The striped woman from the passage had indeed spoken truth. She had guided him along the deserted mountains until they reached a large opening. @Alexander ♔'s scent lay strong against the border and Za'ire crossed into the territory without hesitation.

His loose hanging jowls dripped saliva as his jaws parted, once again rolling out a very non-lion call. He was confident that the Savante would know his voice well. His roars rang over the many battles he had once spear headed.

Лицом ко мне! Face me! The brute bellowed in his native tongue. покажи мне, что ты еще жив! Show me that you're still alive!

@Dmitri @Anthonius @Camellia @Valens @Teodora @Léonie (if she'd like)

code by corvus

The call was not one that he expected, but one that he knew well nonetheless. His head shot up as the rumbling call went through the tunnels, finding himself in disbelief that he'd actually heard it. At this point, he was beginning to think he was the only one who had followed the Savante here. But, perhaps not. And then the Russian spilled down the tunnel after it and he knew without a doubt that it was him.

Father, he breathed in Russian. He rose to his paws, an answering rumble leaving him. He charged towards the entrance of the caves, until he came to stand before the man he called father, who he idolized and put on a pedestal almost as high as the Mother's.

You have come, he continued in their native tongue, his head lowered in deference to the man who was ever his superior.

art by era, code by corvus

Oh. She’d led the scarred warrior from the Passage under the impression that she was reuniting him with loved ones, yet his semi-rabid demeanor had Léonie wondering if she’d accidentally invited back trouble. It seemed the latter, especially when he so boldly crossed across the border and she opened her mouth to try and coax him back. However, her voice was silenced by his as he called out — presumably for the family — and she sighed, her spotted ears turned sideways, expression unamused and pouty.

The Heiress lagged behind the behemoth, yet as she spotted @Dmitri, she picked up her paws, mouth again opened to call out a warning. And once more she was hushed — now by the younger tiger who, to her surprise, bowed his head to the elder. Léonie was not familiar with their language, and could only imagine what they were sharing between themselves. She assumed that, at the very least, they were friendly.

“HURHUHBHLUR,” came her loud, exaggerated, clearing-her-throat cough to try and wedge her way into the conversation. She moved closer, exchanging a glance between the pair. Then, with a look of very mild, mock shock, Léonie tapped her chin while whisper-cooing Za’ire (@Drifter), “Oh, doll, you have a little— ” Drool.

"Дед..." Grandfather... She croons in a low, rumbling hiss. Ears sweep forward as the the small, tiger striped woman slithers into the scene quietly. A single red eye peers at the great tiger, massive in size and age. An ancient, even comparatively to her. Teeth flash as she moves in close, but it is not affection the Blood Mother shows, no. Her Grandfather had instilled in her long ago a fierceness that had no room for such things. "Мое сердце еще бьется." My heart yet beats. The words string together in a deep, guttural growl - not unlike the Hungarian words that usually leave her lips. This, however, was something entirely different. Something that felt more...her.

@Za'ire

A figure emerges from the darkened Hollow entrance. One that was both familiar and foreign. Father..
Za'ire pulls forward to inspect the tiger before him. His son, yet now far more. A beast to match the General in size. Whiskers raise as his lips peel back into a smile? A snarl? It was hard to tell. But the darker cat was interrupted twice over.

First his attention slides to the striped woman who had guided him home. A pink tongue moves to slide over his lips but it does little to help his predicament. The damage to his jowls caused them to hang too loosely. Yet he was still polite enough to try.

The three are then joined by another as she emerges from the cave system. Маленький красный. Little Red. The elder rumbled as his granddaughter approached him. He closes whatever distance still lingers. A massive paw raises to drape over her shoulder, teeth flashing to graze roughly along her muzzle. Часть моей души умерла в тот день, когда я потерял тебя. Part of my soul died the day I lost you. Teodora was the last remnants that symbolized Za'ire's previous life. A happier life. She embodied the essense of his wife. Of his beloved daughter. Of Dragos.. We have much to discuss. But first.. He nipped at her torn ear before his paw fell from her back.

Za'ire turned toward his son. Staring at him quietly before his body lurched forward and a roar erupts from his maw.

He attempts to slam a shoulder into Dmitri's chest, teeth seeking the left side of the younger male's face.

Za'ire vs. @Dmitri
Dominance
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 5 + 11 + 16 + 9 + 19 + 2

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 7 + 14 + 4 + 15 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 3 + 17 + 2 + 6 + 19

@Teodora @Léonie

code by corvus

Dmitri snorted as the Oasis woman as she walked into the middle of their conversation. It was fortunate for her that she was part of the Oasis, and that he didn't typically fly off the handle at others, because he was tempted to smack her for interrupting. Though, she had brought Za'ire back to them, so perhaps that was enough to earn her a pass.

Thank you for bringing my father here, he said, deigning to speak the common tongue for once.

Teodora was the next to appear, and he stepped out of the way in deference to her and their reunion. Which was, admittedly, short lived as Za'ire pulled away from her and lunged at him. Dmitri supposed he ought to have expected this.

He let out a quiet grunt as Za'ire's shoulder slammed into his chest, teeth sinking into his left cheek. Dmitri raised his left paw, reaching up and attempting to sink his claws into the older man's neck, high up by his ear if he could. His teeth bared in a low snarl, a rumbling sound quite distinct from a lion's.

Dmitri vs. @Za'ire
for Dominance
Round 1 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 19 + 2 + 16 + 8 + 1

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 9 + 18 + 2 + 17

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 15 + 11 + 13 + 8 + 4 + 14

art by era, code by corvus

He hits and his aged boney shoulder was sure to bruise over the next few days. But he cared little. The many aches of battle were now akin to old friends.

His son's claws seer the upper most part of his neck and Za'ire pulls back just to try and lunge again. His jaws snapping like a trap, attempting to ensnare the other tiger's snarling muzzle. It may have looked rough but he was not out to truly injure Dmitri. He was never out to do real harm to any of the men he trained. But they would probably quickly say otherwise.



Za'ire vs. @Dmitri
Dominance
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 17 + 7 + 6 + 4 + 3 + 1

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 6 + 20 + 19 + 12 + 18

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 5 + 18 + 12 + 13

code by corvus

Just as soon as he got the grip, he lost it again, his father pulling back only to surge forward again, cutting off the echo of Dmitri's rumbling snarl as teeth clamped around his jaws and sealed them shut. Little punctures and cuts dot his muzzle, no doubt spilling his blood onto his patriarch's tongue.

With one of his weapons trapped, seeing as he was unable to open his jaws, Dmitri settled for continuing to use his claws. That was what they were for, after all. Dmitri lifted his left paw once more, attempting to claw the older tiger's muzzle, seeing if he could convince him to let go of his face. It wasn't that he cared about his looks or anything, just that his ability to fight was slightly less effective without his sharp teeth and powerful bite.

Dmitri vs. @Za'ire
for Dominance
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 9 + 13 + 5 + 2 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 1 + 11 + 16 + 7

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 9 + 7 + 3 + 17 + 16 + 19

art by era, code by corvus

He feels the pop of his son's skin as it gives way to his large canines. Once he is attached, he seems to still. He makes no other moves as he waits, clearly studying just what Dmitri would do. One could argue that the younger male's options were severely limited. But Za'ire knew better. Dmitri's options were limited only by what he was willing to sacrifice. Sure postioning played a part in the advantages you had. But that was lion nonsense. They were tigers! They were faster, stronger, and above all they were far more fierce! How far would that ferociousness take his child?

Claws hit at his face again. Blood bubbles and beads down his muzzle. He snarls, releases and flings his own paw up to try and take a hard whack toward the other tiger's eye.


Za'ire vs. @Dmitri
Dominance
Round 3 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 3 + 6 + 5 + 16 + 2 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 9 + 13 + 10 + 3

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 11 + 9 + 13 + 19 + 7

code by corvus

An outsider may think the fight is over as Za'ire stills, but Dmitri knew better. Honestly, any outsider probably thinks they're all lunatics anyway, which is fine because he didn't care what they thought and he knows his father didn't either.

He felt the other man release him and immediately knew something was coming up, so he wasn't surprised as Za'ire took a swing at his face. He wasn't keen on losing an eye, so he jerked his head up just in time and just enough to take the whack on his cheek, which did leave some furrows there as his head whipped to the side with a low grunt.

He looked back just enough to get the bold stripes of his father's frame in his vision, that blazing blue eye in the corner of his eye so he can lift his right front paw and attempt to bring it down on Za'ire's face, attempting to whack him on the muzzle.

Dmitri vs. @Za'ire
for Dominance
Round 3 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 19 + 5 + 11 + 17 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 7 + 4 + 18 + 19 + 15

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 7 + 8 + 5 + 2 + 20 + 6