g

od is singing in my head again / in the howling voice of a she-wolf / that’s just eaten her young.

---

At first, she's not sure what compels her to go to the Pit that morning.

Days had passed since those fleeting moments with Valhalla. Her old wounds had begun to disappear, smothered by the regrowth of her plush white fur, save for the clawmarks on her right cheek left there by the Oasis Noble. Her stomach had been churning, nauseous and unpredictable and nervous. She'd seldom been able to sleep in the Hollow; the still air was agonizing, the darkness of the cave system too hard tedious to navigate quite yet. She craved the fresh air, the endless windy meadows and the pine forests that surrounded them. She had avoided nearly everyone; even Valhalla, who no doubt would be confused and hurt by her leaving that next morning without a word.

She settled in the awkwardness of their actions, a blissful shattering of just a friendship that left her hanging on a weird note. But in her something had awoken, a fire tempered before by steel and ice now blazing uncontrollably within her. Ava had spent hours pacing; she'd been here well before dawn, but as the sun encroached the peaks of the far-off mountains and began to illuminate the arena in a glittering golden light, she could think of no mere spar worthy of this nearly celestial moment. She came to a slow pause on the edge of the arena, staring down at her paws; suddenly, that same nauseous urge almost stayed her hand, but for too long had she mulled over her own weaknesses. For too long had she lived in Morrigan's shadow (though she loved her sister so hardly and so desperately, she could not help but feel so inadequate compared to her), and for too long had she run from the haunting shadows of her past.

It was time to confront her demons head-on. Fate would decide who she would be. Was Ava destined to be weak and frightful forever, left to the whims of stronger men and fettered from one lion to the next? Or was she finally something more than just her namesake, and a shattered legacy she was supposed to become?

She called for him because he would know. He would know better than anyone else how to test her strength, and only a fight against him could answer the question biting at the back of her heels. It had to be Drakon Tollaire, because who else could match the fire she so wished to unleash, that burned within her now so agonizingly hot that she'd worried she'd burned if it did not spill out between her gnashing fangs?

Avaneira vs Drakon
for Caladan Cove
o of v

The call of a challenge was infinitely more exciting to be heard than anything Ulla had ever imagined to be. There was a raw power, a potent energy that she felt - that Vellen felt - which pulled her towards the destination. This time, the challenger stood in a neutral battleground. The noble recognized the woman as one of Obsidian Hollows'. However, she didn't know her name nor did she ever talk to her. So her stance on the challenge was entirely neutral, albeit concerned about the repercussions of what such an action would bring. When she came upon the challenger, she was among the first, and found her spot near a position where she could see the fight. Ulla was ready, mind reeling with the excitement only Vellen would allow as she waited with bated breath.

code by corvus | image by rabbit

The morning after he'd awoken where they slept only to find himself void of her touch. The cold and empty space where she'd curled up against him felt odd to him, an emotion of subtle abandonment waving over him. But the Viking had several days since their intimate encounter to mull over their actions and how she'd left without a word. But it wouldn't be until he heard the echoing cry from a very familiar woman that seemed to tie some loose ends together. Maybe this was why she left? Did she have the idea of challenging for a pride long before Valhalla had found her in the labyrinth? Or were these new feelings that were stirred up by what had been going on between the two of them? All the while trying to figure out the impossible did he hurry to the pit, wanting to try to catch @Avaneira before the battle began. Golden eyes would land upon her ivory figure, noting how she seemed to be carrying herself a bit differently. It was the look of sureness, of confidence, something he wasn't sure he'd really seen in her until that night. "Ava!" The beast would call out, slowing down to a slow jog as he neared her, noting that he was just a hair late from being the only one here. He appearance brought a slight sense of awkwardness, causing for him to clear his throat once he came to a halt. He couldn't allow for that to get in the way. "I didn't know you wanted a pride," he would begin, attempting to touch his nose gently to her jaw, wondering if she would want his touch or shy away from it. "Good luck, elskr." A thick accent would say the word, a language he hadn't spoken in such a long time, but for some reason slipped out as he gave her luck. Afterward would he move backward to stand a healthy distance away from the middle, waiting to see if the ruler would come to defend his crown. valhalla is observing.

art by munk

Hecuba knows the woman is distant family, but beyond that, she is a woman coming to take the home from her cubs. A small flock arrives by the time she does, and Hecuba notices with some disdain that her husband's challenger is small. Small enough to be crushed by a boulder should she accidentally bump into one, small enough to be squashed between her toes. Her eyes drift to the giant pink man as he arrives, clearly an ally. The lioness settles quietly, but her eyes say it all: who the fuck are you to threaten your only family? It didn't matter. Drakon would win, and this whelp would scamper home with that nub of a tail tucked. Her claws scrape into the earth. If Drakon were to lose, well. He would have one less relative to deal with once Hecuba was finished with her.

Code + art by @CloudyNight

❝

This was the drill. Someone called, everyone showed. It was chaos. And due to his own actions there was no excusing himself if he missed an event like this, missed the goings on of others. He'd had his spoonful of life and it was bitter, here came the medicine. But- to his surprise as he approached early there was mostly familiar faces around. @Úlla looking revved up and ready for the action. His silver eyes fell over her and he passed her as he approached, muzzle turning over while he spoke. Hello. He greeted her but then gave her the space and time for some of her more familiar friends to join her.

Plus. He had to have a word with @Valhalla.

He came up to his covenant brother's side, closely leaning inwards to the rosy large creature. ... yeah? He uttered the single word with knowing. He'd seen the contact, he could see plainly the look over Valhalla's face and the support he threw this woman's way. He danced his eyes briefly to Avaneira and lifted a brow.

❞

A cry from the pit. It was like ants began swarming her skin. She needed to know what was going on. It was obvious by the sound that this was a pride challenge. Dior was confident it wasn’t for the Bluffs. Few were so bold as to slink into the pack of wolves and claim themselves a leader. They would be crushed.

The chartreux woman arrives in the scene with expression lax. Her signature grin wasn’t present, as none of the beasts present were familiar - not to mention this was quite the grave fight. Tension filled the air, almost suffocating. Someone would either lose their home or leave with their pride wounded.

Dior would settle near enough for the others to approach her should they want to, but far enough not to get tangled into the fight that would no doubt ensue. It was for a pride the lead fighter didn’t know. Perhaps this would be a good chance to observe just what Wolfbron may stand against in the future.

The creature that had called was tiny, but Dior wouldn’t count her out. She’d learned the hard way a long time ago that small didn’t exactly mean weak. Maybe she would win, or maybe she would be crushed. Either way, the striped warrior’s attention was caught; rapt.

ART BY MUNK

Z O T I C U S ♕ X A N T H O S

---

Tensions were high all among the lands of Amaryllis; and Zoticus had a great number of headaches to deal with. However, with @Circe and him becoming mates, and with her ruling along his side- he felt a sense of relief in the knowledge that he wasn't going about it all alone.

Trekking among the lands, he is drawn to the call of a challenge- oddly enough, it was outside the lands of Caladan- and from the lungs of @Avaneira , a woman Zoticus had come to respect quite well during their time spent with hunts. The King arrives to the slowly growing crowd, gaze looking to Avaneira with a fond, supporting smile. He spots @Úlla as well, and aims to come along her side and sit near her to watch the spectacle. "Bold, isn't she?" He remarked with a lose grin as he spoke to Ulla, wondering just how much she knew of Avaneira. But Zoticus was in support of this challenge. Caladan and Wolfbron had issues that had not been dealt with - and with the information he had learnt from Amara, he wondered if things with Caladan would of ever been the same.

Time would only tell, however, to see who would become the victor.

@Valhalla and @Aquila were among the scene as well and the scent of Andal brought a tension to Zoticus. Teal eyes would find their frames, watching closely, and while he controlled himself to not lurch forward and sink his claws into the enemy, he couldn't say how far he'd be able to go in holding himself back if Andal was as bold and foolish as they had been in the Firnen challenge.

@Hecuba came forth from the outskirts and Zoticus looked to the woman with a curiosity- how did she feel about this? How would she handle this? If @Drakon didn't show... would she step up and defend the lands of the Cove? He pondered about @Jewel as well, and part of him hoped to see her among the gathering as well.

@Dior was well spotted by the King's eyes and Zoticus let out a chuff to the woman, hoping his Lead Fighter would come join beside him and Ulla. Keeping Wolfbron close in a crowd like this would do well - even more so if battle broke out between the Bluffs and the Oasis... and was it so bad part of Zoticus was eager, and hoping, to sink his claws into the flesh of the foolish enemy pride?

---

Feyre wanted to leave the cove when she saw Hecuba walking out. Ever the curious little girl, she follows, a small shadow with her trusty stick that's still too big for her to properly carry. Besides, she does want to smack lions with it, and Hecuba always seems to lead her to a lot of them. She arrives in a scary looking place with a smell that makes her gag. But the young Feyre decides to tough it out and find a place besides Not-mama, before setting her stick down. She peers at her and notices that she's not...happy. Mama? What's wrong? Feyre asks, innocent eyes searching for an answer. But then, Feyre follows Hecuba's gaze and sees a pale lioness - old enough to be her grandma - standing in the middle. Feyre scrunches her nose. Is that old lady making mama angry? I can go and smack her with my stick! Feyre offers as she places one paw securely on said stick.

image by rabbit/nesla, code by koi

Oh Roseate does so love a spectacle. He hears the call when he is resting in the plains and is quickly up on his paws- well, as quickly as his injuries allowed. The pit, it had come from this time. Not a territory. So he doesn't have to concern himself with borders as he joins the audience.

He finds himself in the crater with pricked ears, glancing about the gathering people. The chuff Zoticus had made was not necessarily for Roseate but he decides to seat himself near the Bluff sovereign regardless. Maybe Roseate would be able to pester a pridemate into answer his teeming questions. For now he just offers a charismatic grin.

There was never a surprise when it came to pride challenges but he could not help but feel a little disappointed that it was Caladan that had been called for. Thankfully, it was at the Pit so he didn't have to feel like he was stomping on old grounds so it made it all the more easier to weed himself through the crowd to take a seat. While he didn't exactly know the direction correlation yet, the challenger happened to be @Avaneira, Nymeria's sister's wife's sister was the one calling for the crown of his old leader. Gareth could admit that this was a beautiful light to see her and one that he was glad to see her owning. Her fighting spirit back then had been one of great potential but even then he could sense her hesitation, as though scared of doing or saying the wrong thing, perhaps? This was the same woman but very different -- still, he considered Drakon and Hecuba friends, distant friends but friends none the less. So it ached to see someone want to go after it when he had only just acquired it from Jewel. Or maybe that was a while ago, he couldn't remember -- baby brain and all that. It only led him to pass on a rather blank face as he wondered exactly what was going on and why.

table by ferus, art by munk