Bone Crest Throne

[Rowan]

• he/him • 31 moons • atari/crown • #arescrown •
killer aptitude t1

Ares didn’t need to look behind him. He could feel it in the air like rot curling in the wind. Still, he turned. Slowly. Behind him, stretched out like they lived in a land of plenty, was Willow. Lounging. Eating. Relaxing. Like prey hadn’t been scarce. Like half the cats in this cursed tribe hadn’t gone missing. Like he hadn’t shouted himself hoarse calling cats to their feet as- and after -a blizzard crushed the mountain around them.

The mouse was fat. He swore if that cat skipped a patrol to catch a valuable piece of prey then EAT IT FOR HIMSELF. While other cats worked their ass off to nit even eat their food. While cats starved.

Ares’ ears flattened as a heavy silence fell over the clearing. His gaze lingered not on the prey, but on the ease in Willow’s posture. That was what sealed it. He turned back toward the cats in the clearing, voice low and venom-laced.

“Clear the center of camp.” Command. Not a request. He stepped forward, shoulders rigid, tail flicking like a viper’s tongue.

“Willow.” Ares barely gave the cat time to swallow before he was on them, his massive form cutting through the air like a blade. He didn’t strike yet. Instead, he stared, unblinking. “Where were you when your name was called?” Ares didn’t let the sentence finish. “You weren’t wounded. You weren’t dying. But you were content to let your tribemates patrol through ice and blood while you laid in the sun and ate prey you didn’t earn.” He glanced behind him briefly.

“Rook.” Sharp. Like a dagger.

“Hold him.” And then Ares struck. Not with hesitation. Not with flair. With ruthless precision. His claws tore through flesh with the efficiency of a leader long past giving warnings. It wasn’t about spectacle—it was about example. He first did a shallow cut along the front of Willows throat, being sure to miss vital arteries or his windpipe. He refused to let this be quick.

“Rook, flip him over so he’s on his back.” Willow would give that mouse right back. Ares hardly regarded the blood dark on his fur.

“The Atari survives because we work. Because we bleed and crawl and climb. Anyone who eats without giving will rot in the snow or be crushed by my paws. This is your only warning.” His gaze swept the crowd. Cold. Controlled. “Young, get in your den if you don’t want to see this.” the shallow, quiet warning was all he’d give. If they wished to see, who was he to stop them?

└> . . .

 

@Dizerel @dino. @versailles @nyx @Wingnettle @xavier. @jay @Streamtail @Silvershadow13 @SSakii @Sn0wDr0p @Morrigan @Hushfalls @Spider @gravekeeper. @korok @Desert Rain Frog @Myling @ch3rry_bl0ss0m @Beanz @Yoshdo @Dolomedes @Lizardclaw @olliebones @Seamrog @Idiotic.Bean101 @Goopysharkboi @Rowan @bambi @Ionic @Crown_Sage @Luna16 @Bugabaddie @Songtail @Katietheferalwolfchild @Diamondfur @Batfur @Twigtail @Petal Fall @BlowingBubbles @Reflex @FANNIBAL @newo @inanna @Lilly_<3 @Johrog @crow. @Mr_Possessive @King Fritz @Moondew @[ConnerKent] @Craneflight @shadow_lily @alexia @Galadrial#Me @~ Sage ~ @Brightpetal @Ashy_boi @ink-sanity @Shadowcreep

[BlowingBubbles]

Moss looked on with interest. So this is how things are done here, huh? I get shunned by the only cats I ever love, and then join a place where they kill each other. No thank you! He fully intended on leaving later. It's not like he made any friends anyway!

[Open!]

[Luna16]

Quiet Hail’s gaze flickered, growing hard. She glanced between Ares and Rook before turning, ushering Shy Horse and any other young near her into the nursery. She grabbed a hawk feather, blowing on it so it fluttered high into the air in the nursery. “Try and catch it.” She purred softly, careful to keep her eyes forward. She didn’t want the young to think what was happening behind her was interesting in the least.

@Rowan - brief Ares mention | @crow. - brief Rook mention | @any other young!

Shy Horse wailed briefly, claws outstretched towards her father. She didn’t know what was happening, but she knew it involved Rook. And she was worried her father was in trouble. But Quiet Hail didn’t give her a chance to reach her father. The small brown she-cat flailed in protest, but was instantly distracted by the feather. Pouting briefly, she turned to the feather and tried to catch it. At first half-heartedly, but then more eagerly. Giggling with delight as she chased it and Quiet Hail continued to keep it airborne.

[crow.]

Rook
⋆˖⁺‧₊☽ The Champion ☾₊‧⁺˖⋆
He/They | Claw | 29 moons | Atari
``Non Desitas- Non Exieris; No Retreat- No Surrender``

Purrks: Killer Aptitude (T2) [ACTIVE] Ultimate Predator [INACTIVE] HP; Sense [PERM ACTIVE] Just A Scratch [PERM ACTIVE]
⛧⛥⛦⛧

- - -

There was a flicker on insanity that crossed Rook's gaze, the same one that made Willow screech in terror, eyes wide in fear. Long claws crashed down on Willow's form as a slow, menacing smile formed. He was going to die for this. For the betrayl he caused for the Atari.

Then he heard his baby girl.

Wide eyes shifted to look over at Quiet Hail and Shy Horse, exhaling shakily in gratitude as Quiet escorted her baby girl away quickly.

Rook easily flipped Willow over, pupils slitted as he nodded to Ares coolly. "This is for the atari.. for brutus." He sneered, jaws bared.

Willow screeched and squirmed, trying to get away, ears pinned and terror in his eyes.
@Rowan @Luna16

[ch3rry_bl0ss0m]

Crimson
Atari Claw ☙ 24 moons ☙ She/Her
"I try so hard and got so far. In the end, it doesn’t really matter."


"Not much prey was seen. We were going after a third rabbit but then the tree-"the claw furrowed her eyebrows. [B"I could go back out to look around if needed?"[/B] she suggested.

@Rowan - After Patrol

---

Hex
Atari Claw ☙ 21 moons ☙ She/They/It (amab)
"I cut my hair..to make you stare."

Hex stared at the sight in front of them. The blood. The cat that laid at Ares's paws. It was deserved but the sight till sicken the claw. They moved back a bit, focusing on what was happening.

[olliebones]

╭──── ⋅★⋅ ────╮

⭑COSMO⭑
THEY/HE // 27 MOONS
❝To be a star, you must burn❞

╰──── ⋅★⋅ ────╯

Cosmo's ears perked at Ares' call, and he stuck his head out of the den curiously. The trapper sat down, away from the whole show but close enough to hear and see everything, including Rook. They watched with a calm smile as the claw obeyed his orders. Their tail flicked softly as he watched Willow writhe around in Rook's paws. Cosmo wasn't a fan of violence. They didn't seek out fights or argue with cats. But he couldn't but feel calm, delighted, even, at the sight of Rook holding down Willow as the feline screeched the whole caves ear off. Blood blossomed at the wound, and Cosmo watched it curiously before turning away, back to Rook.

[ @crow. - Rook Mention // @/open ]

[Mr_Possessive]

 

⋆⁺‧₊☽The Mistress of Death☾₊‧⁺⋆
☆-Nephthys-☆
[She/Her]
{29 Moons}
~Straight~
"And in the death of her reputation, she felt truly alive"
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Nephthys's multicolored gaze met with Ares' for a moment. She was somewhat shocked by the Crown's decision, but that was final. "Yes Ares," the queen mewed, a sharp look to the new initiate in front of her.

Post Report

Nephthys' eyes followed Ares' own when the Crown locked onto the lazy lump of fur in the clearing. The she-cat growled under her breath, and when Ares' told them to clear the center, she signaled with her head to Lightning and Fossa to move. The she-cat then turned to the new initiate. "Follow me," she mewed coolly.

The queen led the tom to the edge of the clearing, looking in on what was happening. The lazy furball was being punished for wasting the tribes resources and not contributing back. "Good riddance," the queen mewed coldly. "This is what you're joining. If you slip up and put yourself before the tribe, your best case scenario will be permanent exile,"
Nephthys mewed.

@Rowan @Dizerel (Lightning Mention) @Idiotic.Bean101 (Fossa Mention)

[Rowan]

• he/him • 31 moons • atari/crown • #arescrown •
killer aptitude t1

TW: descriptions of murder
Ares stood over them like an unmoved shadow, his expression unreadable, but his silence was suffocating.

He did not blink as Rook slammed Willow down. He didn’t flinch when the terrified screeches echoed off the stone.nHe strode forward, tail lashing once. Then, like a striking snake, his paw lashed across Willow’s throat yet again—not deep, but precise, carving a new gash just under the jawline. It bled fast, drenching the cat’s chest, but missed the veins that would’ve ended him in seconds.

Ares leaned down, breath warm and vicious against the other tom’s ear. “You eat our prey,” he murmured. “You lie in our sun. You ignore your Crown’s call.” his volume gradually increased. He pressed a paw to Willow’s throat, not enough to choke—but enough to keep him still, to make him feel small.

“To rise among the Atari, one must bleed,” Ares growled, voice carrying now, loud enough for the whole camp. “But you—you bleed because you failed us.”

Ares gaze was narrowed and sharp as he slowly dug a claw into his upper stomach. The crown then, slowly but surely, dragged his leg down, slowly making a deep slice through Willows stomach and underbelly. He watched with an icy gaze as blood started to seep, and the struggle slowly lessened.

“Take that as a lesson. All of you. I was not messing around when I said to leave if you did not plan on profiting the tribe as a whole. Do not test me unless you want to join Willow.” he snarled for the tribe to hear before turning and vanishing into his den. He had some thinking to do.

└> . . .

 

@Dizerel @dino. @versailles @nyx @Wingnettle @xavier. @jay @Streamtail @Silvershadow13 @SSakii @Sn0wDr0p @Morrigan @Hushfalls @Spider @gravekeeper. @korok @Desert Rain Frog @Myling @ch3rry_bl0ss0m @Beanz @Yoshdo @Dolomedes @Lizardclaw @olliebones @Seamrog @Idiotic.Bean101 @Goopysharkboi @Rowan @bambi @Ionic @Crown_Sage @Luna16 @Bugabaddie @Songtail @Katietheferalwolfchild @Diamondfur @Batfur @Twigtail @Petal Fall @BlowingBubbles @Reflex @FANNIBAL @newo @inanna @Lilly_<3 @Johrog @crow. @Mr_Possessive @King Fritz @Moondew @[ConnerKent] @Craneflight @shadow_lily @alexia @Galadrial#Me @~ Sage ~ @Brightpetal @Ashy_boi @ink-sanity @Shadowcreep

[Mr_Possessive]

 

⋆⁺‧₊☽The Mistress of Death☾₊‧⁺⋆
☆-Nephthys-☆
[She/Her]
{29 Moons}
~Straight~
"And in the death of her reputation, she felt truly alive"
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

Nephthys' eyes were locked on the screeching, writhing cat that her brother had pinned beneath him. She listened as Ares' low growls grew louder and louder, his words becoming clearer and clearer. Her multicolored gaze was stone cold, and when the Crown began to rip into the pathetic heap of fur beneath Rook, she remained unfazed.

The scent of blood washed over Nephthys as Willow's writhing body became limp below the Crown. Her expression remained unchanged, a true testament to the disdain she had for useless cats. She cast a glance at Rook, meeting his gaze with pride.

@crow. (Rook and Nephthys interaction )

[Luna16]

Just as Shy Horse’s attention was fully enamored with the hawk feather, the young cat’s attention was drawn by the screeching of terror. Hawk feather forgotten, the young brown cat made a dash for the nursery entrance. “Papa!!” She Horse screeched her for her father, the scent of blood hitting her nose like she had run into a rock wall. She caught the briefest of glimpses of the scene in the clearing…before running straight into Quiet Hail. The Keeper wrapped herself nimbly around the young cat, shielding her eyes with her own body.

“Shhh it’s okay, little Horse. Your father is fine.” She cooed softly, stroking the young cat’s back with her tail to try and soothe Shy Horse’s terror. “Sir Ares needed your father’s help with something. That’s all.” This was a rare sight of Quiet Hail. Normally more callous and stoic. But a distressed kit - particularly Shy Horse who she’d personally been entrusted with raising - brought this softer side from her. “B-But-” Shy Horse whimpered her protests, trying to reach behind the queen as though she could reach her father.

But Quiet Hail was immovable. She knew that Rook didn’t want his daughter seeing this, and they needed time to clean up. “Now, now little Horse, you must be brave. You’ll be an initiate soon, you must be strong.” The thought of the young cat growing up and leaving her caused a pang to strike her chest, but it was the inevitable fate of all young. Even…even her own young would have grown by now. Moved on to their own paths. She cautiously shot glances over her shoulder to Rook and Ares, willing them both to finish their business quickly so she could release the sobbing mass she was holding back.

@Rowan - brief Ares mention | @crow. - brief Rook mention | @any other young!