How long had it been since her extended family? A month, maybe two? Étoile had lost count. What she hadn't lost count of was the amount of decidedly un-Dieudonné people that had claimed some sort of infamy and rank among her distant cousins. What scandal! What shame! What shame for her specifically, as she found herself realizing that she - as esteemed as she found herself - had no rank to set herself apart from the lesser individuals (read: those who had not been graced with her family name.)

Well, that was going to change very quickly, wasn't it?

Stood atop a plateau, her cream-tipped feet planted stubbornly against the wind, the bratty lioness released a little call. A call for recognition amongst her "peers."

If things went the way she wanted, she'd be Lady of the Bluffs by sundown.

Étoile vs ?
for Noble
0 of 3_{BG — ART — CODE}

OOC NOte: Edit Ok'ed by Squid in Discord

---

The youth was still craving recognition, and rising above just being known as Amara's daughter or Louve's little sister. Paws paced the red earth of the Bluffs, prowling for something, anything to do. She was growing older, growing into maturity. She looked so much like a monochrome version of her mother - aside from the poisonous colored eyes that were often narrowed these days.

Tail flicked back and forth as the youth prowled around the Bluffs, she heard a call ring out - a call for rank. Her previous attempt had failed - but perhaps she would prove victorious now. As she prowled ever closer, she would scope out the challenger first. She was older, likely more skilled. No doubt. She'd figure it out surely. Creeping ever closer, she would suddenly launch an assault.

-- Fight starts here --

Régine would launch herself at a run towards the older lioness, her familiarity with the terrain helping fuel her speed. Her front legs would outstretch, and her jaws would open, aiming to sink her claws into Étoile's chest while her jaws aimed to grasp onto the side of her neck. It was a brutal first attempt, but she was nothing if not bloody.


Régine v. @Étoile
for Noble
Round 1/3
Hits:

Rolling 3d20: 11 + 5 + 18

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 18 + 12 + 17

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 12 + 8 + 10 + 1 + 14

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

Was she interested in rank for herself? Absolutely not. Her disdain for Louve had grown and it thus extended to her followers. She had no desire to hold a title just so she could go around the land spouting the woman’s values when they were so fundamentally different from her own.

But was she still interested in the outcome? Absolutely. She wanted to track every shift in power: who was advancing and who proved themselves most loyal to the queen? That information was much more important to her than holding the title herself.

She remained silent in her approach to the chosen plateau, merely observing the woman with a clinical gaze as she took a seat; she recognized her only from a hunt but nothing further and, though newer to the pride than Sable, her ambition was evident. She hoped that, unlike the last challenge she attended, she wouldn’t find herself on the receiving end of an unruly yearling’s pent up energy.

code by scorpixia♡︎

Of course it catches her attention.

A strangers voice, but that's to be expected. Neither of the brawling lions are familiar to her, but each are marked with the dark points that usually meant family. She would not make the assumption though, nor would it really matter. Instead it's to @Sable she looks, deja vu washing over her as she steps closer. They'd lived this moment before; here, they will live it again.

Lazare shoots the other woman a curious, pointed look-- smiling like they were swapping a secret. She dares not speak, lest she accidentally lay a trap for the other woman; she does not want her to be attacked again, either. Instead lazare is quiet, turning her ( vacant ) attention to the brawl before her as she reclines at sables free side.

BG — ART — CODE

Étoile nearly lets out a squeal as she is assaulted, the cool black tones of her attacker flashing before her - spotted, just as Elaine is. For a moment, she wondered if she had indeed caught the eye of the heiress, though the body that was lfung at her seemed too small for that.

The brown lioness flung up a paw in immediate defense (perhaps almost slamming into the side of Regine's face at the same time?) as her assailant went for her throat. Étoile bumbled a moment, claws ringing true against her clavicle, before snarling and snapping at the ear closest to her mouth, hoping to sink her teeth into the delicate flesh as a correction.

Ça fait mal! she hissed, before shifting in an attempt to throw the smaller lioness away from her with a bodily shove. That hurt!

@Régine v. Étoile
for Noble
Round 1/3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 11 + 1 + 5 + 20

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 4 + 10 + 17 + 11 + 18

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 1 + 11 + 5 + 12 + 19

_{BG — ART — CODE}

She does not quite understand why she bothered to attend – was it boredom, curiosity, or perhaps something more? It would not matter, in the end, but Delphine neared the ongoing brawl all-the-same, ears tipped forward as she emerged from the shadows of the steppes and immediately eyed the familiar shape of her littermate, vying for recognition against a stranger.

Hm.

The banshee’s eyes narrowed in silent scrutiny – for what was there really to gain from a pretty title? – but said nothing, for she knew, of course, that her words would mean little now that they had already chosen to divulge in the back-and-forth of competition. Delphine had not seen much of any of her sisters, or even her maman, as of late, and whether it was intentional or otherwise, the portion of her chest that was reserved for them remained quite hollow-feeling. Quite lonely, even now. In all truth, it felt more like she was staring at a phantom rather than @Régine, who was supposed to be her own flesh and blood. But time had not been overly kind to them, had it?

Shifting forward another step, she noticed @Lazare there, too, flanked by another unrecognizable face. And though an indistinguishable sentiment burned beneath her skin at the sight of her niece, she would opt to remain on her own, still, finding a suitable place along the other side of the ring to observe. Deciding not to mask the furrow of her brows or the slight purse of her lips, Delphine would simply settle in place and watch, waiting to see what would become of this.

code by daanyen, art by loki

Hellfire. Hellfire.

Ain't no chariots of fire, come to take me home I'm lost in the woods, and I wander alone

Elaine stepped out of the shadows to watch as the fight started. Her gaze was heavy on the challengers. Her younger sister had stepped in to fight with the newest member of the family and pride. Elaine wasn't sure who would win but it would be a good test for both of them. She moved to sit next to @Delphine, silence falling between them as Elaine watched both lionesses. Things in the Bluffs had been strange. She felt like she was walking through mud most days and she knew that there needed to be something soon to bring them out of it. She knew that Louve needed to take action to make sure they did not fade out of the minds of those on the island. Their family name held meaning and Elaine worried that it was starting to be forgotten.

Take My Soul

Burn in an alleyway through a dead end street Murdering promises that I just can't keep

code by corvus|Image

She was unaware of the gathering crowd, but it would seem that their battle had caught the attention of quite a few within the pride. If she had known that the one who had scoffed at her and the other beforehand was here.. She would likely turn her fury on her instead. But for now, she would keep her focus on the fight at paw.

It seemed she had caught her opponent by surprise though, as the paw that fling up smacks the side of her face. But she would not be who she was if she didn't continue to fight regardless of the attacks thrown against her. Her teeth would continue to try to bite for the side of her opponent's throat wherever she could reach- her attacks vicious and indicative of a youth who was violent and a bit unhinged. But she truly was her mother's savage daughter, was she not? Teeth would nip at her cheek, and the attempt to bump her away only served to give the youth more reason to wish to stay close After all, if this lioness wanted her gone, then perhaps she ought to stay where she was.

Claws would also continue to attempt to slash at her opponent, aiming to hit wherever she could land a paw.


Régine v. @Étoile
for Noble
Round 2/3
Hits:

Rolling 3d20: 14 + 2 + 9

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 12 + 16 + 5

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 13 + 9 + 19 + 18 + 20

text. "speech."

Art & Table code by Zodiac

The girl continues to flap at her, an unwanted leech intent on drawing blood and fur away from her body. Deep within her soul, Étoile can feel the old tenants of her personality stirring, the simmering urge to insult the girl's face and body rising against the walls of her throat.

But insulting the girl would not win her a physical fight, now would it? As just a yearling, Régine was smaller, lankier, less toned than Étoile was by her very nature. If she were a smart woman - which she did tout herself to be, she would use her size and strength to win this instead of sharp words and brattish sentiment.

One the girl's claws catches her on the lip as she flails, but Étoile is ready for her this time, and she surges forward, aiming to bowl the smaller Dieudonné over so she may claw and bite at her more sensitive belly.

@Régine v. Étoile
for Noble
Round 2/3
Hits:

Rolling 4d20: 18 + 19 + 5 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 2 + 13 + 15 + 18 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 17 + 8 + 2 + 10 + 20

_{BG — ART — CODE}

It was one of the yearlings that had participated in—and lost she might add—the previous challenge who answered the call. One would think she would try to better herself, maybe wait to gain a little age and the strength that comes with it before trying again; against an older combatant to boot. But alas, as had been demonstrated multiple times over, the lions of this pride thought only with claws and teeth and not any ounce of strategy and reasoning.

Again, she was joined on the sidelines by the same woman from before and returns her smile with a small, knowing one of her own. Oh, here we go again.

Across the exchange of blows sat two unfamiliar women, one with an air of superiority. Must be one of Louve’s higher ranking members. They didn’t seem to be speaking to each other, both focused solely on the fight, so there was nothing for her to study of their expressions or vocal movements.

@Lazare

code by scorpixia♡︎