Her least favorite kind of lioness. One who did not bend to the customs of others, or the orders of herself. Sarsaparilla pressed her ears back and attempted to keep a cold, indifferent mask. Wrinkles of rage flinched over her forehead. Her eyes had that skittering, lagging effect of a spider, or a small bird. Move, flinch, move, flinch - watching the progression of their fight, as though it were in a mirror far away. Doubtful whether she heard, or could comprehend.

Just fight until it was over.

Within her own soft bodice, ravaged more by time and stress than scars, she felt the reverberation of the impact of her right paw. Moist between toes. Blood. There she could only imagine the color and sensation of crimson dew, but between her teeth she need not imagine. Drool, half dried, mixed with those saturated metals of fresh blood, so delicately driven from features that were (in her unbiased opinion) much inferior to her own in general beauty. They passed away from her to sink instead into the left side of her neck and she pitched that left shoulder in a metaphorical and literal shrug, trying to jostle the bite with the stiff aim to escape. Her own fangs sought low, turning inward to try to rip at the side of the chest. She flinched and spread her toes, reminding herself to be grounded, as the pain of claws struck against her right shoulder. In their wake she remembered beatings and mendings - always to be mended, for her beauty; but were there healers here, and would they care for her?

Focus, she recalled; lowering her weight, bending all joints, set to stabilize and endure.

@Sarsaparilla vs. @Tormenta
Minor maim
2/4

Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 20 + 17 + 12 + 8 + 1 + 16

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 18 + 14 + 5 + 4

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 7 + 9 + 2 + 13 + 3

+5 Observe a fight (Harou vs Zabrina)
+5 Observe a fight (Nikandr, Icefang, & Parthena vs Nyaxia & Arkyn)
+5 Observe a fight (Sarsparilla vs Tormenta)


For some, it might have been difficult to keep track, but Zaahir's attention flicked between the various fights in a regular pattern and interval. The main one seemed about over and he expected they'd see who'd won very soon. That meant he could put more attention toward the group fight involving the cub, and the more vicious one between the two ladies. And whatever other ones had sparked in the past few moments, as well.

The rest of the crowd was hardly noted, at least until one approached and a single ear twitched toward the man's voice. One paw pulled his herb parcel closer to his chest, but his gaze continued to flick between each ongoing battle, "I don't think I've ever seen so many fighting at once," the interest and excitement was clear in his eyes and the restless twitch of his tail.

When the man offered his name, he'd get the briefest of glances and a quick grin, "Zaahir. Are you from here?" Kinda smelled like he was, but he didn't seem all that concerned over the all the fighting.

@Silas

not trespassing, open to interaction

code by corvus || art by drifty

**He is outside the borders for the moment, not presently trespassing.**
---------

Reti was late to the party - how very unlike him.

The smile that curved black lips like a silver moon sat relaxed beneath the tri colored gaze that glanced over sandy border to the chaos gloriously blossoming like a twisted desert flower.

Lovely. A soft laugh, the barest whisper of a sound, stroked his throat with macabre amusement. This...was a lively one. But he expected that much upon heading towards the call. Given what he had witnessed from the local ruler when the Oasis was taken - brutality was second nature.

Reti imagined those who called the damned sands home would be likewise inclined to primal volatility. The challenger he glanced at - was not the one Reti had expected to see. And he wondered how she would fare. And what the fallout would be should the lion fall.

His steps came to a relaxed but alert halt a couple yards short of the markers, he was not here to show disrespect after all. This was...an allied pride to the cove yes? It was best not to foul the drinking water.

Spotting @Aphrodite the smile on his lips grew by a fraction, jaws parting just slightly as he rumbled a little greeting towards her before looking back at the bouquet of crimson blooming bellow as the light slipped farther into night.

code by corvus

The Monster

Velasco X’uekai

Claws find flesh and blood spills in their wake a satisfied deep-throated growl erupts through the mouthful of fur and flesh held between his teeth.

Oh and of course she retaliates. Her teeth sink into his muzzle and the monster snarls attempting to let go of her side and instead attempt to sink his own teeth into her face. At the same time he attempts to push forward, not off her but onto her. His right limb attempts to shift just barely to gain more footing over cutting into her side. Meanwhile he attempts to place his left front limb with his claws extended onto her shoulder in an attempt to push her back down onto the ground. To trap her under him.

Velasco vs. @Sif
Theft of Sif
Round 2 / 3
Hits:

Rolling 7d20: 19 + 13 + 17 + 8 + 3 + 20 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 2 + 14 + 16 + 15

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 10 + 9 + 2 + 14 + 4

code by corvus, manip by wolfsi

Fashionably late - she would let the crowds assume it was deliberate, when really she had gotten turned around in the sands. That late afternoon nap lingered with its dreams of grandeur. With lofty steps she drifted toward the fighting, picking out the main fight through the bulk of the spectators' interest. Other battles seemed equally savage but did not draw the same interest. To risk her skin and yet be unappreciated? Lips curled with distaste as she sat just outside the borders. These lands did not have the same draw as before. Not as when they were abandoned, unclaimed, new. She wanted to rule when the time was right. When her heart reached out. When the stars aligned. And if not, she would make it so.

Yellow orbs with disinterested predatory appraisal settled upon a fight between the Brook, a pride which to her knowledge remained satisfactorily usurped, and the Lagoon. The seaside pride had been rent by the elements too often for her to want it but that did not mean she must ignore the ongoings of those who dwelled within, clutching for power between the storms.

I know her as Zabrina, she is.. was- Her tone and wavering on the appropriate word indicated uncertainty. -is a wife to my mother. And as the fight began to trend towards conclusion, Pyrrha was very careful to notice what was going on around her and @Noemi. Hopefully the proximity to the Andal woman would give her some leeway should things go poorly quickly (as for others it seemed to be doing...)

Unfortunately, if things did not turn out well, Pyrrha would not be able to offer much aid to Zabrina or show of support. The young strawberry woman had her own plans in motion that could not suffer a bump like this. She could not stick her flag in the sand supportively... nor... did she want to. She tried to challenge our Sovereign in Caladan for her position and my step father did not allow it to continue. We didn't see much of her after that. Some curious gossip for her company to hold onto. Pyrrha's pale eyes flickered with diverted attention amongst the multitude of fights going on around them. The likes of which did not all seem to even include Andal members. What an absolute mess. Despite her choice of words, Pyrrha did not sound disappointed.

_{BG — ART BY RABBIT — CODE}

"Can't say I have either" He leaned in a little closer and gave @Zaahir ♔ a playful nudge before adding, "Let's hope they ain't get any funny ideas and try to rope us in, eh? Unless," he looked down, noting the extra—and extra long—claws that held onto her satchel, "Yer into all the fightin' and such." He wondered how much use she got outta those suckers, hoping he would not wind up on the receiving end.

It seemed his efforts of blending in had worked. "Shore am, though I ain't been here long. Damn shame I might lack a home here shortly." He put on a sullen expression and jutted his chin out in the direction of the main act where it seemed to be drawing to a close—neither pulling away in resounding victory. He was curious to see who would end up with the throne, though it had no real effect on his livelihood; as soon as this was all over, he was headed straight back to the red caves to the rest of their ragtag group.

"How about you, miss? You shore do smell like the desert, at least."

@Corvus ★

"A wife? One of many? Does polygamy run in the family?" she asked with a cheeky grin and tap of her paw. She would flirt, she would bribe, she would fake it until she got what she wanted. She wanted this woman comfortable with her, wanted her to see her as a friend, or more than if she ever so wished.

The more @Pyrrha ♔ gave her of this… Zabrina… the less intrigued she became; she’d already failed at gaining a higher power once, shut down before she ever began, only to seemingly fall out of favor with those that remained. Pfft, what a waste. Now here she was, trying again, though Noemi would be surprised if she were to actually succeed. She almost began to delight in her anticipation of the woman’s failure. Sure, it would mean her leave from under the current leadership would be postponed, but it didn’t seem as if the woman even deserved the title.

She nodded along with Pyrrha’s words. A mess it was. It was as if those in the crowd couldn’t control their urges for blood and violence in the wake of such a challenge; Noemi herself was itching to join, but resigned to staying with the young woman. She had so much to offer, it would be foolish to leave for a little short-lived fun.

She was reminded of why Pyrrha left the Cove in the first place. "Was it your step-father who lost the throne?"

code by scorpixia♡︎

He had been on his way to see the challenge regardless, but hearing @Lagertha's call put a little more speed into his step. Haakon arrived nearing the end of the main event, but to his delight there's several scuffles happening on the outskirts. Challenges, maims, even a few cubs sparring. How entertaining.

He finds the shield maiden quickly enough, sitting with the gathering of Caladan lions. The male joins Lagertha's open side and sprawls onto his belly, eyes alight with amusement and mischief.

"Do you see anyone open?" He asks the group, more or less asking for permission to cause a little trouble.

art © drifty | code © hinter

she's got the devil in her eyes
pretty in the light, even prettier at night

After she had asked how @Ciara was fairing in the Oasis others began to join her, bringing her attention for a split second away from the young medic and the two fights to those who joined her. Aphrodite didn't normally enjoy a crowd but she was wearing a crown these days so it couldn't be helped. Ears twisted as she caught @Milano's scent before his question and then it seemed that he took notice of who it was fighting as she would raise an eyebrow at him. Do you know her? Perhaps she could share some insight on the two toned woman. Aphrodite had met her but couldn't recall a name to the woman fighting.

Shortly after he arrived, the cub @Zinnia showed up and promptly plopped herself right between Aphrodite's front paws and greeted her with her signature name. A name came from the cubs mouth a bit louder than it should have by the grimace that came shortly after and Aphrodite glanced to the two toned woman then back to the cub. I'm not entirely sure yet, but it shouldn't be to long before we find out. She would reassure the cub just before @Lagertha came up and joined her growing crowd. The Noble only greeted her with a rumble and so Aphrodite would do the same before turning her attention back to the fights.

Ears twisted as more fights started to form and it became a crowd whenever Icefang joined the fight she had already been watching. Ears flattening and her claws began to dig into the ground, ready to move in case someone decided to come after her and the cub needed to be removed. It was then her eyes flashed to Lagertha again, If someone decides to come and attack me, get Zinnia away from it. She would order, not leaving much room out for an argument from the Noble.

Soon two more joined the fight Icefang had joined in and her muscles tightened up. But it wasn't until a call came from a Brook male calling for a Lagoon lioness - someone she had fought and lost in a Spar - that truly sparked her interest and her tail flashed behind her. And as she was focused on that fight, Aphrodite did not take notice of the Andal Prince coming for Zinnia and pushing her into the sand until she felt the shift.

A growl formed as Aphrodite turned then, standing up and even bringing her right paw up - claws out due to already being out from earlier - and aiming to shove the child off of Zinnia. This was not going to happen on her watch and it didn't matter if the Cove and the Oasis were allies, Zinnia was not a part of this and Aphrodite would deal with the consequences later.


Aphrodite vs. @Blaidd
Dominance/fuck off of zinnia
round one

Hits;

Rolling 8d20: 6 + 12 + 5 + 15 + 3 + 10 + 2 + 13

Dodges;

Rolling 4d20: 11 + 4 + 2 + 19

Luck;

Rolling 5d20: 11 + 12 + 18 + 14 + 8

table by ryuu