ooc// open to spectators!

Finally, she had gotten the courage to stand up and rise against those who continued to oppress her. She had made a few friends during her journey and gained their support and well wishes. Very few knew her personal story with Habari, but the ones she trusted enough to tell would likely (hopefully) stand behind her as she finally stepped onto the battlefield. She decided to do it here instead of privately on Habari's lands more for fear that Recluse would turn to cowardice and attempt to have her brats try to subdue her. Just like she had been too much of a coward to do the punishment of breaking Medusa's toes, and instead, had her now dead brat do it. But here? No way in hell she could do that, right? And honestly, the day that Kali died was a day that Medusa celebrated! It was one less of Recluse's little shits that she had to deal with. But ah, back to business. She couldn't let herself get distracted now, could she? Taking a deep breath, she donned the wolf skeleton she had stolen with Havoc and the sharpened claws she had made with Wren and glanced at Umbra and Nox with a determined nod before the trio set off to find a spot on the battlefield where she would be fighting Recluse. Assuming of course, that Habari's alpha showed her face. It was midday, a break in the clouds revealing the sky above as if her father had parted them to watch her from the heavens above. From what she had learned and gathered by watching the wolves of Habari and being trapped there for so long, she had gotten the chance to observe them. Recluse mostly only came out at night...so Medusa wondered if there was a reason for that. Regardless, she couldn't wait anymore. She told Havoc and Wren that someday, she would be free. And today would hopefully be that day. And if she failed? Well...she would try again. And again. And again. Until she won her freedom. For once she moved quietly, fluidly, save for the tic of her head and the constant blinking of her eyes from the Tourette's that she was born with. Nervousness? What was that? She didn't know it. She felt...confidence. Or at least something close to it. Although determination was probably more accurate. She stopped. Claws scraped the dirt as she tested the ground. This was it. This was where she would choose to fight Recluse. One final look as her companions took up position on either side of her, and she threw her head back in the loudest, strongest howl she could manage. Today, she would fight for her right to be free. Medusa vs Recluse for Freedom! Round: 0/? "Medusa"

It was about time.

Wren was in a particularly awkward situation, with Voodoo having close ties with Habari and Recluse releasing her into Menagerie. It didn't stop the brunette from going to see her other friend fight for her freedom though. She sat on the side of the field of battle, her eyes and body language betraying nothing toward Habari.

Slave or no slave, this was an important part of Medusa's life. Wren would be there. She was not on Habari's side, oh no. If it wasn't for Ghoul and Voodoo, she'd say fuck y'all and leave them alone. If the slave wolf won her freedom, the Warden would offer a spot in Menagerie. No doubt Medusa had been practicing against other foes.

She had to be a skilled fighter now.

"Speech"

Honestly Recluse was done with Medusa, she'd proven herself to be exceptionally dense, not even breaking her toes had been enough to stop her from wandering, from breaking the rules, from thinking that her border was a fucking suggestion, the entire reason she was even here in the first place. If she had known the woman would become such a pain in her ass then she'd have just scarred her and then chased her off. Recluse wished she'd vomited on her, instead of just beside her. Wish she'd told her uncle to slit her throat when she'd cowered there under them. Honestly, some part of her wished Medusa had just fucked off on one of her adventures and never come back, she could have instructed her wolves to give her a good scare if they ran into her but frankly she just wanted her gone, she wanted peace to mourn her daughter and she wanted Medusa to just fuck off. But she wanted it on her terms. What good as an alpha would she be if she didn't enforce her own rules? That was the part about this that really frustrated her, she was only even in this situation because she'd been forced to enforce her own borders! And Medusa had refused to learn that meant they weren't just for her to traipse all over like they didn't mean a god's damned thing. And now the woman thought to make a spectacle of it all. Fuck that. She was done letting the woman think she ran the show. Medusa would have freedom only on Recluse's terms. The children were left with Eraithus and then the alpha moved out, decked out in her armor and with her vicious claw covers clicking with each step. Lilith was perched around her shoulders and Galho flew overhead. She knew her way to the field well enough, the scents telling her that someone else had arrived to watch this farce. Not just anyone else either the woman that had been introduced to her as Wren, the newest pack leader on the scene. The woman sighed, shifting her cherry gaze towards the blob of color that was the woman who wanted to be her opponent. "You trespass, you force me to defend my borders, to defend the place I planned to raise my children, while I'm pregnant. You continue to act as though my borders are your personal playgrounds and refuse to listen to my rules. You suck up my pack's resources and contribute nothing yourself, you don't even try to earn a better place for yourself in my ranks, despite the fact it was never closed to you and now you want to make a show of this?" Recluse shook her head. "No." It was a simple statement. She slid her gaze towards where Wren's scent was coming from. "If someone else wants you they can have you, but I will not let another alpha take you without knowing what you did to get yourself here in the first place." She glanced back towards the shape of Medusa. "Have your freedom." She was done, she had her children to think of, and this farce was over. If Wren was keen on having Medusa she could keep her, she could not care less but she would never apologize for having to enforce her own rules. She was tired, she wanted to go home, hold her children and husband, and cry. She wanted her life back, but she'd never get that so might as well at least get rid of one headache. -Recluse has given Medusa her freedom. Exit Recluse unless stopped- speech think action

Art by Akage-Kitsu

She waited. And when she heard the arrival of paw steps, she thought at first that it might be Recluse, but no. Wren had shown up instead. Her ears perked, tail wagging slightly before it fell still just in case Recluse decided to arrive on the scene right then and there. Wren didn't say anything, but she didn't need to. She knew why she was here. So Medusa took a deep breath and waited some more, and she didn't have to wait long before the one she challenged showed up. Her body tensed, ready to fight but then...She talked. And talked. And talked. Medusa's brow cocked as Recluse decided to sit there and lie about half the shit she was saying. Honestly, though, she didn't put it past the albino bitch to do that. She had been a captive for almost three years! Two and a half to be exact, but it was long enough. Well, that was anticlimactic. She had come to fight, and of course, Recluse wormed her way out of it. Then again, she supposed she should've expected that. She didn't even have the nerve to fight the first day Medusa ran into her. Shame. But, Medusa being Medusa couldn't stay quiet. She giggled as she cocked her head, "Medusa trespassed, yes. Before she knew what borders were. Recluse refused to fight her then, just as she refuses to fight her now." She said matter of factly. But she continued, "Medusa listened to Habari rules for months! And even with everything Medusa did, Recluse still ignored! Medusa did and continued to do more than Recluse's little brats and still, Recluse ignored! Medusa hunted and went to training, while Habari wolves did not! Medusa contributed more than any Habari wolf!" It was a goddamn fact! And regardless of who was listening or who wasn't, she had to tell the truth. She grew more serious then. "She hunted her own food and took nothing but a place to sleep in Habari. Helping Habari wolves even when they didn't deserve Medusa's help!" Which was a fact. Ghoul knew that. "Recluse never, never told Medusa she had a chance to not be a slave! And even if Medusa had a chance, she would not stay in Habari." And to Recluse's last statement, said "Medusa will let everyone know that Recluse is a lazy liar and not to trust Habari. Medusa is glad Recluse suffers, just like she made Medusa suffer. Medusa celebrated when that Brat Kali died. She deserved it for the hurt she caused. And Medusa hopes Recluse is next!" Okay, she was done. Her heart pounded from the anger that Recluse made her feel. She no longer felt hurt. Just...anger. Medusa didn't care a single bit about Habari. And she hoped they all burned. She turned away, briefly glancing at Wren for a moment as she moved to make her way off the battlefield. A free woman at last. -Exit unless stopped- "Medusa"

Lies.

Recluse spoke lies, but Wren did not say anything. It was not her place to say anything, watching and waiting to see what would happen. Her cowardice about refusing to battle for a former slave's freedom spoke wonders to her character. The brunette would only rise when Recluse had the nerve to run from the choices she made, releasing Medusa.

"You're welcome in Menagerie" she said when Recluse left "I know you're a great fighter, and I'm sorry it ended like this" she sucked in a breath "for both of you" She shifted her eyes to look at the Habari alpha - a speck on the horizon now "but don't wish someone's kid dead, even if they wronged you. It's not right." Wren shook her head, her only contribution. Her only scold.

"Be bigger than they are, as a Paladin of Menagerie." The Warden walked with Medusa back to the Gorge. /end

"Speech"