Recluse would silently study the group of lions for a time, very much under the impression, he was not the only one watching from some hiding place. Others openly watched the fight, even spoke amongst each other in tones of concern, confusion, or anger. His interest was limited though, he would not gain much information that he might consider as useful. Who won was of little interest, as he did not know anything about either combatant. He thought to linger still and observe the outcome of the fight, but attention was drawn to the pride territory. While all of this went on, he thought to take advantage of the distraction in order to get a better look at the pride itself, to determine why it had been vacated, and to see if he might fancy it for himself one day.

He would shift carefully, quietly making an exit that he might not draw any attention to himself. Soon enough he would be gone, venturing well out of sight before he might do a bit of snooping.

-exit Recluse-

image by moogle/code by saph

(1/2) +10 Observe a fight - ransom vs. talitha (double exp from site boost)
(1/2) +10 Exercise to gain endurance (not including spars) (double exp from site boost)
(1/2) +10 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (double exp from site boost)
When the call rang out it grasped the pink Viking's attention. She had been taking a well worn trail from Vermeda through the rest of the jungled territories, keeping herself busy by exercising. It helped clear her head and it gave her something else to do other than tend to her herb garden or sit for hours in front of her den. Limbs would redirect her toward Firnen, curious to see what she could learn about Zoticus and the now empty throne he left behind. A flashback of him coming to the Brook's borders made her wonder if Astrid and her mate and newborns were okay. She hadn't heard anything about it since that day so Valkravn could only hope.

Slowing down to a walk once she arrived at the borders would she then push past cautiously, ears twisting forward and the woman staying alert. The sound of fighting as well as a crowd directed her to the area then, gaze landing upon the two figures that were joined in the challenge for the jungle pride. The lioness would find a spot to sit at by herself, observing the wounds already created and watching as they continued to throw blows at one another, curious to see who would become the winner here today.

ART BY RIOT, CODE BY LARS

At first he had been only intrigued by the call that had bellowed out from within the rainforest. It was the steady bustle of attending bodies and scents in the call's wake that stirred up enough curiosity to bring the Frenchman to venture into the territory himself. This country was still new to him, filled with unfamiliar customs and strange beasts.
The large male joined the throng, entering the scene with a sweeping gait, he may be a giant of a man but his presentation was impeccable. Or it is when he is sober, at least.
Naturally, he knows no one, and so is destined to sit alone. The peach lion took this friendlessness in his stride -though he has oft been the life of any party- and was happy to watch the battle and eavesdrop on nearby conversations.

code by corvus / image by kim

A now familiar voice came up beside her and she was already smiling before she looked over at @Alizabeth and registered what she said. "That's true," Dysnomia commented in return. "She's lucky he hasn't just sat on her. Though that would be far less entertaining to watch." She much preferred watching an actual fight, especially for something as serious as a pride. Usually all she got to see was rank challenges, which were far less entertaining. A lot less blood too.

"Would you want to be sovereign of this place or are you seeking to take back the Lagoon?" she asked softly. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that should Ransom win and Alizabeth wanted to come live in the Rainforest that the pale woman would be sovereign beside him. It only made sense on multiple levels. She was his wife, for one, and for another she had served as sovereign before, so she had the experience for it. Dysnomia didn't know how she would feel if Alizabeth said she didn't want to live here, because that being the case she'd be pissed if Ransom didn't offer the position to her, unless he was just going to leave it empty in case she did decide to join them. If he put someone besides either of them in that spot... well she for one would not be pleased.

she does not go far from him, nor does she want to. despite herself, despite knowing full well this was not her heart ( what did she, the sweet lamb, know of violence? what did she know of battles fought with claws and blood? ), she was meant to be here. for some reason, she was meant to stand here before him and bleed and fight and scrap. for this forest, but also for something more. for salvation, maybe. if she hopes to find it, then she will have to look between his teeth. because he rushes forward, obviously intent on pressing close once more. their dance is not yet over, though she wishes it was. she cannot keep backing up forever and so his jaws snap forward, catching her neatly on the left side of her face, above her eye -- gasping as his jaws sink in deep there, catching hold if he wants it. blood wells in his way, pain that intermingles with the damage done to her chest and cheek already. a terrible thing to be sure, and belatedly her ears slide backwards, hoping to get out of his range. in the same motion her right paw rises, claws unsheathed. jerking it upwards with hopefully some force, talitha attempts to grab his face, aiming for his left cheek with spread toes -- hoping to sink her claws in there as deep as she can. for salvation, hopefully. Talitha vs. @Ransom for Firnen Rainforest Round 4 / 5 Hits: Rolling 2d20: 8 + 4 Dodges: Rolling 6d20: 15 + 10 + 2 + 9 + 13 + 6 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 7 + 4 + 20 + 5 + 6

code by irish // art

If she'd desired, the female could have potentially danced around him until he'd collapsed in exhaustion. The pain felt from his broken toes were distracting and made him unbearably slow. But thankfully, Ransom had seemed to catch up with the lioness somehow. Though perhaps she just wanted this over now too.

His teeth had sunk into her flesh, catching above her left eye and Ransom had for a moment, been lost to the sensation and hope of victory that he tries to bite harder at the same spot. But it was a momentary lapse, one that would see him try to loosen his jaws almost immediately whether he was successful or not in this attempt. This was a fight for a pride, not a grudge match. Ransom had little interest in causing her the maximum damage however much his feet might hurt.

Suddenly, he felt her claws at his left cheek, each claw sinking deep, beyond the striped fur and gouging out small talon shaped slithers of bloodied flesh in the process. He'd instantly try to shake her off, trying to move his large skull from side to side as he also attempts to move forward, again. He aims to try and strike her with his bruised chest. Hopeful that she will potentially be unbalanced.

Ransom vs. @Talitha
for Firnen Rainforest
Round 4 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 8 + 6 + 13 + 1 + 19 + 7 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 11 + 7 + 17

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 16 + 5 + 17 + 7

It is -- strange, she thinks. She expects blood and violence, brutality for the sake of it. This land was not hers yet she stands in his way; this land was not his yet she expects him to make it so. Still, his muzzle shies away from her face after only a small moment of clamping down -- it would have been so, so easy for him to clamp down even harder. But he does not. Not really, at least. They press together at first and her heart skips a beat, real fear skittering down her spine as she gasps from the pain. But then -- he let's go. His teeth still catch her as he removes them, though -- blood welling in their wake but certainly not as bad as it could've been. Not as bad as it almost had been. do not be sorry, he had said, even as she feels a flicker of something in her chest, unnerved. Doubt carves out space in her chest, weaseling it's way through the exhaustion and pain to find room. Her paw, however, manages to find purchase on his jawline. She almost does not want to hurt him, not anymore -- but maybe that was part of his plan? Trickery made more sense than sympathy, with such a prize on the line. But then he's moving forward and she does not have much of a choice. With all her strength ( however little of it there is ) talitha hopes to shove him, putting all her body weight behind the paw on his face. Even as he moves forward, she attempts to divert him -- hoping to throw him off course to keep him from doing exactly what he does. They collide once more and something in her chest gives way, a splintering crack as her chest burns. She weaves where she stands, pushed backwards by his might, exhaustion playing a cruel game on her efforts. Talitha vs. @Ransom for Firnen Rainforest Round 5 / 5 Hits: Rolling 2d20: 3 + 5 Dodges: Rolling 6d20: 4 + 8 + 11 + 16 + 7 + 18 Luck: Rolling 5d20: 9 + 14 + 20 + 11 + 16

code by irish // art

Did you get enough love
my little dove?

(1/2) +10 Observe a fight - Ransom v Talitha (double exp)

This was.. an interesting turn of events. Nero had no real desire to live anywhere but the ocean, but he supposed he knew where Zaza would be heading if Ransom managed to secure himself a home. He wondered if the invitation would be extended to him in turn, then wondered if he would ever consider accepting..

Well, that was only something he needed to worry about if Ransom won. The woman he was battling against hardly seemed like a pushover, so he settled in to wait the fight out off to the side. He noted @Alizabeth but didn't want to approach on the off chance he botched her enjoyment of watching her husband battle, so.. he just stayed where he was and watched.

code by tobi

He can sense that they are in the last of it now and is glad, his paws ached with a now dulled but still throbbing pain. She'd proved more difficult to overcome than even Ransom had predicted, and he was no stranger to failure.

As he moved to try and strike her with his chest, he was met with the force of her own as it pushed back against him. The collision reinforced the bruising upon his chest bone, barely softened by the presence of his mane. Her counter move stalled the giant in his attack but did not push him backward. He snarled between breathless gasps, though it was instinctive and not borne from true anger. The dark woman's claws had deepened the hold upon his cheek, despite his attempts to shake her off. He could feel the blood from it run more freely now, dripping to the forest floor.

Enough. He thinks as she seemed to weave a little. The ghoul snapped his blood stained jaws to his left, aiming to try and bite down upon her wrist. If he fails, he's not sure that he can carry on beyond it.

I tried, Alizabeth.

Ransom vs. @Talitha
for Firnen Rainforest
Round 5 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 16 + 15 + 8 + 3 + 7 + 14 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 1 + 14 + 7

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 5 + 13 + 3 + 19

code by corvus

Brynja

+10 - Attend a challenge to assess the wounds (double)
+10 - Collect herbs (double)
+20 - Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (double)

Somewhere in the nearby forest she found some left behind stash of herbs and the like. It did not look like anything too special, maybe someone's private little hide away of stuff or a true herb cache far to the side. She grabbed some already dried herbs in her teeth, not looking too closely at any of it before vacating the area with the prize in her teeth. She drifted towards the fight again, the sound an easy marker to follow and she neared enough to see again. The combatants were still fighting when she emerged but looked much more tired than when she'd left them for her little search. Bodies were showing signs of the end, blood spilled around and she couldn't be sure whose was whose.

But without a horse in the race Brynja was more keen now to leave with the herbs she'd taken from the lands before some new ruler got up in a fuss with her for it...

/exit