What was this? Her favorite not-mother Slaine was calling them to gather? Well, Ottilie (her favorite child, as she liked to think of herself) was never going to skip out! She arrives to see many gathered, with only but a few familiar to the plum princess. Who the hell were those toddlers? She had little time to pay attention to Slaine or the rabbits before her mind was occupied with @Vulferam being confronted by... what was that thing playing at? @Rusalka, who was clearly still a waddling baby, didn't seem to know her place and was carelessly nipping at Vulferam, trying to prove that she's better. It made Ottilie's blood boil. Even she didn't dare to mess around with her older brother! And so without much ado, the girl sprung into action. Her legs devoured the distance between herself and where Rusalka stood, trying to come from her unoccupied side. The kid was tiny in comparison to the Princess, and so she attempted to wrap her jaws across the baby's nape, trying to pick it up in the air.

this vessel is a lie

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Rusalka heard the thundering steps as the larger plum cub ran at her, she twisted and snarled, her smaller body aiding in making her a wild slippery animal, the older cubs had managed to grab on to the little demon, but becayse of the squirming wild cat, instead of the nape, Rusalka was grabbed by the side, she yowled, both from pain and anger, attempting to sink her claws in anywhere she could, hissing and spitting while snapping her jaws at the cubs face.

The child didn't know size difference, and so she fought with the fury of all she had in her, making as loud of a racket as she could, she was brave atleast, and fucking mean when she needed to be. Crazy little fucker was psychotic too apparently, she was loud enough though that her mother would definitely have heard and one angry lioness would be heading that way.

code by corvus

the sai is the embodiment of a shadow, conforming to the quiet background as she looms within her kin’s peripherals. and even as the accented summons of the mire queen plead for her attendance, she is hesitant with the desire to maintain orbit about her frail sister. but, much to mars’ great appeasement, bordy is keen upon heeding this call, and her predicament vanishes as both duties combine to one. no sacrifices would be required of her today, so it seems, and she moves to follow in her sibling’s footsteps and towards the call.

the tantalizing scent of rabbit wafts from the crowd’s epicenter as they approach, and the reason as to why becomes apparent with bordy’s unexpected protest. brows furrow with shock as her focus snaps to her indignant sister, stomach lurching with unease as she awaits the backlash to such bold insults. and, just as anticipated, @Bordeaux garners unwanted attention from a much-more imposing peer, and mars' gaze is unwavering as he narrows in towards her rear with malicious intent.

with the disappearance of tina, mars can take no chances on her remaining sibling, and she is quick to respond to the threat this strange youth poses. bolting forth, she attempts to wedge herself between her delicate sister and @Vulferam, silent despite her loud and daring display. there is little emotion to color the countenance she turns upon the dark prince, but the gleam of her mismatched stare speaks volumes as to her distaste: don't.

stifle grief and murder uncertainty; they’re watching you.

long have her eyes sought the floor in the aftermath of trauma, long have her shoulders slumped beneath the weight of great sorrow. but there are whispers on winter winds that remind her of a tiara slipped askew, of silken robes that soil as they drag across the earth without a care. and if the princess trains her focus keenly enough, the words seem to billow in mother’s familiar soprano, begging for consideration.

the peitho were not so foolish as to ignore.

it is innate: the manner in which she exudes elegance. but there is a newfound bounce in her stride as she heeds the summons for mire children, acknowledging the significance of first impressions with unmet peers. and as she descends upon the growing crowd with teeming curiosity – a portrait of unwavering confidence – she is met with the unbridled (but expected) chaos of conflict and childish antics. amusement claims her every thought as she settles amongst the stands with a wandering gaze, reclining neatly within a generous cushion of personal space. silent but critical in her observation, plastering a pleasant smile upon a visage that masks her increasing disdain for her peers’ immaturity._{BG — ART — CODE}

As he so often does, the ebony prince answers the call at his own pace, slow to abandon what pursuits had kept him so occupied in favor of whatever event might require the presence of all of Ecrosia's youth. Hubert can't say that he's a fan of all the extra pipsqueaks that seemed to have popped up from the mud overnight - especially the ones that had claimed space in Vater's den not so long ago. Weren't there enough royals to compete with already?

Even so, the young Starke would eventually slink his way through the shadows towards the sound of 'mother' Slaine's voice, emerging from the murky undergrowth to lay verdant eyes upon the chaos unfolding within the clearing. Slaine and the seemingly petrified rabbits at her feet hold his attention for only a moment before the squabble between his siblings and one of the irritating newcomers piques his interest.

He doesn't know precisely what the altercation is about, but it hardly matters - if there is a side to be picked, he'll choose @Vulferam and @Ottilie over those pathetically small scraps of fur any day. He would move to approach the furiously flailing form of @Rusalka currently captured in his sister's unyielding jaws, clicking his own teeth sharply in the air in front of the yowling girl's face. "Shut it. We won't catch anything if you scare them all away with that screeching." Not that Slaine was likely to let any of the rabbits slip away so easily, but that was besides the point. 'Just accept your place, little girl.'

code / artwork

She wanders in, a little late to the chaotic party unfolding around Slaine. She's not the only Peitho here, her sister @Euralie also having just slipped in moments before. She and her siblings are still dealing with the grief of their mother's passing, but the ache grows duller eith each week that passes. The wound will heal eventually. Leaving behind and ugly scar that will become a part of who Teddy is.

She is silent and watchful, ears pricked for the sound of her friend Askan the crow. He watches the proceedings from a distance, perched on a limb in the shadows of the trees, away from the prying eyes of the other Mire lions. As several cubs begin to scuffle he ruffles his feathers and lets out an uneasy caw - something Teddy is learning means possible danger. She shakes her head, knowing he can see her. There is no danger from the idiotic cubs who feel the need to fight each other.

She approaches the only familiar face, her sister, and brushes against the red and white cub with her fur as she takes a seat beside her silently. It is a comfort to be near her siblings. Teddy seems to internalize her grief and maintain a mask of neutrality and stoicism, but inside she is a whirling mass of emotions; grief, anger, confusion, uncertainty. All melding together in a torrent of feeling she does her best to keep bottled inside.

One by one the younglings arrive, just as Caillen is finishing up with the rabbits.

But then chaos descends. One young child claims them cruel, shouting out an insult toward the queen's eldest daughter. Others began to tussle, some her own adopted children under Alaric.
For a moment, the clanswoman was flabbergasted by the scene. And yet, somewhat impressed. The mire horde is a lively one, much livelier than anticipated.

A deft paw snatches out to catch @Varujan just before the child falls into the rabbit pit. She tried to lift the youngling and place him at her feet.

"Right!" The queen bellowed, casting her sharp gaze across the rambunctious group. "Ye willnae fight eachother. @Ottilie, put the bairn down. Th' babes tha' are less than six month mustnae leave this clearing." The lioness stood up and moved toward the caged rabbits.
"Save yer energies fer the hunt. Many o' ye will nae succeed, but failure is practise fer success. Stay safe an' help yer kin." With that, the queen reached into the hole with her claws and produced a wriggling, bucking rabbit. She set it loose on the floor and after a second of hesitancy, the rabbit skittered off across the dirt. She brought out two more, setting them down and watching the youngest of the group as the rabbits tried to scatter.

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

Rusalka used Slaines interruption as a distraction, she attempted one last slash at @Ottilie muzzle before wiggling free and under the Abyss coated woman, she peaked from under Slaine's legs, her eyes glowering at the royal pricks. She didn't care who their father was, she disliked them, her tiny body was filled with rage, but she wouldn't always be tiny. And Ottilie wouldn't always have her daddys shadow to back her up.

Before she could plot anymore, Slaine began producing the rabbit kits, they skittered away, and Rusalka forgot about Alarics spawn as she ran as quickly as she could after one rabbit, keeping Bordeaux's outburst in her mind.

code by corvus

He did not fail to notice that his sister was quick to take off after a rabbit. He was immediately hot on her heels, his eyes burning with the need to be better than her - than everyone else here. Of course, at one month old that was hardly going to happen, but telling a Rike child that was like telling a mountain to move out of the way.

A growl rumbled in his chest; hardly threatening and aimed at @Rusalka. He caught up to her. Though he was clumsy his larger size gave him the chance to eat up distance a little faster than his sister did. He just had to stretch his legs a little bit and he was on her heels. With a ferocious growl squeak he leaped at her, aiming to land on her hind end and bring her down so she couldn't have the rabbit.

It would be his or it would be no one's.

Ottilie's jaws manage to snap at @Rusalka's side, not her nape, and she attempts to keep her grip intact. @Hubert comes close to snap at the wailing babe, and the plum princess smirks darkly at his words. What a pathetic little runt! Well, if she didn't know her place, she will definitely learn it today! Ottie attempts to swing the girl in her paws, evidently getting ready to yeet her into the pit with rabbits. "Let's see who's gonna be a rabbit today!" She yells muffled words and -- "Right!" Slaine's voice interrupts her, and in the distraction the kid slips from Ottie's grip. Growling, she watched the child waddle away, her mind split between chasing after Rusalka and obeying not-mother's orders. Dammit! A pout unfit for a princess twists her face. She sits down on her butt with an audible hmph! at the proposition that these things are her kin and that they must help eachother. As if! They were but lowly peasants! As the blue Sovereign set down a rabbit, she watched the two runts squabble over it. @Ulrich was acting as a welcome distraction as Ottilie sought to chase after the rabbit. Once close enough, she would try and snap at the prey's neck.

this vessel is a lie

code // art // do not use without permission