Adeodatus would have been content alone. Observing the fight but that would not be the case. A woman of golden hues approached and sat next to him causing the demon to glance her way as she asked a question, seeking an answer from him. His focused returned to the two women fighting as he would let an answer rumble from his lips. It seems someone has claimed this abandoned place and another wants it. Surely that was obvious. Was she stupid? Adeodatus didn't know nor did he care to know that answer as he would glance around. There were other Mire lions here, he didn't know half of them but the ones he did know were brought to his attention. However, one man had his attention as he noticed the albino man and a snarl formed. Oh how he wanted to tear into him but something stopped him.

@Willow

The American Nightmare

When night comes creeping My cruel hand will rock you to sleep I'm the American nightmare With American dreams Of countin' the bodies while you count sheep I'm the American nightmare Yeah, I'm living the dream I'm slashing my way through the golden age of the silver scream

code by corvus

"No shit, Sherlock," the lioness replied with a roll of her eyes. "I was asking what happened to the pride. Last time there was acid rain." She got a whiff of Ecrosia and scowled. Once upon a time, they apparently would have been pride mates. Gross. Willow didn't bother to move, though, because her ass was firmly planted onto the ground and that was about all she currently cared about. She stifled a yawn and glanced around, wishing she knew someone else in the crowd. Clearly taking initiative to meet new faces was backfiring. She had half a mind to go up to Fallon.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

midnight mass
a crimson pool so warm and deep
lulls me to an endless sleep

Frequent to the humid edges of the jungles deep, he comes only when he has realized that he has tread farther than before. Once, he had known the markers that stead those borders of the pride, well aware of where they began and end, and was mindful not to tread the line unless under the cover of something much more interesting than he. But there had never been a true desire to trespass, until today.

He also noticed the scent of Aidoneus lingering betwixt the delicate floral notes, the fresh ferns and the broad-leafed plantain shade.

And where there is the scent of blood, there goes the Devorre.

Gauthier arrived to the edges of the newfound fight, marveling at the delicious display of brutality. Two beautiful women - a sight, a sight indeed! The vicious, dark-masked beauty of the voluptuous Maia, and the alluring sagacious ferocity of his favorite luck charm.

Delighted, he came to seat himself shoulder to shoulder with @Amaroq, and took in a deep breath of the sweet jungle air. He observed the effects of humidity on his brother's mane and chuckled, but remained quiet for the sake of his aching jaw.

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Her smart remark caused for his bloodied jewels to land on her golden features again. Though this time he wasn't just a glance but full attention. A smirk formed as he watched her through ashen locks. It looks abandoned. He could admire a woman with a smart tongue. It meant many things in the Devorre's eyes. So, she had some brownie points from him as he would glance back around the area. Bloody jewels spotting the man of the hour and the other. Now he knew more Devorre's were here and not just his own flesh and blood. Oh how the tables would turn through this journey.

@Willow

The American Nightmare

When night comes creeping My cruel hand will rock you to sleep I'm the American nightmare With American dreams Of countin' the bodies while you count sheep I'm the American nightmare Yeah, I'm living the dream I'm slashing my way through the golden age of the silver scream

code by corvus

He is uneasy being here again, but time has passed, and it is important to see who rules where. Even if this was once his home, the kingdom he built and protected for his family, it is no longer his. Roarke has come to accept that, and so forces himself to enter as a spectator. A visitor.

Still, he knows the winding paths even in sleep, and arrives early enough in the battle to see two lionesses fighting for the territory. Few other lions he knows are there, but the Scilla heir is, so the giant lumbers over to @Nero and sits at his side, completely unaware of the tension.

"Know either of the fighters, lad?" He asks quietly, leaning over the smaller lion to spy his friend beside him, and grins thickly in their direction. That one looks a bit jumpy, so Roarke doesn’t bother with a greeting. Instead, he looks around at the gathering crowd.

And notices something… interesting.

"Is there any particular reason we’re being gawked at?"

Well, no, not Roarke - the boy. Nero, Alizabeth's son. And perhaps his friend - @Nazonal - but it's hard to tell.

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

Oh, now this was sad.

Ilithyia had intended to come back and gather a few of the herbs she had left behind when she and the rest of the pride traveled to the plains- but she hadn't expected to run into such a crowd. Her ears flicked back as she came to realize what was happening- how two bodies were in battle over the Rainforest home. Withholding her pout, Ilithyia remained to herself as she softly watched the fight, observing the wounds that were made with a saddened expression. She wished it didn't have to be like this.

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

ART COPYRIGHT IRISH

@Nazonal scared the absolute hell out of him. Surprisingly, when he jumped, it wasn't out of his skin and he managed to maintain some semblance of composure. Her posture concerned him, though, and Nero attempted to gently place his paw on hers in reassurance. "It's alright, Naz. We'll be safe." He smiled down at them fondly, oblivious to the fact they may have been experiencing any turmoil over Ghyslaine. Nero was a man. He was stupid.

His eyes shifted to @Roarke as he arrived. Did he know anyone? "Not the fighters, no." There was a vague familiarity with Aido but not nearly enough to connect the dots to Andal and Seneca. As for the other question, Nero sighed and leaned in closely to Roarke so only he and Nazonal could hear. "The Mire king wants me dead," he said, gesturing subtly towards him with a paw. "My mom killed his wife because his wife attacked her first. He's big mad. I'm pretty sure he murdered my mom afterwards, so we want him dead as well." Nero glanced around, landing on Adeodatos. "That guy hates me because he talked shit and didn't back it up. Nazonal here," he said, grinning at his friend, "kicked his friend's ass, too." He said everything only within earshot of the two next to him. "Anyone else is probably just jealous that I'm hotter than them."

I am a question to the world, not an answer to be heard

table by sentinel / art

No one noticed her when she screamed, so she begins wildly looking around- hunting someone anyone she may recognize… when she sees her. The swamp invader.

Screeching with a loud, “AHHHH” She ran towards her, fully intending on colliding into her if the lioness didn’t move. She didn’t care that she was surrounded by others who could be her friends. Instead, “YOU INVADE ME SWAMP!” She yells. She figures, if everyone else is fighting around here, she may as well join on it.

She doesn’t really aim with paws or teeth, merely tries to barrel into the other lioness- really just trying to chase her off with her loud and incessant yelling.

@Nazonal

coded by flea + background credit

i'm ready to suffer the sea +5 Leave a trail of confusing tracks +5 Explore a new territory and find something useful +5 Witness drama between prides the air presses tight here, humid now without the threat of fires. the flames had all burnt out and left behind the typical jungle humidity; his fur sticks to his frame, uncomfortable as it is pressing. the others do not seem to mind, though. the sounds of fighting fill his ears and the jungle and he heads towards them, careful to loop through the trees and back once more. his home upon the sands is not exactly sheltered, but still he'd prefer not to lead someone straight to his door. here, the grass bothers his nose as usual and ears tilt backward, fixed firmly to his skull as he steps into the opening -- curious as to the nonsense that was happening now. another fight rages and he cannot help but remember challenges long since passed -- if he squints, perhaps he can see saga's figure perched atop a stump, or find the tracks calypso paced into the dirt. he does not look, though, not wanting to be disappointed at whatever he might see. instead, he takes a spot off to the side -- beneath the boroughs of a particularly large tree. a good landmark to keep in mind should he ever have need to come back here, and watches the fight.

code // art // do not use without permission

And so he listens as the heir explains the situation - the tension Roarke can feel thick and heavy in the air is very real. He’d had his own run in with the Mire king, albeit brief. "He and his pride injured a boy, my nephew. He nearly died. I would not put it past them to murder your mother." He murmurs softly, so that @Nero and his friend could hear, but no other.

There’s another lion that Nero points out, and Roarke’s gaze lands on the one pointed at only for a second. He snorts. "Small men do not take defeat easily. Watch your back around him." It’s probably not advice Nero needs, yet Roarke says it all the same. And as for the last comment - "It is a heavy burden we both bear," with a thin grin.

But then some screaming banshee comes from the shadows, intent on Nero’s friend. "Heads up," the giant rumbles, nodding toward @Marja as she barrels toward @Nazonal - he, on Nero’s other side, wouldn’t be able to move to intercept the attack fast enough and so leaves it to the heir and his friend to deal with while he remains as backup.

table by ferus, art by ale-tie