This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of [Mentions of: Cannibalism, Death, Fanaticism]
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Morrigan's call came first - from the direction of the Lagoon. It caused his ears to flick slightly but did not instantly rile Reti to the cause instead inspiring a few moments consideration while he shifted his steps from hunting to calmly striding towards the summons.
It was worth a trip to at the least see what might have caused such a wide reaching summons. A fight without doubt, likely to blossom into a war-battle, but over what?
When Alexander's voice also called it caused the Sovereign's muscles to pause and tense for a moment before his calm strides became a swift lope. While he held no alliance personally to Morrigan (no ire ether, simple neutrality), Alexander was one Reti considered friend and a call from the Hollows ruler provoked haste.
The flame and shadow avatar paused at the edges of the sand to catch his breath and scan the chaos and various battles spilled out in the distance before his gaze.
Even a ways back he could see familiar distinctive coats amidst the mass of bodies. Some, like Alexander were already locked in combat. Other seemed ready to fight or trying to keep tabs while not getting drawn in.
Juliette was noticed present and a little tension tightened between his shoulders - hopefully she would remain safe. Angelo, Dmitri, Karsa (He had grown alot seince they first met.)
And then his mother's voice cried out and Reti's head snapped towards the sound of Hanneth calling for Roan. Caligula's daughter? Wich one? The fur along his spine started to lift a little.
Hanneth invoked Maua causing a soft scoff to rise in the dark lion's throat, yet he choked it down, strangled it. Oh mother, when had the rumored local deity ever truly appeared?
Had they assisted in any war?
As far as Reti had seen and herd so far that spirit was a 'life' sort, what would it possibly do amidst the chaos and pain of war?
But she also called on spirits successfully. Drawing on those shifted to the next realm. And those - some of those may answer. In fact... Dad? Reti thought he might see glimpses of @
Dero as well.
Claws extended into the ground where soil met sand and he started to move once more, approaching the slightly distant chaos with steady prepared strides as battle preparations, defenses, started to slide into place.
War was always a dangerous place. But for his aging mother, well, Reti could not be less happy to see her in the middle of the violence. Could he convince her to leave? Likely not. But he could provide a guard once arriving at her side. Giving her a hard time for endangering herself could be saved for later.
The unease and tension flared into alarm as a familiar grey figure was spotted lunging forward and rushing towards his mother.
SHIT!
His frame lurched forward and then set into a charge at the sight. He would not make it in time to completely head off any attack, but an old, familiar, dark and twisted rage bubbled to life in his chest. A long dormant volcano of wrath. This act - targeting his mother - would not go unpunished in the strongest regard.
@
Roan is closer, faster, he can and does intercede first - moving to join the battle in their mother's defense. Good. That would give him time to arrive. To prepare.
Then another joins in attacking his elderly parent ( @
Milano ), flaring the molten malice in his chest higher, hotter, stoking the apatite that started to writhe and twist in his gut.
-You- I will get to you later. He silently promised the new soul added to the list being written in his heart, scribed in the spiritual ink of shadow and malice.
@
Aphrodite shot into his line of sight joining the fray, the sight caused his lips to twice for a fraction of a second upwards at the corners. Then again ... who was with the cubs if Aphrodite was here?
Shortly before he reached the group the sound of a challenge for Aphrodite rang out. And another was added to the short shit list being created this day. Reti must have faith the Plains would respond with appropriate force to the trespass against them. @
Zinnia 's shout of 'no' echoed faintly in his flattened ears.
She may be a yearling now, but still to early for a full war, hopefully this experience would not affect her too badly.
The last to join before his steps slowed slightly and his strides became motion that deliberately placed him ten feet from the group battle facing the conflict - was @
Elaine ♔ . And his fury deepened to previously unseen depths, twined with sharp hissing disappointment. Another!
Another.
When this was over, there may be still much to do. Perhaps.
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Spreading his legs an even width-apart, at shoulder distance, each limb bent slightly at the joints as his narrowed eyes drank in every detail of the battle in front of him. The colors of coats, markings, scents, sounds, motion.
Claws caressed the sandy soil, sinking in deep. Feeling the grained texture against his footpads. Flattened ears nestled securely in the waves of his mature mane, lips lifted from rows of saliva dampened teeth poised at the ready in slightly parted crushing jaws.
A slow, steady rumble growing from the depths of his chest and rolling like black velvet into his throat to then slip into the air through readied jaws.
'I am sorry mother. This must be done. Any who care for me, who would fear for me - Look away, turn away. Do not watch. Do not dread for a possible outcome that holds no fear for me.' it was the closest thing to a silent prayer he would ever make. A wordless wish sent to no gods - born in silence and left in silence.
If Miaran would attack those who speak to and summon spirits in ADDITION to those who raise the new dead... then none who hold religion dear would be safe. Not his mother, not his little sister. Not those in the hollows who worshiped there mother. Nor those in the plains who held love for their 'Maua'. None of them.
So... He would not turn away and wait till family or friend fell beneath the claws of the fanatical.
"Miaran ! C'est ma mère. Nous danserons. Allez. Honorez votre croyance. La mort." (Miaran! She's my mother. We will dance. Come on. Honor your belief. Death.)
The sound an opening melody to a dance the Executioner should know oh so intimately.
Death. Death!
A body will feed this world at the close of their embrace, if it be soil that welcomed a nutrient blood or lion who turned flesh into flesh he cared not. She would fall, or he will return to the dark gates once again - a familiar embrace that held no fear nor horror for the abyss blessed former Deity of the Unbound.
Come executioner, dance with the fallen deity - the unnatural aspect of death returned you so despise. Come. Lets preform the ritual we both respect, and let one guide the other through the gates of oblivion.
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Reti vs. @Miaran
DEATH
Round 0 / 5
Hits:
Dodges:
Luck:
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( OOC: This is an agreed upon match. Starting with round 0 to allow Miaran to break away from the group match smoothly. )
i’d marry you with paper rings
Warmhearted
Clear
Night
Dusk
Winter
