch. Whose blood would be spilled today? With no real ties for either fighter, he descends fascinated and seeking entertainment, lurking amongst its fringes for a friendly face - or perhaps a target to pester.

Freckle wasn't picky.

art & code by hinter

There was a spike of anxiety when the challenge for Renfri went up, but it seemed the challenger changed her mind. The one who'd come and stolen the brook from them...did she mean to steal everything they ever touched? Elio frowned at the thought, the queen's words rigning in his ears again - we're the bad guys.

Pale and huddled as he was, he hardly expected anyone to notice him. Elio was quite accustomed to blending into the background, a quiet little observer until his father called him forward to do something. So when the Brook thief found him, he couldn't suppress the surprised little eep as folded ears pulled back against his head and eyes widened. "M-me?" He rose, shaking off the layer of snow, glancing to either side to see if someone, anyone, might rush forward to defend him "N-no thank you!" He called, backing away, trying to blend himself into the snow in the air and on the ground and disappear into the haze of the blizzard. Not to leave - no, he couldn't leave until he knew whether his father would be coming home or not - but to find a place to hide better than before.

attempting to escape claim challenge:

Rolling 1d10: 4

@Cassandra

code by corvus

Was there anything more invigorating than a call for death? Even if the rising storm muffled things somewhat, Maō found himself gravitating toward the pit fairly often. By luck, he'd been resting nearby when the call rang out. So he rose from his spot, shook off the blanket of snow that had accumulated on his fluffy pelt, and started at a light and eager trot toward the commotion.

There was already a crowd when he arrived, and the beast wove through spectators to find a spot right at the edge of the arena. Front-row seats were best for watching carnage. Right in the splatter zone. And close enough a quick and crafty scavenger might take advantage of the loser. Maō didn't know what had prompted any of this, but that information was irrelevant anyway. He recognized the purple one as the man who had fought for the Oasis, but the other was unfamiliar. Wait! No! Not unfamiliar! The mountain woman- he'd caught the very end of a challenge for her home a while back. Did she still rule?

And as the blood runs down the walls

You see me creeping up these halls

code by corvus

He does not arrive with an air of apprehensiveness, nor concern. Roarke has seen Morrigan fight - has battled her himself - he knows the valkyrie is a capable, deadly fighter. He has come to see her win, and cut down whoever this fucking idiot is. The giant comes lumbering in, blinking snow from his eyes, scanning the thick crowd for the fights breaking out. @Isla ♔ is quick to order the pride into action, there’s not much action to actually be had.

There’s a patch of Illyrians gathered around, huddled like penguins against the cold. Roarke makes his way to stand near them - spies @Lavender, young and scared and demanding someone stop the dark beast. He huff softly and comes to stand directly behind her, a looming wall of teeth and claws should anyone try to bother the princess. He cannot do much for Morrigan herself, but protecting her brood is something he can do.

artwork • coding

He was tempted to go slam his head against the nearest rock when he heard @Weimar come up next to him. Though, he supposed his youngest children were of an age now that they could come to these sort of things safely enough, but still... He didn't like the idea of them being here as it was quite dangerous.

That man, down there, he harmed your older sister and now he seeks to kill our high sovereign, he explained. There wasn't much more he could say as he heard a familiar voice, and as though he had summoned her @Solanum was there, pressed against his other side.

My daughter, he said softly, pressing a kiss on the top of her skull. I am glad you're well. He wasn't delighted by the scent of the Mire covering her, and wondered who he had to go sink his teeth into to get her out... except a young male with the same scent approached, speaking to her. The beginning rumble of a growl built in his throat, eyes narrowing ever so slightly in suspicion, but he was somewhat mollified by the boy's words. I will hold you to that, he said. At least someone else was out there looking after her. He could tolerate her being in the Mire in that case.

Only then did he finally turn his attention back to the fight, watching to see what fate might befall them and also ensuring no one else was approaching without him noticing now that two of his children were present.

@Hubert

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

The snow falls soft

drawing the world down to a whitened hush, forcing us to pause long enough to take stock of everything that we miss in our crazed pursuit to gain everything that we can. One would say she is a woman who wears a gown of winter frost that blinds the eyes.

She hadn't been intending to go down to the fight, but when she picked up on the scent of Valka heading that way she about dropped dead right then and there. That gave her no choice in the matter but to follow, all the way down the mountain to the Pit. And of course there was already a pride's worth of lions hanging around, the majority of them smelling like the Summit and everyone moving around enough that she couldn't really get a good look at things.

Valka? she called out, unable to hear her daughter's voice above the din of the voices and fights. For just a moment, she got a clear view of the arena below and could see Morrigan and Aeistrios fighting there, though she didn't recognize him in the slightest.

She had more pressing matters at the moment, however, needing to find her daughter above all else. Her other children were plenty old enough to be here on their own, but not Valka. She wished Valka had come to get her, or Alvena, or Roan, or anyone to accompany her, but then again she should have been used to her kids running off to do their own thing.

Valka! Where are you? she called out again, trying louder this time, ears slicked back in concern as she looked around with a note of franticness to her.

@Valka

It is growing cold

code by corvus

Solanum is wrapped in her father's embrace, but she should have assumed her prince would be trailing after her, after all, he always was. She feels a gentle kiss on her head and warmth spreads through her, ""I've missed you." She whispers before pulling back, a blush spreading across her cheeks as @Hubert joins them.

She smiles at the Ecrosia prince and moves to nuzzle his cheek gently before looking to @Seraphiel, ""Father, this is Hubert Starke, my.." She looks to her companion with a questioning gaze before back, ""Boyfriend." Why not label things now? They were living in the same den and had occupied most of each others cub years to now, her back straightens a bit as she speaks.

Gaze turns toward the fight, a sense of excitement rushes through her, she wanted to see the plum king fall, she wanted to see his life snuffed out, Solanum had never been anywhere near the line that crosses into evil, but if she had her way, she would've been the one taking his life.

Glory and fame

Blood is our name

Okay, so maybe it really was a bad idea to just leave without telling anyone. Especially since she didn't even knew who was friend or foe. Definitely not a great idea to just run off. But she had to know what was happening.

Little ears twitched, twisted and turned, trying to distinguish and voice that might be the slightest bit familiar. But no such luck at first. Maybe her cries were too quiet? Maybe she wasn't here? At the sight of a pale pelt, she dashed forward, skidding to a halt when the pale blob was seen more clearly. No, not her. Not intent on getting into anything with claims being thrown around, she turned and ran yet again. But that was when she heard the familiar voice.

"Móðir!" Mother! The little princess cried out immediately and flung herself at @Faelyn, tucking her head under her mother's chin, little body still shaking. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I won't run again..." she muttered, turning her face to press into her mother's chest fluff, little ears flattening against her skull.

code by corvus

Weimar didn't understand that he shouldn't be here. So far as he was concerned, this much danger meant he needed to stay extra close to family. His toes were still cold but the snow was gathering upon his pelt blanket now instead of his skin. He shivered and leaned closer to @Seraphiel, accepting this explanation. He looked at the plum male more closely. He was larger than Morrigan. Not so big as daddy, though. Never so big as daddy. "Why don't we make him go away? Or... take him way out in the middle of nowhere and leave him, so he never finds his way back?" Actually he thought he might have seen him before. At the challenge where the Brook had passed over to a stranger. Aeistrios had been one of the supporters. So basically the guy was a menace, seeding bloodshed wherever he went.

Speaking of sisters. Not understanding time very well, Weimar gazed over @Solanum to make sure she wasn't hurt. He didn't understand that was in the past. Didn't know how she had gotten so old, why she didn't smell like either of the homes he knew. And, also, didn't know why Seraphiel suddenly got tense when seeing @Hubert. Weimar could tell that. Didn't know enough to ponder whether it was a good idea to ask why. "Why don't we like him?" Weimar switched his gaze to glare up at his father, impatient and with a little narrowing of his eyes that suggested he was willing to get reaaaally annoying if his question wasn't answered.