After how things had gone after the last challenge the cubs had snuck out to go and witness, she hadn’t expected to be invited along this time. For once, there was no hesitation from Iskra as she set off, eager to finally get to do something exciting. She noticed the way her mother seemed to freeze once they arrived and saw who it was that was challenging for the pride, but she pushed away when her mother tried to gather them under her. She stayed close enough to her side that it would still be easy to pull her back and defend her, but she wasn’t a baby. She hadn’t come here to hide between her mothers legs and weep until it was over. Her eyes found the red man quickly, the one her father had explained was their mom’s uncle, until he had… what word had he used again? She wasn’t sure, the details hadn’t seemed particularly important then, but she knew he was an enemy. Her fur bristled, lips peeling back from her teeth as she let out a small, but ferocious, hiss towards the Savante men, claws digging into the ground. If she had been bigger, older, she wouldn’t have hesitated to throw herself at the one who had attacked her mother. She was smart enough to know that doing that would only mean trouble, and perhaps some public humiliation, so she would stay at her mothers side for now. But if a target her own size came along? All bets were off.

art & code by vasilia

+5 Observe a fight (Anthonius vs. Amara)

She wondered at the sanity of those who dared to challenge the Bluffs. They had to know how well defended the place was, and what would happen even if they won. She had no doubt the retribution would be swift and deadly. But here was yet another thinking he could succeed. She was reminded of Xerxes' words when she had joined, and was eager to watch Amara put yet another challenger in their place.

She heard a male calling out, warning others to stay away, but as his voice wasn't one she recognized she came regardless. Besides, this was her home, and she'd be damned if she didn't show up. It would be a great way to get her newly earned title stripped from her, she was sure. Besides, she was far from unwilling to sink her claws into someone and draw blood that day.

She did arrive before the battle could start, which meant she didn't miss out on anything. Excellent. It was a rather large male that stood in challenge for the throne, but she knew that meant nothing. She herself had brought down males of his size before. Not often, but she had.

The golden lioness heard the call and picked herself up, shaking her cost and moving to the borders, she sees her husband and her son already there and slides against Tripfire, leaning on him. She had been so sick and finally she felt able to pick herself up, her muscles no longer screeched when she moved.

And she snacks as she sees the man challenging for her home, and his red brother, she remembered them, their coats giving them away and she feels her eyes dart to find her son, no longer a baby, but her worry would never cease. Not when she could close her eyes and still see his body pinned under that beast.

Pyracantha bristled at the thought and lowered her head, her shoulders widening as she took a defensive stance.

Odette had never been to the Bluffs, but when she heard the summons belted across the lands- she could not deny the curiosity that she felt. She approached the border, her eyes surveying the stark change in the landscape from their home- when she scented the familiar scents of her father and the new king, Bruno. She does not speak as she approaches them, coming to take a neat seat near them. She would watch and see what she could learn from the fight that would surely take place, both in the art of battle and the lessons of herbs and medicine by studying whatever wounds would come of the battle.

ART BY KIM, CODE BY LARS

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

[[his claws are poisoned, but as he doesn't have the submaster perk yet, it's just for flavor. you can take it into account or not <3 ]]

It was, of course, inevitable. It seemed every season someone wanted to try their luck against the, thus far, unshakable force of Wolfbron. Ryker had witnessed multiple challengers leave in disgrace - or on one occasion tumble to assumed doom. So the call that drifted from the bluffs was not at all surprising and, indeed, inspired more amusement than worry.

@Levana and the cubs had been gathered, the kids getting a strict talk from their mother before they left, and Ryker would bring up the rear as they led their little family across the expanse to the bluffs. It would be their first visit to his own first home within Amaryllis, a place he'd never known under anyone's rule but Amara's.

Even so, he made a detour before heading out. To coat his claws in the same poison used in his own recent challenge. The effects had been very interesting, but a larger data pool was necessary.

Upon arriving, he'd initially take up position so to keep as many of their cubs as possible between himself and his wife. An unimpressed snort coming as he realized who'd made the challenge, "Y'know," he leaned toward his temporarily-ex-queen, "there are cleaner ways for him to kill himself." The Diudonne were not likely to be merciful, after all.

And then came a voice that snapped his attention away from any impending pride challenge. An ear turned toward @Alexander ♔ as he spoke, and Ryker did nothing to resist the sneer that came as he separated himself from his little family group to turn toward the man who had, by luck, escaped his claws the last time they'd been near each other.

Ryker had not once sought the man out, but how could he pass up the opportunity so neatly laid at his paws? "So, that's really how your family handles disagreements? Just throw the whole member out?" A scoff, unimpressed, "Fuck, man, you guys have some serious issues don't you."

Until then, his posture remained reasonably calm - if characteristically cocky - but his stance shifted very suddenly. He never expected to catch the man by surprised, not really, but that didn't actually matter.

Ryker's charge was sudden, aiming to come in at Alexander's right side. Fangs sought to catch the meat of the larger male's right shoulder, while the poison-coated claws of his right forepaw would reach forward in an attempt to hook around the inner side of Alexander's right wrist and rip toward himself in the hopes of rendering that paw too painful to move effectively.

Ryker vs. @Alexander ♔
Major Maim (tbd, probably broken jaw)
Round 1 / 4
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 4 + 13 + 1 + 8 + 11 + 2 + 20 + 5 + 3

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 17 + 1 + 16 + 9

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 15 + 2 + 17 + 10 + 6

I'm a wild boy, ready to destroy

code by corvus

the lion who came towards her first was a male with the scent of a rogue. for a brief moment, faustine came into her senses and her body halted its excited trembles. still the corners of her mouth collected saliva, but she wasn't the feral beast from just seconds ago. now, faustine was curious, for no lion would speak french to her unless they knew french was her language. she had heard of news that there was a return of family...someone closer than just a distant relative. they spoke his name, it was--

oncle @Xavier uncle xavier, faustine said, acknowledging his presence. she wasn't quite sure to whom he was directly connected to but his presence here was a calming one. dieudonne blood acknowledged dieudonne blood, no matter the relation or age. faustine pulled her lips into a smirk, for she was joyous to receive such a compliment from an adult. ma mère m'a bien appris my mother taught me well she said. and, as if @Louve ♔ had heard her, she too appeared, speaking to xavier at first. this near, faustine could see some resemblance, from the strong head to the fierceness in their eyes. faustine took in her uncle's scent - like that of a son bred of nobility in his veins - and allowed him to stay close. however, her mother's words caught her attention and faustine took it into her heart. whosoever crossed the border, unless they were ally and family, will be met with her claws and fury. no one will dare desecrate their holy land. let there be blood, let there be terror.

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

This was exciting. The first time they were encouraged to venture away from home, and it seemed it was for a fight. Even the warning from his mother did not dampen the thrill, and Lucifer would follow the family group with energetic steps and bright eyes.

It was a stark change, rugged rock in place of grass or even the lush greenery of his home. His claws scrabbled in a strange way against the rough surface, but the sensation soon became a background noise to the hum of the crowd. While his mother aimed to tower over them, Lucifer himself would wriggle out to stand beside her instead - soon joined by their father. Though his presence was short lived.

Intrigue gleamed in the boy's pale eyes as his father's attention shifted to a male matching the vague description his mother had given. Lucifer did not fully understand whatever history was playing out, but often found his father's attitude infectious. Which, now, left the boy sitting, chest puffed out with pride and gaze shining with anticipation, fully expecting to see his father defeat another larger lion like he'd done with the red lady who had, surprisingly, become part of Firnen afterward.

Soon enough, he was joined by a familiar presence. The boy had grown quite a bit since their first meeting, standing nearly as tall as Sébastien himself. @Mars would be met with a slight smirk, "Ah, oui." He'd found the taste of blood less pleasant after a fight, but there were some instances where that was less important than the meaning of the act itself. Consuming the very essence of an enemy was more about power than sustenance.

Attention shifted, then, to another familiar face as she joined him on his perch. The girl from one dark, inquisitive, night. She was a strange thing, but not unpleasantly so. Her taunt pulled his small smirk into something more pronounced, the tips of elongated fangs peeking out. These bluffs lions had an energy he found familiar, a comforting current of violence beneath a civilized veneer. "Oui, ma petite goule."¹ Regret he shall.

Or, so Sébastien hoped. He didn't care to find out how the pride may change under someone else.

Soon the girl's voice was echoed and her taunt encouraged, and the pale beast allowed himself a small chuckle. Such theatrics, it was almost like being in his homelands again.

¹ Yes, my little ghoul (affectionate).

@Lazare

Je repars à zéro

Non, je ne regrette rien

code by corvus

Some lady from the Bluffs was calling for allies and friends, and Aurochs was neither of those things but he could pretend. There wasn't much that was beneath him if he saw the chance to catch a piece of tail. And he definitely did. So much anger here and already one fight started, though it didn't seem to be the one the onlookers were begging for.

"So where's the challenge here, come on," he huffed horselike, immediately impatient immediately upon arriving. The ox boy was here for bloodshed and lust and until some lady caught his attention he'd rather be watching a good pride challenge than whatever all this jeering was.

He glanced around, stiffening his legs for another few inches, then shoved his way toward an unoccupied boulder. It was like him. But bigger. And red. He scrabbled atop it and stood with a big sigh, obviously quite proud of himself. Good vantage point: acquired. Hot ass: seeking.

+5 Witness drama between prides
+5 Use the terrain to your advantage

GOD KILLS INDISCRIMINATELY AND SO SHALL WE

After the clarion call from the matriarch, the uncle beast joined the cavalcade. The Bluffs teemed with the voices of native French and the trusted suggestion of shared blood. Here was where he was happiest. He could not, however, smile, but bared panting fangs and fiery eyes said enough. His neck rested in line with his spine, his entire form a-skulking, angled and boxy frame all ease and confidence despite his scars and the thinning of muscle that living as a rogue had brought.

He settled standing behind and aside from @Louve ♔ within earshot but with a strategic amount of space between them, to better intercept threats or launch out for attack. One did not wish to entangle limbs needlessly... unless against enemies. He laughed drily.

Against the blood rock of the Bluffs he twisted his wrist and drew his claws like chalk marks, sharpening them against the terrain that had always been theirs. He watched Ryker attack that male who had twice fought him for the Hollow and imagined, quite naturally, that his friend wanted to avenge him! Who would not want to avenge Vermier? And such sweeping zest!

-- WB joining in progress

+5 Observe a fight
+5 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws or care for teeth)