"Speech" | 'Thoughts' | @Liora
Cure probably shouldn't have been too surprised when Xerxes had finally shown up. A teasing grin curled across her features as she pawed back at the lion when he swatted at her. "Figured you would have preferred to sleep," She commented playfully before she settled down and turned her gaze to the Bone King. Rounded ears were up and pushed into attention as the large avian spoke about the group. It was all interesting to hear, but when the bird spoke of sparring she shifted in her spot. Names were called together and slowly her gaze turned towards the bird that was related to her dear little Ashteroth.

Silently she regarded the Avian even while Azazel continued on. It wasn't until she heard her sisters voice did her attention pull away from the opponent she was paired with. Brows shot up when she watched her sister stroll over and speak to Xerxes. Humor would soon rise at the words exchanged by her sister and she had to keep herself from laughing just a little bit. She didn't want Xerxes to be offended by it, but she should have expected such an interaction from her beloved twin. A grin set upon her features as she sat about to watch the two spar. Of course, the moment Xerxes set her sister up in flames left the leopard hybrid sitting uncomfortably. She knew this was a spar, not meant to mean anything, but she couldn't help the sudden need to run over and put the fire out on her sister.

A heavy sigh escaped her when the fire finally did fade from her feathers and Remedy soon turned to Xerxes with scowl. Cure would have more than enjoyed sitting there watching the rest of their spar, but a sudden shriek came to her attention and Cure turned her gaze to the one causing the noise. She regarded the avian quietly once again as Ash's sister came swooping over. Her words soon came and slowly, but surely, a dark smirk began to shadow across her features as she slowly rose to her paws. "You seem to be a very confident avian, Liora," She purred right back to the avian. Slowly her tail flicked around as she lowered her head, keeping her unwavering gaze upon the flying avian.

Her chest rumbled as she called for her magic. She wanted to see how well this bird handled sparring when she could not see her opponent. "Well then, come at me," She chuckled lowly as she her eyes began to take on a small glow as did the horns upon her skull.

Round 1 of 2
Attempt: Remove all the visibility so Liora can't see(sorry everyone else)
Defenses: Body held low and ready to move.
Injuries: None.

"Not through a meeting!" he playfully punched her arm before he was called away to battle her sister and she a smaller bird named Liora. Xerxes would have to learn everyones names, but that wasnt important right now.

His attack landed on the legged bird's tail and he smirked, watching her struggle while her tail was on fire and failed to counter attack him. Hopefully Cure wouldnt get mad about him burning her sister, but he needed to practice his fire! Besides... It was only her tail. If he did any regular, boring attacks he'd probably fail! He was much better with fire! So as long as he used it, this little spar couldn't fail him now! Hopefully he didnt speak too soon...

She yelled at him, but Xerxes just smiled and watched. Fire was all he knew, so fire is what she had to deal with. He decided to try another attack, one he actually had time to practice. He hoped it worked, but at least maybe he'd get a smack or scratch on her if the fiery paw didnt work. So he ran at her, as full speed as he could given their distance and finally as he approached, slowed to a stop and reached a paw out at her to swipe at her beak, hopefully smacking her with a fiery paw, but hed take a simple smack or scratch too, should it land.

II of II
attack - smack her with smolder step!

236

@remedy

Giggle stared down at the tiny creature where it rubbed against her legs. What was it saying? It was speaking, and it seemed familiar with her. And to her.

Its voice changed, or was it a voice? First one thing, then another. Aza'zel. Herself. Fear filled Giggle briefly, then disgust--was this madness?! Did the Void cling to her even now? At the same time a conflicting emotion struck her--maternal instinct, out of nowhere. If this creature was a small young of Aza'zel, she would look after it.

Or should I kill it? I can protect it. It has wrong voices. Mad words. I don't want to hear. Kill it. Protect it. Kill it.

With a grunt the hyena lunged down, trying to snatch Ashtoreth up in her jaws--not violently, just the way a hyena would lift a cub, perhaps.

If Ashtoreth didn't move, the hyena would turn and try to carry her off, trotting swiftly and weakly back the way she'd come--to her bone pile.

Of course, in Giggle's weak state, slowed and exhausted, there was every chance the tiny, agile thing could simply avoid her attempt to snatch her up.

She wasn't really sure what she was going to do with her, anyway. Just that something clearly needed to be done--this thing was too confusing, too young, too many cats. Too many cats.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

((ooc - @Ashtoreth - feel free to have Ash dodge Giggle's lunge. She's slow and weak, right now, so it can easily be avoided, though she's not trying to harm her! ...Yet!))

She soared straight over the leopard hybrid's head, but the beating of her wings had failed to stir any dirt - probably an effect of Liora's own carelessness, moving too quickly, not paying any attention to the direction of the gust from her wings. She saw the air ruffle the fur and feathers of those nearby, but without any dirt as she intended to use to blind the hybrid, Liora's first move had effectively been useless. She chortled and cawed as the feline called back to her, and Liora wheeled around mid-air, coming back around to Cure. She paid little mind to anybody else - out of the corner of her eye, she did see Remedy and a lion go at it and quietly hoped for the lion's victory, and then she saw Giggle and Ashtoreth come together and found herself resisting the urge to intervene.

Bone white eyes fixated back on Cure. She recieved the invitation with another loud, birdish crow and made to descend on Cure. Only at that moment, all the moisture in the air seemed to suddenly condense, and Liora was crashing down on no more than a cloud of white hiding vague shadows beneath. "Krak! Cheater cheater pumpkin eater! No matter... Liora can still see you!!" The lammeraven called, evidently bluffing. She had her eyes on Cure when she descended, but it was hard to focus now. She dove towards the shadow beneath her, intending to just give it a scare - another bluff. Scare her out of hiding.

Round 2/2
Attacks: diving down at who she thinks is Cure to startle her into moving?
Defense: none
Injuries: none

Words: 251

@Cure

"Speech" | 'Thoughts' | Liora
Cure crouched down low, a humorous grin upon her features as she watched the soaring figure in the mist move about. Liora was the only one flying so it really wasn't hard to tell where she had gone within the mist. The avian called out to Cure, calling her a cheater and claiming she could still see the leopard in hiding. Cure was confident that, even though it wasn't a strong cast, that her mist would fall in her favor.

As it seemed, however, Cure's eyes widened when the avian suddenly dived right for her and a small yelp escaped the feline as she tried to roll out of the avian's way. Instantly her gems sparked to life, glowing within the mist and easily giving off her position and before Cure had a chance to do anything a thick layer of ice suddenly washed down over her back. Though surprised at first Cure took note before she grinned and studied the ice to see if Liora had actually struck out or not in her dive. "Alright, alright," She snuffed as she quickly released her magic. The mist slowly faded and the ice began to melt over her fur. "You got me on that one," She huffed while plopping down onto her haunches all the while regarding Liora with wary eyes.

Round 2/2
Attack: None
Defense: Ice armor
Injuries: just her pride.

Ashtoreth settled up next to the hyena she had been practically... or literally... dying to meet the Aunt Giggle. The hyena did not speak any more, but the message seemed to get across. When the aunt reached down to scoop her up in her jaws, Ash didn't resist in the slightest. She was more than happy to let the hyena scoop her away-- there was something so incredibly familiar and comforting to being grabbed like she had been grabbed. As though something she had been missing all of her life had been given to her.

It was kinda like having a mom. A big, stinky, sketchy aunt of a mom, but... Ashtoreth thought she was perfect. She closed her eyes, letting exhaustion take over for a moment. Aza'zel and the others could have fun horsing around and fighting each other-- but Ashtoreth was just going to hang out with Giggle. It seemed like a sensible thing.

Besides, Giggle was the Bonebound's national Mom-- at least, according to Kerberos-- and that was good enough. She didn't consider the fact that Giggle might be dangerous and unhinged... Nyah, if anything, Giggle was just like her. A bit damaged, a bit in need of some quiet and care. She figured that the elder understood her like no one else in Bonebound quite did just then.

@Giggle , i'mma call this an exit if that's ok