From his perch within the rusted rocks, above the twist of shadows that shift in inexorable motion, it was easy to fancy himself above it all. There were none here he loved so he could feel that truly. It was a surprise for the Bluffs queen to keep her mount. Based on his impression from the gawky yearling that had attempted to recruit him, he assumed discipline was lax and decline was inevitable. But he was incorrect that their lack of poise meant a lack of strength. They were savage brutes and they pursued the challenger until he fled at the heels of a slavering beast. He marked this as something of interest. His king may wish to be avenged... and he seemed in poor shape to do it himself.

The air grew cold. His stillness did not generate enough heat, and the stench of blood and adrenaline mixed into a ranking odor. He had disguised his scent with clay but it would not pass a sniff within conversant range. It was time to depart, slipping himself down shadow by shadow with fluid ease and little hesitation. He didn't want to draw attention to himself by being overly careful. So far as any distant onlooker was concerned, he belonged here and he was headed off on business which belonged solidly on the lawful side of things. That was he was departing - surely, one would not question the departure of the Bluffs member, when there was so much to learn and track, allies to notify and blood to shed.

-exit

(2/2) +5 Observe a fight (anthonius vs amara)
(2/2) +5 Observe a fight (ryker vs alexander)
Sabre doesn't care that he doesn't get the answers he was looking for. His attention was stolen by another, more brutal, attack that had started. He'd watch the two lions literally fighting for their life, and the challenger seemed to be lucky enough to find an escape route and seize the moment. But his attacker is hot on his trail, and with guard dog lets out a deep and heavy sigh. There was so much more chaos and carnage than he'd seen in quite some time, and a part of him was jealous he wasn't apart of it. The two challenges he had been following had already come to a close and he was ready to head out of the Bluff's territory. Giving Levana and Ryker another glance he begins to move, helping where he is needed and exiting to head back toward the Rainforest once everything was taken care of.

exit Sabre.

_{background — art by drifty — code}

louve's eyes do not stray from the fight. she watches intently, sees every bite, every gouge, every tear of claws. apollinaire bleeds but anthonius bleeds more, and for only a second does her gaze flick to @Alexander ♔. there is a knowledge in her eyes that one day his brother will pay with his life for this, whether it is now or in the near future. apollinaire would not stop, and as he clamps the bastards neck in his teeth she is certain he will be finished today.

and then -- he is gone.

slippery little creature, running like a damned "coward!" a vicious snarl as she takes a step after him, stopping only when her husband leaves, hot on his heels. the tether holding her to attention snaps and she blinks, only now aware of the rest. "go," she snaps to any that linger, "leave."

she would stand guard until they were all gone, these spectators, and then she would track down her husband and his prey one way or another.

-exit via staying put-

I am not a woman, I'm a god

code x art

One by one, each clash comes to a sudden end with a vibrant splash of blood. The two scarred women rip away from each other, the half-blinded woman losing more of herself here today, though the violent details are lost on the edges of Maven's peripherals. The focus of her attention remains upon the dusky, wolfish man, the one who had once caused her father so much harm. Her breath quickens, and her heart pounds - but before she can give in to any foolish impulses, the beast is leaving his white-maned opponent behind, turning his attention instead upon the mottled man who had sought to take control of these arid cliffs.

It's not enough that he had suffered defeat at the brave paws of the star-speckled Queen, apparently. No, it seems the rabid creature seeks to take Anthonius's life, as well.

The wolf is not just a maimer, but a killer.

Maven thinks that she should turn away, but her paws will not move. With bated breath, she watches transfixed, muscles quivering with a tension that could go nowhere. She doesn't know what she possibly expects to happen - what it might look like when a lion was truly killed.

Thankfully, she will not have to learn today.

The tension is released with a whoosh of air from her chest when the battered male makes his escape. She knows nothing about him, nor what had motivated to try to challenge for such a vicious pride, nor even why the warriors here look at him as if he was a hunk of meat - but she does know that she hopes he doesn't stop running anytime soon.

And with that thought, Maven finally spins away to make her own retreat to safety.

/exit Maven

+5 Observe a fight (Amara vs Antho)
+5 Observe a fight (Teo vs Louve)
+5 Observe a fight (Apollinaire vs Dragos)

You're only sixteen, going on forever

art + code by sammiie

I put my armor on

show you how strong I am

And so the battle concluded. The small lioness remained on the sidelines, a grin on her lips. She felt...satisfied with the result she'd witnessed. Satisfaction that the male had lost. Ears perked up as she rose to her paws, tail flicking behind her. With everything over, there was nothing left to do and she definitely wasn't going to stick around and end up doing something stupid.

With a last look to her pride mates, Cer turned and slowly trotted along the border. Her attention remained on her surroundings, on guard, but ultimately she made her way back home.

Exit

code by corvus

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

Floppy ears remained laced back, a low growl slipping past her lips. The girl wasn't overly content with dealing with the younger kids. Especially not with the attitude they were having. But they really needed to leave.

And she wanted everyone else to come with them. There wasn't anything else they could do and the best thing they could do, was to get home and make sure that everyone who had gotten injured would be alright. But she also couldn't just command every pride member who was still around to leave. That was a right she didn't have. And so she briefly looked around before turning around and trotting back home.

Exit

code by corvus

+5 Observe a fight (Anthonius vs. Amara)

It wasn't surprising to her that Amara came out on top. When would these males learn? At this point, she was beginning to wonder if perhaps the Dieudonne woman was invincible. She certainly seemed that way. Dysnomia couldn't help but admire her abilities. They were impressive, to say the least. If only she could figure out how the woman did it. Perhaps it was simply practice, again and again, on those who dared to think she could be beaten. Well, were that the case, she would have to practice more herself.

Time to go, she thought, though of course she lingered slightly to ensure everyone who was supposed to leave did. She would think they weren't stupid enough to remain, but since she'd already thought they weren't stupid enough to challenge in the first place, she supposed anything could happen.

-exit dysnomia-

He could not help but cringe every few moments when claws found too much purchase upon flesh. There was no sport there – no grand back and forth, but a pitiful display of cowering and chase-making. Bruno glanced quickly to his companion, curious to see what he might find in her gaze – curious if Morwënna was well-versed in such matters. Even he, acquainted with death from his nursery days, had not been there to witness its summoning scyth.

Nor would he be that day. Quarry dragged itself forth, that hound baying and bristling as it set off in pursuit. The new monarch swallowed to try and clear the cotton threatening to gag him, forcing his attention back to that spotted gentry.

"Enough," he murmured lowly, waiting a moment before turning to try and catch up with the rest of the Ecrosians.

---

-exit- @Morwënna_{BG — ART — CODE}

A lot of things happened that we'll be vague about because his writer gets overwhelmed at the thought of catching up nearly ten pages, so we'll say the ache from his wounds finally became enough to motivate him to find some quiet place to rest and tend to what were surely destined to become new scars. And it seemed the main entertainment was finished, anyway, with Anthonius scurrying away and Amara retaining her crown.

So, Ryker would finally chuff to summon the kids to follow, and offer a glance and a nod to @Levana to do the same. Once they were far enough from the bluffs, she could reprimand him all she liked for ignoring his injuries.

-super vague/late exit for points woo!-

No shackles on the demon in me

I'd rather be dead than average

code by corvus

With the main event over, and her husband now back close to her after his fight, she would look around with no other interest in what was going on, Ryker's chuff for their children gets her attention though and she stands to follow at the back of the line, keeping a watchful gaze on her children. Though more than once her green eyes would stare daggers into Ryker's spine and she hoped he knew that as soon as they were alone, she would be tearing him a new hide for his recklessness.

All the cubs walked behind their father, some trying to weave around his paws to badger him with questions, and any other day, she would have called for them to behave and stop badgering their father, but she felt like he deserved this a little bit. Her mouth remained shut, tail twitching irritably behind her as they made their way home.

(Following Corvus's Lead Here! Short and Bland Exit)