Furious to the point of not thinking straight, Tyrian lunged for the dead lamb hanging from the jaws of a marauding tiger. He’d purchased two lambs from trader the prior day and was on his way back to the pack when a tiger, spying an easy meal, lunged from the foliage. The small lamb was dead before Tyrian knew what was happening.

He clung to the neck of the lamb and wretched at it in blind fury. Though it may have been dead already Tyrian would be damned if he let the cat get away with its stolen prize.

A swipe from the cat forced Tyrian to duck and the instinctive action managed to knock some sense into him. He was face to face with a much bigger clawed predator and well within striking distance. Unwise.

He let go and began to circle the tiger. His mission was still the same; he wasn’t going to let the cat get away with the lamb. Tyrian’s pride simply wouldn’t allow it.

The cat glanced away as the still living lamb began to cry in alarm and Tyrian seized the opportunity to strike. He lunged forward and attempted to rake his fangs down the tiger’s haunch.

Aurielle Adravendi

She’d ventured further from Valhalla, much to Loshir’s displeasure. His charge was in season, and he never liked it when she went out alone during these times, even if he was with her. But she was headstrong, restless, and would do as she liked for the most part, and today was no exception. She’d headed south, intending to scout out the other packs and get an idea of where they were, perhaps see if she could get in touch with Ashen. She was glad she’d chosen to wear her armor today—these briars would have been hell on the mane, and they already tugged at her tail as she slipped and slithered her way through the small pathways in the veritable maze of thorny plants. However, a commotion up ahead brought her out of her careful travel and right into alertness. A lamb? She bolted toward the thrashing sounds of a fight, catching glimpses through the foliage as she sallied through. Tiger? Behind her Loshir growled a threat that she’d be closed in the alcoves if she took this risk, but she’d already spotted the wolf circling the striped cat and the lamb and made her decision. Loshir bit back a snarl and tore after her. She’d circled, more carefully now and angled around the big cat., aiming for the other haunch as the larger wolf made his attach for the haunch. The tiger had whipped around to fend him off, and instead of the haunch she'd originally aimed for, she found a better target presented to her and slashed for the rib cage as she swerved to come alongside the big cat. The tiger bellowed in surprise and pain, whirling to face the source with claws loaded for bear, and she wove to the side under a swipe, leaving the side open for Loshir as the mountain lion leapt from the briers on the other side and tackled into the tiger, hind claws raking as his front claws found purchase on the tiger’s back, jaws clamping on its scruff as he sought to unbalance the cat. The tiger twisted, attempting to reach the mountain cat, but with its mouth full of lamb, it couldn't fend the smaller cat off, and opened itself to the two wolves. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Tyrian managed a glancing blow as the tiger whipped around to fend him off. He braced to get mobbed as the large, faster predator turned to face him, and was surprised when it suddenly whipped around with a yowl to face the other direction. It was then Tyrian noticed the other wolf and her companion. He'd been so focused on the tiger that Aurielle's approach had gone unnoticed. The tiger, it seemed, was just as surprised (perhaps more so as it had been wounded in the reveal) as he. A hoot from the trees signaled the arrival of Tashi, who was no doubt armed with a long spear.

The addition of allies changed Tyrian's demeanor considerably. He was still pissed about the lamb but now his odds of doing real harm were far better and he had room to be gleefully smug. A raucous and mean-spirited laugh left his lips as he watched the tiger glanced around quickly in the hopes of piecing together a plan of defense. That's right, buddy. The tables had turned. Tiger was now on defense.

He dove in while the tiger struggled with the mountain lion. Again he went for the rump. Distracted or not by the smaller cat on its back, the front of the big cat was still the worst place to be. Tyrian reared up and sunk his claws into both of the tiger's hips while raking his canines down the cat's rump. As he did so it occurred to him that he could have gone for a stabbing blow - something he was used to not doing as his fights were rarely serious enough to warrant a potentially lethal blow - and he mentally kicked himself. Next time he'd stab. He didn't wish to kill the tiger per se, but dammit, he wanted to fucking win.

Aurielle Adravendi

She danced ahead of the bear’s angry swipes until Domari and Eligos once again caught its attention with a fresh volley of attacks. She saw Domari go flying, caught a glimpse of his head knock into the ground. Her fellow wolf seemed thrilled by the turn of events, or perhaps he was crazy—his laugh reached her ears as she kept her eyes on the tiger and Loshir as the smaller cat sank his claws into the tiger to keep astride. His larger cousin was not pleased with being ridden, and much less pleased by the claws raking into his stripy hide, and the wolves were forgotten for a few beats as he tried to rid his back of his unwanted passenger. That was until the long sabered male threw himself back into the fight from behind. Aurielle was pretty sure she’d just seen a wolf flex his claws in no way that a wolf should be able to do, but then again, she was glowing. To be honest, she’d have been thrilled to find herself with tiger claws instead of glowing fur. As Tyrian raked the tiger with claws and fangs, the big cat boomed that iconic tiger roar, filled with fury and pain as it twisted toward it’s read, forgetting the cougar in favor of trying to rip the big male wolf’s face off. Aurielle ducked in from the opposite side it had turned, aiming for the cat’s rib cage behind the foreleg and sinking her canines into the cat, managing to mangle the muscles there, though her desire was to reach between the ribs with a fang. She ripped free, anticipating the tiger’s reaction and already well out of range as the cat staggered with the new injury. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Success! Blood exploded across his tongue as his teeth scored the tiger's hide. The roar he elicited temporarily deafened him; causing his ears to ring painfully with the sound. Tyrian flinched and recoiled backwards quickly expecting fangs or claws to catch him at any moment. The attack never came as the other wolf dealt a blow that earned her the cat's undivided attention in a flash. She had clearly done some damage as the cat was quick to disengage from the both of them and back up far enough to try to assess its current condition. Somewhere in the mix the tiger had dropped the lamb so Tyrian, feeling cheeky, darted forward, snatched it off the ground and tossed it over his shoulder so that it was well out of the tiger's reach.

"Oh ho," he chortled meanly with a pink-tinged smile. "Somebody's about to pull a runner. Not so tough now, eh pussy cat?" The tiger did appear to be on the verge of throwing in the towel. It still snarled and threatened but its stance was now more cowed and defensive than anything else. A couple more hits or threats from the wolves and Tyrian was willing to bet the tiger would turn tail.

Alright, time to help it make up its mind. Tyrian threw himself at the tiger with a snarl. He appeared as though he were going to slam into its side and savage it, but it was only a feint. Before contact was made both he and the tiger sprang away from each other. Tyrian eyed the tiger smugly. The lack of attack on its part said volumes. It was on the defensive; all it would take now was a nudge to send it packing.

Aurielle Adravendi

With two wolves to contend with, it seemed that this tiger, at least, was smart enough to know when it was outmatched. She had to remind herself that this tiger wasn’t anywhere near her pack. As the sabered male feinted, and the tiger retreated rather than attacked, Aurielle circled to give it an avenue of escape as Loshir slapped a paw full of claws into its face and leapt away. The tiger broke and ran as the Spirit snaked forward and tagged its shoulder while it was focused on Loshir. As the crashing of its large body faded into the distance, Aurielle turned to the lamb the tiger had clearly stolen from this young male. It was breathing, but she doubted it would survive even with skilled medical help. Sheep could be so very fragile. The shock of the whole experience could probably kill it. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

And just like that the tiger was gone. Tyrian watched it go with no small amount of glee. His mirth faded as he realized the lamb was still alive. It had hung so limply in the tiger's jaws he'd thought it was already gone. Welp, there was no saving it. The tiger's deep bite on its lower back and Tyrian's own marks on its neck spelled the end for the little baby. Best not let it suffer.

Aggravated, he stepped forward and quickly killed it; even going so far as to afford its death more care than he'd give the average prey animal. After all it would have made a fine addition to his flock and it was dead because he couldn't protect it. Tyrian tsked in disappointment and shook his head before glancing over at the bushes where he'd flung the survivor. At least he still had the one. He retrieved its rope and then turned back to the woman who'd helped him. "Thanks for your help, couldn't have sent that bastard packing without you."