(ooc;; in case you can't tell from the post, Nat's challenging Cat for death)

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How dare she?!

It was hard to believe her most recent litter was old enough to be ready for their first adventures outside the den and that she was still alive to see that day come. The birth had been beyond what she expected, leaving her in and out of consciousness for many days as she fought against her illness to keep strength enough to care for her young. She remember bits and pieces of their time in the den together. She remembered Thanatos being the first to find her out in the Strip and Helios arriving eventually, but everything else was coated in a gray haze.

Natalya had been sure that after she finished bringing her children to strength that she would've died then and there, but something else had brought her a surge of adrenaline. She was ready for one last hurrah, as it were. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she padded swiftly to the Battlefield, ignoring the repulsive scents of blood and gore.

How DARE she?!

Cataleya. She had taken things too damn far to go back now. A combination of pregnancy and illness had kept Natalya calm at their last encounter, but now she had a rage so fierce that her illness went ignored. The Arcanum queen had irritated the Olympus family at every opportunity since forsaking their alliance - trespassing, continually interfering in Helios's conquests, and now crossing an unforgivable line. Even disowned and shamed, Apollo and Chione were her children and there was nothing she wouldn't do for them. This woman would pay for taking her son and daughter for slaves. She would pay with her life, if Natalya had anything to do about it.

The howl that ripped through her to summon the bitch was violent and cruel, and it made her intentions clear to any who heard it. This would be Natalya's last stand, and she was going to make every bit of it count.

An angry voice echoed from the battlefield, calling just to her. The voice was familiar. And the tone was unsurprising. Someone was calling for her head. Lips curled in a wicked grin as she rose from her den. Sweet Natalya wanted to end her life. A low chuckle rolled off her tongue, eyes glinting dangerously. The bitch had rolled over without a fight the last time she had seen her, and now she was calling for her life? It was almost amusing. The Queen would not rush, she would move lazily towards the battlefield, anticipation settling in her gut. Paws pressed into the ground with each step, muscles rolling fluidly beneath her pelt. Perfect timing. Her ribs had healed, her ankle was fine, and the wound across her chest was a fresh scar. Too bad her husband wouldn't be here to watch her beat an insolent fool to the ground. By the time she arrived, it was still only Natalya, looking rather angry. A sneer toyed with dark lips, coral eyes bright with a sick excitement. Nostrils quivered, inhaling the scent of stale blood and rotting corpses. But also something else. Sickness. Children. A brow would lift as her gaze swept over the weakened Queen. She was ill. It was a shame really, there would be almost no fight. "Oh Natalya, do you really think you can kill me in such a state?" Honey coated words mocked the ebony woman as the silver Queen sought to stop just a few feet in front of her. Her crown was lifted high, tail curling over her hips. Muscles quivered with anticipation, saliva pooled in her mouth, she needed this. "" OOC- I'm gonna be out of town this weekend at a horse show, so if this could be wrapped up by thursday, that would be great.

A vicious call would ring out for her mothers life. It wasnt entirely surprisingly that someone wanted her mother death, it was only surprising that someone was brave enough to challenge her mother. She would rise, departing from her home, heading straight for the battlefield. She lagged behind her mother and was the first spectator to arrive. Verdant gaze would narrow, gazing disdainfully at the woman who dared to challenge her mother. She was nothing, looked like nothing. She would be eradicated from this earth without so much as a second thought from her mother. Without a word, she would take a seat several feet behind her mother, starting that ring that would undoubtedly form around the two woman as the battle begun. "Burn Baby Burn"

A call rose up from the battlefield for his mother. The voice was clear: a life was at stake. Huh. Well, how about that? The howler was vaguely familiar, although he couldn't quite place it. Clearly it was someone he'd met at least once, but who? And she had to have had some kind of run in with Cataleya. In any case he was unconcerned. His mother was a force to be reckoned with and few could best her in a fight. As so many had before her, this challenger would fall. Reaching the battlefield, Valentine quirked a brow at his mother before moving to stand beside Basanti to allow the combatants room to fight. The challenging fae's identity still evaded him, but he was certain he'd seen her before. "I'd wish you luck," he commented dryly, dragging a calculating gaze down the ebony opponent, "But I daresay it isn't necessary." "Talk" Think "You"

She had heard the call as well, and knew that it was for Valentine's mother -- and for her life. Pale ears perked atop her head as she turned to head to the battlefield, picking up her alpha's scent on the way. Her pace picked up to a brisk trot, following her nose. When she entered the battlefield she saw Valentine settle in beside the woman that she had spared with in the tournament. She offered the woman a smile and a dip of her head as she sat beside Valentine, really feeling short with these two at her side. It was almost like a first, second, and third place stand with the tallest in the middle, second to Valentine's left and her, the third, to his right. She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing, this was a time to be serious. She wondered if her brother would come as well, if he had picked up her scent leaving their borders.

Purple eyes settled on the woman who had called, and her heart skipped a beat. She looked sick, very sick. Turning to Valentine with her brow risen, her voice dropped into a low whisper before she spoke. "Perhaps she wanted to die in battle instead of letting the sickness take her. I'm not sure if that is honorable or stupid..." her voice was low enough for his ears only, but if Bastani was paying attention she would probably pick it up. Turning to head to eye the black woman again, her head tilted slightly to the side. She saw it as more honorable, she wouldn't want sickness to take her away. She would rather die in the heat of a battle, going out with a fight. Mercy's nose wrinkled as she thought of withering away in a den, illness taking her last breath. Naw, she wanted to beat the shit out of someone before her life was taken. Smirking, her elongated tail curled around her seated form, her own blood pumping faster as the excitement grew within her.

A call rang out over the land... a very familiar, very intriguing call. Natalya Olympus, once-matriarch of the pack Olympus. The woman who had failed to answer Katja's challenge, the woman who had instead sent her husband to try and fail to protect the pack from the viking's ravages. Interesting. Who on earth could have raised her ire more than Katja herself had? Enough to be not only challenging someone, but risking her very life in the attempt to kill someone? She'd thought only Virgil Olympus in all that bloodline had the will to do such a thing... and she was curious. She made her way silently to the gathered group, dark booted paws quiet as they danced over the blood soaked land to bring her to the growing ring around two women. Natalya... and Cataleya? How... disappointing. And bizarre. Settling herself down a distance from the others, but within sight and sound of those gathered as well as the two would-be killers. ""

His demeanor shifted, the call of his mother had him rise and shaking. His quiet side shifted to a bit of rage, fur bristling as he left his home in Pantheon in a hurry. The boy of death moved like a wraith over the ground, feeling his body tense. He would arrive in time to hear the snide remark from the silver queen, hear all the remarks of her damned lackeys. The boy would slow, the only one to arrive yet from the side of Pantheon. He would flick his ears back, breathing in sharply. A low growl would sound in his chest, tail flicking back and forth. "At least she has the courage to fight, to set things right, rather than just wait for sickness to take her. Do any of you understand honor? Or are you too busy ruining the lives of others to care if it's right?" The darker side of death stood out, and Thany standing tall. He was ready. Young or not, if one of these bastards wanted to fight him, so be it. He would bleed for the honor of his aunt, of Pantheon if he had to. He would show them if nothing else Pantheon stood for what they believed. He knew well enough his aunt had let the silver bitch act once before without retaliation... something she would surely rub in her face. But no... he wouldn't let them use that against them. Wouldn't let them see weakness. This was where things had a chance to be set right... and Pantheon would not back down regardless of outcome. "Listen to me talk," 'but read my thoughts.'

Table by:: Chrono

Her sister's call met her ears, loud and furious with its force. Part of her was devistated that Natalya couldn't just rest peacefully and enjoy her last days with her new children and her family and yet another part of her was proud that her dark-colored sister standing up for what she believed in true Olympian fashion. She quickly pulled herself to her paws and ran toward the battle field, not daring to leave her sister to face Catalya's posse by herself. When she arrived she saw the silver woman in question with a handful of her supporters near by. She also spotted Thantatos, spitting words of fighting and honor. She wanted to repremand him and tell him to watch himself, but whatever damage he had done had already been done. He would have to face whatever fight he brought upon himself now. She trotted forward to stand near Natalya, but far enough back that she wouldn't be caught in the fight. "Do what you have to, sister. I'm here for you," she said quietly to Natalya before eyeing the crowd, her gaze roaming over each bystander while she waited for the inevitable blood to be spilled. "Talk" "You" Think

She watched as people pooled in, most staying silent. But the white masked boy walked in his eyes were cast towards Cataleya, and her alpha. Her lips pulled back into a snarl as she shot up onto all fours, sending a growl his way. "Valentine has a shit load more honour than you can ever have, boy," she spat, even though they were the same age. She didn't care though, no one insulted her alpha or her pack. Hackles stood on end as she took several steps towards him, although she looked over her shoulder to try and grab Valentine's gaze. Was this okay? If it came to a fight she would be sure to move over to leave Cataleya and the black woman enough room. Although it would be a shame to miss it.... White head snapped back towards the boy, her purple eyes narrowing as she glanced him over. She was probably about ten inches taller than him, and she felt like she could just sit on him and win. "I doubt you have enough honour to even follow through with your words," she challenged, sneering at the tiny man. "I could probably just squish you flat, unless you're up for a challenge."

There was nothing familiar in the call that rang over the lands, though Kaprasíus knew instantly that Katja knew the source of the call. There was no hesitation in the lanky man's step as he trailed after her, content to watch guard from a distance, wondering what sort of gathering they might be stumbling into. There was a certain ardor in the song that could not be denied and already he felt his blood begin to boil with excitement as they began their trek to the most central area of Alacritia. A low snort reverberated from his nostrils as he made his way to Katja's side, a far distance from the group. If only he had some help in spicing up this otherwise tense scenario.. perhaps some shrooms... but he was boringly sober, assessing the group with narrow emerald eyes.  "Was für ein Zirkus hast du uns gebracht?" came his low inquiry, spoken softly in Katja's ear as he leaned slightly toward her, scoffing a bit as he watched the impending battle unfold. Words had begun to fly between the opposing sides, and though he feigned a bit of irritation, he found himself licking his lips, salivating slightly at the prospect of blood being spilled before his very eyes. "They are like stupid fucking puppies, fighting over a bone." He snorted, his words audible yet spoken softly enough for not everyone to hear. Yes, such quarreling was stupid -- but so much damn fun.

Mercy had a point. Valentine nodded. "I think," he mused, "That's how I'd rather go." He'd rather his death be sudden than gradual. The idea of wasting away and being aware of what was in store for him was unappealing to say the least. Before he could say more on the matter, a child ran up and vomited something about honor and what have you, and in response Valentine tipped his chin up and laughed loudly, his amusement quite clear. It continued to amaze him just how little respect parents were instilling in their children. Didn't they know the world was dangerous and people had been killed for far less? Mercy was quick to react, prowling over to the boy and parting with venomous words of her own. She looked back at him once, her expression suggesting she was looking for approval. Valentine dipped his head. If that's what she wanted to do, so be it. He wouldn't stop her. The boy needed a lesson in respect, perhaps even a permanent physical reminder of what careless words could do. Who better than his bulldog to dish out such a lesson?    "Talk" Think "You"

Natalya knew she would die today.  She knew it but she did not fear it, just as she had been taught.  She had the strength for this battle, but she would use every ounce of strength left in her for this and this alone.  Maybe her children would struggle with her decision, but the rest of her family would understand.  She was a Hesperides and an Olympus, and she could not simply lie down and die.  Return with your shield or on it.  It was a simple phrase but one that had meant everything to the family of her parents.  They were warriors, and they were meant to die fighting.

She smelled her before she heard her and her rage only increased, adrenaline spiking as she moved instinctively into a defensive stance as a growl ripped through her throat and her hackles raised in aggression.  Her knees bent, her body lowering, and her legs spread into a widened stance, her toes splaying for added support.  Her ears fell back against her skull as she moved her tail head in line with her spine and tucked her chin to protect her throat.  She shifted the entire weight of her body forward on her toes ever so slightly so that she would be able to move quicker and her shoulders rolled forward with the movement to give added protection to her neck.  She didn’t bother protecting the beauty of her eyes - they were useless after all, and no one would be looking at them when she was dead and buried.  She would be ready for anything the bitch threw at her, whether she attacked now or later.  

Without dignifying her opponent with a response, she began to move in a semi-circle, stepping slowly at first to her right, then turning and attempting to sprint at Cataleya from an angle (diagram of attempted angle).  Poe landed on her shoulder as she began her prowl so that he could instruct her when to begin her charge.  He stopped her after she had moved only a couple of feet, then flew away and left her to her own devices.  He would remain on the sidelines for the fight itself, as he always did, leaving his mistress to attempt her glory on her own.  From the moment he departed, Natalya began clicking her tongue, using the echo-location-esque technique to gauge the distance between herself and the other.

She aimed to approach her opponent’s shoulder slightly closer to the female’s left side than her front, but still coming at her shoulder.  She hoped that she would be able to close the distance of a few feet between them quickly.  She would maintain her defensive positioning as she moved, keeping her body lowered and her knees bent the entire time.  She would aim to dig her claws into the ground when she made contact with Cataleya - whenever that happened - as she would attempt to extend her neck forward and bite deeply into the side of Cat’s neck.  She hoped that her bottom teeth would find purchase on or near the throat at best, and then would attempt to rip the flesh by abruptly pulling her head back in toward her throat.  Simultaneously with her attempt to latch onto the female, she would attempt to balance her weight on her two right legs and back left leg as she tried to lift her front left leg and slam it down on Cat’s front left paw, hoping to break the foot.

Round 1 of 3  |  for death

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EDIT WITH PERMISSION OF NYX TO ADD DIAGRAM LINK, SHE IS WATCHING ME RIGHT NOW

A crowd would gather, her daughter arriving first to offer her silent support. Valentine would also offer his support. Everyone else faded into the background, her sole focus settled on the woman who sought to claim her life. No words would be exchanged, only eery silence stretching on before them. Defenses remained intact: eyes narrowed, ears pinned, hackles raised, head level with her spine, chin tucked, neck scrunched, shoulders rolled forward, legs spread equidistant and bent at the joint, toes splayed, claws digging into the ground, tail straight and aligned with her spine, and her weight was evenly distributed. Now she would watch and wait. The ebony woman began to move, forming a semi-circle before lunging forward at her (cats) left side. Lips peeled back into a snarl, it was the only movement she made as she silently watched her opponent, allowing her to come forth. The ebony woman would charge, and so the silver Queen would shift some of her weight to her left front and left hing leg, bracing for the womans collision. Bodies would collide, a moderate bruise forming on the front flat portion of her left shoulder as they remained at a slight angle from her own left shoulder. The moment they collided, she was moving. She sough to realigned them so that they could be in a slightly head on position, though more so so that her own shoulder was aligned with the center of her opponents chest, she would seek to do this but swinging her own hips to her right several steps. This movement would cause her opponents fangs to miss their target, instead landing lower on the left side of her neck, roughly midway between her skull and shoulder. Moderate puncture wounds would pierce her flesh, but due to the woman jerking her head back ruthlessly, puncture wounds would become severe lacerations that bled freely. Pain would flare across her left forepaw as her enemies strike met its target. A moderate bruise would flare across her toes despite her attempt to put them in a nearly head on position. Adrenaline flooded her system as she embraced the pain that assaulted her body. She needed this. Craved this. Immediately she jumped into action. Jaws would splay wide, her neck arching to her own left as she sought to position her jaws across the womans face. Her top jaw aimed to land over her opponents left eye, while her lower jaw sought to hook beneath her opponents left sided lower jaw. She was gonna take this bitch apart piece by piece, starting with trying to remove her left eye. Hind legs would bend before shoving herself forward, in sync with her bite, and hopefully into her opponent, so that their overlapping chests would collide. Her goal was to use her weight to put more force behind her bite and disrupt the womans balance. She would then seek to lift her right foreleg, extending the limb forward with the intent to wrap her left foreleg around her adversaries own left foreleg, just below her elbow. Her goal was to disrupt her balance by pulling her (nat) right foreleg in towards her own (cats) body. She wanted to see her opponent fall to the earth. Dead. CATALEYA vs NATALYA for DEATH: round 1/3 OOC- you ok with eve as a judge? or luns?

Their bodies met exactly where she had hoped, Natalya feeling a moderate bruise bloom on her own left shoulder as she made impact with the bitch.  It was a pain she welcomed, for it meant her opponent had fared no better.  Immediately, Cataleya shifted so that they were no longer at an angle, left shoulders poised in front of each others’ chests, and as Natalya’s teeth bit into the flesh of her opponent’s neck she cursed in her mind.  She tore the flesh open as she wrenched her head back, ensuring that it was once again level with her spine and tucking her chin back in toward her throat.  She made sure that her shoulders were still rolled forward as well, providing added protection through the rolls of skin around her neck.  At the same time, she slid her left foot from atop Cataleya’s own, having successfully made contact there as well.  Her weight distributed evenly across all four limbs once again when her left paw touched the ground and she maintained her balance from before -  widened stance, spread toes, bent knees, raised tail - as she felt Cataleya begin to move.

She tightened her abdomen as she prepared for the onslaught, tense with adrenaline and enthusiasm.  Fighting was a thrill she had long forgotten.  She would not stand and wait for every movement to react to this day.  No, she would continue to be an aggressor, pushing for the result she wanted.  She shifted her weight forward and dipped her chin a little farther at the same moment her opponent sought to strike.  She knew this by the feel of Cataleya’s teeth as they latched onto her skull, the top set plunging into the top-to-back curve of her head partially on her still-flattened left ear, while the bottom punctured her left cheek and eye.  She felt the searing pain, especially around her eye, but she attempted to push forward despite it.  After all, damaging the thing would be of no true consequence considering she wouldn’t be blinded by it.

Natalya made an effort to push off with her hind legs and surge forward, knowing it would worsen the damage of Cataleya’s bites and probably cause the actual loss of her left eye once the teeth were removed, but needing to do so to strike as she wished.  She parted her jaws as she tried to twist her neck and head to her own left so that she would be able to sink her teeth into Cataleya’s throat, which she hoped was exposed by the woman’s stretching to bite her face.  From her position, she hoped that her lower set would land directly on the front of her throat while the upper set would land more on Cataleya’s left side of her neck.  By pushing her body forward in her attempt to do this, she would be able to counter her opponent’s push and hopefully keep them in the same relative spot without compromising balance.  Even so, Cataleya’s attempt for their chests to collide was successful, another moderate bruise blossoming on the left side of Natalya’s chest from the impact.

(ooc note;; this section confused me “She would then seek to lift her right foreleg, extending the limb forward with the intent to wrap her left foreleg around her adversaries own left foreleg, just below her elbow. Her goal was to disrupt her balance by pulling her (nat) right foreleg in towards her own (cats) body.” so I decided to go with Cat’s right leg hooking Nat’s left leg since those were the first of each wolf that you mentioned, and the first part said she extended the right leg forward and not diagonal {i.e. left-to-left or right-to-right}, sorry i didn’t catch it before you left for the weekend to ask you!)

Immediately she felt Cataleya’s right forelimb hook around her own left foreleg and she sought to counteract the move by bending her back legs further and pushing off with her front right leg to focus her weight in the rear.  She attempted to bend the knee of her left leg tight around Cataleya’s right leg as well.  It was an effort both to prevent Cataleya from pulling her forward, and to hopefully trap her opponents leg and pull the bitch off-balance instead.

Round 2 of 3  |  for death

ooc;; eve and luns are both fine by raii <3

It was difficult to wriggle away from Philotes when she got into one of her lessons on the "importance of cleanliness", really Mneme had trouble understanding it even after her sister painfully reminded her time and time again - what was the big deal if she was caked with filth and had a few bugs crawling around in her mats of fur? Mneme found it would be quite rude to up and leave Phil while she was instructing her on good hygiene - not that Mneme was a stranger to being rude, but Philotes was someone she particularly liked - so the cinnamon pup decided she'd drag her sister along with her. Mnemosyne was only planning for the two of them to strike up a game of tag, perhaps let Aether in on the fun, until she spotted quite a few Pantheon members heading off in the same direction; it was only natural that Mneme would be inclined to follow.

After stopping a few times on the way to the battlefield, puppy curiosity getting the better of her more than once, the child appeared to join the crowd. She arrived just in time to hear the very final quips of the exchange between the large white she-wolf and a familiar Pantheon male that she couldn't quite place the name of - some of their more vulgar word choice made Mneme giggle, until the sight of the viscous combat startled her lips shut. Of course the first to be recognized was Natalya, the beloved nurturer and mother, caught in a battle for her life - being so young and confused led the frantic child to run in a panic to her aunt Phoebe, her steps shaky and quick. "Just what is happening here? What are they fighting for?" she questioned, her pink eyes wide at the sight of blood and conflict, her heart was beating like the wings of a hummingbird. She felt as though she were out of breath, as if she were a part of the fight as well.

It soon dawned of the pup, that had completely forgotten her sister, and she glanced around for Philotes then - her sister always seemed to know so much about staying clean, perhaps she'd know what was going on.

A general confusion filled the boy as he followed his mother's scent towards  a barren area with strange scents surrounding it. When he arrived, he saw his mother fighting and he frowned. "Why is momma fighting the strange wolf?" He asked around, looking at the others present at the fight before looking directly at his Aunt Pheobe. "Why is she fighting? She could get hurt or kidnapped or somethan!" The concern that the young boy expressed was nothing compared to the shock running through his veins. He looked at the others wolves present and realized that half of them he did not know. He immediately narrowed his eyes at the others before turning back to watch the fight.

Phoebe sat quietly, her body tense as she watched Natalya and Catalya clash in battle, sighing quietly. Thantanos had gotten himself into trouble, but she would deal with him later. Right now her silver gaze wouldn't leave her sister and her opponent. Well, that was until a couple of Natalya and Helios's youngest children would appear on the scene. Both of them questioned why their mother was fighting and she had a small moment of panic. They really shouldn't be here, they didn't need their last memories of their mother to look like this. However, she didn't dare leave Natalya in this moment and there was no one else to take them back to Pantheon. She sighed and leaned down to pull them both against either side of her, her gaze flitting back and forth between them. "Neither of you move from my side until I say so or until your father shows up, do you understand? Your mother has a score to settle... We just need to sit here and support her." Once she was sure neither of them were going to go running into trouble she looked back up at the fight, dread deep in her gut. "Talk" "You" Think

She had been with Mneme, following after her and continuing on her rant. The two sisters had been over this same subject goodness knew how many times over, but it was something Philotes just couldn't seem to let go, regardless of how many times she was told the same thing over and over. She would trail after her sister, who seemed to catch the sight of some others from Pantheon. Her interest was caught, and after a bit Philly fell quiet, following after her sister until she saw the dreadful scene laid out before her. The girl would breathe in, the sight of fighting, the sight of blood, the sight of her mother in this state scaring her. There was even another boy from their pack, a brother, fighting too! What was going on?!

Philotes would panic, following suit after Mneme as Phoebe called them over. She would whine loudly, pressing her head into Phoebe's leg. "I... Auntie... I.... I don't want..." Her voice was a mess, cracking as she shuddered heavily. She was scared, wanting to go home, or better yet to wake up from a very bad dream in the den with her brother, sister, mother and father. She didn't want to be here. She didn't want to have to see this. Nothing was ever going to make it okay.

He had wanted to be there, to stand behind his wife one more time… But the pups needed someone to watch over them and he didn’t want them seeing the violence of the world they had been born into. Not yet. There would be time for them to learn the harsh realities of the world; but not so young. They deserved to live in childish bliss for a while longer. But he had dozed off, those days of no sleep finally catching up to him and the pups slipped away.

When the man awoke he was filled with a panic, none of the pups were within sight and their scents were growing stale. Jumping to his paws the man pelted off after the scents of his kids. With a growing sense of dread he realized exactly where they were. The bedraggled man pounded towards the gathered group, casting a pained look at the two wolves fighting.

Helios moved instantly to his sister’s side, setting himself down beside her and focusing his gaze on the pups. “It’s alright.” He cooed to Philotes who looked more than a little uncomfortable. “Come here.” He beckoned the children over. Being here was painful enough; he would be there for his children no matter what happened.

talk, think

There was a certain beauty behind the fight that was also seen as a horror. His eyes widened as he watched his mother face off against the strange woman. His aunt called him over and the young, dark boy obeyed her and listened to the excuse created that his mother had a 'score to settle'. He couldn't watch. He looked away, burying his face in his own side fur until his father called him over. He never should have left the den. He should have stayed with his sleeping father when he had the chance. He turned to the caring man and kept his face hidden from view. "Just make it stop, dad." The plea came out in a scared tone, matching that of his sister's in many ways. "Make them stop, dad." They were almost cries now.