it has been too long since the bluffs has another challenge in its midst. faustine has almost forgotten the dizzying feeling of watching her mother strip the flesh from the foolish usurper all those years ago. yet, here the memory comes back to life, sending faustine towards the battle in a frenzy of unrelenting haste. her tail whips furiously behind her as her ears stand erect, listening to the sounds of chaos farther ahead. there are already quite a few lions gathered. not enough for her to pick out an opponent worthy of her claws and teeth, but enough for her to prepare herself should they cross her.

a man creature she says in a low growl, disgust lacing each of her syllables. the bluffs will make a meal of him once the fight's over and faustine, ever so intent to help, will make sure of that.

code: cala | art: editjackson@dA

He strolls to the familiar cry of battle, interest piqued by how bloody the lands have become in so short a time. Crixus can't quite recall it being such a volatile place when he had last been here but it certainly didn't surprise him. Violence and death were the great equalizers, rendering everyone the same in the end. Earth is thrown over their heads and the worms feast -- it is the same for him as anyone else gathered to witness the battle. He says nothing as he comes to settle on his haunches, tattered ears swiveling lazily. No one would pay him any attention, just the way he likes it.

art by cloudynight / code by corvus

Somehow, it feels fitting that the first place she should go is the battlefield. Hecuba may not be as interested in fighting in her older age, but she is drawn to the cry of violence like all the others gathered. She's surprised to find the Dieudonne still have the bluffs in a chokehold and wonders if she will recognize anyone beyond the older generation. Her eyes sweep the scene curiously, but she does not cross the borders. Hecuba has no dog in the fight, only seeks to entertain herself and watch the drama. It's always more enjoyable when it doesn't involve her.

HEKATE

In their world, but not of their world – it was what Hekate told herself to ease the tension of a system built not for her. It was what she chanted to herself at the sound of a usurper's call on the morning wind, her heart failing to heed the message as it raced on in drunken adrenaline. Such calls marked chaos. Such calls marked violence of an unholy kind. Morals went to die in those moments, and the last of such calls had left her imprisoned at first, and ultimately estranged from the light of her sisters.

Never again.

Ivory paws moved swiftly across the red rock to carry the little huntress toward the commotion as she chanted her calming rites all the while. Even as she caught sight of the lush queen tearing into a beast of colossal proportions, Hekate told herself that the whims of mortals had no power over her – as if she could will away her flesh and blood.

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|| january y13 | three years | WB hunter | at wolfbron bluffs | open ||

code by flea, art by irish

+5 Observe a fight (Louve vs Ilarion)
+5 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws or care for teeth)

Obviously, she wasn't well pleased. She did so dislike challenges for her home, but on the plus side at least if she was going to have to find a new one she would have ample forewarning instead of having to scramble in the dead of night because something had happened.

She approached from a higher portion of the bluffs, getting a sort of birds-eye view of the scene. Louve was already fighting, and she kept an eye on the battle as she scritched her claws against the hard rock beneath her, sharpening them just in case someone decided to do something stupid. She watched the fight, of course, but she also eagerly looked for someone to set a single paw out of line so she could lunge, swooping down from above like a bird of prey.

code by corvus

+5 Observe a fight (Louve vs Ilarion)

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

As far as he knew, the Bluffs were still their allies, not to mention the place he had been born (such as it was). So of course he made his way up to see what would happen, to bring information back to mother and grandmother if needed. That and he kind of just wanted to watch the fight, because he was still trying to learn how to do so properly, and he could get a look at the sort of damage that occurred during a fight like this. Not that he had enough knowledge to do absolutely anything about it, and no doubt the bluffs had healers of their own, but he was still curious. So he settled himself on the border like many others and watched the high sovereign fight with avid interest.

artwork • coding

The latest challenges had her on edge, so when she hears the call go up for her longest ally and neighbor, Icefang rises from the brook to trek back that forgotten path to wolfbron. Her former place of residence. Quietly, she slips in to get a good seat and immediately interest befalls her at the sight of @Ilarion battling @Louve ♔. Oh, didn't he have balls. She had bested him twice already and while things with the Dieudonne were on shaky ground, Icefang felt neutral in the matter of who she wanted to win. With her tail tucked over her paws, the sovereign keeps an eye around her curious as to who else will show up and if any more fights break out.

SPEECH

You're either going to be inspired or intimidated by me

code by corvus / art by eightysix

Show me those pretty white jaws, show me where the delicate stops,
Show me what you've lost, and why you're always taking it slow

A lone wolf trudges towards the call across the terrain, ears cupped forwards with nothing more than the utmost curiosity. She has traveled for so long, her paws grown weary ages ago, but still, she cannot resist the temptation that comes with such a call. She has heard plenty of summons for battle, this was evidently one of them. Her tail swings behind her, lashing against her flanks once before she makes her way closer to all of the commotion. Her fur smells lightly of jasmine and sage, no pride affiliations clinging to her skin. Teal eyes are a vibrant contrast against the darkness of her curled fur, her body perhaps a bit brawnier than the typical woman. And of course, Gwen was no typical woman. This terrain held slick stone and craggy outcroppings, tucked away from the others that she had previously noticed.

No stranger to remaining hidden she moves across the mountainside, deciding to climb up atop one of those hidden outcroppings to get an elevated view to those below. Her breath hitches, for a moment her paws feeling unsteady beneath her until she settles comfortably against the stone face. Her scent would hopefully not drift downward, but Gwen wasn't too concerned otherwise. She was but a small fish in this large ocean of other individuals, and she was certain that most would be too distracted by the fight that was set before them. Those teal eyes blaze with obvious curiosity as they land on @Ilarion, he was perhaps the largest man she'd ever seen. Not only was he tall but he was built too, made for battle if she had an opinion. His opponent @Louve ♔ bore a tale of many battles across her pelt, evident in the scars strewn across her. That one was one to look out for. Gwen would recline slightly, her curled tail tip twining around her left leg as she peered downward, claws flexing and unflexing across the stone as she observed.

*Gwen is attempting to hide and observe ~

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Assassin/Paladin EXP
+5 - Observe a fight (Ilarion v. Louve for WB)
+10 - Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (WB)
+10 - Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread

Show me what wounds you've got, show me love

art to dee + code to ryuu

Obsidiana did have an inclinationt of who she wanted to come out victorious. Louve had been but kind to their family by giving them their first home and she will always cherish that. So she even if her mother wasn't so keen of them anymore herself was here to give support to the Dieudonne. She took seat by her mother's side, flexing her toes into the hard ground as she sharpens her claws against the surface. "Louve.." She muttered to herself as she watched intensely. "Mother, do you think she can win?" She asked wanting to hear her mother's opinion and perhaps a few lessons here. @Icefang ♔ +5 observe a fight +5 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws or care for teeth)

art by Kaori + code by spu

(Peregrine has Double exp active for everyone in this thread until the 24th)

In theory this shouldn't turn into a cluster fuck, right?

Right?

Either way, Peregrine hears the call and he goes to watch the show, eager to learn something from the longstanding rulers of Wolfbron Bluffs and whoever tries to take the crown. He doesn't care who wins, but he wants to know.

And he'd have kept his ass on the sidelines, safely away from the crowd, hidden. Not drawing attention to himself. Behaving, for once.

But then he watches @Elodie walk over the territory line as if hypnotised, eyes on the battle.

"Fuck." Peregrine breathes, already on his paws and jogging to catch up to the liger girl.

His shoulder brushes hers, not trying to push her back so much as putting a meat shield between her and the hungry-looking Bluffs lions. Is that one drooling?

"Hey, Dee. What're you doing here?" His head drops low, silver eyes roaming the red territory. "This isn't usually your scene."

code by corvus || art by drifty