+5 Observe a fight (Bruno x Lucifer)
+5 Observe a challenge and learn the results (Bruno x Lucifer)

The political geography of this continent seemed ever-changing, and although the lioness was without strings or investments in its powerful families, she was still curious. Despite the long shadows cast against the canopy to signal the impending night, Rosemary found herself angled in the direction of the challenge – guided further by the unmistakable sounds of battle. Between the time and the unnatural stillness of the forest, the woman could not bring herself to venture directly into the territory and found her mitts faltering at the borders of the territory. It was enough to be this close; she could observe the two lions currently locked in battle, and there were a few faces she could pick out even with the poor illumination.

But while the outcome of this battle had little impact on her, save to satisfy her curiosity, she found herself invested in that the face that fought for this kingdom was vaguely familiar, and she did not even know his name. Her parents would be terribly disappointed. Rosemary glanced to her side, noting that she was not the only soul who did not intend to trespass. Tilting her head, she would chuff quietly to a grey lioness who lay across a tree stump, keeping her expression mildly friendly as she did so. “Do you know these lions?” She ventured her query softly to the woman with her brows lifted; from what she could tell from this distance, the other carried no pride scent, else it was very subtle. Perhaps there would be fellowship amongst the rogues of the land, or perhaps not. Rosemary prepared herself for either outcome.

@Isolda
Not trespassing - open to interactions!

code by scorpixia♡︎

He came.

Of course, he came.

Had he not been the cause, after all? Had he not given Bruno a taste of control, of true freedom? Yes, he was there, watching, waiting on baited breath to see the rise of another king. A king he made.

Again.

Oh, how he knew fate writhed with rage!

He was free and now, he would teach others how to do the same. How thrilling it was, to watch his carefully laid plans unfold. How thrilling it was, to watch another break free from the chains that bound them. Bruno had promise, something the prophet had known from their first meeting. The boy had not been ready, but perhaps the man was. Perhaps, even, today he would finally know what it was to be free. The toxic-eyed man paused at the border, simply because he chose to.

And he watched.

And he waited.

Cut your strings. Take. Choose.

A call for the Rainforest hadn't held any weight in the man's life in a long time, and even today, it still didn't. Roan had only crossed paths with the new Firnen king once in recent memory. The Hodari wasn't even fully aware of who the challenger was, a would-be son-in-law. Regardless of it all, however, the mauve lion was curious, and so he found himself wandering toward the familiar lush terrain.

Even in winter, the forest was ever lush as Roan approached. Before he truly found the action, though, the slightest whiff of a certain scent distracted his attention. A fleeting surge of adrenaline flooded and vacated his veins with a single pulse. Remnants of that chaotic day, but it was where he first saw her. The one that reminded him so much of his son that there could be no denial of their relation. As Roan took in the sight of @Clove, however, there was something else he could not deny. She watched the challenger like she knew him, and as the Hodari's minty gaze looked between Bruno and his assumed granddaughter, that resemblance was irrefutable as well. What did that mean, though?

Quietly, the mauve lion dared to approach Clove from the side so that she would see him coming, hopeful not to startle the girl as she stood only half hidden from the rest of the spectators. "Hello again," the masked man would greet if she did not flee from him. The elder's voice a gentle warmth.

table | art

Leave it to the white wolf to sniff out another challenge. Just how often did the kingdoms here change hands? Though she had not been around to witness it, Aleksine's own bloodline was a long one of kings and queens, her mother having been born into royalty that had been held by their namesake for the entirety of their time on their old turf. If not for plague and natural disaster, perhaps she would have been back in those fields--instead of here, deep in cat-infested territory.

She was quiet in her approach, having resigned herself to the possibility that she already stood out enough without causing any commotion. And anyway, she was not too keen on involving herself with them unless she was backed into a corner. Immediately her gaze found the dueling pair, and she paused to observe, though she remained on her feet in case she needed to take swift action.

(Aleks is open for anything!)
PALADIN:
+5 learn a new fighting move
+5 learn information about a potential threat
+5 observe a fight (Bruno vs. Lucifer)

art by hush

This was so not where he had intended to be and yet, he was trying to be better. The last (and only) fight he had been in thus far, he had lost and a portion of his ear had disappeared along with some small fragment of his pride. That alone was enough to walk the outside of the borders of Firnen until he could see the main fight. Letting his gaze draw to the two men and trying to learn a move or two.

The dark earthen-colored male had gotten his claws deep into the darker colored lion's body, weaving from shoulder down the limb. While the wounded one attempted to try and get his teeth onto some sort of tender flesh; while he gave a semblance of composure on the outside, his insides were wrought with nerves. Those same nerves were put to the test as his claws began to rake against a rock upon the ground, carving marks into its topside as he brandished them and no doubt made the riveting noises as he did so. Sharpening them as if he expected to be jumped like the last time.

+5 - Observe a fight (Bruno vs. Lucifer for FR)
+5 - Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws)

ART • CODE

Though he found his footing as desired, Bruno grunted with frustration as the paw he targeted was torn from his path far too quickly. As he saw teeth hurdling toward his face, he lunged his own parted jaws to his left, attempting to close a vengeful bite against the base of the azure lion's naked throat. This change in positioning allowed his opponent's teeth to clamp around his right ear, puncture wounds splitting and bubbling with hot iron as the sensitive flesh tore. So too did claws meet a new mark, ricocheting off of his right shoulder blade with light lacerations in their wake. Bruno took the opportunity to push all of his weight forward, attempting to shove the larger lion off balance as he had only three limbs upon the muddy earth. He gripped greedily at the ground for traction with extended claws, determined to use his slender agility to his benefit.

---

BRUNO vs. @Lucifer
for FIRNEN RAINFOREST
Round 3 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 8d20: 14 + 17 + 13 + 1 + 3 + 12 + 18 + 15

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 8 + 3 + 15 + 6 + 2

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 3 + 1 + 18 + 12 + 19

It's been a while since Eske has thought about challenging for a pride. In their teen years, Eske was sure they would grow up to take hold of the Lagoon, especially now, at the Big Age of three.
Unfortunately, ambition alone didn’t make a ruler. Eske is unaggressive by nature - dreaming of sovereignty and fighting for it were two entirely different things.

Taking a space in the audience, Eske tries to imagine themselves in place of the lions currently battling for the rainforest. Would they be as passionate, as ruthless? They're large, yes, but have never raised their paw with the desire to attack.
Still, this fight is temporary. At the end, one of these competitors will win the right to rule.

Maybe someday, they think, the same thought they've had a thousand times before.

+5 attend a challenge

code by corvus

Father, sister. Two of many. Not enough not enough not enough.

It was not HIS call that drew her; it was @Clove. Always Clove. Dalila clung to the presence of her sister with an almost desperate need. After losing her for so long the young girl was determined not to do so again.

So she follows, after first tucking her fur full of her various flowers, careful of the ones that are so much deadlier than the others. And she slides up beside Clove, side-eyeing @Roan with a vaguely defensive interest. Leery of any that might snatch her family away.

“This doesn’t feel like home,” she grumps, though she is merely being petulant. The lush array of plant life in the rain forest did hold some appeal, if she was completely honest.

Art by Pretty Bloopa || Code by Zay

Curiosity was apt to kill this cat, in truth - but Nathaira's ears perk at the first bit of interesting news that has happened since returning to Amaryllis. She recalls how very touchy all the lions here are about their homes and their borders and every other little thing that one could possibly be touchy about - but when she skirts around and skitters her way into the forest, it's clear that so much of that has been abandoned in the face of a challenge. Lions of all walks of life lounge about the rainforest, watching two men battle one another somewhere in the center. Her brows tighten as she takes in the sights, wondering at the fact that so many are brazenly 'trespassing' - and after only a moment's thought, she decides she might as well, too.

She's too large to climb the trees for safety, though she casts a vague, longing glance their way, and instead she aims for nonchalant confidence. Look like you belong and you do, right? Right. Ambling in amongst the masses, she finds herself lurking somewhere near @Clove and @Dalila, her tufted ears turning their way at the pale girl's complaints. Doesn't look like home? Why're you here then? She wonders, tipping her jaw thoughtfully. But she's silent ( for once ) as she settles in, propping her elbow underneath her and on top of a felled, half-rotted log so that she can comfortably stretch out on the rainforest floor.

nathaira is chillin' and open to anything

ART BY SPU, CODE BY LARS

Why did he ever think he could do this?

Maybe he'd been better off leading the band, where no one could force him to prove how worthless he really was in a world that thrived on violence.

What would his father say? Lucifer didn't want to summon him to find out.

He tasted fresh blood, but had little time to figure out how he really felt about the sensation of cartilage parting under his fangs because it felt like his neck had just erupted in white-hot flame. His jaws clenched against the urge to cry out, only a strangled, pained, groan escaping as the stranger's teeth hit their mark. Was he bleeding? He had to be bleeding. Was it a lot?

Vision swam, reality replaced with the vivid memory of his father's last fight for the rainforest. The sight of his neck opened, blood pouring to the jungle floor. He'd nearly died that day and for what? A bit of land? Was it worth it? Really worth it? He didn't want to die. Not for something so stupid and changing. Jaws unclenched, breath coming fast, panicked.

He didn't want to die.

The shove sent him stumbling back, though his claws instinctively clenched tighter to keep him as close to the other lion as possible - the memory replaced by a vision of the stranger ripping his own neck open. All he could do, in that moment, was cling, too afraid to force himself away lest his worst nightmare come true.

Frozen, with a racing heart and rapid breath, his eyes were wide but he wasn't seeing anything in reality anymore. On the worst possibilities.

Lucifer vs. @Bruno ♔
Firnen Rainforest
Round 3 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 6d20: 11 + 5 + 9 + 18 + 6 + 10

Dodges:

Rolling 5d20: 5 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 19

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 8 + 10 + 2 + 6 + 12 + 15

Sleuth Master Perk: Watchful eye (use the Sub-Master perk of another trade once per 3 OOC months)

• Ambassador: Home-turf advantage (+1 luck to pride-mates and allies when fighting in their pridelands)

Bring your big nerves

But stay wild if you do that

code by corvus || art by drifty