don't say it's love!
your fragile heart feeds my contempt

Anthonius was surely delusional - as were anyone who agreed with him if they thought that his was purely because Anthonius didn't agree with him. How mindless, how selfish a thought. How absorbed in himself was his brother? This was about Anthonius endangering the people he claimed to care for - over and over.

There was no choosing the Dieudonne over them. The Dieudonne no longer had anything to do with this. Alexander cared only about protecting the family and in this moment, and in many, many previous ones - Anthonius was not a protector. He was not a hero. His brother was the reason every Savante would now be hunted down.

Camellia. Csitri. Lilliana. Florentina. Celestia.

The others they held so dear.

And his children.

His own brother had put a target on his children's head.

Deliberately. Without hesitation. Without care.

It was unforgivable.

As Ryker enters and spews his mindless, pathetic observation, Alexander's nose wrinkles - teeth flash as those dark lips tremble with rage. His heart slams in his chest, the blood in his veins igniting. The Savante did not abandon easily, the this decision was not easy. Yet it was clear that Anthonius obsession with power, with being someone he was never born to be, was going to be the downfall of the family he had always sworn to protect.

"Do not speak of things you cannot comprehend, boy." It was his only warning, but Ryker did not seem like he was interested in much conversation. The desire to attack, Alexander knew was there. So the beast was prepared - even despite the Firnen Sovereign's suddenness. As he moved toward him, the crimson Savante turns to face him as fast as he can, finding his back half still somewhat turned. His opposite leg spreads out slightly to ensure his balance.

Fangs hit his shoulder, lacerating through flesh like butter, causing the Savante to snarl in response. Blood already began to trickle down his leg, causing the already bright red of his coat to shine. Due to his previous re-positioning, the claws going for his right wrist were slightly off-point, but not by much. The talons still rend the limb, but further up a bit - not quite near that delicate tendon that would make it hard to walk. Pain ripples up his leg, causing it to spasm briefly as he lets out a low grunt.

His opponent wasn't going to cripple him so early.

Jaws part suddenly, during this time he's moving, attempting to slam the right side of his head into the left side of Ryker's as hard as possible. Teeth flash at the same time, attempting to snap at the male's eyes, or the side of his cheek - whichever was easiest to access in this one, swift motion. The bite, if it landed, would have all the force of his headbutt behind it, which would likely hurt his teeth, but he was willing to take that risk.

Alexander vs. @Ryker
For Major Maim - TBD
0 1 2 3 4
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 20 + 15 + 1 + 17 + 7 + 8 + 13 + 11

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 16 + 11 + 5 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 20 + 12 + 18 + 11 + 8

postscript by aurora & lyrics by kamelot

There was a moment of eerie calm, as if everyone had been holding their breaths. Sunder was still on edge from the Cove being challenged for, and perhaps that would never leave her, especially now when she was swollen with @Kvare's children. But when whispers circulated that another challenge had sprang forth, Sunder was called to go. It was the Bluffs this time and immediately her mind went to @Louve ♔ and @Amara. Two of the strongest women she knew, of course she would go in support of them. But even Sunder knew the dangers of attending a pride challenge, and truthfully did not want to get caught up in the mayhem. She would pause on her borders, letting her chuffs echo across the cove, summoning @Typhoon and @Skjol, two very capable men. "I need you both to attend the challenge with me, keep an eye on the proceedings. The bluffs are an ally and if things go south, we help them in any way that we can." She would address the men before making her way towards the bluffs terrain, companions in tow. She was slightly restless but remained stoic and unyielding on the outside. By the time she made her way across the borders her icy gaze would land upon Amara and the challenger. On the sidelines she also spied @Ryker tied up with another man, though both Savantes that were involved were completely unfamiliar to her. Strangers. But nonetheless, her main priority was the challenge and hopefully seeing Amara be victorious once more. However, she couldn't help but be intrigued with all of the talk about disowning, apparently the man that was challenging was being excluded from his own family? Interesting indeed. [sleuth exp] +5 Gather useful information on an enemy pride (Alex disowning Anthonius) +5 Learn a character's name (Anthonius) +5 Learn something interesting about a character

art by hush

The lioness felt great relief when her husband did not question her motive to bring the children, she gave a small smile as he took her side, though it was shaky and a shit job at hiding the nervousness that she was trying to mask underneath. She barely brushed her muzzle to @Rykers cheek after he'd spoke to her, not even having time to answer when he spotted Alexander and moved to avenge her.
Her eyes briefly met @Anthonius's, an eyebrow raising as if to say, welcome, but they stand on opposite sides no matter what now, whether he falls from grace just as she had, or finds himself winner or loser of this challenge, The Savante had long before this moment had grounds of Hell slobbering and snapping for the chance to break their chains and descend.

She could feel @Kireena move to stand close to the children, her own attempt at standing over her children did nothing as @Iskra moved to her side, head lowering and letting a snarl loose from her young jaws, Lucifer took her other side and proud as he watched his father, and Levana could only hold her head high, emotions not betraying her in front of so many others. The Firnen lioness would watch her husbands fight intently, tail twitching behind her, the only sign she showed any anxiety, her eyes were torn away when @Amara came in, melting into existence as if she were apart of the Bluffs herself.

""The star patterned lioness is Amara Dieudonne, Queen and High Sovereign of Wolfbron. She is a fearsome woman to stand on opposing sides with. "" Levana speaks to her children, and to Kireena, though she expected the colossal woman would already know, the piebald lioness gave a shaky inhale as her attention went back to her husbands fight.

+5 observe a fight (Amara vs Anthonius) +5 Observe a fight(Alexander vs Ryker) +5 (Sharpen your claws) Typhoon Devoree was a man of actions, straightforward and aware of his need and how to obtain them. And challenges were always a good entertainment for the Devoree as they brought in him a long lost desire to learn and throw his own paws into conflict. Yet he knew better not to mindlessly go into harms ways if there wasn't a real benefit out of it. He wanted to rise but doing so smartly, with his head before his muscles. As such he followed @Sunder's command without questioning. It felt weird to be under someone's rule, but he wanted to be on the Queen's favor and he would do any and everything to win her over and make himself trustworthy. Trust oftentimes meant better positions didn't it? He nods and sits down near her. Keeping a close eye to the surroundings , sharpening his claws with the rocky soil, making sure they were sharp enough, he wanted to be ready for anything.

Code by Shaz - Art by Vasilia

His father’s call reaches Dragos even as far away from it all as he wants to pretend he is. It shatters that little idyllic life, reminds him of his duty - to Leila and their children first, but also to the rest of his family. He cannot leave his father in the Bluffs alone, even if the warning call had been to stay away. The children are asleep when he leaves, but he kisses their growing heads, and breathes in Leila’s scent - makes her promise to stay here, with their cubs - and kisses her goodbye. And then he leaves them.

He arrives too late to stop the bloodshed, but he catches the heated words between his father and uncle before Ryker launches himself at Alexander. Anthonius and Amara are already underway by the time Dragos draws near the border, stopping himself from stepping over it. There is no stopping this now, and he wishes he could, even if some dark and evil part of his soul wants to see Amara bleed for the fear she put in Leila’s heart. But beside that selfishness, he can see the frayed ties of the peace Alexander had bargained for snapping, one by one, because of this. Did Anthonious not know of the ceasefire? Or did he not care about the danger it put their family in, reigniting this war between the two families?

Dragos scans the crowd, quickly determining that he is entirely alone. And that… is good. His heart thumps hard and fast when his gaze passes over the Dieudonne hound and his mate, and the other angry, blood-thirsty Diuedonne looking for a target. He has made himself a target, but Dragos is resigned to it. His family would stay away, and be safe, and he would take the heat. It's better he is the one here, isn’t it? He's responsible for this war. He's the one that deserves what’s coming. All he can do now is wait for Alexander to free himself of the battle, to see the end of this challenge - whatever the outcome.

ART BY DRIFTY, CODE BY LARS

Scorpius

 

How fitting that his first outing since regaining his strength is to see the Bluffs be challenged for. The call isn’t made, but another - one he knows the voice of - warns the Hollows clan to stay away. Curious, but not enough to check it out, Scorpius doesn’t bother moving until he notices his darling little sister - his heavily pregnant sister - waddle her way out of the Summit.

For fuck sake, @Léonie.

The cubs are ordered to stay home, but Scorpius has little faith they will listen once they see their father and aunt heading to the noise. They are, after all, their mother’s children. Scorpius never did anything foolish in his childhood, not once. Never.

Regardless; the colossal Miroslav heaves to a stop beside his sister, already out of breath. He still isn’t as fit as he was before the Andal challenge; the poison had sapped his strength, and he’s little more than a shadow of his former self, still. He remains standing while his sister sits, an obvious show of being a wall between their enemies and the life within her.

"I hope he shreds her," he murmurs softly, so only Léonie can hear. "Maybe we’ll have a true ally out of him." Imagine the Dieudonne falling… Scorpius can dream. He has little expectation of it, however; Amara is a longstanding queen, after all.

artwork • coding

A call let out for their allys throne and Livyatan lifted his head from his paws, for a moment he remained as he was. Laying there at the mouth of his den, then with a grunt he was up and walking. Most of his fat had been regained and he resumed his naturally burly shape. Quietly he walked towards the bluffs, he did not hear a call from Alaric or Bruno that would mean he should pick up the pace.

Upon arrival Livyatan noted the many faces in the gathering crowd, majority he ignored. However he did notice @Tinúviel and let his yellow gaze burn into hers briefly before bowing his head briefly. Livyatan had a burning affection for the woman ever since she helped heal him. Still, he walked towards Alaric instead and would guard his mentors left back flank. Noting the cub close by to him, he made no noise except a huff to announce to @Alaric that his person wardog was here.


Guarding Alaric's back left flank

ART BY IRISH / CODING BY SENTINEL

Fangs bared in appreciation when the show finally arrived. This female queen was a fiery braggart. Just how he liked them. He liked them a generation or two younger but she was still GILF material for sure. He watched the beginning of the fight, enjoying the energy of the start, figuring he'd wander the crowd if he got bored. But the crowd came to him. A young lady @Etain was looking at... him? He straightened up with a charming, lazy smile, but dropped the charm and strained his lips when he saw that she was too young to hit on... but he bet her mother wasn't. And she was asking him about his place of residence? Shit.

"Um." He hadn't brought his conniving, child support evading brain today. "No. No idea what you're talking about. I walked through the savanna a few meadows over, maybe that's what you smell? It probably all smells the same to you." Yeeep girl Aurochs was nothing special and definitely not your father. He pointedly looked back to the fight. Maybe ignore the problem and it would go away?

LUCÍA

She should not be here but seeing both Papa and tía leave the mountains only meant that she should naturally follow behind them. The young girl was finally coming into her own. Her legs didn't quite feel like jelly anymore and she found it much easier to keep up, but still that walk was exhausting! Lucía skips up to make her way towards her papa @Scorpius, managing to wiggle her way past @Léonie's super big belly to weave herself between papa's front legs. She sits, a proud bemused expression on her face before speaking, "That lady is bonita no?" She asks then, wondering why on earth they would be cheering for some smelly man when they could be cheering for the much prettier lady! Politics were not something that the young girl grasped, at least not yet anyways.

---

*tía - auntie
*bonita - pretty

code by flea, art by yumpy

Allure had never been particularly big on violence, but challenges often provided a wealth of information that could be invaluable to someone who had just entered these lands as she had. The sounds of conflict drew her in, surprised to see how large the gathering already was despite it looking like things had only just really started. She had no investment in either side and wasn’t looking to get caught in the crosshairs of whatever feud seemed to be playing out between the different factions, so she took a seat to herself on the sidelines. She situated herself somewhere she could watch all the drama, take note of any injuries, but where she couldn’t be mistaken for taking a side, apart from the rest of the crowd on the neutral side of the border.

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