Death on the horizon. [OPEN]

[TheWG]

Circa Da'ei

"Understood. I will send some scouts and return to help with that." She muttered back, swiveling around and quickly scaling down the side of the throne, eyes already shooting around to catch possible nominees for the task. The fact that Viciado might also be gone made the lioness shudder a bit. Why did Nerente say nothing of Viciado... But Stella did? Is she really gone? She questioned, furrowing her brow at the thought, an odd situation, indeed. Regardless, they had to look; they had to be sure.

Worming her way into the crowd, she looked for the first qualifying scouts she saw to cross her path. "Edmund, Estevan and..." Circa looked around briefly, straining to find a scout in immediate distance- she didn't want just the two boys to go alone- perhaps one adult to go with them as well, just to feel secure. "Viktoria, and Caylis." She called, catching all of them close enough to where they could both here her at the same time, and flicking her tail for the three of them to come in closer. "Come here, I have something for you to do."



((Yes I know Caylis isn't a scout but I wasn't sure who else to put- plus I felt like one adult would be good :> if anyone has objections tell me~))

[kahara]

(Also, I just want to remind you guys/inform you guys, this does have a set ending, which may not seem fair or reasonable, but I've only put the past half year into this plots roleplay. Nothing will be found at the scene besides the cubs blood, Nerante, and Stella's scent. There's no sign of Viciado; no exceptions, I'm sorry. I'm just not about to have this plot plunk after months and months of mental preparation )

EVERYONE

[/i][/color] His tone stern. Cocaine looked around and note Caylis wanted to say something; thou opted to ignore her instead. They had so many speaking up already, he didn't need another headache.

Meanwhile, Nerante bristled and bared his fangs at Stella. "Magic?! Insane! She's lost her mind! Bent on the fact that her beloved mate left her for Ryssor! Stella's grown too used to the protection of someone high and in charge!" He spat and shook violently with rage, anger, and pain. Nerante had to calm himself before he could address Funeral, who asked where Viciado was. He looked up at the king. "I don't know, I saw her this morning, and we nodded to each other, but kept our distances. She had stuff to do, and I had stuff to do. Just the way we've always been." Which no one could object to. They all knew, or anyone who knew the family knew, that Nerante and Viciado were never terribly close. At best, acquaintances though family with their healer problems and all.

Cocaine turned to Funeral and gave him an honest nod. "Sounds good. Though Funeral,"[/color] He lowered his voice, away from the crowd below. "Magic? It isn't a foreign subject, that we know, but how can we be certain that Viciado and Nerante know magic? If they knew magic, certainly Static would still be alive. And they did try their best." It was then that it hit him -- if Nerante was guilty, was this not his first murder? Cocaine silently prayed to Dante that Funeral would not think the same. This was something Cocaine needed to look into -- on his own. Or, perhaps, not. Now Cocaine had to weigh everything in his head. Funeral was the closest that Cocaine had to a trusted friend next to Ryssor. In fact, Cocaine may trust Funeral more than Ryssor.

He had to explain his thoughts.

Cocaine turned to the crowd and immediately raised his head to call out. "Grenade! Come forward, please,"[/color] His voice rang out. Once Grenade was on the throne, he gave him a nod. "Please watch the crowd. I need to speak to Funeral in private."[/color] He said, and beckoned Funeral to come with him, showing that the discussion was urgent. [/ul]

(The Rp between Fune and Coke is going to skype to help speed the process up. Keep going on ahead.)[/blockquote]

[FJ]

Grenade Donovan

Stepping forth from the perimeter of the gathering, the younger male nodded at Cocaine, uttering a clear, "Yes, sir." and proceeded to eye the group. This was... troubling. They needed to be strong together more than anything, but with treason and now murder among their ranks, there wasn't much one could do to boost morale besides swiftly deal with the open issues and further study the shady ones.

And, as time would tell, this was one issue gone unchecked for far too long.

But he, for once, couldn't look at this from an outside view; this one hit too close. His sister... Truth be told, he didn't understand a damned thing that was going on, just that one cub laid dead, there was a terrible story being told, and Viciado was missing. He had to reserve his own judgement, and he knew better than to fuel the lashout at Nerante, but this smelled of something foul. He felt quite angry, honestly, and leered at the others.

"Simmer down now, we've got to keep a solid head about this; think first, act second. While Lord Funeral and Sir Cocaine discuss what should be done, somebody please escort the youths away from here, and guard them with absolute care; we don't need to upset them any further. This is no place for them."

[LAD]

Kaden, Shinku, Adalyn, Sepheral.


Sepheral paused as she watched the happenings, and then when Grenade stepped onto the thrown, and Cocaine and Funeral retreated behind it for a few moments, she stepped forward again. Stella had snapped out of whatever shock she had been in, and Sepheral honestly wanted to believe her over Nerante - but it was too out of this world. Her gaze slipped to Nerante again then back to Stella. Neither of them could truly kill the cub - she wanted to believe that too. Instead she shook her head and sat down heavily. She would just have to wait for the verdict, and then try her best to help Stella out.

Kaden, Adalyn, and Shinku all listened silently, and watched warily too. When Grenade stepped forward and announced the to get the cubs gone - both Shinku and Kaden stood, wings spreading slightly as they rounded whatever youth was around, gathering them, murmuring soft words to them all and nudging them away. Adalyn didn't so much have connections to anything that was going on, so - while it was startling - she merely stood and helped her uncle. They would lead the youth to the waterhole in front of the dens.

[/blockquote]

sorry it's earlier morning and I couldn't remember even one cub's name so I just.. kinda did that. Yeah.. Hope everyone's okay with it.

[Caylis]

Rose nodded to Grenade before standing up, she clearly asked. "Sire, what must I do?" he asked calmly before waiting for the male to speak.

Caylis simply nodded to Circa and made her way over to the Captain, dipping her head in respect. "What must we do to be of service?" she said calmly before looking over to see if her son would come over, she smiled at him reassuringly that it was alright. "Let me guess.. we're going to seek Vicadio out and do our best to bring her back?" she asked. She stayed silent after that, letting the captain explain their duties.

[kahara]

(I'm going to let WG and that scouting party go ahead in this roleplay, so keep roleplaying back and forth; feel free to ignore post order until Circa and the scout party returns with their results for Cocaine and Fune!)

[Canicas]

Stella sat and awaited judgement with a stern look in her eyes. The blue eyes staring holes into Nerante with hatred.

[Dingo]

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» CASSIUS & CROWTHER

Cassius listened to the statements made by each of those who were involved, but it was almost as if his mind was made up. His opinion of his mother hadn't ever been quite normal; he didn't especially see her as a mother figure. He felt a bit detached from all of this, like these were complete strangers on trial. His mother's story sounded.. "Utterly absurd. Hmph."
He couldn't bring himself to believe much of it. His tail swished as he sat. What a bit of drama. "Jealousy is a plague." he muttered.

With his head lowered, Crowther listened carefully to who was speaking and what they said. The evidence was.. a bit scattered. Something was definitely up. He was actually quite ready to believe Stella's story, though it was a little far fetched. Though as much stuff that went on with that family, he figured that a vendetta was also quite probable. He was still a bit on the fence with the matter, but perhaps a good thing since he wasn't directly involved.
At the mention of magic, Crowther's ears perked as he raised his head, looking from Nerante to Circa. This was something that truly interested him. Magic was not unfamiliar to him, although he hardly practiced it. His ears flicked impatiently as he looked towards the scout group. He thought he would have liked to examine the evidence, perhaps go by there himself after this all settled down. Either way, he would be interested to know what the scouting group brought back.

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"speech" // thought

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[LAD]

Kaden, Adalyn, & Shinku

All three glanced at each other, having left the scene with the cubs. They were unsure of what to do now having crossed this stage, but Adalyn quickly saved the males from any awkwardness. "Hey, kiddos, c'mere." Her voice was soft, hopefully penetrating them from any shock they still felt. She laid down, spreading her wings wide open as if to envelope them in a hug. "Anything in particular you all want to do?" She wanted to distract them.

[/blockquote]

[kahara]

EVERYONE

[/i][/color] He murmured to Grenade and Funeral. "The death of a child, on the brink of war, our best healer missing, and there we have it; storm clouds on the horizon. Death on the horizon." Cocaine shook his head and looked down at the crowd. Grenade had asked the cubs to be gathered away from the scene. Sensible enough, though he felt the children should, to an extent, be placed before death so that they know they aren't immune to the worlds hazards.

Nerante could feel their eyes drilling into him and Stella, and Stella's own into him. Even the superiors seemed to glare at him. With all of the healers might he kept his cool and did his best to keep up the act of broken and mourning father. Which wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. The memories flashed in his mind. Magic causing his son's blood to spill, taking his life at such a young age. The emptiness he felt. The anger and sorrow as Viciado was taken away from him, by his own fault, a mistake. Perhaps a good mistake. He thought. If Viciado had lived, she would know what he had done. So all in all, perhaps it was for the best.

The darkness inside would grow.

It had become increasingly obvious that something big was happening. Carnal, so worked up in trying to find out what was happening at the throne, failed to see one of Cocaine and Ryssor's cubs taken. Right from beneath their noses! Though the wail of one of the cubs grabbed her attention. She turned as Novocain had made his way through the crowd, and decided to help the young back into their den. Not aware that one was missing. Carnal sat herself by their den, wincing as her sore wings rubbed against the den entrance, as a guard.

Kejethan-Darah had remained quiet the entire time. He pondered Neo and Jasper's whereabouts, and then looked over to see Asesino. Asesino had stood to go and help get the cubs together, away from the chaos, with Kaden, Adalyn, and Shinku. She seemed rather quiet too. No doubt they bother wondered where Jasper was. In this sort of situation, Neo or Jasper would be of help. Though they were both respectfully away. Perhaps upon return..? Even if not a public service, it could be among their family only. Sort of like a training session for Kejethan, Casper, Caspian, and the other young. Kejethan huffed. He needed something to do. Although the moment was tense, they could do without him. He turned and headed out to hunt, and as predicted, Kodiac walked with him.

Kodiac and Kejethan often hunted together. They made a rather good hunting pair. So it was of no surprise. Still, Kodiac should have stayed. In the back of his mind he knew his children needed him, but they needed food, too. Several long paces from the crowd with Kejethan, he stopped.

"Sorry, Kejethan, but..I need to be with my children for now." He said. The decision was swift and Kejethan merely nodded. Kodiac turned and headed back by flight, eyes open for his children. He had to know they were safe, that they were okay.

Novocain didn't want to leave his mother, or brother, but the others were herding the cubs and young away. He protested by slipping around the legs of the adults, unwilling to leave. He had to be there. This involved him, this involved his family!

Geminor, in the hermaphrodites old age, was rather immune to the sight of a dead cub and laughed at all of the scandalous behavior. They moved closer to the throne and noticed that their half brother, Grenade, was up there as well. Looking rather fashionable being so high up. "In my day we didn't throw such investigations, we knew, we knew!" They shouted. "Oh my brother dear, taking a liking to that view hmhm?" They said. it was clear Geminor was just a tad out of the loop.

Odysseia and Fracture stood together, sister and brother, as they looked on. The death of the child was horrible, and the possible death of the grandmother of the child? Tragic. Fracture comforted his shaken sister, though she pushed him away, stood straight, and breathed deep. This was it; pride life at war. War life. She had to get used to it. Which wasn't easy. But what had her shaken up so much wasn't necessarily the cub itself, but that either Stella or Nerante had killed it, and the death of a child had become a game of Clue.

Caine Iden moved through the crowd. He had heard it all from far behind, and with each word, his heart sunk. With every step, he breathed faster and faster. His head had begun to spin and he felt dizzy. Could it be true that his love, his mate, was truly gone? And worst of all, his son could be the culprit? No.. "No!"[/color] He snarled. "MY SON WOULD NEVER HARM HIS FAMILY! THAT BITCH, THAT WHORE DID THIS. YOU DID THIS TO MY GRANDSON AND YOU'LL BE CURSED A THOUSAND TIMES OVER I SWEAR IT!" Caine burst through and began to run at Stella with claws unsheathed. Cocaine prepared to leap at him, but there was no need. Kodiac had seen the reaction from the sky and dive-bombed the male, swooping him up and carried him; with struggle, to the outside of the crowd.

"ENOUGH! Caine, I understand you are in pain." Cocaine's voice rang out. "But we must do this properly. To your den, relax, please." Cocaine said. Caine hesitated, but decided against challenging the Commander. He headed for the den, aware that Zephyr was still out, Balthier II was out, Viciado was missing, and Nerante was on trial. He had Marius and Syn, at least...

Tear and Farrah stood together. Most of the gathered were from Meurtrier. As Jaaku members, they felt less attached, so the mother and daughter kept their distance. Next to them, Areta and Hagan did the same. Though each looked on with their own thoughts. Areta was indifferent, Tear felt pity for them, Farrah was scared, and Hagan was.. curious, thoughtful. Parox soon walked up beside them and looked down on the others gathered. "What a pity.."[/color] He murmured.[/ul][/blockquote]

[Noa]

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Ryssor closed her eyes simply, trying to hide the pain. All this yelling, attacking, screeching, talking, planning, pain.. she just couldn't take it any longer. Cocaine and Lord Funeral were in full serious mode.. and it seemed no one was in the mood to offer even a word of comfort. But then again, that was Meurtrier. They were tense, especially in times of war. Just.. god damn. She was losing her kin left, right and centre. She was starting to lose her mind. She just wanted peace and quiet, time to mourn.

But Firenze hurling accusations at her former mate, Caine yelling and trying to attack Stella.. god damn. She just didn't care. She wanted to yell and tear at each and every one of them, make them all stop, just shut up. Please.

Her gaze shifted back to Nerante. Viciado was missing now? Something seemed off. Very off. And soon, her opinion was slowly changing.

--

Firenze was shoved back by his father, giving him the most indignant face imaginable. But that was the nature of his father, and he would have to wait and see what would happen, even if he didn't like it. The little gray cub huffed audibly and rejoined with the rest of the group.

"How come we're never told anything?" He asked bregrudingly to his brother, as he sat down at the edge of the group, but not before watching Kodiac lift Caine and take him away.

--

Estavan and Viktoria had been called over by Captain Circa and Viktoria obliged her, while Estavan was reluctant. He wasn't feeling in the mood to go exploring, but he was under mercy of the pride so he would have to nonetheless.

"Captain." The young female greeted formally, before looking back to Estavan, who seemed rapt at something at the throne. Viktoria turned the gaze back, red eyes staring as Estavan's father, Kodiac, swept up a large blue male thrashing and yelling. The male turned away and quickly joined his friend at her side.

"Captain." He said also, rather quickly too. He didn't want Kodiac to talk to him at the moment. Now wasn't the time. He knew his father would try and coerce him or talk to him or do whatever. Whatever maniacal plans he had in his head at the moment. Despite waiting for the Captain to spell out their duties, Caylis had mimicked their thoughts.

Viciado was a good healer, an excellent one, a motherly sort too. Viktoria remembered when they had come in to do healing after the war, sometimes she'd see her younger son Zephyr around. Sometimes her mother would talk about her. Estavan just eyed his mother, conceding that at least she had some foresight.

But nonetheless, they all waited for Circa to speak.

--

Zephyr's ears shot up when he heard a small voice from nearby. It sounded like.. one of Ry's cubs. Curiously he looked around, and there he had found her. His niece, so to speak. Evangeline. Zephyr returned the hug and gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey there." Then, his expression dropped. "What's going on? Where's everyone?" He asked her, curious.

Something was wrong. Very very very wrong. He didn't like this at all. "Come on, let's hit it." He said, hoisting his little niece onto his back and pawing his way towards the throne.

In the air, a mix of different scents filled his nose. There was a gathering.

And the faint smell of blood.

Heart pounding, the teenager made his way over, passing the scouting group on the outer edges on the circle and seeing his father pace around in anger. "Father!" He called out, but he seemed pretty done in. Zephyr looked up, dark blue eyes fastening at the crowd and seeing his brother and Ry up there. "What the.. what's going on?"

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[Caylis]

Evangeline sobbed endlessly into Zephyr's fur, she cried out. "Brother! He's dead! Damien!" she whimpered before sniffling. "Nerante and Stella are on trial! I don't want this to happen.. it's so scary! What will happen to them, uncle Zephyr?" she cried before watching uncle Caine try to tackle Stella but a dark red winged male stopped him. She whimpered before burying her face in her uncle's fur.

[Canicas]

Stella's eyes stared at Caine, the poor soul. Still, she wouldn't stand and be attacked. She knew, with a flex of her muscle the highly trained female and although small female, would flex him into the air without a problem. Yes, this seemed to brighten her mood although it didn't show. But how could she attack the female who's life she seen be snatched away like this? Ha, it was Stella. She didn't give a fuck about anyone that existed outside of her cubs and...well...Cocaine. How could she forget? Ripthier. Her eyes scanned the crowd in that instant, where is she?! Sepheral...

[TheWG]

Circa & Edmund

Darker tipped ears perked high as they heard Circa calling them, and his heart lifted a bit... But he wasn't the only one either. He had only just returned from the outskirts of camp, finally ready to come back and face the pride again- maybe even his brother- only to be confronted with a mass amount of drama. A cub being murdered? A healer lost? His head spun, inwardly, it seemed from his sights that Meurtrier was turning into slow chaos. The only things in the world that could make him stay, was the only mother he had now, and his siblings. Otherwise, he would have surely left.

He approached the Captain, hoping that she would give some sort of nuzzle or greeting to him- but she didn't. His heart felt a bit weakened by that, but she is the Captain, he thought, she has to do what she has to do... This is a bad situation.

As Caylis, Viktoria, Edmund, and Estevan gathered around, she quickly brought them a bit closer to hush the noise around her, making sure she got her point across clearly. Disregarding Caylis's awfully correct guessing, she continued. "I want you all to form a patrol to locate Viciado- or any sign of her that may be around. Our assailant this time is... Within the pride, but still; stay close enough to be in roaring distance of another. If you find something, come to us immediately." She meowed, quickly dismissing them. Edmund nodded, looking towards Estevan and his mother, then to Viktoria, waiting for them all to send off in a prescribed direction before he chose his own.

[FJ]

Grenade Donovan

Pale prisms flicked toward Rose as her question met his ears, and the look they gave her was more than a little... peculiar. "You sit tight and help keep an eye on everybody while awaiting instruction. We don't need any 'mishaps'; just as well, see what the others plan to do." He was inexperienced in the ways of instructing beyond his area of expertise as a spy, his years of solitude getting the better of that--but what he didn't lack in was a tell-it-like-it-is attitude and a directness, free of sharing his personal sentiments.

He would have agreed with Cocaine on this matter with the cubs; yes, they did need to understand their proximity to death. This was even less of a place for cowards after all, as the weak will invariably die. He just simply didn't care to agitate the adults further with the emotional turmoil of the youths plus with a killer in the crowd they didn't need cubs waltzing around like the easy targets they are should a mind snap. A somewhat cold way of putting his thoughts, but he meant well by it. They didn't need distractions, they needed to think clearly and emotions merely muddle up the reflection.

An audit turned to listen into the conversation the dominants were having though he kept his eyes on the gathering. "Fine timing, is it not?" His sarcasm breached his lips before he could bite it back. Geminor chose then to speak up, bringing his attention outward and he smirked at him, tilting his head ever so slightly. "I'm not up here to sight-see, my man."

And within short order, a search party was formed. Good. He gave a sympathetic glance in Caine's direction, hoping his sister was very much alive, but hope is a thing of refusal to believe.

He knew what must be done.