ooc: This is set only a few hours after Icefang wins the challenge.

She had won. After issuing her victory cry and snarling at the rest to leave her territory, the high sovereign had retreated to her den fuming. She waited out the worst of the rain while she contemplated her next moves, ignoring the trickling of blood down her face, nape, and from her paw pad. It is only a few hours before she has made up her mind. The Lagoon would pay for Cassandra's actions. Isla would pay for failing to keep her Noble in line.

Exiting her den, she heads to a prominent stone near the flowing water of the brook. A perfect throne to issue the meeting as she calls out for her pride to gather before her. The rain still fell down upon them, but was lighter now as the light of the sun begins to break on the horizon. Tail lashes as she waits for them all to arrive, the high sovereign impatient as always. Her weight is shifted towards her left, the pain of her sliced paw pad apparent as her adrenaline drains away. She could not rest yet. Not until she began to put her plan into action.

SPEECH

Art by Rabbit || Code by Zay

The challenge had been interesting, some waiting until the very end of the challenge before starting a fight, but even then, it was minimal. He hadn’t missed the way one woman had lifted her lip to him in warning, telling him not to chide the princess, but he had dismissed it. He hadn’t really cared what the princess did, it had been spoken more from humor and his own drilled into manners than anything. Still, he had remained quiet afterwards, retreating back to his den and his bunny, already planning on moving it deeper into the Brook for safety. Lathan would wait out the rain, licking and grooming himself and otherwise occupying his mind with a recount of events. There had been a hard, intense look between the two Queens (the Brook and Lagoon), but no more bloodshed had been called for by the Brook leader, only for the rest to get the fuck out. They hadn’t needed much encouragement. Yet, now, as the rain lightened and the sun began to peak on the horizon, he heard a summoning for the pride to gather. He shuddered at the thrill of the idea and would make his way forward at a quick jog. Lathan would approach, realizing he was the first. He would dip his skull deeply to the queen, careful not to slip in the mud, as he bowed respectfully to her. He would remain silent as he took a seat in the mud, waiting for others to arrive to see what exactly the woman had planned. Silver gaze would look her over, noting how she carried her weight to one side, but she looked livid, seething with anger. How exciting. "Speech."

Art by Rabbit and code by Shazaki

The pride had blossomed since Icefang had taken charge in those cold winter months. Arcania had no doubt that many would flood in to the meeting, this being the first one she could think of since it had simply been family and few others. She was curious to see them all, to know what sort of an army they had. For that could be the only reason she could think of that the high sovereign would call them all together like this so soon after the fight. It clearly wasn't just to tell them that she'd won. That had been abundantly clear.

She was beaten to the gathering by another, and her brow furrowed more in irritation with herself than anything else. She was tempted to do something petty and childish like splash him with mud, but she refrained because it wasn't his fault and also because this was a serious matter. Of course, she was eager to be able to sink her claws into someone too.

She moved closer to the stone, taking a seat near enough to be considered beside it but where she could also still clearly see Icefang without giving herself a crick in the neck. She did that enough by sleeping funny these days. She wasn't really sure when that had started, but it was annoying. Also nothing a little exercise in the form of a vicious fight couldn't fix.

ART BY TABOO, CODE BY CORVUS

Uh oh, she sounded big, big mad. Which was odd considering she'd won the fight. Temero would have thought that his grandmother would be happy about the turn of events. So he was generally confused while he made his way towards the meeting spot.

Mother was already there, along with a man that he didn't know. No surprise there. He wasn't the most social sort. At least he came by that honestly.

Royalty he might be, but he didn't join his mother where she sat near Icefang. Instead he took a seat off to the side, not terribly far from the other male currently present. He was curious as to what was going on, and why Icefang was so pissed off. This surely couldn't be good news for them, but at least she had won and they still had their home? They had that going for them.

artwork • coding

Cathán could only guess what this was about - the challenge. His mind flashed back to the conversation he and Icefang had exchanged only a few months prior, and he grimaced at the thought of it. It had originally been brushed off by the cheetah, for he felt as though it would not be brought up again - if only he knew just how wrong that would be.

Her words were nearly prophetic now, and it seemed as though her worries had come to fruition; the Brook had an enemy in their midst. Although he did not know the lioness challenging, Cathán could only guess it must be the one his Queen had mentioned. Otherwise, why would it have been the catalyst to such a meeting?

As the cheetah settled amongst his peers, he would focus on Icefang - attempting to pinpoint her emotions. Cautiously, he studied her features for any sort of clue. He knew war was on the horizon, but he could only hope that this was all just one big coincidence. Certainly, his home wouldn't be at risk again, would it?

His emotions now completely antithetical to those which he held at the cusp of the challenge. Now, the situation was much more dire, and he couldn't help but fear its outcome.

code by corvus
image by sunny

The rain went going and Obsidiana waited for it to slow down. She had been resting on her den after the challenge had concluded, a lot was probably going to happen. War as the banshee had really made herself and her pride enemies. Well she hopped she now was happy with what she did. The dark lioness arrives smiling at @Lathan and her sister @Arcania ♔ before going to sit by @Temero's side. Since the start she had felt very fond of her nephew and it was as if she saw him as a yet another sibling or of similar level of fraternity. Like that she stood quietly waiting for her mother to speak. While her eyes landed on the Cheetah for then going back to the queen.

LINE ART BY MALAIKA4 AND CODE BY SHAZ

The end had been as chaotic as it had begun, and though @Icefang ♔ emerged the victor, all of Vermeda had collectively held its breath in the aftermath. The challenger may have walked away worse off than their Queen had, but they had not been left unscathed, and in those precious few hours and days after the challenge, they were left raw, wounded, and reeling.

Angry. Livid. Infuriated.

Melusina sucks in a breath as the call rings out. She had been gathering herbs, had grabbed more than she perhaps needed. Her stores were fine, and that of the other pride's medics would likely be plentiful as well, but with the threat of battle on the distant horizon, they would need to want for nothing. She had seen first hand countless times how quickly things could go south, how something as small as a shudder in the land itself could be enough to upend limbs, lives.

She could not let it happen again. Could not, could not—

For your wounds, my Queen, she requests gently, standing just before the boulder the Queen had settled herself on. Herbs bundled between her lips, muffling her voice. I could— Heal you, if you want. But she lets the words fall silent.

Instead, she bows her head, gently letting the herbs fall onto the ground before her feet. Icefang may very well wish to address the crowd bloodied and broken and glorious—a testament of strength that may invigorate her awaiting soldiers. But perhaps soothing wounds would ease the ache, temper the fire that threatened to burst.

She doubted she could do anything to change their course. Precious little could ease the clawing ache for war after being slighted in such a way.

Melusina could not hide the strain in her jaw, the bobbing of her throat with each nervous swallow.

Art by AleTie, table by cala

Mother called for the pride and the cub would raise her head from the safety of the den to listen. Did she want to go? No. The cub would lower her head back to a stray hide and grab it between her teeth; her head would thrash back and forth — intent upon its destruction while Icefang was away. Thoughts would turn away from the destruction of the hide not even moments later as she curls back up and closes her eyes, trying to drift back to sleep under the soothing sound of rain against stone.

No, luck. The cub rolled to her paws and headed out into the rain towards the source of annoyance — mother. The tiny child would wobble into the meeting with a heavy frown furrowing her brow until she noticed the mud puddle. Revenge would be sweet. Little legs would change directions as she toddled over to it, and then unceremoniously rolled.

Her dark brown pelt was dampened once more and now covered in sticky mush. The muddy slurry did well to soothe the cub from her interrupted sleep and then there was the added benefit that she would get to be groomed by mother — making that revenge that much sweeter. Parthena would haul herself back to her paws, not even worrying about shaking it off.

Dainty paws more steady now than before would carry her off again, and this time towards Icefang. Mother was so clean, so immaculate upon her stone throne and the child couldn't help but throw herself at the foot of said throne — stomach making a loud squelching sound as she did so; little flecks of mud and water splashing the bottom as her limbs separated. Each little limb would stretch further and further until she was resting so that her hind legs were spread out behind her and her front legs would splay to the side.

Parthena was pleasantly happy with the cool mud that slid off her hide in waves. There was nothing to be worried about, mother won their homeland and the cub couldn't understand why she was angry. To her it didn't matter, so the cub would tilt her head up to look at @Icefang ♔ in all her muddied glory, only to smile brightly at her. "Mama? Uppies." First words are finally woven, practiced but not perfect. But there within them is the cub's first hint of pride at figuring it out.

But the sticky child peers up at Icefang expectantly — she too wanted to sit on the big rock, but it was just slightly too big for her. All others at the meeting where ignored as the cub focused her attention on mother.

.Out here only the strong survive.

Time has come to an end. This is nature's plan. Being tracked by a starving beast, looking for its daily feast, a predator on the verge of death - close to it's last breath. And they run when the sun comes up, with their lives on the line. For all that time, gotta follow the laws of the wild. With their lives on the line. No choice.

code by corvus

Leaving sheol at the. Orders had been hard, but it was a necessary evil. Surely trespassers would not be taken kindly so soon after the challenge. The night melted into morning and Faolán, too, did not find any slumber-- the storm outside her den kept her up, as well as the storm in her mind. All the kicking from the babies didn't help, either. The tension in the air of an impending war was not new however she's never been on this side of it; despite everything, she is almost.... keen for whatever comes next.

They had brought this upon themselves, after all, for daring to challenge for a crown that was not theirs.

Heavy, graceful steps carry the woman to the meeting grounds-- her paws a little slow this morning. The grass beneath her feet is sodden and she steps as carefully as she can. Shooting a smile towards @Arcania ♔ ( who looks rather regal in her crown, if fao says so herself, wink wink ), she settles down-- sighing a little in relief once she's off her feet. Then, attention turns to icefang, and the war drums pounding in the queen's chest.

She knew she wasn't meant to be here, and she knew it all too well. Softly, the girl would slink into the clearing once more - far too curious for her own good. If her mama caught her then she'd most certainly be punished. Still, how could you expect a cub to ever be anything but nosy?

Her eyes settled upon Icefang, and then on Parthena. A slightly grumble was soon to leave her lips, as she remembered their altercation over food, but it was quickly hushed by the girl. Bébé knew she had to remain quiet, yet it was still an arduous task nonetheless. She yearned to squeak and yowl her own opinions, even if it would get her punished.

Instead, she would await patiently to see what was happening, and if it had anything to do with that big naughty stranger picking a fight with Icefang. Otherwise, the girl didn't really get just what exactly was going on here. Nor did she really care, to be quite honest; it just felt nice to feel involved, even if she wasn't really.

- Bébé is attempting to hide -