The Monster

Velasco X’uekai

Madre calls and the monster's lips curve into a smile.

He knew little of those who had trespassed onto their land nor the woman who faced their high queen. Yet he did know there was already tension with other prides. Mother had mentioned the lagoon and summit when she'd found him in the passage. So it seemed likely to think that there could be a link between the challenge and those two prides. They had been embers of conflict that had now been fanned into flames. A pyre burning bright a beacon of chaos and conflict.

And the monster was elated.

Arriving at the meeting the dark man strolls in glancing at his mother for a moment before he takes a seat among the other gathered lions. For now, the potential for conflict draws his attention leaving the need to stand taller or higher than the common crowd in the background.

His pink gaze locks onto their high queen her bloodied appearance both a testament to her victory and her downfall. Mother was growing old, old and weak... for how long would she sit atop that throne? For how long could she maintain her tight grasp on the leash that was her seat as the matriarch of the X'uekai?

March Y12 || Vermeda brook || Vermeda Brook Royal || 7 years

code by corvus, manip by wolfsi

The dark pelted boy of shadow and night approached the summoning, drawn by not only Mothers call, but the scent of crimson upon her lips. He arrived between the trees as silent as ever, moving with an ease born of one that was in tune with their surroundings. Now, that's not to say he didn't occasionally stumble just the slightest on a rock or branch that had been tossed from its original place by unaware paws.

Those changes were marked mentally as he moved, using scent, sound and the currents of wind upon his whiskers and hide to guide him. It would be then that the young prince would arrive to take his place near his pale mother, but not so close as to crowd or intrude her. His gaze turning to 'take in' those gathered. Something he had learned over time was a normal thing to do - survey ones surroundings.

As he did now, except his was with a slightly different tactic. Jaws were parted just slightly, the currents of air inhaled slowly over his tongue to land scent particules on both tongue and the roof of his mouth. He could tell who of the pride was here, simply by the different notes of thier musk. And... who was missing.

Trigger Warnings ahead for possible bad language/violence

This character is completely blind and may miss or not react to a character in a thread. This is in no way intended as an OOC slight against the character.

image by Drifty, code by Corvus

Drenched tendrils draped in a line beneath Imago's neck like fluid, separate icicles, moving with a graceful sway as their bearer bobbed along far more jerkily. Deep blue lit within irises, ringed themselves with broad excited white. Skull heft at the sight of the meeting as though a brief, inverse bow. The half-mane folded joints into a soaked seat near the back of the gathering. Nostrils twitched nearly delicate. The bearing of the queen's weight, and the tidiness of her wounds, paled to the significance to her fury. Thus Imago eyed them once and then assessed everything else - those entering, their manners and tastes.

The pines, they often whisper

They whisper what no tongue can tell

She'd been watching from the shadows. Silently studying them all. It hadn't been too long since that bitch had been shown her place in the dirt she'd chosen to cover herself with. And still, the large heiress quivered with that by now so familiar hunger for blood, that familiar need for violence. To feel the spines of their enemies crack beneath her, to taste their blood on her tongue.

In the hours that passed after the challenge, she'd been pacing, patrolling the borders with an increasing intensity in her gaze. Searching, ever searching for a target to rip and tear.

The scent of her daughter reached her as she followed the call. As she sat in the shadows and waited for more to arrive first. Even her daughter seemed to have found a way to hide. At least she couldn't spot her and that meant either she'd gotten really good at hiding, or her scent still lingered from before. But eventually, the floppy eared woman emerged from the foliage, eyes wild, usually sleek and clean fur dirtied and scruffy, bloodied maw dripping with foamy saliva like a hound frothing at the maw while pulling at a chain in attempts to get to its chosen quarry.

Stalking closer to join the meeting, she moved straight towards the rock. @Arcania ♔ was greeted with something akin to a purr, though a little more rough, bubbling from her throat as a small foamy bubble of bloodied drool grew and popped on the side of her lips. A similar, though somewhat affectionate greeting was given to @Icefang ♔ before she settled on the other side of the rock, Sovereign and Heiress flanking their queen on both sides.

code by corvus

They shuffle in from the shadows, blue orbs carefully watching each member as they settle before her. @Lathan is first and Icefang can feel the underlying excitement that carries him as he arrives first to the meeting. A member she still had to get to know and someone whose recruiting had been a push for Cassandra to challenge for her throne. @Arcania ♔ is next, the high sovereign meeting her co-leader's gaze as she settles in close proximity to the rock. @Temero and @Obsidiana sit close together, their growing bond apparent as they grew in size.

Suddenly there is a tiny, lilac form at the base of her perch, Icefang's gaze flickering to @Melusina as she offers herbs for her wounds. The high sovereign is silent, the care package being dropped at the base of the boulder. Her gaze softens for a moment as she rumbles lowly to the cough ridden lioness. "Later," before beckoning for her to have a seat amongst the others. She appeared sick with worry, but at least her lungs sounded clear for now.

She does not have a moment to glance up, @Parthena stumbling her way into the meeting coated with mud. The high sovereign watches, blue gaze narrowing in annoyance when the smallest princess throws herself at the boulder before glancing up at her and requesting to be picked up. She sneers, a soft growl thrown at @Arcania ♔ to grab the cub and pull her out of the way. There would be a nice, cold bath in the brook coming for her after the meeting. Otherwise, she does not respond to her child's begging, ivory cranium lifting up back to level her gaze on the others. @Faolán, @Velasco, @Thruum, and @Imago stroll in. She glances over each, studying them as she takes particular note in how her son had slowly adapted moving fluidly as his father. Unburdened by his blindness. A momentary rush of pride at her remaining reminder of her deceased mate.

@Etain is one of the last to show before the queen loses her patience to prolong the meeting any longer. She notices a few still missing - @Nazara, @Alizabeth, @Jezebel, @Ixora, and @Nikandr but she'd allow them a pass if they managed to stumble in later. Or she'd leave it to those present to inform them of what was coming.

The sun is higher now, the high sovereign thankful that the brook provided plenty of natural coverage from the heat of its rays. Clearing her throat, she addresses the crowd. "Cassandra was a fool for coming here to take back what she believes belongs to her. Scilla Lagoon will pay for this. I will take a small party to rally my allies and in a few days we will unleash upon the Lagoon and vanquish them." Her tone seethes with her anger, Icefang baring her teeth as she glances among her members looking for any signs of rejection to her plan. "Imprison those that you can - maul and kill those you cannot carry back. They will think twice before trying to take from me again." Her blue orbs flicker towards @Parthena for a moment remembering that there is also @Bébé to worry about. "I need a volunteer or two to stay behind and protect the cubs." A chance to stay behind if someone was too fearful to go fight. She grows silent now, waiting for their response. Would any back out and refuse?

SPEECH

ooc: exits can be made if your character doesn't have anything to say!

Art by Rabbit || Code by Zay

It wasn’t long before another lioness showed, the red one that had flashed her teeth in warning at the challenge. Sharp grey eyes watched her as she took her seat next to Icefang. Realization sinking in that she was the other leader, the one that was in control when Icefang was gone. He nodded to her respectfully, but remained silent. When @Obsidiana arrived, he returned her smile, watching the princess sit alongside the prince. How adorable. A lighter lioness approached, stealing his attention, she offered herbs to the queen, but would cut herself off and find a seat before finishing her offer. His brow rose ever so slightly as he followed her movements until she sat down. She was nervous, tense, by the set of her jaw and the wobble in her throat. How odd. A dark brown cub came forward, striding right up to the queen and asking for ‘uppies’ he held back the chuckle at such childish antics. Instead he would turn his attention elsewhere, his tail twitching with amusement as he looked upon the next to arrive. A lioness he did not know but one he felt did not belong in the brook, despite her beauty. Thick fur, longer claws, a thick rudder like tail, she looked more akin to a snow cat to him. So what made her settle here? Several others arrived, Velasco, the tree climbing heiress (@Etain). He would nod to them, a slight smirk pulling at his lips as he nodded to the heiress. She took her rightful place by the rock and he turned his gaze once more to Icefang. What an interesting assortment of members she had. Ears twitched and he straightened ever so slightly, his expression schooling into one of interest and curiosity- and remaining that way, despite knowing it had been his recruitment that had encouraged the woman to challenge the queen. One could say, he was at fault for this war, though he was only the icing on the cake, the tip of scales that had caused the Lagoon noble to lose her patience and challenge to soon. Given it was somewhat his fault, when she mentioned going with a small party to rally their allies, he would feel that he should accompany them. Of course, he didn’t realize that one would be the Oasis. The queen’s voice was livid, dripping with rage, and it showed in how she bared her teeth to her comrades, to her subjects. She sought rejection of the plan, but she would not find it on the facade of Lathan, his expression still curious and filled with interest. She would go on, imprison, maim and kill those that they could. There was to be no quarter. He hid the wide grin that threatened to break free. She glanced to the children and asked for a volunteer, for this he was absolutely silent. He did not want to miss out on the bloodshed in favor of babysitting the children. She awaited their responses and after a polite pause to allow those that were above him to speak he would clear his throat, head lifting slightly as he met @Icefang ♔'s gaze. "If I may, I would like to accompany your party." He would state his intentions, but he did so in a way she could easily brush him aside. If he could, he would go, but would she allow it? "I have a few experiments that I think would be suited for your enemies, my queen. I will prepare them at once." He hadn’t really made many of them, he hadn’t even tested their effects on his captive bunny, yet. He would have bigger targets to test them on and that thrilled him. "Speech."

Art by Rabbit and code by Shazaki

The Brook does not take long to gather before their Queen; the sight is pleasing to Cathán, and, for once, he feels as though he is truly home amongst these foreign beasts - he feels as though he can belong. The cheetah rumbles softly as they converse amongst themselves, yet he offers no comment to the congregation. No, it is not his place to do such; he is merely a knight amongst this crowd of ruthless soldiers.

Already can he taste the spill of iron betwixt his jaws, for he is nothing more than an animal himself, and what is an animal if not starving? Hungering for vengeance, and thirsting evermore for bloodlust, that is what he is. He sits restlessly, and the imagery of war flashes in his mind like a premonition. The Brook would not be tested again, no - not with Icefang as their liege. They would rise in unison to bring down the enemy. They would succeed.

Eventually, the chatter dies down, and in its wake lies a steadied curiosity. Cathán watches as his Queen takes the stage; her message is clear, and the knight is prepared to heed it. Although his mind momentarily wanders to the instruction she had given him only a seasons prior, he cannot - in good faith - stand by as she had said. Their ranks had grown substantially since his joining, thus, it was likely this war would fair well without him, but he could not allow it. En masse, they would march toward their enemy, and the knight would not be absent from this march.

He would not allow it.

Icefang settles her speech, and leaves room for those whom wish to join her; Cathán knows this is his moment. If not now, then when? He cannot be shy anymore, nor can he be a creature of solitude. No longer could he rest in the shackles of his species; the boy was no longer the prey, for, now, he was the predator. Hungering still for the ravaging, he arises. The knight would bow his head to @Icefang ♔, and, with one swift rise of his head, his eyes lock upon hers. In his gaze lies obedience; there is nothing but passion within his claret eyes.

“I, too, shall accompany the party,” he announces. The boy would give a curt flick of his tail, and then would pace forward from his position. “It's my duty, after all,” the boy pauses to glance around the army before him, and then he continues: “Perhaps, too, if you will so allow me...I could scout out the enemy territory.” Cathán thinks for a moment, attempting to map out the details of such a journey in his brain; “If I'm caught, so be it. What would they be weary of a cheetah for? I can just feign naïveté, and pretend I did not know I was on pride lands.” The boy nods his head at this thought, yet he knows it needs more substance if he is to pitch it. “I know the lands in and out, so I may be able to find a hidden path within their territory; I would know what to be looking for, after all,” he suggests.

He peers now at Icefang, and he studies her face for any sort of intimation towards acceptance of such a plan. He knows he could win this for the Brook; he knows he can prove his worth - if only she would throw him the bone to do such. Cathán knows he is just as strong as they are, yet if she, too, will recognize it is what his plan depends upon. Internally, he pleads for her to put his piece on the board. To deploy her knight.

The half received scant acknowledgement and in turn slant eyes nearly closed, a nonplussed form of mimicked indifference. Until she spoke with such zest and spite. The elder who had seen much and defended the Brook still. Sharp ears perked and eyes reopened with vigorous hate. A swallow rippled under the fatty layer of the neck, disturbing the neck mane there. Imago eyed the cheetah and the vigorous volunteerism of another experimenter, resting longer and more studied gaze upon the second kin. Nervous toes rippled to fidget with their many claws. At a gape in the silence Imago spoke. "I have also means to foresee our enemies plans - or to rip their past doings from their guts."

❝ All we are is an isle of flightless birds ❞

They are late. They were skirting in amongst drenched wings with reckless abandon. There is a certain disdain within the factions for being fashionably unpresent - it is not that she does not wish to know of the news but rather strikes herself with a certain imprudence. A nosiness of some sort that allows the woman to skip behind the crowds to gather the frequencies of names and faces that graft themself as false members of their pride. Ixora arrives just enough time to gather information, pulling information in gulps while gasping for more. Oh how interesting this world was becoming.

"Ixora Enters & Exits"

He doesn't stumble in late - bleary eyed and still a little drunk from his previous night's activities. The fermented fruit is heavy on his lips as he lurches in to sit to one side of the gathering, squinting and smacking his lips as he considers the gathering. He hadn't been present when all hell broke loose, but judging by the tense faces of those around him.... things had, indeed, gone to hell. He sniffs, slowly turning his skull to regard @Melusina as she is dismissed back to the crowd. Later for healing. A crooked smile hangs on his lips as he slumps to one side, propped up on a hip. @Icefang ♔ sure was one badass lady - and to leave herself blooded and wounded was such a statement.

These lions sure love dramatics.

And, damn, but things go even more dramatic a moment later as the Sovereign demands they unleash themselves onto the other pride. He recalls Cassandra's name from the passage when he and Mel had stepped into Amaryllis - and his brows tighten. The expectations of the pride and what was to come sobers him up abruptly and he sits up ramrod straight, blinking rapidly. His eyes feel like they're full of sand but he can suddenly think quite lucidly.

Shit, He mutters under his breath, ears swiveling back to fold against his skull. Maybe he'd fucked up picking the Brook - and he casts a shadowed gaze to the quiet Stärke with a little frown. How would she handle such a thing? Nikandr lifts a paw and rubs it across his face with a stifled sigh and swallows against the heaving of his stomach, empty save for the rotted fruit. Do we have a goal beyond chaos and imprisonment? He calls, tilting his jaw slightly. Or are we just to take as many as we can? His voice is unworried, expression almost placid -

war was nothing new to a Law, after all. He'd been in his fair share of both war games and raids already, despite his youth, and this would be just another such exercise. His claws sink into the earth of the brook, lips drawing back into a small smile. This might be fun - especially if there was no specific target. He'd have fun unleashing hell for the sake of it.