There was screaming in the background. A frantic terror, a mortal fear, as though the monster were already freed from this conflict and already looming over him. Was something else going to snag his meal first? Vermier snarled, peeled flesh released from his jaws, his tongue submerged within the trough of his jaw not even tempted to flicker at the scraps. This anti-romantic entanglement needed to end. He was hungry with bloody saliva dripping from his lower canines. He had watched and waited, a manner of habit rather than nature - by nature he was fiercer and more unrefined than his discipline had taught him to fight. The right paw which had been under his watch returned again to try to strike across his forehead, and Vermier ducked his head to present his hairline instead. The strike painfully tore at the fur, yanking at the roots and leaving some mane hair removed and some uprooted but still entangled within his youthful coiff.

His front claws bent experimentally as the older male tried to bear down on him. He dropped his weight to his haunches, lifting both his front paws to try to strike them twinly against each side of the enemy's temples. His breath exhaled as the other male's shoulder slammed into his chest, causing a moderate amount of bruising. His lips rippled with blood and malice. All this screaming and predation would draw even more unwanted attention. He needed to drive this male off soon or else retreat himself, tending his wounds until another opportunity.

@Caeso vs. Vermier
get your own mcrib
Round 3 / 3

Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 5 + 13 + 1 + 15 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 9 + 4 + 18 + 7 + 3

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 18 + 2 + 8 + 10

CAESO VS. VERMIER FOR DOMINANCE
— RESULTS —

Caeso Hits: 2 + 5 + 4 = 11
Caeso Dodges: 3 + 2 + 3 = 8

Vermier Hits: 2 + 3 + 2 = 7
Vermier Dodges: 4 + 3 + 1 = 8

Caeso Successful Hits: 3
Vermier Successful Hits: -1

CAESO HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR DOMINANCE!

please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first.

Say my name, Say my name, say baby I love you

The other battered his head, but Caeso was confident he had won this fight, his head avoiding the claws but getting the blunt force of his paws. He faced off with him again, limping slightly on his left paw from the skin that had been tore off. He put his body between Vermier and the cubs. A growl erupted from him as his teeth shone in the light. “Leave. Now.” He demanded, ready to block him if he approached the cubs again. He was hoping the already scratched up male would have half a mind and leave. Caeso’s fur bristled along his back, clearly adrenaline was still pumping through his veins. He had yet to look at the children, knowing doing so put them in further danger. Perhaps they had already left, anyways. One could hope.

@Vermier @Spitfire @Kyon

code by corvus

Kimagure was in the area when she heard a child’s voice screaming. Heart squeezing, she picked up the pace to investigate. When Kimagure arrived, she arrived in time to see two men finishing a fight and two familiar cubs. The cubs were not where they belonged. Kimgure darted forward, coming to stand over the cubs, seeing one was stuck.

”Move so I can free him,” she told the boys firmly, unsure if the boy with his face buried in the water could hear her.

Kimagure would reach down and try to push Spitfire away with her muzzle so she could plunge her own muzzle into the water to try to free the boy. She didn’t know who the males were but neither smelled of Caladan Cove.

@Vermier @Kyon @Spitfire @Caeso

Vermier backed up, his skull lowering over his bruised chest. He took in the other's careful step. The wounded paw. It was more important than the confidence in the words. Words were weak even if they were in a proper language. His lips peeled back. Blood mingled along his gums. His, and the taste of the enemy. The cubs continued to squeal, tasty and trapped and easy pickings in shallow water, but the commotion had drawn a great brute of a female. The conditions were no longer favorable. His ears still back, he replied only a lengthy hiss. He felt out the grass carefully as he sidestepped away, keeping his gaze on the male only, not letting his hungry gaze slip to the children. Once he felt he was a safe enough distance, he turned to scurry away properly.

-exit

The evil two headed DEMON BIRD had broken away and Kyon had been too busy flailing with his mossy grave to notice that it was in fact NOT a demon bird, but a pair of lions fighting for... For... HIS BELLY. "SPIT THE MONSTERS GONNA EAT MY BELLY!!" A threat that Moma had instilled upon him at a young age.. He, like his brother was quite food motivated, and the idea of losing his belly and the chance to eat his delicious food terrified him. Suddenly, a shadow came over him and he was free! Launching himself forward, the golden child threw himself at his brother - not caring that he was 'technically' the older.

No, in a world of EVIL CHILD EATING BIRD MONSTERS... they must stick together! Water dropped from his hide, a piece of moss or algae or... something disgusting and green clung to his leg, but he tried simply to CRAWL into his brothers skin to hide so close that he was pressing against him. Eyes of two tones looked up... and up..... and up.. and he made a little whimper sound and crouched down in the water, ears plastered to his skull and his tail tucked between his legs.

"Spit....it's another demon..." The hoarse whisper yell was said as he stared up at Kimagure.. It's vision had to be based on movement as she hadn't eaten them yet!...........right?

@Kimagure @Spitfire @Caeso

Kimagure saw the male turn and leave, leaving only the other one who had intercepted him. The lioness could not be certain of what exactly occurred, but she was sure it wasn’t good. She was brought back into the moment by the child’s voice. She had no idea what the child was rambling about, talking about his belly. She saw how he cringed against the cub she assumed was his brother.

She could already see he was scared, but his hoarse whispers told Kimagure he was afraid of her too. Resisting the urge for her maw to twist into a frown, she softened her face in an attempt to calm the boy so hopefully neither would bolt, casting a glance up at the male still turned away from them. She couldn’t be certain if he was friend or foe yet, but she thought most likely friend.

”It’s alright, I’m going to take you home, to your mother Jewel. I will keep you safe, everything will be okay, let’s go,” she cajoled, voice a little taut with repressed anger that the two were so far from home. Was no one watching them? Did Jewel want to lose her children? The lioness resisted the urge to scold them, she did not want to have to chase either of them when the circumstances were still a little unsure and they did not know her well. Looking at the man, she decided to speak to him. He would surely turn and see them and if she left with the children without speaking to him he might assume she was a threat, as she was a rogue. ”I will escort these children home to their mother, if you would like to come.” Kimagure knew she would be leading him back to the cove, but there would be other lions there. It would be Jewel’s problem if he came back later, Kimagure had already intervened on her children’s behalf by showing herself.

The lioness would try to nudge the children back toward the Cove, coaxed them on if permitted until they stood at the borders. All the while, she would watch out for the male, looking for signs that he may become a threat.

@Kyon @Caeso @Spitfire

[OOC: Jumping here to get this thread closed up so that it can scoot forward!]

He stared at the large lion that came over and tried to get them to move, and when she mentioned their momma's name, Kyon made a strangled whimpering sound before he shifted and tried to adjust so that he could sticker-burr himself to Kimagure's leg rather than trying to crawl beneath his brother. Why? Because he vaguely remembered the silver lady from seeing her with momma, so that HAD to mean that she would take them home, right? Momma would save them from the evil lion bird monsters!

Shivering in his hide, still wet, and with algae wrapped around his leg, the child would allow Kimagure to usher him onward, his back leg - the one with the algae on it occasionally flailing about and kicking behind him in an attempt to dislodge the plant matter that was intent on clinging to his fur.

//Exit with Kima to CC?//

Caeso frowned as he considered the children and Kimagure. Poor cub. At the mention of taking the babes home, he nodded. “Yes- I’ll come along... I’d like to know if their mother happens to know who that lion was...” Someone he needed to warn his pride about, clearly. He would, in due time. When the opportunity presented itself. “I’m just glad the little ones are alright.” He mused, following after the three as they began walking. Though it did make him wonder what mother let their children wander away. Especially when they were still rather young.

@Kimagure @Kyon @Spitfire

-exit Cae with Kima & co-

Say my name, Say my name

When no one is around you, say baby I love you

code by corvus