As soon as @Léonie came to sit by him he felt an immense amount of relief. Yet, he also felt smothered... in both a good and bad day. Guelle wanted to participate and to show his teeth and claws, to do what he had been training himself to do like his father, his grandfather and his uncle. Having his mother here looking like she was ready to squash any beefcake that dared to entertain even the thought of attacking her boy? It felt humiliating! But he did not let that show because he loved his mother and he respected her position beside him and her choices... just as she hoped that if he got into a fight that she would let him do it. Let him be the man he was raised to be.

güelle is open for a minor or major maim, but i have a preference as to what is taken from him if he loses. please be respectful of these wishes if you choose to engage.

ART • CODE

Fissure would soon arrive on the scene, taking a moment to take in everything that was already happening. Various fights had broken out already, others on the brink of breaking out among those standing by.

He would consider jumping in to aid Icefang, as would be expected of a guard, but she seemed more than enthralled by the idea of a fight. Perhaps she would rather keep it personal. Fissure was here to defend against would-be theft of the Brook's cubs and lionesses that could not fight for themselves.

Eyes would catch a familiar face, the bright pink, black and white of Bordeaux. More concerning, @Arcania ♔ seemed to have focused in on her, looking to fight. "Well shit.." He muttered quietly. Conflict of interest was there, but in the end he already knew what was more important. Bordeaux was a Crow.. family, regardless of blood.

Moving hastily forward, he would try to intercept the Brook lioness before she got too close to Bordeaux. Only once he was standing in front of her, would he speak. "No, this one is off limits.. she is family. If you would attack her, you would have to go through me first." He discouraged. "She is only here to mend the wounded." He added, a clear disgust in his voice at the very idea of someone attacking a field medic, regardless of what side they might be on in a war.

code by corvus

It would not be long before someone would take notice of her, despite her making herself appear small and nonthreatening. She had also tried to make it clear why she was here, her medicine bag clear to see draped across her shoulders.

@Arcania ♔ did not attack her immediately, but she was coming closer, threatening the smaller lioness. Bordeaux wasn't sure what to do in this situation. If she ran, who was going to be here to tend to the wounded after their fight had concluded? Was it wrong to abandon the lions that had helped her in the only way she knew how? She would take several steps backward, but she did not flee.

Fissure would arrive then, come to hopefully discourage the lioness from attacking, even though he smelled of the same pride. He should not be doing that, it would only put a target on his back. She would frown, observing the pair nervously. If the lioness continued towards her, perhaps she would have to leave, so that Fissure would not get in trouble with his own peers.

code: corvus || art: yumpy

Arcania X'uekai

count my cards, watch them fall
I like the way they all scream

She readied herself as someone approached, then relaxed slightly when she noticed the scent of the Brook on him, thinking he was coming to join her, then became confused when he stood in her way. She would have simply accepted his statement, but his tone in his conclusion had a growl leaving her. Her fangs flashed in the light as she snapped her jaws together in a reprimand. Watch your tone, she snarled, but did not further threaten either of them. If they hadn't been in the middle of a war, she would certainly have more to say, but as it was the Brook needed to appear united. Still... She didn't care for how he'd spoken.

She noticed the woman looking their way and let out an irritated huff. I suggest you hide, if you don't wish to cause trouble for him, she said simply. She knew there would be others who would find her a good target for the same reasons she had, and more.

She noticed a face-off nearby, and another huff left her. They don't care about respecting our medics, she commented to @Fissure, nodding her head towards the claim for Freja that had begun. With that she turned to prowl away, seeking another target, but careful to keep the man in her peripheral vision in case he should challenge her.

@Bordeaux

code by scorpixia♡︎

The gentleness of the males response might have provided a measure of comfort to the woman. It might have made her consider at least - a different course of action, an alternative. She was not here to fight and would probably have provided aide to anyone in need regardless of allegiance. She might have been affiliated with the Brook, but she would have helped anyone who came her way. Perhaps she still could, if this did not turn into a fight. Perhaps the Scillan would turn his sights elsewhere; which in itself was a cowardly thought. As Colsun's pitch came to an end, Freja only swallowed harshly the lump that had formed in her throat. Didn't he understand -

I don't have a choice.

Her thoughts be damned, she is surprisingly not alone. It is surprising in that Freja had not expected any back up, that she expected fully to face this on her own. And yet, the dark form of a somewhat familiar face slips up to her left side and the quiet words in her ear are a bolster. I will help defend you. She would not avoid this fight, but she also would not face it alone. "Thank you." Mismatched eyes clashed briefly with that of her pridemate, the low rumble of gratitude crossing the back of her throat. In that time, their opponent had gained an ally, making them even.

Her heart thundered rapidly in her chest, threatening to beat straight out and bring all the rest of her organs with it. But like a thorn pulled from a paw, going slowly was not going to get her out of this pain. Their challenger taunted just moments before launching himself forward and Freja panicked. Fear twisted in her gut, the ugly emotion painted starkly across her face. Her flailing right paw struck the sand and attempted to fling a fistful up and towards Colsun's face. With that paw already lifted, she attempted to intercept the shoulder thrown towards Lathan, claws extended to attempt to rake down the black males shoulder and forelimb in one long swipe.

She already wanted to puke and was grateful she had eaten nothing that morning.

Freja & @Lathan vs. @Colsun & @Heloise
for Freja
Round 1/3
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 10 + 17 + 2 + 19

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 6 + 13 + 17 + 4

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 5 + 11 + 4 + 19

Art by Moogle, Code by Minxy

The call she dreaded. The fur along Rhea's spine prickled uncomfortably as she quickly shoves as much herbs from her den as she can into her pouch. What would she be walking into? Would there be immediate injuries for her to heal? With ears pinned back and a worried expression plastered onto her face, she walks onto the battle scene noting that Isla is locked into battle with what she can assume is the male trying to steal their home. A lot of the figures fighting are foreign to her and she notices most of her own pride is still lingering waiting for something to occur. Blue orbs land on @Güelle and while she considers immediately heading over to him (for comfort) she pauses when she notices the woman standing next to him (@Léonie). Was that possibly his mother or just a trusted friend? Instead, she hovers next to a palm tree and leans against its skinny trunk, fighting the urge she feels to faint at the writhing bodies before her. Her attention drifts from Isla's fight towards Güelle and then to a random fight, distracted and certainly not paying close enough attention to her own surroundings...

ooc: open for interaction!

”Speech”

_{art & table by yumpy}

The Cove was not part of the fight happening at the Lagoon, and while he did not know of its occurring by word of mouth, it was impossible to miss the gathering of lions, the summoning calls for allies.

Daedric would choose to attend if only he might learn more in the observation of the gathered lions. The newly made yearling was hungry for any sort of knowledge that might be gleaned from watching the combatants. He wished to be a renowned fighter when he was older, and while already off to a great start, it could not hurt to learn from other lions outside of his father.

So he would arrive, coming to linger in the background. He was here only to observe, and among those here, he could see one of his parents was here, though not currently engaged in a fight, instead defending a lioness from a would-be attacker. Attention would move from Fissure to observe the main battle, a fight between a lioness and a lion of sharp color contrast. He rather hoped the lion would come out victorious in this fight, even if he didn't know either of them personally. In observing, he would note some of the movements and counter-movements of Cassius, taking note of them to try for himself later.

As he watched, the boy would absently knead his front claws on a bit of driftwood on which he was perched upon, sharpening them instinctively.

BARBARIAN EXP
+5 Observe a fight
+5 Learn a new fighting move
+5 Maintain your weapons

Instantly his eyes locate the sudden appearance of @Rhea and he knows who owns that pelt without question and immediately picks up his paw to wave her over. Trying to get her attention, to summon her to come sit beside him and his mother. Mum, he says quietly, that's Rhea. She's a friend of mine in the Lagoon. I met her in the Passage when I was trying to recruit for you. She was claimed by some... old dude and Isla fought for her. I kept her company and then we met again and she was the one who encouraged me to join the Lagoon. Of course, he was totally unaware that @Léonie might throw theoretical daggers at rhea for having done so but he would defend Rhea because she was one of the main lions in the pride that he was happy to call a friend.

güelle is open for a minor or major maim, but i have a preference as to what is taken from him if he loses. please be respectful of these wishes if you choose to engage.

ART • CODE

Melusina

at the shoreline, in sweet water we fed wild dogs overripe apples and herring; her hair hung in willow boughs

She'd known the war was coming. Its very promise spoken from the lips of her Queen and yet—and yet—

Of all things, this was what she least suspected.

It was Icefang's promise of war but it was Cassius who struck the first spark. Steel on steel, teeth on teeth. Melusina's arrival was late but purposeful, filtering among a folly of soldiers far more strong and powerful than she. Her presence was more than mere circumstance, but it was tertiary, supportive, even if every drive within her begged to be fierce, begged to fight.

The moment she stepped onto the battlefield, the smell of blood hit her. It was nauseating, haunting. An old ghost, a reopened wound. Suddenly, the blissful warmth of seaskissed summer and the gentle sway of Scillan palm fronds disappeared. In its place, the hallowed halls of Ecrosia took shape; large, gnarled branches protruding from deep swamp beds, the sound of trees snapping, the desperate caterwauling of girls who lost their mothers.

She takes a step back into the shadows. Her eyes are wide. Her lips tremble. The hollow of her throat shudders as she gulps.

Cassius is in the throes of battle, Icefang long engaged in her own. Each a paragon of greatness, a harkening of ambition and prosperity from a side that conquered. And however desperate she was to draw on their strength, to idolize the way they wielded their words as well as their teeth, Melusina felt so small by comparison.

So small. So meek. So undeserving.

No, came that soft, rallying cry. It was no more than a mere whisper at first, but as the cacophony of war echoed in her ears and the overwhelming stench of blood became something of a cruel high, the word grew louder and louder. No, no, no.

I am small no longer.

I am meek no longer.

I am undeserving—no longer.

Melusina emerged from the shadows without fuss or ceremony, bathed in the light of the early morning sun. Gilded golds and greens were a glorified contrast against the blood spilt on the sand, and the gentle lull of waves against the endless white shore could barely rise above the caterwauling of waging war. Her gaze no longer carried fear now but intent, scrutinizing the battlefield as if it were familiar. The cruel irony of its homeliness settled deep.

This was where she had once played as a girl, racing along the shore just to see how far she could push herself, never allowing herself strength for the way back. This was where her mother's kingdom had once stood and fell, and where now her daughter would stare down the throat of what all Tinuviel had been desperate to keep her from. It felt like a final act of defiance; but it did not stay her hand or sway her heart.

She could not tell if it was fear or adrenaline or some distant, fleeting hope, but Melusina had never felt more alive.

---

OOC: Melusina does have a possible fight/plot planned, but feel free to interact ofc. ♡

code by cala, art by krak

@Güelle said nothing. Léonie noticed, of course, but she was hardly bothered by her son’s silence. It allowed her to look through the gathering forces and watch as tempers flared and violence sparked. However, the flurry of movement in the corner of her eye caused her to angle her head back and she realized her son was waving at someone — a pretty lioness, with a speckled coat that made her think of a quiet dawn. Güelle introduced her as @Rhea and explained who she was: a reason for him to stay there in the Lagoon. After all, she was the one who had invited him there and befriended him.

The dark imp studied her closely for a moment before motioning her to join them. “Bring her here so she’s not by herself,” she told him, encouraging him to go to her and escort her over. She didn’t want her to be mistaken for an easy opportunity by their enemies.

artwork • coding