Freckle was ready, narrowed amber eyes tracking the movements of the older cat with boundless confidence. He was unfraid to tackle this opponents, as he was with all things.

She rushed at him with a snarl, and Freckle felt grasping claws tear into the growing muscle of his left shoulder, and with his lowered stance, a second slash torn upon his right cheekbone. He wasted no time shifting forward with a determined furrow of his brow.

Freckle's right paw raised to attempt to slash at Lunaire's left shoulder with his claws. Using his smaller stature (as he was not yet fully grown) he attempted a simultaneous lunge of his jaws toward the mauve woman's throat.

He kept his balance evenly amongst his grounded paws, his ears flattened and eyes narrowed. His joints were not braced, instead standing limber for ease of movement. The yearling's tail flagged behind him as a counterweight.

Freckle vs. @Lunaire
for Gentry
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 2d20: 18 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 9 + 20 + 4 + 16

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 7 + 16 + 10 + 3 + 20 + 5

stock © nikita burdin, lines © riot, code © hinter

Her claws would meet flesh, the sweet smell of iron tinging the air, her nostrils flailing eagerly as she scent met her nose, her tail lashing wildly as her mind began to become muddled with bloodlust. The stinging pain of the smaller boy's daggers against her shoulder would bring her to growl, crimson gaze peering at him sharply as her lunged upward at her throat. She grinned, attempting to lean her weight into his movement, embracing his grasp while attempting to shove him against the ground, her jaws agape to try and grasp whatever part of his skull she could get a hold of.

She felt exhilarated, excited to seep scarlet from flesh, to paint the battlefield a mosaic of red- but rage still fueled her. What would she have to accomplish for Luther to give a damn? Would he ever care? She did not know. And for that, she wanted to inflict pain.

Lunaire vs. @Freckle
For Gentry
Round 2/3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 8 + 14 + 1 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 7d20: 4 + 20 + 7 + 17 + 18 + 14 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 14 + 13 + 9 + 4

{ooc: I didn’t see mention of dmg from the R1 jaw attack so I assumed it hit!}

Freckle felt the claws of his right paw and teeth make impact on her flesh. He had hunted before, but the thrill of the contest, an opponents blood upon his tongue sends adrenaline through him as they clash. It was very different, but thrilling all the same. He quickly rebalances himself by returning his right paw to the ground.

His lunge upwards is met by a jarring movement of her neck and Freckle’s neck jolts in painful protest as he suddenly finds himself shoved toward the ground. With balanced limbs he resists this, despite the sharp ache of stressed muscles from the unexpected weight. He feels teeth lacerate to the top-left side of his crown, just before his left ear, puncturing skin and flesh. With both his ears already flattened, it was safe from tears or grasps.

Freckle attempts to lunge again with parted jaws, this time for the muscle of her right front of shoulder, wanting to bite deep. With the weight pressed upon him, he did not attempt an attack with his claws; preferring stability with claws digging into the muddy mire ground.

The boy kept his eyes narrowed, ears flattened and limbs now braced for stability, his tail levering behind him as a counter-weight should he be further pushed.

Freckle vs. @Lunaire
for {Gentry}
Round {2} / 3
Hits:

Rolling 2d20: 13 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 14 + 9 + 7 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 9 + 17 + 6 + 4 + 16 + 14

@Freckle vs. @Lunaire FOR Gentry
— DEFAULT —

Due to not posting in time, this fight has defaulted.

@Freckle HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Gentry!

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.

The boy had not expected to win, not so quickly. When he realises it he disengages with heavy breaths and narrowed golden eyes, shoulders rising. There is a swell of pride in his chest and he sniffs, wiping his snout on a shoulder before he seeks the Mire King’s reaction, glancing to @Alaric and then more importantly, his guardian’s. He seeks to snag @Bruno ♔'s gaze with a triumphant look, his neck arched and hanging off the curly-maned man’s expression.

“Don’t underestimate me.” he warns the gathered; especially for the ruby woman who had doubted him. Called him a child. Pivotal, immense, this moment is to the spotted young man.

stock © nikita burdin, lines © riot, code © hinter

It was interesting enough watching the fight for Gentry. Vera was intrigued enough to stay and see who would be victorious, ultimately the boy earning the rank. She huffs to herself, a bit miffed that the woman hadn't won but that was normally how things went anyways, unless you were the bluffs of course. The antisocial teen had no interest in socializing with her new pridemates and instead of sticking around she would move back through the thick undergrowth. Her fur was made for the Mire, it was so easy to blend in. The smell of the mud in her fur however was something she might never get used to. Yuck. She cast one more glance over her shoulder before moving back through the bog, empty words lingering on her tongue.

exit.

[sleuth exp]
+5 Infiltrate a group thread without getting caught (2/2)
+5 Practice disguising your appearance (2/2)
+5 Practice hiding your scent (2/2)

code to pine

“You could barely defend y' previous title. Maybe a child would do a better job.”

He could have howled with delight. Something flashed over the prince's gaze and he did not bother to fully disguise the smirk crimping at his features, fond mischief winning out over the decorum required of him. Perhaps part of him was living vicariously through the wily boy, speaking out against the injustices a frigid woman brought against him. The thought was quickly dismissed.

For, just as quickly then, his sights were set upon Cairidan once more. The starlit lion had managed to descend upon the red lioness speaking out against Freckle, this position notably more comfortable for the prince than his seat by Giulia. Bruno's adrenaline grew by the moment, the situation quickly frenzying into a pair of fights: Freckle and the pink one for the rank, and Cairidan seeking reprimand against the naysayer. He flexed his barbed claws into the mire itself, eagle-eyed and eager for his allegiance to reign victorious.

The one so quick to claim she was more equipped than Freckle bowed out after only a moment. Even more surprising, (though it felt a betrayal to admit it,) was how his young ward rose above the little woman. Bruno hesitated no longer, striding forward until he stood there in the center with the boy and attempting to shove their shoulders roughly together.

"Freckle has proven himself," the prince decreed with finality, his gaze narrowed with potent pride as he looked out upon the small crowd. Ultimately, their attention would shift then to the seasoned king in hushed anticipation – the only one who could officially hand over such a scepter.

---

@Freckle @Cairidan @Alaric

Another scuffle breaks out and it briefly pulls his attention, but does not hold it for long. Astarte backs off and so his focus returns to the fight before him, the one that was vastly more important. Silently he found himself rooting for the boy, though he could not exactly put his toe on why, even as he did not expect him to win. He was small, yet, after all, and Lunaire was vicious.

But...

It happened so quickly he could not make sense of it, but Freckle stood victorious and the woman lay at his feet. A misstep, perhaps? No matter, though, for there was no doubt that the young ward had proven himself. "Ja," he speaks up in the wake of @Bruno ♔'s declaration, "he has."

The wheat king stands and shakes out his heavy mane before taking a step towards the boy -- "use your title wisely, @Freckle." A half-smile pulls at his lips and he flashes Bruno a quick look before he turns away. "Well done," he calls back over his shoulder as he walks off, disappearing quickly in to the thick of the Mire's underbrush.

-exit-

His whiskers quiver and his shoulders rise as the boy- no, young man- settles from his exertion. He glances as @Bruno ♔ comes to his side with a certainty in his voice and an announcement that makes his heart squeeze with joy and satisfaction. Bruno thought he'd done a good job - a great job, he'd extend to guess. Freckle arches his neck and enjoys his limelight, in that moment feeling invincible.

He awaits with bated breath the verdict of the mire King.

"He has." the wheaten lion agrees and Freckle's eyes widen, supressing the urge to crow his glee and leap about. But he remains steady and intense, stifling it for later. He tries to look tall and mature amongst the adults. "I will!" he promises without hesitation, his nerves melted away and a deep pride and confidence taken ahold of what felt like the fibres of his being. The approval, acceptance - it was addictive. He beams a toothy grin, his gaze flitting to Bruno as the king takes his leave.

"Thanks." he says simply. For believeing in me. For sticking up for me.

With that, Freckle too departs, making sure he was out of sight before he broke into a sprint of boundless energy as a loud whoop of glee rises over the mangroves.

/exit Freckle

stock © nikita burdin, lines © riot, code © hinter

She doesn't fight; instead, @Astarte attempts to leave, but Cairidan would not let her go unscathed if he could help it. Though she manages to duck out of the majority of his swipe, he bares down on his paws, allowing the rear from his previous attack to give him the momentum needed to attempt to bare down onto her. Unsheathed claws attempt to rake into her shoulders, hoping to use his weight to try and shove her into the ground and hold her in place, rather than raking into her flesh. If she were trying to escape, he would prevent it any way he could.

Cairidan vs Astarte
for Dominance
ii of iii

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 20 + 16 + 10 + 9 + 6 + 14

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 12 + 5 + 9 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 10 + 1 + 2 + 18

---

OOC: Sorry this is coming so late! I was never tagged, so I didn't know you had replied.