He was not the fastest to see what was happening - but he still came.

It was perhaps the first time danger lurked to their lands, someone looking to steal from what was theirs. A frown was on his dark face as he stalked, growing paws bringing him closer, the aftermath already concealed as he arrived at the words of @Ryker . His eyes sparked at the idea of there being a prisoner.

Ears swivel forward as his father commands the leave of those gathered - and Haider finds himself eager to see what other chaos might break out. He does not leave yet, but stays aside on his homeland, observing.

He is glad his father won - glad he put the rogue in their place. He found it funny she thought she could best his father - didn't she know of their strengths? They might not be a large pride, but they were one who could hold their own. Haider chuckled at the idea of people underestimating them.

Maybe she shouldn't have been coming to the challenge hurt, she limped still, her head lowered not to cause the healing wounds to rip open, but the whimpering call for Ryker from her daughter and her son heading to the fight had her on the move. She eyed everyone as she stepped out to hear her husbands words, she quickly went to gather her children up, eyes softening as she looked at Abbadon.

Her ears swivel as she listens to the going ons around her, she doesn't realize her breaths are so shaky until she steps beside Ryker and feels her chest vibrate from the rattling. Maybe it really wasn't a good idea to push herself this far but she'd deal with the consequences later
.

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

As it all continued, the bronze girl paced, growling, snarling, hissing. A mess of emotions the longer she watched. This was new, confusing even. Challenges were something foreign to the girl, but she'd come and watched anyway. How could she not? She had to support her. Had to find a way to help.

Her eyes grew wide when the fight was over and the oddly patterned male had come out on top. No. That was not how it was supposed to be, how it was supposed to go. Paws kneaded the ground, claws digging in as she tensed. Prisoner. Did he just say that? Oh hell no. Before she knew it, her paws were moving. And unlike others who didn't belong, the girl didn't move to leave. No, she was charging.

Did she know what she was getting herself into? Unlikely. All she knew and registered in that moment was that this man intended to keep @Kireena ♞ prisoner. To take her away. And she was not going to let that happen. No way. If she had to fight someone to stop it, so be it. But her mind didn't even get that far. It was stuck on the terrifying thought of being all alone again. On being unable to stop whatever terrible things would happen to anyone becoming the prisoner of any pride.

And so, with a roar more fierce than any sound she'd made before, the girl charged towards @Ryker like a raging bull, only to stop inches before him. Though she wasn't fully grown, she was already on the larger end, easily to be mistaken for a grown lioness if it weren't for the slight chubbiness and youthful look. Puffing out her chest she squared up to the male, floppy ears pinning back, fangs bared. "You don't get to take mama away. Not yours to take."

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

code by corvus

Odette watched with wide eyes as the two lions clashed in a flurry of claws and teeth. The sheer violence of it, shook her but she remained- her azure gaze locked on the fight. She watched the twists and turns, noting the movements- trying to freeze them in her memory.

At some point a red female who smelled of Ecrosia joined her and Odette offered a friendly smile. "Odette Starke." She introduced herself to @Arjana, nodding politely, before her gaze was snagged by the movement of the battle as another arrived- an ear flicked towards him as he spoke to the female, but she did not look his way again.

The male, the ruler of the Rainforest had barreled into- coming from behind and Odette would remember that. She didn't have to face every fight head-on and should use her speed as a offensive thing. She smelled blood, and could see places where it ran from the lions, and her eyes widened, at the sheer ferocity of the movements. The wounds becoming apparent would need careful tending, and she wondered if the Rainforest had healer. Yet, when the command to leave was issued- she did not intend to stick around much longer to find out, or be a nuisance.

-exit Odette-

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

Waking up with the bloodstains
My state of mind is a hurricane

The first voice to reach him was his daughter's, as she approached, with one of her brothers following shortly behind her. @Abaddōn's whimper was...something newe, but, then, this probably was the first time she'd seen him in any kind of danger. Maybe she hadn't yet understood where all the scars had come from - and there would almost definitely be more added to the collection after he healed. The flame of fury faded somewhat, transforming into something more determined, protective, as he turned his gaze to his daughter, "You're safe." Physically, and she would not be forced to move across Amaryllis, back to the place he knew he could retreat as long as Amara ruled.

His tail flicked to tap at @Levana's hip as she joined his side, but any victory party would be delayed both by the lingering spectators, and more immediately by the young lioness who chose that moment to charge forward as if she might continue the fight.

She wasn't half the threat his fallen opponent was, however. Young, and a bit smaller, so he didn't move an inch. Fangs bared in a growl, "Like my home wasn't hers to take?" No, he thought keeping her prisoner was incredibly generous since it seemed like he could just take the easier way out and kill her now. "Mama's gonna be staying a while. But," his expression shifted into a cold smirk, "who am I to separate a kid from her parent. So you'll be staying, too." His estimate of her age dropped when she spoke, though he supposed it might be a language issue rather than an age one.

@Etain

I'm a wild boy, ready to destroy

code by corvus

She had taken time to catch her breath, to assess her wounds after the collision with the ground. Hi daughter being what it was, Kireena probably shouldn't have reacted in haste but she lay, beaten, but certainly not broken. When @Ryker claimed her a prisoner, the red giant huffed a pained sound as she attempted to get to her feet if the reigning king would let her. "@Etain, love, help me find a den...". She murmured softly, hoping that she could help the girl through the next few hours and tend to her own wounds. She was dizzy and near collapsing all on her own but hoped that by distracting the younger female she would escape Ryker's wrath.

code by koi

For once, the Rike has no shortage of company it seems. His charming grin is easily turned upon @Astarte when her crimson form materializes out of the overrun greenery to settle herself neatly as his side. Precisely where his little pet should be.

She bends his ear with a conspiratorial whisper, and he smirks when he follows her fiery gaze over to the rather distinctively-marked gaggle of ankle-biters huffing and puffing rather ineffectively on the other side of the borders. Ryker's spawn? They certainly looked eccentric enough. "Playink matchmaker already, are you?" He huffs with amusement as he glances back at his wife, though his gaze does slide towards her belly with a glimmer of impatience. Maybe not yet, but surely soon. And then, well... "Vee shall see."

For all his internal snickering, Rainer is rather pleased to see Ryker bring the challenger to heel. The Rainforest ruler had sheltered him once before - So long as he remained a King, it might be worth it to discuss an official alliance. Perhaps the children could play a role in that. But he does rather hope that the mohawked man's sons grow to have better luck in the hair department. If Rainer must marry off a daughter, it might actually be more embarrassing for her to be seen with a man who'd misplaced half his mane than to stay unmarried.

But that's a matter for another time. Right now, Rainer would hate to distract the Rainforest's ruler from hosting his charming guests. "Come. It looks like vee'll have to find our entertainment elsewhere for now." He stands and stretches, flashing @Arjana another roguish smirk before beckoning for Astarte to depart with him.

This isn't likely to be the last time he pays a visit to Firnen's borders. Unfortunately. Would it be crime if he waited til it was a little less humid? Giant balls of frizz weren't often taken seriously in conversation.

+5 Observe a challenge and learn the results

/exit Rainer

Show me the fear under your skin

Life is a game, are you gonna play now? Should I run away? Are you gonna stay now? Who can you trust? Are you one of us? Tell me where you got your gun. Tell me whose side are you on. Line 'em up and tell them run. Light 'em up now one by one. Are we the hunters? Are we the hunted? Are we the monsters? Show me the fear under your skin.

code by corvus

Watching what was going on she noticed @Rainer and nodded her head to him. "So it seems." She replied but reminded quite afterwards. Giving a smile she acknowledged him but wasn’t really in a chatter mood. Instead she watched the battle between Kireena and Ryker closely. She was rooting for the red woman but wasn’t going to openly show it as she wasn’t completely sure of the situation between the prides. She knew at one point they were tied in an alliance, but wasn’t sure how Bruno saw things under his rule. Still she didn’t want to do something that would jeopardize the mire. Still she would secretly support the lioness she had met in the burnt woods.

Watching with disappointment as she lost the orange faced lady shook her head softly. Being in this place felt - strange. Like she had been here before. Like she was supposed to be here. She couldn’t figure out why and it was giving her a headache.

It was time to leave anyway and hearing Odette give her name she smiled and nodded as the other mire lady took her leave. Soon the male who had spoken to her took his leave as well. With everyone else leaving Arjana decided to do the same.

-exit-

code by shelby

His hiding place worked well enough and thankfully he was able to get a good view of the fight. A smirk would take hold on his muzzle the moment he witnessed Ryker render the challenger a prisoner, a brow arching in response. He liked this man a far deal more than he originally thought, which made his inclination to join the Forest even stronger. Rising slowly the patriarch would weave his way back through the forestry on soft feet, being sure not to draw unwanted attention to himself all the while.

exit.

[sleuth exp]
+5 Practice hiding your scent (2/2)
+10 Sneak into a pride or group without getting caught (2/2)
+10 Remain undetected in a large group thread (2/2)

background, art © irish, code © hinter

Seifri makes sure to keep her scent covered - going to lengths to apply more soil from the Rainforest floor to her bodice to ensure she is hidden. She had learned their soil is softer, moist - different from other lands. It was unique, and something she hadn't encountered before. Her spot seemed to be proving well to her advantage, covered from sight and yet giving her the chance to see it all.

The two fight - and only the two. Ryker and the unknown woman, but alas it seems their ally bests her and comes out on top. This causes her ears to flick forward. She is intrigued when he takes the challenger prisoner, but even more so interested when he takes @Etain as prisoner too - the girl once having been in shackles in Lorien as well. Apparently this was her Mother. Keeping this information, Seifri waits a few more moments before she takes her own leave from the scene; heading straight to the Brook to inform her mother of what had happened here.

+10 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters) (Sle)
+5 Practice hiding your scent (sle)
+5 Learn something unique about another pride’s territory (Path)