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.

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

She was about to tell her youngest that there were often challenges and so this wasn't particularly special, but @Valka was gone before she could. Well, she wasn't quite old enough that Faelyn was comfortable with her wandering into a pride challenge on her own, despite suspecting that several Summit lions would also attend and could therefore look after her.

Let it not be said she was an inattentive mother.

So Faelyn rose and left the den, following at a distance where she could easily see her daughter but not close enough to be stifling. She took a seat not far away for the same reason, listening to the discussions around her as she waited for the battle to begin.

It is growing cold

code by corvus

Glory and fame

Blood is our name

Though small in stature, the striped girl stood as tall as she could, tail lashing behind her. Lilac gaze wandered from the large lion she was talking to, only to look at the fighting children with disdain. She wasn't that much older than them, but it didn't take much to see that she thought herself above such petty squabbling.

Pointed ears twitched as she listened, that haughty look never quite leaving her features. When @Amandil was finished explaining, the little princess nodded. "I see," she responded thoughtfully, paws kneading the sand they stood upon. For a moment she simply stared at the cub that had just lost a fight and the ones still fighting. And suddenly recognition had her eyes growing wide and she looked up at Amandil again. "They look like...that big dark lion from that fight at the pit. I...saw what he did." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the sand in front of her paws, fluffy fur standing up on the back of her neck. "So he's ruling here right now," Valka said quietly. "I hope your sister's husband wins and makes him suffer for what he did." The arrival of her mother didn't escape her notice. Well, at least her nose noticed. But she didn't move towards @Faelyn for the moment, just glanced over at her to make sure her mother knew she was alright and safe.

code by corvus

That rage Leiah felt simmered also within Siofera, but in the older sibling's case it wasn't directed at her siblings. The patriarch, their father, and their mother, oh yes, but never her younger siblings. Not even in this. Though she still snarled a warning at Leiah as she snapped at her, no doubt trying to taunt her.

{I won't divide us more,} she replied, even as Leiah's teeth sank into her cheek , tearing flesh. She could taste copper, her own blood leaking into her mouth, and tried to ignore it. She whipped her head to the side as she lifted a paw and reached across her front to attempt to shove Leiah's shoulder and push her away. She wasn't particularly gentle about it, she'd admit, but she also wasn't aiming to send her flying either.

Siofera vs. @Leiah
for Minor Maim
Round 2 / 4
Hits:

Rolling 3d20: 11 + 5 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 17 + 3 + 15 + 1

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 11 + 1 + 8 + 2

1 year, no perks


Another would approach he and his brother and Evren shifted to make room so that they could all speak, but also see as well. Forcing his gaze away from @Heisa, she seemed alright and from what he could tell she was tough. She may have lost but it wasn’t the end of that feud. His brother would speak, some woman, helah. He nodded, the name sounding slightly familiar but he couldn’t quite place it.

@Saladin spoke to the other now, asking if that was the guys name, Evren could have told him as much, it had been spat numerous times in the two death fights that he had observed, but he chose to be quiet, wondering what he could learn from this @Daneri and @Asbjørn about the purple lion. Another fight broke out, this time between two Saxe children and he heard the giant grey lion scoff before turning to his brother. He’d fight his own siblings as well, if they knew where he was and didn’t try to help him. Asbjorn would confirm the name, going on to say he wouldn’t trust the family as far as he could throw them. He resisted the urge to snarl in response, keeping his expression interested, curious, though inwardly he wanted to yell that it wasn’t true. The Saxe girl he knew was trustworthy…or so he thought. The other teen would go on, explaining the bad blood between the two families. Interesting. "Seems you have more than enough reasons to hate him." He spoke, tones smooth, careful. "He’s the type of monster that needs put down." He would continue, though he couldn’t help but let his gaze wander over some of the Saxe children, did they deserve the same fate? Or would the death of one of their mothers and their father serve as a good enough warning. Don’t piss off every pride in Amaryllis.

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

@Scorpius VS. @Aeistrios FOR Andal Oasis
— DEFAULT —

Due to Aeistrios's player taking leave of the site, this fight has defaulted.

Scorpius HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Andal Oasis!

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.

He waits.

Naturally, a crowd gathers. Besides a flit of his gaze every so often, they are ignored - he checks the faces for enemies and allies alike, but mostly to ensure there’s no ambush from behind. Squabbles break out, the tension grows thicker with every passing moment.

He waits.

And waits.

And then it’s all too clear that there will be no fight today.

Scorpius turns to face those that had gathered outside the Oasis - his sister, his wife, his daughter fresh from a brawl with another child, nephews. With no surprise he notices @Kireena ♞ and a gaggle of Savante around as well. With no small amount of disgust he notes how close a certain Mire male standing far too close to @Léonie. And, there - @Septima? Surprisingly - Ronin’s boys gather near a group of youths. He’d not seen them since their cubhood, but they all resemble their father enough. A man Scorpius had greatly respected. Other faces blur together because his writer skimmed most of the posts.

"It seems," the Miroslav begins, stepping forward as he speaks loudly enough for hopefully most if not all to hear him, "Aeistrios will not be coming to defend the pride. All adults can consider themselves banished..." His gaze drifts over two children fighting - both of them bearing the sinful coats of their shared heritage. Hunted and hated for their blood. Something stirs in the Miroslav’s chest. Something that feels terribly like guilt.

For fuck sake.

"Yearlings and under will remain part of the Oasis." Does he particularly want Saxe rats in his pride? No. But setting them loose seems like an irresponsible action. While they might slink off after their father, there’s a greater chance that they terrorise his allies. That is what he is going to repeat, over and over, until he believes it. Somehow, Scorpius doesn’t see the ex-royals leaving anytime soon.

But that is not a problem to deal with now. This is a moment to celebrate, regardless of the bloodless way he has secured the Oasis once more - his family are home. "Come." He calls to the Miroslavs around, standing taller with a crown upon his head. His children would know him as who he is meant to be, finally. He goes to them, bumping his head to @Sedona's cheek, his shoulder against Leonie’s, but his focus is on the youth around them. His head lowers, muzzle brushing @Lucia's head, gaze meeting @Apollo's growing face, @Jude beside him. No doubt the others are hiding not too far away, terrified of their mother’s wrath for disobeying.

"We’ll go to the Summit tomorrow. Let me show you your home."

Exit (unless anyone needs him right now).

artwork • coding • background

She was keen to wait on her father but when it was clear that he wasn't coming she felt her cheeks grow warm. Something in her felt broken. Shattering into a million pieces as she watched the newest leader take the crown that should've been her father's and place it on top of his head. Her lavender jewels locked onto Scorpius' form, memorizing it to the very tip of his tail and top of his mane. As much as she hated the sands and itchy it got to her fur and skin, this had been one of the only places she had been able to call home to begin with. Her ears falling flat on top of her head before she turned to stalk away.


exit!

code by corvus

Well this sucked. Abdul did not know who this man was and he had hoped to see Aeistrios fight for the Oasis but that wasn't going to be the case. In fact, Abdul hadn't realized that the Saxe leader was going to be leaving and there might have been a reason for that, which only caused the fox to feel betrayed. A huff formed came from his lips before he turned around and began to leave, at this point he wasn't sure where he would go but the thought of staying the Oasis for yet another leader just didn't sit well with him currently. He had put his faith and trust into two leaders and the both failed.

exit

code by scorpixia ♡︎ art by irish

I have come to realize making yourself happy is most important"

Zahra waited and waited as the many interactions took place around her, while she did her best to stay hidden and simply taking in all the important details and events that she might be able to bring back to the Summit. These lions in particular had been important back in her childhood, when Seneca saved her many times. And the short but meaningful seasons she went to live under their roof. And she wondered if she could rejoin or something. But she didn't want to simply abandon the other family who had also been loving with her. So there she found herself troubled with this. Sighing quietly she remained within the lands of the Oasis as she felt safe with her scent washed off. But time passed and she didn't see the man who ruled this place come fight for it. And just as she expected it the Miroslav had taken it for himself. She smiled to herself happy to see them back into their rightful place. And saying nothing Zahra left just as stealthily as she came. Exit +10 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught +10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread +5 Practice covering your scent

code // art // do not use without permission

Surprisingly, she was startled by @Sæunn's approached but not at all discomforted by the arrival. I seem to gravitate to these events. If anything, she liked having the information on hand if anyone ever needed it. Because it meant that she might prove useful if she had something that someone else didn't and given the fact that the challenge was made public, why not? Spending time in the Plains wasn't exactly at the top of her to-do list given the fact that she committed to changing her scent every time she left the confines of her home. Though if someone asked why, she wouldn't be able to give you a good reason.

@Asbjørn arrived next and lingered nearby, presumably next to his sister(?) and nodded her head to his statement, agreed. Though she had no qualm against this Andal King herself nor knew any of the drama surrounding him, protecting young children was always a top priority for her. Seeing as the melanistic yearling was a friend, why should he and his family be any less worth protecting? As for @Saladin's question it seemed one that someone else should answer but it did seem that way. Unfortunately for the eavesdropping @Evren (of whom she had noticed but didn't acknowledge other than a firm but toothless smile of greeting), Daneri knew next to nothing.

It seems that it would end that way, too, considering that the challenger decided for himself that the male was a no-show. What? she asks quietly, her lip turning up in mild confusion as the rest of her face followed suit. Whelp. She inhaled with her shoulders pulling up before letting them loose with an exhale. I was thinkin' of playin that game buuuut seems like we just won't have the opportunity today. Maybe next time? And legs crossed that it wasn't a pride challenge for any of their homes. Though if it were, Daneri would remain respectful and not play games when a friend's well-being is on the line.BG — ART — CODE