11-28-2020, 01:15 AM
NOTHING BESIDE REMAINS — It had been some time since Aurum had seen Goldenluxury, although that was far from his choice. The tigress had been one of his closest friends for some time now, and he had enjoyed his frequent visits to The Typhoon, since they always made him feel welcomed and cheerful while he was there. They had even become a sort of therapy for him after Leroy's disappearance, the former proxy going through a rough patch when he realized that practically everyone he had once known was either dead or missing. At first, though, he had been trapped at home because of his injuries, unable to leave the house for particularly long without pain. There was no way he would've been able to make it all the way to the archipelago without issue, and he probably would've had to stay several nights if he had made it. He hadn't wanted to do that, knowing that he had children to take care of at home. Once he had finally found himself on the mend, the lion had been eager to go for another visit, but then the damn takeover had happened. They had all been locked down, and despite his best efforts, they were still struggling just to get out signs that something was wrong.
Thankfully for all of them, Goldie had never been much of a distant ally. The captain had always been willing to visit and speak with them, which was why Aurum had figured that, eventually, this would end up happening. Not so thankfully, he hadn't been expecting Stryker to show up at the exact same time. After all, the other lion had always been so distant with all of this, more than content to just allow his lackeys to watch over everything that was going on. It caused a sense of frustration in the angel's heart as he heard the sounds of yelling and a struggle in the distance, but it wasn't frustration directed towards Stryker. No, Aurum's rage was directed towards Stryker, and his wanderers. Instead, the male's frustration was with himself. Disappointed in himself for not getting there sooner, and not being able to warn Goldie about what was happening. Although as he grew closer, his large body rushing through the trees, he was surprised by the scent of Sophiea as well. How had Stryker even managed to pull off a successful ambush, if Sophiea was present? Wouldn't Goldie be on high alert, considering she'd know about their situation? It didn't even occur to him that Soph could've not said something. It seemed so utterly baffling that the possibility didn't even register in the former proxy's mind.
As Aurum came charging through the trees, he was relieved to see the tiny retreating form of Keona vanishing in the distance, a clear sign that the dealer was going to get help. That was a relief, since it meant that not only would Goldie be receiving help, but Tanglewood would soon have some help as well. There was no time to focus on that fact, though. He needed to deal with Stryker, and try to help Goldie. So, with a vicious roar leaving his maw, the lion went charging forward at [member=1738]Stryker[/member], attempting to slam into the other lion's side and help get him off of Goldie. As he attacked, Aurum snarled viciously, "Get away from her, you damned mongrel bastard!" He could only hope that his equally large size would help knock Stryker away so that Goldie would be able to get up. If the captain was able to help, then they'd have a bit more of an even fight on their hands. As it stood, it would be three against two, if Sophiea would actually spring into action as Keona had demanded of her. In any other scenario, Aurum might have been shocked by the small dealer's harsh tone. In this case, though, he heartily agreed with her. Sophiea seemed frozen in place, and that was enough to piss the lion off even more, knowing that his friend needed help.
If Aurum had truly known of the deal that had gone on between Sophiea and Stryker, he probably would've been furious. He would've been infuriated that Soph would even agree to such a thing, even if her family was being threatened. After all, she should've been doing everything she could to get them out from under the Coalition's hold. The kingpin had already shown that he was willing to injure or kill without discrimination, so what was holding him back from just killing Eternalknight? He could use Sophiea as a puppet for as long as he wanted, only to end up murdering Eternal without a lack of shame or regret. After all, Stryker hardly seemed like the type who was too worried about keeping his word. Thankfully for Sophiea, at least, the former proxy had no knowledge of what had gone on between the last meeting and now. Unfortunately, Aurum had always been the type who worried about everything within Tanglewood, and Goldie somehow not being prepared for an attack would certainly be something he would bring up in the future. That would be left for another time, though, when Goldie's life wasn't on the line, and chaos wasn't erupting around them. — OF THE MAN WHO WAS BORN AND DIED A KING.
Thankfully for all of them, Goldie had never been much of a distant ally. The captain had always been willing to visit and speak with them, which was why Aurum had figured that, eventually, this would end up happening. Not so thankfully, he hadn't been expecting Stryker to show up at the exact same time. After all, the other lion had always been so distant with all of this, more than content to just allow his lackeys to watch over everything that was going on. It caused a sense of frustration in the angel's heart as he heard the sounds of yelling and a struggle in the distance, but it wasn't frustration directed towards Stryker. No, Aurum's rage was directed towards Stryker, and his wanderers. Instead, the male's frustration was with himself. Disappointed in himself for not getting there sooner, and not being able to warn Goldie about what was happening. Although as he grew closer, his large body rushing through the trees, he was surprised by the scent of Sophiea as well. How had Stryker even managed to pull off a successful ambush, if Sophiea was present? Wouldn't Goldie be on high alert, considering she'd know about their situation? It didn't even occur to him that Soph could've not said something. It seemed so utterly baffling that the possibility didn't even register in the former proxy's mind.
As Aurum came charging through the trees, he was relieved to see the tiny retreating form of Keona vanishing in the distance, a clear sign that the dealer was going to get help. That was a relief, since it meant that not only would Goldie be receiving help, but Tanglewood would soon have some help as well. There was no time to focus on that fact, though. He needed to deal with Stryker, and try to help Goldie. So, with a vicious roar leaving his maw, the lion went charging forward at [member=1738]Stryker[/member], attempting to slam into the other lion's side and help get him off of Goldie. As he attacked, Aurum snarled viciously, "Get away from her, you damned mongrel bastard!" He could only hope that his equally large size would help knock Stryker away so that Goldie would be able to get up. If the captain was able to help, then they'd have a bit more of an even fight on their hands. As it stood, it would be three against two, if Sophiea would actually spring into action as Keona had demanded of her. In any other scenario, Aurum might have been shocked by the small dealer's harsh tone. In this case, though, he heartily agreed with her. Sophiea seemed frozen in place, and that was enough to piss the lion off even more, knowing that his friend needed help.
If Aurum had truly known of the deal that had gone on between Sophiea and Stryker, he probably would've been furious. He would've been infuriated that Soph would even agree to such a thing, even if her family was being threatened. After all, she should've been doing everything she could to get them out from under the Coalition's hold. The kingpin had already shown that he was willing to injure or kill without discrimination, so what was holding him back from just killing Eternalknight? He could use Sophiea as a puppet for as long as he wanted, only to end up murdering Eternal without a lack of shame or regret. After all, Stryker hardly seemed like the type who was too worried about keeping his word. Thankfully for Sophiea, at least, the former proxy had no knowledge of what had gone on between the last meeting and now. Unfortunately, Aurum had always been the type who worried about everything within Tanglewood, and Goldie somehow not being prepared for an attack would certainly be something he would bring up in the future. That would be left for another time, though, when Goldie's life wasn't on the line, and chaos wasn't erupting around them. — OF THE MAN WHO WAS BORN AND DIED A KING.
— Reggan