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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:41 pm
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A small smile on his own maw, Ufunuo looked to Hifadhi. He liked it much better when Hifadhi smiled, when he wasn't angry or yelling. It may have been only a small look, but to Ufunuo, it meant the world, and though the danger remained and the fear had not passed, Ufunuo could not help but feel reassured. Everything would be okay, no matter what happened, he had Hifadhi and Ubele and Daga too. And they were all going to go help Ngao and everyone else too.
"It's okay, I didn't mean to make you angry."
Wait, what had Daga said? They were being watched, by who, and why? He didn't understand, there seemed to be a lot he didn't understand today. He paused on the briefest moment, eyes searching for whatever Daga had meant, quickening his steps again to stay at the old lion's side.
"What is--"
The question never escaped his jaws, but it didn't matter because the answer had show itself, heralded by an ear piercing caw, the beat of heavy black wings. His maw hung open, eyes wide in horror.
"V-vultures!"
Amid the commotion, there was another cry, a shriek of fury and rage. No, those beasts would not harm these lions, his mission would not fail, he would not allow it! His own talons bared, Daga threw himself into the fray. In Hestia's name, he would not allow this to happen.
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:41 am
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Ufunuo yelped in horror, crouching against the earth, his eyes fixed skyward. Darkness, like a mass of shadow, filling the air with the horrible sound of wing beats and thundering caws. He might have thought back to a short time ago, to that day the five cubs had been chased back to their den by a vulture, but if he had been frightened then, it was nothing compared to the terror he felt now.
There were so many of them, though he dared not try to count them. But why were they attacking, he didn't understand. Why was this happening now? Ngao, Peke and Kuruka, Dumu, why was it all happening? Why couldn't things just be how they had been before the quake?
But he couldn't dwell on why now, dark talons made that clear. A sharp hiss escaped his maw as talons caught his back, turning to a growl as he reeled, a paw raised to swat at the vulture that had snapped at his ear.
"Ubele! Ubele where are you?!"
He called to his sister, eyes straining to find her through the dark shadows. He had to find her, to protect her, he could not allow any one else he held dear to be lost.
The vultures were relentless, cawing almost manically with each strike, lashing with talons, powerful beaks snapping at tender hide. They struck with terrifying order, as if they had a goal in mind, working together to accomplish one task. But did they seek to drive or to kill? Or worse?
Eyes narrowed in the gaze of a predator, Daga dove at the vultures, talons catching one beast by the neck, throwing it to the earth below, diving again to chase another from Ufunuo's back. Despicable creatures, this could not be allowed!
But hopelessly outnumbered, Daga could not hope to defeat them all, nor did he think that the old lion could defeat so many alone, not with two cubs to protect. They would have to find another way, perhaps escape was their best option.
"We can't fight them all, we have to get out of here!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:02 pm
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Ubele's small form surged through the dark shadows. She'd barely been able to stop when she'd heard Hifadhi's voice, but somehow, she had managed. She'd been loathe to turn back, but she wasn't even sure if she was going the right way. Instinct was pulling her back, but she couldn't be certain without the adult lion to guide them.
Now she walked next to them, head lowered, dejected. All she could see was the face of Ngao, blood dripping, and the looming shadow. She'd been so engrossed in the image, that she hadn't notice the real fall of shadow over her own face. It wasn't until she heard Ufu call out a warning that she noticed the menacing birds circling closer to them.
Sharp pain laced her side as talons brushed close, attempting to scoop her up. Ubele quickly threw herself to the side, hissing through her teeth at the pain and the dark form above her. She swiped out with her claws extended, and felt grim satisfaction at the impact of paw on feathers. The force of her own push sent her reeling into a nearby bush. Ignoring the sharp prickles, she forced herself to stay low and scanned the nearby area.
A voice called out for her, her brother. She had to answer.
"Ufu! Ufunuo! I'm over here!" Her eyes scanned the area desperately. When she finally found him, she reared back in terror. A whole flock of vultures were attacking him and Hifadhi. Roaring with fury, she hurried over and began swiping at anything she could sink her claws into. She growled as loud as she could, taking her frustration and her fear out on the birds that had dared to slow them down.
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:13 pm
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Hifadhi roared and swipped at the vultures as they dove towards the lions, "Get under me cubs!" He told them, not wanting the vultures to try and fly off with the much smaller lions, "Pepo! How many can you hold off?!" He called out, taking another swipe and knocking a vulture right out of the sky as he did so.
"Enough!" The bird called, striking out at a vultures eyes as he flew beside Daga, "Take the hidden route! The vultures won't be able to reach you there! Not all at once!" He called back, swooping in so that he could speak to Hifadhi. Then he moved back into the sky, "Go now! We'll catch up!" He snapped.
"Cubs!" He said quickly, moving them together before he struck out another vulture with one paw... but the strain was getting to him... They had to move fast, or he knew he wouldn't have the strength to protect them... There were just too many vultures, "Run left until you find a cliff face! Go now! I'll protect you from behind! Run and listen to what I say but get to the cliff face!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:23 pm
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"Ubele!"
He called again, frantically searching through the shadows. An ear twitched, he heard her, then suddenly she was at his side and relief swept through him, as long as he knew where she was it would be okay, they just had to stay together.
Latching onto Hifadhi's voice, he dashed for the older lion, a sharp yelp escaping him as a vulture struck at his tail, his own claws striking out, batting the creatures away from himself as best he could. Ubele, he had to keep her in sight, Daga, where was Daga?
The eagle shrieked, a feather torn from his own wing, his head snapping toward his attacker in fury. How dare these beasts strike him, how dare they strike at these lions, they would pay dearly for their insolence, he would see to it personally.
"Go now! I'll be right behind you!"
Ufunuo hesitated only long enough to be certain his sister was at his side, following Hifadhi's, he ran, paws pounding against the earth with each stride. His heart raced, his breath hard, hurry, faster, safety was only a few strides away.
There it was, the cliff, there they would find safety. He was almost there, another step, he had made it. Now he could only hope the others had followed behind.
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:29 am
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Ubele managed to get a few good swipes at the insulting vultures, though she felt stinging pain across her back, side, and her ears. Gritting her teeth, she continued to growl and attack and Ufunuo's side. But then, her brother wasn't there. Glancing around frantically, he saw him running towards a nearby cliff face. The overhanging rock would protect them from the vicious vultures.
She heard a voice, an unfamiliar voice, calling out. She assumed it was the new bird who was fighting on their side. At least the eagle seemed to be interested in the welfare of Hifadhi, herself, and Ufu, so she listened. Her paws pounding against the dirt, she ran after her brother, eyes fixed on his familiar form.
She had almost reached the safety, when she felt the sharp p***k of talons on her skin as one of the birds attempted to scoop her up. Shrieking in fury, she turned her head and bit the birds side as hard as she could. The bird dropped her with a shriek of its own and she hit the ground running, quickly making the last few steps to safety.
She hurled herself against her brother's side, overjoyed to see that despite a few minor injuries, he was safe. Once she was tucked in next to them, she scanned the area looking for Hifadhi. She hoped that the older lion had seen their destination and was following.
"Hifadhi? Where are you?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:30 pm
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Ufunuo sighed in relief, nudging his sister gently as if to assure himself that she was alright as much as he wished to assure her that he was still there. There were safe, they had escaped. Sensing the escape of their quarry, the defeated vultures had fled, disappearing into the sky as quickly as they had appeared.
The threat gone, Ufunuo breathed deeply, trying to calm his breath, to slow his racing heart. He was exhausted, his body ached, suddenly aware of the sting of shallow cuts on his back and one ear. He wanted to just collapse there, to just lay down and rest and forget all that had happened. But he couldn't, not now, not yet, they still had to get home, they had to get back to Ngao.
Unharmed but for a few ruffled feathers, Daga followed the lions, relief in his own eyes that none of them had not be seriously harmed. They would have to be more cautious from now on, he doubted the vultures would give up so easily. Though they had been beaten for now, they would likely return later, when they held the advantage again.
But for now, they were safe, and gliding at Ufunuo's side, Daga would follow them home, to the pride that waited for them. And he would protect his young friend each step of the way, and each step thereafter.
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Posted: Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:32 am
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Hifadhi finally made it under the cliff with the cubs, but they couldn't stop. Not yet. He let out a sigh of relief, slowing down at least and ignoring his injuries, "Come on... we're safe, let's keep moving..." He whispered to them, making sure that neither one of the cubs had been badly hurt.
Pepo swept down after them, landing on Hifadhi's shoulder, "Looks like they aren't following... they know they can't fly under here, not without getting what they should get." The bird mentioned, ruffling his feathers, "All and all, good show everyone."
"Good show..." Hifadhi said with a sigh of relief, "Yes, good show indeed..." They had made it. They were all still alive. Really, he counted all of that as being an extremely good sign.
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