He heard the call and immediately came running, somehow knowing that it was for the Cove. He could just feel it in his heart, know it in his soul even before he got within distance to see and hear the commotion. He had been trying to reconnect with his family recently in the Cove, trying to piece things back together where they had fallen. But this new development had the pit in his stomach that already lingered now twisting and turning within it's confinements. The home he once knew was already changed so much- to the point where he had to step away. Now? If someone new won it?...

It would be gone, wouldn't it? The memories, the den he once shared with his family. It all struck him as horrifying to think of, yet in a somber way that seemed like it fitted the series of unfortunate events that had befallen him. He was already numb from toiling with his mind over the death of Willoughby and the near demise of his own mother, this... Was just another reminder, that he was not a child anymore.

Silently he lingered, awkwardly on the edge of the gathering crowd. Looking for familiar faces, hoping for the best but not knowing what that even meant. Would he even root for anyone in this battle? Probably not... Maybe he'd help in some way. He always felt the need to, even if the thought made him feel ill.

+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds
+5 Attend a challenge

There are times when I'd rather be a tree

Oh not worried, not worried bout a thing... Holding tight to the dirt underneath... Spending my life exploring every shade of green

code by corvus

Morrigan was already outside of the Hollow, intending to visit her family in the Brook when a familiar but surprising call rang out from the Pit. It caused the warrior to pause midstep for only a heartbeat or so before her powerful muscles propelled her quickly toward her sister's challenge. She'd been absent for days and worry had begun to grow like a sickening pit in the soldier's stomach, but it seemed she'd just been otherwise preoccupied.

As she arrived at the clearing, others were already gathering as they often did for something so significant. In the back of her mind, she had already begun to wonder what this would mean for the political side of things. Would Magnus be angry for disrupting an alliance or would he be more understanding of the blood ties involved? It was obvious what the other Cove Sovereign thought of the challenge but Morrigan ignored Hecuba for now in favor of a different exchange.

The dark woman moved immediately toward @Valhalla to sit on the other side from @Aquila, dipping her head first to the Valour man before beaming with pride at @Avaneira. The side of her sister's porcelain face being semi-freshly wounded hadn't escaped Morrigan's mismatched gaze and given this newfound proximity Ava seemed to have with Valhalla, it was the pink colossal who got her attention last. "Explain." Her expression was still pleasant but there was a hard edge to her voice at being so out of the loop.

When @Gareth entered she waved at the tabby gentleman to join them if he wished, as he would likely benefit from an explanation too.

table by ferus, art by grav3wolf

From the very moment that he set his large tan behind on the ground, his blue's immediately found that very wife's sister's wife's sister waving at him. @Morrigan was calling him to her, was she not? It took a second of eye contact to realize that she was indeed beckoning him to go over. So before anyone else had a chance to go sit beside her he lifted himself up and began a slow gait over. Seating himself as near to her as he possibly could with those surrounding her that he didn't know. You know her? he asked, having only briefly noticed the way that she looked at the silver lioness that so fiercely challenged his old leader.

table by ferus, art by munk

A call rang out, this time... Surprising her by just who was being challenged. Caladan had been one of the longest standing prides that had went unchallenged, standing strong against many of the rest that became a revolving door of leaders, more or less. It's leadership had been handed over to Drakon and Hecuba by Jewel for whatever reason, but it's members as a unit remained wholly the same. At least, in her eyes it had.

Now though, it was facing the threat of falling to another. A familiar face, but one whose name she couldn't quite place even though she'd clearly seen it around. She looked like a rather small woman against her potential foes, and though Wolfbron's Sovereign once respected Drakon... Recent happenings had ever so slightly turned their prides' relationship more sour than she'd have liked. Her opinions on them admittedly wavered, maybe she found herself wanting to be impressed by the woman's gusto.

It wasn't Jewel's Caladan, that much was clear. Now would it become someone else's pride altogether? Circe was eager to see, and already mentally preparing herself for the possibility of discussing politics today. Not to mention if another fight happened to break out among the crowd- which it usually did.

Either way... She came to sit beside @Zoticus, brushing pelts with him and murmuring to him as she settled into her spot. "Who are you rooting for in this?" If they should be rooting for anybody at all, that is. Best to remain on the fence and deal with the outcome when it came to it, in her opinion. "Do you know her? She's so familiar... But I can't remember her name."

+5 Observe a fight

table by sentinel / lion + sky

Much unlike her sister's other half, Talisa had absolutely NO issue with putting herself right next to @Morrigan. If she had to bump some folks out of the way to do so, she would. Talisa might not have previously met Avaneira by any means but she had heard of her and knew that she had returned after some time away. So to see someone challenging for the Cove was an interesting scene -- casually glancing over to Gareth with a motherly expression as she was sure that he likely had some mixed feelings over his old pride being challenged for. Of course, her attention was swiftly taken by her wife's mere existence. Zoning into everything and anything that was Morrigan, instantly inserting herself into the life she lived that wasn't with her.

manip & table code by k'sariya

Timelines? What timelines?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Well well well, wasn't this interesting, and fucking annoying? It would be irritating to have to move before he was even really settled; it was bloody hard to build support without a base. Then again it was him. He was always game to watch a fight, even if it was an irritating, inconvenient one. So the beast made his way to the pit, curiosity and peevishness warring for control.

Upon arriving, the beast peers down into the unwashed masses gathered around the challenger. The very small challenger which earned a narrowing of a gaze and an internal sneer. This woman looks like she would loose to a feather let alone a dragon. Gaze casts across the crowd and finds @Hecuba . Sure the demon and the witch did not often agree, let alone really get along, but, in this case he is fairly sure they were of the same mind. And so demon king descends into the pit, carving his not too careful path through those gathered. He doesn't bother to avoid stepping on limbs that stuck too far out; one could hardly miss him coming through. Not his fault if they are too foolish to avoid the devil in their midst. This time he was prepared to announce his return since he was supporting the challenged's side. Hecuba had backup if anyone tried to start anything extra.

He settles nearby, hulking form close enough to the gray queen to chat privately, but with as much space between them as possible to allow the above. He raises his brow at the wee child with the stick before flicking a singular orb at Hecuba with a tilt of his skull. The other pierces Avaniera, burning a hole into her. Foolish chit. he comments nonchalantly about the woman standing at the center of this mess.

Art by Kairi, Code by Saph

With so many plants growing nearby that could aid with infection or fresh wounds, it was no surprise the wolfbron medic had been out gathering what she could from the badlands. The call of a challenge rang out, loud enough for even her ears to hear as the peach-toned lioness finished pulling a plant's roots from the edges of the badlands. Being so new to these lands he had yet to hear the calls of a challenge, nor was she truly aware of the tensions between prides. Of course, the lions of Wolfbron had come back with various injuries, something that made her more or less aware there were dangers beyond their claim, but they were dangers she had yet to truly place until today.

Temporarily abandoning her task at hand, she too would descend to the pit with curiosity. So many had gathered, most of which faces she had never seen before, but the familiar forms of the high sovereign, the chartreux woman from the hunt, and @Roseate caught her eye, plus another she did not recognize, but the way she sat close to Zoticus spoke enough of her character. "What's goin' on here, a party?" She chuckled somewhat uneasily as she found a seat amongst her pride to watch, though that wouldn't stop her gaze from wandering to the bard's side with a somewhat judging squint. How many times would he need to be told to rest if he wanted his ribs to heal?

+5 Observe a fight (1/2)
+5 Collect herbs (1/2)
+5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds (1/2)

table by sentinel / lineart + colored by aso

Tullia's concern about Amaryliss's overall future grew as more and more challenges sprouted all around the land. But she was still a healer and hoping no one would get hurt she rushed to the Pit, with her kit full of herbs and meds. And as she arrives, she already saw a multitude watching over the starting challenge. A female was the one who called for the Cove's leader. Her eyes traveled from face to face, taking note of @Talisa , @Vallhalla, and @Aquila . But after a short deliberation, she decided to sit on her own spot. And like that she was there to check on injuries if there would be any after this fight. +5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds

table by koi // stock

“My daughter.”

Arsynia's voice sounded from the edge of the Pit as her gaze fell on @Morrigan and @Gareth. Those that lingered around them, including @Talisa and @Valhalla and @Aquila, were seldom spared a glance as the Wolf trudged her way down the sides of the Pit and came to linger near the lions Morrigan had surrounded herself with. Her eyes rested on Avaneira, who was too focused now on the battle before her to quite yet notice as Arsynia took her place among the fold. “So this is what she's been up to?” she asks Morrigan, a small smile unfurling on her dark lips. She'd been surprised that the smallest of her children had been the one to make the call for a pride, though undoubtedly Morrigan and Rylance both had their own proven strengths.

She was proud of them. All of them. She wished Dresden were here to see his children ascend, too, but she could revel in this moment enough for the both of them.

table by ferus, art by ale-tie

It wasn't long before lions she knew arrived to the challenge. @Aquila greeted her with a simple hello before stopping a few feet away. Úlla returned the gesture with a simple look towards his direction, before settling her gaze to the small challenger. Tension hung in the air and the fur upon her neck raise ever so slightly. It was not fear Úlla felt, for she never truly felt scared of anything. She still anticipated a good battle. And yet, she wondered if this challenge would open the way for something else - a possible war, a raid, or anything that may inevitably twist her family within its grasp.

@Zoticus slipped beside her, pulling her from her thoughts. His remark was for her and her only. She wondered what this meant for the bluffs, as the hollows was still teetering on limbo. Perhaps Magnus would arrive and alleviate the question of what they ought to do with the younger woman if she lost. That she is Úlla kept her stare to her front, before slipping down onto her haunches. If she doesn't win, she may as well throw herself to the wolves afterwards. Going against a pride that was powerful and losing the battle for it could mean grave danger for the losing party. Even if these lions were not northerners, she still held an inkling of faith that most were as bloodthirsty and vengeful as the lions Vellen helped create. As the challenger was a hollows pride mate, there would be attention poured onto her home and Magnus. Questions about who was truly behind the cause to challenge for a pride and just who will the hollows send next.

code by corvus | image by rabbit