The Grand Hall of the Main Feline Clan pulsed with tension masked by opulence.
Chandeliers made from crystallized beast cores hung from vaulted ceilings, casting golden light across marble floors inlaid with patterns of hunting cats. Long tables stretched the length of the hall, laden with roasted meats, exotic fruits, and wine that glimmered like liquid rubies.
Hundreds of catkin nobles and warriors filled the space—most with sleek black fur, some with white, others with silver streaks running through their hair.
Their ears twitched with every sound, tails swishing as they conversed in low, careful tones.
But all eyes kept drifting toward the elevated platform at the hall's far end.
Three thrones sat there. Massive. Carved from obsidian and adorned with gold filigree depicting ancient feline deities mid-hunt. Each throne was occupied.
