Ankyra Sound you knew i was approaching your throne

calling (1) @Rosalyn

 

It is done out of what he feels is a necessity -- a leadership he does not find strong enough to brave the months to come. Perhaps it is because he has not seen the red woman in action to truly justify her claim to the sovereignty of Rusalka, but partially due to his bias in favour of Caiaphas. Nevertheless, the timing is prime. Something about proposing a physical challenge against a pregnant woman should raise a question of morals within him, but it does not. Such is the consequence of leading, to expect disobedience at a moments notice. Striking now when all the signs seem to point green in his favour is only smart... and with the added encouragement matriarch herself, he holds no hesitance in his call to challenge. 

Releasing the summoning howl, he wonders if she will place a proxy in her stead. He wonders if she will simply submit in avoidance of an altercation, or if she will charge forth with teeth bared and no holds barred. In any case, it is not for him that he seeks to snatch the Alpha title from her claws -- not that he would be telling her that anyhow.

It was necessity that had brought her slinking back into Rusalka's edges.  She hadn't intended to remain out as long as she had, but each time she thought about returning, the action stalled in her.  Hours had turned to days, but eventually, the pregnant wolf was forced to confront the fact that she could not hunt for herself.  She couldn't keep hiding.

She heard Vaati's summons before she'd even managed to set foot within the territory.  It was distant, but she didn't rush.  Her frame was heavy and her steps were slow, but there was a glint in her eye as she finally arrived to stare at the white male.  They'd not had many interactions, and Rosalyn was tired as hell.  But she was in no mood to take any kind of abuse from a man who meant nothing to her.  That was patience she needed to reserve for those who deserved better from her.

What?  She had no idea why he had called her, but assumed it had something to do with her attack on Firefly.  Perhaps the two were close, and he wanted some kind of recompense.

He is surprised she has not picked up on his intent, but nevertheless obliged her abrupt inquisition. She already appears done with his presence before the fight has even begun and he almost laughs, feeling that perhaps if she was not in her present state, she could have potentially given him hell. In that sense, she reminds him eerily of both Hydra and Cass, holding both the bite and the bark.

“You hold a rank that should be in the possession of another. I will challenge you for it.” He does not mince his words, for he is often straight to the point about matters of such importance. Neither does he expect her cooperation. Rosalyn’s treasonous words against Caiaphas still linger fresh in his mind, and so he regards her with a cool glare that does not hide his feelings about it. It is not simply a personal matter -- though personal feelings motivate him to take action -- but the innate need to hold power when he feels it slipping. Perhaps it is instinctual... he would not be surprised if it was.

Her lips drew back as he said what he was there for, and for a moment, she didn't know what he meant.  His abruptness rankled her, though, enough to cause the show of fangs.

I hold no rank, she responded with a low growl behind the words.  It wasn't a reminder she enjoyed having shoved into her face, and she hadn't even begun to resolve it within herself.  Did he think, because of.... oh.

She'd forgotten what her treatment of Firefly meant.  You think you deserve it? She asked then, a good deal of bitterness entering her voice.  She knew she shouldn't fight him... for her own good and the children in her.  But suddenly something self destructive triggered within her, and her hackles rose in response.

The flash of fangs causes his brow to narrow. Surely, she would not put at risk her unborn children to fight over a rank? How foolish. He has no issue with asserting dominance via tooth and claw, regardless of her present condition for it is she who does not submit when simple logic would demand so. It only affirms to him that it truly was a good idea to remove the pack out of the hands of a clearly unstable female. Vaati returns the sentiment; offering a thunderous snarl with a flick of his tongue over anticipating canines, “I would not have called if I didn’t.”

It is then he lunges forth without consideration for the innocent variable that would, in turn, be affected by the ordeal. The survival of her young is not his concern. Large jaws seek her neck in what would be an attempt to simply throw her to the ground -- which could be easily accomplished due to his large frame. But he does not underestimate the ferocity of pregnant women, for they held a deeply territorial instinct that no male could ever mimic.

Unstable is definitely the correct word for it.  She had no illusions... this was not a fight she could win.  But she felt a sick rush of self-satisfaction as he took her challenge, perhaps because she felt on some level this was what she deserved.

Tear her down.

He went straight for the throat.  She tried to dodge, but his jaws caught hold, choking her and slamming her into the ground.  She was too heavy, too awkward.

She gave an involuntary cry as her side struck the ground heavily, sending a jolt of pain washing over her.  Instantly.... regret, and an overwhelming feeling of rage.  It didn't matter that only a minute ago she asked for this.  As with Firefly, she lost hold, and her claws scrabbled to catch hold as she attempted to twist from his grasp, feral as a snared mountain lion.

She does not concede easily. Perhaps it is something he can admire, but still, he finds her delusional. To put at stake what she was in order to protect her pride is something that would have earned her a nod of respect... had he not become a father and realized what it truly meant. She flails against his hold, grazing already marred skin where she could -- but still, he does not relent. Heavy jaws twist against her retaliation as if he was throwing around a rag in his mouth. It is not enough to force to kill her, but simply daze her out of clear thought and bring her closer to submission.

The sooner she gave up, the easier it would be to heal from the experience. And perhaps internally, he hopes she does the reasonable thing and accept that there was no way she could defeat him, for her will could not fight for her.

He's late to the party; whether @Yami is following him or not, Firefly approaches the scene and comes upon it in time to see Rosalyn twisting and snapping at her opponent, writhing in the sand and -- losing. A glare sets itself across his face as he watches this ghostly man - who he had started to admire - use undue force upon the woman. He might've been at-odds with Rosalyn but he was no child killer; the sight of such a scene makes his blood boil. The fur of his nape raises and he advances upon the pair of quarrelling idiots, filled with an inappropriate amount of rage — and stalks close, like a lion awaiting their turn at a kill. But he's only got eyes for Vaati. He knows better than to intervene in this heated moment, and likely wouldn't sustain himself in a true battle considering his current injuries, but that doesn't stop him from watching with anticipation and a growing rage.
(Lets just call it what it is: he's probably a little bit turned on right now.)

There was no relenting from the pressure on her throat.  Conversely, it not only tightened, but he began to toss her.  She couldn't catch a breath and his teeth carved unavoidable runnels.

Anger flipped to panic.  She hadn't eaten in days, and as her heart rate spiked, she felt the blood roaring into her head.  Her vision tunneled as her head was jerked sideways, and finally the week caught up to her.

As if she was submerged in water, her movements slowed, then stopped as she drifted.  She went slack, not completely losing consciousness, but reeling close to darkness as her overwhelmed mind and body reeled.  The fight was over.

Finally, she slumps. However, he still holds seconds after -- slightly concerned it was simply a ploy. But her breath slows and he knows to release, dropping her (likely bruised) neck from his teeth. “That was easy.” Vaati murmurs to himself before throwing his head back to announce his formal ascension to the highest rank attainable. It was not a title he planned on keeping forever, only until Caiaphas was fully healed and able to return to her former and rightful place. In the meantime, he would remain in a position that safeguarded the station as it awaited the sea queen's presence -- meaning he could not place himself in any situations that could potentially risk his position. Perhaps, that mindset was in the best interests of Rusalka on a level they could not understand.

As he turns to step away from Rosalyn's defeated body, he does not expect to see Firefly prowling forth as if he is prepared to go in for the kill. Vaati's issue with the man had dissolved, and so he does not greet the other's presence with a return of hostility. Instead, he offers an explanation that he likely would have offered no other, for perhaps he can understand from where the man finds reason to attack. “It had to be done.” The words were simple, but yet held meaning. It was not out of personal vendetta, but a recognized need to take control where there it lacked. And so, the leviathan walks away; leaving Firefly to simmer in his own rage.

A piece of him demands retribution for this slight against his kin, but he knows that what Vaati says is true. He will not be permitted a chance to slake his fury — and as Vaati turns to leave, the lion lets him go without a word. He looks down at the defeated woman in the sand with a look of disdain. Firefly doesn't know how he feels about this turn of events but his own plans are hastily shelved; they were foolish to begin with, mostly used as a means to an end (in this case, charming the girl who he has actually alienated). He watches for some time as Rosalyn's breathing returns to normal but does not move to aid her. He lets her body return to whatever rhythm of normalcy it desires, and guards her body — because it is a vessel, and his concern is focused on what's inside of her.

The chaos of her mind takes a moment to settle, and for a moment, she might have lost consciousness.  As she returned, though, and her breathing slowly evened, she began to regain her senses.

Immediately an overwhelming sense of self-loathing caught her.  She sensed Firefly's presence, but she couldn't bring herself to look.  She'd wanted this.  For some reason, in that moment, she'd wanted him to ruin her.  Her pregnancy, and the life she carried, hadn't felt a part of her.  Not until she'd struck the ground.

She was too overwhelmed to get up or to do much for a while.  She'd remain where she was until she was finally able to rise, but wouldn't speak.  There was nothing to be said... he'd already said it all before, and it had never rang truer than in this instant.