"Speech" | 'Thoughts' | @Xerxes
I figured maybe you could have Xerxes join Cure to the meeting. You don't have to :D but ya know...I kinda feel like they're a bit inseparable at the moment~ Figured it would also be fine just because it's AW Also hoped it was okay that I PP'd just a bit
It had been a normal day of sitting around doing absolutely nothing. A lazy day as some would say. As per usual these days Xerxes was with her. After plenty of games having been played in their spare time, they had finally decided a nap would be good. The call of the avian that ruled over Canis had stirred Cure instantly and now she stared out the entrance of her bone fortress, ears perked with attention. It wasn't ever that she heard the bone King call out and for a moment she wondered if that was something she needed to answer.

She hesitated for a moment, turning her gaze down to the slumbering Lion next to her. His abyssal fur just barely blending in with her own dark pelt. Had it not been for her leopard markings, she was sure that their fur would have been similar. A grin slid over her features before she slowly, and silently, rose to her paws. She did not wish to rouse him from his sleep. With one small stretch the hybrid leopard padded out of her bone fortress den and headed off towards where she had heard the call. Much to her surprise there were several gembounds gathered!

Her gaze lingered on her father and sister, a bright smile catching her features, and then she spotted her mother. Who was, in no surprise, lounged behind everyone else that was gathered. She paused for a moment, not sure who she should go sit by, but soon decided that since Remedy was with their father, that she would go sit with her mother. She padded over to the mutated leopard and with an affectionate purr, bumped heads with the older feline. "Hello mother," She greeted gently as she sat back on her haunches just behind Amaria. "What's going on?" She whispered as she lowered her head closer to Amaria's face. She giggled when her mother answered with a bored 'Dunno...but I'd rather be sleeping...'

"Moom! We're part of this group now, we can't just sleep through things like this!" She whispered back, covering her muzzle with a paw as she tried to stifle her laughter over her mother's expression.

Naps were always glorious, so it was totally like him to agree to one after a day of doing nothing useful. Xerxes had practiced his magic a bit, but not enough to exhaust him before playing with Cure. Even though she was fully grown now, Xerxes didn't find her boring at all! In fact, she really wasn't that different as an adult than she was when he first met her. Just bigger really, but so was he. His mane was even starting to come in thick and black, though obviously not full grown yet. He wasn't even full grown, but he was getting there. Before long, he'd be a massive adult lion and he couldn't wait. When he woke up, he found that Cure wasn't there. Odd... His brows furrowed and he followed her scent trail to find a gathering of some sorts. Had he missed something? A memo? A call? His head tilted as he walked on over to Cure and Amaria. He smiled at the two before sending a playful glare Cure's way. How dare she abandon him! Especially when it looked like something important was about to happen. Even though he wasn't an official member of the Bonebound, he still wanted to join in! Besides, maybe it was time to make his residence official... He had been staying here most of his three cycles anyway. "Why didn't you wake me up?!" He grinned and swatted at Cure, playfully of course. He sat then, next to his friend though he was probably a little closer than a normal friend would sit. To be honest, he was starting to feel a little different about Cure... But he couldn't quite explain it. He didn't know what it meant, so he just kept his mouth shut. Besides, he didn't want to question their friendship. He'd rather have this than nothing at all. speech table code © rasta 2015

@cure 311

A black crowlike bird swept over the meeting, banking and peering down with its single crimson eye. There was an orange-black bird, and it recognized this from Her thoughts. There were cats, also--

Too many cats.

"Too many cats," came the agreeing thought from the Hallowed Caller's mind, though not in words so much as vague thoughts.

The bird did a lap, then another, then descended to land beside Kerberos. It sidled up to him, eyeing the others warily, then let out a raucous caw or two--and then a shrill, broken imitation of a hyena's cackles.

Safe, then. Coming. Coming.

A shuffling came from the darkness a bit distant, and grew louder. The limping, filth-matted hyena that emerged into the light a moment later was emaciated, a staggering skeleton draped with a fungus-riddled hide. One ear was cocked askew, a strange grin on her face, her dark eyes wide and intense.

She made her way to Kerberos's side, eyeing Bones, and then Aza'zel, her thoughts racing.

Drawer-on-walls. Son. Son? Safe. Coming. Yes, here. Son-hunter, Aza-skull. Safe, safe all safe but so many cats? Bones are all everywhere, dark and light, all good, all the same. Very good. Bad cats.

Aloud, her cracked, hoarse voice growled out in an equally fragmented fashion. There was no warm greeting, nor was any expected--instead she immediately berated him.

"Aza!" she snapped, her grin twisting into an ugly, maddened snarl for a moment. "Too-many-cats! Stupid cats, traitor cats, liar cats, stealing cats! He steals from him, weakness, weakness, cowards. Ha! AHAHAHA! Stupid, stupid, wrong, toomanycats."

Giggle's commentary finished, she sat, satisfied. Aza'zel had created some sort of disgusting, filthy cat-haven in her absence, and she was not pleased.

Her gaze travelled over the others, and it wasn't lost on her that at least one of the creatures reminded her of Bevy.

"Healbird. Thank you," she declared with a growl, turning her attention to her leader.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

Almost as soon as he called, his family quickly gathered, minus a few, plus a few. Among the crowd was Giggle. The Bone King pitied her a bit, wondering if she ever could be... fixed? He doubted it. The soothsayer was so far into her insanity that he found it difficult to read her erratic mind and create a temporary link with her via thought. It just sent a barrage of eccentric ravings back. Instinctually, he hugged his children close as they gravitated towards him upon the podium. Ash as well... his little star, she broke his heart.

Once he was sure that no one else was to arrive, he called out. "Thank you all for coming, fellow Bonebound." With that, he cast a glance towards the dark lion in the crowd, wondering if he wished to join their ranks. Azazel turned back to the crowd, looking into it as he spoke, "harder times are ahead of us. I do not know if you've heard, but a deer who claims himself to be a lord is raising a legion against the carnivores. It is unknown if the Bonebound will be involved in this war, and I hope to the bones that we are not." Hm. That wasn't what was important. Azazel sighed and continued, "but, that is not the true reason I've gathered you all here. Our alliance with Maji Walezi has lasted for many cycles since their formation, although contact became scarce. With recent events, however," he began to speak slowly, treading carefully in a field of glass figurines, hoping not to shatter one and cause an uproar as they all crashed to the floor and broke. "Maji Walezi is not happy with us, and they may come marching to our gates seeking our retribution." He raised his wing that was wrapped about Liora, keeping his snuggly hold on his other daughter. "We are the Bonebound, bound to our bones."

Now... to announce the changes. "It is my fault entirely that we keep falling apart and becoming scarce. I wish to amend this, and I've decided to give the group a bit more structure. All of you who have attended have proven yourselves time and time again. You are now Bonebound. Please speak to me after this meeting, and you can decide on your position." Smiling, he tucked his wing at his side again and ruffled his feathers. "We've become weak as time passed. It is time for us to train together, to spar together. So that we can know one another better and bond. We must be prepared for the day that we are attacked, if there ever is." Casting a sweeping stare across the group, he quickly pieced together pairs of his clan before he began to explain, almost a little winded from so much speech, "You will spar with your partner for two rounds just for practice. My only request is no high-intensity spells."

Now, to announce the partnerships. "Cancer and Kerberos. Bones and Amaria. Remedy and Xerxes. Jericho and Götterdämmerung. Liora and Cure. You will all be partners. I will be sitting out to observe and oversee the matches. Ashtoreth and Giggle... if you'd like to join in, let me know." He was concerned for Ashtoreth and Giggle, for neither were really in the shape to fight. If either really wanted to, however, he'd allow it. "Let the sparring commence!"

WC: 565

Hurray for full-group first posts! For reference in the job faire, the characters tagged are all of the characters that are around at the time of this thread. I am not tagging Krakarak since he is likely dead due to IC circumstances. Anyways:

The purpose of this thread is simple. Sparring! Training! All that fun stuff. So here's the deal, Lucille. Azazel has paired up characters and omitted Ashtoreth and Giggle for obvious reasons. Each fight will be an easy two rounds, and you're free to do it all in one shot. Just make sure your posts are at least 200 words long and you put a WC at the end of your posts. The only rule is: no high intensity spells. This is to minimize the possibility of one critically failing and causing Canis to about collapse [ looking at you, Azazel ] and to keep fights clean and simple. It is advised not to attempt to hurt your opponent, but it isn't like it's illegal.

Here are the match-ups!

Cancer and Kerberos
Bones and Amaria
Remedy and Xerxes
Jericho and Götterdämmerung
Liora and Cure

Azazel, Ashtoreth, and Giggle will likely be sitting out, unless either wish to participate.

@Amaria @Ashtoreth @Bones @Cancer @Cure @Giggle @Götterdämmerung @Jericho @Kerberos @Liora @Remedy @Xerxes

Carcino became absent as Azazel prattled on, though his gaze turned to Giggle as her voice caught his ears. We don't much fancy you either, hyena. He thought idly, though none too seriously. He'd not hesitate to put her in her place if she attempted anything, though the scarred cat doubted she'd put up a stink. He chalked her rambling words up to being insane- and as long as she stayed well away from his daughters, she'd be pleasantly ignored.

Then there was mention of spars and Carcino turned to listen, almost dreadful. It all seemed fair enough and he'd taken great enjoyment in watching it... but participating? In his condition? After what had happened with Kerberos...?

To his greater horror and surprise, Azazel pitted him against the dog in question. He turned to look across at the cerberos with uncertain indifference. He could still taste the dog's blood on his tongue. Could still hear its wailing cries. How was this fair?

Still, he decided that, if they weren't to use high power spells, then this wouldn't end in tragedy. He had no combative spells besides those, and doubted Kerberos had any. They'd be physically matched.

He doubted he'd do well against the brute, but then again... Kerberos was in far worse shape than he was, despite both still in the final stretches of recovery.

He willed his body to cleanse any leftover pain and taint as he rose to stride into a clear spot of the cave, a familiar spot- where once crystal spires had shot from every direction, now only the largest remained and he stood between two as if to wait.

WC: 274
ooc: I'll let Kerberos start the match.

There was a lot of boring political speech that Remedy thankfully tuned out long before Maji Walezi was mentioned. She'd taken to cleaning her talons when her name was dropped, alongside Xerxes. Her eyes travelled the group and landed on the only gembound she didn't know by name, but hadn't been obviously pointed out before- the lion, the one her sister had taken a fancy to recently. Oh, okay then. The corners of her mouth turned up into a devious grin. She shot Cure a mischievious and meaningful glance before trotting over to where she and the lion stood. She eyed the bigger but younger feline up and down, then posed cockily.

"Yeah, y'know, I think I'ma kick your overgrown ass." She cooed confidently, though with a level of teasing that suggested she wasn't being malicious. "You an' me, big guy. Winner keeps Cure." She'd hoist her 'brows up suggestively, then turn to stride away with swaying hips and arched wings, clearly showing off and obviously shameless as she mimicked her father and took up a position in a clear part of the cave, flaring her wings and hoisting her plumage to make herself look bigger as she stood, ready, waiting.

"Ladies first."

WC: 203
@Xerxes oooooh boy, rem's callin' you out~~~

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Kerberos listened to Aza'zel with a patience that had come from years of practice, sitting still, being quiet. The canine didn't understand why Maji Walezi was so eager to hound him down, and why he couldn't just go and see what they wanted-- if it was justice, surely they would see that Cancer, the cat who has just as much claim to Bevy's retribution as anyone, had already struck him down. Once Aza'zel spoke of sparing, his tail began to twitch into a wag, excited-- he thought he might not get paired with anyone, being injured and also too big, but to his delight he was put together with Cancer. An ordinary gembound might have loathed the idea or been eager to strike revenge, but the dog was simply pleased that he had what he considered to be a fair match. The feline was strong, and he was excited to see what they could do when practicing rather than punishing.

The canine lowered a muzzle to his clubfoot brother and licked at Bones' ear, whining a playful, "Good luck! Do your best! You better win, too," before he rose to his feet-- his gaze catching on Giggle, his mother, and his whole body began that wriggling wag from his massive, snaking tail. The damn hell hound was lucky not to hit anyone with the massive orange scaled limb as he woofed at his mom. "Oh, oh, Giggle, you have to watch! I've gotten a lot better since you've been gone-- you'll be so impressed! Please, please, come watch, come watch!" That said, he glanced back at his hairless kitten in his fur and let out a gentle huff. "Don't worry," he told his best friend, "it's just for practice. Go show Jerico your claws!" The dog waited politely, crouching down so that his kitten could get down from his perch, blinking as he noticed the kitten's worry. His tongues ran over the skinny baby, a chuckle coming up from his chest.

"It'll be okay," his middle head spoke, slowly, calmly. "Aza'zel's watching." It seemed a reasonable enough thing to say-- though he still didn't quite understand why the goblin sphynx was so hissy about the whole ordeal. Oh, maybe he was just trying to look tough for his fight? The dog grinned at the thought.

And then, his five pink eyes searching for Carcino, the white dog found his dark partner and bolted towards the crystal spire crawling towards the ceiling. Hadn't there been more of these? Kerberos paid no mind to it. "Ready?" He woofed once, his tail swaying behind him as he went into a playful mock bow, just like he used to as a puppy. "Don't hold back, okay? I'm gonna give it my all, too!" There was nothing but warmth, compassion in his voice. He loved all of the Bonebound to death, and his loyalty to Carcino was hardly affected by his recent maiming.

Dogs could be stupid in their love, like that.

Kerberos began to summon his magic, aiming to split into two-- all the more mouths to snap at Cancer, all the more likely the cat would attack the wrong one. It was a risk, but it was also an easy dodge, if Cancer struck the wrong dog... It was a move he had done plenty of times before, but hopefully his excitement wouldn't get the better of him.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS V. CANCER
I of II

{ ATTEMPT }

~ split into two! confuse the kitty!

{ DEFENSES }

~ low to the ground, ready to move

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• central head still healing from wounds,
  
• paws still sensitive from previous fight

~ current injuries;;

• none

wc;; way over 200 ok look at it its HUGE

That was that, then. Kerberos seemed more than eager to spar against him, which quelled the tension in his stomach. This would be fine. He wouldn't need his magic-- except, Kerberos was proving not all battles required offensive spells. The dog split into two and Carcino blinked in surprise at the spectacle, but he was quick to react- only one would have blood in its veins, a heartbeat in its chest. He willed his magic with a fizzle of red light...

...and it popped and sparked painfully as his vision shifted to that imagined red sight and he just barely blocked out the sparkling distortion of his broken gaze and faltering spell in order to spot that steady beat of the beast's heart. A second later, he released the spell as quickly as it had come and leaping swiftly, he came in as if to attack the wrong one...

...and feinted to the side at the last second with paw outstretched to swipe at the dog's closest face with claws sheathed. He didn't want to hurt him. He didn't want to taste that blood again, on his teeth or cleaned from his claws. He sought only to touch him, a hard slap, that would in a real fight be a connection of claws into flesh but for now would only be a playful gesture in comparison, if it even hit.

WC: 230

ROUND ONE of TWO

Attempts

Red Sense (4) to pick which one's real, feints to and from the false to swipe at the closest head.

Defense

None besides natural reflexes.

Injuries

PRIOR:

Mangled Face, Right Side, Still Healing
Missing Right Eye, still adjusting to vision loss.
Still sore and battered from the previous battles.

NEW:

Ouch, that spell kinda hurt the noggin!

Other

@Kerberos CAT SLAP

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Kerberos was sure that he had fooled Cancer, and his fake flinched back with a split second of thought while his real body lunged forward. He could feel the thrill of playing-- not for blood, not for food, not for anything but the joy of burning energy. He remembered when his brother used to play with him like this all the time, usually in clumsy races of skill and chase because of their size difference.

In this case, however, the canine wasn't expecting the cat to come for him. The feline turned and he ran headfirst into the smack, a whine breaking from one head as the rest of his body carried his momentum towards Cancer without a single thought. He wanted to wrap his paws around the cat, wrestle him to the ground and pin him, but he was still being careful-- the feline wasn't even half his size, after all, and Kerberos would loathe to agitate his senior's wounds more.

"You got me!" The head that hadn't been hit woofed, baring his teeth in a strange mix of doofy grin and playful snarl. "But I got you!" He practically howled as he tried to fall on Cancer, paws scooping and grabbing for as much dark, faintly spotty fur as he could nab.

{ FIGHT STATISTICS }
KERBEROS V. CANCER
II of II

{ ATTEMPT }

~ grapple the kitty cat!

{ DEFENSES }

~ nyah!

{ INJURIES }

~ prior injuries;;

• central head still healing from wounds,
  
• paws still sensitive from previous fight

~ current injuries;;

• the faintest of bruises on his left head's cheek

wc;; 214 @Cancer

He felt the satisfying clap of burnt pads against plush fur and a second later, the grappling of massive arms around his torso. They rolled from the momentum and for a second, he found himself in that feline state of panic- his paws weren't on the ground. This bothered him in a way that served a useful purpose.

He began to twist...

...and writhe, and twist, and squirm and in the seconds span it took for Kerberos to tackle him, Carcino had all but turned to liquid in his grasp and in turn, caught his claws in the stone floor and slid free as Kerberos kept forward, twisting once up and away to face the dog with a half-cocked snarl, still buzzing from instinct... and just as quickly as he'd panicked, he'd calmed again and stood, shoulders pressed forward, looking finished. His head hurt. He hadn't liked all that tossing about.

He hadn't realized it yet, but Carcino's facial wound had opened up in the struggle, and now bled, soaking the fur below the wound and dripping tiny drops of red onto the stone. The spar was over. At least, as far as Carcino was concerned, anyway. He was done.

WC: 200

ROUND TWO of TWO

Attempts

WIGGLE FREE

Defense

None besides natural reflexes.

Injuries

PRIOR:

Mangled Face, Right Side, Still Healing
Missing Right Eye, still adjusting to vision loss.
Still sore and battered from the previous battles.

NEW:

Ouch, that spell kinda hurt the noggin!
Oh, snap, we're upside-down!

Other

ROLLING ROLLING ROLLING @Kerberos