This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of death, gore, violence.

With a gleam in his good eye, the jarl pinned the Sigrun to the earth, his jaws seeking to crush and render the flesh of her neck into a thousand ribbons. The bloodwrath was strong within, heart thundering in his chest as the taste of blood on his tongue fed his fever.

But his upper hand was short-lived.

Powerful kicks of her hind legs against his chest shoved Eulalia back and he regretfully released his hold. His gaze shifted up, and the last thing he would ever see was the enraged, bloodied face of the chimera woman, an unholy rage in her eye. Her claws slashed towards his face quicker than he could react, slicing through his good eye to bring agony and blindness.

A thunderous roar shook from the jarl's chest, jaws parting instantly and ears flattening further into his mane. I can't see! he wailed inside. For the first time in his life, Eulalia felt fear and horror in his bones, his blood chilled, and he was forced to reckon with his own demise.

He would die a blind lion here at the jaws of his enemy, or later at the claws of his own clan. His whole face was a mat of blood - it was clear to anyone watching that she had completely blinded him.

No room for weakness. He'd uttered the very words himself.

The jarl sturdied himself, squared on all fours, head pulled back and up into his mane and neck. And he did not have to wait long for the thief to steal his life. The lioness's hot breath tangled in his mane, her rabid teeth burying themselves in hair and flesh. Completely blind, Eulalia saw nothing but darkness, and could only feel the lioness digging around in his mane. He knew exactly what she was looking for, and he stiffly waited. What was death like? Would it be quick? Would he slowly bleed out and die?

He did not have to wait to find out.

So ferocious and quick was the lioness's final blow that he felt the agonizing pain come and go, his consciousness immediately slipping. A terrifying snarl frozen to his pale, bloodied face, Eulalia felt his body slip from his control for the first time in his life. It was like he was somehow watching it happen, though he was completely blind; his giant frame tumbled to the earth, hot blood matted at his throat.

Blood roared in his ears, pounding in the front of his skull as his head hit the hard earth. Gasping for air, his huge chest inhaled shakily, unsuccessfully. He chased his final breaths desperately, though he had given in to his own demise. His sides fluttered erratically, blood pooling quickly on the ground between his face and the earth.

In the front of his mind was a wild creature, spotted and lithe with a marred face to mirror his own. “Seehund," he rasped out loud with desperation. My sweet and terrible @Sunníva. As his life flickered and faded, Eulalia Rike desperately clung to his memories of her to guide him on his way. Every wrong he'd ever done her, and every warm night they'd shared tumbled about his conscious as it faded for good.

-Exit via Death-

""

BARBARIAN:
+10 Maintain your weapons (sharpen claws)
+10 Observe a fight(Roan vs Alaric)
SLEUTH:
+20 Remain undetected in a large thread (5+ characters)

The split faced sigrun remained hidden, as it seemed no one had tried to find her which was very covinient. Her confident eyes exploring the caverns, but mainly the area of the pride challenge, but what came next stole the interest from it completely, as her mother had entered in a challenge for the death agaisnt what she guessed was a rike, why else would her mother jump to kill like that? Only the Rike and their putrid presence could set her and maybe Ragna herself right into killing mode, being them their swore death enemies. But even though she wanted to jump in and help, that wasnt something her mother would want. This was her fight and she would be of better use hidden. Watching for anyone wanting to attack her too. Her eyes expressed nothing, but deep inside she was scared, afraid as fuck. Her mother's life was i the line afterall, she wouldnt be able to bare the idea of losing the lion she loved the most, her only direct family. She kept watching, both fights, but mostly the one her mother was in.

Her inner turmoil kept her away from whatever happened around, hidding still. Claws sharpening against the stone. The fight being over didnt mean she could breath in relief yet, as her mother collapse, and for once she almost ran towards her. But what help would she give? At that stage, any other Rike could lung toward the weakened @Saga. It would be better if she went off to look for any rike, protecting her mother from the darkness. And like a shadow she left in order to do so.

Exit Ragna

bg x art x code

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers. Trigger Warning for mentions of gore, blood, death

She's on the edge of her seat, biting her tongue, holding her breath. It seems like he has the upper paw at first, bowling the Sigrún bitch down into the dirt, and her tail whips with excitement behind her, certain that this is the moment -- that the chimera will fall.

Instead, Sunníva's grin morphs into a twisted, ugly thing when the woman rears up, catching Eulalia off-guard and raking her claws down the sighted side of his face. In that moment, she knows that it is over. She knows, as much as he does, that he is worth nothing blind, and that if he doesn't fall today by Sigrún paws, then he will fall to Rike paws. She can see his resignation to the end, and she both respects it and loathes it -- she wants him to lash out, to take her down with him.

Instead, he falls heavily into the dirt, his throat rend open by the enemy's teeth, blood gushing free with each thudding beat of his dying heart. It takes everything in her not to screech out then and there, not to descend upon the fray and take her vengeance in this very moment, when the enemy is at her weakest point. It is only the fact that she knows she wouldn't make it far enough to even reach the Sigrún that keeps Sunníva rooted in her place, a fury building and twisting in her gut with the overwhelming sense of a grief she does not understand.

Seehund.

She does not need to hear him to see that the final curve of his lips choke on her name, and her snarl deepens, writing ugly lines across the contours of her face. It's over then, as quickly as it begun, and he falls still for a final time, all traces of him gone from the mortal body left strewn upon the earth. She has never been the sort to cry, but as Sunníva turns away from the scene to scurry back down the rocks, white hot tears burn a stream down her cheek. She knows, as much as Eulalia had known, that this will spell her end as well.

I'll see you soon in hell. We'll reign for eternity.

She is gone as quietly as she had come, but she has no intention of meeting up with the Rike again. She knows she is unwelcome, that her presence had only been tolerated because of him. Her only goal now is revenge.

Exeunt Sunníva

you said you wanted revolution

table by sentinel / art

when u try to make him somewhat hidden but he real bad at hide n seek

Oblivious to the goings on around him, Nero is helpless. He doesn't know the outcome, doesn't know who's won, he only feels every ounce of his skin on fire at once. There is blackness and there is blood spilling from his tongue as he bites into it, but otherwise he is at the mercy of whatever is happening to him. Every touch from an onlooker brings a new white hot flash of pain, and though he is vaguely aware his head is now being held and he is being sprawled across, Nero simply exists. The convulsing ends almost as quickly as it comes and his body sags, exhausted, before he slowly but surely comes to. Nero is confused, naturally, and gawks up at the crowd surrounding him -- and the woman laying on top of him. He sees Saga before anyone else, however, and she is a bloody mess. His eyes ask what has happened, but his mouth is numb and filled with cotton. Instead he slowly moves to his feet (assuming Avana doesn't try to ride him like a pony) and glanced awkwardly at everyone. Zaza, Keir, Magnus. Nero clears his throat. "What happened? Can we.. can we go home?" He stops, looks at everyone, feels his skin redden with embarrassment and turns to slip away from the crowd, hoping his two mothers will follow. Nero pauses only briefly to see Eulalia's body and it is almost enough to trigger him again, but he keeps his head down and moves on.

sorry for quick exit, it's for a good cause 8D?

Table by Amanda

@Magnus is at her side swiftly and she takes a moment to press her shoulder to his, steadying herself with his presence. @Keir regards them both before bellowing for help - and @Avana comes. The hodari brings with her the scent of herbs and allies. Her anxiety eases and she shirts to allow the woman to work. She speaks softly, nonsense words leaving her lips, as @Nero slowly comes back to consciousness. When he blinks up at them, she's sighing in relief and placing a kiss on his head. "Yes darling." She murmurs, lifting her face to @Aluzabeth. "We'll go." She'll explain it all, later, away from prying ears and possible enemies. "If you'd like, the lagoon has a place for you." She offers the albino with a small smile to move to follow after her son, eager to bring the family the news and to rest. exit

table by ferus & lineart by eerien00dle

she watched, caught somewhere between uncertainty and worry -- for not only was the pride of an ally on the line, but the life of one of their own was, too. by some odd - could they even call it lucky? - twist of fate, however, the bloodshed led to not one, but two instances of victory. something that seemed almost impossible given all of their bad luck and tragedies as of late. voluspa watched in near awe as, first, roan managed to maintain control of his crown from the would-be usurper, and then, second, as @Saga tore the life from the rike with the wrath of both a sigrun and of a mourning mother. the sight sent an immediate chill down voluspa's spine, her body arching instinctively to better conceal @Hillevi from the potential of any prying eyes or emotional outbursts, until she snapped back into the present moment with a newfound sense of vigor. praise vellen.

"hillevi, stay close. come now, we are going home with your mother." the older girl instructed quickly, her voice hitching near the end as her eyes fell down towards her cousin's body. though it would not be the first time that she witnessed death, to watch another be killed before their very eyes was another matter entirely. knowing that trouble would find them if they lingered, however, it was after another breath that voluspa would aim to usher hillevi forwards and towards the crowding shapes of their family as they began to depart. "father - i can try and help heal her once we've returned, if there is no one else available." voluspa would offer as they left, hoping to catch @Magnus' gaze, even if it was only for the briefest of moments. there was so much else that she wanted to say and rationalize, her mind a flurry of thoughts and feelings and prayers -- but, those would have to wait for later. exit.

art by cala + coded by flea + background credit

	+10 Observe a challenge and learn the results - Alaric vs Roan (2/2)
	+10 Observe a challenge and learn the results - Saga vs Eulalia (2/2)
	+10 Observe and study a new scent (2/2)

The roar of chaos echoed around them, blaring in Hiccup’s ears between the deafening thunder of his pulse. Somehow, between the overwhelming discordance, Asteria’s voice reached him as she wrestled with an apology. “No, nonono,” he hiccuped and squeezed her harder into his chest, pressing his cheek to her maned head. He wanted to shelter her, to anchor her. No matter what troubled her, he would always protect her, in any way that he could.

A metallic scent filled the cavern as he held her, and before he could better of it, the yearling looked back. To his relief, he found the Sigrún lioness alive — bloodied, yet alive. However, there on the ground, was the slumped body of an unknown male. Hiccup … recognized death. He was an aspiring Ranger — he’d taken down prey before. However, he’d never witnessed the slaying of his own kind, and seeing the body not only chilled his blood, it made his stomach reel. The lion, he assumed, must’ve been a Rike to have been met with such savagery from the Sigrún. And yet, rather than be comforted by the knowledge that a likely murderer had been seen to, he was nauseous instead …

He was momentarily deafened by the numbness that washed over him, and he missed the nearby shouting. He completely failed in realizing that Nero was in trouble. It was Asteria who pulled him back with how she pressed close, making him blink slowly as he came to. He heard her plea through the din that echoed down the tunnels and nodded once following a pause, as if he had to remember how to control his body.

Wordlessly, the shocked boy supported his dark friend and led the way deep into the Hollow, away from the chaos that had briefly invaded his home.

Exit

coded by flea | artwork by ale-tie

Even just from standing there, with his body no longer in constant motion, the mauve lion could feel his adrenaline wearing off. The full extent of his injuries were becoming clearer the longer he watched Saga tear into the stranger. @Maia's question would be met with a light nod. "Yeah, I'll be fine." There would be nothing long lasting from these injuries, just some new scars. What mattered was that Obsidian was safe for another day. As for what was going on with the other fight, the Hodari's minty gaze looked to @Magnus. He would be the first to congratulate the masked man's victory before then quickly identifying Saga's opponent as "a Rike." Roan would assume that it must be a family name, but it was one he had yet to hear specifically, leaving him baffled that tensions had already risen high enough between the Rike and the Sigrun to warrant the Lagoon leader to seek a man's death. That's what happens when one misses a war. Had Roan been around during the first Vermeda challenge, this would not have been so surprising.

In the end, and much to his relief, the Sigrun woman would rise as the victor. Roan didn't want to imagine what it would do to the Sigrun if they lost someone like this. On the other side, though, the mauve lion didn't want to start brainstorming what consequences this might have should the man's family seek to avenge his death. It was a gruesome end as Saga ripped the man's throat from his own flesh, blood pouring out onto the already battle worn ground. Between the two fights, Obsidian was coated in red. No sooner had the death match ended, though, did the Scilla queen rush to the side of a convulsing boy Roan hadn't initially noticed until now. The small male had gained quite a little crowd, even drawing Magnus from his side to investigate. Before Roan even realized it, his own sister was running to answer the please for assistance. The Obsidian lion would just watch from a distance, knowing there was nothing he could do to help. Nero would be fine in Avana's paws.

With the dramatics over with, Roan turned his attention back towards what remained of his cheering squad. Some were already leaving, but @Tobin, @Lysander, @Hrefna, @Lotus, and @Faelyn were still in sight. "Alright, party's over," he half-chuckled to his pridemates while beginning to look tired. "Thanks for being here, everyone." And truly, it meant a lot to see them here to support him as the mauve male then made his way to his wife's side. He'd aim a gentle headbutt against her cheek, attempting to touch her with a non-bloodied portion of his head so as not to stain her pristine pelt. "Patch me up again?" There was a mischievous tug to the corner of his mouth as the king spoke quietly and more directly towards Faelyn before starting to head inside. With no more fighting going on around them, Roan felt comfortable enough to return to his home. He didn't feel the need to make some sort of big speech to any remaining onlookers. The king had defended his crown. His actions should speak loud enough on their own. And with that, the Hodari would retire to his den for the night, ready for some much deserved rest.

exit Roan

Table & Ref by Amanda | Background | Base

No one bothered them. Instead everyone was transfixed on the multiple fights that were happening around them. That worked out for Oleander. But then why should anyone care about him? He was just another cog in the machine. He wasn't involved in the fighting and so it didn't matter.

With the fighting winding down did Oleander make his move. He kept himself tucked in the shadows as he made his way around the caverns of the Hollows. With people distracted a quick glance about was able to be made. Though that quick glance was being made as he was making his own exit.

The young male kept about from the pools of blood that littered the place so that he couldn't be tracked as he slipped silently away. He knew none of the fighters and was uncertain of their importance. He would leave it to his hiding partner to make the report, after all it was a woman's job to be able to properly assess a situation.

Oleander Exits

The Butcher

Unholy water - Sanguine Addiction, those silver bullets a last blood benediction

There is much that Gauthier savors in the rite of battle. It is not just the thrill of bloodshed or the taste of iron in the air, though these things are pleasant enough ambiance for him to endure. It is the motions that intrigue him - to watch, to learn, a patron to its wisdom. Though many may cringe and curl away from the brute force of one and the horrifying violence of another, the hound leans into both with a fervent hunger. Every slash, every bite, every crack of bone and stretch of muscle is a language whose provocative dialect he savors finer than any other. His eyes move from one battle to the next, hardly complacent to stand on the sidelines uninvolved, but contented with brutality nonetheless. barbarian bastard. bloodlusting warmonger.

@Amaroq shares his appetite, but it is the striped woman who responds - a tease, a grin, one toothy and fletched with fiendish circumstance. flamingoes. Gauthier remembers chasing the flurry of pink buzzards, their aggravating sounds as they flapped and splashed and carried on beneath the siege of hungry, desperate lions. He huffs at this, looking over the engaged array of violence before them. "I am hungry." with his tongue smoothed over the sheen of his sharp teeth. When his eyes pull to the rock @Esmerée had taken for a temporary residence, he is disappointed to see that she's left.

I know him, she said, gesturing to the pale male who had lunged beneath his combatant - a strange but seemingly profitable tactic, grabbing at the Hollow King's back leg. He had seen Esmerée staring at this one when he arrived, but didn't inquire further. The other match had piqued his interest more, their savagery and fire, the merciless wiles of the ashen woman and the passionate brutality of the pale-headed male.

When warmth gathered beside him, his brow raised to discover that the rosé nymph had not parted from the onslaught after all. A grin tread the line of his lips as he leaned to let her breath curl against his ear, still waiting for that apology. He turned to her, as pleased now with her closeness as he had been with the closer press of her cold, shivering body. "I know," he croons, devilish and unrelenting. And you - I also know you. the smooth uncurling voice of @Aidoneus professes in engaging Esmerée, and Gauthier looks to her curiously.

But a shrill call of help! broke the long monotony of snarls and thunderous roars, and he looked over the rocks and ferns and the shadows cast by the looming weight of the mountain cavern to see a face familiar only in passing. She herself does not appear to be chased or held captive, and there is little in the way of altruism or medical know-how that moves him. When he sheds the distractions to look back to the battles, he sees the pale challenger pinned beneath the cave's king. "Your eyecandy has not fared so well. A shame." he whispers back to Esmerée, though there is no sense of true grief or pity. They fought well enough, and a battle won or lost is still a battle worthwhile.

It is to his (small) surprise that @Alaric approaches them, flashing a discourteous snarl to Gauthier when he arrives at his coquette's side. He does not move or respond outside the extent of raising a brow and releasing a low chuckle, hardly one for an impulse of jealousy or pride. But the male thumps beside and utters a scornful, next time.

Beyond them, the pale-headed brute is taking his final rattling breaths, and Aidoneus is unseated, cast against Amaroq. Did she know the defeated as well? Did it come as some grief to her? His eye fell over the spotted shieldmaiden risen from her dead foe, calling a medic to the attention of the shrieking woman he had heard earlier. No events appalled him, even as the blood soaked the dirt beneath the fallen male. Yet his hunting companion is restless, and he nods to her leave. Past her, elsewise shadows are vanishing into the distance (where did they all hide?) and the fighters begin to disperse. "I suppose it is time for us to leave, fratello." he says to Amaroq, though his eyes remain hungrily on the blood puddling beneath Eulalia, watching each trickle tread rivers through the dust. Wasted, spent.

He turns to Esmerée as he gathers himself to his feet, lightly pushing her with an elbow. "Always a pleasure, coeur brutale." humming dark, the words unspool from the curling breadth of his tongue and the sharp edges of his fangs with a click and a purr. With that he turns from the violent events, their battles undone, their thrill expended.

exit. brain hurty.
+10 Observe a fight (Alaric vs Roan)
+10 Observe a fight (Saga vs Eulalia)
exp doubled via Calypso