With the moon high in the sky, Viridian was swift to stalk through the night.

Time had passed and with it did his plan grow. The seed of taking a home was planted the minute he entered Amaryllis- and now the devil had the perfect opportunity. His wife, @Valencia , wasn't far from him. In fact, she was leading him to these lands. She chose them herself after trespassing and learning just how weak the pride of Vermeda was. How no one stopped her, fought her, or even saw her out. It was cowardly, and Viridian sought to bring the pride to it's knees.

Coming to the borders, the brute grinned madly before he easily stepped over them without a single thought. He devoured the land under him, large paws extending over the terrain as he moved deeper and deeper into their fold. The scent of females was strong here- and it made him wonder... if he won this, just how many wives would he have to him? How many lionesses from the old pride would be his? They would need to be trained, need to be conditioned to his standards- but Valencia could and would handle that when the time came.

For now, he focused on the current task.

Halting in the depths of the Brook, he let his eyes take in the surrounding. Valencia was right, this was a fine land for a home- a place to start his power and rule. Soon, Amaryllis would know of the Amanta bloodline. Soon, they would all know of him.

It is with a deep, thunderous roar that he lets his challenge rise. His chest vibrates, claws unsheathing into the soil under him and excitement pulses through his veins. He was eager to draw blood, eager to fight, and eager to take. He was greedy and he was selfish- power hungry and driven. The thought of ruling enticed him, the thought of battle excited him- and the thought of ruining the homes of others? That was a reward to him. He didn't care what havoc he reeked on others, he only thought about what would get him further, and his bloodline. He was determined this land would be his, the perfect place to spread the Amanta family, and all the lionesses within the Brook would soon be his too.

Viridian vs @Nymeria for Vermeda Brook
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code by corvus

For the first time in her life, Valencia led. She moved towards Vermeda Brook with a steady, purposeful gait, unwavering in her determination this time. The stakes for her were equally high this time as they were the last, she was bringing this man into their home with the goal of taking it. She was directly in the line of fire, but this time he would be at her side. This time it would be worth it.

Valencia had been taken from her family when she was a young child, and her memories of that other life before this one were distant, but she knew that if her mother could see her now, she would be ashamed. There was no telling if she might have turned out differently if she had never been taken by Viridian, but in this lifetime, she reveled in being at the center of the chaos. She was the dark omen, the foreshadowing that had led to this moment.

She led him across the borders, straying far enough into the territory for their intentions to be very clear, before stopping. Her gaze stayed locked on Viridian as he strode past her, stepping into the spotlight. The sound of his roar filled the air, sounding too loud in the still night. From that moment, she watched the horizon, waiting to see who would come. She was the picture of a loyal wife, no hint of remorse on her face.

code by corvus

The dead of night is wrenched apart by a challenging roar that even the naive young girl recognised. It pulled her from sleep so abruptly that she gasped, rolling upright and onto her paws before sleep had really left her. It was the stuff of nightmares anyway when she did wake up and realise what it meant - Vermeda was under attack. Fear erupted in Lena's gut and her thoughts immediately turned to the cubs - Talisa's babes were growing bigger each day but the Nursemaid had caught whispers of new cubs from new members. They were just babies and an uncharacteristic anger welled in her gut.

She moved with shaking paws towards the source of the sound - in the gloom the figures loomed and her heart hammered in her throat. Intruders! It took only a fraction of a moment to realise she recognised both figures - Kyros from the Tundra and the red woman who had trespassed over the border recently. A sick, hot feeling pooled in her stomach now as she faced both of them. You are not welcome here, devils. Her voice was low and a hiss erupted from her lips as she glared. She had found sanctuary here and was terrified it would be taken from her so soon.

+10 Witness an event worthy of making history

code to ivy

He is passing in the night, heavy paws carrying the pale brute nowhere in particular. He has eaten recently, blood staining his dark muzzle and paws, the scent of it rich in the air following in his wake. An antelope, blood still warm on his tongue as he catches first the scent of rogue mixed with pride, and then the sound of a challenge fills his ears. Intrigue guides his step and turns him toward the pride, and is if some spell had been broken he crosses the scent border.

Dark paws leave deep indents in the softened earth, mud clinging to him as he weaves through the foliage following his nose to the potential drama. This challenger has encroached on the pride's safety, endangered their cubs and their elderly, their sick and their wounded. A thrill of pleasure goes through the beast as he sees him, the challenger. Bold and brazen like only a man can be, and foolish.

Slowing Fortune studies the lioness, a small build wrapped in a maroon coat. She is not what he would expect, standing aside and letting him take control. He wonders if she is feeble in someway, sickly perhaps? Pregnant? Even pregnant a Dieudonné woman would fight her own battles. His gaze then flicks to the pride member, she is young, barely an adult but bigger and heavier than the opposing lioness - size of course is not a true indicator of skill in battle.

The pale youth's bravery however does not go unnoticed, she stands off against them, a hiss spilling from her lips and he smiles a toothy grin as he comes up on her flank. Silent and deadly, his own pale fur caught in the light of the moon. "There are no manners anymore mademoiselle, he has come to claim your home but does not even tell you who he is." The brute lowers his head, and flashes his teeth in a hungry snarl, "It would be a great pleasure teaching him these manners, non?" Of course he could not, he understood the rules of challenge, and that only the pride leader could engage him - still it was fun to imagine tearing into the man's hide.

@Lena

code by corvus

Ears flattened as eyes reflected anger, and disbelief. Why did these individuals like the boy of the last time wish to bring chaos? Didn't theyy had respect? Decency? And even calling them in polite when they were the ones entering their home uninvited. "I'll ask you to leave, leave and there shouldn't be any mayor inconvenience." She was no fighter but for her home and family she would. She would fight but not yet, she was always wished to dialogue and give chances first. But if they insisted she would jump.

Placing herself beside @Lena she waited for them to go. To leave their home and leave them alone..

code by corvus

It seemed - as the roar echoed across the land that nothing much had changed. The serpent wound her way towards the trees of the Brook, slinking into the brush prior to her arrival to blend her scent in with that of the pride she intended to slip into. She paused to rub her hide against some of the fallen leaves - rolling to coat her carmine pelt in the musty scent. When she was suitably covered - or as much so as she could manage, Ishak shook herself free of the leaves and debris so as not to attract unwanted attentions and slipped further into the territory. Based on the multitude of scents - this pride was large.. Potentially leading the way for a rather delicious bloodbath in the end. Something she was quite looking forward to. Eyes of green and yellow narrowed, her tail tip flickering as she approached from downwind of the small gathering. Attempting to remain hidden, the sanguine serpent slid her lithe form along the underbrush to find a suitable place to settle in and watch the drama unfold. Ishak is hidden +10 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught +5 Practice fabricating another’s scent

code by koi

ulla promised @Nymeria that she will come to her if trouble stirs. but this is not something ulla can help. if she is the brooks' sovereign, and she was younger and more inclined to throw herself into the fray of battle, then perhaps she could step in with no hesitation. and then, in this moment, she and the man will be locked in combat. she will win and the brook will be safe. glory, glory, to vellen and to her. except the reality is she's old, much too old to thrust herself into an unknown adversary who isn't targeting her or her family. this is a battle that the brook will have to fight, alone. she is not saddened by her inability to help the brook. this is pride life, the way of the lion - though a small part of her still wishes she could. that part is soon trampled by the eagerness to see nymeria in combat and know what sort of woman she is when pushed to the brink. ulla steps lightly, wishing not to make others notice her presence without slipping into the shadows. she finds a spot high enough to watch, but with enough space for others to join.

table by ferus

The call for the Brook came as nothing short of a complete surprise. After ensuring her children were tucked safely away, Jewel left their makeshift home and ventured towards the forests that enclosed the home of the Valour family. The black pelted woman remained silent as she drifted like a shadow into the territory - pausing briefly over the borders before she pressed into the heart of the natives home. A practiced eye looked over the challenger and the lioness standing at his back before she let her gaze wander the others in attendance.

Tails twitched near her hips before she settled to a seated position off to the side and out of the way for when the Valour rose to defend their pride. Jewel remained silent, unfamiliar with many having arrived so far, opting instead to be the silent observer of the goings ons.

---

"Speech"

Code by corvus. Manip by scarf

It was sheer chance that she had been in the fields that night, restocking her badly lacking supplies. Her leg was almost entirely healed, a barely discernible limp the only remnant of the ordeal.

The call so late at night was interesting - but what made it all the more interesting was that she recognized the voice. She would recognize that voice anywhere.

clearly he didn’t get the message.

With a frown she changed her path, gathering the few herbs that she had already collected in case his opponent needed help in the aftermath. The peach pirate also had a desire to see him fall — and if he did not there would be some concern. The beast was not one she would like to see ruling any pride, and Calypso would want nothing more than to free any lionness who ended up stuck there.

At the borders she hesitated briefly but pressed on nonetheless, hoping her trespasses would be forgiven considering the situation. She arrived to a small gathering, a narrowed gaze fixated on the challenger. Her herbs lay at her feet, though it was clear who’s side she was on…

Art by Rabbit | Table code by Zodiac

Emery knows what the call means. Such occurrences had been rare in her homeland, but not unheard of. Her stomach twists at the thought, knowing that Nymeria will have to fight for her crown; and if she loses, everything will change. The noblewoman slips quietly through the trees, stomping down her nerves and forcing a look of neutrality. Never the sort to wear her emotions on her sleeve, Emery's mask is careful and poised as she reaches the others. Set is not yet here, and so she gravitates to the familiar face of @Calypso, unable to bring herself to offer even a word of greeting. Her attention is upon the titan who has trespassed in her home and demanded her queen's throne. She leans onto her haunches beside the accented lioness, just close enough for their shoulders to brush -- and if Calypso is paying attention, she may take notice of the tension in the petite woman's muscles, and the way her claws are grinding into the grass.

image by nyaruh, code by koi