[set within 24hrs of cc challenge]

After they’d made their way through the badlands, the cove had not been far. Valerian felt dusty and irritated, but the walk - and Scorpius’s company - had done a lot to cool his temper. Now the scent of Caladan meets his senses, and he steps over the windswept sands to find the border proper. It looked idyllic. peaceful. Well-sheltered.

There is no signs of Csitri, not yet. His chest feels tight at the thought of her - for beneath that neutral mask, he is worried.

Casting a glance at @Scorpius, Valerian sets up a chuff for an audience, calling forth the leaders of the Cove. @Sunder - specifically, hoping Reti’s information had been correct. And also for @Csitri. There was something familiar about the scent, Valerian thought. But from where, he wasn’t quite sure. Somebody he’d met in passing?

The Savante man blinks to clear his mind, lifting his chin and settling in to an expectant poise to wait. For Csitri’s sake, he would need his levelest, calmest mood.

@Alexander ♔ @Kvare

art © rabbit | code © hinter

Waiting, plotting. It took far more effort than Csitri had expected. There was no good time to make a break for it, not with the Cove members watching like hawks. If there was one thing about the piebald medic however, it was that she didn't give up easily. She'd just been pacing some outskirts of the pridelands when a very familiar call rang.

It was with a chirp of excitement that the woman noted her brother's arrival. Finally! Quick and light pawsteps carried her toward @Valerian, a cheerful call shot forth to announce her impending arrival. Her rescue party had arrived as promised, and hopefully her brother would make good on getting her set free. Maybe he'd even teach Kvare a lesson in manners.

"Val, oh thank the Mother!" she gasped as his earthy form came into view. "These people are fucking insane." Csitri would aim for an affectionate nuzzle to her sibling's shoulder, wincing as her wounds stretched with the movement.

"Have you seen my babies? Are they okay?" wide eyes would peer up at him beseechingly. They had to be. Surely they'd made it home safe and sound. "And Arkyn. Is someone healing him? He was so hurt..."

CODE / YUMPY

Her wounds had not even begun to scab over properly before the hounds were on her doorstep. She expected them to come, had been waiting for them to make it here, actually. Sunder rises and makes her way towards the borders, sending out a quick chuff to @Kvare before she would close the distance between herself and the stranger awaiting. On her way however she could hear the voice of @Csitri crawling towards her. "These people are fucking insane. Have you seen my babies? Are they okay? And Arkyn. Is someone healing him? He was so hurt..." She stifled the laugh that threatened to bubble forth, clearing her throat to announce her presence. "Ah yes, we are quite insane when it is your husband causing such strife. Your children were to remain unharmed, at least from any Cove resident." She says curtly, her gaze flitting from Csitri to finally land on @Valerian. "You come swiftly, admirable." She notes, allowing a brief moment of silence to settle between them. "I'd like to make things very clear, I have no qualms with you or even Csitri, the problem here is her husband. Time and again he has come here, challenged me for my home, fought me in front of my children. Caused bloodshed for no reason. I've seen the man, spoken to him even. I've offered him a place here where his family can have food, a roof over their heads. He refuses, he is the one keeping this going. Not I. Hand him over, and you may take Csitri with you. He is the one my husband wants, not her." She says to him, her gaze level. For the moment Csitri goes ignored, because Sunder already knows that she will swear this is a hate campaign; a campaign to smear her husband's name. So delusioned was the woman to her husband's faults. How delusional was she to not see that Sunder was a mother and a Queen simply protecting what was Her's from harm? Csitri could not be reasoned with and she didn't have the time or patience for it. For now Sunder would await the arrival of Kvare and hopefully Valerian would ponder the information she'd given.

art by hush

It were only a matter of time before they came for her—and came after her they did, without so much as time to breathe after the challenge. Kvare appreciated the promptness, however. No better deals were made than those still covered in the blood of his enemies. He heeded Sunder's call, quickly approaching the group gathering upon the borders. @Valerian was unfamiliar, but @Scorpius was, and Kvare inclined a brow toward the Andal King as he accompanied his neighbor. There was an air of intensity that surrounded their initial silence, thoughts thrumming through his head in quick succession. Had he pissed off the Hollow, and in turn pissed off one of their newest allies?

It would be a pain to clean up, but perhaps they were understanding men. Kvare would have never taken Csitri if not for Arkyn, after all, and the boy were still his greatest prize, his ultimate goal.

His gaze flits to his Queen-wife as she lays the foundations of their reasoning. He was not particularly inclined to being called fucking insane, but Kvare had endured worse insults, and would not let the words of a mad woman ding his armor. He quickly steps beside @Sunder, relinquishing to her authority as Queen yet still there to protect her regardless, to shoulder the brunt of whatever came for it was he who stole @Csitri, and he who sought revenge on the man who continued to be a thorn in their side.

One who now threatened their family.

That offer is now rescinded, he said, his gaze cast between his wife and those present. Whatever sanctuary Sunder offered them was now gone, blighted the moment Arkyn threatened to hold them hostage. I had thought Arkyn enough of a man to come back for his wife, he observes, canines glinting from beneath half-raised lips. Anger existed there, in the furrowed curl of his brow, the crinkle of nose, But it is her family that shows in his stead.

A slight—one he does not bother hiding. He could have felt an ounce of admiration had she not been so bent on proclaiming her husband's innocence. Where was he now, he wondered? Licking his own wounds, waiting for different knights to rescue his damsel?

The boy is who I want. The one who threatened my family. The one who left her and her cubs behind after Sunder bled him, he continued, inclining his head between the two Kings. There is frustration in his tone, but it is not placed toward those present; it is obvious where which his ire lie. If a man did that to my sister or daughter, I'd want him dead, too.

Art by Rabbit, table by cala

At Valerian's side, Scorpius arrives quietly. This is not his fight, not truly - not until vows are made and promises are kept. But he is here to support the closest thing he can consider a friend outside of his small family, and perhaps soothe a potential war between potential allies.

It's not surprising that the woman who appears first sees only her brother; Scorpius sits back, a few feet to Valerian's left, watching @Csitri beg and plead for her rescue - her mate and children's safety. On her heels, @Sunder arrives, quick to speak up. She demands Arkyn for the return of the Savante woman, and @Kvare is not far behind - calmer than he had been at the challenge, but no less irate.

This is... Going to be interesting.

"Lady Sunder." Scorpius interjects in his usual deadpan way. "Protecting what is ours is only natural. I was at the challenge; I've filled King Valerian in on the way here." No doubt Csitri will refuse the trade, and Scorpius can't fault her for that. He can't fault the Cove royals for demanding it either. Valerian might well be considering it. Scorpius knows where the Hollows king stands on that man.

He won't speak over Valerian, or for his pride - but he can do what he's been trained to do, despite hating every second of it: politic his way through tense situations. Red eyes scan the lion's before him, seeking to meet Valerian's for a moment longer before shifting back to the high sovereign and her mate. "Let a mother return to her cubs. If anyone seperated my daughter or sister from her family, it would be hard to discuss anything reasonably before that was amended."

artwork • coding • background

Neeha

The princess was as always intrigued by the claimed, the forceful uprooting of someone else's life. This time it had been fair, this time it had been necessary. The call was not missed and Neeha was not far stalking through the sands her frame already covered in sand and dust to cloud her scent, to mask her as part of the sandy beach more so than the cove itself.

She did not join the gathered lions, rather she'd attempt to get within hearing distance of them before settling among dunes of sand, beach shrubbery, and a large chunk of driftwood to her side. She peered ahead at the gathered lions, lavender gaze alert but focused. She recognized only three. Their prisoner, @Sunder, and @Kvare. Dark folded ears tipped forward to listen in on their conversation. Their demand.

Neeha didn't fully understand the reasoning behind asking for Arkyn. He was the one causing trouble right? Was it not better to keep the lioness to keep him from coming back? A threat to his loved one if he were to raise his claws against them and their home again? Then again Arkyn hadn't come for her himself, rather these two had. Perhaps she was not worth as much or he was just a coward.

Neeha didn't know so she listened wondering how this would end.

-Neeha is attempting to hide-
May Y11 || Caladan Cove || Caladan Cove Royalty || 1 year

(Neeha can be fully skipped if not discovered)
@Csitri, @Valerian, @Scorpius

Potential xp
Assassin
+10 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread
+5 Spy on an individual exchange
+5 Practice speed or stealth

code by corvus, Art by Irish

Alexander did not arrive immediately. Or even swiftly. No, the beast needed time. Time to not let his temper control the outcome of this meeting and lead him down an unforgivable path of rage. They had taken his daughter captive. For what? Some pissing contest between men? Revenge? The Savante would not have it. He would not accept it. Too long had he been rolling over doing his best to avoid conflict to protect his family - and ultimately that is what he would always do. Even if he looked weak in the eyes of others, his family would always come first.

The truce with the Dieudonne was, at best, paper thin. And wrong move would rip it apart and that he was well aware of. This place, however, he was unsure on how they operated. So far, however, impressions were not great. He arrives quietly, his massive form rivaling that of @Scorpius' - sliding up beside the other, blue eyes casting toward his son, @Valerian, who sat opposite of him. Whatever differences he was having with his daughter, and that blasphemous husband of hers, it was amongst themselves and would never hinder his loyalty. So, the beast takes a deep breath before speaking.

Centering himself.

"I will not offer my son-in-law up like some piece of meat." The beast rumbles with a heavy tone. They could hunt him down themselves, get their revenge in a way that did not involve his daughter. Jaw sets, nose wrinkling as he did his best to control the urge to flash his teeth in tempered aggression. "I am Alexander Savante, Csitri's father. Current Patriarch of the Savante family." Slowly his attention shifts toward @Kvare and @Sunder, blue eyes narrowing. There is another audible sigh, it dragged from his lungs slowly.

"Settle the score with him as you see fit - individually, but you stooped to his level and took my daughter captive, which is absolutely unacceptable. Let us find a way to right this wrong." It was rather evident that this was not a request, but the Savante man was being as polite as possible - given the circumstances. Another lifetime, another version of himself - this would not be up for discussion. A slight against one Savante was a slight against them all. Arkyn was not his favorite son-in-law, the fact that he had risked Csitri and their children for this - and left them without first ensuring they were safe, made Alexander's blood boil, but treating the male like an enemy in front of strangers would not do well for appearances.

table by aurora / art

Celestia tries her very best to keep a straight face as they make their way back to the Cove. @Alexander ♔ had been furious, which she expected because she too had a fire raging within her. They had stolen her daughter, what was there to be expected? Anything less than fury would be unacceptable. The mother moves in behind her mate, standing behind him and off to his right. Her gaze would land on the Caladan leaders, only hardly regarding them before they would land on @Csitri. She prayed that their eyes would meet, that she could show her that she was here. She wasn't going to be leaving without her, that was out of the question. "I will not offer my son-in-law up like some piece of meat. I am Alexander Savante, Csitri's father. Current Patriarch of the Savante family. Settle the score with him as you see fit - individually, but you stooped to his level and took my daughter captive, which is absolutely unacceptable. Let us find a way to right this wrong." She holds her breath, her gaze finally moving from her daughter to land on the Caladan leaders, mainly the Queen. Could she not see that Csitri was innocent in all of this? Why should she be punished for her husband's ambitions? Her paws ache to carry her to her daughter's side, to shield her from all of this. She should have done more, and even now as the guilt clawed at her, she knew she would not be able to leave without her daughter. She refused to.

@Valerian @Kvare

It is @Csitri who finds him first. Valerian catches her scent quickly, the sea wind carrying it toward him, and then not long after he sees her approach. A soft rumble rose from his chest, but none of his usual fond grins were apparent today. He was deeply tense. All he could manage was a touch of his nose back to her shoulder, but even that was done gingerly - spying the discomfort of her movements.

"I haven't see any of them, nor Arkyn." he murmurs grimly, "I came straight here as soon as I was told." His voice was quiet and earnest. He wasn't the lying type for the sake of feelings.

As it was, Valerian doesn't have time to ask further of the piebald lioness's condition, for a figure had stepped forward whilst he had been distracted with his sister. Briefly, a twinge of uncertain recognition sparked within Valerian's mind. Where did he know this lioness from? He was certain he did, but from where and when? He couldn't quickly recall.

There was no time to ponder, as Valerian straightened up to acknowledge @Sunder with a curt nod of his dark head. 'You come swiftly, admirable.' He heard her say. He blinked and answered; "Of course. My Lead Scout Reti - and as my ally Scorpius as he says - witnessed what occurred. I didn't want to leave the matter unaddressed." Perhaps it was obvious that Valerian did not wear the behaviours of the politically-inclined well, but he was trying his best.

He listens to Sunder speak in full, sage eyes trained upon the Cove Queen with a steady focus. He had not been aware Arkyn had tried previous times for the cove, and as more of the pieces fell into place the furrow in his brow would slowly deepen - in thought and flickering frustration as yet more he didn't know was revealed. What an absolute mess of a situation. Idly, he wonders what would he have done, if someone had challenged multiple times for the Savante home and refused to listen to attempts to parlay? Had threatened his kin and his younger siblings?

Then @Kvare speaks and Valerian's eyes flit to the russet lion as he steps forward to Sunder's side. He made somewhat of a good point, even if as he now comprehended that this was the man that had taken Csitri prisoner in the first place. Valerian wasn't pleased about that but he was slowly coming to realise the pair that now received them did not seem mentally addled or vicious in intention. They seemed desperate and willing to protect what they had, if anything. By any means necessary.

He could relate to that. The world was not kind, and he had not learnt to expect it - not for nothing.

'The one who left her and her cubs behind after Sunder bled him, If a man did that to my sister or daughter, I'd want him dead, too.' Valerian gave a slight twitch of his tail at that, glancing to Csitri briefly as if to ask - Did he actually? Because Valerian had even choicer words to share with his brother-in-law if such an accusation was true. Why had his first goal been to save himself, and not his wife and cubs? Even if it was a misunderstanding, it set a queasy and uncomfortable feeling in his chest - to see values of loyalty he held close to his heart neglected. It troubled him.

All in all, it put Valerian in a difficult position.

As he lets all the new facts sink in, he turns his head on @Alexander ♔'s approach. A twinge of old seeded self-doubt in his chest flared. Valerian had reassured the pride he would solve this - he could not help but be privately concerned about his father's faith in him. Did he not think him capable of navigating such a conversation? @Celestia is with him too, and though the reasonable part of Valerian knows the pair are just as worried about Csitri as him and likely there because of that... it is difficult to press away the embarassment warming his dark ears. He had intented for this to be solved quietly, and here he was turning up with a small guard of allies. It made him prickle.

What words he felt forming, Valerian knew might not be so universally well-received. He did not like to be spoken for.

"I am deeply sorry to hear that Arkyn has been giving you and your pride such troubles. If I had known, perhaps I could have discouraged it far sooner. I do understand his behaviour has been deeply disagreeable, despite your attempts to resolve it otherwise." Valerian said steadily. "I hear that he made threats to take your women and children captive, and although I don't know what his intention making such claims were... I can tell you that the Hollow does not support such actions, now or ever." They had enough enemies, Mother forbid.

"I would ask of you to release my sister, Csitri." A pointed glance toward her. "She has surely been greatly shaken by the events and did not intend for disrespect. As Scorpius says - I would not like to leave my nieces and nephews without their mother." They were young, and though Valerian was not certain exactly why at that moment, the idea of such uncertainty in cubs their age struck a chord in his mind that was feeling like the fuzzy, needling start of a headache.

"I don't have information on Arkyn's whereabouts - he was not a member of the Hollow, and I don't know where he spends his time. He is not ours to 'give'. If you have a price otherwise, name it." He levelled his eyes on Sunder "My concern here is Csitri's freedom and I wish badly to come to a resolution." As with all his siblings, Csitri was important to him, even if he suspected what he had to say might not please her. As long as she was safe and free, he could weather that.

art © rabbit | code © hinter

"I am deeply sorry to hear that Arkyn has been giving you and your pride such troubles. If I had known, perhaps I could have discouraged it far sooner. I do understand his behavior has been deeply disagreeable, despite your attempts to resolve it otherwise. I hear that he made threats to take your women and children captive, and although I don't know what his intention making such claims were... I can tell you that the Hollow does not support such actions, now or ever." Sunder's gaze is only on @Valerian, everyone else melts into the background. She ignores the stares from @Csitri's parents, ignores the stares from her husband and @Scorpius, ignores them all. "Then you'll be happy to know the Cove is in no business of holding hostages. She's free to go. Just know that I am simply a Mother and a Queen intent on keeping my family, my pride safe. I am done with these trivial games. In addition to Csitri's freedom I would like to secure an allegiance with the Hollows, so long as Arkyn does not come here again, I can promise you that not a single member in your pride will be touched by the Cove. You will have our assistance in battles, aid with medics, and access to food and shelter should you ever need it. I am a very accommodating woman, though Csitri may seek to make me the villain in all of this I can assure you I am not. Her opinion on the matter will never change and that is fine, she can have it. But, I intend to make it very clear to all of you where I stand. And, so long as we are done with this pissing contest, I'd like to return to my own children." Her words might come out a bit more blunt, a bit more harsh than usual, but she was tired. Tired of all of this bullshit being brought to her when she wanted nothing to do with any of it. @Valerian @Alexander ♔ @Kvare @Celestia

art by hush