Clouds hung heavy in the light morning sky as the Viking made his way to the Cove's border. It was not a secret that he would be back, even telling Sunder that he would not stop until he were King of this beach pride. Having a family fueled the already raging fire in his chest, the need to support and find their own land to rule and thrive in greater than ever before. Some may seem him a fool for repeatedly trying to overthrow the leaders here, already having lose twice. But haven't they heard that third time's a charm?

Nostrils flared as he sniffed the air, noting that the woman's scent was stronger than the man he had fought here the last time. Did that mean Sunder was the one he would be going up against again? Yellow eyes bore into the pride's territory, Arkyn careful enough to keep himself outside the border. He was going to try a different tactic today, to see if luring them out from the safety of pride walls - even a few feet - would garner him some upper paw. Letting out a huff of heated air, fog appears like a smoke around his maw, slowly rising and dissipating. The loud, challenging roars that come next create larger clouds of fog, and while the beat released his summons his body would slip into its defenses, ears twisting to keep himself alert, to make sure he were listening for any type of ambush should it happen.


arkyn vs @Sunder
for caladan cove
round o/v

 get on your knees and
bow down

_{ART & CODE}

Surprisingly, she is the first to arrive. Cirilla had been passing when the call echoed from the Cove, and she couldn't help but be curious. Was she about to lose an ally? Brown paws adjust their trajectory as she makes her way to the border of the pride she used to call home when she was a child, and eyes fall upon the figure of @Arkyn. She does not recognise the man, but the Scillian Queen remains quiet as she takes a seat on the border and watches, studying him. Will you keep the family who live here prisoners, if you should arise today? She asks, both from a curious and political standpoint. Men seemed to have a habit of making others prisoner, and she certainly didn't want to see that happen to Sunder.

artwork • coding

Evren would do things different this time. He enjoyed watching from the sidelines where everyone could see. It was pointed out, however, that he would do better if he remained in the shadows- unless needed. So he would give it a try. The boy had heard the challenge, though it meant little to him, it seemed they were going up all across Amaryllis as of late. The yearling made haste to get to the Cove, it was quite the trek but he made it in good time- great time really.

As he got close he would slow down, taking time further from the code to roll in the wet sand, rubbing off the Bluffs smell in his fur and replacing it with salt and brine. Then he would move to the dry sand and roll in it, turning his ebony coat a patchy black and tan. It would work…right? He crouched down creeping along, hugging the shadows of dawn until he came close to the edge of the pride. Ears perked, only two were there. The challenger and @Cirilla. Lips curled in a silent snarl at the sight of her. He hated her. He hated her enough that he thought of stepping from his precarious hiding position, but he remained rooted…for now. He was here to learn, not start shit.


—Evren is attempting to hide—

+5 Practice hiding your scent (1/2)
+5 Practice disguising your appearance (1/2)
+10 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters)

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

"Nullam sodales posuere leo, sed dictum magna feugiat eget."


The spotted lioness had been hesitant to come to the Cove, despite urgings from her companion and ward. She had insisted the leader was nice, the man being like her father gruff but overall alright. She wanted to learn about this pride before committing herself to it. Zabrina was eager, Svea was hesitant. The protector heard the call while she was on her way to the Cove, what would that mean for @Zabrina? She would hurry her pace to arrive early. Finding only two there. The supposed challenger and a lioness that smelled strongly of a different beach. She asked questions. Svea had one of her own as she came forward, focusing on the man (@Arkyn). "If you win here today, and any women wish to leave, will you allow it?" She asked, keeping to the sidelines and waiting inevitably for her ward to arrive. Svea did not sit, not yet, she stood at the ready, the way she always had, ready to protect. Hopefully she had healed enough to be able to run, if necessary. Her mind once more flashing back to her friends escape and the damage it had done. She would do better.

We played war and I got killed

Too damn young to ruin our past

code by corvus

The call for a challenge sent a chill through her bones and as Eisa rises, she is quick to answer it. Though she cannot fight for the throne she will be there to support it and fight anyone else who dared to take advantage of the moment. She arrives, a snarl curling her lips as she stares at the male who sought to take the throne from it's rightful owner. She halts, coming to stand somewhat near @Cirilla with soft huff of greeting before her gaze fixes on the male. She is unaware, that she is... related to him as well, as she considers him and waits for the arrival of the Queen to fight for their home.

She cannot help the worry that Ana will be here and will someone how targeted by more violence. She moves away from the Lagoon Queen, to stand on her own to make a place for those of the Cove to stand and watch as she prays silently to Maua and Vellen- to not lose another home. To not... lose this place that was offering her a chance to stand on her own paws. To earn and keep something that wasn't given from her mother. Eisa would not see it fall. This time... unlike others she would not beg the challenger to change their mind. She would merely level a stare on them and watch and wait.

The Cove would not fall.

Lead Fighter gives +1 hit rolls when fighting on your pride territory or an allied pride's territory.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

She knew that this day would come. Sunder had seen @Arkyn prior to this by simply chance alone. She would have been a fool not to ask him if he would continue down this same rabbit hole; but she would have been an even greater fool to think he would stop in his endeavors. Had this been a different person, a different situation, she might have even respected his determination and his obsession. But this was her home, and he was going to have to pry it out of her hands. She took her time answering his calls, she loved the opportunity to keep him waiting, to allow him to mull over his decision a bit longer. She would raise her petite head high, flopped ears preened forward as she sent out her own series of chuffs. Sounding the alarms. Her pride would come because they followed her, they bowed to her, they respected and trusted her. Sunder moves across the sands she had come to love. She could recognize every dip and small hill in the terrain. She could see the area on the shoreline where the best seashells washed ashore. And if you sat right by the water around almost evening, you could get the best view of the sun setting over the horizon. This place was etched in her mind, in her very being. She would not lose it, she could not afford to. But even so her mind wandered to the what if's. She had a family to protect, a pride to shoulder. She couldn't thrust them into uncertainty. When she does arrive there are already plenty of others gathered but she is grateful to spot both @Cirilla and @Eisa among those gathered. Her icy gaze would lock onto @Arkyn who waited just beyond her borders. Pulling to a halt on her side of the beach she would aim to meet his gaze before speaking. "You've made good on your word then. I have a simple request since you've come knocking for a third time - if I fall, anyone who wishes to leave must be let go. Take me in their place, take me as your prisoner if you need. But allow my family to leave this place unscathed." Her words are strong, unwavering as is her gaze. She refused to move from her positioning, her defenses locked into place as she waited for him to agree, and subsequently make the first move. Sunder v. @Arkyn For Caladan Cove Round 0 of 5

art by hush

Khadija wasnt expecting a challenge to initiate against Sunder this soon. But fool fo her for thinking and for forgetting Amaryliss was such a volatile and changing world. Where ambition always lurked around the prides and they leaders. It was perhaps an indistinctive quality Amaryllis had in comparison to other lands she had known.

She arrived with her herb kit and was ready to both fight and tend the wounded should anyone require her assistance. Which she was sure she would be. As the new lead medic, it was just a matter of time.

She lied down with her pouch filled with herbs and mixes. While she eyed those who started to gather around.

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds
+5 Observe a fight

BG — ART — CODE

With her Sovereign (kvare's) words of protection lingering in the back of her mind and knowing that within these walls, she would be safer than she would be outside of them she moved. Body gliding through the Cove's territory and following the scent of her sister without a second thought, locating her as swiftly as she possibly could before picking up her pace to get to her. As soon as she arrived @Eisa's head was somewhat bent in what she assumed to be thought or maybe even prayer. Ana positioned herself on Eisa's right side so that her blind side was to her sister because if anyone else sat next to her they had to be on the one she could see through. Protection and all that, though she didn't understand the feeling or want to put any weight into it she hoped that @Moradin would show and take the position at her right.

In the silence she let her nose work the extra sense power that she had, trailing the one that the challenger wore and finding that there was little marking him. No specific scent that connected him to any of the prides, especially not the Oasis and its miserable sands. If he is from the Oasis, he does not smell of them. She murmurs quietly to Eisa, expressing her thoughts and hoping to ease her own mind in the process. Looking around, she didn't think this was anything other than a power move. I don't think he is here for anything other than that crown. Again, quietly at her sister and pointing her muzzle down so it would be difficult to read lips. No one else is showing allegiance for his supposed rise to glory. He was alone and that, well, Analia was quite familiar with in a sense.

+5 - Observe a challenge and learn the results
+5 - Observe and study a new scent
+5 - Have a conversation about politics

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

Colsun probably has no reason to be here, but the lion feels he is doing his duty to the pride. With cubs on the way, Firnen's political alliances were of the utmost importance and he knew Caladan was friendly at the least. He doesn't know the man's intentions and has no choice but to side with Sunder and the others, but he does find the women demanding reassurance about their safety curious. He's never seen such a thing before and wonders why, all of a sudden, things have shifted in such a depressing way. Colsun won't allow anyone to be taken prisoner (he tells himself, powerless) but for the moment, it isn't his concern. He settles on the sidelines to watch, curious to hear the challenger's response.

+5 Observe a fight 0/2

ART BY SPU, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

Valkyrie knows her father has mentioned wanting a pride before, has even let the words Caladan slip once or twice. She's never thought anything of it; for so long, they've lived in a place where she's called home and she's too young to truly understand her papa's reasoning. It certainly doesn't stop her from sneaking behind him to watch, nor does it stop her from poking her head over the top of a sandy dune to peer down with wide eyes at the unfolding scene. Kyrie doesn't want to distract her father but does want to let him know she's there to support him, so she chirps once and then hunkers down to wait and watch.

+5 Observe a fight 0/2

ART BY SPU, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER