Icefang isn't too far behind @Cassius ♔, strategically stalking following him as he departs the brook towards the bluffs. She had heard the call, but Icefang had been laid back in heading to their neighbor to see what was going on. With the chaos of her grandchildren, she had spent more of her time at home patrolling the borders obsessively in case any of the deceased mother's cronies attempted to take back the children. The closer they approach wolfbron, the queen allows herself to fall back considerably purposefully making it seem like they had come at different times. Her heir strolls off and Icefang lingers at the edge of the crowd, blue eye falling over the fight. They had been here recently for the exact same reason and this time she wonders if Louve's hold on her throne will cease to exist.

"SPEECH"

html by castlegraphics; image by Eightysichs

Cousin, Etoile watched with interest as a new face made her bold introduction, walking directly into a pit of vipers without flinching. It was valiant attempt at bravado, one Etoile would have applauded if the girl had been one she had any ties to ... maybe. From her delicate perch, she could see the girl at least had the right cosmetics: all dark brown with delicately shaded paws... a shame on the patches of white... and the freckles... and the mis-matched eyes ... and- oh, on second thought, maybe she was a bit unfortunate after-all. But no matter! Nothing a good few -

Grand-mere, the girl intones and Etoile nearly spits in disgust. Agh! Another one of Amara's brood! False Dieudonne covered these lands like rats! Would she ever be free of the humiliation! What harm was this doing to her reputation and her very body, so entrenched by liars and impersonators?

It was a hard life for Etoile, truly. So hard that she could barely rip her eyes away from the offending display to focus back on the mother-daughter pair, two grafted branches in their family tree fluttering in the wind.

The chain tugged at her throat, a warning: a challenge for Dieudonne... is a challenge for death.

No, Zira hadn't been invited and most importantly, no she did not care if her parents expected her to stay home. Their neighbors were in trouble! Wasn't it her duty as an ally to visit and ensure that everything was alright? Especially when her parents both decided to go! Pouting, the princess waits a bit until she is sure both would be unaware of her decision to join them. After some time, Zira stalks behind Icefang's trail carefully ducking to her belly anytime the lioness turns her skull behind her or scents the air. She was doing a great job so far, surely mother would be proud of her when she explained what she had done later. At last, they reach the borders and the princess pins her ears to her skull as she carefully steps over them. She was weary, but using the foliage to her advantage the girl attempts to hide herself at the back of those who have gathered. Close enough to observe the fight ahead, but far enough back to avoid drawing any unwanted attention to herself.

**Attempting to stay hidden**

**Double exp from Cassius**

Assassin exp
+10 +20 Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (1/2)
+10 +20 Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread (1/2)

Paladin exp
+5 +10 Observe a fight (1/2)

code by corvus / art by drifter

@Lazare VS. @Louve FOR Wolfbron Bluffs
— DEFAULT —

Due to not posting by fight timer, this fight has defaulted.

Lazare HAS WON THE CHALLENGE FOR Wolfbron Bluffs!

The results of this fight cannot be acknowledged ICly until either both challengers have responded or 3 days have gone by — whichever comes first. Any posts breaking this rule will be removed.

The boy creeps out of the brook, too curious at the possibility of bloodshed to stay home. He sticks to the shadows, taking careful care to track those that had left before him until he reaches wolfbron, noting the many scents that have crossed the borders recently. He adds himself to the list as he steps deeper into the territory until he reaches the gathered crowd. Casually, Caelus lingers laying down on his belly to make himself smaller and less noticeable. His eyes are glued to the fight though occasionally he glances over the rest of the crowd, mindful of many unknown faces. His claws rake at the hard rock beneath him as he sharpens his talons in anticipation. He hoped this would be a bloody one.

**Attempting to remain hidden

**Double exp from Cassius**
Barbarian exp
+5 +10 Observe a fight (1/2)
+5 +10 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws or care for teeth) (1/2)

SPEECH

html by castlegraphics; image by AleTie; design by drifty

To say she was unamused when catching the distant sound of the challenge while out hunting - would be a vast understatement. Unamused. Irritated. Upset. But also a little uncertain and conflicted.

Mirai headed out of the dunes and back towards home thoughts racing. To challenge the Matriarch for something that belonged to her ... that had to count as betrayal didn't it? Treason?

If the family member who owned the challenged for pride was not also the Matriarch then that would probably be different, also not a good thing as it would be better to increase the number of prides the family held rather than fight over the one, but far better than challenging the Matriarch.

And because it was her Aunt who was being challenged would that also be a challenge to Louve's dominance and authority as a whole? If it was then did the looser forfeit their life? Or not? And if not would they be banishing Lazare for her behavior?!

So many questions.... genuine questions that Mirai didn't know the answer to.

Her father might. Her mother and grandmother certainly would.

But Mirai knew one thing, if her cousin won she had no intentions of staying in the bluffs. The young royal had not forgotten the position her cousin had seemed to take against their Grandmother back during the family blow up.

There was no trust in her heart for a portion of the clan and Mirai did not try to hide this although nor did she aggravate the issue and make it worse either. Family above all. True family.

A black and bronze splash of color is noted as she crosses the borders, a figure up on the rocks. Ah...dad? Mirai paused and blinked a few times before gesturing for him to follow her in. As Royalty she had the right to invite a guest to watch...although depending on how things went it might be wise for guest to remain prepared to swiftly exit.

Entering the area she skirted around where her Aunt and cousin battled heading towards @Elaine and casting a curious glance to @Zinnia while taking up a seat near her parent. That one smelled of her father's pride. Had mother invited her in to watch? Was she important to Mirai's father somehow?

Her gaze shifted back to the battle unfolding a soft rumble of displeasure low in her throat as the young huntress waits for the battle to conclude.

code by corvus

The fight is so vicious and quick that she nearly does not arrive on time. It is not unlike the Dieudonne, she supposes—she knows too little about them, but knows enough that they are a vicious coalition of women who have held the Bluffs longer than she has been alive. And though there might very well be a change in leadership this day, it will, at least, remain with them.

There is no alliance that permits her being here, however.

So she's hidden herself in the shadowy cliffs bordering the Bluffs, watching the fight from a distance only close enough to watch for a victor. She's covered herself with a healthy dusting of the sooty clay that makes up the red-rock mountains that surround the battlefield. From this distance, she cannot hear their hushed gossip, but she need not hear when she can see.

---

Thaïs is attempting to remain hidden!
+20 (x2) Sneak into another pride's territory without getting caught (1/2)
+20 (x2) Successfully stay hidden for the duration of a thread (1/2)
+10 (x2) Practice covering your scent (1/2)

code by cala, art by rabbit

She wins.

It happens quickly, suddenly-- lazare is already tired but she is no real fighter. She's never trained for this and was always going to be winded from even the briefest fight. That's whqt it ends up being and still, she wins. A fluke, maybe, a slip of fate-- but the outcome was still the same. The world tips to the side and when the universe realigns itself lazare stands victorious. Adrenaline floods through her veins, white-hot in its rage, and she grins-- toothy, bloody, powerful.

Maybe Lazare was a fool to ever doubt herself. She'd stopped death itself, and winning a crown seemed such a meager thing in comparison.

@Louve lays unconscious at her feet, defeated and prone, and the sight of such vulnerability stirs something in her. Something ugly, something dangerous. Her muzzle wrinkles in a snarl, bloodied teeth and chow-dark tongue sweeping across blood-splattered lips and for a moment, it looks like she will strike. For a moment, it looks like she will kill. indeed, her muzzle lowers just to where louve's pulse thrums in her neck, but instead of biting she simply turns to whisper into louve's ear and she's not smiling anymore. tu ne mérites pas cette. you do not deserve this second chance. maybe she won't hear it, but the words are uttered all the same. Low and steady-- the most confident and real lazare has ever sounded.

Matriarchs had been killed before for less, hadn't they? And yet, all lazare has taken from louve today was her crown. Wasn't she such a good, dutiful daughter?

And then lazare pulls back and straightens up. Pulls herself up to her full height as she looks around for the first time, hooded eyes peering at the gathered crowd. A pointed glance is thrown @Amara's way-- weighted and watchful. Ils se plient à vous ou vous les tuez -- They bend to you or you kill them. the words echo through the space between them, ringing with a terrible clarity, now. The family needed this but they certainly don't need lazare. Only time will tell if any of them have the courage to do something about it. Gaze skitters and jumps over the others-- @Elaine, @Sébastien, @Étoile, @Ianthe ( not hekate ), @Apollinaire.....

With louve splayed out at her paws and the crown settled easily upon her head, lazare dieudonne stays in silence. Chin tilted up, eyes sharp and too-bright, trembling softly where she stands. She says nothing, does nothing, and simply waits.

They are late.

Fashionably so. It is only due to the paranoia that continues to creep in, like a battered dog. It shivers and quakes with tails tucked and teethed bared. All tongue and churned lips that flicker with the uneven and caring flick of nervous chops. Volcanic eyes that flutter from crack to crevice as goosebumps scatter the hairs amongst their forearms and spine. It leaves room for considerations, for hesitation - the type that leaves the raven wounded and pecking at the crowns of feeble matters. But this, this is worthy. Worthy of their time, deserving of their attention. And so - they must go.

It happens so quickly that they nearly miss it. Stumbling in through the pressed crag walls of red and crumbling rock, they fly low, ears pressed tightly to the crowning of their skull as toes tip over the sooty clay with a revered and acute carefulness, attempting to stay hidden. The witch settles. Carefully. Quietly amongst the corners of two turned rocks that press against one another, tipped tightly against one another, leaving just enough space for the wayward dove to crawl in between and spectate.

Ixora is attempting to stay hidden

** 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

THE RAVEN WITCH

ᴀʀᴛ © ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ | ᴄᴏᴅɪɴɢ © ᴋɪɴs

it wasn't meant to happen like this.

louve always knew -- hoped -- that the crown would pass to one of her own, one day. there was nothing she wanted more than to raise the ones that would topple her, that would wrench what they were born to have from her paws and wipe off the blood before placing it on their own heads.

it was always meant to happen, but not like this.

with every bit of viciousness brought to the fight louve did not envision a loss today. had it come, after they were both exhausted and bloodied, it would have been an easier thing to accept.

instead, fate intervened. a fate that told the matriarch she was juggling too much; that she was never meant to have both. greedy and overreaching, sacrificing the family for the pride. wasn't that the very thing lazare had seen?

and so fate arrived in the form of a bloodied stone kicking out beneath her paws combined with a well timed shove; louve tumbled.

it wouldn't have been enough to put the fight to an end. certainly the dieudonne would have lunged to her fight with teeth and claws aimed for her daughter's throat. except for the tug of destiny's strings that sent her head careening in to a significantly sized rock. the collision sent an immediate stiffness through all of her limbs before she fell, limp and bleeding, to the ground.

and the world went black.

-louve exit via unconsciousness -- feel free to drag her off to tend to her or whatever, if anybody wants, or what have you xD-

I am not a woman, I'm a god

code x art