Lord Venatio's temple wasn't as grand as either Lord Sidus', who was the patron god of Redwood Stars, or Lord Virtus, whose importance to any city was almost always second to its patron god, but it also wasn't small by any means. He was the Lord of the Hunt, the one that watched over those that killed in order to provide. His domain was a dangerous one to the bound races, those that were considered animals like the gods that had shaped them as much as people because some hunters believed that all animals should be hunted.
They stepped through the temple, Bris still escorting her and Luri keeping a gentle hand on her other arm so as not to be separated. Bris lead the way to the door that was swiftly growing familiar to her, placed in the same location no matter the layout of the temple, that led to its inner sanctum.
Ash saw that sanctum for only a brief second before everything around her changed. She went from a natural wild clearing in which a hunter might take their rest to the depths of a dangerous forest within a single blink. Bris and Luna were gone as well, which told her that Lord Venatio had brought her awareness to the realm of the gods in some small way.
A strong hand curled around her wrist, fingers tipped with sharp claws that rested against her skin as if they were part of a threat. Stepping out of the darkness that surrounded them, Lord Venatio pulled her close and grinned to expose the same sharp canines as Tenebris, "Hello gorgeous," he said, before laughing at the confused look on her face, "My dearest Prudentia has spoken at length as to how the child of Lord Sidus shines and I can see why young Tenebris seems taken with you."
The fingers around her wrist tightened ever so slightly, the light threat solidifying into something far more tangible, "But I didn't bring you here to fawn over how pretty you are, of course. I did it to make a point to a bunch of fools and I trust that the Lord of Connections will assist with it. Your soul is in my grasp, daughter of Lord Sidus. Were it my intent, as many think, to destroy the race bound to him I could easily do so right this moment. I did not begin the Grand Hunt. I do not sanction the Grand Hunt. My own child will see it ended," his other hand moved, sharp claws touching under her chin, "And I hope you will eagerly offer him your assistance."
Almost as if summoned, Bris' power curled around her and practically yanked her out of Lord Venatio's grasp. Blinking to clear her blurry vision and waiting for the ringing in her ears to subside, she grumbled, "No need to be so violent, I was safe."
"When it comes to my father," Bris said a bit coldly, "Safe is a word, not an assurance," he moved to meet the very god's gaze, "What threats were you throwing around, father?"
Venatio stalked forward, every movement that of a predator and his gaze was still firmly on Ashterra, "That is none of your business as mine has not yet concluded. Let's play a little hunting game, daughter of Lord Sidus."
Ash remembered a conversation with Lord Sidus quite some time prior suddenly, a gentle reminder that some gods required one to prove themselves worthy before holding conversation with mortals. Though many waived that for the bound races, Lord Venatio had been among those listed that generally didn't.
"What are your terms, Lord of the Hunt?" She asked to confirm things were as she expected them to be. While he was the Lord of the Hunt and, generally, the one in the position of the hunter, he also valued strength greatly and his challenges usually leaned towards that.
"I know you can evade me for any time I decide to give you," his voice was low and dangerous, "You are his child after all and as powerful as he is, he remains more likely to flee combat than face it unless given no other choice. I want to see your strength, to see if you have what it takes to strike me."
Ash nodded and stepped away from both Bris and Luna, weaving a few spells as she did so.
"You are, as your father, terrible at bluffing, if you think I don't realize those arrows are fake," he said coldly just before she faded from sight as Fel did when using a stealth ability, the arrows disappearing in their entirety.
Despite that, his eyes seemed to still be tracking her as he sighed heavily, muttering under his breath, "Atrocious at bluffing."
Luna was also muttering under her own breath, "Asha, Asha, you can't do this," she stepped forward just a bit, drawing a small glance from Lord Venatio, "Please, I implore you, call this off, Lord Venatio."
He snorted slightly and turned away from her, "Distracting me from your friend is not a wise decision. Her inability to fulfill the task I gave her is her own problem, priestess. As you are just here to confirm that one," he waved at Bris, "Is my son, your purpose is fulfilled without further need to bother me."
Bris watched as the priestess paled considerably when the god turned his attention away from her, muttering under her breath the entire time. Considering that, like his father, he could find Ashterra by her scent alone her complaints made little sense. She seemed to be muttering about just how bad of an idea it was to issue such a challenge to the Starborn Unicorn.
His father was done with waiting, stalking towards where Ash's scent was as he spoke a bit scornfully, "Little unicorn, you should know that illusion magic only does so much. It cannot cover your scent and I grow bored of your indecision."
Ash chose that moment to act, appearing not where her scent emanated from but in the air behind the Lord of the Hunt. One of his own weapons was gripped in her hand and she quite boldly tackled him to the ground to place that blade against the back of his neck.