As expected, Gauthier emerges victorious. Louve knows she should be thrilled -- overjoyed, even -- for certainly her mother wastes no time in securing a possible alliance. Or at least mentioning the need to discuss one. But Louve? There is only frustration at first, and a pang of loss that she does not entirely understand. That day by the sea had whispered promises to the young Heiress; she knows, now, that they were only in her mind. Gauthier shuts down the talk of politics and @Apollinaire is next to speak up, offering congratulations and mention of a feast. At this her ears perk, her interest snagged, and the first hint of a grin catches at her lips. Louve says nothing, though, waiting only until she can catch the new King's eye and dip her nose in a silent show of support. Then, because she cannot make sense of how she is truly feeling, the mottled princess departs. -exit-

code by Cloudy | art by Yumpy

Oleander hadn't even considered the results of the fight when he had spoken of the Lagoon. He was only thinking of how it had once been a Dieudonné stronghold. That was the place that they had first settled when coming. It had been home before the Bluffs had become home. So to Oleander that made the Lagoon rightfully theirs.

Oleander didn't really care about prisoners and politics or anything that related to that. It was a woman's job to think and not his. At least that is what he had been told by Vermier as he was growing up.

That was why he let them talk without him adding more to the conversation and watched the fight instead. It would seem that the Bluffs was about to lose another lion yet would add one more pride to their alliance. At least it was assumed that previous Bluffs members would align their prides with the Bluffs still.

This fight didn't branch out into others. All to be seen here already was. With just a dip of his head did Ole get up and head off. Nothing to report as Amara was already there to witness it all.

Oleander Exits

Others from another pride, Wolfbron Bluffs, seemed already solidified as allies to the newly risen king. Fulvous eyes glanced around thoughtfully, wondering at @Alaric's position in everything. She'd not truly visited the political realm of Ecrosia Mire, though she took Gauthier's crowning with Alaric's approval to mean that majority of those gathered were allied. Whatever the case might be, there were new foundations to be laid today.

Another woman spoke of visions, coaxing a raised brow from her as she watched Hadiya converse with Alaric. So well were the what king's connection spun, she wondered at his skill with getting around. Wondered at how many of the women he seemed to attract had been bedded. Men seemed that way, easily fooled into a tussle in bed, then gone the next day with little care behind their treacherous ways. Let him go search for whatever the other woman sought, there was no real draw to aid either of them. I hope you find who you're looking for. Dismissing the two, she stood to walk toward the newly crowned king, deep in conversation with those of the bluffs.

Congratulations, she spoke, not miffed by the attention many others gave the ruddy beast. I'd like to arrange a meeting within your realm, should it please you. Though she held no important ranks within the pride she currently found herself residing, there might be a wish to change her place of residence after seeing the great @Gauthier rise to power. Serpentine as she may be, there was no need to truly press the woman for loyalty to the Devorre titan.

ART ♣ CODE

(2/2) +5 Sunbathe or take a nap
Artemisia would keep to where she sat, watching as many others came after her to wait and see the outcome of this challenge. Folded ears would do their impression of perking up and twisting forward to listen to the chatter all around her, the buzz of it all trying to lure her out from her safety. With an inward hiss to herself would she shake those thoughts out of her head, crimson eyes now training themselves back to the two males. It wouldn't take long, though, and the dark brown lion would be victorious.

An arch of a brow as she watched him, listening to the words he spoke loudly to the crowd. What he said didn't really appeal to the earthen woman, and with a shrug of her shoulders would she follow the masses out and away, taking the same path as she did to get here. She wanted to resume her resting spot upon the rock she were previously stationed on, and once she reached it would she again sprawl herself out and begin to drink in what was left of the sun's rays, letting out a soft sigh as she slipped into a light nap.

exit Artemisia.

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

Alaric is not convinced that staying in the caverns would be best for @Hadiya but he knows he cannot argue without consequence. To mock her reach for visions when they could do proper searching would have been a fools errand, no matter what he might think of them personally. The alliance with her family continued to be important, for now, and looking after the young girl was in his best interest.

"Of course. The offer stands for whenever you might wish to take it." Hopefully before she managed to starve herself to death in the caverns.

"Many cubs live in the Mire. Your sister is welcome to join us while you search." Again, not entirely pleased by the thought of taking on another mouth to feed, but if she was small it wasn't like it would be much food. The Mire was thriving, after all, and he would hope that if the roles were reversed Sahir would have pressed the same offer.

@Gunnhildr departs, then, and he watches her move towards Gauthier. Green eyes narrow ever so slightly, suspicious of her intentions, but his focus returns to Hadiya quickly enough. Concerns for another time, he reminds himself. "Yes, lets," he agrees at her suggestion to sweep the beach once more, even if he doubted very much that they would find anything. If Sahir and the rest were nearby surely they would have been drawn by the commotion... Tucking those thoughts down he gave a final parting nod to any paying attention and left with the girl.

-exit-

coding and art by dusk

Bordeaux would watch after the plum cubs, one of which seemed like most others in size, the other being almost as small as she was. How she had been less of a coward she might have said hello, if only because she rarely got to be at eye level with anyone. Even full grown, she knew she would never catch up to her sister, though perhaps she would catch up with her mother.

As everyone seemed to be leaving, she supposed it was time for her to be on her way too. She would gather back up her various plants that had been tucked away, adding additional ones that she had just tested. One leafy sprig had left an unpleasant taste in her mouth, another make her nose itch. That they had any effect at all made her wish to take them back with her and learn their purpose from her mother.

/exit Bordeaux

Unfortunately, the talk of politics must be delayed for the newly throned ally was of much-needed rest. The metallic aroma of blood spoke volumes of the ferocity of the battle, and lured the cannibal into a spiral of desire. Gauthier only denied Amara's offer of a healer. Was he seeking to play it tough? Did he have a different healer in mind? Apollinaire wouldn't delve too deep into such assumptions, for they interested him little.

Gauthier did not, however, deny Apollinaire's proposition to feast in celebration of Caladan's win. He shot the Dieudonne man a grin, which pleased the frenchman. A feast of grand tastes! He just couldn't wait! The obnoxious yells of a madwoman in the background were disregarded save for a flick of a mocha ear, until Gauthier spoke. Apollinaire nodded, smiling courteously. When the group began to depart, with Louve at the lead, so did the heathen.

exit

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

As processions wore down and the crowd began to disperse (even from those lofty shadows wherein shrugged seemingly only palm leaf) the wiles of exhaustion swung in from the loss of adrenaline, seething down through the route of his veins. The cold air of what shall be smoothed on the dawn of the tide, the setting sun beneath the haze of grey skies. And chatter quelled, the congratulations of a new shining crown given in to lesser scrutinies.

Gauthier's brow raised as Gunnhildr found him with an offer for a meeting, casting a glance over Alaric for a moment, supposing the Mire was her ward. An alliance perhaps? But oh, he did owe her a finer feast than the scraggly hares they had found in the thick of that odd winter, and perhaps this was her due. He nodded back to her. I look forward to it, he answered evenly, seeing her off.

Beyond them a new kingdom waited, and he would not test its patience.

exit.

+10 Win a fight
+10 Participate in a pride challenge
+10 Successfully wound another character in a fight

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Content within the words received from the great @Gauthier there is a twitch of her tail at the quick dismissal. A man's victory was always padded by the approval and fawning of women afterward, leaving her with little to impress with. Tail flicked behind her, a warning of the short temper that always remained inches from exposing itself. Head turned to peer at the wheat king who'd left the thick scar beneath her left eye, pulling the socket down slightly so that she looked nearly ghastly. No longer the beautiful witch she once was. Calculations of the king's health seemed to mull around her mind in a thickness that cultivated reason to plant wicked seeds deep within the marshland they lived within. She wanted to create suffering for Alaric, to burden him with her presence until he released the grasp he held for holding the pride land. Perhaps, instead of giving Gauthier the good word of her current royal's standings there could be the arrangement of daggers in one's back. Seemed suitable enough. Pleased with the conception of downfall for the Starke she moved back toward the mire, content to plot revenge. /exit gunnhildr

ART ♣ CODE