[VIKING-SRP] Unexpected rescue (Holmgier x Zabuni x Ruyken)

[Tanakako]

Zabuni would have fallen over with relief if she had not already been laying down.. the leopard was finally leaving! A deep sigh rattled through her chest, but then the lion looked over and she froze again. Now… had she just escaped the fire to end up in the flood? Or was he simply going to let her go, or not speak to her at all?

The last was answered immediately as he walked closer and spoke to her. But on the plus side he didn’t attack… so there was hope. “ I… ah…” She stumbled, her voice a shaky, tiny thing that barely passed from her muzzle. Swallowing she tried again. “Th-thank you…”

His steady golden gaze wasn’t angry or violent… and after a moment she started to settle, the terror leaking away to let exhaustion take hold. So it took her a moment or three to realise what else he had said. Again? How would he do that…? “I… hu?” She finally uttered, eyes blinking helplessly as her post I-am-about-to-die brain struggled to make any sense of the situation.  

[Tanakako]

She was in shock. Well, that was no surprise considering the ordeal she had just been through. He didn’t smile, that was not something the reaver was much known for, but he did move closer, standing next to her and nosing her shoulder to encourage her to get up. “Lean on me if you have to. We have a way to go as yet before you can sleep.” After a little more nudging she seemed to rouse herself and stood, albeit rather shakily, and leaned heavily into his side. The pressure made his fresh wounds throb and smeared her white coat with red, but he ignored both and, with a little more verbal prodding, got her walking forwards.

His fellow reavers had caught up during the fight but had stayed back, knowing he hadn’t needed any backup and respecting his claim to the white female. Now they moved forwards, surrounding Hólmgeir and his prize, both as a defensive ring around the lioness and as guards so she wouldn’t run off. Not that Hólmgeir thought she had any desire to.. he could feel her shaking as they walked, her slight body pressed against his own from sheer exhaustion more than anything.  

[Tanakako]

Lean on him? Sleep..? Nothing he said made any sense to her, but she was too drained to bother questioning him. He wasn’t going to hurt her right now, and instead had promised to keep her safe… And then let her sleep soon. That was all she cared about. At his persistent prodding she finally rose wearily to her paws, her lame leg held awkwardly up off the ground. Leaning heavily into him, more from necessity than anything, she limped along beside him, not even realising her white fur was becoming stained with red. She didn’t even notice the other ions that formed a loose circle around her and her unexpected rescuer until they were well on their way. By then she was so tired she couldn’t ever wonder at their presence, but simply accepted it and focused on putting one paw in front of the other while trying to keep as much weight off her sore limb as possible.

He had promised she could rest soon… That was all she wanted now.

As obedient as any cub she limped along with her new master, unaware that she was now his property and destined to live under his rule for the rest of her life.