KNEEL TO THE CROWN       The more time spent in the labyrinth, the more familiar it became. That the Hollow was nestled deep within, and required a trip through the tunnels to reach, helped immensely. It had even lost the initial unpleasant feeling of the damp floor against paws. Now, the minute layer of moisture helped to stick the pads to the stone and improved balance and thus speed. The colossus was swift becoming a clay ghost in the shadows of the corridors.       Time of day was no longer difficult to determine, either. The location of cracks in the ceiling that allowed glimpses of the sky outside were marked. By the red hue of the light shafts that trickled down into the cave system, it was sunset. The time when other, smaller, predators tended to frequent the labyrinth--either heading in to their dens or out to hunt. Perfect for stalking.       Along the well-traveled hallways a layer of grit and dust had formed from the pebbles being worn. It was here that the colossus crouched, inspecting a set of prints. The sediment was fine, clumped together by the moisture in the air, leaving a perfect impression. They wee of a predator. Smaller than himself. The tips tapered to a finer point than a lion's. Fox, perhaps? The downside to the caves was that scent didn't tend to linger after its owner moved on. He stood, peering over his shoulder in the direction the prints had come from. They were moving out of the labyrinth, but perhaps he could track them back to a den. 258 words | @Artemis Trade: Ranger study and track footprints 1/2 action posts STAND IN THE SUN hail to the king

It was dark by the time Artemis found her way into the tunnels of the Grimoire's Labyrinthe as her mismatched eyes surveyed the tunnels without having to wait and adjust to the darkness within. While this myterious new isle had plenty of caverns and hollows within its many mountains this was the first time that Artemis had delved underground. Her dark pelt melding with the shadows and light on her paws. If she had wanted to be sneaky and lurk these rocky hallways on purpose she would be hard to spot.

It was not too far along the tunnel she realised that she was not alone. Gaze looking out from the shadows at a crouched figure, a young clay coated lion and although she had met him before there was no way to tell whom it was just yet. Unsure why he was crouched down and what he was doing she approached with caution holding her head down level with rolled shoulders, a somewhat defensive position for the ebony yearling.

She would need to pass him to continue down the tunnel so there was no other option to then speak out from the shadows where likely only her dual coloured eyes and silver markings stood out. "Hello there."

KNEEL TO THE CROWN       It was the gentle disruption of the slight breeze that alerted him to the lioness's presence. He turned his head to face ahead once more, and settled a pale gaze on the floating eyes. Eyes that seemed familiar, but recalled no strong memory without the pairing of the entire face. His eyes narrowed slightly, pupils widening to take in the silver bits that floated around as well. It took his brain a moment to understand that the silver was markings on a black lion, the majority of its pelt blending with the shadows. He grinned.       "You are the darkness." Recognition set in, and he lifted from his crouch to a relaxed stand, tail waving gently behind him. "I would not want to meet your wrath in the depths of this place." The male let out a light chuckle and took a step to the side. This would allow her enough room to pass, should she be brave enough to try to do so. He used his muzzle to motion behind him, deeper into the tunnels. "Headed that way?"       Lifting a forepaw, he pointed at the prints he had been examining. "I was hoping to follow these back to a den. Might be a nice snack." 205 words | @Artemis STAND IN THE SUN hail to the king

The darkness. It was a nickname she could entertain. It certainly made her sound alot more intimidating and frightening then the reality. "I am." She too was beginning to recognise the face infront of her as she responded with a thin smile. "But you can call me Artemis." Finally introducing herself since the drama of the claim had meant she hadn't the chance. There had been alot happening in such a short space of time. She hoped that perhaps now she would learn his name.

The comment about not wanting to meet her in this dark tunnel though was enough to make her chuckle. Even Zagan was larger and more intimidating then she was and he was a little bit younger. "I wouldn't be scared if I ran into myself." The dark pelt might make her more concealed and hidden but aside from jumping out and saying boo getting physical with most would result in getting a beating. Thought just thinking about what her wrath might be caused her to continue to smile in amusement.

"I was headed that way, yes." Artemis confirmed, her gaze now dropping to the murky stone floor and muddy footprints left on the ground. She probably would have missed the tracks entirely had Zagan now mentioned it. "Are you inviting me to share a snack with you?" The young lioness would tease. Of course the answer would be yes.

KNEEL TO THE CROWN       It occurred to him that exchanging pleasantries had been something impossible during the challenge for the lagoon. Too many unreasonably angry mothers over their children being kept from danger. Oh, and the two scuffling over who would claim the pride lands, too. As she gave her name, he nodded. "Zagan." Intentionally he only shared his first name. Thus far, announcing his family nomenclature had caused only undue suspicion on him. Or perhaps it was due. No one knew yet.       "Oh, come now. You do not look as though you would be helpless, should you have a vendetta to fulfill." Normally there might've been a wink or a chuckle in an attempt to flirt. If it were Gwyn, surely there would have been. But Zagan's expression was solid, his voice unwavering. He meant what he said. "Believe you are weak, and you will be. Besides," This is where the grin came in, a tilt of head to allow the lighter fore of mane to frame his face. "There are ways other than violence to instill fear."       In response to her question he turned around, giving her his back, and hmmed as if in thought. Keeping his eyes to the ground, following the prints, he began to casually stride deeper into the caves. "If we find what I suspect we will, one may not be amenable to such a snack." What he didn't tell her, what he didn't point out, was the smaller set of prints that went opposite the original set. Youth. Children. And, as he took a few turns, having to pause every so often to check he was still on the right path, the sounds of kits playing and growling began to become apparent.       Drifting to a stop before a narrow opening low to the floor, wherein the sounds emanated, he turned his head to look at her. "Do you eat children?" His pale eyes gleamed in the darkness. 320 words | @Artemis Trade: Ranger study and track footprints 2/2 action posts STAND IN THE SUN hail to the king

Silver blazes nose would dip in a small nod as the young lion gave back his own name in return, one she would put into her memory as it was likely they would meet again at some point. After all this was the second time she had run into Zagan in a short space of time.

Perhaps Artemis looked the part but she had the build of a hunter not a fighter, or so she thought. "Well when I find myself a vendetta I will let you know how that goes." She hummed back enjoying the subtle flirting going on between the pair. She already felt as though she could trust him following the challenge where she was prepared to have his back. 'There are ways other than violence to instill fear.' "Like pretending to be a shadow." She would quip back softly with a few mild mannered flicks of her tail.

As their focus shifted to the tracks as Artemis slipped closer to the side of Zagan lowering her skull to try to see if she could detect any scents the question caught her a little off-guard. It was a tad bit dark much like her appearance. "I have no issues with matters of survival." On the plains she would not think twice about targetting a foal, fawn or calf so why should be bat an eye lid over a different creature. It was not like she was eating children of her own kind - which is where the line was drawn. Artemis was a rogue right now, a rather slim one after many months of living as a vagrant and a long journey. It was food and nothing more.

KNEEL TO THE CROWN       The response to his final question was satisfying. There were many who would hesitate to take the lives of children of any species. He'd always found that to be unnatural. A fawn could provide a meal as well as a doe, but with much less effort. Perhaps that was why he found the meat of the young so much sweeter. Not that he would eat lion cubs, of course. Only kill the males who did not carry his family's blood when and where he was capable. "A true predator." He remarked, admiring of her answer.       The colossus lowered himself to the cave floor, peering into the narrow opening with one eye. His tail flicked behind him as he watched the kits--he had been correct in his assumption of fox--rolling about with each other. He pushed a paw into the opening, finding that he could fit his leg up to his shoulder, and his claws scraped against the back of the den. "Perfect." He hummed, swiping to one side and catching a kit in his grasp.       The thing squealed in terror and pain as he withdrew it from the opening. "What is it they say? Ladies first?" With a smile, perhaps a bit sinister given the situation, he held out his paw with the morsel for her to take. 218 words | @Artemis Task: Ranger gift someone a meal you caught 1/2 action posts make a successful kill for food not using the hunt system 1/2 action posts STAND IN THE SUN hail to the king

Following behind the larger clay yearling her own focus was mostly on the ground as she paid attention to the tracks ready to alert him should the fresh prints lead in a different direction. The good thing about the cavern was that there was not many directions or places the fox and its kits could go and soon enough the trail ended and the scent of the den was the biggest giveaway long before the noises.

Fishing for the kits was amusing to watch (perhaps in a slightly sadistic way) but these creatures were just food to her in the same way she would look at a fish or a rabbit. in fact it was about the same size roughly as she used a clawed mitt to place atop the snack that was offered to her. "Thankyou." My what a gentleman Zagan was turning out to be and Artemis was grateful. As a rogue she would take any free meal without a second thought. After giving her thanks the woman flopped down onto the ground beginning to eat her meal.

KNEEL TO THE CROWN       Ah, and just like that, she was eating from his paw. Literally and figuratively. Perhaps he was more like his father than anyone knew. Was it so bad to have ulterior motives? Truly? Was not life a series of actions made toward completing goals? No one but Zagan could say what his goal was in this instance, and he wasn't about to let the metaphorical cat out of the bag.       As Artemis took the squealing kit, he placed his paw back to the ground and watched, pale gaze flashing with hunger, as she feasted. The silver of her markings were spectacular in the dim lighting of the tunnels, highlighting her movements like a deadly spectre. He liked it. Reaching back into the den, he swiped another kit and pulled it out.       A swift strike and crunch, and the thing was dead. He pushed it toward her before reaching back into the opening. "Life without a pride is hard." He sounded commiserating. One of the two remaining kits bit his paw, and he hissed. "You little shit!" Shifting slightly, he smacked his paw against the wall of the den, pinning the offending morsel. It was dead when he pulled it free.       He didn't bother to lick his paw. The thing's teeth were so small it did not more than pinch the skin. Instead, he took the head off in one bite. He shifted it to the side of his jaw to crack it, savoring the brain matter that seeped onto his tongue. Only once he swallowed did he take a moment to preen, licking his paw and cleaning any blood from his muzzle. "Were you considering the lagoon?" 277 words | @Artemis Trade: Ranger gift someone a meal you caught 2/2 action posts make a successful kill for food not using the hunt system 2/2 action posts STAND IN THE SUN hail to the king

Licking her lips clean after picking what meat she could off the small bones the young ebony lioness would flash Zagan a smile, thankful for running into him again the meal and this opportunity to talk. Last time they had met it was far to hectic to actually have a proper conversation. She would slowly continue to clean her paws humming in agreement when Zagan mentioned the hardships of being a rogue. She had not been sure of his pride status before today but now she realised that like herself he was most likely a rogue.

What made he stop preening was when the clay youngster cursed at the kit before plucking it out of the den, it's body lifeless but Artemis could guess what happened as she let out a chuckle. "I was considering it but after all the chaos I did not want to stick around. I think I will try another. Besides I doubt that will be the last land claim." No doubt other choices will present themselves. "Why were you at the Lagoon?" Had he only gone to watch to see if the claim would be challenged?