ooc note: louve is granting ludivine mercy.


Quickly it devolves in to a bloody standoff. Her claws slice through flesh as if it were butter, her teeth clamp down and threaten mobility. Louve wishes to tear her spine from her body, but Ludivine does not give in so easily.

Her teeth are vicious, lacerating the flesh of Louve's belly, cracking bone before she relents. Our mottled wolf feels the pressure build, build, build before the SNAP echoes across the cracked-stone ground.

For a second she thinks she might black out, but she clenches her jaws and flexes her claws and tastes victory when her opponent slacks beneath the loss of blood. Ludivine falls limp beneath her claws and Louve tears away, a mad grin plastered across her face.

Bloodied and broken she sways, then turns to the crowd that had come to witness her ascension. Despite the weakness that threatens her limbs she pulls herself up, bleeding heavily, clenching her teeth against the stab of pain from her cracked sternum.

"Est-ce que quelqu'un d'autre voudrait m'interroger?" Would anybody else like to question me? Snarling, snapping, dripping; crowned. "Aujourd'hui, je fais preuve de miséricorde envers ma famille - la prochaine fois, je ne le ferai pas." Today I show mercy to my family -- next time I will not. A daring glimmer settles in to her eyes as they flick from one to the other; claws flexed and ready to kill if they stepped forward.

Louve had damn well earned her place, and she stands before them now determined to not give in to her own blood loss before they're gone. Just a little bit longer... "Je suis ta matriarche." I am your matriarch.

Her star-touched ears fold back against her skull as she listens to Ludivine, she doesn't care for the youth's words but there was too much going on for her to deal with it. Another day. Amara had stood against larger and likely more challengers than her and wasn't looking to prove herself right now. Léontine rattles on and Amara rolls her eyes. Cubs. Both of them. Ludivine doesn't stop there as she keeps on, acting as though she had been around as long as they have. Acting like she had watched Louve grow up and fight as many battles as she has from a young age. No, if anyone was unworthy it was Ludivine but Amara also knew better than to speak for her daughter. If leading the family was really something that she wanted, then she would have to figure out how to deal with all of this. Something Amara had been trying to teach her. Something she wasn't sure her daughter had learned fully. The pair went on to push and edge Louve on and Amara had to fight everything within her from leaping into things.

Amara moved gingerly toward @Kieran, dead but she still felt drawn to him being there once again. She looked him over for a moment before settling to stand next to him. There was no scent from him, no warmth and if her eyes weren't seeing it, she wouldn't believe it. Even though she had been told something like this was possible, it was still hard to understand how. Her focus snaps toward the unknown male who seemed to be getting at something. Why was he talking about her borders needing to be protected? Louve's reply was interesting and she would need to ask her about it later, should her daughter still stand. Her ears flick toward @Iseult as she speaks. There would be no way around this, Louve would have to fight someone to the death.

There was a moment or two of tension before the fight happened, Louve had her target, and Amara's breath was sucked from her chest. She had watched her cubs fight before but the odds were never set on death. Ludivine jumped into the fight and Amara growled and took a step forward. Her golden gaze locked on the sisters. If they weren't going to play fair neither would she and coming at someone from the side when they had their target was far more of a cowardly move. She stopped moving a few steps from her starting spot as it became clear the fight would be fair. Her gaze swept over those who had stood with her all these years, who helped her, watched over the youth as they grew, and had accepted her in the position she was in, even after Kier's death. If Louve didn't win today, what would happen?

The fight was bloody and unlike anything she had seen Louve be a part of, her gaze didn't leave her daughter as she fought for her life and right to lead the family. So many thoughts ran through her mind as she stood unable to help Louve, unable to do anything. The scent of blood seemed to surround them and she struggled even more. Finally. She takes a deep breath in and the world spins around her. It wasn't Louve's body on the ground even though she looked like she wasn't far from it. Amara's gaze looked her over, taking in every single wound that now scattered over her body. She waits for the kill move but it doesn't come. Louve leaves Ludivine alive on the ground. She talks about mercy before taking her place at the top of the family. Amara wants to move closer to her and get her the help she needs to start healing but doesn't move. She looks at @Louve, And Sovereign*. She gave her the rank she asked for so long ago. If she was going to lead the family she would need to have a spot to pull them together. Amara found herself leaning forward as she waited to see what came next. Amara had never been through this and didn't know what was proper right now.

*in french

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Louve ended up winning the fight and claimed herself Matriarch once more. Well now, that was all settled... Then Amara spoke up and declared Louve Sovereign as well. Good to know. So were they done here then? The clay male wasn't certain. No one was attempting to leave just yet.

Since no one was moving yet Ole remained where he was. He was waiting to see if anything further would happen. Would more fighting break out? Would someone else wish to test Louve, the other sister perhaps? Louve had spared the one whom had interceded so a glance was given towards the original opponent to see what she thought of the outcome.

He watched them trickle in one by one - more strangers than he'd anticipated. Occasionally his gaze fluttered to @Louve, and he managed to catch her silent command to keep an eye on a man that sat afar. The lion shared an odd grin of acknowledgment with the young Heiress, which only made Apollinaire more curious. In any case, he would keep a close eye on the stranger.

@Amara's arrival is marked by her approach, by a command in defense of... Vermier? Or rather, he would think that the starry-furred woman was simply seeking to reinstate dominance. To secure her authority in front of these two younger women. Indeed, it must be so - how else? Vermier, much like any other Dieudonne man, was a pawn in the women's eyes and Apollinaire had witnessed more than one squabble for authority over pawns during his years. He watched carefully, now, fully expecting what happens next as Ludivine launches tooth & claw toward the Wolfbron Sovereign.

He is distracted by the approach of others. @Iseult quips in toward the feuding women, and acknoledges Apollinaire with a grin that he returns immediately. They were more alike than not - both hounds of chaos with one finger waiting on a hair-pin trigger. The banshee was not sharing the same roof with them, but she was always steadfast by their side whenever blood calls to blood. He respected her for that very reason. Cassine was on the front of the discussion, and with a reason.

The air crackles, he could almost hear it, and by the time his eyes turn there is the booming voice of a man long-thought dead. Non, Apollinaire feels his hair stand up at the sight of @Kieran. "Comment ça, où est Cassine?" Red eyes narrow in on the dead-man walking, trying to distinguish if his mind was simply playing tricks on him by glancing about. Once he established that everybody saw the apparition, he studied Kieran. There is confusion and uncertainty for once slipping upon Apollinaire's features and he is speechless.

A god. Simply, Amara's ex-husband had transcended death and become a god. As is natural, for we are Dieudonne. Apollinaire feels more certain now, his expression warping into a satisfactory smile. Even death cannot defeat a Dieudonne.

@Xavier was a strange addition. Louve's brother had long departed the Bluffs, or so Apollinaire had thought. He seemed just as surprised to see his own father standing among them. She is gone. Cassine is gone. There is confusion, and disarray in them - the family was shattered. How did they fall so low? There was plenty of work to do here, too many shattered pieces to glue back together.

He only listens as Louve speaks, her exterior calm but demanding. There was a difference in her, a maturity that was absent a few months ago. She is truly the perfect candidate. Amara turns then, away from the two enraged women, to listen. He is flabbergasted at her decision, for she rarely forefeited a battle. It was a welcome decision, however, for Louve demanded attention. "Coward!" Ludivine calls after the Sovereign, then whirls toward Louve.

Apollinaire only watches, unwilling to ever stand between two Dieudonne women. He expected Louve to face backlash, for that was the nature of the banshee family. However, this one seemed personal. Hypocrites, the woman calls them. He had no idea who she was, nor did it matter. If she was going to stand for the title, then she will fight Louve.

"Who will you kill to reign?" He feels adrenaline course through his body, the metallic aroma already present in the air awakening his senses. He almost wants to fight, but he knows that today is not his day. "How do you expect to protect the family when you couldn't even defend your pride's borders from a lowly vagrant?" His eyes turn to Krueger. Ah, so he'd battled Louve? And who was he, to speak? To dare place himself in the midst of women's business? A man with a death-wish, he mused, licking his lips. Apollinaire would make sure to find the lion later.

Louve, however, kept her calm. Surprisingly, she was determined to focus on one opponent today, and that would be the dark-furred sister.

Except it wasn't.

For when the chartreux Heiress lurched forward, Ludivine intercepted her, taking Leontine's place. My! How interesting! he felt his heart drum loudly against his chest. The thrill of the bodies in action was intoxicating and he watched them with anticipation, as if the women were the two most wonderful dancers and this was their grand final showing. They were magnificent like birds, latching onto eachother in a vigorous push and pull as blood poured upon the land below. Dieudonne blood.

He lived for these moments.

His claws bit the ground, the suspense killing him slowly and yet he never wanted this to end. They are close, so close, in their bloody dance until...

Snap! Something breaks, but he does not understand what. Ludivine suddenly falls limp beneath the mottled Heiress' claws and Apollinaire stands on his four feet, jaw unclenching, unbelieving his eyes. She is victorious.

Victory never looked so beautiful.

Never felt so satisfying.

"Would anybody else like to question me?" he watches blood dripping from his mottled wolf, and he grins madly at her magnificence. "Today I show mercy to my family -- next time I will not." Mercy. He does not expect her to begin her reign with mercy. Louve was no longer a petulant child, and her showing mercy today was a clever choice. Whether it was due to his teachings or not, he couldn't know, but the arrogant heathen enjoyed taking the credit nonetheless. "I am your Matriarch." She declares and he bows deep, theatrically deep, bending his front limbs as far as possible to the ground, and standing there for a good few seconds.

"And Sovereign," he hears Amara as he rises, and wants to cast away all his well-crafted masks and laugh at the incredible outcome of his plotting and bidding his time. He'd managed to pull it off without getting his throat slit in the process and now... oh, now he shall reap the benefits alongside Louve.

Slender limbs took the mad-man to stand beside Louve, subtly offering his side should she need his support. She was injured badly, and blood was streaming from her side. Were her ribs broken? Was that the sound he'd heard earlier? Nevertheless, he called out. "Vive la Matriarche. Qu'elle règne dans le sang et la gloire." "Long live the Matriarch. May she reign in blood & glory."

ooc: Tripfire felt a strange tension in his body, he wanted to assist his cousin in ripping the usurper's tongue from her jaw but instead, he was forced to stand back. The only woman he ever obeyed were those in his family. And he wasn't about to become disobedient now. Claws dug into the earth while he watched them fight, watching the blood spill and hit the ground. The scent was intoxicating to him and he found himself swallowing hard to prevent saliva dripping from his maw. And then it was over, and the monster inside him growled wanting to taste the flesh of the usurper. But wait, Louve was giving mercy!? Like a brat denied his treat he narrowed his gaze before looking longingly at the fallen form of Ludivine. His facial features reformed to a look of stoic pride and he heard his aunt speak, giving her the rank of Sovereign. Looking between the two he cleared his throat softly to gather @Louve's attention, " "puis-je suggérer un repas traditionnel ma matriarche?" he suggested with heavy suggestion on the term 'traditional'. Looking at the newcomers to see if this idea would help them accept their new matriarch. Noting how @Apollinaire swoops in to offer her support and he figures why not add a meal to assist in her healing process? "talk"

Art and Code by Cloudy

Things happened quickly and Elaine moved out of the way to give her sister the room that she needs. The fight was unexpected but it was thrilling. She watched her sister with a bit of jealousy. She wanted to taste their blood too. It ended quickly and it was her sister that was still standing barely. Elaine looked around and saw the look on her mother's face and then how the males reacted. This would be good. Amara gives her sister more rank in the pride and it was a step closer for her to leading them into greatness. She stood firmly on the dead lands around and gave a sharp roar in support of @Louve before moving toward her. Let's get you fixed up.* She said softly to her. She had won but her body had taken a massive toll and needed to be tended to as soon as they could before she joins her victim on the ground. Her ears flick toward Tripfire as he called out about a meal, her icy gaze looked her sister over, and was unsure if she would be able to manage such a thing. Not only that but she had mentioned mercy, which wouldn't be mercy.

*in french

Her visions swims but still she stands. Black spots dance before her eyes, but still she stands. Louve wants nothing more than to sink to the ground, to sleep, to rest; but still she stands.

Yellow eyes are sharp despite her growing weakness, narrowed and determined as if the blood pouring from her wounds was of no concern. Mentally she strengthened her resolve with a silent mantra -- encore quelques minutes -- pushing herself to stand through those few more minutes.

@Amara is the first to speak, adding another title to her name. Louve looks at her mother and then manages the slightest nod, a small acknowledgement of the hard -earned rank she had asked for before. A tiny part of her thinks it is a power-play, a move made to keep her close and under control, but she accepts it all the same.

Then @Apollinaire is at her side, and though she does not yet lean on him she is grateful for the silent support. To him she gives another silent look with a small quirk of her lips, an indication of her pride. All of their plans had come to fruition, and there was only one thing left to do. With a quick look to @Elaine and a small shake of her head -- not yet -- she makes her first move as matriarch.

Taking a small step forward, to put herself before the man, she steals herself to speak and address them all. Tripfire pipes up, first, and for him she has an icy look. "Vous ne la toucherez pas." you will not touch her. Louve had named mercy and there was a damn good reason for it. "Quand je serai guéri, nous chasserons en fête." When I am healed we will hunt in celebration. For the latter part she raised her voice, once again addressing them all.

"Nos lois ont été oubliées." Our laws have been forgotten. A sweeping look for those that are gathered, pressing on before there can be protest, keep to say her piece and then go home. "Désormais aucun ourson ne portera le nom de Dieudonné tant qu'il n'aura pas fait sa première chasse. Avec moi." Henceforth no cubs will carry the Dieudonne name until they have had their first hunt. With me. Once more her gaze hovered briefly on Tripfire, for he was the only Dieudonne with cubs on the ground. For now. Louve trusted she did not need to specify what kind of hunt she referred to.

"Notre famille est devenue petite; nous devons chercher à grandir. Mariez-vous et renforcez notre nom, apportez une nouvelle vie à notre avenir." Our family has grown small; we must look to grow. Marry and strengthen our name, bring new life in to our future. A mad grin stretched her lips, lifting her chin against the rising dark. "Bientôt nous sortirons de l'ombre, et personne n'osera se dresser contre nous." Soon we will step from the shadows, and none will dare rise against us.

Bold words for a young queen but her voice is laced with confidence and certainty -- she believes every word she speaks.

Now, though, she must rest. The blood pouring from her wounds has slowed, but with the adrenaline leaving her system she faces a pain unlike any she had faced before. Losing half of her ear was nothing compared to the stabbing agony that coursed through her now. "Vas y," now go, she commanded, casting a side-eyed look at Apollinaire as she sought his support, and a similar one to her sister. It was time for healing. "va, et montre-leur la gloire de notre sang."Go and show them the glory of our blood.

That was enough; Louve would turn towards the towering Bluffs, steeling herself for the inevitably painful climb. She would not give in to her injuries until the rest were gone and out of sight; only then would she slip to the ground and allow herself to be carried the rest of the way.

-exit-

Marry? Oleander supposed it was meant to be expected but it really was a foreign concept to him. Attraction was something he had still yet to feel. Though he supposed that wasn't really a necessity. It only mattered to grow the family. To show others that they were not meant to be trifled with. What did emotions matter where a display of strength was concerned? And he already had in mind someone possessing great strength and obviously deserving of the Dieudonné name.

This was a matter that would need more discussion and consideration. More than what Oleander was capable of pondering himself. He would have to speak about this with someone more understanding of this whole marriage concept. After all Ole still didn't understand beauty.

And then they were released to go. Ole still had all the questions though. They would have to wait as Louve led by example and made her exit first. Ever obedient the clay male sought to follow after. He kept a respectful distance from the newly crowned Matriarch but within earshot should she have further commands.

Oleander Exits

There is a shocking amount of blood - and leontine cannot believe she sees ludivine fall. A slip of a mighty paw on the loose scree and stone below and louve has bested her. Pinned her. bled her. But the newly crowned matriarch passes judgment, passes mercy and her bicolor eyes turn suspicious. Her brows knit as she lurches closer to her sister, claims a mouthful of flesh to begin dragging her away from the dieudonne gathering, gaze never leaving the assembled few. She doesn't know how to feel about this mercy but she'll repay it one day, she's sure. Even if ludivine will hate her for it.


EXIT

EXECUTION FANTASY