BRUTES - 1

Xayah wasn’t too keen on what she was continuing to see in regards of these clans. First the Forgotten, and now the Brutes. They were hardy, but rough around the edges and not as keen on outsiders entering their clan. A common theme they were to face, if Xayah had to guess.

“Did Cailu say anything else before he disappeared? Where exactly did he go?” One of the others asked, looking around for their guide.

“He is speaking with the clan leader, Zarod. Apparently there may be something we can do to earn their favor. They like challenges, from my understanding.” Xayah explained, watching the various haedians going about their day to day. Their suspicious, untrusting stares didn’t bother her at all. She would be more worried if they were friendly.

“You do understand that this challenge will likely be a feat of strength, right?” Cislunar asked, not looking at the runner beside him as he watched the clan as well. “That won’t be a problem for you, I hope. Your journey will end early if you cannot progress.”

“I’m aware. I’ll figure it out as it comes.”

_____

“Don’t be rude, Cislunar,” Dahlia purrs, “Brute strength isn’t the only strength there is, ya know.” 

The pretty boy has been spending time pretending to be more interested in his painted claws than what’s going on around them. The truth is, he was reading each and every one of their potential opponents and silently calculating. But he never lets his scheming nature show, ever maintaining his composure and flirtatious visage. 

Once he is satisfied that his nails are pristine, Dahlia sweeps back his luscious mane with a flick of his paw before finally giving the others his full attention, turning his bright blue orbs on them.

“Tell ya what: If you’re so concerned about strength, you go ahead and use yours and let the ladies do their thing, mm?” As he hums that last, his maw curls into a sultry grin.

_____

Cislunar’s expression shifted to become even more flat and deadpan than before, somehow. Something that drew out a quiet snort of amusement from Xayah. Dahlia had frequently drawn out that expression in him, and she never failed to find it amusing.

“As tempting as that doesn’t sound, we still have to wait for Cailu to return. I highly doubt launching myself at one of the haedians here would go well.” He mused flatly. “Besides, it wouldn’t kill you two to actually get some dirt under your claws.”

Xayah didn’t respond to either of them when she spotted Cailu and Zarod approaching, the varyon standing from where she’d sat down and gotten comfortable. She’d expected Cailu to return to tell them the requirements, not both him and Zarod. Even Cislunar was visibly wary, expression returning to its stony neutrality.

“There is a free for all battle that you must partake in,” Cailu explained once he was close, Zarod continuing on past him and the trio before him. “A trial of combat, if you will. You must get the most gold possible, in whatever way possible.”

Shouts and cheers starting up a distance away made ears perk, Xayah and Cislunar looking over to the arena of sorts at the same time. Anticipation was building in the air, Zarod’s voice echoing out and drawing about even louder cheers than before.

“... Is Zarod participating?” Xayah asked, feeling no form of comfort when Cailu grinned at her. “Oh… Gotcha.”

This would certainly be… interesting.

_____

Dahlia follows Xayah’s lead and rises, staying beside her. They make quite the flashy pair, and he plans to use that. A swish of the tail here, a flutter of eyelashes there, and there is no doubt someone is watching. 

He hears the way Xayah responds to Cailu’s grin, and gives her a gentle hip bump. 

“Don’t worry, love,” he assures her, “I don’t plan on either of us getting hurt. Just keep your eyes on the prize- and on me, of course. I’m going to channel some of my Fair energy for these big boys~” 

He caps off that last bit with a wink. 

As a former noble and current entertainer for the World Fair, Dahlia has trained in flair and fashion as well as agility and stamina. He spends much of his performance in the air, contorting and twisting himself in ways that most creatures wouldn’t dare attempt. 

As long as they don’t lose each other in the crowd, Dahlia hopes to hold aggro for Xayah so she can swoop in and out without a scratch. If Cislunar can pick up the slack, this competition should be cake. Delicious.

_____

Xayah let out a small laugh when Dahlia bumped his hip with hers, the pair following along after Cislunar as he led the way through the crowd. Oh, this would be interesting for sure. Hopefully it’d even be fun, but she would take interesting too. So long as they don’t have to square off against Zarod, she figured they would be okay. 

“Sounds like a plan to me,” Xayah mused, looking to Cislunar then. “And you’ll be the muscle too, right?”

The guard glanced at the duo out of the corner of his eye, ear flicking before he focused ahead once more and gave a small nod. He’d help them with this, fend off any who decide they want to challenge for their pile of gold. How the clan will react to the off chance of them winning, he couldn’t say. Neither could Xayah, really. But if this was to be a trial, then they would do their best to pass.

The anticipation in the air was almost electric as everyone waited for the signal to start, everyone wound tight and poised to either defend or go on the offensive. Haedians and vayrons alike were watching either Zarod for the ‘go’, or eyeing their potential targets. Ones they were going to square up with immediately.

Xayah launched the moment Zarod gave the signal to start, the runner bolting for cover so she could slink along and get her paws on the gold she could spy. Her focus was equal parts on the goal, and equal parts on Dahlia as he served as a distraction to divert the focus to him instead of the gold. Something Xayah was thankful for as she hurried to the first pile, scooping up as much gold as she could into her pouch around her neck before she bolted back the way she came. 

“Good job,” Cislunar praised when Xayah came running and dumped the gold onto their pile, the guard having already thrown down with another challenger to defend their pile. He tensed when another haedian approached, tail lashing and ears pinning before he launched into a fight once more.

Xayah didn’t linger, bolting back to where Dahlia was so she could keep stealing gold from the many piles around them. She would have to thank Dahlia in excess later for shouldering the task of being a distraction.