Nephthys' ears pinned against her head as she arrived on the tail end of @Avaneira and her declaration that they stood with Wolfbron. Ew. She glanced around the group and spotted Magnus being his typical self before sauntering straight up to the Caladan queen. "I want out of the pride." It was spoken calmly and matter of fact, but she knew the reasoning behind it was far less tame. She had no respect for her or Morrigan and couldn't believe how pathetic her mother had gotten bowing her head to the usurpers. Nephthys stared the woman straight in the face, unbothered.

image by moogle/code by saph

Being so on edge wasn’t a good look for her nor was threatening allies. Though Arjana was mostly just uneasy due to the crowd in her home she was sure that Zoticus would kick Vermier’s ass and successfully defend the Bluffs once more. She had gotten in a fight that time too, but she hadn’t been the one to start it that time. Is the sassy brats of the Lagoon crew had not just made her hackles rise but she would had made a go for one of them if there hadn’t been the word of reason from @Rue followed soon by @Magnus. Two lions that she highly and dearly respected.

Turning her grey gaze from the group who had gotten under her skin and had almost goaded her into attacking she looked at Magnus. “I respect you Magnus and apologize for my rudeness towards you.” She said in a sigh as she turned to look at @Saga. “And you as well my apologies.” She added before narrowing her eyes at the rest of the group from the Lagoon and @Amara and giving a silent snarl before she moved and attempted to push @Sole to get him to come with her. “Forget them let Magnus handle them.” She whispered in his ear for only him to hear before she went to go take a seat back by @Cupid to watch the fight. “As always Rue you are correct how are you still only a medic?” She stated softly for the small healer to hear as she mused over the fact that she still believed Rue should be a Noble with all the bull she had to put up with.

Art & Table by Autumn!

The squabbling between Wolfbron and Scilla is to be expected — Cupid as per usual keeps his mouth shut. There is some degree of distaste towards the Lagoon pride (he wouldn’t trust anything they said, especially after what he’s witnessed time and time again with the lot), but he also sees no reason to argue with those who won’t listen. @Arjana adding in her own comments with a word-y spiel from Amara leaves him heaving out a sigh.

Fortunately just as the headache is beginning to form, @Roarke arrives at his side and it leaves the Firnen monarch feeling more at ease. He gravitates towards him — leaning subconsciously. “It is… understandable for them to be upset,” he says, trying to see reason despite the furrow in his brow. “That one ruled over Scilla prior, and has been determined to cause trouble wherever he goes. It… it isn’t hard to anger the Bluffs.” He admits more quietly towards the draconic Noble.

During his observations of the ongoing brawl — there seemed to be muffled words passed between the two dueling lions, too mumbled with mouthfuls for Cupid to pick up from his position — that he nearly misses the calico lilac bundle that comes sliding towards him. He peeks down towards @Madelina with a soft smile, understanding further just how important it is that Zoticus win for the sake of the children at least. He moves his paw slightly out of the way so she might get a better fit under his seated position, before he gently adjusts it to wrap loosely around her like a hug.

“Hello, little one.” He purrs — all too pleased that at least one cub is in his sights and under the watch of Roarke, too. He doubts that anyone would attempt to cause an issue with the colossal here. Thankfully, @Magnus also steps in to defuse the issue with the Scilla youth and bristled Bluffs members. It’s enough for Arjana to back off and come back towards him, and that leaves him offering a nod and mouthed thanks in the direction of the newly crowned Lagoon male. He has to… visit them soon.

living like a riot, setting off the sirens; fists are clenched, i'm fighting

table by sentinel / art

Well tell me what you want, I'm all ears.
I'll give you all I got, blood, sweat and tears

Vermier snarled back, throwing the insult back to Zoticus. A grunt was given as Vermier shoved Zoticus back an inch with his paw to his shoulder. "Manes didn't win my land," Zoticus grounded out. After all, he remembered clearly his threat being that if Manes managed to win his pride- Zoticus would of returned for his life. "The same promise extends to you. Take my land, I will return for your cowardly life." He spat, before he was able to wound his forearm. Zoticus didn't seem to be able to obtain a grip like he would of liked- but at least he caused damage.

Zoticus managed to squeeze his eyes shut as Vermier's fangs came to his face. Pain flared through him- and while the teeth didn't puncture his eye directly, tehy did slice around his eyelid before he tried to pull his head back away from Vermier, Zoticus aimed to lift his paw in an attempt o slam it to Vermier's face, unsheathed claws hoping to damage and Zoticus hoped it would falter the brute from his head.

Zoticus vs @Vermier for WB
4 / 5

Hits:

Rolling 9d20: 6 + 15 + 5 + 12 + 13 + 2 + 20 + 9 + 8

Dodges:

Rolling 3d20: 7 + 10 + 4

(+1 to hits due to pride tier)

coding by werge | manip by vasilia

Another challenge calls out, and Lexa is ever the curious woman -- she can hardly ignore it. With any luck, it will be as entertaining as the last group event she had attended. She does so enjoy a good show. The petite woman trots across the dusty earth; while she hadn't been all the way at home when she heard it, she is still a considerable distance away. It takes time, but eventually, she makes her way to a formidable fortress of stony peaks.

Following the path of the bystanders, she climbs up and up and up into the territory, her gaze quietly scanning the gathered crowd until she spies familiar faces. @Cupid and @Roarke, so conveniently next to each other already. She picks up her pace once more, weaving through the crowd and flicking her ears at the din of arguments happening around her. It's typical for this sort of event, promising to give her exactly what she has come for.

Lexa sidles up alongside her king's free side, making an amusing domino effect of their staggered sizes, and leans comfortably onto her haunches. "Mind if I sit here?" she purrs to @Madelina warmly, glancing towards the tiny babe who has taken cover between Cupid's forelegs. Her gaze then shifts towards her king, greeting him with an idle quirk of her lips and taking assessment of the ongoing battle. "Who are we rooting for?" she queries idly, her muzzle twisting around to also take note of what seems to be growing hostility between a group of children and other strangers she doesn't know. This should prove to be very interesting indeed.

high achiever, don't you see? nothing comes for free

table by sentinel / art

The golden playboy had heard the call to arms. This peeked his interest as he smoothly made his way over to check out what these silly pride lions were up to. Not that it much mattered to him but still it was like a moth to a flame and not just for him it seemed. Making his way upon the Bluffs he smirked as he took his sweet time. Everyone was focused on the battle that echoed across the land so surely a little old rogue such as he would go unnoticed. Exploring the land he came across a large crack in the earth and found it interesting. If not careful someone could get stuck in there.

He than noticed @Lexa and followed her silently. Sticking to the shadows and staying a bit behind he made sure to stay out of sight. Finally reaching the group he hide in some brush and listened to all the yelling. There seemed to be a lot of tension between a group of them. Interesting. Very interesting.

( He is hidden )

+5 Learn something interesting about a pride or family 1/2
+5 Explore a new territory and find something useful 1/2
+5 follow someone without getting caught 1/2

GOLDEN PLAYBOY

Integer lobortis purus faucibus nisi iaculis fermentum. Integer sodales sodales gravida. Mauris ut nunc ac dolor sollicitudin ultricies. Vestibulum nibh libero, imperdiet quis orci ac, porttitor volutpat lectus. Proin varius aliquam convallis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Integer blandit malesuada purus sed sagittis. Proin nulla sapien, venenatis vitae lacinia sed, porta nec erat.

code by corvus

faevyre. +5 Attend a spar or challenge to assess the wounds [2/2]

ooc: note to self pls don't wait like 6 pages before responding next time fjksdlafj.

ic: Faevyre hangs back, watches @Beelzebub from a good several yards back. She watches carefully as the familiar star-speckled form of @Amara approaches, capturing the woman's words with forward-pressed audits -- if they come, I will protect you. The words fill Faevyre with a mixed sense of guilt and relief -- guilty that it's not her there promising that, and relief that at least the Lagoon's ex-ruler had no intention on abandoning the yearling that had grown so fond of them.

The guilt is the strongest feeling, though, pushing forward through the fog of the nagging insecurity in the back of her mind. You have no right, echoes there in her skull. But she'd feel worse if Bee does end up getting hurt because she stood back. And so she rises, steps slowly forward even as other lions join the din, jeering at the estranged Scillans. A dark-blazed lilac lion snarls something that doesn't make sense to her when void of context. She does get the sense that she's missing something. Why did everyone hate the Scillans so? She still didn't know.

She settles a foot or so back from Bee, content to sit closer than before, offering a low rumble of comfort at Bee's dejected response. The sad question draws an endless well of sympathy for the yearling, exposing a vulnerability she hadn't seen from her in larger gatherings like this before. Bee slowly grows stronger, but Faevyre forgets sometimes that for adolescents, that strong front takes a lot of energy, a lot of figuring out.

The Hollows lioness' ears swivel back softly. Faevyre ultimately feels... a bit helpless, here, unable to stop the monumental forces that clash together. She watches a dark yearling join Amara's side, spitting at the Bluffs lions who had been riling Bee earlier. Faevyre wonders if she was friends with Bee, or just seeking to defend the woman she stood near.

She nods softly to @Úna as the girl approaches, passes, and offers the same to @Echo as the yearlings converge. They all seem to have... warmed up to Amara, at least -- or maybe they were just mostly coming in support of their sister. It's a sight that reassures her. Despite everything, at least they had each other.

@Saga -- a woman that Faevyre had seen around the Hollows a time or two before, but didn't know (though, looking at her, her split features reminds her vaguely of Ragna) -- places herself between the lilac man and Bee, seeming to seek to send the man on his way a bit. The dual-toned lioness seems to not be aggressive toward Amara, and Faevyre appreciates that she's at least looking out for Bee since they're in the same pride for now. Either way, the linking and overlapping threads of relations here confuse Faevyre, ultimately. She tries to learn all she can, and yet there's always more she's missing.

Amara's explanation of the lilac lions' earlier words soon emerges, and she glances between them with furrowed brow, just listening. Honestly, the whole thing sounds like... well, a mess, but also like a big misunderstanding. Was all of this really just over a... miscommunication? A mitt of paws lashed at the wrong place and the wrong time?

Ears twitch, glancing over as the two males at the center of this gathering's divide clash again, trading shouts and biting words. She can't make out what they're saying over their snarls and the chatter murmuring around her, but their aggression seems to be raising, their attacks cutting straight to dangerous ones. She swallows hard, takes a deep breath as she finds herself immersed in the feeling of chaos and helplessness she remembers from the Rainforest once more. Will this escalate to that? Will someone die here today? Gatherings like this, with all of this tension, are starting to make Faevyre nervous.

What makes her truly nervous, though, is the rumble of thunder, deep and foreboding. The deep and snarling tones of @Magnus rise from not too far away. He reminds of her of Wolfgang, through and through, the scarred High Sovereign seeking to command and bring those present in line. While the deep order of his tones make her pause, immediately inclined to listen, she holds her ground, sees it as reasonable.

It goes beyond that, though, and quickly. She watches the tension grow within his body as he speaks until it bursts in a snap of colossal jaws and flinging spit. Faevyre flinches slightly, her pelt prickling with intense, intense discomfort. With wide, fire-rimmed eyes, the medic watches, abyssal pupils locked on the melanistic hulking beast as he peels back a side of her she's yet to see. She's seen Wolfgang angry, thinking back to the time when they'd rescued two of their wayward yearlings from an unfortunate traipse into dangerous territory, but this -- this was something else. This isn't something she'd seen from Wolfgang, and isn't something she'd expected to see from her own previous ruler, the man whose home she'd taken refuge in and helped to heal and befriend the members of.

She doesn't like this. Faevyre doesn't like this. A deep and uncertain discomfort rises from her gut. A miasma jarred free by the quake of his snapping jaws. Her ears flatten back into her mane. This isn't right, to her. That threat isn't right.

If they come, I will protect you. The words and the guilt she'd felt when she heard them ricochet through her mind. She rocks forward off of her haunches and rises, head low and ears pinned back, as she seeks to hover more closely behind Bee, lurking protectively over the girl's hind limbs. She doesn't want to push the girl away from Amara, and her other side is taken by her sibling, but she does her best to try to stand over the yearling with her large form, protectively, eyes locked onto Magnus. She doesn't show any signs of aggression, just an intense wariness -- and a new emotion. Distrust.

Beneath unusually stony features, the mauve lioness is uncertain, scared. But what she's not uncertain about is protecting Bee and the other Bezra yearlings from what might be real harm. They had come here and found refuge beneath Magnus' rule once, but what the Hollows had offered her is nothing compared to what the Caverns once had, what the Bezras have. And despite all of the conflicting thoughts and uncertainties, at the end of the day, her loyalties lie with the Bezra. With the children she'd herded and raised through the darkness of the caverns.

Cupid’s low voice is easy to pick out over the din, and Roarke admittedly pays more attention to the king than the two battling lions. His gaze does skim over the one that apparently causes trouble. But hadn’t Scilla been overturned by some Hollow’s lioness? Why go for the Bluffs - unless the Hollows and the Bluffs are allied. Or, more likely, the challenger did not want to fight the colossal king of Obsidian.

The giant’s eyes roll back to @Cupid as a small girl appears under his mane, and Roarke blinks down at her in surprise. But the smaller lion seems to know her, and she smells of the Bluffs, so that is more than enough for Roarke to understand she is to be protected.

“They sound like precarious allies to have if that is the case.” He states lowly, a soft huff in his tone, careful not to let the child at their feet hear. Shit talking a pride is one thing, but entirely another to let loose lips hear. Clearly there is history between all the prides - none moreso than the ex-Scillans and… everyone else. “They’re upset over some children...”

And then, then, a dark beast arrives to ruin the show and offer new entertainment all in one go. Roarke leans forward as the black lion speaks his piece - demanding utter obedience and silence from his crew pride. Roarke’s gaze trails through the group the Scillan king addresses, noting mostly women and children. Using his strength and size as a threat, but not for anything worthy.

@Lexa joins them, no doubt attracted to the chaos unwinding below. He offers the small woman a grin, feeding off the energy around them, but remains silent so that Cupid can answer her question - truthfully, Roarke isn’t sure who to root for now. And his attention is still on the group he’d been watching before. And the new target of his attention, @Magnus.

"You will be silent, or else I will make you."

Roarke lurches forward, leaving Lexa and Cupid to their own dealings, and pushes through to the edge of the Bluff they all sat upon. “Aye, king,” he calls down to Magnus, “except that one -” Roarke’s paw dangles above @Amara, sussing her out as the only claimable woman in the group. He can’t do much for the others - not yet. “She belongs to me. And she can speak her mind as she pleases.” The beast grins, all teeth, all malice. “Unless you’d like to try to threaten the Rainforest’s lions.”

ooc Part of Caldan Cove, but rank has not been updated yet...

While Reyna had missed the catalyst of many of the conversations, she arrives at the challenge in time to hear the large man's outburst as he attempt to cow the children and women before him. She pays it little mind, not nearly as perturbed as others in the crowd who may find his show of authority distasteful. Some only learn through fear and control; her father would have done the same thing most likely.

She passes by the unfolding spat, headed instead for the group of her pride that stands a bit further away. @Avaneira and @Morrigan are offered a polite dip of her head and @Jewel is offered a curious glance. She was curious what knowledge the woman could give on the clearly fraught situation at play, but she was already engaged with a younger Cove lion (@Parvati). @Petra is there too, a lioness she hardly knows but offers a quick greeting nonetheless. A white stranger (@Bronn) lingers near Morrigan, but he is not of the cove and thus is barely given more than a glance; so much to look at so little time.

Unfortunately, she had missed the juicy bits of her explanation but there was still much to be learned just from watching the body language of everyone present. Carefully, she sits beside her group with tightly tucked limbs. Were she a rogue still, this sort of affair may have made her nervous. She may have lingered on the outskirts with a clear exit path planned out. With so many of the Cove here, Reyna wagers she has nothing to fear so she will help bolster the pride's presence. "Sorry I'm late. How fares our allies?" Or our enemies. Truthfully, Reyna isn't sure who here the cove benefits most from to win, so she watches the fight with reservation, gaze occasionally flicking to the equally interesting situation unfolding around Magnus and the starry lioness. As it does, she spies @Seneca is here as well, and her gaze lingers on him for a moment longer before returning to the fight.

made with gunmetal bones and wolf's teeth
a warrior, a soldier

How quick was Vermier to vye for another throne so shortly after the Lagoon was snatched out from underneath them. Kieran had laid low, nursed his wounds and kept his fury contained to midnight pacings and snarls into the wind. He felt, in a way, that he had failed @Amara as both her Sovereign and her mate, had allowed the Lagoon slip from their fingers as if there was something, anything, he could have done. He could have challenged for a pride himself, he considered, but something had stayed his paw and perhaps it did so with the premonition that it was always Vermier's place to do so. He had, after all, lead them for so long before. And with @Cassine still too young to take the helm quite yet, it seemed only fitting he retain his previous position among their small stronghold.

As he arrived and ventured near his mate's form, he could see @Beelzebub among the throng of unrecognized strangers and lions he'd only seen in passing. Her newest king stood a short distance away, but said nothing, spared the man no glance, having arrived far too late to notice anything but the tension palpable in the air. Kieran cursed his lame leg for hindering his travel, but there was little else the man could do; there was little else that mattered. He was Amara's dog, a steady sword wielded at her command and not needing to know the finer details. His gaze quickly falls onto @Roarke, however; his mane visibly flares at the brute's claim, his claws unsheathing and digging into the ground. “She is a package deal, crinière de sang.” He had no power to contest the claim, but he would not so soon leave his mate behind; wherever she went, Kieran was sure to follow.