((Keeping it a bit vague since his fight is still on going in the challenge thread <3))

He didn’t go far after the commotion had settled, eager to meet the one who had usurped the woman who’d stripped him of his rank. He greets the border with a chuff of a growl, not wanting to start a fight like he’d almost done the last time he’d come home. Large paws stop along the scent line, his good eye watching for any sign of @Drauhir ♔ wondering if he’d welcome back his brawn.

Or if, again, he’d have to fight for it.

Skjol didn’t mind, but for once he’d like to be given his due with little need to prove himself. When one so capable as him exists, it grows tiring when the underlings try to bite at his ankles—speaking of, the brute wondered if his old rival had stayed, and how well they’d be adjusting since their faith in the bitch-queen would clearly need to be shaken? Right? Or maybe they were blind loyalists. He honestly hoped for the latter.

Tell ye your King fear me

Though he be King on dry land I be King upon the Sea!

code by corvus art by Drifty

Someone was at the borders again. Rose’s ears twitched on top of her head as the sound rang through the pridelands. This wasn’t the call of a stranger though bent on causing trouble before running away (though she could never be assured @Skjol wouldn’t end up causing some sort of trouble, but the running away was something she highly doubted the man would ever do.) Her paws hurried her towards the sound almost clumsy with excitement at seeing her- friend? Savior? Whatever the man was to the storyteller she was overjoyed to hear him at the cove’s doorstep. Their new king had promised her he could reclaim his former rank and home with them after all, had he not?

Finally gaining her footing and moving with long, easy strides Rose finally began closing the gap between the inner territory and where he waited at the borders. As sol. As he came into view she called out, Sharkslayer! Took you long enough! the grin in her face made it clear she was happy to see him. Part of her wanted to tackle him in greeting, but she refrained as she slowed as the distance between them shortened. She doubted he’d appreciate his glorious return marred by being flattened by an overzealous bard woman, would he?

code x art

While the contest for Caladan had been brief there had been one other scuffle going on. Pyrrha had, admitably, not been paying a ton of attention to anything but her brother's fight at the time. But as she approaches she has a flash of recognition from her short term memory. He'd been there fighting as well- over what she had no idea but he'd been there all the same.

@Rose is there too and she seems familiar with the stranger - a point in his favor. "Welcome." Pyrrha greets as she nears the lion, a glance over her shoulder is made to see if Drauhir will also be joining and attending to some of his new duties. "I am Pyrrha Tollaire, it's nice to meet you warrior." She says with a knowing smile at @Skjol. I saw you fighting...

code by me & art by rabbit

There was something within him that immensely enjoyed coming to his border to find others there before him. Like loyal hounds that inspected before their master arrived. Of course, his business was not to bask in his own greatness, but rather, attend to his duties.

And so he would.

The ever present, @Rose was becoming a welcome sight at his borders. His sister, of course, taking to power as naturally as was expected. It was... good. Power felt good and he would have no qualms about using it.

As it were, it appeared @Pyrrha ♔ was already familiar with this an, one he could recall had been caught in a fight during his challenge. Hm. Drauhir Tollaire, he repeated because he could not quite shake the thrill it gave him. I take it you are a familiar face, he said, I also take it that you have come for a purpose.

The rest, he would allow to play out.

@Skjol

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE

His rough exterior softened when he spotted @Rose quickly approaching. In fact, the man has grown incredibly fond (and possessive) of her considering the aftermath of Miraran's reign. Dare he almost set foot over the prides border, but Skjol stops himself. The warrior did not want to start yet another conflict.

"Well, I had to make sure things would stabilize --and put an end to that fight" he does not brag if he's won or lost, it didn't matter.

Before the lion could truly ask a few pressing questions, @Pyrrha ♔ reveals herself, followed shortly by the victor @Drauhir ♔. Both Sovereigns. A ruler new--yet, he squints at the name Tollaire. "Your family name, you've served here before." well, maybe not them, but someone like them. "I was a noble here under Sun byder, and a noble under Aphrodite" he still bears the bloodied paw print upon his chest, a sign of his kinship to the old sovereign. "The bitch who was overthrown stripped me of my rank unjustly. I would seek to restore it. If that means proving myself, so be it" though he honestly hoped for once he wouldn't need to. Maybe Rose could chime in and put in a good word?

"I fight because it is who I am, who I am bred to be. If not for the very act.of survival itself. For are the strong not destined to outlive the meek?" it was a philosophy his people loved, breathed and died by.

Tell ye your King fear me

Though he be King on dry land I be King upon the Sea!

code by corvus art by Drifty

Her smile didn’t falter as he gave explanation for the delay- truthfully she didn’t care so long as he was there now. Her jaws parted, about to say something further when @Pyrrha ♔ and @Drauhir ♔ arrived and @Skjol went to address them directly. When he’d finished addressing the pair she beamed at them- clearly very happy to have the scarred man near her again. He’s the one I was telling you about at the challenge when you won king Drauhir, remember? He helped me after that fiasco at the lagoon! she remembered how the king had promised her he could take back his former rank, now she stood there watching him, waiting to hear if he remembered his promise.

code x art

This man has been with the Cove, then, or perhaps, knew enough of the politics surrounding it. The king dipped his head as @Skjol correctly noted that the Tollaire had served there before.

He decided, he liked this man, who must have been Skjol, judging by the store he told. Yes, he called being informed of the usurpers misdeeds, but oh, how delighted he was that the man was willing to fight for it.

Unnecessary, given his prior promise, but oh, so pleasing. Yes, eh thought, he rather liked the idea of having those willing to bleed for them. Rose's input, however, was welcome, even if his expression did not show it. Yes, I do recall. He said simply.

Yes, he said to his noble, the strong are destined for things the meek can not even begin to dream of. They agreed in this.

But I will not have to fight for your rank. True to my word, it is yours. If the usurper wishes to punish the useful and the strong, she is welcome to her stupidity. I, however, have no such sentiment. Welcome back to the Cove, as my noble, Skjol.

@Rose @Pyrrha ♔

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE

There is a slight relaxation in his stance when the words drop from the Caladan King. Finally! A man who respected strength when he saw it. A leader who understood that a good tool should never be discarded, even if their views may not always align. Skjol gives a wink at @Rose with his crooked smile, before turning his attention back to @Drauhir ♔.

"The honor is mine, herra minn" (my lord) he gives a dip of his head to his betters, "I will get to recruitment once I settle back into my space."

That was his personal favorite. The rush of fighting over the most precious resource someone like him could have--bodies. The more you had, the greater you were. Bonus if they happened to be women.

The tall terror walks into Caladan then, into his home. He stops when he is next to the pink woman, the one who he had developed a rather tender spot under his rough exterior for. "Rosir, care to join me?" he says with a motion before beginning to wander back into his pride.

----exit/potential exit with Rose

also tag for @Pyrrha ♔

Tell ye your King fear me

Though he be King on dry land I be King upon the Sea!

code by corvus art by Drifty

The smile that beamed on Rose's face as she watched the exchange made it evident she was very pleased with current events. @Skjol always seemed to be fighting someone every time the met - not that he wasn't a capable lion, but it was nice to see that the cove's new king was as man who kept his promises. As the two men finished their business and the sharkslayer bid her to join him she hopped forward, stopping long enough to dip her skull towards the monarch siblings. Thank you king @Drauhir ♔! Queen @Pyrrha ♔, we'll hunt again together soon! She chirped happily, accepting the fact that herself and the strawberry queen had been doing little else than hunting and refilling the pride caches lately. Thanks given and goodbyes said she hurried off to catch up to Skjol and accompany him back into the pridelands.

-exit with Skjol

art

He watched them closely, his gaze fixed on Rose and Skjol as they exchanged their parting words. The weight of their gratitude passed over him without stirring the calm that settled in his chest. They were pleased—content even—and that was enough for now. But his mind was elsewhere, already moving beyond this moment, toward the next steps that would ensure the Cove’s continued strength.

He said little in response to Rose’s thanks, his nod curt but acknowledging. He had always known where his true focus lay, and these pleasantries, though necessary, meant little in the grand scheme.

And so, he disappeared into the sands of his domain, the day’s business done.

exit drauhir

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE