[PRP] Get out [Ethi & Peke]

[wooga Paes]

"...Zay." He hadn't even been paying that much attention when Ethiopia spoke, but her tone was unusual, and Dire Dawa was immediately alert. He'd blinked up at his companion, and did the best a bird could to frown. "Go get help." He remembered tilting his head, and wanting to ask a question, because she had just killed a gazelle and frankly, he was hungry, but the avian had good enough sense to look around. And immediately take off and fly away as fast as he could.

Dire Dawa couldn't waste time with silly questions, he just knew he had to find someone to come help. Because that just wasn't a very normal sight, and it could end up badly. If it didn't... better safe than sorry! He just knew he better hurry, before it was too late!  

[Nuxaz]

"Peke," Nguvu called, swooping low towards the scruffy lion.

He looked up, brow crinkling in confusion at the raven's tone. "Is something wrong?" He asked carefully, it was rare for there to be such a distraught note to his bonded's voice. The slow reply worried the lion even more. "Nguvu."

The raven snapped his head down, worry outlining his features. "I see," he paused trying to recall the gray lioness's name, "Ethiopia's bonded." There was another pause, if only because he could not recall the bird's name. "I don't think I've ever seen him without her," he began to ramble, much to Peke's frustration. "He looks...worried."

Peke's ears flattened against his head as he turned away, blue eyes scanning the sky for the bird. "Find out what's wrong," he instructed to the bird since he could barely make out the bird. "Hurry."

Nguvu didn't hesitate, he flapped as fast as his wings could.  

[wooga Paes]

Zay was very glad to see someone! he could only hope he had really taken as little time as he thought he had, because else Ethiopia might already be in some real trouble. He knew she was smart enough to run if she really had to, but the gray lioness was a bit stubborn sometimes. And she probably felt the threat had to be dealt with sooner rather than later.

"Thank goodness, someone's here!" He spread his wings and swooped around to meet the approaching white raven, though he had no yet seen Peke. Amusingly enough he knew Peke better than Nguvu, because he was Ethi's friend, and not always accompanied by his bonded. "Is Peke around? Ethiopia needs help, fast! Some hyenas have invaded the valley!" Non-lion animals weren't usually weird, but hyenas in particular didn't often trespass on lion territory.

There were four, and it wasn't a threat for the pride as a whole, but for a lone lioness... especially one as pathetically clumsy as Ethiopia!

Without properly waiting for a response from the white raven, he did manage to make out Peke and dove towards him. Dire Dawa broke the dive a few feet early, flaring out his wings and grabbing at Peke's mane before hurrying back in the direction of his bonded. "Come quickly!"  

[Nuxaz]

Nguvu didn't even get a chance to react with how quickly the other bird was speaking. Just when he opened his beak to reply Zay zipped past him and towards his bonded. A disgruntled look crossed the raven's features at the other bird's actions but assumed that it was serious if he were to forgo all manners. He swooped as quickly as his weak wing would allow him to rejoin the conversation at hand.

All he had gathered was that Ethiopia was in trouble.

It was all the Peke truly picked up as well. If he were human his face would have paled in worry but as a lion his ears simply flattened against his skull and his blue eyes widened with concern. He felt his heart rate increase as he moved forward quickly. Zay's tone was urgent and almost frantic.

What had she gotten herself into this time?

"Where is she?" Peke asked, though it came out as more of a demand. "Take me to her!" They were wasting too much time.  

[wooga Paes]

Zay was glad he had found these two! His first thought had been her brother, Tanzania, but really he just needed someone. "Follow me!" He swooped around the lion and headed back towards where Ethi was.

––

Considering she was on her own, Ethi was doing okay. She was currently crouched over her recently killed gazelle, ears back and growling at three hyenas: Tibuka, Fido and Leith. Hyenas were quite a bit smaller than lions, but one of them, the brown male, was rather large, and Ethiopia herself was a bit on the small, dainty side.

If it were only for the sake of food, she probably would have given up the kill. Ethiopia hardly wanted to get killed over a measly gazelle! But they had found their way into the valley, and she didn't want to let them out of sight before they were safely removed. Afraid they might flee if she herself went out for help, she had sent Zay.

The hyenas were circling and snarling, and she pawed at them a bit hesitantly. The brown male lunged for her paw, and she recoiled angrily before springing forward for a pounce. She was no fighter, but the gray lioness would act on instinct here. She managed to knock him backwards, before being forced to let go and spin around to keep the others at bay. They nipped and bit at her, and she tried to swat at them, and though she seemed to be doing fine for now, it was clear that, if this went on too long, she would lose.

––

Really, Tibuka had spent enough time as a rogue to feel a bit less hatred towards lion, if only because it was no longer routine. But a lone one was just too tempting, especially when he was in such a foul mood after being betrayed by the Wild Dogs. His left eye (more like the hole where it used to be) was still healing. At least he was fortunate in that it hadn't killed him.

Nuxaz

 

[Nuxaz]

Where Ethiopia had little experience with outsiders, particularly those of another species, Peke had plenty. It was his job to keep those that wished to harm the pride out of it, it was his duty to patrol the lands and keep the unwanted out. Of course he was only one lion and their border patrol resources were limited at this time as were their number of guards and it was nigh impossible for him to cover the entire Aka'meli pride lands by himself. Even with how little he slept.

He wasted no time in following Ethi's bonded, even surpassed him at times with the adrenaline rush he got from the panicked feeling in his gut. He had to force himself to slow enough to allow Zay to actually lead him, that was until he saw the three hyenas and Ethi. She was clearly outnumbered and panicked swelled again. He saw a flash of his sister, when she had been helpless against her opponents and worried that though Ethi was grown she would get hurt.

He wouldn't lose someone else.

He moved forward without abandon, hoping that they would be distracted enough that they wouldn't see him coming. He crouched and lunged at the closest Hyena.

wooga paes

 

[wooga Paes]

The closest hyena just so happened to be Fido. Poor, dumb Fido. Fortunately Leith did manage to see and begin to yelp a reply, so the female of the group managed to get out of real capture. She did get a nice long slash on her side, which caused her to yelp loudly as she hurried away, also dodging Ethiopia as she went to Tibuka's side. "That hurt!" She complained weakly, ears low.

Tibuka himself growled, but didn't waste time with words. This changed things; Peke was a fully grown male, a much bigger challenge than this female. Especially when they were put together. He growled and opened the circle, followed by Leith and Fido. "We should go..." The other male mumbled. "I'm thinking."

––

Someone was coming! Ethiopia sighed in relief, and looked up to see... not Tanz, like she had expected. She always imagined her brother, when it came to helping her get out of serious trouble. For some reason she felt bad for dragging Peke into this, but at the same time... she was very happy he was here! "Peke!" She exclaimed, and went to face the hyenas at his side.

"We can't just chase them off, we gotta make sure they leave." She was certain he knew that, but Ethi also partially just wanted to gather her thoughts. If they hyena ran now, they needed to give chase.  

[Nuxaz]

He didn't hit his target like he had intended, the hyena managed to dodge just out of his range. Just out of true danger, though he was...satisfied with what he managed to inflict. "What are you doing here," he snarled. It wasn't a question, it was a demand. His blue eyes darted from each hyena, settling on Tibuka as he seemed to be the leader.

His eyes had narrowed into a glare and the color seemingly darkened in anger.

He heard Ethi's cry but didn't avert his gaze from their intruders. "Of course not," he mumbled in response to her as he moved closer to Tibuka. "What. Are. You. Doing. Here." There was more venom in his tone this time. He wanted an answer, wanted to know how three hyenas had made it into the Aka'meli unnoticed.

The idea that anyone could slip in unnoticed struck a chord within him. It was his job to protect the pride, to keep the bad out and here he was failing already.

He refused to have another repeat of his childhood. Refused.

wooga Paes

 

[wooga Paes]

As much as this was a serious situation, and she knew Peke now was not in the mood for games, she couldn't help but grin slightly. Maybe it was just the adrenaline talking. And because now she knew these hyenas were hopeless, and would be dealt with. They might have been willing to try their luck with a fully grown (if somewhat petite) lioness, but how inclined were they to hang around with an angry male?

"We're starting a daycare. Do you need a cub-sitter?" Tibuka sneered. "What does it look like? There's food here, and a hyena's gotta eat." Which meant that he had been willing to bring the three into lion territory. Perhaps that had been against his better judgement, but... desperate times, and all.

He snarled and paced to the side. He was definitely eager to attack, but Tibuka wasn't a dumb hyena. He knew there was no point in that now. He glanced to the sides at his two companions, having to turn his head a bit too much thanks to his missing eye. great, just great. Leith took a few extra steps his way, and mumbled as he passed. "Don't try and fight them. Maybe you can strike a deal."

He didn't look for Fido's opinion, because she was probably the most dim hyena he had ever met. Tibuka laid his ears. He disliked lions. He didn't not want to deal with them. But it had been rather long since they ate. "Fine. If you let us eat that," He indicated the gazelle with a tilt of his head. "We'll leave without a fuss." Not that they were in position to bargain, but...

Tibuka was being forced to come to terms with the fact that now that it was just the three of them, with him getting older and losing an eye, they weren't handling things as well. He had hoped to avoid taking certain measures, but it looked like he might have to.

Nuxaz