"Hey,"

A lot of Wolfbron lions arrived. Lazare mentioned something about them needing this...The youth did not understand what that meant (but then again, she wasn't family, she wasn't supposed to). Zinnia would look at them briefly, making note if she recognized them or if they were eyeing her like she didn’t belong (because, well, she didn’t). None seemed to take note of her, however, except Elaine. She was quite sure that Elaine noticed her, but didn’t say anything. As one lioness without the heavy scent of Wolfbron was intercepted and spoken to, another approached them and spoke in a different language. She frowned, then grabbed her skin of herbs and moved closer to @Elaine. She sat near the dark lioness as Louve appeared, wasting no time with speech or to look around.

Zinnia shifted, following the scarred Queen with a sharp yellow gaze. Absorbing each and every mood she made. There was a ferocity there that surprised the young healer, simply because Aphrodite had not treated her in such a way when they had sparred. They bruised, they didn’t cause wounds that needed healed… not really anyway. Not like this. Louve appeared out for blood in the way she attacked. First ramming into her daughter, knocking the younger Dieudonne off her feet and into the dirt before pouncing, canines aiming to sink deep into her flesh. Zinnia watched with rapt attention as blood bubbled up, filling the air and staining the ground. Lazare tried to retaliate, to dislodge the grip but even Zinnia could tell, Louve had a hold she didn’t have to let go of unless she wanted to. Lazare reached, trying to snap and bite into Louve’s ear and the yearlings head tilted slightly to the side. Curious by the moves. Tongue rolled over her lips in a nervous way, not a hungry or thirsty way, this seemed…off to the two toned girl.

Unaware that she was being watched from afar by @Reti ♔, she was also completely unaware that she was in danger if anyone decided she didn't belong and wanted to make a scene. It wouldn't be the first time she was attacked at a challenge, she doubted it would be the last but...this was perhaps the second to last place she felt like she would be attacked at...because Elaine was there and Elaine hadn't told her to leave.

everything starts and ends with you

code x art

The sounds of lions gathering within another pride's territory are enough to catch the lioness's attention. Kasija picked her way towards the border of the territory; her body dropping as she quickly rolled along it to erase her scent and seem akin to a pride member as she stepped over and weaved her way into the dense undergrowth — traversing her way towards the fight as she lowers herself down into foliage.

Her ears perk slightly as she sinks down further; the darkness enveloping her body as she releases a small sigh as she watches the conflict take place. The language was not something she understood and yet she watched silently regardless.

- Kasija is hiding -

[ tags ]

[ exp ] (Double from Cassian)
+20 Sneak into a pride or group without getting caught
+20 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught
+20 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread

image by moogle/code by saph

as it was wont to do the world disappears; there is nothing but the drum of battle consuming her thoughts. it is echoed by the beat of her heart and for a time she forgets everything, focused solely on the taste of blood in her mouth.

nevermind that it is the blood of her own daughter.

some might pull their punches. some mothers might go gentle on the children that rise to challenge them. louve had never been such a parent. from the early days she shows them the truth of the world -- some might think her harsh but it is simply the way of her family.

they collide and she is satisfied, paying little mind to the bruising that might spread across her own shoulder from the impact, too focused on the flesh she captures between her teeth. teeth that clench, the muscles in her jaw flexing as she seeks to hold tight. even as laz attempts to dislodge louve ignores the strain, ignores the ache that is kindled from the thrust of shoulder in to her mouth, fighting through the pain as any seasoned warrior would do.

in an effort to maintain her hold she pulls her opposite forepaw from the ground, attempting to curl her claws and grab hold of lazare's opposite shoulder, to pull her closer to the wicked teeth of the matriarch. of course this also aids her daughter's retaliation and lazare would find a good hold on louve's already torn ear, almost certainly flooding her mouth with blood.


louve vs. @Lazare
For wolfbron bluffs
2 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 4 + 13 + 1 + 14 + 17 + 16 + 20 + 15 + 7

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 15 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 12 + 6

Luck:

Rolling 6d20: 11 + 4 + 16 + 9 + 14 + 5

+1 luck from lead advisor ( sébastien )
+1 hit from lead fighter ( amara )
+1 hit from going berserk (for this round only)

I am not a woman, I'm a god

code x art

hearing the call for a challenge, he was lucky to have been exploring near the grove so that he wasn't too far away to arrive. as it were, he takes the time to roll in some mud to attempt to cover his scent -- so that none would know he was of Illyria if he were caught, and he arrives after the fight is in progress. gryff does his best to cling to the shadows - to weave between the rocks to use his tiny stature to hide. two females battle it out, and he watches with interest wondering which is the queen of this place and who this challenger is. he watches, silently- aiming to stay hidden, and gather any information he can about this battle before him.

gryff is attempting to hide

code by corvus|art by irish

Whether or not he's laughing-- again or still-- she can hear it. Hear him. @Apollinaire's laughter rings through the air, clear as a bell-- it thrums in her chest, her own heartbeat to match the reverbations. It's comforting like a warm blanket, it's invigorating like war drums. It is everything and the very reason she's here. a shame,then, that louve cannot hear it. A shame, then, that she can barely taste the blood that floods her mouth.

Teeth grasp her mother's ear-- success. with it firmly betwixt her fangs lazare attempts to grind down upon it, seeking to cause enough damage that maman might decide to pull away. But even if she does, she'd find trouble-- lazare attempts to keep her jaws shut tight, even as she attempts to jerk her head backwards with the intention of forcing louve's own head to follow. It'd be an odd angle, and all the better to push this fight to the end.

She'd hoped that an elbow to the chin might've also dislodged louve's teeth from her flesh but it doesn't-- even as her own limb trembles with the aftershocks. She has little time to focus on that as she catches sight of louve's paw curling towards her. Quickly she brings her own paw up, claws unsheathed, with an attempt to slap the paw away before louve can make contact with her. Still held as she is-- and is this the only time louve has ever held her?-- she can do little else, but a snarl rises from her throat, if only to drown out the sounds of her father's laughter.


lazare vs. @Louve
For wolfbron bluffs
2 / 5
Hits:

Rolling 5d20: 18 + 17 + 14 + 1 + 12

Dodges:

Rolling 6d20: 18 + 13 + 6 + 10 + 2 + 5

Luck:

Rolling 7d20: 8 + 10 + 16 + 20 + 14 + 7 + 9

+1 luck from SÉBASTIEN (lead advisor)
+1 hit from amara (lead fighter)

It takes a minute to rouse the baby from her sleep, but Ianthe finds that when it comes to her, she is nothing but patient. Come, little one, she nudges the sleepy form with her nose, we wouldn't want to miss the excitement.
Normally, this isn’t the kind of event that would interest her, but after last time - after the reunion of her fractured self amidst the violence - curiosity has taken root. Perhaps something else will be revealed today, as chaos tends to unravel the predictable and the hidden.

Speaking of hidden things, it's also a good time to let Elenore interact with more of the outside world. She's been hoarding the cub selfishly, lost in the intoxicating haze of new motherhood where the only world that existed was the two of them. Breaking free of that cocoon has been difficult, but her desire to show off Elenore eventually outweighed the possessive need to keep her hidden.

Ianthe had taken her out a pawful of times, all brief and controlled excursions, but today was different. This was the first time her daughter would face so many lions at once. Best to get it all over with, trial by fire, and all that.
She casts a glance at Elenore, the plum girl toddling sweetly at her side. Stay close to me, she tells her, though it's unlikely that Elenore will wander. She's still so small, so fragile, so utterly dependent on Ianthe’s protection. The new mother starts to question the wisdom of her decision when they actually reach the cacophony of smells and sounds that make up the temporary battleground. Unconsciously, she stops far from the action, and pulls Elenore's small form between the cradle of her front paws.

Ianthe surveys the scene, her gaze cutting through the crowd until it lands on the duel at the center. Two figures stand locked in combat: the current sovereign - whose name Ianthe can't remember - and - her.
The masked woman, the one Hekate has deigned to associate with.
Ianthe’s chest tightens as an unwelcome weed of intrigue begins to sprout. If this woman somehow manages to claim the Bluffs… well. That was a tremendous if. Ianthe decides to reserve her praise, even if it's only in her head. Some things only deserve recognition if accomplished.

@Elenore, @Hekate, @Arsinoë

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Amara was somewhat used to the young princess talking to herself and waited until the answer was directed at her. Needed it. Amara watched her carefully before nodding and sitting down to watch the fight. Good luck then. Amara saw no reason to stop anything, no reason to step in between a mother and daughter. Would Louve give Laz the same outcome that Amara had given to her when she took the pride? Time will tell.

She watched those gathering carefully and spotted a few unfamiliar faces but took her cues from Elaine in this. She wasn't fully aware of who was friend and who was foe and unless someone got to cocky, she would let things remain chill. She did look at a familiar lion, @Xavier. He had returned. Amara stood and made her way towards him, her golden gaze looking him over quickly before looking toward the female that he claimed as his own. More grandcubs. She would pause for only a moment before moving to bump her head against his in greeting. Age was softening her toward her cubs and the affection they should have gotten when younger._{BG — ART — CODE}

Come, little one.

Dulcet tones roused Elenore from her slumber - it had been comfortable, and peaceful, but she could never deny her mother. Besides, this sounded exciting! Coming mama, the little plum babe bleated dutifully, rising to her paws and toddling at speed after the slinky storyteller. She may be young, but she is observant; observant enough to note the way @Ianthe slowed her pace at the edge of the gathering. There was a lot of noise, and smells; it began to concern the girl, and overwhelmed any feeling of excitement she might have for this new and interesting thing that was happening. That is until @Ianthe swooped in and brought her close; the great white paws were a protective forcefield, and the child visibly relaxed. Mama would keep her safe. Elenore peered up at the lioness, oblivious to the emotions stirring within her guardian's innards. Who are they? She didn't know either of the lions fighting, but she figured this had to be fairly important. So she would wait, eager to learn - even if it was all a bit scary!

Josephine

Beautiful dangerous
sometimes it's more fun to fight

That wasn't expected. She had spent some time with Laz but not much and not enough to know that she had been planning this. There was a strange feeling in her gut at the thought of family fighting family, again, but she knew that it was part of their family. Part of how things went here. Josie arrived and moved to hunting the lands to see who might be hiding. She had heard enough stories to know that at these things, spies like to lurk and learn what they could. There were many scents as she moved along, trying to find ones that mattered. The ones that didn't match what she knew to be part of her home.


Trying to find @Kasija

Rolling 1d10: 5

code by cala, art by yumpy

Ursa’s mismatched gaze glimmeringly reflected the fight for the throne as she took it all in. However, an unfamiliar male voice interrupted her, and her ears swiveled slightly.

She gracefully turned to face the lion, her eyes studying him momentarily. Before she could properly answer him, a familiar voice spoke up. It was her father.

Relief washed over her form and she couldn’t help but smile a little. She was safe now, there was no need for her to be questioned as @Xavier took care of things swiftly. “Papa,” she greeted him softly.

Her attention turned back to @Armande. “Enchanté de te rencontrer, cousin.” It’s nice to meet you, cousin. “Ursa Dieudonné,” she introduced herself.

Then another form approached them, an older woman. The unnamed lioness approached the little group, bumping her head against Xavier’s. Ah, this must be @Amara. She had heard plenty about the legendary lioness. “Bonjour grand-mère.” Hello grandmother. She dipped her head respectfully. Well, this was certainly an interesting family reunion, right?

code by scorpixia♡︎