She could not be certain of what was going on with her body. (Yes, yes you can Dio the voice inside of her whispers. Be it her own mind or spirits was anyone's guess. ) The dark woman has been restless of late. Sitting still was not enough. Walking tired her. And she inexplicably wanted to drag every pelt she saw into her den and bundle up for warmth. At first it was simple to write this behavior off as loneliness- missing her husband with whom she's not been able to see since even before that deadly day and their red ceremony. But it's not just a symptom of sorrow- it's habitual. It's involuntary. Her mind craves his company but her body is demanding she prepare this den.

Eventually Dio noticed the subtle changes in her body, the slight swelling of her abdomen and that warm feeling of fulness inside of her. ( They're there Dio. Like your fathers were given you they're there. She wanted to deny it. ) She was pregnant. And although there was once a time Valour were born upon Vermedan soil this was not the home she knew. This was not of her family save for the bones in the ground. They wanted her here, they wanted her children here... But mortal weakness wins out. It is dangerous to have them here. She is terrified to do this alone.

Against the chains of the Brook pride. Against the grasping hands of the spirits- Dio waits until she thinks the most recent escort is not paying attention and she slips into shadow and heads for the border.


( Escape Attempt )

I'm sinking down

If you only knew how hard it is For me to climb out. I'm kicking and screaming But no one can hear me. So what happens now? The shadows are creeping in. I didn't ask for. I didn't ask for this. Cold rage Hides the shame Of images I can't escape. Scars that live under the surface. It's strange What I became When part of me was ripped away And replaced with something worthless. I'm sinking down. If you only knew how hard it is For me to climb out

code by corvus || art by rabbit

Nazara is on her way to visit the strange prisoner woman, when she catches the prisoner dashing. The guard was clearly inadequate, but there was a part of the girl that thought fuck it. She watches as @Diomedeidae heads towards the border and for a moment Nazara considers sounding the alarm....

but.....

The woman was the only one who understood her, so far. The only one like her she's known of in the brook. The comfort of knowing one was not alone had been a relief. She tries to turn and walk away, to leave it, but the shadow finds she cannot. An audible growl at herself erupts quietly from her marred lips before she turns and bolts towards Dio.

Loping over familiar territory, she finally comes up on the escapee. "Thisss way" she's improved some, concerning the swelling and the pain. Now her S's were elongated. "Here thisss way, guardssss will be that direction" she motions for her to follow, knowing a few of the lesser trodden paths hidden throughout the brook.

I could burn your motherfuckin’ village to the ground—

I could crack your skull between these motherfuckin’ thighs—I could doom your lineage with one look from these eyes! I could name the date in which they’ll put you in the ground—you’re the one who said its justice watchin’ witches drown!

code by corvus art by Drifty

Something is amiss. They can feel it within their bones as the winds shift, and the siren sings. A crass whistling that brushes through the concaves of the Brook’s sweeping waterways keeps the devout alert. Untamed. Ixora had spent some time nursing their wounds following their fight against the feeble calico creature from the depths - reattaching portions of their pride and praying to the spirits for innate guidance. Veremda was not safe. It never was. But rather a prisoners cove that left the devout weary and dry. Beaten and bruised by selfish want and desire - discarded and damned. They very well knew this now after many months of disloyal devotions to the white queen. Dio was right. Veremda soil was no longer a place of holy prayer but rather damned destruction.

“Here thisss way, guardssss will be that direction"

What the fuck?

Its enough to pique the interest of the raven witch, sending their previously sprawling frame cascading across the pebbled floors. Ruby red gaze protruding through the dark shadows to investigate the disturbance - and…oh! Dio. Dio is leaving and theres someone helping her….Well shit. If they were helping then one would be a fool not to follow. So - Ixora does. Mahogany frame presses flush against the crackling brook floors, as they slither amongst the floors to try and close the gap between the cleric and crow. Dio a whisper, frail and heavy falls upon the wind with mute accordance. Where will we go? Ixora asks, not even giving a option for the woman to usher their familiar away or prod them. Ixora making their intentions very clear. Im coming with you. You dont have a choice.


Ixora is attempting to escape with Dio

@Diomedeidae @Nazara

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

Going where?

The question is bright with curiosity, though delivered with a sharp tongue. Moontide has come upon them just in time to hear @Ixora's whisper - or at least the end. ...we go? The girl is naive in the way of prisoners, of war, and she regards them only with a youthful interest. Her brows are furrowed tight over her pale eyes as she lingers in the semi-shadow of the looming trees. It's easier to see in the dark, where the harsh white glow of the sun on snow is dimmed.

Recognition settles over her young shoulders at the sight of @Nazara, lingering between the two strange women, and the girl takes a step closer. I wanna go. Tide demands, stomping a foot down. This time her words are a little louder, a little closer to a pouting wail; she's not used to being told no, to being denied - and the thought of these three going off on an adventure without her is absolutely insulting. Fear of missing out is a stark bolt of lightning going through her and she scowls.

Take me too. She glances between them all, narrowing her gaze on @Diomedeidae and sniffs.

GODS DON'T PRAY

A mother blind to her children's faults. Icefang lurks in the shadows - always there even when she cannot be seen. Spying. Her blue orb narrows as she witnesses the blue hide of one of many prisoners attempting to escape. @Nazara's and @Moontide's presence does not please her, but she sums up their incompetence to childish minds. This one could not escape. She had a feeling she would need this bargaining chip later. She issues out a call, summoning anyone to come aid her when she notices @Ixora trailing behind. She is not aware of their treacherous act yet due to the calamity of the war, but immediately she places blame on the lioness. She was here helping. She would need to be punished, but the price of Ixora's head matters less to Icefang and so she turns her attention to Diomedeidae instead.

"I still have use for you," she growls rushing forward to block the blue woman's path. They had met before and at the time Icefang had been kind to her and thus she assumes her temporary stay inside the Brook had gone the same way. She swipes out one paw in the vicinity of her face, but it is merely a warning. A chance to stand down and accept that she would need to live with her shackles just a little bit longer.


Icefang vs. @Diomedeidae
Dominance/Escape prevention
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 2 + 3 + 12 + 15 + 11 + 10 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 3 + 6 + 16 + 1

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 13 + 8 + 2 + 15

art ♥ code

There is a hiss like breath on the back of her neck. It causes her hair to dance upright and within she experiences a feeling not entirely unlike when the spirits have grabbed her before. But this time it proves to be a mortal, living breathing flesh. The dark little @Nazara ushers Dio away from one path and to another. Trust She hears her heart say. And without question she follows Naza's voice towards a less traveled path. "Thank you." She whispers once nearer and then her pace quickens again- footsteps are coming closer and Dio must get out for the sake of her unborn children.

But these steps carry with them a shape twisted of dark shadow and ruby, @Ixora. Dio released a quiet held breath and reaches over to brush her face along Ixora's. "This way, come. Deeper into the forest where the spirits will hide us. Then we find my family." Ixora leaves no choice, and Dio would not have let them debate staying behind even if that was an option. The younger cleric would be coming with her. It was as fate demanded of them. More steps then - smaller this time. Dio is alerted to them, to the emergence of a young pale child too far from the den. Her own stomach churns with reality. "Do you know this child?" She asks of both her companions who have gathered with her. While she has no qualms about taking Ixora, or even Naza if the princess decided to just not turn around... this child was young. This would be kidnapping and the spirits were quiet on if this child @Moontide was anything of important.

Luck runs out eventually. More footsteps, a third time. And a path blocked. "I warned you of the things that live in this forest. You should have heeded me." She snarls to @Icefang ♔ as she stands in her way. Dio's face is lightly struck across one cheek (after all the harm Arcania, Temero, and Astarte have each caused Dio this blow is little more than a tickle) and the blue woman ducks one way as if to move to the left only to quickly then juke to the right and race off at a sprint.



Escape -

Rolling 1d10: 10

(8+ Success)

I'm sinking down

If you only knew how hard it is For me to climb out. I'm kicking and screaming But no one can hear me. So what happens now? The shadows are creeping in. I didn't ask for. I didn't ask for this. Cold rage Hides the shame Of images I can't escape. Scars that live under the surface. It's strange What I became When part of me was ripped away And replaced with something worthless. I'm sinking down. If you only knew how hard it is For me to climb out

code by corvus || art by rabbit

Right after wars had gone around the valley, Obsidiana was hopping peace would be granted at the end, yet it seemed conflict wasn't giving any room to breath and now it was present on their very own lands. The almost adult was surprised to find not only the prisoner but one of their own also going for it. A treator? And not only that... Why was Nazara here too? What was she planning? Yet she had no time for that, actions were to be done and now. One being handled by her mother, and the other wasn't being stopped. Well thats where she steps in. Quickly she rushed towards Ixora from behind aiming to jump into her rear, attempting to get a hold by wrapping her paws on each of her thighs while hopping to push down. She wasn't going to sit and let them go. Obsidiana vs @Ixora Escape prevention 1 of3 *Hits: Rolling 6d20: 17 + 18 + 12 + 13 + 20 + 6 Dodges: Rolling 2d20: 10 + 17 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 17 + 14 + 10 + 8 + 19 Bonus to members participating in fights in their pridelands (doubles the level 1 bonus of their master trade).

art by Kaori + code by spu

A man on mindless patrol. Walking the borders with a rather empty head. Security was running tighter but no one had yet to arrive from the Lagoon or the Hollows.

Thus he is nearby when the commotion starts. His pace quickening until the lionesses have come fully into view. @Icefang ♔ and Obsidiana lunging for their opponents. One of which being their own. Interesting. Blues slither over to @Nazara and @Moontide. Lucky for Naza, the father assumed the elder girl was protecting the younger. Else he would have ripped back into her hide if he had been aware of the truth.

With flexing claws the Heir makes the rushed decision to side with his family. Charging toward Obsidiana and Ixora with a snarl. As his relative goes for the rear, he advances upon the swirled woman's side. Claws extended to try and sink one set into her upper right shoulder and the other into her back

Cassius & @Obsidiana vs @Ixora
Escape prevention
1/3
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 8 + 1 + 20 + 17 + 13 + 9 + 15 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 18 + 3

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 12 + 1 + 8 + 15

PrideTeir 4

Art by Rabbit, Code by Minxy

❝ All we are is an isle of flightless birds ❞

The tenderness of a friends embrace is fleeting, a brief commodity shared within the madness of broken whims. It is accepted with grace, dignifying appreciation, but most of all gratitude. And while her embraces are brief, cut short by the tasks at hand - it says everything that the witch needs to understand. You are my friend. We will not go alone. They are unsure of the last time that they had ever felt such an affection as this from foreign factions. Fates intertwined, cosmic stars colliding in the vast expanse of the Milky Way.

Then comes the squall of a spoilt creature - a Childs eagerness to be included in actions that are far beyond their understanding. Hairs prickle upon the pins of Ixora's spine, things trembling with a stiffened grate as the raven cleric moves in a more rustic stance. "I-" Chaos unfurls, cutting their responses short. White light bursts behind lidid eyes - it elicits a throat scraping gasp from the creature as they jerk upright just in time to catch the coat tails of Dio's words before she is gone in a flash.

Fuck. "Dio!"

Pain bursts throughout the backing of their thigh, a brazen head swiveling to catch a brief glimpse of voided creature gnawing at ankles like a rabid dog. A snarl peels back ivory lips, ruby eyes flickering towards the mass of death barreling inwards to advance upon their side. Panic settles in, like a deer struck in headlights - Ixora would attempt to kick way from the voided creation (@Obsidiana) hoping that the spirits would grant enough grace to allow them to escape from their hold before death settled over them like a looming cloud. If successful, the would then seek to shimmy around the disarmed Sovereign to follow Die into the night & if not Ixora would be forced to take the brash impact of deaths (@Cassius ♔) embrace with little to no rejection.

Escape Attempt #1

Rolling 1d10: 2

(8+ = Success || 8- = Failure)

Oh what is this? A prison break? Coming up upon the scene he narrowed his eyes as he spotted Ixora and another trying to run off. Oh hell no! Others jumped in to stop them from escaping but he didn’t care if it wasn’t a fair one on one fight anymore. Snarling he jumped in attempting to run in front of Ixora to block the path and attempting to lash out towards them with one paw. "Oh hell no! You stay here to damn dirty traitor! You think you can fight against me your own pride mate during the war to stop me from my right at bringing someone here and then leave?" He snapped as he snarled loudly telling all what happened. He hadn’t had time to tell @Icefang ♔ what happened but now was a great time to lay all sins bare.

Lead Advisor Perk: +1 luck to all pride-mates when fighting on their pride territory (must be present prior to the start of the fight) - Horith
Bonus to members participating in fights in their pridelands (doubles the level 1 bonus of their master trade) - Obsidian

Horith, @Cassius ♔, @Obsidian vs. @Ixora
Stopping Escape
Round 1 of 3
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 15 + 5 + 11 + 1 + 8 + 20 + 14 + 10

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 16 + 11 + 9 + 8

Luck:

Rolling 7d20: 16 + 1 + 19 + 12 + 5 + 11 + 15

code by corvus & art by moogle