+5 Observe a fight

“What’s going on?”

Dragos looks over as @Leila joins him, and he grins, happy to have a familiar face as company as other lions begin peeling in. "An actual pride challenge, this time," he says gleefully, nodding down to the two men preparing themselves to fight. "The blac - they’re both - the ginger one is challenging the other guy for the pride I live in."

It’s then the fight begins - but not before @Ryker shouts - "Someone's telling you lies!" - and Dragos can respect that, at least. The dude does look surprised by the accusation. If he wins, no doubt Dragos is going to get his ass kicked out of Andal. Oh no. What a shame, ect ect. Hopefully Ryker hounds his father over it, too. He would shout back that he had heard Ryker threaten the challenger’s family himself, but the two of them collide and it’d fall on deaf ears anyway.

Here, Dragos wouldn’t need to post again until the battle is over, but then several lions all arrive. One of them - @Angelo - earns an uncommon glare from the Savante barbarian. "Shove off, Angelo." Dragos growls, annoyance clear on his face when he leans forward and attempts to block Leila from his view. "Go find my father if you want something to fuck."

And while he’s busy telling his father’s partner to stick it, @Septima slides up quietly to the gathering group. When the fuck did Dragos get so many short friends?

"Hey," he says softly, glancing between the challenger and the girl. " - is he a relative?" They look the same, like family, the same way Dragos looks like the Savante and different too. That, plus this is the pride Septima claimed she would take back for her family.

“Quite the daredevil you are…”

The Savante looks over to see another male approach, this one a stranger but of his pride. Dragos’s grin is thin and sharp. "I know him as well as I know our current king," which is to say - not at all. Unphased, the giant’s skull tilts slightly to the side as he regards @Rainer, looking over him as if inspecting, and his eyes glint. "He can, if he brings me dinner first."

Dragos's grin lifted the edge of Leila's muzzle in a more subdued smile - it felt nice to have someone pleased to see her. Was this what having friends felt like? She sat herself next to his piebald side and listened intently to his explanation, nodding slowly. She was getting the hang of this sort of thing now.

"I see." Leila echoed seriously, "Who are you hoping to win this time?" The other occasion had ended peacefully but a fight between the firey-maned lion and the striped one - the current king, Dragos had said - soon broke out.

Leila watched with interest but was soon torn away from the action by the approach of a stranger - someone who evidently knew Dragos, by the looks of it. Leila bobbed her head in greeting but was not expecting to draw @Angelo's focus. She flustered for a moment and averted her gaze, uttering a "I'm Leila-" before she was cut off by Dragos's growl. Obviously there was some tension there and she focused back on the fight awkwardly, not sure how to react to the minor confrontation.

She is beginning to find it a little crowded by the time @Septima sidled up to Dragos too and Leila, recognising her vaguely from the Lagoon challenge offered the lioness a smile too - mostly because Dragos's reaction seemed friendlier to her than it had been to Angelo.

@Rainer's approach has Leila sliding to loaf in the only free space there now was, between Dragos's forepaws. If she balled herself up, she could somewhat hide where his long mane nearly touched the ground and observe.

~Hubert is attempting to remain hidden~

Well, won't you look at that? So it seemed that the ambitious lions of Amaryllis were capable of grappling for more territory than just that little corner of beach called the Lagoon. He'd been beginning to wonder.

When the cry rang out, naturally Hubert was quickly drawn away from the Mire to witness the exciting spectacle that was to come, agilely bounding his way through the tall grasses of the prairie. At least, he rather hopes that this challenge won't end up like the last one, ending in handshakes and rushed whispers. When he finally approaches the ragged edges of the Pit, he's rather pleased to see that the action has already started - and what a vicious battle it is!

Distantly aware that this particular crowd might not be the most favorable to his presence, the young Starke slipped into a crouch, slinking between convenient rocks and craggy ledges to try to observe the details while remaining unnoticed himself, verdant eyes turning upon the center of the arena. Hubert has seen Andal's King at least once before, easily recognizing the mohawked male within the dusty arena. Not that the man had left the best impression upon the prince, after a certain incident in the passage...If he's honest, he doubts that the current King is a worthy ally for Vater.

Would the fiery-maned challenger make for a better one? Hubert's never seen the male before (or so he thinks), and thus his ties remain a mystery. He supposes he'll just have to wait and see. His eyes briefly glance across the others gathering around the ring, barely repressing a snort when he catches sight of Luther on the sidelines and sneering openly when he caught a silvery glimpse of Isla amidst a cluster of unknown women. So there were enemies here. Joy of joys.

+10 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters)
+10 Learn something about pride/group/family relations
+5 Study the landscape of an area

ART + CODE By Dee

There is no shock at the challenge coming for Andal - and there is part of him that is only upset that it isn't him preforming it. Ever since the passage, things had not settled well and Anthonius had disliked the Oasis, and Ryker, more than anything. @Dragos captures his attention, and he can't help but to smirk in amusement at the words thrown to Ryker. If things hadn't turned so sour, perhaps he would of once scolded his Nephew for it. Instead, now he encouraged it.

He came up alongside Dragos to settle in, watching the fight near him with a low chuff of greeting from his jaws. "If Ryker still holds control over the lands after this, we need to consider a home elsewhere. A lot has happened." He informed, letting Dragos in on the information and the intentions he had, as well as no doubt Alexander had too.

He sees the arriving form of @Luther , and he watches him closely. Surveying him as if he was just waiting for him to do something. He then sees a large, grey woman emerge who smelt strongly, if not the strongest, of Illyria Summit. His ears perk forward at this, and he starts to leave the side of Dragos to approach her.

His eyes make notice of @Isla ♔ as well, the woman familiar from the passage and he nods at her. @Cassandra is near Morrigan as well and Anthonius nods his head in respect to @Morrigan ♔ as he stops a few good feet away. "I am Anthonius Savante - I am unsure of if you are aware of recent events, but I aided Fernweh in a fight againt Ecrosia for a claim on a lioness to give her freedom - " He looks to Isla, someone who could vouch this truth for him. "I speak to you as your scent has me assuming you are the leader of the Summit. I am in the hopes Ryker loses here today, but if not..." He peers back to the challenge, narrowing his eyes on it as the battle commences. "I would like to discuss a home perhaps within your lands?" Probably not the best place to do this, but hey. It was the most efficient. He had more to think about than himself - more to think about than even just Savante. He had @Anahera to consider, and Andal would not be her home. He wanted somewhere safe for her, that little girl. Speaking of, he was sure this commotion would rouse her from her sleep, and he made sure to keep an eye out for her arrival.

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Azanty was behind, taking more time to get to the pit than @Morrigan ♔ had. Eventually he would arrive, however, to find a crowd had formed around a pair of lions. From the rim of the pit he could see the fight begin and his ears would flick back in uncertainty. Another challenge? What an odd way to decide who was the leader of a pride. His own home had far different customs, Azanty would be lying if he said he understood this strange place he had found himself in. For better or worse, he was stuck here now. Sighing quietly, he would descend into the pit. Blood colored pelt actually seeming to blend in better against the rocky clay.

The youth would make his way to Morrigan, though he was not able to sit directly next to her due to the princess and another male talking to her, he did manage to get close enough that he knew he was protected and close enough he could hear what was being spoke. He’d offer them a nod of respect and greeting. Looking to the Summit leader, he’d smile slightly. “Why fight for…pride?” He asked, struggling momentarily to find the word. Why did they always fight… aside from the last challenge in the lagoon all that he had seen were bloody- and it always seemed there was another that thought they were a better fighter. Surely there was more to leading than being able to beat up any who contested you?

ooc: ----

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

Paws easily moved her across the sandy beaches of the Cove territory. This was an opportunity to inspect the land without being jumped. Though she was heading towards the challenge in case she should be questioned on the way of her motives. The maned Hodari would pause, seeing the fight break out and look around for something to perch on. Ah, that would do! A nice washed-up log that could bear her weight and provide her a higher viewpoint. Climbing up onto it she reclined into a seated position to watch the fight, it was quickly becoming clear to her lately that it seemed rhe prides did not care to add to their ranks and let rogues come and go around them willingly.


Isolda is observing

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If her parents hadn't abandoned the ship when Seneca had lost control of the Oasis, Nephthys would be a lot more concerned about the outcome of the battle. As it was, she was simply happy to witness another potential shift in the political tides of Amaryllis. She took her time in rising to her paws before calling out softly to @Ronin, letting him know what her intentions were (and she was certain he would want to follow as well). The scarlet lioness then turned for the pit and made her way there, letting her gaze shift across the gathered masses in the hopes of finding someone interesting. There really wasn't anyone, much to her dismay. Then again, who had died and made Nephthys queen of who was interesting? Her. Somehow. It didn't have to make sense, she was beautiful.

The Tollaire helped herself to a seat among the crowd and settled in to watch the fight, eager to see if Ronin (or anyone) had any insights into what was happening.

+5 observe a challenge 1/2

table by sentinel / lion + mountains

Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

Darcia is almost late to the party this time, and while still not all to invested in the political scene of Amaryllis beyond where such knowledge might serve him, a crowd meant a possible reunion with his brother. His last excursion into the bloodstained pit had been much more peaceful despite its rough start, but this time the cavernous theater was showing its true, crimson colors as a pair of men grappled below. Not a wobble to their steps.

A crowd had formed like the previous call had beckoned on the beach, the ridges and outcroppings serving as a fine array of seating for anyone come to view the bloodsport.

Darcia recognized neither man, so his eyes instead studied the crowd as he trailed along the rim of a higher outcrop that gave him a fine view of those gathered closer to the action. It was a mass of different pelts and shapes, but his amethyst eyes did their best to scan for anything familiar.

+5 - use the terrain to your advantage

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

She takes pause, taking in the myriad scents lingering so close to her usual dwelling. Too close. One scent in particular stands out; that of a certain grey lioness-- the very same lioness who had made mention of joining Andal. The Badlands are home, but she's learned the hard way never to cross over into Andal. The oasis might hold an excess of drinking water, but it also holds a pride, and as far as she's concerned, she'd rather dehydrate than get ever entangled with prides and their meaningless matters again. Still, if this woman could hypothecially grant her free passage into Andal, well... gone would be the days of making the arduous, neck-breaking trek down the gorge just to get a damned drink. She hadn't enjoyed her life as a pride lion, but there had undoubtedly been a standard of comfort that she just doesn't have as a rogue anymore these days.

Curiosity spurring her on, she ambles toward the commotion. She catches sight of @Zelda, cheering and hollering, getting nice and comfortable on a rock. Drawing up to her side, she traces her gaze down to the Pit. Two unknown males of a similar palette face off inside the crater. @Bronx mentions snacks. Somewhere further off, two feminine voices describe one of the challengers as a zebra. She feels suddenly hungry. She's standing pretty far off, and she's never been too good at making out all the details. For all she knows, they could be zebras. "We eating the loser?" She queries, dead serious. Zelda had asked a favor of her and @Ambrose. Common sense dictated she'd have to give them something in return. Quid pro quo was in order. Besides, all this talking about snacks and zebras was making her damn hungry.

code by corvus

Commotion rises in the air, innumerable voices coalescing and eddying around him as he descends down into the crater. Two males are squaring off in the center, already embroiled in a brawl. Seems he's late to the party.

He takes his eyes off the fight to scan the crowd, and finds @Zelda there, accompanied by his sister and a brawny cinnamon-colored man. She's jeering the patchy would-be ursurper, and for a moment, his gaze is split between the two contenders. How come whenever he sees Zebra Hair, he's always fighting?

He slinks over to them, shouldering past many a unfamiliar (and familiar) faces. A look of offense crosses his face as @Uma mentions eating the loser. "Do you ever think about anything other than food?" Still, he tries not to let it sour his mood. Everyone seems to know exactly what's happening. Everyone except him. He settles down next to @Bronx, proceeding to speak to him from the corner of his mouth. "What are the haps?" He has no idea what's going on around here, except that he recognizes the striped man vaguely.

BG — ART — CODE