The raid had been fun and all, but it really got her thinking, should they be on different sides at the end of the day? Maybe it was all in her mind, but she thought there was a hesitance to her Prince when they had to part ways, some deep unreachable sadness buried away. It wasn't her place to pry or dig, the Raiders had no shortage of those hiding from a painful past, and she couldn't help but think he'd be better off elsewhere, a fresh start, none of those painful barbed strings to tighten around him... But she also saw and understood the obligation, the will to be there for his family. To do better for them... She could relate, in her own way. Maybe she could help with that...

Before she knew it, her paws had bought her to the battlefield and it seemed her heart was telling her what her head wanted to stew on. It just so happened to be a convenient middle ground of course, there was nothing behind meeting here, no-siree...

Her eyes turned to her white gull wheeling overhead. It wouldn't be long now.

"speech"

He'd been bested, yet again. Dread couldn't figure out what the block was, either physically or mentally. Deluge lived rent free in his head... he was grateful for that, actually. Around her, it seemed like the darkness was a little quieter, relenting for a bit. Like some of the bitterness that lived in his chest was soothed. The bitterness. Shit. The more heed he paid to the bitterness, the more it started to overtake him. Coloring fucking everything that he did.

Bitterness, the flames of which had been flamed by Sirius's reaction when he finally spoke about his mother around the man. He could have said something-- anything. Nothing. Bitterness that left everything acrid and singed, ashes in his hands. Dread had tried to swallow his feelings then, but they just kept coming. They kept coming, piling on farther. He's hurting, but when has Dread ever known how to talk about his feelings?

Deluge had told him to find her after the raid. That wasn't a request he was going to deny, even with their precarious relationship. His tracking skills were nothing to sneeze at, and he catches his Raider princess on the breeze. Moving a a long, easy lope, the boy closed the distance between them and coming to rest on a slight rise in the field. "Found you," his words are brassy, his adult voice slowly starting to come in.

"speech"

Found you. The words bought a smile to her face, pushing all the thinking away to a quiet scheming corner in the back of her mind and she rose to her feet, stretching until the bones in her spine popped and her shortened tail gave a welcoming wave. "I know it's dangerous but I've been thinkin'" Her grin turned sly. "How about another round? If I win, yer come home as my prisoner... If you win, well, I'm sure we can work somethin' out." She settled her stance, ready to take this one more seriously than the others. Normally she didn't care too much about the outcome, but this was a fight she really wanted to win.

"speech"

Deluge vs Dread for force claim
Round 0/?
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Common Gull - Male - Flying
Companion 2: Lapwing, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Muntjac Antlers - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bioluminescence - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Fleet-footed

Watching her move sure is something. Dread watched her stretch, watched the little wave of her stubby tail. He couldn't help but smile to himself as he looked at the girl, his head tilting a bit as he considered. It seemed there was a reason she'd lured him out here after all, not that he was all too upset about it. Dad would be pissed, but hell, maybe that was a good thing? In the adolescent boy's mind, maybe Sirius would... maybe he would realize. Maybe he would see him. See the way that Dread had been impacted more deeply by the events of his first year than he'd let on.

"It's always been dangerous, everything about us." Dread inclined his head, a little chuckle in his tone. It was true, though. They were playing a dangerous game here. The stakes were high, but that made everything so much sweeter. "You think you'll take three in a row?" Dread's words were honeyed as he takes a few steps toward her, trying to close the gap. Each was intentional, purposeful, balanced. "If I win, you come up to the Armada with me... not as a prisoner but I'll figure something out." Dread thought on his feet, even if that was... hard, given the circumstances. Like her proximity. And... her. It's not his fault that Deluge smells nice.

Dread sprung into action, moving in an attempt to grapple the girl already. His gaze was bright, keeping watch for her antlers. Getting stabbed wasn't on his list of shit to do today. He wants hold of her shoulders or her neck, without sacrificing too much of his balance to get there. Third time's the charm, right?
"speech"

Dread vs Deluge for dominance (self defense?)
Round 1/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Flail
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather Breastplate
Companion 1: Snow Leopard, Female - Attack
Companion 2: Tasmanian Devil, Female - Attack
Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Marauder

Deluge's smile took on a feral edge and she chuckled at his counter offer. If she wasn't a prisoner, what was the point? But she nodded her agreement and watched carefully as Dread drew closer.

The raider didn't mind letting him get a hold of her, bringing her own paws up to grab at his shoulders with feline claws. Now she had fought other Armada wolves one on one, she doubted a bit of scratching was unfamiliar to the young prince. She didn't miss how his fur seemed stiffer, thicker, almost like her mother's quills but not quite. But that would have to be a thought for later.

Her jaws parted to grab hold of the thick fur and skin towards the back of the left side of his neck. She threw some weight into the move to bring their chests closer together and to try and throw him off balance. No point to trying to keep their distance or circling like pups that lacked any certainty. They both knew what they wanted.

"speech"

Deluge vs Dread for force claim
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Common Gull - Male - Flying
Companion 2: Lapwing, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Muntjac Antlers - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bioluminescence - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Fleet-footed

Her claws against his shoulders, Dread couldn't help but grin. The headrush of straight adrenaline and something else... something he couldn't name. His heart squeezed with... whatever it was. He couldn't let her win three in a row, right? Dread wouldn't get distracted. He wouldn't let the dizzying proximity trip him up, not this time. Their chests pressed together, Dread fought to retain his balance, retain control. It's true, they know what they want. No one was going to talk them down, no one was going to tell them otherwise. There was no talking either of them out of it.

Dread lets her take hold of his neck, feeling that same headrush. She was welcome to bite. The boy flexed, reaching out to grab Deluge's shoulder and bite in return. Reaching, pressing his weight into her. Trying to use it to his advantage this time, as he'd somewhat failed to do the last time around. He's determined to take control, determined to win this fight... he had to, right? The rematch of a rematch. Dread pressures his way forward, fights to maintain his balance, and the spar between the two goes on.
"speech"

Dread vs Deluge for dominance (self defense?)
Round 2/2
Age: over 1
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Flail
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather Breastplate
Companion 1: Snow Leopard, Female - Attack
Companion 2: Tasmanian Devil, Female - Attack
Mutation 1: Thicker crystalline fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Marauder

Deluges fur flashes as Dread's teeth clamp on the side of her own neck and her mind flashes back to her mother all itchy and drooly after trying to carry her when she was a pup. For a moment she thinks to apologise just in case, but that would mean relinquishing her own hold and she couldn't do that, not when she is so close. When he tries to throw her balance, she moves her back feet to compensate, but they can't hold on like this forever. She pushes back with everything she has, if nothing else, at least he'll know she's willing to fight for him, right?

"speech"

Deluge vs Dread for force claim
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Common Gull - Male - Flying
Companion 2: Lapwing, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Muntjac Antlers - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bioluminescence - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Fleet-footed

And the winner is...

DELUGE

DREAD must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Dread has now been claimed by Deluge. Totals: DELUGE: Attack Roll: 78 Defense Roll: 69 Agility Roll: 95 Perception Roll: 100 Critical observation! Total: 342 Attack[78] + 35% Bonus[27.30]: 105.30 Defense[69] + 10% Bonus[6.90]: 75.90 Agility[95] + 60% Bonus[57.00]: 152.00 Perception[100] + 10% Bonus[10.00]: 110.00 Total[443.20] + 20% Bonus[88.64]: 531.84 DREAD: Attack Roll: 39 Defense Roll: 13 Agility Roll: 60 Perception Roll: 62 Total: 174 Attack[39] + 45% Bonus[17.55]: 56.55 Defense[13] + 20% Bonus[2.60]: 15.60 Agility[60] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 60.00 Perception[62] + 15% Bonus[9.30]: 71.30 Total[203.45] + 25% Bonus[50.86]: 254.31

He didn’t know the details, but Marshal told him that his son was in danger. The Warlord could barely see past the fear and adrenaline that pushed through at any risk to his children. Why his youngest was at the battlefield, he didn’t know. But he pushed himself to arrive as quickly as he could.

Arriving just as the raiders wolf completed her conquest. What was this, revenge? He saw red as he charged at the wolf with an angered roar. No one would touch his children. Zee would be turning in her grave at the thought.

He aimed to hit the woman head on if he was able to. Using his superior height to do some damage if it was possible.

Sirius vs Deluge for force claim
Round 1/?
Age: Over one
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Spectacled bear, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Fangs - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

----- Keeping this up for Record Keeping Purposes -----

Claim disputes only apply to loners in the battlefield under special circumstances. Normally this fight would be void, but as both players are in agreement to continue the battle was allowed to proceed.

To say she was surprised to come out on top once again would have been the understatement of her short life. She barely had enough time to smile, a giggle bubbling in her chest. She never intended to actually force him to be any sort of prisoner, but it would have been nice to see if he would play along if only for a week or two.

The consequences of her actions, however, were swift to appear to bite her in the ass, but she was a raider after all, and she didn't mind the interruption... not really. She allowed herself to be dragged along with the force of the warlord's blow, putting some distance between her and her captive prince, but adrenalin still coursed in her veins and her bioluminescence flashed with her racing heart. Now this would give her a real challenge, he'd beaten her old man after all, and she wouldn't deny, they'd made the fight look mighty fun.

There was a brazen wiggle as she moved to get some distance between them and reposition herself, the smile never leaving her lips. "Bit pervy sneakin' up on us like that... an' just when things were gettin' fun!" she taunted, her shortened tail flicking from side to side betraying her amusement, (or was it anxiety?) "I fancy yer boy, yer a bit on th' old side fer me. But if yer just want'ter dance, why not say so?" They were a similar height even if the warlord had a bit of weight on her (would it be a dadbod if he didn't?). She liked her chances, even if they were just fueled by the overconfidence of youth.

Sheer stubbornness had gotten her this far, she wasn't going to quit while she was ahead. Tipping her chin to protect her throat bought her antlers forward, but she wasn't trying to take out an eye, at least not on purpose. Grabbing Dread about the shoulders with her feline claws had worked pretty well to date, and what was that they said about the similarities between fathers and sons? There wasn't much distance to close between them, so her right paw rose to grab a shoulder, her teeth aiming at the loose skin and thick fur at the back of Sirius's neck.

"speech"

Deluge vs Sirius for counter?
Round 1/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Common Gull - Male - Flying
Companion 2: Lapwing, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Muntjac Antlers - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bioluminescence - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Fleet-footed

He was not entirely rational. All he could see at that moment was Zee. He remembered the way he had found her. In the den of her abusers. Weak and frightened, a changed wolf. A broken wolf. Incredibly, his own son defended the wolf who had tried to tear away his own freedom. To rip him from the Armada, and family. The brazen attitude of the Raider pushed him over the edge. There was not a great deal of sanity left in the Warlords eyes.

“Do you know what happened to my wife!?”

He roared. The last time a wolf had been taken from him, kidnapped, it had been zee. She had been brutalized and raped, and had not been strong enough to bear her last pregnancy. That had played a part in her death. How could they not understand that? Understand the consequences. He was shaking. Shaking from fear, and anger that boiled over to rage. White hot and blinding.

“How she was kidnapped, and raped. How they left her broken. Is this a game to you? Kidnapping wolves for fun?”

His voice was still a roar, but he could barely hear it past the pounding in his ears. He had lost her, and that memory, that pain, it crested over him. When she had died there had been no one left to blame. No one to hate, and fight. It was so easy to place Deluge in that spotlight. She who tried to take a child of Zee’s last litter from him. As she raised a paw to grab at his shoulder, he aimed to smack it away. Twisting his paw to pop out the hidden blade in its sheath around his leg bracer. He wanted the smack to have teeth. He wanted it to hurt. In the same motion he snaked his head forward in an effort to grab her throat. The Warlord was out for blood. There was an odd emptiness in his eyes that contrasted the heavy emotion in his words.

Sirius vs Deluge for Claim contest
Round 2/2
Age: Over one
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Front leg bracers with knife
Defensive Battle Accessory: Back leg bracers
Companion 1: Black Vulture, Male - Battle - Boosted
Companion 2: Snow Leopard, Female - Battle - Boosted
*Companion 3: Spectacled bear, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Fangs - Offensive
Mutation 3: Thicker fur - Defensive
Skills: Master Fighter & Master Hunter
Specialty: Bloodletter

"Speech"

[/i][/b]

Like dominoes toppling one after the other to reveal intricate patterns, the old man spilled his guts and a few of the puzzle pieces started to fall into place, but rather than rendering sympathy from the yearling raider, instead her face twisted in disgust. Was this what had Dread so sad? This bitter, twisted old man would rather live with ghosts than live, actually live and experience life with the legacy of his dead wife? It only solidified her belief that he'd be better off with them. "Sad story, but yer son shouldn' have ter suffer fer it. Yer should give him a chance ter live outta her shadow." Nobody would look at him like he was some haunting reminder of a dead woman... anywhere else except there... well, maybe anywhere that wasn't an ally of his father.

Deluge didn't mind the bite of the knife, but she would turn her small, hooked antlers towards the warlord's cheek with more force than she had gone into their spar with to push his teeth away from her throat and closer to her shoulder. She leaned into the old man's attack bringing their chests together, swiping at ribs with claws exposed, teeth snapping at fur and flesh as a growl rumbled deep in her chest. She hoped he'd end up drooling for days.

"speech"

Deluge vs Sirius for counter
Round 2/2
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Dire wolf
Build: Light
Companion 1: Common Gull - Male - Flying
Companion 2: Lapwing, Female - Battle
Mutation 1: Cat Claws - Offensive
Mutation 2: Muntjac Antlers - Offensive
Mutation 3: Bioluminescence - Defensive
Skills: Expert Fighter & Master Navigator
Specialty: Fleet-footed

And the winner is...

SIRIUS

DELUGE must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Her claim on Dread has been voided. Dread is now claimed by Sirius. Totals: SIRIUS: Attack Roll: 86 Defense Roll: 46 Agility Roll: 71 Perception Roll: 46 Total: 249 Attack[86] + 115% Bonus[98.90]: 184.90 Defense[46] + 20% Bonus[9.20]: 55.20 Agility[71] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 71.00 Perception[46] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 46.00 Total[357.10] + 45% Bonus[160.70]: 517.80 DELUGE: Attack Roll: 97 Defense Roll: 24 Agility Roll: 69 Perception Roll: 48 Total: 238 Attack[97] + 35% Bonus[33.95]: 130.95 Defense[24] + 10% Bonus[2.40]: 26.40 Agility[69] + 60% Bonus[41.40]: 110.40 Perception[48] + 10% Bonus[4.80]: 52.80 Total[320.55] + 25% Bonus[80.14]: 400.69

Dread had gone down in the end, everything going dark and fuzzy. Something about a conveniently placed rock that he managed to come down on, but to have Deluge best him three times in a row? That felt bad. What felt even worse was fading back into consciousness and finding... what the hell was going on here? Her words, something about living out of someone's shadow... fuck. Their little meeting had been tracked, and Dread's stomach churned. He stumbled back to his feet, trying to push towards the combat before him. Beneath him, the ground seemed to shift. He's still dizzy. It won't stop him.

"Don't hurt her," the young man rushed forward, still trying to find his footing. The words are snarled at his father, teeth gleaming in the afternoon sun. His hackles were up, head low. Rushing to close the gap, moving to her side, expression shifting between hurt and confusion, anger, nausea. "Don't fucking hurt her!" Dread's voice cracked as he tried to position himself between Deluge and the Warlord. His pulse raced. This was the first time he'd stand up against his father, and to him, the reasoning was more than fair. His jaw clenched. It was the closest to menacing that the yearling had ever been. Adrenaline coursed hotly in his system. His sides and stomach both hurt, and there was a ringing in his ears.

"speech"

He won, he released the raider with a snarl of disgust. What a despicable woman. Everything really was a game to her, wasn’t it? She claimed to fancy Dread, but she was playing with his life as if it had no meaning. Tearing rifts in his family. When Dread got to his paws, it was to put himself between the Warlord and the girl. His heavy eyes turned to Dread. Sorrow marred with anger in his expression.

“Do you understand what would have happened here if she had succeeded in kidnapping you? Do you understand you courted war between our packs? You are training as a diplomat Dread, and yet you have no consideration to the cost of those around you.”

Anger and disappointment vibrated in his throat.

“Is this what you want? Do you want to join our enemies? Do you want your alpha to be the wolf that tormented your sister in law, Hana? To belong with a wolf who would kidnap you, like your mother was kidnapp-”

He bit off the word, sucking in a ragged breath.

"Speech"

Anger rose in his system, coursing thick and hot in his veins. Dread's head spun. Like he didn't quite belong to his body, with more emotions than he could even name crashing over him in waves. "There was no need for it to go that far," he snapped. The boy's world view wasn't wide enough to realize, wasn't complete enough to know. "Even if she had succeeded, I could handle being their prisoner for a while. I'm not some pup." The words ripped from his chest, from his throat, spat before him.

Still, as the Warlord continued on, more pieces would fall into place. Dread's demeanor and posture shifted, his weight shifting over his paws. Less outright defensive, and more... more. More of what? There was pain, now. There were things that he hadn't processed, things that were bubbling to the surface. Things he didn't know how to talk about. Things that he'd felt like he couldn't talk about. Acutely aware of his growing exhaustion, Dread doesn't know how to choose his words carefully. Teenage boys in fights with their fathers rarely do.

"It's not black and white, like you make it seem." His voice cracked, and he faltered. Processing his father's words about his mother... his mother. He bit back a whimper at her mere mention. Dread's own breath was ragged, picking up pieces of understanding. His mother had been kidnapped? She'd been taken away... the boy could feel pain blooming within his head, the ringing in his ears getting louder, more intense. When he finally spoke again, his voice shook. "All of us are living with mom's ghost, but you're the only one not living in your shadow." Pain colors his tone, not malice. Dread's gaze rests beseechingly on his father, trying to prevent his lower lip from quivering. Trying to look brave, despite feeling anything but.

"speech"

“Tension between the Armada and the Raiders is already thin, this would have fanned the flames. It would have pushed it from raids and pokes at the borders to a full on siege. There would not have been a Raiders Hollow left by the end of it. Or there would not have been an Armada.”

He snarled. Had he paid no attention to his lessons at all? He claimed to wish to follow the path of a diplomat, but he was showing now how poor a fit he was for the position.

”You feel my shadow, so your solution is war? If you want to go with your Raider, Dread. Do so. Turn your back on your family and walk away. If that’s the choice you make, I won’t follow you. But don’t take the Fatalis name with you. Or stay, and talk to me. Make requests, use your words like the damn diplomat you chose to be. Figure out how to be your own wolf with me without tearing your family apart to do it.”

"Speech"

Marshal was not the only bird lingering in the skies that night. Once Gilgamesh had been defeated by the Warlord, his owl, Erish, had been released to keep an eye on the borders. There was nothing wrong with being mildly cautious and it would prove to be worth it. She had caught Deluge slinking off to the Battlefield to meet with her beau, Dread. As soon as she had seen the pair together in the blood stained wasteland, she had turned feather and headed back to where Gilgamesh sat upon the beach. A discussion ensued between Gilgamesh and Modesty and surprisingly had been brief. In the middle of drunkenly flirting with Sakana, Scald suddenly heard his name. His spines bristle along his back as he looks to his parents. There is a haunting and furious expression lingering in his father’s eyes. That look he had not seen since Azure had pillaged the beach. Cursing under his breath, the lank boy made his way over to the pair. Heated whispers fought to rise above the nearby flames until a rumbling growl caused the boy to backdown. It is then that Scald turns. One last glimpse over his shoulder with a glare full of daggers toward his father. “If I don’t return, it will be your fault,” he seethes through clamped teeth before taking off into the darkened shadows. The Crow makes his way with what little items he has toward the Battlefield. His own bird, Rosie, trails behind in the sky at a safe distance and lands in a nearby pool as Scald finally makes his way up to meet the trio of wolves. By their appearances, he can tell something unfortunate was happening. Their tones of anguish and the mixed emotions on their faces told him all he needed to know. Sliding by Deluge first, Scald tips up onto his toes to whisper in his sister’s ear. “You owe me big time for this,” he snaps at her ear in a partially playful and partially pissed off manner before interrupting the argument between Dread and Sirius. His bi-colored gaze looks to Dread first before letting out a sigh and rolling his eyes. One more look over his shoulder at Deluge with a ’really? This fucker?’ look before he finally turns his attention on the Warlord. Clearing his throat, Scald tilts his chin up so he can stare Sirius in the eye. “Evening, Warlord of Armada. I am Scald, Raider’s Hollow’s Crow, an official Diplomat and trusted Scout. Due to the outcomes of your recent raid, Gilgamesh is unfortunately unable to make this encounter. He stayed by to ensure his wolves were taken care for,” he made a point of raising a brow and keeping a disappointed expression on his face before continuing. “He has sent me to offer a… deal of sorts. Deluge and Dread have spoken their wishes to the Raid King about their,” he clears his throat, “emotional arrangement. While Armada and Raider’s Hollow are on fraying cords, he does not wish to start a war currently. If you will agree, he offers me for Dread for one full season. Upon the end of the season, Dread will return to Armada unharmed or make his own choice and suffer the consequence,” Scald rolls his shoulders back and stands firm, stands tall, as he never lets his eyes leave the Warlord. Your turn, old man. S C A L D

The girl was a bit taken aback when Dread stepped between them, and before she could argue that she was fine, the conversation devolved before her very eyes. It was all feeling a bit personal, and she felt like an unwelcome observer. Clearly it was a fight they needed to have but it was the ultimatum that ripped a snort from her throat. "Ma was an Abraxas once." The sneer on her face said more than words ever would. "Good ter know Ashen allies hold as much regard fer their own." It was all leaving a foul taste in her mouth. Her mother hadn't seemed to suffer for the loss of a name, but then again, maybe she was a bad example.

Deluge wouldn't make Dread come with her, and she wouldn't let her presence affect his decision either. This was a choice he would have to make on his own. She looked to the younger Fatalis and dropped her voice. "Yer know where ter find me." The bleeding gash on her leg had lost the advantage of adrenalin and it was starting to burn and itch, but she refused to carry the limb as she turned back toward the archipelago. She wasn't much in the mood for a party, but she could sure do with a drink.

Before she could get three steps though, Scald appeared and her brows drew down head tipping in a what the fuck? gesture. The snap to her ear was met with an affectionate rumble and a grazing of teeth upon cheek. She listened with interest, doing her best to keep they hyena like cackle that wanted to burst from her chest to a wheezing exhale of breath. Whose fucking hair brained idea was this? Surely, the warlord's first thought would be trap? "Yer wastin' yer time bro, we should get back ter th' party." Old man stick in the mud was far too proper to parlay with the likes of them, surely?

"speech"