The introduction did the trick, as the brown feline introduced herself as Olive. The following words caused a soft huff of breath, almost a chuckle he supposed, as she expressed the desire for this not to be their first and last meeting. But to his request for information, she could give nothing. Perhaps this really was just a random circumstance and nothing political at all. His attention is drawn swiftly back to the fight, heart in his throat as the two contenders threw themselves at one another. And when Ghyslaine arose triumphant, he felt a bubble of pride in having chosen the golden Queen. He remained where he was, though blue eyes watched the battling pair speak quietly to one another and wondered at what they discussed. Perhaps it was not for his ears.

"SPEECH"

code by scorpixia♡︎

She is pleased, as Reti accepts her offer and she nods to him with a grin. "Then it is settled. Welcome home, Reti." She offers with a grin. She feels that together- the two could make this pride... stronger than it had been. Stronger than ever before, and she wonders how her pride-mates will take this news. She looks onto them. "I know most take pride challenges personally, but I knew this day would come and I am glad to remain your Queen. I have offered Reti to rule alongside me- and he has accepted, so we will welcome him to his new home." She says simply to everyone gathered. "And together, I think we can bring some new strength into Lorien." She says, eyes lingering on the male for a moment- gaze warm. She'd been impressed so far- and thought, that he was respectable enough to see where this could lead them.

She does not miss, as she moves towards @Nero, as she winds around him that @Peregrine darts away, and she sighs heavily, her rumble of appreciation dying in her throat. "One of my sons." She murmurs to the albino male, "I should go find him." She breathes. She thinks the quick explanation to Nero will make the most sense, that he would understand that perhaps the boy was upset at her greeting to a male he hadn't met.

To @Roan "Thank you." She would say warmly, as exhaustion truly set it, Ghyslaine would step away- ready to make her own exit- but would remain a moment or two longer, to give anyone else a chance to say what they may need to say.

-exit after a pause-

ooc: any follow up to this thread threads are welcomed, but i figured lets get the exits out of the way bc it's a bit old <3 if ghys missed talking to your character I'm sorry, but feel free to assume she did. I tried to make sure I got every interaction down! <3

ART COPYRIGHT RABBIT / CODE COPYRIGHT ANALESE

TASKS (PALADIN): 5xp - Observe a fight (Ghyslaine vs Reti) (2/2)

---

The battle is over, and Ilarion would turn his attention away from @Olive and the rest of the audience. Ghyslaine stood, victorious against Reti. And yet.... The Rurik would squint a little, ears cupped as the pair spoke in low tones with one another. They behaved like brothers-in-arms on the front line, convening together after a long hard battle fought against a common enemy. If someone had just arrived to watch proceedings, they would not have thought that they had been fighting over a throne just moments prior. Ilarion did not expect Ghyslaine to murder the man just for having aspirations, but to be so friendly with him? To grant room at her table for a man she knew nothing of, who had been prepared to wound her grievously for it?

Does she even want to rule?

The whole thing was... odd. Ilarion sent a little sidelong glance to @Dorset, who seemed just as perplexed by the whole thing as he was. And no doubt @Kazimir would have a thing or two to say on the matter, despite being the quieter of the two on the matter of choosing - and staying - within Lorien. Something hot and angry stirred in his gut, prompting him to speak out and scorn the action; for all the good it would do him. We reward loss too, now, do we? It was the shiniest consolation prize he'd ever come across. But, as he parted his jaws, the ghost of a response on his tongue.... It went slack. He stopped himself, as her mention of 'strength' rang in his ears. Perhaps by that logic, then... Hm. His mind reeled as his olive gaze slid across to the new Sovereign. In time, he would come to learn more about this man, no doubt. Without a word - for what he had to say should be for Ghyslaine, and Ghyslaine alone - he would turn on his heel and leave, seeking to brush past his husband on the way out.

EXIT

ART BY KIM, CODE BY DEE

(Ooc: appolagy for skipping, need to exit to get brank settled and have him start on duties.)
----
Ic:
'Then it is settled. Welcome home, Reti.' She announced with a grin which drew from him a breif a simalar expression in return.

Home.

Welcome home she had said.

Such a simple statement but so layered and deep with meaning. In time, he hoped it would indeed come to feel like a home to him. First he would need to adjust to the pride members - and give them opertunity to adjust to him as well.

Home had also been about those beside him than only reliant land itself, the chimera also hoped this who would make the Plains feel more complete, family and his few friends who were not tightly bound to other prides, would come live beside him.

He swept the crowd quietly as she addressed those gathered, watching to see reactions in order to try and gauge what sort of... welcome... he may recive from individual members. After a few moments his focus returned to family and friends.

"I am going to get cleaned up. Anyone is welcome to join me to talk if you wish? Otherwise thankyou again for the support, and I hope to see everyone soon. " with a smile and light rumble the wounded male would make his way twoards a stream a bit outside the borders to clean off and wash his injuries.

--- Exit Reti ----

code by corvus

try hard not to care
the world won't cease to turn

ooc! olive was still sov at the time of the challenge, so having her react accordingly hehe

even-keeled were their prowess, their strategem; of this, even a spectator as battle-averse as lorien’s little queen could come to grasp. still, she clings to what optimism remains to her in an otherwise grievous circumstance — if not to quell her own underlying fears, than to douse those of the lorien youth surrounding her. no matter how frequently the warmth of her gaze flickers in light of this brutal dance, not even the violence her sister sustains can quite snuff it out. only the grit of her jaw conveys of any tensions residing at her core, but this, too, withers with the approach of @Ilarion.

amusement feathers across her features before she rocks back to receive him, withdrawing further from her place at nero’s side to better divvy attention where it were required. the whispers her pursuer quickly imparts upon her, however, does well enough to fully captivate. —where does that leave you? and olive’s brow furrows as sudden rumination takes hold, her grin faltering at the hand of doubt. still, a huff of laughter dismisses the very notion: too abrupt, too shallow, and too strained to truly sell the flippancy she tendered. “we may not agree on everything, but…” her voice trails to gesture toward the entangled @Ghyslaine, fondness apparent. “no way she’d fall for those pretty words.” for olive, herself, would not dare place a modicum of trust in any usurper, let alone one whose crooning sought to dull the blade pressed to his target’s throat.

but in the end, their web of speculation mattered naught. for it were ghyslaine who’d reign victorious over this would-be usurper, further solidifying the familial hold over the plains in a show of superior strength and endurance. overtaken by relief and triumph by proxy, olive erupts from her emotional restraints with an infectious grin and reflexive, hopeful thwack! of a well-aimed, playful forepaw to ilarion’s shoulder (nevermind that he were practically a stranger). in this momentary distraction, she misses the hushed words exchanged between opponents as they unravel from one another, emerging at last as a united front.

imagine the little queen’s surprise, then, to learn it were she who’d face the brunt of supplantation from her uninvolved place upon the sidelines.

how quickly her grin anchors beneath the weight of indignation, further sobered by disappointment as her sister prattles on. mentions of new strength only serve to add insult to injury; but for all the rage brewing beneath the surface, olive were eerily still as she worked to apprehend the new reality ghyslaine thrusts upon her. “she rewards him.” a thought given voice, murmured to none and all within her immediate vicinity, and flatly. desperately, her gaze seeks hold of ilarion’s own — if only for his close proximity to her, now. “he is a stranger,” she states, tones soft. however simple their delivery, the four words she utters conveys of much, much more than made apparent.

—why?

but the former little queen does not linger long enough for an answer — especially when none could sate.

-- exeunt olive

table by ryuu!

Hanneth Hodari

---

Hanneth gives @Roan a soft smile as he brushes things off before asking if Reti knows about Dero. She nodded softly. I told him a week or so after I told you. She was happy to hear that Roan had faith in Reti because it was hard for her to tell and it never got easier for her to watch these fights with her loved ones' blood falling from them. But something happened to Reti, she watched him pause and then. It was over. He was backing away and Hanneth's brow raised in concern.

Hanneth moved to bump his head gently as he neared her. Running a quick kiss over his cheek as he and Roan poke at each other. An action that warms her heart. Having the two of them together was something that she didn't know that she needed. It was what her heart needed so badly. @Aphrodite joins them and she notices @Roan's reaction and smiles softly. Morana's daughter. Aphrodite. She was raised knowing of us. She said softly as she moved back to his side as more started to focus on their small gathering. It seemed that Roan knew the lioness who was the leader of the pride and that she thought highly of him. Roan had managed to build himself allies while she was away.

The current leader speaks to everyone, announcing that Reti would lead with her and Hanneth wonders why it was offered but didn't voice it. She glanced toward Roan for a moment. They were in the Summit for his connection to the family there, one that Hanneth treasured greatly. She also had her grandcubs there but this place held no memories of Dero and there was a strong pull to join Reti here. For now, though, she would tend to his wounds. Let's get you cleaned up. She nudged him softly before moving away from the group with him.

Exit

---

Line art by Adoptadpoles | Image and table code by Amanda

As expected, there was always more information to glean. Knowing that this male had come here as a once-member of the current Hollows and had left it so that the Hollows would not be targeted. It was either a smart move by the male or a dumb move for this lioness to speak of it. Daneri, however, did not let her expression show that she was excited by this news. Not that she expected the Plains to find any sort of retaliation — they weren't really the sort — but it was good to have something should a need for it arise.

Perhaps what Daneri did not think her folks the sort to do was offer a hand of leadership to the challenger. It didn't affect her, not really, so long as this male kept his grubby paws off of Ghyslaine and Olive. That he didn't seek to continue to weasel into the Plains in an effort to take the pride again whilst he was a member. Little does she know that Olive is wondering, too, why Ghyslaine offers a home, a rank of meaning, to a "stranger". A stranger to her but unknowingly not quite a stranger to her.

There was something at play here and as Daneri moved to leave, she felt more determined than ever to find out what it was. exit daneri

^{ART • CODE}

Ah, so Reti knew of their father's passing. It didn't seem to dampen his spirits, at least, if he was so game to pursue a throne of his own. Frankly, Roan imagined more of his siblings might have wanted to follow in their parents' pawprints, but as far as he knew, only three had managed to gain a crown of their own; the third now being @Reti ♔ as he took up @Ghyslaine's offer. "Congrats, bro," the mauve lion smirked with a hearty dip of his head as Reti accepted. He didn't know a lick of how the two might get on as co-leaders, but it was still exciting to see his "little" brother gain such a title.

As for the rest of the gathering, Roan nodded to @Hanneth's explanation about @Aphrodite, thus confirming why she looked so much like Morana. "Gotcha," he offered quietly with a nod, but said nothing else. Maybe he'd seek out the younger woman later for a more official meet-and-greet. Otherwise, the day seemed finished with the fight over and Lorien with a new ruler. "I'll see you around, Reti," the Hodari assured before allowing his brother to take his own leave to get himself checked over. Surely Hanneth would help with that, if not Ghyslaine herself, maybe. Either way, Roan knew his presence was no longer needed, not that it was needed in the first place. Taking his leave, he wondered if Fae would remember Reti when he'd go home to tell her what had happened.

exit Roan

Table & Image by Amanda | Background | Lineart

Reti's victory did not come and Thella couldn't decide if she was relieved or sympathetic to his loss. Maybe a little of both. She knew it was what he'd wanted ever since he left the Hollows, but at what cost to Ghyslaine? To her surprise and delight, after their short exchange of words following his defeat, the reigning queen turned to them all to announce his acceptance to be her right hand and rule the Plains alongside her.

Who would have imagined the outcome. Challenges could be nasty things; to have one end on such a benevolent note was more than could have ever been asked for. She hoped those now under his rule would feel the same. She gave him a smile as his eyes swept the crowd, before turning to head home.

-exit-

art by moogle, code by lars

it was quick - and ghyslaine seemed to think everyone would be completely okay with her inviting the defeated challenger to not only live with them, but rule alongside her. elodie stiffened, uncomfortable. she didn't know anything about this guy other than he had been willing to take away their home and stability.

and then peregrine unweaved himself from her and bolted.

she made a startled sound, wide-eyed, before scrambling to her paws. "penn! wait-" he had a head start, and she had no idea which direction he had ultimately gone in, cutting through the long grasses of the plains. but she had to try, right?

she bolted after him.

exit.

_{art by drifty • table by hush}