[woes]

Username: Woebegone
Lion name: Res.
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: Tor's Rise
Pride Status: Head Guard / Leader of the Patrol
Prompt: {{He dies, ends up in hell, realizes he was a horrible person and conquers the underworld to give himself another shot at life}}

[MySpoons]

Username: MySpoons
Lion name: Ólethros the Ruiner [greek for 'bane']
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: The New Guard
Pride Status: Enforcer Exile
Prompt:

It was not meant to happen before the entire pride-- yet something like Ólethros was bound to cause a scene in daylight. The black leather of his wings and the gold markings adorning his body are unnatural and easily spotted among regular lions. Horns and fangs and spikes and talons, all his sharp edges stained with blood from years of service.

King Xanthos stands on his dais, face dark and wrinkled with fury. Fur bristling, teeth bared. "If you think you will be allowed to walk away--"

"My King, I asked as a formality." Ólethros keeps his tone even and smooth, eyes locked on the space between the king's front feet. "It is no longer my wish to--"

"Ha! A thing like you, wishing to be free? I forbid it." King Xanthos roars-- Ólethros realizes he's talking to the crowd, not him. This was never about Ólethros. It has always been about politics, about perceiving the King as being the one to control a devil.

"You are a monster, a weapon. If I let you roam this land you would bring chaos and destruction. No, you serve me. Await my orders, and most of all, stay out of sight." Xanthos continues, emboldened by his rank and the height the stone dais grants him over the manticore. The soldiers standing at attention are but a front.

Ólethros takes a steadying breath. He is not without a voice, without a will. Today is his breaking point-- Ólethros prays to gods unknown that today does not end in bloodshed.

"I am my own. You are not to use me, to twist your words around me like chains." Ólethros lifts his gaze, meets the seething King's eyes straight on. Gold-colored with a red slit, strange eyes filled with determination. "This is an announcement, a final parting. With the respect I have left, I wish resign in peace."

"If you leave I will have you hunted down like the cursed demon you are--"

"I am not a curse-- I was born!" Ólethros roars, interrupting the king. "You thrust your fear upon me and called it damnation."

The soldiers shift, eyeing the manticore as anger creeps through his attempts to remain cool-tempered. They would not fight him even if their king commanded it. Ólethros has everyone's attention now.

"You molded me into a monster for your own use! An assassin, an executioner, as the threat to keep your people in line and in debt. I resent who you've made me, what I've done... with nothing but fear and hatred directed at me when I obey." Ólethros takes a step back, the crowd long ago gave him a large berth. He stretches his wings, his barbed tail lashes as his voice cracks with grief.

"I have lived enough for you and your cruel ways. It is time for this to end. If it ends in bloodshed... I will accept such, as that is all you've taught me to know."


No one dares challenge his depature.

[498/500]

[Vampire Adam]

Username: Vampire Adam
Lion name: Oculus
Lion Gender: Male
Link to pride: The Somnia Pride
Pride Status: Deity
Prompt:

"But who are you?" Katara asked, holding her head high while her eyes remained locked on the lionlike beast in front of her. "Where did you come from, and what do you want?"

Oculus laid down and crossed his forepaws, letting his venomous tail rest beside him. He watched the young lioness for a moment before responding. She was wary, as she should be.

"I was once a living lion, like you," he said in a deep, silky smooth voice that Katara found oddly soothing. "I was my pride's Seer, as you are. The past and future could become as clear to me in dreams and visions as sunlight on a cloudless day." He looked thoughtful for a moment before continuing.

"One moonless night, I dreamed of Death. In his presence I could see the light of life around my sleeping loved ones, and the darkness that emanated from his form threatened to extinguish that light. It crept through the grass and fallen branches like a deadly mist, sending an otherworldly chill into the air that set my fur on end. Everything withered beneath the touch of that darkness. Even the rocks crumbled to dust.

Though I knew I was dreaming, I felt as if the future was being laid bare before me; that sickly mist the big, tawdry black lion brought would take them one by one until my pride became nothing but a memory. I wasn't thinking rationally. I attacked him."

There was a brief pause while the weight of that statement sank in. He had attacked Death.

"I'm not sure why I was surprised by his raw strength. He swatted me away like a fly on the first lunge. Yet I wasn't dissuaded. I struck again and again, lashing out with claws and fangs. Between attacks, I snapped branches from trees and threw them in the path of the mist, hoping to slow its progress. Death watched, striking back without fury or passion."

Katara sat down and curled her tail around her paws, eyes focused on Oculus as he told his story. At first, she had been afraid. Now, she was intrigued.

"'You risk life, limb, and even soul for your pride?' he asked, baring his long, yellowing fangs. I gave the only rational response. 'Yes.'

The mist suddenly swirled around my paws, leaving the others behind, and Death took me instead. My body never woke again, and my spirit was trapped in his realm for many years. My pride was saved, but I endured great suffering in their place. Pain helped me evolve. Pain helped me develop the strength to escape Death's clutches.

I have conquered Death, and now I've come to guide you. Your pride is destined for great things, and I will see to it that you accomplish them. Just as I saw to my own pride's life."

[474 words]

[Sixbane]

Sorry on my delay; Ive had to work and time gets away from me a little;
Confirming that this one is CLOSED and I will get them judged as soon as possible

[Sixbane]

Sorry on the wait; Ive been busy with work than illness; there were lots of great forms and judging was difficult! I would give everyone a RU if i could but alas,,, idonot have the time OTL

This kid will be going to-
Isabella45

With RUS to
hannahbun
Lavellan
KittenGirl2005

And honorable mentions to
NaCl
Tiger♥Bear
mid-life
PandaLover2006
kyum-
MySpoons
Vampire Adam

[sillies]

Congrats to the winner and the other RUs, and thank you for the RU!

[-Isabella-]

Thank you so much! And congrats those who got rus/hms, everyone had some great forms!

[Lavellan]

Congrats, Isabella! And to all the other RU/HM winners! And thank you, Sixbane, for the ru! <3

[MySpoons]

Ooo congrats!!! What an awesome kiddo, and such stiff competition!

[Kitten-Girl-500]

Congrats, Isabella45! Thank you so much for the RU, Six! Can’t wait to see it!