It was time. Long gone had her days as a rogue, fearful of reaching out for pride life once more. The older she got, the more lonely it was to live alone, even if surrounded by her beloved trees. The elf had begrudgingly ventured southwest past the peak and past the badlands. It was vaguely unfamiliar territory, but the faintest whiff of something familiar had caught her attention. In her time away, her memory had become foggy but there was no mistaking the smell of a long lost friend... With eager heart, the colossal woman paves her way through the terrain until the hefty scent of markers permeated her nostrils.

Uncertainty causes her to pause, pivoting her head to look around with her good eye for a quick scan. Something that had gone untaught to the native woman, as someone both mostly rogue and native-clan residing only had not known well, was to stay back past borderlines. For her, it did not seem a crime to enter a pride's territory if she bore no ill will within her. To her, the more the merrier should they pose no threat. The ebony woman chuffs softly in hopes that he would show face, if he hadn't forgotten her that is..

@Valerian @Alexander ♔ (+ someone who can formally invite the dumbass pls)

Valerian, hungry to prove his worth to the pride, stalked the borders of the Oasis. He longed to return to the cool shade of the caverns and trees by the respite of the lake, but duty was duty. He was after all, a soldier and knew what responsibility the rank of Barony bestowed on him.

The chuff that rang from further along was something he naturally goes to invesitgate. He had not expected to find a stranger, cross the marked border. She was dark-pelted with a darker mane and a piebald splash upon her face. Valerian's brow dipped in scrutiny.

"You are tresspassing." he rumbled, voice hard and posture intimidating as he came to a halt. He poised himself to clearly block any further progress into the land til' he had more information. The Savante were at war, as was the Oasis. There were many to protect. "State your business."

@Aelynthi

art © drifty

The stranger came forward upon her blind side, causing the colossal woman to startle momentarily. Fur ruffled against her neck and sides, bristling for a second at the fear of being attacked. Eyes widened in obvious caution, claws unknowingly unsheathing to slip into the earth as a brace. " I... was looking for an old friend. I smelled him here. " She speaks gruffly, now standing firm in her larger stature. Was this a more risky venture than she normally would have endured? Probably. Having not seen her friend for 3 years though? That's what drove the knife of bravery through her otherwise pacifistic heart. "If you don't mind, I would just like to go find him and see myself out. " The elf takes a few tentative steps towards the inner sanctum of Andal, keen to make her way to her destination approval or not.

@Valerian

"I... was looking for an old friend. I smelled him here." she claimed. Valerian eyed the maned woman with caution, uncertain what to make of it; but unwilling to take her claim at face value. He was not a naive boy, and enemies lay waiting in the grass at every turn. Her resolute stance and the boldness of her tone did not go unnoticed; set him further on edge. Before he can ask who this friend might be, she takes further steps into the prideland. Valerian's protectiveness is replaced by anger. Listen to me, the beast around his heart snarls.

"No." Valerian hissed, and that is the only warning he gave as he lurched to close the distance. Lashing out from an angle toward Aelynthi's front-right (blind) side, Valerian aimed to close his jaws on the mane and flesh of the upper right side of her neck. Sure, she was bigger than him but many were - he was unafraid to put this tresspasser in her place. War meant there was little breathing room for questions.

Simultaneously, his own right forepaw would attempt to brute force instability into the footing of her right foreleg with a heavy stomp, heel first, aimed to the front of her wrist. The quicker she was not a threat, the happier Valerian would be.

He lay his ears flat and bent his legs slightly for balance, spread toes seeking what traction they could in the unstable sand he had decided to pick a fight on. He kept his suspicious eyes narrowed, obviously agitated.

@Valerian vs. @Aelynthi
for Dominance
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 8 + 14 + 18 + 16 + 13

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 18 + 13 + 14

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 3 + 4 + 14 + 17

art © drifty

The whole demeanor of the situation changes in the blink of an eye as the younger man before her refuses to let her past. If anything had been learned in her past six years of life, it was to expect the unexpected. His smaller size gave him a speedier advantage to catching her off guard, especially on her blind side, leaving her with only time to brace for impact. Within moments, their bodies clash together with the heavy thuds of flesh meshing together and the true tussle begins. A loud snarl escapes the colossal woman as sharp teeth rend the flesh of her neck, harsh stinging immediately drawing her attention, and while she would prefer not to fight at all, it left her with no choice but to retaliate.

Aelynthi's eyes narrow as she aims to lift her left foreleg and attempt to sink it in to the tender flesh located just past Valerian's right shoulder blade, fully intending to use his own body as a grapple to keep her from falling. At the same time, a hefty blow is given to her wrist (which would surely bruise deeply given the force) which causes a slight stumble within the leg, but not enough to topple her given her prior bracing. In an attempt to protect her stability, Aelynthi moved to raise the right paw out from underneath his stomp, claws already extended in hopes of digging them into the fleshy bits past his knuckles on the same extended limb.

@Aelynthi vs. @Valerian
Dominance/pls sir i want friend
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 4 + 16 + 9 + 15 + 17 + 5

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 15 + 17

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 7 + 16 + 9 + 10

Valerian felt a surge of satisfaction as he felt his teeth make purchase in the fur and flesh of the tresspasser's neck. Yet Valerian's attack would not go without retribution. As he tastes the blood on his tongue, he felt claws pierce and dig into the muscle of his right shoulder, blood welling on sleek white-and-tan fur. But he is no stranger to a fight, and he does not let it slow his aggression.

Valerian felt her stagger beneath the stomping blow of his paw upon her right wrist but realised how he had exposed himself to her claws. As she shifted her paw and his met the sand, Valerian felt the pricks of her talons shunt painfully into the tender joints of his right paw's knuckles.

Valerian hissesd his displeasure and with an abrupt toss of his head, tried to snap his teeth toward the dark woman's right ear, aiming to puncture. With a bunch of his hind leg muscles, he would simultaneously aim to shove the sharp front of his left shoulder into her lower throat and collarbone area - though neither would he mind if her razor-sharp claws dislodged from his paw and shoulder.

The Savante man kept his ears flattened, eyes slitted and limbs bent. His tail flagged out behind him, both in agitation and a practiced response for balance.

@Valerian vs. @Aelynthi
for Dominance
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 7 + 20 + 8 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 18 + 1 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 7 + 17 + 12 + 9

art © drifty

Valens had been doing his normal rounds on the border when a call rang out. It was further than he could reach in enough time to stop the fight that had occurred. Pawsteps quickened into a run as he approached and heard the sounds of a scrap. Icy blues took in Valerian attacking their family friend, and an alarmed, booming roar burst forth in an effort to startle the boy.

"VALERIAN!" he snarled, hoping to be heard over the battle. "Stand down, boy. She is a friend of your father's!" Surely that would be sufficient explanation. Even so, the dappled Savante would hustle toward the two, and aim to shove his shoulder into the younger man in an effort to push him away.

Breaths came out in short pants from his long and quick trek toward this spot, crystalline eyes darting between the two as the surprise of what he'd stumbled upon came over him. Perhaps Valerian had been too young to remember the last time he'd seen her.

-Valens is attempting to interfere-

@Valerian @Aelynthi

It was the ruckus of a fight that drew the king. Luring him like a moth to flame, though in this case it was also a sense of duty that compelled him. This was his home, it needed to be protected. However, as he approached he would find the figure of @Valerian fighting with a stranger. Nostrils flared to bring in the foreign scent, she was no enemy. His brows would knit together as he crouched down hiding among what little shrubs and flora could be found along the border.

It was good to see members defending the pride, though he was curious how this had started, he was content to see how it played out from afar- for now. As the battle wore on, another figure would arrive issuing a command to stop. Ronins ears came forward at the command, confused. Ah it was his fathers friend. His ears would flick back. The warmonger did not care if the stranger was a friend- she was not of the Oasis…she was not allowed entry. Lips would twitch slightly, ready to stand and move forward, but he would stop himself. He could address this later, away from prying rogue eyes. Unless necessary, today he would not intervene.


—Ronin is attempting to hide—

She hears the sounds of a scuffle at the patrolling borders, her curiosity begged the better of her and she mushed her way through the sands before coming to see the sight before her. What in the?! She quickly paddles her way closer before aiming to move to the other side of the women and starring up at @Valens as she waited to see if he could manage to get @Valerian off and away from the fighting. If he had Sivvy would loop around between the men and make herself next to the woman and examine her quickly. " .... goodness.." she stated loudly and worried. She hoped that nothing too serious had happened to the parties involved. She hears Valerian speaking of that the girl was a friend to the family and immediately she stood higher and if possible, made sure that the other could stand up okay. " A...are you okay?" she asked full of worry.

@Aelynthi VS. @Valerian FOR dominance
— DEFAULT —

Due to an interference by Valens, this fight has defaulted.

AELYNTHI HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR DOMINANCE!

Please allow the challengers to respond to the fight results first. As per the site rules, if 3 days go by without a post from the challenger(s), they can be skipped. Whichever comes first! Any posts made before this will be removed.