[EVENT] This is War

[Z o m b i k ii]

Midnightglow18

Ebu’s jaws finally loosened and the large, white male stepped backwards so he could look the other male in the eye. He spat out the blood that filled his mouth, the taste of iron clinging to his tongue. Stormborn blood; it tasted like treason and dishonour. He would not drink it even if he was dying of thirst. “My Prince’s call served as my notice. Stranger.” Ebu scoffed, he never liked making conversation at the best of times. He especially did not like conversing in the midst of battle.

Ebbe often scolded his trainees for being too sassy, for speaking too much - the lesson had been drilled so deeply into him it was written across his bones. But even for one as mild mannered as Ebu, having his honour questioned was enough to inspire fury. “Your kind snuck into my home. Attacked a Queen in the twilight of her life, heavy with child. Where was her notice? Boy?” Though the brown male looked to be older than Ebu; only young broodlings complained about a fight not being fair, about not being ready, about cheating.

What did one do to a whining broodling? You clouted them around the ear until they leaned to hold their tongue! Clout them like he had been clouted, time and time again. “Question my integrity again and I will clout you around the head so hard it will spin around - and you will forever be looking to where you have been.” His maw was stained red, his teal eyes narrowing to a glare.

Slowly he started to circle the other, like a shark on the land. Waiting for his moment to pounce.  

[Z o m b i k ii]

Kus’an’s expression was unchanging as a set of golden eyes locked with his own. As the boys words reached his ears - a laugh rumbled in his chest, deep and wicked and amused. The black male shook his head in disbelief, the action making his braid dance and the long strands of his mane tickle his face. He had been looking for an opponent - but had found a child; oh well, a victory is a victory, anybody would do. The laugher was cut off with a deep breath; and when the male opened his eyes once more, his face was serious and his gaze piercing.

Then another voice rang out from behind the dark male. “By the storm, you sound so ******** lame!” Eiran voice was, as always, full of loathing and disgust. When she had left home to follow this band of brothers she was already under the impression that all men were jesters, the Viking had only served to prove her right. Men treated war like a game, they swung their naivety and ego around like a badge of honour. She hated it - and could not wait for the day her eyes would forever close, so she no longer had to witness their foolishness. If this was the last warband she was apart of she would not mourn the experience. The black female spat at the Outlanders feet, baring her fangs.

“Doesn’t he look familiar to you?” The second female voice was more melodic - followed up by an almost childlike laughter. Her pelt was bright lavender and her face much softer than the other, larger females. Altuna purred as she peaked over Kus’s shoulder; running her face along his back before she sat by his side. The male sighed at the notion - Altuna had always been clingy, but never as much as she had been on this adventure. He understood that she was anxious - but it still grated him like claws across a frozen lake.

Eiran rolled her eyes at her cousins words; wondering if that was a joke on her behalf? Then again - even the partially blind Eiran could see some familiarity in the black male that was looking at them. The darker female tilted her head and squinted. He did look familiar, his coat, he looked like… “Oh wow. Your right - he even wears his hair like us! What a little traitor.” It was Eiran’s turn to laugh now. How amusing - out of all the creatures to encounter on this battlefield, they had found the one little turn coat. She looked over at Kus’an; awaiting instruction.

“What are we going to do with him Kus? Death is too good for a turn coat.” Altuna whispered into her lovers ear, her bright eyes never leaving the boys. Though she was the least threatening of the trio, her gaze was no less malicious. Across from her on Kus’s other side; Eiran was more than ready to deliver the strange male to the Stormlands, blind and dumb so their ancestors would tell stories about the stupid boy who stood on the opposing side to his heritage and kin.

Kus sighed; speaking with a voice too full of authority for a lion his age. “The mission remains the same; Altuna go and help my father.” The target was Katiti - they could not lose sight of that. “Eiran. Stay close to your cousin.” The two girls stood up straighter when he talked, nodding their heads and turning around to leave as quickly as they had appeared. Kus turned his attention back to the boy; and he began to circle him; his thick frame low to the ground.

“I will take that braid of yours as a trophy - whilst it is still attached to your skull.” Then, he pounced.

The two females, obedient as ever. Circled around in front of Katiti to block the path she was walking. If Daijur was to be the hammer; they would be his anvil. Eiran remained silent, her body low to the ground. Altuna took a similar stance - but not before bowing her head to the large male. Though young; the girls were ready to take orders. It was in their blood; as sure as thunder, as sure as iron.  

[Krysin]

An impossibility, to think that her age had finally caught up to her. Katiti'manina, for all of the Firekin blood pumping through her veins, was not as young as she had once been. But none could tell the Monarch's Soul to stay her paw from battle. This was her right and her duty, to protect the pride when she had failed to protect the Queen. For all of her selfishness and vanity, she would not allow her underlings to fight for her in this battle. She had a blood feud to settle, and while she was old, Calypso had always been a weak child. An inheritance from her father, surely, Kat refused to take the blame for the weakness of Calypso's heart, mind, and body.

They had met, briefly, with no clear victor. Kat was not fool enough to continue to engage her daughter when victory was not assured. She had retreated back towards the Outlands' forces, golden jewelry shimmering underneath the rising sun. It was vanity, pure and simple, that had her adorned with all the trinkets she had earned in her years of life. If she were to die here, she would not die without them. She felt naked without them, vulnerable without her hoard of gold. Like a dragon, she would not leave it unguarded.

The Monarch's Soul had not been able to make it back towards the safety of her own pride members' when a paw caught the back of her leg. Funny, how she did not see it coming. Cruel, how she had seen none of this coming. Try as she might, her visions had slipped from her control, focusing instead on the lives of her children. Not the traitorous one here, but the ones nestled in the safety of her den. They would leave a greater mark upon this world than she had. Mother's love alone would not divine such glorious futures for her cubs.

She stumbled forward, but was not so feeble that she could not catch herself. Katiti'manina had turned to face a lion, large and undeniably strong. 'Crap'. Behind her now, two young lionesses cut off her best escape route. There was no need to fear, no need to worry, her pride was close. They would not let their Soul fall, and she would not let herself be slain by one lion and a bunch of brats. "Children should leave the battlefield, it is too soon for you to die," she warned the girls. Intimidation was her best bet. If she made the youths falter, she might just be able to slip away towards a more advantageous position.

However, she could not turn her back to the male, silent and cold before her. This was a killer, this was a true enemy. "How cute, to rely on the support of mere girls. Oh, the honor and ridicule this fight will gift you, boy."

Katiti'Manina
HP: 11

*Please roll 1, 4 sided dice per character per post.  

[MangoMeow]

The world erupted into chaos as the two sides clashed. All around her were screams and roars, neither side willing to give in. For the most part, Shetani ignored rolling bodies and yelled insults; she partially ignored the stupid few who tried to tackle her themselves, batting and tossing them around almost like rag dolls as her thoughts wandered.

The Stormborn, though obviously throwing themselves into battle with whomever challenged them, seemed to almost... be searching for something. Or perhaps "someone". It couldn't be the Queen -- they had to know that she wouldn't be in the mix after their attempt on her life -- so perhaps the Prince, then?

No, she thought with a frown, he would have been obvious from the get-go and they would have charged him specifically.

Shetani shook her head with a snarl as she danced away from her winded opponent, but it was as she did so that she spotted the group nearby, had been able to hear the words the young male had said.

Narrowing her eyes, the Mind stalked after the two girls as they made their way towards the Monarch's Soul. Ah, so that was it. She had a feeling that this was that estranged daughter of Kat's work, but then, it was not such a bad idea. Katiti was the Queen's Soul, after all, and renowned for her abilities. They were trying to cut off one of the vipers' heads.... but they were going to have to work for it.

Sweeping herself forward, Shetani zipped towards the two adolescent girls and then, using her body to swipe the one closest to her -- the purple one -- she pinned her down with a large black paw. It was a technique they often used in the Academy, given how rowdy adolescents could get around this age.

Turning purple eyes up to look at the other one, she raised an eyebrow, "'Children' is right. You have no idea what you've gotten yourselves into, do you?"

Z o m b i k ii

I hope you don't mind me throwing Shetani at them.

[MangoMeow]

With a shake of her head, the raven circled back around to head back into the flock. She hadn't been able to spot who the leader was. Maybe one of the others had had better luck?

As she got close, she rode the wind up to the nearest bird -- Thalia. The white bird had been kind of strange lately, more determined than usual, but Terpsi didn't really think too hard on it. She was a part of the flock, and that was all that mattered.

"Any news on wha-"

That was all she got out before the roars sounded below them. Swiveling her head down, the brown bird watched as the two sides clashed, tilting her head almost curiously. "I guess it's started, then...." Because what else was there to say, to do? They were ravens, and wouldn't stand a chance against one of their enemies.

Midnightglow18

-----

((And then Hjalmar's roll for the duel with Ajani.))

Hjalmar had been almost leisurely making his way through the fight. Oh yes, he was taking a good bite out of anyone who got too close, but most of the time, they were already in combat with someone else. He knew what their goal was, what they were meant to be doing, but he was fairly certain that someone else would be taking care of it.

Although... that didn't account for it just dropping in front of him. He raised an eyebrow as he spotted the lioness in question surrounded by his comrades, and would have turned away had the new female not shown up. Narrowing his eyes, the Reaver eyed the situation for a moment longer, before deciding that it was time to step in. Daijur could handle it, but the young girls....

Of course, he only managed a step before a loud roar sounded next to him. Swiveling around with wide eyes, he only had time to snarl and raise his arm up before the hulking black form steamrolled into him.

Hjalmar felt his breath get punched out of him as he landed hard on the ground with claws pressing against his throat. Barely even thinking about what he was doing, the lion kicked out against the larger form and was thankful when he felt air returning to him.

Scrambling to his paws, he glared back at the angry face staring at him, trying to not to balk at the size of this one. A lion was a lion though, and he refused to be intimidated by an enemy.

The two males began stalking around each other, eyeing up their opponent, and then Hjalmar made the first move, leaping into the air to headbutt the other male.  

[Midnightglow18]

Z o m b i k ii

Gudina growled the storm born were a harsh pride and there was no defending that he had chosen a dark path, but the outlanders were a dark pride as well, so throwing stones would get them nowhere so he would not argue with this lion on who was right and who was wrong. "I am Gudina." He said as he moved watching for an opening to attack the outlander. He longed to get the best of this older lion and show his strength. He shrugged his shoulders he was not part of the plan to attack the old queen who was apparently heavy with cubs. "I'd like to see you try." He growled ready to mock the old male once again. They would both seek the best way to harm the other. It was hard to say what would come of their battle would one end up dead? Wounded and left shamed?  

[MiddyGlow]

MangoMeow

Thalia looked over to another member of her flock, she listened as they started to say something and then dropped it. There wasn't much to be said this was war and as ravens they could not hope to match the strength of a lion. "We can not take down a lion, but we should be looking out for any chance to serve Kat, a distraction, a chance to deliver information." She looked down at the various lions tearing each other apart. How would this all end? Would there be an Outland when all was said and done. Would the ravens be slaves to the Storm born at the end of all this would the surviving Outlanders become slaves? Or would the Storm Borns be captured and made servants to the Outlanders? Thalia wished she were a seer so she would have a clue how this would pan out.  

[KasaiLoki]

Ciro by all means did not plan on meeting up with the large viking group. It was just by chance he had been near them when he heard their target. The Outlands. The name was all too familiar for the Captain. His eyes narrowed at the thought of his once thrall's homeland. Her homelands meant one other thing, his children. He knew she took a child with her, but he didn't know the looks or even gender for that matter. She had just upped and left, leaving his two daughters with him.

Now that he knew where the homelands were, he had an idea to seek out information. He was using this group for his own personal gain, even if he the end goal of the group wasn't something he necessarily cared to partake in. Ciro had his own agenda.

His golden eyes narrowed as he had approached the lands. They were waiting it seemed. A good war pride; just what had the band gotten themselves into? The Captain grunted, staying towards the sidelines, mentally watching, preparing himself for any battle they he may partake himself in.

What he needed to do was sneak away in the midst of the fight. He stared at the ravens circling above and huffed. Well, ever the watchful eye the pride had, wasn't it. This wouldn't be as easy as he thought it would be.

[231]  

[Krysin]

She strolled forward with purpose, each step of her bone-marked legs bringing her closer to her goal. To say that she relied on her mate's strength would not be a complete lie, but the black and blue lioness was by no means without her own pool of innate strength. She had fallen into her role naturally, a support to the far larger and more brawny Daijur. They had gone on so many vikings together that at least their teamwork was impressive, inbetween bouts of bickering and mild pandering to one another.

It was a complicated relationship. But even that was easy to leave behind on the battlefield. Daijur had found one of the best prizes - the fool of a lioness was adorned in gold, glittering like a beacon. Protocol practically demanded that her life be taken. Jupe had four nearly grown daughters that would need substantial dowries to make the best marriages. She wanted them out of her den. Even her sons were at the age where they needed to consider making advantageous alliances through marriage.

At least, if Kus'an returned home with a few notable scars he'd appear more attractive to potential wives. A few scars were probably a courtesy of herself. Jupe had not been pleased by her son's action. Kus'an had outright disobeyed her wishes, and threw himself into a raiding party when his mane had not even grown in. He was young, reckless. Oh, Stormlords, she actually wished the boy inherited some of his father's intellect.

She growled, annoyed by the thought, and then pulled herself back into the present. A young purple male had decided to aid her mate (she still wasn't quite sure what she wanted to call Daijur, so 'mate' would do for now). But, if the young blood thought that any of the bounty would fall into his paws, he was mistaken. Daijur had pinned the red lioness to the ground on her back, and Jupe slipped into the frenzied mass. Her claws raked down the lioness' side, drawing blood as easily as it took for Jupe to breathe.  

[Z o m b i k ii]

Altuna hit the ground and squeaked as the air left her lungs and the next thing she knew she tasted dirt on her tongue - the whole thing was quite undignified, but it was her pride that hurt, not her body. A laugh rumbled in her throat, long strands of hair covering her face before amber orbs sought out the older female that was behind her. “You must really coddle your young if you keep them away from the battlefield until their manes grow in..” Altuna was young, many of them where - but anyone strong enough to fight was expected to; ready or not.

She did not fear death - only glory awaited her; she believed it with all her heart and soul. It was a fact she had made peace with the moment Kus’an had asked her to follow him, she said she would - even if it cost anything. She had meant it in that moment, and she meant it in this one. This was not her end though, she knew that in her blood; it was the begining - for her, and her beloved Eiran. They would return home, proud and stronger than they were when they left.

The dark female hardly flinched as she heard her cousin hit the ground; but slowly turned her head to look at the female that was attacking. A grow resinated in her stomach, deep and long. As much as she would like to defend her cousin, ride the lioness like a bull until she yielded her grip on her kin; she also knew what they had been instructed to do.

“Eiran. Show her that we know…” Altuna gasped for breath. “Exactly what we got ourselves into.” The lavender female coaxed her - and taking the instruction, Eiran walked away from then slowly, she did not look back - she would not have been able to see them if she did. It was not fear that slowed her passe, but a deep thought; she had never taken a life in battle, and it seemed such an oddly peaceful moment. She almost pitied the Outlander, she was outnumbered - old and on her back.

She stood before her friends father, his mate, and the female he had pinned under him. The teenager stood before them both, her paling eyes searching for Katiti’s - they were like two distant stars burning brightly in her blurred vision. In the air she could smell rich iron - that was all she could think about in that moment until…

In her gut she felt a twinge of pain; a jealous that sunk into her bones. “Goodnight.” The child hissed, leaning down to wrap her maw around the Seers face. Her jaws clamped down, she felt the crunch, something tear as long teeth sunk into soft flesh - The world would soon go dark for Katiti, as it would for Eiran herself. In the end; black was all there was.

She would not be the only one to go blind today.

MangoMeow

Felyn

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

She hated lions such as the black male; the silent, strong type never did tickle her fancy. Boring. But, it also meant that he would not fall to the distraction of her words and he would not be swayed from his path. Katiti'manina would have to fight for her life. At least Shetani had intervened to at least stop the brats from attacking her blindside. If Shetani could at least hold them back, Kat should be able to hold her own against this male until reinforcements arrived. The Monarch's Soul could hear her ravens circling above, cawing in distress at seeing their mistress in an unfavorable position. Over the sound of battle, would anyone else hear them?

The male launched at her, and Kat braced herself against the reddened earth to try and hold her ground against him. But, she had no idea how much age had caught up with her. That, along with the strain of raising very young cubs had weakned her considerably. The Monarch's Soul was thrown to the ground with a roar, slamming hard down onto her back. Before she could gather her senses about her, a large paw swiped over her face, drawing blood. She had not seen the male behind Daijur, had not known how completely overwhelmed she was. If she had, she would have run.

More lions joined in the fight, taking advantage of her weakness. She growled deep in her throat as claws raked down her side, slicing open flesh. The smell of blood was potent in the air, and she knew it was her own. Refusing to go down without a fight, she kicked her legs against Daijur's underbelly to try and shove the male off of her. Faced with death, adrenaline ignited in her veins. She felt as if she were on fire, radiating heat and rage at what was being done to her. It threatened to consume her, and she screamed against it as teeth pressed into her cheek bones.

Kat had not seen the young lioness coming for her, but she knew the moment she was there. A maw crushed her cheeks between teeth, the vile stench of the lioness' breath washing over her face until the pressure she felt drove all thought and senses away from her. She screamed, the sound tearing at her throat.

She screamed.

She screamed as the world vanished from sight, screamed until there was no sound left to give. Screamed until there was nothing.

HP: 0  

[Krysin]

The Monarch's Soul has fallen. There is no time for despair, the only path forward is clear. Vengeance, against the Stormborn, against the traitorous daughter who attacked the Queen and succeeded in bringing an end to her mother.

Calypso has been spied watching the demise of her mother. Outlands, it is time for retribution.

Calypso
HP: 15
Dice Roll: 1, 4 sided dice. You may roll once per character in each post  

[Z o m b i k ii]

Krysin

(Rolled in main thread - 4!)

Chau’s feet quickened as she heard the Seer’s scream, but as it faded into nothingness - so did her sprint. It was suddenly hard to move, like her limbs were suddenly heavier than before. Like she was running through honey. The dark female looked at the scene that had unfolded in front of her - the sound of the ravens fading until all she could hear was her own heartbeat in her ears. There was four of them… four of them had piled on her.

Katiti was all knowing. She was all seeing. How could she have not seen this? How could someone as powerful her pass into eternity so easily? There was a lump in the dark females throat and a sting in her eyes; her mind wandering to think about those little cubs back at the den - of the last conversation she had with her mistress. Katiti had given her the fur she was wearing, the gold that shimmered around her neck; her words were full of warmth and comfort. She had been so proud of her cubs, she had shown them off like treasures.

Now this…

The scream stuck in her throat and she closed her eyes to fight back the tears; it was a pain that she had never experienced and she wanted it to stop. In that moment her banishment made so much sense, if this was the pain Chau had caused her father when she had killed her mother - then she deserved it. It was hollow and sharp and all-consuming. Silver eyes opened - and she caught the sight of the dark lioness that had been talking to Katiti moments before Chau made her approach. She stuck out like a beacon on the battlefield, until there was naught but her.

Chau did not know who this b***h was; and it did not matter. There was fire beneath her skin and she could extinguish it with blood. The shield began to walk over to the female, her paws moving faster than her sense. There would be vengeance. She swore it. Swore it on the lives she had created. Katiti saw no darkness in Chau’s future - and her lady’s words were still law. She still believed in her - even now as her spirit rested with the Ancestors. It made sense; if Ashiki was to fall - she needed Katiti there, with her.

”The red stone will be painted black with your blood - and your grave will be nought but sand and decay and torment.”

Chau did not often throw curses - but her words were a wish, one that she was sending to the heavens and the earth, so that some spirit might make them gospel. The dark female jumped at the other, a roar like thunder resonating in her throat. It burned. She did not know why. Why did it hurt so much?