She's not left to herself for long, @Matthieu coming to join where she had settled. "I'm doing well, Matti, and you?" She gives him a friendly smile before her attention shifts back to the fight as it begins, watching how Colsun fights and defends against her nephew. @Güelle is the next to arrive, garnering a nod of welcome from the Queen before her eyes snap towards @Fairytale. A hum of gratitude vibrates in her throat at the lioness' mention of patrolling the borders. She was glad that others took the time to make sure their pride stayed safe.

Isla isn't exactly sure what happens but the fight is over much sooner than she had expected. A brow rises in a curious manner, colossal form slowly rising to all fours, the weight of growing unborn cubs making her move slower. She gives a nod to @Asbjørn's words, tail curling around a hindleg before flicking out. "@Colsun," the Queen begins, her eyes landing upon her beau, "I know how capable of fighting you are. I've witnessed it when you went for the Mire. This is why-" she takes a short pause, feeling a kick in her stomach which made her lip curl slightly in dislike.

Inhaling a deep breath, Isla continues: "This is why I am making you Scilla's Heir. I entrust that you will make me proud, and when our cubs are of age perhaps one of them will be ambitious enough to challenge you for the spot." As she spoke, Isla was taking steps towards Colsun, soon enough close enough to touch him. She reaches out, attempting to brush her nose along the side of his cheek, a soft purr rumbling in her chest. "Congratulations," she says softly, pulling away just enough to look him in the eyes.

ART BY RYUU, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

When the battle was over (relatively quick, yes, but the giant dumbass was clumsy on the best of days) and all was said and done, Colsun was left feeling rather bamboozled. He blinked and it was over, and then he blinked and Isla was approaching him in a manner that made him swallow over the lump in his throat. His tufted ears drew forward as she began speaking, commenting on his fighting prowess; he had lost then and now, but still she found him capable. Colsun swelled with pride as she appointed him a new title and then stepped towards him. Colsun leaned in to sneak a kiss, heart warming as she mentioned their children. "I look forward to the day they do," he said with a crooked grin before turning to lead the way back home.

exit

there's a darkness and it follows me

I'm never gonna let you in

code by corvus

"Trè byen, madam @Isla ♔. Very well, mèsi."

One of the younger men of the pride joined Matti and the queen on the sidelines and he answered back with a hearty, "Bonjou, mwen zanmi!" My friend!. "I don’t believe we ‘ave ever been met. De name is Matti!" The pink lioness, @Fairytale wasn’t far behind and she, too, took a seat with them to watch.

Though, there wasn’t much left to watch; the challenge was already over? Matti looked shocked as Asbjørn walked in their direction, seemingly triumphant, but even more so when Isla not only made the man now known as 'Colsun' her heir, but also revealed what he had thought to be true: she was pregnant.

"Felisitasyon! Congratulations! De bird of ye children will be a joyous occasion!" He loved to see growing families and he was all the more excited to have a handful of young cubs roaming around their beaches.

@Güelle

art by muuland, cody by lars

There was a lot to take in amongst this inter-pride challenge and @Matthieu was quick to introduce himself with quite the exuberant and not all english greeting. Uh, he stammered as he couldn't quite separate what one word meant over another given the accent but he felt he had enough reason to make a decent assumption of it. I'm Güelle. Thankfully @Isla ♔, too, seemed fine with him coming and watching the show and taking a seat near to her while they did so. He knew to be as quiet as possible so as to give the others as much room for concentration as possible.

One victor stood out from the other but it appeared that regardless of the outcome, the defeated would be rewarded with quite the title. Heir? Guelle was surprised, but not in a bad way. Not at all, it only invigorated him and sent him into a blank-expression while his brain was in a frenzy. That meant that there was still an open spot left for the rank he had initially challenged for. There was a deep-seeded war going on in his brain as though he were about to ask if he could fight for the rank since it hadn't even been filled but no words came off his tongue. Instead, he swallowed and smiled — showing his happiness that he was happy for the conclusion.

As for the sudden realization that his Queen was pregnant, and Matthieu's exuberant congratulations, Guelle cleared his own throat and offered a much quieter, congratulations, Queen Isla. Because that was what one did when someone was pregnant, right? They offered their congratulations and were excited for them but truthfully... it kinda weirded him out.

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Isla had no doubts that @Colsun would turn her down, and when he stepped in to give her a kiss does the Queen return it with an intimate touch. Her purring grows louder, almost shutting out the congratulations that both @Matthieu and @Güelle give her at the news. "Thank you, both of you," her head turns in their direction to address them, happiness lighting up her features. She wasn't sure when the last time she had felt truly happy, but knowing that soon enough she was going to have bundles of mini Isla's and Colsun's romping about lit a fire under her heart, one that seemed to be only for when it was time for her to become a mother.

The newly crowned Heir takes his leave and Isla takes it as a good opportunity for she, herself, to make her departure. Giving those present a nod of farewell, Isla presses on toward Colsun, giving him a gentle bump with her shoulder as she passes him and heads for her den - her tail beckoning him to come follow.

exit Isla.

ART BY RYUU, CODE BY DEE, MODIFIED BY GUNNER

He took note of the boy's offered name, Güelle, a bit oblivious to his difficulties in understanding him through the thick accent. "Den it be nice to meet ye, @Güelle. I 'ope ye been findin' it well 'ere! 'ave ye met one our baronesses, madmwazèl @Fairytale?" he asked, indicating the young woman on his other side, giving her a smile as well.

As congratulations were given to the queen and the father of her future children, her happiness was infectious. The smile on her face found its way to become an even bigger one on Matti's and he watched as she retreated from their group before turning back to the two younger ones still with him. "Dere be lots to do to prepare!" He hadn't been around a handful of cubs since he left home and he missed the life they brought to those around them. He said his goodbyes before he too began to trot off to his den.

-exit-

art by muuland, cody by lars

The young boy gulps at Isla's thanks but not because he does not like it, but because he recognizes that she sees him. That he is in the eyes of the Sovereign and despite the fact that he knew Isla was Sovereign and had since the beginning, something about her sights being set upon him made his skin crawl. Perhaps it was that he had no rank nor truly any wild ambition or goal in mind for having been here... he'd done next to nothing aside from participate in a few hunts. Guelle liked to think himself a warrior and fearless but as a young boy, he felt that demon of doubt crawling along his fur.

Here and there, yeh! he says, in response to @Matthieu who had asked if he had met Fairytale. He had seen her around but had not exactly been properly introduced but he would make a note to do so in the coming days. And he would, actually, meet and find out that she was a very good artist of fan work. Though as Isla and Matthieu turned to leave now he felt his attention waning and thus departed with an awkward grin to those still present before taking his exit.

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