The cubs having more freedom within the pride was both a blessing and a curse. She could now allow them to play and tire themselves out while leaning somewhat on the rest of the pride to keep an eye out for them, trusting that no one within the Plains would stand by if harm were to find its way to them. But with recent troubles, and the fact that they did still have a prison amongst them, she worried that dangers could find their way past the borders far too easily. She had been walking the borders not too far from where the trespasser had crossed, not yet having discovered the scent trail leading in, when the sound of trouble reached her. Leave! It was the yearling she’d recently brought home from the passage. The Heiress dropped low in the grasses, creeping closer to see what was happening. Her first instinct when coming on the scene was to intervene, to step out and make her presence known… But she hesitated. So far, this young intruder seemed to be alone, and her girls were unharmed, with Wolfgang standing near them. Khadija seemed to be preparing to fight, if the command was not obeyed. As much as she would have liked to step in, her motherly instincts raging at the idea of a stranger getting so close to her daughters, she was more interested in seeing how this played out. How her members handled the situation, and what her daughters reactions to it all might be. If things escalated too much, she would be right there to step in, but for the time being, she remained hidden. Renfri is hiding

Art by Navarre - Code by Vasilia

The dark queen moved through the grasses, stalking like a venomous snake about to strike. Her dark eyes narrowed when she heard the shouting, and she quickly moved toward the edge of the territory. She made her appearance, she could see a few of Renfri and Aeistrios’ children, @Wolfgang, @Faline, and @Khadija. Reah moved so she was standing beside Faline, and she harshly stared down at the yearling girl who had decided to trespass.

Right now it seemed like the brave Khadija was offering to defend the territory, and for now, Reah would not intervene. Instead, she spoke words of poison. You’ve chosen the wrong place to trespass, she finally said. She didn’t care what excuse the girl had to make or what she was going to say, she was going to pay for what she had done. Especially when she had come so close to Lorien’s royalty. Just as Renfri had come to defend Valtyr from the prior trespassers, Reah would come and protect Renfri’s daughters from whoever this girl was.

@Etain_{BG — ART — CODE}

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

The yearling hadn't moved from where she was, so very clearly trying to make herself small, seem harmless. That, she'd learned in all those months alone. Be small. Big only made things worse. And she'd been content being small, but the more she actually took in everything, the more she realized how far she'd gone where she shouldn't be...just as the male had said when he suddenly appeared. "I didn't mean to...really," she said quietly, lowering her head, partially averting her gaze to try and hide the scar that marred the left side of her face. Unusual, older looking yet not entirely healed, as if something was wrong with it. "I know I should have been paying attention, but I was so eager to explore and see things that I must've missed the border. Should've known better than to wander around when I know nothing of this land."

Her gaze darted from @Wolfgang to the two cubs before she slowly got up, shaking a little to get some dirt off. "I'll just...." she began, already in the process of turning, when a yearling came storming closer. Floppy ears pinned back and she placed her paws in a wider stance, snarling as she squared up to @Khadija with bared fangs. "There's no need for yelling." Despite the display of some new attitude, her tone was still somewhat calm as she spoke. More younger ones and an older one arrived, but the youth stood her ground after first being challenged by the other yearling, tail flicking from side to side. She didn't make a move, instead merely letting her gaze wander from her challenger to the others. Should the other yearling decide to make the first move, she'd be waiting. But Etain seemed to have no intentions of striking first, especially since she had intended to leave, only stopped by the challenge. Her next words, still calm though with the subtle hint of a growl, were addressed to the older female, @Reah, who had spoken. "So a mistake where no harm was done or even intended is the same to you as trespassing out of malice?"

---

@Khadija vs. Etain
Dominance
0/3

code by corvus

They are well within the bounds of the plains, and Wolfgang is not surprised to see more emerging from the proverbial woodwork. He sees @Faline approach first - a new addition to lorien, like himself, as he understood. Then @Khadija had approached with a sharp tongue for the lurking intruder. She is not his child to reprimand, and although the gentry would’ve rather her mind her manners til he could further assess if this bold yearling was actually a threat, they were deep enough within Lorien that he understood her tension.

Wolfgang is more worried that more of the littlest cubs are emerging, convening upon their sister and Wolfgang settles his stance to better guard them all. Wolfgang eyes @Siofera, @Setri and @Seifrienriosa carefully. He could only hope they’d stay bundled together ’til he could scout the nearby borders for any further intrusions. It crossed his mind, considering they were absolutely at war, that this could be a sneaky distraction and the real thread peeling cross their borders as they spoke. He purses his lips at the thought.

He is a little more relieved to see @Reah closeby, and her words for the bronze girl are sharp.

He is quick to assess the options, neck arching as the girl turned. She had seen the new royal cubs, seen their lands. Who knew where she could take such information.

Leaving the king’s cubs in the protection of Reah, Wolfgang slips forward with a narrowing of his brown eyes. “Forgive the contradiction, my Sovereign,” he muses, “ But I think she should stay until we know more.” he rumbles; setting down a claim. “What if she has been sent by our enemies?” Of course, if so ordered he would oblige her orders but he was not such a forgiving creature, not when he had been entrusted with the protection of this land.

The scent that wafted along her small nose was... different. Odd. It didn't smell like home and it didn't smell like her parents - all of which was everything Lorein seemed to encompass. Brows furrowed, and it was then that her dual colored eyes landed upon a larger figure. Her voice beckoned her closer - and she was almost tempted to. Cub curiosity and all, but she didn't get even an inch closer before another arrived.

Attention turned to @Wolfgang , bodice twisting around itself to peer at his dark brown, looming form. He seemed displeased as he spoke to the figure Seifrienriosa had found - and her ears swivel forward to listen to the exchange. @Faline joined her as well - and at this, another cub young like her but... bigger, older, had her jaw slacking. She didn't think there were others in the pride! Or, really she just hadn't met them. She stared, perhaps a bit too much, before a smirk etched her lips- a paw batting out at her in play.

It was clear the rogue figure was forgotten, danger a far thought in her mind with so much of the pride showing up to protect her.

@Khadija arrived with a demand, one enough to break her playful attempts with Faline, to be nosy at the drama about to unfold. Her sisters, @Siofera and @Setri emerged to the scene as well; one bidding her to be careful and the other bristling in pelt. "We're safe." Seifrienriosa comments, her head nodding to all those who were here - and still arriving, because @Reah came forth with her own statements to the rogue. Seifrienriosa tunes out the conversation between adults now - and instead focuses back on @Faline. She even tries to nudge her sisters, hoping to get them to focus on the other cub, too. "She is small too! But not one of us." A small pout almost, noting that Faline was not, in fact, a sibling. The pout didn't last long and Seifri went back to attempting to playfully pat at her frame, as if to test if she was still there or not.


""

code by scorpixia♡︎

Faline

I'm gonna wait out past the shadows, and breathe the bitter taste, I'm gonna drink the lonely down, I can feel it all around

Suddenly, they weren't quite so alone.

Backup arrived in the form of more cubs and more adults. With each arrival of a Lorien lion she felt more and more at ease, the fray of her fur around her plush neck falling flat, her kitten-like claws receding back into the white fur of her paws. Wide and wild eyes were at first trained upon the commotion of the adults and their intruder, not quite understanding everything of which they were saying but comprehending that this woman who smelled of rogue did not belong here, had blatantly thrust herself into lands that were not hers.

The sudden appearance of @Siofera causes her attention to finally waver, gaze turning to watch the cub sidle up alongside her sister. It were not too much of a stretch, at least, for Fae to think them so; they looked similar enough. When @Setri joined, too, Fae suddenly started to feel slightly outnumbered; but she wouldn't let her curiosity waver. She was contently star-struck until she felt a little paw starting to reach out to her; when she turned, she watched as @Seifrienriosa began to bat at her. Her nerves eased a little, a small smile unfurling onto her lips at the invitation to play. Perhaps this weren't so frightening after all, despite the raising voices and fervent tension lingering between the adults.

Fae playfully leaned her chest down, angling herself to face the other cub, her tail lashing out behind her giddily. Though she were older, her smaller size aided her, but the sisters before her now were equally (or more) tiny. I can still play! she insisted, her smile growing slightly, now oblivious to the chaos that descended around them. Right?

code by cala, art by yumpy

Khadija Al-Najma

She perhaps was overreacting, but she was taught to act quickly in this type of situation. And seeing a stranger this deep into their pride lands had been enough to settle her into protection mode. And she didn't want to risk it, she needed to act now even if the adults might disapprove of her next actions, she was just doing what she thought was right. Doubt was there, with now so many eyes placed on her she was struggling to focus, her fighting skills were pretty much on a beginner's level. So even more pressure over her shoulders.

"Yes there is reason for us to be this wary, what do you expect if someone we don't know comes into our home and close to a cub?" She said before getting on a fight stance. She wanted to teach this trespasser to be mindful next time. Perhaps a mere dominance match will do. Nothing too serious but intense enough to bring a point across.

Finally, she rushes Etain head-on with lowered ears and winkled maw. Quickly she turns to the other girl's left side attempting to wrap both front legs on each side of Etain's shoulders, for simultaneously attempting to bite on her scruff. Not too hard, but not too soft either. She was trying to get a firm grip there. Her back legs were spread and her tail was upwards for better balance.

Khadija vs @Etain
Dominance(tresspassing)
1/3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 20 + 5 + 4 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 1d20: 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 1 + 3 + 19 + 18

+10 Intercept a trespasser

code by corvus

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

The claim being brought forth by @Wolfgang didn't surprise the youth. Moreso that it had only come now. But she didn't get the chance to respond when the one who had challenged her made the first move. There was nothing she said in response to the words from her challenger. Dual eyes darted briefly towards the cubs, making sure she wasn't too close to them for this. She didn't want them in danger over this, even if she didn't know them.

With a deep growl she crashed into Khadija, twisting her own body in an attempt to evade her grip. Graceful like a slithering snake, but the same head on aggression as a charging bull, she sought to dig her claws into her opponent's soft sides while sharp fangs snapped at her shoulder, seeking to get a firm grip there. Keeping her back leads spread slightly, tail moving to keep her balance to keep her from falling back too far.

Etain vs @Khadija
Dominance
1/3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 12 + 3 + 7 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 1 + 13

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 3 + 7 + 4 + 20

code by corvus

Khadija Al-Najma

It was clear she wasnt the most skilled fighter out there. This was one of her very first real fights, and she lacked the proper knowledge to know how to fight skillfully.

The other girl's body twisted in a way that make her jaws miss their intended spot, as her fangs reached the upper back instead of the scruff while Etain's own claws went for her sides, which created bloodied scratches and with Khadi's busy jaws and paws she wasnt able to block them. Feeling the itching from those fangs digging on her fresh she aimed to keep her bite, aiming to keep herself firm on her opponent. While her front paws sought to get hold of the Etain's shoulders wanting to try to keep her in place, wanting to dig her own claws on Etain's skin.

Khadija vs @Etain
Dominance(tresspassing)
2/3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 20 + 4 + 3 + 14

Dodges:

Rolling 1d20: 19

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 4 + 15 + 8 + 1 + 3 + 13

+1 luck from the Lead scout being present

Summary: Khadija got successfully clawed on her sides and bitten on her shoulder while her initial attack landed on the upper back instead of the scruff. While aiming to get her fore paws with claws out on Etain's shoulders.

code by corvus

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

In a different situation she would have been impressed by Khadija's willingness to fight despite little experience. And though she hated to admit it, even to just herself, she was still somewhat impressed. Etain on the other hand had been in her fair share of fights, though those had been less about skill and more about survival won by brute force. And while she lacked the graceful skill of a properly trained fighter, she displayed a combination of using her size to her advantage, even if it didn't do much against someone closer to her size, and vicious strikes to sensitive points.

Feeling the fangs sink into her back as they missed their intended target, Etain gave a muffled growl as her own fangs tried to maintain their grip. Her body lowered ever so slightly from the pressure applied, but the claws digging into her one shoulder brought her closer to the ground. Her claws of one paw dug into the ground as she tried to use all her strength in an attempt to throw both of them over, partially by throwing her head and attempting to tear at Khadija's shoulder while using her paw on the ground to throw up a mixture of dirt and snow in an attempt to temporarily blind her.

Etain vs @Khadija
Dominance
2/3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 19 + 10 + 9 + 4

Dodges:

Rolling 2d20: 16 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 17 + 3 + 7 + 6

code by corvus