After speaking with @Morrigan ♔ and making it official that she was going to call a training Isla did not wait too long to set the plan in motion. She had woken earlier than usual, mostly due to the fact that her brain was filled with thoughts and ideas on how she should run the session and would not quiet for the life of her. So when she noticed the sun beginning to rise through the entrance of her den she would emerge into the brisk morning air, giving herself a quick shake to bring herself to attention.

The Heiress would begin to make her way toward the designated training area that the pride used, padding along the perimeter as dual colored eyes observed the surroundings. She noted a stray rock or debris from the hardy vegetation within the area but would not remove them - and for good reason. By the time Isla was ready to call out to her pride mates the sun had risen a bit more, not quite the afternoon but close enough to it.

Jaws would part and she would release several loud chuffs, announcing her request of those who could hear her, both young and old. Even to those that did not enjoy partaking in the violent acts fighting revolved around, for it was always important to know how to at least defend yourself when (not if) the time came. Once her summons ended she would stand and wait patiently, wondering who all would show.

ooc; due to double xp i strongly prefer for this thread to move quickly, so first round of posts will end on 3/10. if you are unable to post here before then i believe another type of event will also be taking place this month that you can throw your lions in!

ART BY NAVARRE, CODE BY LARS

usually when he’s called for these things, it’s for a hunt.

imagine his surprise, then, when he finds no trace of any prey in the area… only @Isla ♔. she’s just standing there with a commanding air, and immediately he knows something is afoot. a little frown furrows his lupine features as he stops, pulling up short. quicksilver eyes narrowing, just a touch. whatcha doing? he asks, a little suspicious — sensing a trap, even if he can’t figure out what it was. of course, it’s going to be some sort of exercise or manual labor… which is probably the worst thing she could do to him. but he waits, curious and nosy besides, eager to hear what was going on. that is his curse, and today he will suffer for it.

or learn from it.

whatever.

BG & CODE

Violence was a big no for the white scout. From a young age she had done her best to stay away from fights or situations where she could end injured. Mostly because she was a rouge, and injuries as a poner could be fatal. But now that she was on a pride, perhaps such drastic policy wasn't as needed. Yet it was an habit too hard to simply forget, years long of thinking she needed to watch over her back every time, sneaking and using her skills to avoid direct conflict. But maybe she could atleast learn how to defend herself.

As such she didn't think it twice before answering the heiress call, arriving just in time.

BG — ART by SleepyKyju — CODE

you made your
sceptre with the
bones you've broken

Though the burdens of the current political climate still weighed heavily on the dark cloaked Queen's shoulders, she still seemed to carry an air of lightness she had lacked since her recent memories of grief and rage. It was no doubt thanks to the earliest signs of swelling at her wife's belly and the godsblessed union that had brought such changes about, handsome icelandic husband included.

These joys could never fill the voids left behind by what had been lost, but for a time they certainly acted as a soothing balm. @Isla ♔ stood massive and noble as she waited on her students, with @Virgil and @Pandora beating the High Sovereign there, her son asking the question many might be wondering, though Morrigan already knew the answer herself. Isla was the one in the lead here, while her mother would serve as merely another student.

table by ferus, art by grav3wolf

It was quite obvious by now that Talisa was expecting. Though, it was also clear that these children were a little more weight on her than the litters she had carried before. Every step she took felt like she was shaking the earth beneath her and yet instead of focusing on how much she weighed, she was focused on how excited she was to even be pregnant again. That being said, she was happy to follow @Morrigan ♔ to @Isla ♔'s training event but even if she threw the towel down, she couldn't participate in good conscience. So she leaned on her wife briefly before leaning herself down to her stomach and letting her back legs push to the side. That, however, she didn't have a choice in as her stomach easily pushed them out to make her body not hurt quite so much.

^{ART BY CUSH, CODE BY CALA}

Maven doesn't think she's ever been called to any sort of meeting before. Not anything official, at least, nothing that wasn't orchestrated by her own parents.

Technically, @Isla ♔'s call is for everyone and not just her specifically, Maven realizes that, but she is struck by an anxious sense of urgency when she hears it. She doesn't want to be late! She definitely couldn't be late if the pride's own leaders were holding an event!

So, despite the early morning and the tiredness weighing down her petite frame, the dark-furred girl would hop out of her den, trotting her way over the rough terrain she'd begrudgingly learned to navigate and heading straight towards the training area. There were a few lions already there, she noted, quietly sliding her into the group so as not to disturb anything. Of course, she recognized Morrigan - she cut a grand figure that was impossible to forget. Virgil too, she thinks she's seen around here and there.

She ended up sitting near @Pandora's side, because while the snowy lioness certainly still towered over her, she was marginally less intimidating then all the other rugged mountain lions that the petite Maven couldn't help feeling a bit out-of-place amongst._{BG — ART — CODE}

Slowly would they begin to arrive, the first one being @Virgil. Dual colored eyes watched as her brother came to a stop, noticing his look and grinning at his words. "You will see soon enough." The words would be purred out, attention then flicking over toward @Pandora. Although she had seen the white woman around she had yet to interact with her, so with a nod of greeting toward her she would begin to pad around, pacing back and forth.

Her mothers would arrive, and both @Morrigan ♔ and @Talisa ♔ would earn a soft smile and nod. The Heiress' eyes would observe the obvious swelling of Talisa's belly, the sight bringing an even warmer smile to ebony lips; she was always happy to have more siblings. The last to arrive would be @Maven, and to say Isla wasn't a little disappointed with such few members that had shown would've been a lie. Even if she wished for them all to join she wouldn't allow herself to dwell on it any longer than needed.

"Alright then," the wildcat would begin, voice loud and tone clear. "I've called you here today so that we can engage in a little bit of defensive training." A short pause, eyes looking at each lion. "It's no secret that tensions have been rising in Amaryllis for quite some time now. Already it has caused several wars, and I think it is safe to say that it is possible another one is on its way." The more important question was when would it happen? "I want us all to know at least the basics of defending yourself, so that if you're ever in a fight and you either know you won't win or you just need to make sure you take the least amount of damage possible in a fight, you'll be able to recall back to this day and what you learn."

She had begun to pad around them in a wide circle, tail flicking every now and again behind her. She would settle herself back in front of the small group, her shoulders rolling, "I'm sure our High Queen would be able to give out pointers and other ways to defend yourself, if she is up for the task?" A brow would rise as gaze was directed at Morrigan, the corner of her lip twitching. "Now I need a volunteer to help me demonstrate some maneuvers." Expectantly gaze now looked at the three capable bodies, knowing full well that Talisa should not engage in anything strenuous unless her life depended on it - and Isla hoped it never came to that.

ooc; next round will be posted 3/16, or if everyone that is participating has posted!

ART BY NAVARRE, CODE BY LARS

Ink tendrils danced across dusky lavender haunches as he made his way to the group. Not to fight, although he likely needed the training in defenses, but to observe for the sake of dressing any minor wounds. A satchel hung from his lips, made from a dried stomach of some unfortunate canidae, bearing a salve stored in a smaller hollowed out gourd for basic scratches and shallower anomalies. Slit pupils danced around those in attendance, quite pleased with the turnout for the matriarchs' sake. Smaller numbers, but they'd always been a smaller pride. Umbra haunches settled against the rock within the backdrop of the working lions. He trusted that @Isla ♔ would recognize his attendance as a bystander and not force him into the fray. Although he'd fought for the pride, with a nice facial scar to prove as much, he was not outwardly capable of fighting and knew this to be his weak spot. Others, such as those present and willing, were much more capable guardians for the mountain pride.

big sister isla decides to be mysterious instead of explaining, and his eyes narrow just a little at the way she grins. she might as well twirl her mustache evilly while she cackles, too. okaaaay, he says, obviously suspicious of the whole situation but he remains where he is. curious, of course, and a good sport if nothing else. he glances to @Pandora as she arrives though the woman says little, and certainly doesn’t shed any more light on the situation. hmph. he shoots a smile to @Maven, recognizing her as alastor’s friend ( the one who was worried about virgil squishing him! ), and tries to get her attention. psst, hey! he says, giving her a little wave as she settles down with pandora, glancing as the two sovereigns arrive. mutti looks fat and mutter seems stoic as always.

so, no help there either.

hmph.

finally, finally, @Isla ♔ begins to speak. ears tip forward as she begins to explain, though they immediately slide back to lace against his skull. awww, shit. this wasn’t a meeting at all! this was a trap! this was basically his own, personal nightmare — he’d been lured here under false pretenses and now he’d be expected to do things?! mann, this was the worst. his shoulders rise, boxing up around his ears, as if he’s trying to blend into the surroundings. he only hunkers down more when isla calls for a volunteer.

well, don’t everyone jump up at once.

with a loud, and heavy sigh, the wolf prince shoots a look to all those gathered ( aside from maven, because he didn’t want to peer-pressure anyone younger than him, and talisa, who was fat ), hoping to impart his disappointment in them. i can, he says to isla, even if he’d rather be doing anything else. of all the events for penrose to miss, of course it was this one. still, Virgil wanted to learn — and didn’t want to cheat the others out of their learning opportunity.

he’s making this sacrifice for them, and he hopes they understand that.

+20 Participate in a group training event
+20 Participate in a group or pride event
+40 Learn something from a Master of your trade ???
+10 Wrestle with another character for fun or sport ???
+10 Learn a new fighting move ???
+10 Slack off or shirk one's responsibilities ???

BG & CODE

Morrigan couldn't help straightening up a bit in her own pride at the already plump form of her beautiful wife coming to join her, the public visual of their latest blessings clear for all of them to see if they were paying attention. Unfortunately, Morrigan was here in a more professional capacity this time and so she could only return @Talisa ♔'s affection briefly before rising once more to observe what looked like would be a pairing of her two grey giants, @Isla ♔ and @Virgil. "If anyone else wants to pair up, I'll observe and give pointers this time." She didn't like not getting to participate herself, of course, but she had come to understand she was running out of time to pass on her years of hard earned knowledge.

coding & image by flea