Rielus had remembered very well the instance within Wolfbron Bluffs and the Andal Oasis cubs. Two particular lionesses came to mind, though he knew neither of them nor really cared to get to know either of them. Fresh scars decorated his rump from the disaster that he'd intruded upon, intent on protecting his friend (adopted niece) and her brainless sister. Only, he hadn't met with Seneca to relay the full story of the cubs' adventure plus his own trespassing. Part of him had been keen on keeping the information from anyone but Ashelia for the fact that it had been foolish he'd joined the fray.

Regardless of the past, it had solidified the idea of a pride that he would take for the Azars, with consideration of Ashelia's royal blood. He was not yet accustomed to the idea that he, too, was an Azar. Not yet and perhaps never after this next foolish stunt he was about to pull.

Consideration had taken time, plus his body had been substantially wounded after his visitation within the bluffs. Days had passed where the itch hadn't been scratched from his previous conversation with Ashelia. Even after he'd met a young foe in battle for a rank within Andal Oasis, but that had been under the rule of a king he held no loyalties too. The only reason he called Andal his home was due to the Azars settling into as much.

It seemed that with the development of he and Ashelia's relationship that he wouldn't be content with himself until he gave her what he perceived to be what she was worth: a crown. Wolfbron had been the only logical choice. Not out of revenge (though he wasn't exactly feeling friendly notions towards the lionesses that had made sure to put him in his place) but because it was close to Andal Oasis and the only other pride he really knew about.

Upon the rocky outcroppings of the bluffs his toes flexed, mindful to keep his balance even and solid upon the rock beneath him. Body was held defensively as he had found a sort of arena where he could challenge the pride leader for their ownership of the pride. Eyes were slightly narrowed in their sockets, ears slicked into the thick espresso hairs of his mane, as he had come to a hault with his back to a towering rock formation behind him. Every muscle in his body felt taut, ready for action as he called out his challenge to the leader of Wolfbron, ensuring to bring his head down over his throat in the case he was ambushed.

Rielus vs. @Amara
For Wolfbron Bluffs
Move 0/5

CODE • BG

diantha decided that she wants to follow @Rielus out, half hoping that he will see her before he makes it to his destination. to her shock, the man is heading to the last place in this land she'd ever think of. that is, the pride that landed her and victoria in hot waters with dad. still, this time it's not technically her trespassing. when she gathers the confidence to climb up the outcrops, diantha notices that rielus has called out for the pride leader. she manages to find a decent place near the border and sit down. this is her first pride challenge, but even blockhead diantha knows that everything is fair game.

table by koi

Seneca follows after Rielus with an intrigue; it hardly escapes his notice that the man is heading for the Bluffs, and he has an interest to know why. He can, of course, guess at the possibility, but he hasn't been informed in so many words that this is going to happen. Still, he's neutral about the situation, more curious than anything. @Diantha, too, is headed up the rocky path with her father shortly behind her, for once holding her tongue. His gaze flashes over the paladin with a quirked brow as the Oasis sovereign meanders over to the edge where his daughter sits, coming to halt behind her in a vaguely protective stance over the girl's hips. He'd had no control over her last encounter here, but today, Seneca is here to prevent any more chaos from unfolding than what's necessary.

Seneca Miroslav

table by ferus, art by sleepykyju

In truth, he had no idea who the boy was to Seneca or Andal but he was curious to know how Vermier would handle this. Fiery jewels caught sight of @Seneca, caught sight of the daughter as well, before coming up beside the High Soveriegn. Ears twisting as Drakon would sit next to the Miroslav and watch the challenger. "Who is he?" He would ask, glancing over towards Seneca before back to the center of it all. Surely Vermier wouldn't keep them waiting for to long. Granted he had seen the man in action and it was disappointing in truth. So he would be patient and wait.

OOC: edited because drak isn't suppose to know amara is ruler

"Speech."

Where Drakon goes, Tron is sure to follow…well not everywhere but when she had seen her guardian heading towards the pride they had talked about her curiosity got the better of her. If @Drakon was there, he would protect her so…that warning about not crossing borders didn’t matter…right? The dark toned youth would follow quietly, eventually catching up to the longer legged adult just as he was approaching the group that had gathered. At first, she had hesitated, staying back a few feet before finally she would come up to Drakon’s hip- opposite Seneca. She didn’t know the other youth that was there, not really, Tron had seen her but they hadn’t really spoken much and she certainly didn’t know the male that stood defensively and apart from them. She could tell that he was from the Oasis, but…that was it. It didn’t take a genius to know what was going to happen and it made her anxious. Silver eyes would search, waiting for the Wolfbron lions to arrive…surely they would arrive soon.

OOC:

more clever scribbles to come. or footnotes...

code by corvus

it had only been a matter of time, she supposed — though, to be frank, cassine rather liked the quiet, more private life that she had been indulging in since her return. she could roam, and romp, and watch without the heaviness of a crown atop her head. but this? this was undeniably her business, eyes narrowing as the sounds of the challenge rang within her ears. it echoed off the walls of their mountaintop kingdom with bravado, vibrating against stone and sand to signify that, today, there would be blood. and, hopefully, lots of it.

she is the first of her kin to arrive, but the parisian hardly paid any mind to such a fact. rather, white fangs pricked against the edges of her lips as she swallowed the distance between her and them, eyes roaming first amongst the sea of assumed supporters, before settling upon the man-of-the-hour himself. "oh, cheri, you are going to regret that." cassine chided towards him with a simpering grin, before looking to hop atop and sprawl quite casually across a nearby boulder. if she were a tad more dramatic, she may even have feigned a paw across her forehead in distress — but she’d keep herself more settled than that. for now.

It was a summons unlike any she had heard in her short life, and it immediately pulled the growing girl from the helpless creature she had been toying with. Taking advantage of her distraction the rodent scurried away, and Louve huffed with the frustration of losing her meal. Her annoyance was doubled when she made sense of the call, and it turned rapidly in to a blinding rage unlike anything she had known before.

In as large of steps as she could manage she slunk towards the stranger, her gaze darting from the male to the oh so familiar cub hiding between another male's legs. Her lips curled instantly in to a snarl and she stalked forward, stopping just before @Diantha with a hiss of anger. "revenir pour plus?" A smirk accompanied the snarling words as she flexed her claws, scouring them against the earth beneath her. Maybe the other girl would not understand the language, but the meaning was clear -- come back for more?

Yellowed gaze slid briefly to Seneca, then back to the girl with a scoff. "Or are you too afraid?" Clearly the challenger was not as interesting to her as toying with the girl again.

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Echo lingers in the shadows of the craggy bluffs, using the naturally long cast shadows to obscure her approach as she creeps along towards the growing party of lions. Once again, it was their turn to either fend off invasion or be taken over. She is not surprised to see @Rielus was the challenger, and she wonders if his pride had been hurt when he had lost to his sister and Amara.

She carries her sling with her with everything she has, knowing full well what sort of violence these events brought. She had defended herself with Tyr, and her victory emboldens her to slink closer (still remaining hidden) so she can be ready to respond should similar violence break out here.

No harm would befall her family today. Not when she could help.

Echo is hidden

she, too, trails after @Rielus -- but unlike his other tag-a-longs, she knows exactly what the plan is.

quietly she wishes it had come at a different time, but it was not her place to pause his plan. instead she intends to support him, wholeheartedly, and does exactly that. Wolfbron is not unknown to her but never has she felt the anxiety pulse through her veins as she does now. not even her own challenge had sparked such worry in the golden woman, but then again, she worries after his well-being far more than she'd ever cared for her own.

quietly she settles in near the andal king, leaving a respectable distance between them. ears tip towards him and the heir at his side before she looks to her mate, mouth set in a firm line. she knows he is a strong combatant -- he has protected her all her life. yet this is different and win or lose here today, their lives would never be the same.

code; background; art;

Reste proche, the command stretched to his shadow—for he knew as well as any, such event would draw small eyes and eager little steps. It went without a glance, knowing his children would be far too curious to ignore the summons, the challenge made to their Sovereign. A seat was taken, drawing his weight to a low recline at the edge of their chosen arena. Eyes far too much like fire crossed the strange faces that came in the intruder’s wake.

Their solemn faces near unreadable, but in his lay indomitable delight.

Though he knew it would evoke a sense of worry, and strife in the heart of his Narcissa, to him it came with a tide of hope—for whichever way the fates decided to lean, he knew and was prepared for the glory that would follow. Whether it be a celebration in Amara’s name, or a bloodbath to avenge it. The heathen was ready, poised and hungry. It had been far too long since he’d tasted all that sang to his blood, to his flesh. Far too long since he’d had reason to make another bleed.

For if anything, defending his family’s home was reason aplenty to suffer the fools that dared to darken their hearts.

And how good and generous of them to bring a menu.