Tensions were rising as the seconds, minutes ticked by. The parents of the boy pleaded with the ragged and desperate man, and Poltergeist wasn't sure what had transpired here, but it was juicy. Tensions between these leucistic and speckled brutes and the Dieudonne were getting thick, so thick he thought he could cut it with his claws.

Finally, the brute stepped off the boy, and his parents scooped him up, quick to leave the scene. The tension dispersed somewhat, but Poltergeist opted to linger for a few moments longer, to listen to what the others had to say. A purple-hued lioness spoke of enemies and allies, and Poltergeist's eyes lingered upon her for a moment. So opinionated... perhaps she was a good soul to talk to about the goings on of Amaryllis. He made a mental note, but since there was nothing else to observe, he turned tail and exited the area. /exit

Potential XP
assassin
+5 Gather information about a character (Tripfire + Dragos)

BG

ooc: going ahead with muscle damage for the minor maim!

Apollinaire's teeth dug deeper and deeper, sweet metallic ambrosia drip-dripping down his jawline. Anthonius' claws dug into his left forelimb again, but this time they tore through important muscles, causing Apollinaire's already shaky balance to tip.

And it took only one shove from Anthonius for Apollinaire to crumble.

He hits the ground with an audible thud, his head colliding with the ground and his jaws releasing their hold. Everything went dark, but the insatiable hunger remained until the very last moment. Blood poured from the heathen's wounds, any feeling fading away with his consciousness.

exit via falling unconcious

Run run run. Their brain began to panic and waiver. Their bravery failed and might faultered. Fight after fight concluded, Alexander failed in his attempt. His family already had their escape thanks to this young lion shirking moral righteousness and absolute divinity for them.

It was time to leave. Run.

And when they felt they had a moment, seeing Apollinarie fall especially gave her energy to her feet. Their claws began to scape and limbs tangled tight around each other and away they began to move. Chest heaving up and down, breath quickly coming in fast waves. And into the sun, to the jungle they fled.

Exit

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

He feels it, both the pain of his wounds but also the crawling sense of victory.

Grunting, he felt his claws tear through severe muscles of his opponent- rendering him useless in the rest of the fight as he climbed his way to the top, winning against him. A growl thunders from his lips, watching as he crumbles to the ground in unconsciousness. Panting heavily, he stands above him with blood dripping from his form, and his blue gaze lands hard on whatever Wolfbron lions remain. "Any of you attack our family again - this will be your fate." He seethes, going as far enough as to try to roughly jab his paw into the still form of the once crazed male.

Finally, he moves from him, and nears towards the rest of his kin. His concern for his family was high- his worry for Dragos and Angelo nagging at his brain, and he nods to his family before taking his own leave... given no one else tried to start anything in his departure.

/exit /

don't say it's love!
your fragile heart feeds my contempt

Alexander watched the fight between his brother and the crazed Dieudonne conclude, with Anthonius coming out on top. While his brother had an obvious advantage, it didn't take away from the victory. Despite the mad man going after multiple members of his family, at least they had the last word. The beast fell unconscious and Alexander had to resist taking matters into his own paws. He was a lion of honor, but when it came to protecting his family - much like his son, he would do anything. Instead, however, his gaze catches Nazonal leaving, then Anthonius. Without another word to anyone present, he follows his brother out - ensuring Valens would follow, using a nudge to the others shoulder to alert him that they were departing. He would avoid his family for a time, the failure of this outcome weighing heavily on his shoulders.

/exit Alexander

postscript by aurora & lyrics by kamelot

Others eventually showed with display of support for @Vermier. Trickled, slowly, with @Amara being the first, sitting near her. An honor that hadn't been granted before. Grateful that the Dieudonne matriarch gave blessings to join the hollows with her beau after the fight, should he win, grew as a soft smile on the buttery face. Little time to speak further to the starry lioness closed with the arrival of others from Wolfbron, there to show faith within the chestnut man that battled for his home land.

Relief came with Amara's blessing to leave Wolfbron for Obsidian. "Thank you." Murmured appreciation came as she focused on the starry woman, until those that gathered around her came. A nod in the direction of those who gathered in representation of the Dieudonné family. Quiet settled across nutmeg lips as she allowed those to converse and do as they pleased.

Final results of the fight came within minutes. Her beau, @Vermier, was victorious as it became obvious the intruder wouldn't defeat the chestnut lion. Others had left to participate in other fights, leaving her to pray silently for the benefit of her adoptive family to come out victorious against those that wished to take a piece of the Dieudonné pride lands. "Please, great Theodias, grant Vermier strength and the lions of Wolbron strength to drive them out." Almost always an observer versus a participant, she withdrew along the sidelines, seeking not to engage with those gathered.

When all was said and done, those who'd sought to take the hollows from Vermier were driven from the grounds of the underground pride land, leaving the few who remained to finalize the rift between the Dieudonné and painted lions. Talk of Dieudonné family harboring cannibals felt alarming, though she found such rumor hard to believe, having lived with them for so long and never witnessing such a ritual. For now, she would ignore it.

Rising to her paws she would turn to skirt away from the bloodied grounds, content to find her beau to lick his wounds. /exit Lycaonia

CODE•ART

Blessedly, Anthonius wins his maim match with the bloodthirsty beast, and the enemy falls to the ground unconscious. No more harm would come to their family on this day. The scent of those around him, the ones who had made them enemies, were imprinted in his mind now. He would not forget their actions on this day, not ever. Until they atoned.

Valens would feel Alexander's nudge and rise to follow. An icy gaze would roam across those still lingering, narrowing upon them and committing their faces to memory carefully. Then paws would carry the dappled Savante away. His senses were kept alert for any more surprise attacks, but he figured there had been enough carnage dealt today. The bitter taste of the speckled lioness' blood still clung to his tongue - cloying and metallic.

Another thing he'd not soon forget.

-exit Valens-

As Rainer had begun to expect, the intricately patterned challenger and his family landed themselves on the losing side. He might even go so far as to say they were utterly demolished.

It was rather impressive to watch, honestly. There was even a whole hostage situation at one point! Sadly, everyone left with their lives intact.

The Bluffs made for quite an enemy indeed, just as Ryker said. Their penchant for swift and crushing vengeance against their enemies was certainly good to note down. Rainer would surely make wiser use of the knowledge than these lions had. (Well, maybe they hadn't known to begin with, but that's a minor detail anyway.) As the defeated lions turn tail and fled one by one, Rainer would clamber back to his feet in a far more relaxed manner, rolling his shoulders back as he indulged in a long stretch.

Show's over, so it was time to leave and carry on doing...something.

He risks poking his head into the caves one last time as he walked past, confirming that yes, stench of winning King was as strong here as it had been in the last tunnel, and it still made his fur prickle. His departure grows a little speedier after that.

/exit Rainer

+10 Observe a challenge and learn the results (x2)
+10 Observe and study a new scent (x2)
+10 Learn about another pride’s laws or culture (x2)

~ Exp doubled due to Amara's boost ~

Art + Code by Dee