He had known that Luther would return someday. The brother of his King and lover had apparently been disowned, and Tai could understand why: he seemed somewhat of a bastard — a scorned bastard, who he expected would continue to terrorize the Mire and its King. However, when Tai heard his voice in the Mire again, those wide, jade eyes immediately rushed to search Bruno’s, shocked by the suddenness of it. Before, the familiar sound had scared him — now, it struck a darker terror into his heart, and Bruno’s remark only hammered it deeper, making him rip his gaze away to search the crowd, the surrounding marsh for the faces of their children.

The dread nearly suffocated him when he realized: he could not find them.

Through the collective noise of the audience, he could hear the sound of violence — the battle had begun. He could not bring himself to watch, though, not when their children were missing. It was only the voice of @Hekate that reached him, and it was her — and her reflection, @Arsinoë — that he approached with a calling chuff, to encourage his little ones to come together.

“If anything happens to Bruno … ” he murmured lowly to his lover’s family, and to the young @Lazare who was presumably associated with them. He tried to limit his terror to knitted brows and twisted ears, however his voice trembled and cracked with hushed fear, “Please … please find the girls.” Tai was certain that his followers would be too busy gathering together their own families to aid their fallen King. Should Bruno be defeated, he would need to be ready to care for him, but only if he knew their children would be whisked away to safety by the sisters.

A voice — his voice — broke above the commotion then.

“My name is Luther Rike.”

He knew before he even had time to twist his head around, and yet his heart whispered: no, please.

Each word threatened to summon tears to his eyes, but it was the vision of @Bruno ♔ crumpled on the ground that caused his surroundings to run together in a swirl of color. The dread in his heart proved too heavy for him to carry, and he stood there frozen in his panic and disbelief — only to be shaken from his bewilderment by the statement: “Any Stärke child that has resided in the Mire will be under my guard.”

What had been a murmur in his heart became a roar: no.

A blink cleared his eyes, pushing the tears down his quivering cheeks. He sniffed hard as his expression hardened. It could not overpower the fear that made his paws and voice tremble, but he had seemed to have found the strength to pull himself together, if only for the moment.

“Go,” he choked roughly at the sisters and their companion. “Please — the girls. I have to — ! Go.”

“I am Alaric Stärke,” declared another voice, revealing the crimes Luther had committed — crimes that Tai did not need to listen to. He turned away from the sisters, paws unsteady on the snow as he scrambled across it and beyond the family patriarch, to where his lover lay. He had not witnessed the moment of defeat, only its aftermath: Bruno collapsed and sickeningly motionless, mane and coat darkened with blood. As he rushed to his side though, he could see it rising — proof that he lived. It should’ve served as reassurance but all Tai could feel was more and more panic.

Gasping harshly in the frigid air, the mauve lion crouched beside his fallen King. “I’m here,” he managed to whisper out in a hoarse voice, each word strangled with emotion. There was no way of knowing if they would even reach Bruno, yet he promised him all the same, “I’m here.”

A broken sob was swallowed back before it could rip free, and what spilled from his lungs was a small, quivering whimper as he reached for Bruno. Carefully, reluctant to cause him any more suffering than he’d already endured, Tai moved to wedge his head behind an elbow, pushing himself between Bruno’s forelimbs so that the defeated monarch was draped over his shoulders and neck. He might’ve called for help, but too many of Bruno’s followers were already slipping away into the Mire, and Luther’s had started to gather around him. Tai was alone.

With a grunt of effort, Tai shifted to seek out the sisters again, but they were lost in the flurry of it all. His heart heavy with sorrow and fear, the father blinked away the latest wave of tears from his eyes and turned, leaving his daughters’ safety in the paws of their aunts. Bruno’s rested in his.

Trying hard not to break down under the weight of his grief, he turned away from the Mire and its memories, and finally moved to make their escape.

** Powerplay of Bruno approved by Max! **
Exit with @Bruno ♔

artwork • coding

Such loud loud voices. The dark girl stumbled through the fog, keeping her tiny body close to the ground, her paws sucking in the mud and making loud sloshing sounds as she moved no matter how hard she tried to be quiet. Her golden gaze was curious, her body pulled forward with intrigue. She didn't know what was happening, but she found that she was drawn to the hum of activity. Loud voices that caused her ears to pin with distaste, her golden gaze searching for the crows she'd grown familiar with in the Mire. They had all taken flight by now, not interested in the bickering of the adults. Laurel wasn't quite interested in that either but she found herself stopping just on the outskirts of said gathering, hiding within a small log to watch curiously. Her vater was nowhere to be found, same with her mutter but that was no issue to her. They would emerge eventually and she would slide back into the shadows where she belonged. When her hunger called she would answer, returning to her mutter's breast though for now she would linger. Her eyes watching, waiting.

*Laurel is attempting to hide & observe

"Stay then, Are you Aeistrios' child?" @Luther ♔'s questions cause a pit in her stomach, she fights back the sneer that threatens to curl her muzzle upward. Instead, it is the voice of @Reina that draws her attention away. "Yes, he was our father." She replies curtly, leaving out the part that he had abandoned them, had left them to their own devices without a care in the world. She glances to her sister then, regarding her neutrally before she nods in agreement. They would stay, and though she wasn't one to really care about her siblings she was somewhat glad with having one family member by her side. They could make something of themselves here and Leiah planned to do just that. Claws unsheathing, she would turn then, heading back through the bog in which she came.

exit.

_{CODE BY DEE}

Bright yellow eyes watched the fight intensely, the small form of the chimera seemed to shrink as she looked around and didn't see her mate anywhere, and then, their king fell... She felt her breath hitch, but she wasn't scared, not yet. She'd been at many challenges where the new ruler just told them all to leave or stay, and she assumed that would be the case, she could gather her children and meet @Hubert outside of the Mire, but then the pale usurper speaks and dread washes over her.

She pins her ears back and looks around, hoping Hubert would appear from the brush to swoop in and fight his brother for her and his children, the shackles were now clamped tightly on her, for fear of her children being hurt. She sees a flash of fur and her head swivels, her eyes catching @Laurel and she moves quickly to put herself protectively over the child, her head bent low to whisper to her daughter, ""Let's get back to the den... I'm sure your father will come soon my love " she peers around the area once more and sees another child of hers, disobeying her order of staying out, the mother stalks over to @Ambretta, ""We're going to the den. Now."

She would look over her daughters, waiting for them to go and then she would follow for their safety.

(Exits only once girls are safe)

Seemed he was late. But that was less by accident and more by design. He could not escape the march of time or the slowly increasing number of his years. But he could play it up a little. Craft the image of an old man slowing under the weight of time, so that he might toss it aside at the most opportune moment and catch someone off guard. Older, yes, but he could still move when he wanted to.

Anyway, it was a steady, measured, pace that brought him to the scene, finally. Ruby gaze taking in the gathered crowd and the state of their - well, he supposed, ex-king, now, being hauled away. And their new one. And the atmosphere did not seem celebratory. Hm.

With a neutral face, he moved to step forward. "Xaphan," a simple introduction, spoken loudly enough to catch the attention of the new ruler, "I would stay, if you'll have me."

@Luther ♔

code by corvus

+10 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters)
+5 Practice hiding your scent
+5 Learn something interesting about a character (luther tortured someone and had his starke name stripped from him)

she slinks in at the end of the challenge, white and beige fur blending into the drab backdrop of the mire. magdalena does not reveal herself in these tense moments, bi-colored eyes sweeping over those gathered with jaws hinged open to catch their scents while her own has been covered. she had made sure to roll amongst the moss and muddy waters of the mire and her scent would only be smelled underneath the thick, boggy stench of ecrosia.

wolfbron - their women gather as they always seem to during these challenges. recognized as stalwart allies of her father and brother. a brother who lays unconscious on the ground. against him, a familiar figure of white. luther. she had heard his name whispered - spat like poison during his last challenge. even today, her father makes his distaste of the man well known. slowly, magdalena's eyes slide from alaric to luther, her belly twisting painfully at the thought of her father's allegations.

she knows her father does not see her, but his order sends a shock wave through her. leave the mire? how many times would magdalena be made a homeless wraith? her attention turns once more, following alaric's gaze to rohan and melusina who slumps heavily against him. still, her legs do not move and the yearling remains poised at the edge of the clearing, hidden in a thick thicket of thorns and leaves where she would hopefully not be seen.

magdalena is hidden w/ scent covered and observing

coding by daanyen | art by rabbit

@Drena leaves, slipping into the darkness of the swampland. The shadows accept her easily, as if she has always belonged in the dark. He hardly pays heed to the looks passed toward @Alarith, who shies away. Luther has no time to notice such details, they were always meaningless to him. All he cared about was securing his position and seeing all the traitors leave the premises of his kingdom. His little bird replied shyly to his welcome in that same strange language - and yet he knew the meaning. King. Yes. Her king.

@Emory lingers still on the sidelines, the father and son locking eyes momentarily as the young boy nods congratulatory towards his sire. The nod is returned by the newly crowned King, and when Emory turns to leave Luther's eyes had long strayed toward @Reina. The plum girl stood beside @Leiah, as they confirmed his suspicions. Aeistrios' children. Reina wished to stay, a soft plea added - not as a prisoner. He was going to seek them out later, to inquire where the hell Aeistrios had gone. Did they know? @Leiah seemed to cast her father aside with merely her tone. "Not as prisoners. If you will serve me your place among my ranks may only climb up." He dangled the proverbial carrot. They may be only girls, but he had to hang on every thread at this very moment.

The moment Luther had spoken @Alaric had grown more on-edge. He reveled at the thought of prodding the old man, spitting on the grave of his power and dignity. The ugly expression marring Alaric's features brought him more pleasure than anything else. He would pay to keep it there forever. If only I could frame it, he mused, satisfied. Next, his speech came, much akin to Luthers. No.. it was meant to disaparage Luther's. His brows knitted together across his forehead even if he wanted to snort and laugh out loud. Instead, he feigned surprise, the annoyance, however, was real. "Your lies astound me yet, Vater," he retorted with a flick of his tail, the word father tasting so bitter in his mouth. Alaric had no evidence to accuse him of such crimes. Wither was long gone and Tinuviel? She was under his lock & keep. "And when have you seen me fight alongside Aeistrios? Nein. He simply fought for me of his own will." he shrugged nonchalantly. He had not once fought in Aeistrios' war. "Why do you shy away from your sohn now, Vater? Let us not forget you taught me and my little bruder everything - including how to use the Wolfbron harlots to our advantage. Just like you will do now." He smiled genuinely at @Amara and @Louve. He was not going to play pretend with these witches - he drew the line there. Alaric had always reminded him that allies were to be pampered, even if they did not align with their morals or views. Hypocrisy. He did not like politicking dictate how he ruled his land, nor how he ruled his morals.

As Alaric moved closer, Luther's claws unsheathed in the mud & muck below, eyes narrowing in on the Starke Patriarch. "Are you proud of this victory, Luther?" "Oh, bitte. Erspar mir den Vortrag, alter Mann." "Oh, please. Spare me the lecture, old man." He said dismissively with an exaggerated eye-roll. Did Alaric think honor mattered to the cruel man? "Ein Sieg ist ein Sieg. Ich bin König und du stehst vor der Tür des Todes, ohne Krone. Vielleicht hättest du es dir zweimal überlegen sollen, bevor du dich für den falschen Bruder entschieden hast, hmm?" "A victory is a victory. I am King and you are on death's door, crownless. Perhaps you should've thought twice before picking the wrong brother, hmm?" His head cocked to the side, his smile poisonously pleasant. "You will not have them." "Dafür ist es zu spät. Sie gehören bereits mir." "It is too late for that. They are already mine."

As Alaric beckoned them to leave he turned at his prisoners. "Run and we will find you. You are staying." Then he eyed Alaric again. "If only you had cared half about me and my children when they were prisoners." It was too late now. Alaric had dug his grave. "I will have your head for this." "Es ist zu spät, sich wie ein Mann zu benehmen, Alaric. Dieses Recht haben Sie längst verloren." "It's too late to act like a man, Alaric. You've long lost that right." he sneered. He gazed at @Louve, at everybody who called for his prisoners. At Alaric. "You have three fucking seconds to get out of my land," he snarled, sparks flashing in cold green eyes. He turned to Alaric. "— before I decide to keep you as prisoner too." @Astarte leans into Alaric, and his eyes narrow in on her as if seeing her for the first time. "You," he growled. "You're staying." his eyes settled back to @Alaric, daring. Well? How many more will I imprison because of you, dear Vater? Then he spots @Solanum trudging along with some Starke babes. "You too." He commanded.

@Xaphan's approach was a welcome surprise. He sought to stay, pledging allegiance right in front of Alaric's eyes. It brought a satisfied smile from Luther. "Certainly," he nodded at the red-furred lion. "I trust you would do well as my Gentry." The brawn to his ranks was much appreciated.

you want to blame another

The fight ended so quickly, with Bruno slumped with unconsciousness. Grimm's eyes narrowed - perhaps the man truly was a weak king. It was that moment that he felt himself shift, favoring the white-colored Rike (similar to himself more than their former king).

"Feiglinge," (Cowards) he spat as @Everick and @Bastian turned to leave. "You voul't just abandon mo'zer and gif up zhis unglaublich opportunity to learn how to be a true Rike?" He looked after them with disgust written on his face. He wasn't going to give up the opportunity just like that. Perhaps their father was mostly absent in their lives, but this was an opportunity to learn from the best.

As Luther began laying claim to those scrambling about, Grimm was hard-pressed to leave when his mother was claimed as one of those prisoners. The white, colossal boy watched as the others of his former pride scattered in horror, trying to escape the clutches of Luther's imprisonment. It was this moment that he realized he admired the male's strength. He did what he wanted without consequence, something his father had been teaching him about for a while now. This was the way of the Rike, and Luther was flexing his power, collecting his prisoners (who happened to be mostly women), and taking what he wanted.

Grimm decided, not only for his mother's sake but for his own, he'd stick around and see what this male was about.

"Ich bin Grimm Rike," he announced to @Luther ♔, "Und möchte im Mire bleiben." (And I wish to stay in the Mire.)

and this time you went too far

art x code

★ reina saxe ★

---

Her sister speaks, about how Aeistrios was their father. Reina was unsure what to think of that situation. Leiah seemed outright pissed, which was understandable, and Reina was disappointed too. He had always spoken about greatness and power, but when things turned south, he left Amaryllis and everyone.

Reinforcements were needed but, he had never even tried to free his children in the first place.

And mother was dead, and the same with Renfri.

Reina found herself lost in thought, almost feeling dazed. Leiah slipped away back into the shadows, and Luther would speak. No longer was she a prisoner, bound by shackles and with limitations. She was free, and perhaps she would become something even greater.

"Thank you," she murmured to the new king. She glanced at Alaric as he began to speak, the two men conversed in a tongue she didn't understand.

Luther didn't seem that great of a man if all the things Alaric said were true. Same with her father, and she couldn't help but feel her jaw clench.

What a fucking hypocrite Alaric was. Luther was right, everything he had done was taught by his father. And as for Reina, Alaric had promised that she would be better off without her family. Yet, that was far from the truth. She had been left here to rot, forgotten not just by her family but by her captors. She did not grow, she did not learn, and she was given no great opportunities. No, they gave her absolutely nothing. They treated her like a shadow in the background, like nothing.

He deserved his family to be imprisoned, he deserved a taste of his own medicine.

Fuck you, Alaric.

She didn't say it aloud, but she hated him. He was a huge hypocrite and he was stupidly blind to it. She looked at Luther, "I will remain loyal, and I will aid in any way I can," she promised, and then she would follow after her sister. Any seconds longer around Alaric would only fuel the blazing hatred in her heart.
[ exit Reina ]

art by dawn | code by scorpixia♡︎

He didn't understand the foreign words, but the tone was not exactly pleasant, and with the English scattered through he was able to gather the general idea. The pale man's first few acts as king were to imprison those seen as enemies, and promote others Xaphan assumed were seen as loyalists.

So when he was granted a rank of his own, he accepted easily with a nod and a small, satisfied, smile, "I'll try not to disappoint." That was all one could really do, wasn't it? He wouldn't go out of his way to make promises he'd never be able to keep, and Gentry was a comfortable place within the ranks. High enough he could still be truly useful, but not so far up that he couldn't occasional escape the pressure of responsibility.

Content, he would take his leave, aiming to move toward the borders. They had a number of prisoners now, and the post-challenge chaos was a prime time for attempted escapees. They really couldn't have that, could they?

-exit to patrol and get his rank official-

code by corvus