The cubs only got a little while, this time. A sleep or two through which they'd be allowed to come up with their 'letters', perhaps. Then it was blip back to their spots around the firepit - incongruous in the midst of the polished marble floor - with Cybele and *Minerva stood side by side while each of them was given a seat at relative points of the compass. This, at least, probably wasn't a wilful slight against Daniel and his impulse to cling to someone 'might be about to be taken away.
"I hope you are all satisfied with the messages you sent home," Cybele speaking up first, and enthusiastic! "Because it's time to find out who will be participating in the final of the very first Labyrinth of Twilight!"
Smiling all excited, paws out from her hips like an energetic child just waiting to see what would happen next. It was *Minerva who took up the next part.
"The three of you have done so well, so far. There will be only one more challenge, and I have been told to inform you that whoever moves on to the final round will not be asked to vote again."
For her part, *Minerva was stood with paws clasped low in front, a very proper posture even before one took in the halo and the translucent ribbon, drifting about her shoulders.
The pause that followed drew out a little. With so few left, and so few decisions left to make, there was very little left to say no matter how awkward it felt, leaping straight into reciting who was going to be next to die. *Minerva took a breath.
"Connie, your ability to perform in nearly every challenge, despite only occasional wins, has served you well. Counting votes, you have four Life Points."
*Minerva took a moment to smile at her declared 'chee friend, while Cybele chimed in with the next: "Pity? You were doing super well, too! Then that treasure orb exploded in your face, so this time you have two life points."
'Nother tiny longer pause with *Minerva, but she went on - "Daniel, you finish this round with six life points, securing a sudden, definitive lead. We have been told to let you know that everyone enjoying your shared performance has been delighted by the surprises that you have given us all at every turn."
Normally this was when the redundant talk of winners and losers for the round would come up, but instead Cybele spoke once again, again clearly having been prompted. "We don't know what you were thinking Pity, but your little plan to make these two vote for eachother went super wrong! What happened? Did you really just screw up guessing which one was going to lose?"
Really, Cybele being directed to say these pointed, less than in-character things might be getting a little grating for everyone not wanting the cubs to get a good needling. Even *Minerva shot her a look that was a combination of upset and ire -
And then she was with Pity. Maybe she was forestalling any immediate answer to Cybele's prompted teasing, but there were her paws on Pity's, soft and warm and inescapable as she gave that forced little smile. Looked up at the slightly taller, slightly older-looking cub -
"Pity... it is time for you to go. Do you have anything you would like to say, before I take you to your elimination?"
And so Pity had her moment. Once again, everything paused while she was given time to say her piece - although a viewpoint orb or two did pop into view, some folks watching clearly wanting to make absolutely sure she knew her words weren't going unwitnessed. At least, between this one moment of patience, and *Minerva's supportive, inescapable paws, Pity would not be able to waste her moment in the spotlight by letting the cameras provoke her again.
And then everyone was free once more. Pity and *Minerva were gone, with even the blip of their leaving muted in the stillness of the big hall. Empty but for two giant sacks of distractions, three empty tents (Petal's had disappeared during the meeting), an ignorant cheetah, a traumatised rabbit, and a little sheepgirl rocking happily back and forth on her heels.
(Summary
- Second half of the prompt! There will be no voting this time.
- Numbers for this time were Connie: 4, Daniel: 6, and Pity: 2.
Remaining Cubs
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- Cub reactions and freeplay Here
- Predator reactions and freeplay Here
- Audience reactions Here