It was over quickly, much more so than anticipated. What had once withstood the test of time, now toppled and crumbled; and from its bittersweet ruin, stepped the new regime. @Lazare, the piebald queen with her bloodied crown dripping in clutched hand. Yet, there were no praises, no pledges, no triumphant songs sung for the new sovereign. There was only silence, taught like a wire ready to snap; and snap it so cruelly did.

Leave. This is no longer your pride.

Akasha understands, and yet does not at the same time.

Maman had taught her that such things were to be expected from their blood, of challenge and the need to be proven, but this was something different entirely. The tiny girl sits alone by herself, staring cold and hollow at the two toned woman below, processing in the quiet. She does not notice @Amara slipping off nor does she even catch sight of her own mother and brother joining the crowd. She only has eyes for Lazare, and what she can feel thrumming beneath her skin. And as it all begins to crash around her, so inevitably does she. The sudden curl of her lips comes abruptly, splitting ebony into sharp white, and the hiss ruptures from her throat. Why? It does not come from her like she wants it to, rather it molds to derision to become a single, animalistic sound; unclear and pronounced. It is not for the Dieudonne that she mourns, but the comfort and familiarity of what was once home; ever a spoiled and petulant child. Perhaps with age she would be conscious of what had to be done was done. Maybe, like many others, she would never truly know or understand.

In the here and now however, it was her temper that got the better of her.

She could feel the demanding pulse of ire surging through her, and it only festered further as she caught the sound of @Faustine giving direction that was pushing them to somewhere else and not at her side. Comme l'enfer. Like hell. A surly look crosses her features, and the tiny cub angrily gets her to feet, determined to follow after her mother regardless.

It is only the questioning voice of @Vernon that stops her.

Ears curbed backwards and she would pause, glancing over a slender shoulder to see her brother before @Cassius ♔ and a strange woman she did not recognize. Unfamiliar, and near her family. Blue eyes sharpened intently upon @Icefang ♔, the color darkening as the large lioness approached, and she could feel the bristling of her hair along her spine. Non! The snarled word dies in her throat as she felt the gentle, nudging touch pushing her towards her father and brother, and for a moment, she stares bemused at the scarred white queen. Yet, a humbled second in decision is all it is before the ebony girl darts off, rushing to the side of Vernon and protectively pressing herself into his side with nuzzling relief to have him with her again. She wouldn’t leave him and @Percival, not ever.

_{BG — ART — CODE}

❝ All we are is an isle of flightless birds ❞

Oh.

Oh.

Well - that was interesting. It seems as almost as quickly as the raven comes does the madness cease with heads poised upon silver platters. Judgement day had come, and the Saint that brings it upon their coats seems to be no other than the brave girl that God had fraternized with in the garden. They remembered. Distinctly, how Lazarus had kept them quiet. Consoled in times of grief, in uncertainty. How divinity found them with broken wings and accompanied them until it was time for the prophet to be called home.

pinned feathers fold. pressing tightly against pruned mahogany. the scent of shed blood hitting nostrils with a harsh and guttural slap. it clicks between pursed teeth. beak nit picking at the salivating sensation, an urge. a drive. the saints call - they do not answer. no. they must stay. remain grounded, remain unseen. hidden away. cowardice and comfortable, but alive. there would come a time for the spirits to take their ounce of blood - but this, this was not the time.

here, they were damned in the eye of man.

experiencing the fall of a god and the rise of a preacher. though, what comes next they do not expect. inspection. judgement. conviction. ixora watches, quietly from the shadows as the priestess surveys her crown. twirling the four edged sword between lath fingers before tossing it to the side.

a god unwanting of power. how peculiar.

it is only with her dismissal does the watchful eye release themself from their duties. serpentine like frame slithering from the red rocks and down the canyon sides to return to their home amongst the coastline.

what delightful insight to share....


"Exeunt Ixora"

** Double XP from Cassius **
+20 Sneak into a pride or group without getting caught
+20 Learn something about pride/group/family relations
+20 Remain undetected in a large thread

      
"Hey,"

This…was not supposed to happen. It couldn’t happen this way…could it? Zinnia watched with rapt attention as Louve’s paw slipped on a bloodied rock, she fell. She did not get up. Zinnia sucked in a sharp breath, stunned. The youth did not know the Queen…former queen?… but she had seemed fierce, ferocious and unlikely to make such a mistake. Aphros words echoed back to her, ’we all lose battles, but we can learn from them..’ What was she learning from this fight though?

Her brow furrowed, listening as @Lazare made her declaration, her jaw falling open slightly in even further shock. She had done all of that…to tell them to leave? The bluffs were disbanding? Her eyes shifted to the Queen for a moment, confusion flickering in those yellow depths. Zinnia did not understand, but then again… it didn’t seem like many others understood either.

Her gaze shifted to @Elaine, accepting the loss and then moving to Louve. Zinnia rose, hesitating. She’d promised to help Louve if she ever needed it, the former Sovereign called to someone, after mentioning the Plaines. Her ears perked and grabbing her pouch she cautiously approached. "May I help?" She asked as she dropped the pouch again. She was far from skilled but she knew enough to help, if Elaine would allow. Even if it was another more experienced healer simply using her herbs. She carefully unwrapped the pouch, letting the contents fall under display. There were things to staunch bleeding, herbs to soothe and help with infection.


-- Zinnia is offering to assist @Mirai and offering her herbs to help Louve--

my venom went and turned to rage

code x art

There is not much she can tell from the distance, but she can tell this: It is the challenger who won, and it is the challenger who flung the crown away. She stifles the urge to gasp in response, knowing that her position is already precarious enough. The throne of the Bluffs is left harrowingly empty.

A most unexpected turn of events.

Yet, Thaïs says nothing as she slinks from the trees and rustles around in a berry bush to disguise her scent once again. It is not until she's found the safety of the neutral side of the borders that she finally begin to process the singing of nerves that cannot believe a lioness would throw away power so willingly. If it were her, Thaïs would clutch onto the crown until it cut through her fingers.

And yet, this is a moment she is not soon to forget.

---

Exit Thaïs
+20 (x2) Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (2/2)
+20 (x2) Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread (2/2)
+10 (x2) Practice covering your scent (2/2)

code by cala, art by rabbit

code

He arrives to nothing other than confusion. The boy enjoyed his home, this place was his niche. His familiarity. But the call of @Lazare to them all, the decree that they were to leave had his mind racing. He arrived at the tail end of things and admittedly was lost in the sea of faces. Percival did not care for anyone in this moment; no one mattered aside from his kin. @Faustine could be seen first, making arraignments. Because of course, they needed somewhere to go if here was no longer home. His blood red gaze was quick to snap to his Père, but there was nothing but distant recognition that registered. He supposed he could see some of his features in the lines of his face, but it was nothing more than that. Non - Percival did not wish to leave his maman's side. For who would protect her? Here was no longer home.

He feels his fur bristle along his spine, hackles raising. But like a bullet he catches @Akasha darting to @Vernon's side and his upper lip curls in a silent snarl. There would always be some sort of vague possessiveness towards his sister. She was meant to be protected. And Vernon, he was the weaker of them. Percival moves with a sudden quickness that even he didn't realize he possessed. The boy towers behind his sister, his gaze watching the silent crowd. This was not meant to be their fate; they were supposed to rise to infamy themselves. Now, Wolfbron Bluffs would no longer remain in the Dieu hands, and it sent a wave of uncertainty through the boy. He spared a glance towards his Père once more, confusion evident before he would slide his mask of indifference back across his face, schooling his features into neutrality once more.

black hole sun, won't you come

First, Louve's body fell. Gwynevere nearly gasped, and she stood up in shock. The queen had fallen, and now the crown sat upon the princess' head. But things took an even more unexpected turn. The princess who had won, the princess who defeated her mother, threw the crown away.

Confusion took hold of Gwynevere, and soon frustration followed. What? Now everyone was simply homeless?

No. This was Gwynevere's home. She wanted to snatch the crown, sit atop the throne, and take the opportunity. It was presented to her on a glittering, silver platter.

But it didn't feel right. The Dieudonné family were her allies, and why would she dare to disrespect them now, during such a confusing time?

The kingdom would lay barren for now. She would give it time. And if nobody stepped up? Gwynevere would do so.

She finally moved towards the kingdom borders with an irritated look painted all over her face. Now, she would live the life of a rogue once again.
[ exit Gwynevere ]

and wash away the rain

code x art

Mirai had motioned him inside, a gesture seconded by @Elaine. Twice invited now nothing held him from entering the grounds of the red bluffs proper. The sounds of vicious combat echoing in his ears as his gaze locked on a specific trio and flicked between the three and the unfolding challenge as he approached.

He spared single three second long deadpan stare for a particular youth. It was @Zinnia . Damn it kid! Out of all the spawn YOU are not supposed to be the one to turn me grey early. They needed to have a nice, blunt talk about cannibalism, instability, and the clans that practice and are prone to those after this.

Reti's gaze then slid to the challenge as he took up a position on Mirai's opposite side. Just in time to witness the sudden, unexpectedly jarring ending. Damn. Daaaamnnn. He winced slightly outwardly and quite a bit inwardly.

Every warrior lost fights now and then. No matter how skilled. No mater how lucky. Eventually they lost. However losses still sucked. And losses due to bad luck? Those were the hardest to stomach. Not to mention loosing any big fight in this family and in this place ... had a very good chance at being lethal.

The challenger .... a member of Elaine's family given the similarity in markings to the fallen sister ... proceeds to banish everyone as her first edict. The who family it seemed. The whole pride.

Puzzling. Just as surprising the new queen of an empty kingdom does not kill the fallen, but asks after a healer.

No part of this was what he had been expecting, what traditions would suggest as an outcome. Not a bad thing, but it did mean that nothing could be predicted with a high probability for the rest of the event.

'maintenant : allez, chassez, vivez.'

'Prends soin de toi.'

Reti silently looked at Mirai then, trying to judge how the pair was handling the set of events. HIs focus shifted to Elaine once more as she mentioned him prior to moving to gather Louve's body and exit.

'Je serai dans les Plaines si tu as besoin de moi. Le père de Mirai y règne.'

"Vous êtes invités à rester à Lorien aussi longtemps que vous le souhaitez." (You are welcome to stay in Lorien as long as you wish.) Reti confirmed and extended the offer both.

Zinnia is given a steady look once more before he gave a faint nod to Mirai and Elaine gesturing to the young healer slightly with his head "Elle est l'une des guérisseuses de Lorian." (She is one of Lorian's healers.) She could be trusted to assist. Zinnia had done very well taking care of him while Reti recovered from his prior literally lethal wounds. She would do well as an assistant if permitted.

Reti then focused on staying out of the way but prepared to assist if requested until things were more stable with Louve's condition.

-- Exit via assisting Elaine/Mirai/Zinnia ---

code by corvus

ooc: he is speaking french just too lazy to format the post properly


And suddenly his world falls around him, and he feels their steady pace that they had been making in Amaryllis, while yes slow, had been slammed to a full and unexpected stop. Louve falls, this is the first blow and he feels a tension in his spine and hindquarters. His claws clicking the rocky surface beneath his feet ready to charge Lazare for insolence. She would not feed peacefully if she attempted to. However she did not seem to be interested in louve that way, or she was mighty good at disguising it.


And then the earth shattering news which made him stare in shock. “The fuck?” he hissed feeling his heart thudding in his chest from anxiety and rage. A part of him wanted to rush Lazare, to say fuck it with tradition if she wanted to do the same and tear her open. To make her bleed for her brat like behavior. A child throwing a temper tantrum then breaking the toy they won in the end so no one could have it. It was – “Pathetic” he snarled at @Lazare his yellow eyes slits while he moved to Louve quickly.

Right now his cousins well being came first, then carving into the other cousins flesh would come another time. With a grunt he would move to assist Louve and remove her body from the field. Grunting to @Reti ♔ , “Move. I’ll carry her. You guide us.” He wasn’t up for debate on this. He wanted her to bleed on him and not some stranger. Tripfire did not know of Reti’s relations to them but he would follow him if it suited Louve’s interests. Right now she could not speak and so he would be the shield for her.

While they walked he would chuff for his wife and grandson to follow them. They would not be forgotten here.


exit carrying Louve on his back with Reti & group

Hellfire. Hellfire.

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

She hears things happening around her but for the moment, her mind is trying to process what is happening. Her world was slowly crumbling around her. For the most part, it seemed that most were accepting it, shocked but accepting it. @Zinnia arrives next to her and asks to help. Did she know how too? Elaine may have allowed her here but that didn't mean she trusted her healing skills. The lioness started to unwrap her herbs and Elaine looked at them for a moment before @Reti ♔'s voice cut in. Help my niece. She said nodding toward @Lazare. She looked up at the lioness who had won and given it all up. Laissez-la soigner vos blessures avant de partir. let her tend to your wounds before you leave. No reason to have her trying to heal on her own when there were enough healers here right now.

Pathetic. In french. By a lion that she knew knew better. Her hackles rose as her body coiled. She wasn't sure if the words were spoken to Laz or herself but either way, he clearly needed to be reminded that his thoughts weren't needed to be heard. It didn't matter what he may have thought about it. Louve was down. Laz had won and to any sane family member, Elaine was second in command. For a reason.

As @Tripfire neared Louve, she let him talk to Reti but not touch Louve, Elaine sprung at him. Any family member watching would know the reason, he would know the reason without words needing to be spoken, at least he should. Elaine attempted to claw into the sides of his face as her teeth sought the sensitive area of his nose. Disrespect would not be allowed, no matter the reason.

Elaine vs. @Tripfire
Minor Maim (TBD)
Round 1 / 4
Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 19 + 7 + 4 + 16 + 18 + 13 + 11 + 5 + 6

Dodges:

Rolling 4d20: 7 + 2 + 14 + 3

Luck:

Rolling 5d20: 14 + 10 + 18 + 7 + 5

Take My Soul

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

code by corvus|Image

Pyracantha came too late it seemed, she slipped down from the rocks just as Lazare set them free, she pauses, brows furrowed, her tail swishing uncertainly between her legs, and then, Tripfire is moving, he says something, she can decipher what it means, she watches as he heads towards Louve, and calls for her and their grandson, and then...

Elaine attacks causing Pyra to jolt to a dead stop, her breath held, "No! She is crying out before realizing it, her heart thundering in her ears, she could not stand by this, not when Tripfire was right, no matter how they wanted to see it. They were all without a home now, because of this, but she will not stand behind this family any longer as they turn against themselves for speaking others minds.

She chuffs for her grandson, they were leaving, as hard as it was, Trip could handle himself, she hoped, but she needed to get their grand child to safety, she would pause just before leaving, teary eyes glancing at Tripfire, chuffing for him, before moving to gather @Giovanni.

/Exits to get child safety, may come back for Trip

ART BY ARTIST, CODE BY LARS