Slowly, would they begin to trickle in. At first it were several from the opposing side, Keir feeling their eyes burning onto him as if they were trying to set him ablaze. Blue gaze would remain steeled and narrowed, glancing at each one that arrived. Lips could curl briefly to reveal fangs, ears twisting back and his body beginning to settle itself in its defenses. Some of the lions that were helping the new King were ones he had seen before in passing, others completely unknown to him, but they were all seen as one thing now to him: enemies.

A soft breath would be released when finally his comrades would begin to show, giving them a quick glance to show he acknowledged their presence before settling back onto their targets. It would seem as though they would be equally matched, the ebony lion noting how one lioness didn't show despite pledging her allegiance to this cause. Keir wondered if she simply chickened out or if something else entirely happened, but all he could feel now was the rushing of blood and adrenaline and the subtle despise he held against the one that did not show to help them. @Dysnomia's words would then catch his attention, causing for him to really look at the one women on the opposing side and noting how one of them had a belly that was swollen, obvious that she were carrying cubs. Would they really put unborn children at risk all in order to keep a damn crown? Even Keir knew that was one of the most reckless things to do, and where others may see that as being brave he saw it as downright selfish.

When @Morrigan arrived she would also come with further explanation, Keir taking note of the name she spoke before she called them cub killers. His head would turn so he could fully glance at the grey warrior, shocked by the sudden information that he were receiving. So these lions also thought it was okay to kill innocent and defenseless cubs? This was turning into something way more than he thought it would... It would be @Maia's arrival that would cause for Keir to return his full attention on the line of enemies before them, and after several moments would he then let out a guttural snarl before lunging toward @Alaric.

They would battle, Keir doing his damnedest to try to come out on top. But he would feel himself falter, and this would ultimately cause for his defeat. It was a feeling that caused for his body to almost go instantly numb, sides heaving and blood rolling freely from the wounds he had received. With several steps backward would he glance around at his comrades, watching as they, too, were losing their fights. Was this all for nothing now? With a low snarl would his attention shift back to Alaric, narrowed gaze staring him down. "This is not over." The words would be spoken through gritted teeth, tail lashing behind him. No, this was far from over, and this was now more than just a simple battle to try to regain back their home. "Let us retreat! They can have this victory today, but it will be short lived." His words would then call to his allies, giving them one last glance before he himself stalked off and took his leave.

Keir was no longer going to be the lion he once were.

exit Keir.

_{BG — ART — CODE}

The battle engaged. Walpurgis targeted a young and dark female with faded markings @Dysnomia. She was barely mature, buddingly fertile, and she looked like a good prize. Maybe WARRIORS weren't supposed to beat their pretty maidens into the mud but hey, Walpurgis couldn't be blamed for being over-enthusiastic. Once the blood started spilling, more on the enemies' side, and her own victory was assured, Walpurgis just wanted to smash. And she did. Grinning from dripping fangs, the variegated lioness pranced back to @Arjana's side. "Ya see that?" she inquired, bracing herself just enough to puff out her chest. And she looked back to the losing side, all whipped and worn.

"YEAH! SUCK IT!" she crowed, waving her crooked tail high.

She should have known that the simple fact of them being outnumbered and not having enough lions on their side would have been the final nail in their coffin. She fought bravely against @Rielus, but it was not enough: when she hears @Keir's words, she backs down and pulls away. The anger that bubbles in her chest is only added to when she hears the words from @Zoticus. Fiery eyes snap to his white frame, and she bares her teeth at him, her white-tipped tail slashing behind her. Fuck you, She spits as her ears pin against her skull.

Before she leaves, though, she turns to @Alaric. I'll be back for you. The lioness confirms - a promise - before turning away and leaving her home for a final time. She would return, and she would seek revenge on the man that usurped her family from security to uncertainty. No one would get to do that without consequences.

Exit Maia

The faces that arrived to support Keir interested her for in her time in Amaryllis Arjana had met basically all of them in some fashion. She had even hoped the rainforest would be able to make alliances with them, but as they found themselves on opposite factions the orange faced lady found herself doubtful of such a thing. Inwardly she sighed in silence, but outwardly she stood ready to fight next to @Zoticus and @Walpurgis. Soon the fighting started and her opponent was a pale lion who she didn’t know. Or if she did she didn’t remember him.

Finishing her fight as the victor against @Sanson she pulled away from him. A bleeding mess herself as she went to gently nudge Zoticus to make sure he wasn’t too badly hurt. Not that she expected him to be too wounded with his shit-talking going on. Looking from him to Wigglebutt she was pleased. The lioness had won as well and so she nodded her head. “Indeed well fought Wigglebutt.” She praised the maned lioness before reaching her head upwards towards Zoti’s ear to whisper to him. “Perhaps a reward might be in order?” She cooed to her king as she eyed the woman in question. Something could be given or offered for loyalty even if it was a fine piece of meat when they returned home.

code by shelby

It's kind of hilarious when the opposing side starts spitting all sorts of insults and then lose. He didn't much have any clue who was who and what was what. Admittedly, Violarum is there for himself; he only cared for his own victory, and thankfully it was achieved. Tooth and claw with a sizable mature woman renders her defeated.

Now where were the jiggly girls at? He looks almost expectantly to Alaric, sides panting and wounds stinging. Though, he decides in that moment he desires nothing more than a fresh-ish kill, and so he shall wander off to raid the cache once again and fill his belly. It had probably been a whole hour since he had last eaten. Shock horror.

-- exit

_{art by kairi —}

Dammit, she'd failed again. Although, she didn't feel so bad this time considering by the looks of things they had all failed. She ignored the parting shots her opponent sent after her, finding it obvious her opponent was more brawn than brains, and followed Kier and Ransom out of the mire. Honestly, at this point she wasn't even sure she wanted it back. Not that she had anywhere else to go...

She could worry about it later when she'd licked her wounds, she decided. It wasn't like there was any rush to figure things out. Knowing her luck, by the time she decided on a place that would be taken over too.

-exit dysnomia-

Z O T I C U S ♕ X A N T H O S

---

Venom was spat back at him from @Maia , and Zoticus merely smirked his bloodied lips at her. He wanted to taunt her more- maybe even enough so to try and get her to attack at him - but he withheld for it didn't take long before @Arjana took his attention. A low growl of approval vibrated through his chest at the idea she suggested, his head attempting to rub back into her own in a way to comfort him and ensure she was okay. Letting out a low chuff to @Walpurgis , thankful for the lioness' help today, Zoticus nudged Arjana gently, tenderly even, and looked for them to make their exit. His gaze would swipe across the others that remained, the victors whom had also supported Alaric through this time. He would nod to them, appreciative of their aid as well; this wasn't just a win for Alaric, it was a win for them all. And he sure as hell hoped @Roan would remember this day- and remember that once again his side had lost to Zoticus' own.

/ exit /

---

They lined up on either side of the border, both sides eager and ready for the fight. Roan watched as their support filed in, all except for one lioness who had pledged her aid to Kier just a few days ago, but they could not wait for her forever. The Hodari looked to his cousins, @Njal and @Maia, as they joined the line, the latter of which spit venom in the face of their enemy. It was understandable, but there was no denying the strength of the opposition as well. This would not be an easy battle.

Perhaps they had underestimated the new leader and his support as one by one, their uprising was extinguished. Though it was not his place to take back Ecrosia, Roan was a man of his word to aid his cousin however he could. If it was to try and take back the Mire, the Hodari would do just that. They had tried, but they had failed. Surprisingly, the mauve lion would face one of the Ruriks he had met in the passage. The colossal man was a formidable opponent, besting the Obsidian king in combat. Still, it saddened the Hodari to see the male be so easily swayed in his allegiance. Then again, the two males had only been looking for a place to "grow," right? They could likely still do that under the new ruler. Their loyalty had never been to Jafar, after all.

With a loss now evident upon the horizon, Keir would call back the uprising. Defeat was never an easy pill to swallow, but at least they could say they did not give up without a fight. While Keir and Maia both expressed their desires to return again, Roan would offer no such fuel to the fire. He had pledged his aid, and that was exactly as they had received from him. Turning away from their opponents, Roan would seek anyone still around him. "Obsidian is open to any who need healing or a place to stay," the masked man offered knowing that many of them were rogues now without Ecrosia. His tone was kept low, intended for those just within earshot of him as they stepped away from the battle. He'd head back to his home regardless if anyone followed, left with the curiosities over what Keir and Maia might have in mind going forward.

exit Roan

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Base

Taking a pride bred ill-will towards the ambitious one as it seemed. He vaguely recalled the conversation he and Alaric had among the fields not far from here. Consideration would be taken against any further challenges he might issue to a pride, for he didn't wish to bring the Azars down, only build them up. Glacial eyes would observe those who arrived, squared-off with @Maia as fighting broke loose.

Unsure of who these lions even were, he wondered at the history that had caused them to be so unhappy with Alaric's appearance. Still, an oath was an oath, he wouldn't dishonor his word to the new leader of Ecrosia. Claw and fang clashed, he fought against Maia without knowing the true cause behind extending Alaric's reign. Each lion wanted something, this much he understood. As he won against the lioness there was no surge of excitement behind winning as there might have been in another circumstance.

Instead, he merely withdrew from the lioness to observe the actions that came after. Eyes slid across the two lions that the woman approached, spoke to. Interesting, that Alaric had upset a group so thoroughly. Dark form would move across the dirt to draw closer to his friend, neutral face held plain as he would approach. May you keep your title. I should hope to speak to you more on this another time. Here was not the time to discuss with Alaric the questions he held against this particular outbreak of fighting.

Head dipped politely just before he turned to head back to the oasis, curious how Seneca might feel about everything he had learned since his challenge over Wolfbron Bluffs.

-Exit-

CODE • BG

YEAH! They had beaten the bad guys into a pulp and Arjana reassured her that she had definitely bitten the right things this time. Her opponent limped off and Walpurgis flattened her ears and hissed. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to drag her back with her. She wanted to. But nobody else was taking prisoners. Claws ground into the muck, possessive of this place and its inhabitants, wanting all of them like she had wanted the Brook. She didn't understand why their side was leaving. Hadn't they won?

Confused as usual, the bleeding beast lumbered off behind Zoticus and Arjana. Maybe her prize would be at home. But she definitely deserved a prize. Someone soft, plush, and obliging.

-exit