The familiar scent of famille called to her from this location. Alice had left to try and find her siblings to bring them along, as well as some of her children, but they were still too far behind and lingering too far from this place might prompt her to lose it. Returning had been the best course of action. So she watched from afar, studying those who carried her name, determining whether they were worthy or not. For a brief time she had been subject to a display of their prowess. It had been impressive, but not astounding.

Slithering along the border of the pridelands, Alice debated dancing past, disregarding anything that might keep her out. For awhile she obeyed this silent command, but eventually she became bored of it and slipped within the red territory of the bluffs with a coo and a siren call, "Je suis arrivé! I've arrived! Yes, and she was here to make a mark and help bring the Godborn back to glory, where they belonged. Further and further did she tread, fully expecting to be met with hungry teeth and flashing talons.

There was a different scent at the border today, though one that didn't particularly smell foreign. Still, it was different and familiar all at the same time. She smelled like family, and Axelle felt like she should know this lioness. The scent was stabbing at her brain as she approached, only realizing why the familiarity was biting at her when the trespasser caught her eyes... the same eyes that she had.

"Maman! Vous êtes ici!" Axelle exclaimed, quickly closing the distance between she and Alice. Would Alice remember her own daughter, now all grown up? In a different place, perhaps, with a new pride? Or maybe her mother would not recognize her for all that she's changed. "Mais pourquoi êtes-vous intrus? Amara ne va pas aimer ça." Albeit she was happy to finally see Alice, and as much as she wanted to show Amara see this is my mom, she was now conflicted because she was already on Wolfbron lands without being invited.

---

she's not yet titled, but she's a recent joinee :) @Alice

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Consistently hounding the border proves handy sometimes. Usually it's an uneventful affair, some lonesome trot about this or that section of the pride's territory. Invasion wasn't common, but it's occurred enough in Ursula's relatively short life that she's diligent with her rounds. By now the course is known, familiar, worn into her bones, and she works it efficiently.

That rhino trot of hers', however, slows drastically when she comes across an unfamiliar scent. Lion, one she doesn't recognize, and for a moment her eyes slice the landscape, seeking them. There's no one here, no stranger waiting to be greeted. Refocusing on smell, nostrils quivering, tongue curling, she drops her gaze, studying the crossed border with interest.

For a moment it seems the huntress is merely curious, like she's inspecting a pig's trail. But the longer she lingers, the more her agitation shows, grows. Dark, so very nearly black, the plume of her tail flicks violently from side to side, and there's tension bunching the thick muscles of her shoulders. She's sick of this shit. Been sick of it for a while. Why don't any of these islanders know proper manners?

Moving deeper into the Bluffs, Ursula tracks this poor unfortunate soul, neck low, stocky body churning away at the distance. Ears instinctively lay to her neck, and there's a wicked scowl tightening the creases of her face. Before very long (lucky for the intruder) dull eyes find quite easily palomino flesh, alongside none other than their newest joinee. Infiltration hasn't ever occurred to Ursula, not before this moment.

Does that mean @Axelle is a traitor? Standing there speculating motives seems pointless to the Bezra. Actions speak loud enough for the deaf lioness to understand, and Alice's blatant disrespect cannot go unpunished. It's as Amara, and Kieran, and Vermier taught her, back when she'd been little over a year old. If they step into our land, they owe us blood.

Not quite sprinting, more of a charge, the spotted huntress moves in quietly, the heavy shuffle of her paws the only noise. It's her goal to approach Alice directly, from a side where Axelle is not in the way. Though Ursula has a bone to pick with that one too, for now she gets a pass because at least she'd waited at the border. Amara had given her a pass, personally. Surely she'd be around soon to help handle this, anyhow.

Attempting to clash with the slightly smaller Alice, Ursula orients her own body so the impact is mostly to her own chest. Mouth gaping, she intends also to land a bite somewhere meaty (not that half-mane), hoping to secure a hold as quickly as possible. She'll drag the bitch out of Wolfbron, if need be. Simultaneously, her left forelimb raises just a little, aiming to reach forward and swipe at the other woman's closest ankle/lower limb. All the while she's slightly crouched, tail coiled against her thigh, a predator doing what comes natural.

Ursula vs @Alice
Get The Fuck Out/Minor Maim
Round One of Five

Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 8 + 2 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 5 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 7 + 16 + 8

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 13 + 2 + 14 + 19

coded by flea + background credit

Much had changed in the months passing his absence. New faces had appeared among the fold, and familiar faces had aged. Amara and Vermier had both held their pride steadfast, and Kieran was at least thankful for that surrender; their time in the Lagoon had proven tumultuous and ruinous, and left them nearly homeless until the Bluffs came into their possession. It seemed the mountain fortress had not made its members any less protective of their borders, however, and even those who spoke their familiar tongue were not so soon to escape their wrath. Kieran remembers with almost warm familiarity his very first meeting at the borders so long ago, and how he, too, had almost lost an eye or tongue to Amara and her subordinates.

@Alice was bold to cross the borders, and Kieran might have found it amusing had it not been his own territory. But before he could ever arrive, @Ursula was already rushing forward in a focused ambush, and an unfamiliar @Axelle lingered nearby, smelling of the Bluffs and clearly concerned for the stranger who had crossed into their territory. One word did not slip the fringe of his ears, however: Maman! Kieran slithered up behind the young woman, his larger form hovering over hers with a cold curiosity. “Maman?” he repeated in a croon, his icy gaze glowering down at the lioness as the other two engaged brutally in the background, “Dangereux de sa part de traverser la frontière de manière si flagrante, non?”

Alice awaits, a Queen and a Goddess awaiting her subjects. She is a Matriarch in her own right, and she had no idea if the heathens of these lands had one, but she would soon take up that mantle. If not willingly, then by force. She was not so versed in the ways of battle, but she had other ways of getting rid of enemies. A familiar voice, though older it seems, calls out to her. She croons, smiling softly in a knowing manner.

"Intrus? Mon amour, c'est ma famille. Ma maison." Intrude? My love, this is my family. My home. There is confusion on her face, as the golden woman doesn't understand how she's intruding. Family is family. For a moment she is still, quietly observing her child with a glow in her eyes. "Comme tu es devenu beau. Un bijou." How beautiful you have become. A jewel. Before she can say much else or embrace her child, a sound catches her attention. Ear flicks, turning to look toward Ursula as she charges forward.

It is the only warning she gets as the other collides with her roughly, jaws snapping for her. The woman is calm, eerily so, she does not snarl, or growl. She makes no noise as the teeth of her opponent land, the brunt of her charge causes a rough expulsion of air from her nostrils, but still no sound. A glint comes alive in her eyes, murderous intent bleeding from their depths. A smile curves lips even as those teeth bite, but before Ursula can obtain a grip, Alice shifts swiftly, jerking away as the other's forelimb swipes and cuts into her ankle.

Flesh tears away with her retreating form at both her neck and ankle, but almost immediately does Alice turn her face and launch herself at the lowered opponent. Forelimbs attempt to wrap around Ursula's head, jaws simultaneously aiming to try and rip up her face. Eyes, nose, lips. Anything she could get. Teeth, sharp and hungry for the one thing pumping heavily in Ursula's veins. Blood. Give it to me. All of it.. She was going to drink and drink, feast tonight.

Alice vs. @Ursula
For Minor Maim
1 / 5

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 1 + 15 + 17 + 6 + 3 + 12

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 17 + 13 + 11 + 7

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 4 + 15 + 3 + 18

As intended, she collides with her opponent without obstruction, skin blossoming with the painful promise of superficial bruising. Ursula feels the brief connection of claws and teeth in the others' skin, too, wetting them with saccharine fluid. Immediately, though, her victim is wrenching herself away. The Bezra experiences a sharp flash of disappointment, irked that she did not succeed in securing the desired hold, but it won't deter her from the assault.

Retaliation comes quickly, and the spotted woman drives forward to meet it. As the palomino reaches up with both limbs, Ursula is stepping into the embrace, the slice of claws along her neck an adrenaline-inducing sensation. Teeth, too, damage the skin of her face, carving shallow lacerations across the multi-colored surface. With a wide-open muzzle, the Bluffs lioness bites back, going mouth-to-mouth with the intention of returning the same damage she's being given. Simultaneous to this, she again uses her left forelimb to reach out and up, seeking to slice her claws up the other's belly and chest from below.

Ursula vs @Alice
Get The Fuck Out/Minor Maim
Round Two of Five

Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 12 + 1 + 15 + 6 + 5 + 20 + 17

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 11 + 15 + 1

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 18 + 16 + 6 + 19

coded by flea + background credit

Amara is wounded and it is what spares Alice from Amara getting to her first. She moves into the group as @Ursula drives into the fight, protecting the lands as Amara has always asked of her. A small smile rolls over her lips before its gone and she turns her attention to @Axelle while she comes to stand next to @Kieran, her tail flicking over his ankles. Is she stupid or looking to test things?* Amara growled. She didn't care if this was her mother and a family member, respect was key and this wasn't a good place to start from. She is Lorelie's line.* She tells Kieran without removing her golden gaze from the younger female. Amara trusted Ursula to handle her end of things and there was no use in trying to yell at her to get her to back down, she wouldn't be able to hear any of it and Amara wasn't one to waste her time on anything that was pointless. She would let the mother, Alice, to figure things out on her own for now. Punishment for not respecting her boundaries. the lost art of murder

code // art // do not use without permission

The frenzy begins and Alice is starving. The sweet taste of blood on her tongue is a divine, blessed thing and she lets out a rumbling growl in delight. Eyes roll bac as she briefly tries to lick the wounds she'd made blossom to life. That was, until her opponent came flying face first at her, attempting to meet her jaws in a dangerous, delicious dance.

In an attempt to prevent them from locking jaws, Alice's own muzzle retreats, receiving stinging kisses from those teeth along her nose and within the top of her mouth, near her teeth. The blood filled her mouth and made her cackle in glee. Right paw lifts in an attempt to swing and try to roughly slap Ursula on the left side of her face, talons exposed.

This was done in a downwards motion so her retreating form could pull back as she was attacking, wanting to lower her upper body back down to the earth. The claws attempting to drag along her belly and chest manage to caress and slice up the lower and upper parts of her chest as she's retreating. She ignores the pain - only focused on the pleasure of this encounter. Head lowers slightly, jaws attempting to snap and grab viciously for the offending paw and twist it painfully.

Alizabeth vs. @Ursula
For Minor Maim
2 / 5

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 6 + 13 + 5 + 8 + 15 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 16 + 2 + 5 + 10 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 1 + 19 + 12 + 3

Axelle knew that the lions in the mountains were testy about trespassers, and while she was so excited to see that her mother had come, she also knew that... all of it would be complicated for her ignoring the borderline. Her mother parted her jaws, speaking to her in French. Kinder words were spoken, but not before the tides changed drastically.

As Axelle was about to speak, @Ursula came charging passed her, smashing into @Alice. Taking a few steps back, Axelle couldn't deny that she assumed someone would come for her; though, she couldn't bring herself to attack her own mother. She would have confronted her about it, given the moment, but everything happened so fast that the opportunity was snatched from her.

Axelle took a few more steps back, allowing the two lionesses to fight it out. Another lion moved towards her, taunting her in a crooning voice. "Très," Axelle sighed, not looking at the one who spoke to her. She kind of had a feeling that her mother's actions today would come bite her in the ass later, and she was slightly angered with Alice for it.

She turned, noting @Amara standing beside @Kieren who lingered by her. She let her gaze linger on her, wondering if the stoic lioness would turn toward her. "Toutes mes excuses, Amara. J'allais l'escorter." Not that Axelle thought the woman would understand not wanting to straight up attack her own mother. Either way, she felt like she was in some shit because of this.

---

sorry for the delay with my reply!

Potential XP:
assassin
+10 Catch an intruder

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nimble steps pulled the parisian forward, her lips twisted into a silent snarl as she came upon the vibrant scene splayed out before her. in all truth, she had little knowledge of what had prompted such an unraveling, or who the blonde trespasser even was -- but it was clear enough that there was some sort of relation here, some sort of twisted turn of fate that had finally brought them all together. life was rarely simple, however, and so it would be best for cassine to just continue to expect the unexpected, for chaos and disruption always had a fickle way of finding them.

unfortunately for cassine, she had arrived too late to personally partake in any of the fun, but would still enjoy watching @Ursula defend their home, and their family, against the blatant disregard of their borders. and so she said nothing as she made her approach, hackles raised in idly agitation as she looked to hover nearest to @Amara's side, taking note of @Kieran's unexpected return and the new shape of @axelle amongst them. they would get answers soon enough, surely -- but, first, ursula would make a point of proving the prowess and strength of the bluffs.

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