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He was barely winded. Keeping the lioness moving was a simple task, leaving Ruyken to mull over the past. Not the distant past mind you, no way did he ever voluntarily remember that messed up section of time. No, what bugged him was the escalating activity of a certain band of lions. First he had run into a whole group of them and they had attacked his scouting party without any warning whatsoever. Having managed to drive those off he had then found several scent trails some time later, all belonging to the same few lions. One of which he was sure he remembered from that first attack. And the latest? He had been collecting a lioness under orders from the High Lord, only to have her taken from him by yet another band of lions. They had looked weirdly similar in their big builds, thicker than normal fur and the trinkets they seemed fond of, woven into the manes and worn on various parts of their bodies. The scent hadn't been there, but one very similar had... Most certainly of the same family.

Now thanks to those meddlers, he had been forced to abandon that female and locate another. He had finally run into a suitable candidate and was now in the process of taking her back to the Nguvu. All he had to do was drive her the rest of the way and he would finally be done with this rediculas mission.

Pain lanced through her rump as the leopard attacked yet again, causing her to stumble. Fresh agony shot through her front paw. Tearing another sound of distress free. Staggering to the side she held the paw up, the throbbing making it impossible for her to set it down again. Baring her fangs at the leopard she hissed, terrified and shaking.

She was certain she was going to die now. The pain was so bad she knew she couldn't outrun the leopard any more, and she didn't be,I've he would just let her go. Pinning her ears she lunged at him, fear driving her to make a last ditch attempt at saving herself. Of course he easily dodged her and snarled in reply, his front paw lifting to, she assumed, swipe at her again. But suddenly he froze, his head snapping round to stare at something off to the side. But she didn't dare take her gaze away from him, knowing it would be the last mistake she ever made.

Another roar followed the first as Hólmgeir charged towards the leopard. At least the creature was no longer attacking the lioness. Pushing her from his thoughts as he thundered towards the leopard he focused solely on his opponent. Lowering his head to protect his throat he charged headfirst into the red and black cat. Colliding with a huge thud, his momentum was so great that both lion and leopard went tumbling across the dusty ground. Of course the leopard was faster and it had already sprung to its paws as he scrambled to his own. Watching as it circled him, hissing fiercely, he calmly followed it. Turning his body on the spot to avoid presenting his flank he roared again, testing the leopard with a sharp swipe of sharp claws.

These interfering sons of vultures were really starting to get under his fur. Fangs bared he roared right back, easily twisting aside to dodge the swipe and launching his own attack, lunging sideways he lashed out, claws sinking deep into the dark fur of the lion. Blood streamed from the lacerations as Ruyken jumped clear, fully expecting the lion to go into a frenzy. When he didn’t, but simply maintained his defensive posture, Ruyken snarled, his fury only driving higher when it became obvious his opponent was no rank novice, but a seasons professional. Damnit! This would just drag out the fight. One thing he knew about lions, that no matter how strong and fit he was, their warriors inherently had the advantage in both size and weight. He wouldn’t be able to wear this one down through slash and dash tactics.

Incensed beyond reason he dashed forwards again, this time launching himself directly up onto the back of the lion. Claws sunk deep into the muscular shoulders as deadly sharp fangs struggled to reach flesh through the thick course mane that protected the lion’s back.

Transfixed to the spot Zabuni could only watch helplessly as the two fighting males tore at each other. Blood splattered the dry earth, mixing with the dust they kicked up to form a grizzly red mud. Trembling she sank lower, ears and tail flat as she watched, wide-eyed, stunned by the sheer violence and fury the two unleashed. Every blow felt like it thundered through her own body and every roar made her bones vibrate. The suddenly the leopard was on top of her maybe-rescuer and Zabuni couldn’t help but cry out in despair. Surely he was done for now! But then he literally tore the smaller cat off himself and tossed it away like the red and black creature weighed nothing. The leopard went tumbling, tail and legs flailing as it struggled to stop and right itself.

Terrified now for the brave lion as well as herself, the slender white female pressed herself flat to the ground, eyes like sauces as she watched the brutal battle unfolding.

Hólmgeir watched as the lopeard rose to his paws, ignoreing the now sharp throb in his shoulders and side. It was a minor annoyance for now and wouldn't start to impeed his ability to fight until much later. Tomorrow would be the worst, once he stiffened up and the wounds started to scab over, every movement would break them open and he would be itching for days. A trip to the ocean for a bath wa sin order, he reasoned, gaze still carefully watching the leopard as it hissed and roared in fury, having clearly realised its attacks were pointless.

He wanted to check the female was still there but he didn;t dare, not until the leopard gave up for good. But if she was he was going to take her as a thrall, and even if she wasn;t, she was lame... It would be an easy thing to round her up and 'capture' her. She was no warrior, but she looked in good condition so she had to be a decent hunter, and he knew Soma had been wanting some help around the den. Her own thrall would be best, instead of relying on the pride's unclaimed thralls.

Focusing back on the angry leopard he stayed still, waiting for it to give up.

Snarling he started to carefully move away, walking backward in case the male decided to finally attack. But the lion just stood there, body bunched and ready, those eyes pinning him like a bug on the sand. Once he was a safe distance back and out of leaping range, he turned and set off, tail curled high and one ear trained on the two lions behind him. Yet another failure… this ‘easy’ mission was turning out to be a pain in his rear.

He would just have to find yet another lioness to capture... God's above he was sick of this running around. He would snag the first damn rogue he found then go home and not leave his cave for a week!