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Elly seemed satisfied with this, and had she perhaps been more educated in Egyptian traditions she would have known the depth of the damage that her initial attack would do, but if it got the job done then she would do what was needed. Just thinking about it had her grinning with wicked delight, her eyes narrowing with the toothy grin.

Matifu, beside the goddess, nearly shuddered at the sight. The deity was definitely hungering for a use for her power as she had suggested on the trip back. His other recruit(s) hadn't made it yet, but he'd managed to find one or two others that were supposed to be trailing them here.

He glanced to Laini instead, and then the new arrivals, the orange lioness seemed especially eager to get started as well. Her black pelted mate, Nukta, however, seemed a bit more reluctant as he kept pace a few steps back.

Matifu's muzzle brushed Laini briefly in encouragement. They'd fight for their home, and he was confident to win.

(( Tahja, yeah, forgive me for that. ))

"Your welcome soothes me, Johari, I simply wished I knew where my mate was in such times as this."

Azra stepped forth with the group and looked out around them. Not too far off, another sight she would not have imagined herself seeing. Yet another winged divine being. She was aware of Gods and Goddesses, but since her relationship began with Athrun, he was the only one she knew. To see another was still out of the ordinary for her. She looked at her with amazement and admiration. Perhaps one day, she will be able to see what it is like to fly side by side with her mate and no being taxied around like a helpless cub in the maws of its parent. The orange lioness stepped toward her, then took two steps back. Something about talking to a Goddess, one that looked so... aggressive, was something she was very hesitant about. Even during the times Athrun, someone she knew so much about, she was afraid when his powers became full bloom. She must find another time when the air was not so tense to seek her out.

Anyone who saw her touch her belly just now could have gotten that hint, hopefully, they don't start any rumors or anything. She would rather have Athrun find out through her maw than anyone else's. She could only hope that this battle was fought quickly and finished just the same. She must be sure that all survive, their litters (if they have any) were born, and their pride was a safe place for them to live.

Her violet eyes looked up into the sky, slowly glancing down to the horizon, speaking to the side.

"Athrun... I pray you, make haste with your return."

((No worries Phife, and yeah Laefe, that's fine.

To clarify a few points, though, guys: 1: As it says in her first post Elly's wings are hidden. The only ones that would know what she really is right now are those that, well, KNOW Elly XD or Athrun as a fellow god. The idea is to catch the vultures off guard.

2: Johari, Safiya, and Azra are actually no where near the group getting ready to go fight. They're at a den with the cubs, watching the sun set.

*cracks knuckles* Let's kick this party off. *goes to type post*))

((Note - DWers of old believed their kings were demigods, that their aspect of the Sun, Jua, at times used them as vessels. It's purely a spiritual thing and I'm not claiming Muro is a god or seer~))

Muroki had led those in his fighting group to their position, one of a pawful of such groups. They lay on their fronts at the ready on a nearby dune and watched over the edge as the young goddess struck the first blow to the Temple's invaders. His eyes were narrowed to golden slits against the sand but they blazed anyway, full of anger. Jua was in him, as the old Dawnwalkers would have said. He was a vengeful god. Scorching and fiery in war, rather than life giving and warm in times of peace. If the Temple had to suffer the sting of a sandstorm, so be it, it was like using dreaded leeches to help purify a wound. Horrid but useful.

As soon as the tornadoes that the goddess raised were over, he let his eyes open further and was the first to stand, and roar a lone battle cry. Then he was speeding towards the door appointed to his team, beloved Kainda running at one side and a recruited cheetah called Uri spiriting easily on the other. They'd chosen a side door, one that wasn't so easily noticed, and Muroki found his first little group of confused vultures in one hallway inside.

He and his fellows pounced at the grounded and confused birds and took vengence with fang and tooth and claw. It was darker inside that the dusk outside, for no human torches had blazed in the corridors for a thousand years. They came as shadows and left trailing blood and feathers. Onwards and downwards - to where the slaves were kept.

The chaos inside didn't stop simply because Elly's initial attack was done. The girl was on a rampage, but was still just one being. Though she was doing plenty of damage it was still going to take the rest of the pride to win the fight. As she waited for Muroki to lead his other warriors in she kept up the assault. Brown paws smacked birds aside, batting more right out of the air. Fangs flashed, sinking into exposed necks and flinging corpses about. Her wings, now fully exposed, also smacked birds away where they could, acting almost as shields. As feathers scattered the birds would no doubt wonder if this being was a goddess and not, in fact, a demon.

Inwardly, Elly was only temporarily enjoying the thrill of her first "battle", and simply wouldn't allow herself to think of anything but the goal at hand.

Kill the birds. Clear the temple. Win back the lands. That's what goddesses and gods did, protect their prides, protect their people. If they gave her something to fight for, so be it, she wouldn't question it. It meant she had a purpose, something she'd began to feel was sorely lacking since she hadn't seen Mrost again.

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((Will post for Kirara, Matifu, and Nukta tomorrow/later today.))

Down in the chambers underground, where the Egyptian humans, dead two thousand years now, were sealed behind the walls, slaves lay dead as well. Many had been mobbed by huge gangs of birds in the enclosed space days ago or even killed by a lion whose loyalty was truly with their avian masters. Some had been sent away before hand, to be slaves elsewhere, traded away or kept. One had even escaped weeks ago, finding the newly formed pride when she was out on a hunting trip.

And some now fought for their freedom as the birds were confused and their ranks thinned, and roars came from the floor above.

Takasika didn't know where Hisani was and in the back of his mind hoped she'd managed to sneak away. But he had other more immediate worries. He was busy keeping himself on his paws and cooly killing each of his attackers one by one. If he went down and too many attacked at once, beating wings and beaks and talons would have been too much.

At the other end of the room, where the ramp to the floor above was, came a shout of his name. Muroki had come as he'd promised. Taka was glad but knew that most of his fellow slaves were gone. Escaped to freedom or taken to be slaves elsewhere or shredded. As one of the birds near him was felled by a heavy blow from his king's paw, Taka knew which of the three groups he fell under.

He was one of those who'd got their freedom.