He had not told her. Sedona, her eyes forever swollen and bloodshot with lack of sleep, would arrive at the scene much too late. That voice, ever-familiar in its croaking bass notes, had her stooping to pluck what nearby herbs she could before trotting across Amaryllis in pursuit of him. What else could she do but watch?

Carrying the small bundle of herbs, she was led to a dry, arid scene. Her small paws left neat imprints in the sands as she gazed upon the crowd from the distance, flicking her gaze from pelt to pelt in search of one she knew would linger there. Sedona sidled wordlessly to Léonie's free side, lost in a daze that had her ignoring all else but him, locked in battle against a much older, more scarred lion. Had she ever even been to that place before? Even without a mind for politics, the oasis gave plenty of context for what the territory meant to Scorpius. He was fighting for his home and she could do little to protect him.

---

|| june y9 | two years | vague pride | at andal oasis | @Scorpius @Léonie ||
+5 - Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds
+5 - Collect herbs

Sedona Casales

Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.

code by corvus

Again. The journey from Ecrosia was a long, tedious thing, as the wounded boy slunk across the land in search of the call. The sun bore down on his dark pelt as he traveled, heating the lion until he felt he might cook from the inside out. Bruno's mind spun with the implications of this call – of a claim for the ally that was just starting to prove truly useful to the mire. What a pity.

Sprawling plains gave way to dunes of sand, the gritty texture reminding him somewhat of his frequent trips to the passage. Once the flurry of scents in the distance began to near, Bruno staggered his path, zigging and zagging until he found a back way to avoid the masses. He would come to approach an outcropping of tall palms, ducking behind them and making use of the sprawling fronds to disguise his appearance. Hopefully the brawl underway would prove far more interesting than the likes of Bruno lurking on the outskirts, taking in all that he could of the mysterious oasis.

---

|| june y9 | 1y 10m | EM royalty | at andal oasis | HIDING ||
+20 - Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught
+20 - Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+10 - Practice speed or stealth
double EXP in threads started/completed Dec 29 - Jan 29

_CODE

It's curiosity that pushes the wolf-pup forward, and nothing more.

The arid air of the desert burns his nose and the sand beneath his paws squishes strangely. It's nothing like the summit that he's used to; it's not even like anything he's een in his travels. Somehow he'd never come this way before -- seemingly, for good reason, as it belonged to a pride. Or, well, it would be soon enough.

Ears tick forward as he plods along to join the throngs of onlookers; he is just one face among many, and he's just as nosy. Quicksilver eyes sweep across the fight, reconigizng neither combatant ( which wasn't surprising -- he didn't know anybody tbh ). Watching eagerly, awaiting to see just who would come out on top.

code; background

Walpurgis could not be said to return reliably anywhere, but she had probably been in the desert at some point, fighting and struggling to survive in the reams of fights and violence that tended to overtake these gatherings. She understood that challenges such as this were free reign to send her paws over the borders. There were many prints before her and two lions fighting. Another reign for her was not today, nor did it seem fighting was on the table for the battered, aging WARRIOR. She approached with a glazed gleam in her eyes and sat herself down on a comfy, recently windswept knoll of sand. These fighters were large, male, and young, and rang in her skull as excellent king material. Good, strong kings let her fight and, just as importantly, let her feast. Walpurgis was obviously not good at fending for herself. She was rangy, greasy, and smelled like weeks of unwashed carrion. She'd happily serve the victor in exchange for the chance to ravage whatever caches remained.

(1/2) +5 Sunbathe or take a nap
(1/2) +5 Gossip with another character
She had been lounging atop a rock not too far from the Oasis territory. Artemisia had take up to exploring the western side of Amaryllis, wanting to see what types of prey animals liked to call the warmer climate home. It had taken a lot of her energy, both following herds and having to traverse through the ever moving sand underneath her paws. So, a good rest and sunbathe on a warm rock was her solution to relaxing. Until the challenge rang out in the air, that was.

The one calling out sounded a bit familiar, and curiosity would get the better of her. What did they say about curiosity and cats, again? Rolling over onto her side, the earthen woman would rise to all fours, giving herself a quick shake before she leapt off the rock and began to make the journey toward the pride. She moved passed the borders with very little care - well that, and she didn't scent any overwhelming smells that told her the territory was occupied. Slinking toward the crowd, Artemisia would make her way over toward a maroon colored lioness, leaving enough space between them to be comfortable. "Who you got on winning this?" She'd ask her with a slight grin upon inky lips. "I think tall, dark, and handsome will be the victor." Wine hued eyes gave the woman a quick look before attention fell onto the two males before them all, silently wondering if Ronin would pull through. Perhaps she'd think pride life would suit her, then...

@Nephthys

ART BY CORVUS, CODE BY LARS, MODIFIED BY GUNNER
*DO NOT USE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!*

Her entire body throbbed in pain as she settled there, watching the blood and fur go flying from each opponent. Naturally, she tensed whenever Ronin ended up getting whacked because it meant he would need to see a healer and she was fucking sick of him seeing healers. She was sick of a lot of things, honestly, but more than anything she was sick of the way it seemed Ronin never understood how painful it was for her to feel second or third or fourth best. No matter how often he told her otherwise, she would never be able to come to terms with him being surrounded by so many beautiful women.

As if on cue, one of them arrived and picked her way towards the lioness. It took all of thirty seconds before @Artemisia was taking bets; and Nephthys knew exactly who she was referring to when she talked about tall, dark, and handsome. Her jaw throbbed or else she may have said something in return, snappy and dismissive. "What are you to him," was all she eventually asked, not even taking her eyes off the battle. Nephthys didn't want to know the answer, but she had to ask. She had to know if Ronin was lying to her all this time and saying the sweet things to others that he was saying to her.

table by sentinel / lion + mountains

+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread +10 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught A call rang out while Narsil was resting in her den in the Lagoon. Ears pushing forward she realized that the call was a challenge for the Oasis. And so carefully she would move to go see what the results were. With leg set and healing she was mindful how she walked on it, not wanting to undo the patch job she had been given. Silently the merle lioness stalked forward, once she saw the gathering of lions she veered off to the side. Her goal was to set up camp and observe from afar. And so she lay hidden and shaded beneath a jutting rock on a dune that overlooked the fighting ground. A quiet observer for this fight. Narsil is actively attempting to hide

code // art

Louve was slow, picking her way ever so carefully towards the summons. By the time she arrived on scene it was nearly over, by all appearances. But @Aideen had come and so the Sovereign had followed, settling herself down beside the growing girl.

"Tell me what vous voyez," you see she prodded, curious to see if the girl was learning anything from the fights that continued to erupt. Louve was battered from her own, but a change of leadership was imperative for her to witness. Especially considering it had once been an ally on the throne -- what the hell had happened to Ryker, anyway?

Image by Rabs

GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

Vermier disapproved, and he disapproved more greatly that he had nobody to immediately blame. He couldn't tell whether the roar was in claim or challenge and he couldn't tell how long the borders had been scrubbed out through his scabbed, tender nose. Nor could he manage to count just how many tracks led into this place. Although he followed one trail and then another, his short-term memory seemed to slack out of continuity. Hunger rose at the sight of the gathering. Familiar pang for violence, and yet his stomach twisted in a way that seemed remote and he felt suddenly aware of his heartbeat.

Steal. But who? He wanted to steal some patchy pies, knock some sense into them, but it was difficult to compare targets. Which patchy white stripy thing was best? Who was guarded, who was not? Somehow he could not tell. He stood, paused, for a moment, looking and not seeing exactly what made sense. Except he saw @Louve ♔ and veered toward her, dipping his skull and hunched back when within range of her majesty and attempting to settle himself behind and to the side. One ear cocked to her, the other (immobile, thank you bad nerve day) inevitably slacked forward. The two lions fighting. Those were the challengers. Meat. Allies, enemies... wasn't his business. His business was to find weakness in their fighting style. Good dog.

+5 Observe a fight (Ronin/Scorpius)

He returns empty-handed.

The many nights and days he'd spent wandering under scorching sun and damp marshlands were now etched upon his face, the signs of exhaustion had aged him more than time had and the man was tired. So very tired. He returns in defeat, with a heavy heart and no hope left. Naga was gone, vanished. Dead. The idea no longer sent a shiver down his spine and he no longer held onto that last straw of hope that he hasn't done enough. It was now clear that his boy was forever gone.

How could he return home, back to Nephthys, back to Devika, without Naga? Without what he'd set out and abandoned them to find? He often thought it pointless to come back to the valley, but his promise to his red-furred wife was what ultimately brought him back.

He would never forget his promise.

His love for Nephthys and their sweet daughter was undying. There was nothing that could break it. It was the only silver lining that kept him breathing & walking this wretched earth, the only remaining joy in his life. The days he'd wandered completely lost in a desolate land had been soul-crushing, but he would not betray Nephthys' trust in him. He will return.

With or without Naga.

His entrance had been far from glorious. Bhas hadn't been able to find Neph back at their old den in the Jungle, although her scent still lingered. Coincidentally, a call for battle had rung from the Oasis and the rogue had set out to follow it. Amaryllis loved their pointless little challenges, their meaningless play pretends at Kings & Queens. How could he forget? If there was an audience, he hoped Neph would be there. She oft indulged herself in watching the battles, he remembers with a smile.

It takes him time to reach Andal. When he does, he barely pays attention to the land changing around him. His heart drums loudly against his chest and anxiety swirls in his mind. He was uncertain how he'd explain himself, but he only hoped that Neph would be safe and welcome him with open arms. He was still the same fool.

The battle is raging, but he has no eyes for it. The sudden influx of voices and strangers was overbearing for a man half-wild now, and he looks around like a deer in headlights for his wife. And then... there she was. "Neph!" The colossal man un-daintily broke out in a run, albeit slow due to his exhausted condition, but a run nonetheless. "Neph!" he calls out above the crowd, rushing towards where @Nephthys was seated beside another woman. The stranger was all but ignored, for he had eyes only for his love. I knew I'd find you.

I'm home.