This place couldn't have been more horrifying, the most terrible was the smell. The air was full of the smell of rot and decay, everywhere she placed her silvery paws they'd become covered in a terrible muck. She wasn't quite sure why she'd come through this way, but here she was in the middle of the swamp. She should have turned back the first time she stepped into a puddle, but she'd been much too determined to look everywhere. What if there were a sign here? What if he'd been kidnapped and brought here? There were so many possibilities, she'd just followed into the waterlogged lands with little other thought. She should have also turned back when she got caught up in those vines earlier, after getting her legs wrapped up in the long tendrils it had sent her flying into the mud. That was why her face, and really most of her body, were covered in thick streaks of mud. That had been more than annoying and made her long for dry land again so she could get it out of her fur. She was about half way through when she stepped into the lake. She'd been focused on a trail, if you could call the almost deer trail a path, and as she continued the land would disappear from beneath her paws. Suddenly her whole body was under the muddy water. She'd slipped in with hardly a sound but immediately she knew the wrong in her life. Having grown up next to the ocean she was an excellent swimmer, but nothing had prepared her for the ick that was this swamp water. Eventually her head would reappear, and with a great breath she'd struggle to find her footing again. That was when she noticed the creature. It was easily twice her length, and she might not have seen it if the sun wasn't at the exact right position to make it's eyes reflect the light. Even as she caught sight of it the crocodile started swimming in her direction, and with little effort slipped beneath the surface. Viridian would cry out in fear as she struggled forward, she needed a tree she needed a rock! She needed to get out of the water and away from the monster behind her. ""

Zeph had absolutely no sense of direction. She loathed the swamp, simply wanting it to disappear from the lands. Yet she had returned once more in utter disappointment. Upon this particular exploration, she sought to find a better region to venture through, hoping to lead herself in a different direction away from the gulley, caves and swamp. To her dismay, she had wandered back, for a moment believing it would be a different territory though soon discovered it to be the same. The same sludgy water that she had face-planted in recently after meeting that female, the same peculiar flora, the same stench. Oh how she hated that odour, especially when she left the swamp and it still clung to her green pelt. Not that she already wasn't smelly. Originally, she planned to turn around and head back the way she came, seeing no purpose of her presence, only to hear a nearby cry break the silence. It was unlike her puppy ears had ever heard before, and having seen or experienced no danger before, she was merely curious. With large and ungraceful strides, the girl galloped over to the murky lake, where she found a silver lady trying to swim away from something. As she halted by the ledge behind the creature, scarlet eyes widened at the sight of the animal. So they really did exist! All her nightmares had come true! It was a great long beast, a monster, with its beady stare fixed on the woman. Harmless it certainly wasn't, with jaws that could swallow them both in an effortless gulp. This was danger, her first time ever encountering it face-to-face. She wasn't going to stand around and watch the poor lass get eaten; she had to do something. "I'll save you, Silver Lady!" she called out to the female before narrowing her stare at the beast, yelling dauntlessly. "Hey you! Come over 'ere!" Her distraction seemed to work, for the crocodile lazily turned its head around to find the intriguing green child screeching out. Its whole body rotated, losing interest in the woman and began to approach the pup. Fear began to trickle into her body. Uh-oh. Could it go on land? Had she really sacrificed her life for this stranger? Was this the end of her short and uneventful life? With panic imminent on her features, she cried out to the female once more, hoping she would seize the safe opportunity. "Run, Silver Lady, run!" "Speech"

Why, why couldn’t her children stay in place? Marina was once more moving like a she-demon through the lands, ears pinned flat against her head and tail flowing out behind her like a banner. First Ren, now Zeph. She knew she couldn’t protect her babies forever... But they weren’t even adults yet! Hell if she’d lose any of them. She’d need to have a talk with them all soon, very, very soon. The femme could feel worry gnawing at her heart as she tracked Zephyra into the swamp. Gods above, why did her children pick the most dangerous places? Her heart would leap to her throat as she saw the creature in the water. Making it’s way towards her baby. Oh. Hell. No. The rainbow femme could feel something stir within her. Something that had not been awoken since the death of her parents. A snarl ripped through the air as she shot towards Zephyra, towards the water and towards the beast that dare eye her child in such a way. The other female was ignored for the time being as Marina moved not only to Zeph, but past her as she dived in the water. She’d fight this damn thing head on. But the muck of the water would surprise her. She’d stumble, the ground sucking at her paws beneath the water. The crocodile’s attention was diverted, but there was no way Marina was going to fight it here. She’d try to back up, hackles raised as she watched the thing come closer. Whatever it was... It was going down! Through the water it moved quickly, towards the snarling femme. “Zephyra get out of here!” She snapped at her daughter, baring her fangs at the creature that edged closer and closer. ""

Table by:: Tea

Viridian did her best to get away from the giant of a creature, but had it really been intent on killing her she would have never seen it. Easily it would be distracted by the smaller prey. As the girl called out Faun's muddied features would swivel towards the call just as the croc did. She wanted so much to listen to the words offered to her, just run and forget about her. There was no way that was possible. As Faun regained her footing she'd turn back towards the monster. It's attention on a whole new presence. Viridian didn't have time to notice their odd pelts, she was much too focused on getting out with everyone alive. Finding somewhat stable footing she'd take her turn to catch it's attention. She'd splash eagerly and call until the monster was again focused on her. If they could just keep diverting it until it totally ran out of energy.. she just hoped it was like the lizards at home, they were big and feisty but if you played for too long they'd tire out. "Over here ya ugly thing!" ""

The child was going alright to begin with, calling out to the creature as it lumbered towards her, hoping the ashen female would seize her opportunity to escape. She didn't know what she'd do when the animal came too close, but she hoped it wouldn't get to that. For now, she stood before the face of danger without realising the turmoil she had thrown herself into. Abruptly, a familiar colourful pelt flew into her vision. That was when she felt fear; the realisation shocking her and sucking the air out of her lungs. If there was anything more scarier than the beast, it was her mum. No, it couldn't be. "Mum!" she whined with fear, her vocals faltering. Not now, not now. Out of all her other explorations, free of any danger, why did she have to show up now? The rainbow woman dived into the water as the girl stared with her eyes wide and mouth open. Great, now she had to save two adults! In that moment, as she watched the crocodile's attention divert from the green babe to her mother, the child felt something she had never felt before - the instinct to protect her mother. If she got hurt, it would be all her fault! She couldn't let that happen. She was going to save her mother out of pure love and devotion. No-one could stop her, even if the woman ordered her to stay back. "I'm not leaving you!" she furiously called out as she ran along the bank of the swamp, finding herself in between the two females. "Come and get me!" Jumping up and down, she hoped the beast would lose its interest in both of them and follow her. Maybe with a bit of teamwork they could tire it out... "Speech"

It was as the silvery woman called out to the beast, diverting its attention from her, that Marina got an idea. Perhaps they were all on the same wavelength but, between the three of them they could tire this creature out. They just had to dance around it, to keep it away from any one of them in particular and keep it guessing. It seemed to not have much intelligence, going after whomever shouted last. Marina would smirk, glancing at her daughter as her little one got back into the water and began splashing. Yes... They definitely had an idea going. “Keep it guessing! Tire it out!” She called to the other two. She’d begin splashing through the water again, trying to get some distance between her and Zeph so the lumbering beast would need to travel further between the three of them. “Over here scaly~” Her eyes shown. It was kind of like a game! A dangerous game, but one all the same. Perhaps the creature would lose interest in them soon enough. ""

Table by:: Tea

The cries, the shouts. They got Ren's attention quicker than he could blink, and in a heartbeat the young male was bounding towards the sound. He had been tracking his sister Zephyra, and then later both his mother and Zephy. He arrived to see them standing in the water, with a big monster floating underneath - and going straight for his sister. His mother called out, splashed, but it still headed for Zephyra. Snarling, the boy shot towards the water, slapping a paw in the water right in front of the monster, blocking it from Zephyra. Terror made adrenaline surge through his body, and he would send a slightly panicked look at Marina even as he bounced away, towards where he saw what looked like a bank - scrambling up it, he yanked his legs up out of the water just as jaws snapped shut, and he would huddle on the dry land - mostly - snarling at it even as he slowly edged backwards. It seemed to be focused on him, staring at him, as if challenging him. Oh, he hoped while it was distracted the others got out.

"Mom!" the fear filled call came from the young girl as the other she wolf appeared. Viridian would feel a pang of guilt in her breast as she thought of her own mother. What would she have done if they were in the same situation? Faun couldn't focus on 'what if's' right now anyway, all three of them were in very real danger. The creature was quick to take its attention from her, and back to the young green child. Viridian wouldn't waste any time in getting farther away, ready to take her turn again as another young wolf came splashing in, prematurely diverting the attention of the croc back to himself and the young girl. Viridian would groan audibly as she rushed to get closer and begged to grab the creature's attention once more. "Come on big guy! Leave the kinds alone, pick on someone... closer to your size." She'd growl and reach out with a silvery paw to swat at his long reptilian tail. He was quick to swing back around towards the silvery she wolf, but Faun wouldn't miss that he'd slowed down since their very first encounter. She'd jump back herself, careful to stay out of its jaws until the next wolf called out. He already seemed to be losing his interest in catching a meal today. ""

Alright, this was getting a bit ridiculous now. First her mother, who she didn't mind provided she kept the worries of consequences in the depths of her mind...but Ren? Her brother? Yup, her sisters and aunt can come out from their hiding places if they so wished because at this point she didn't even care. It seemed the three females were starting to understand the plan - to constantly splash and divert the beast's attention between them until it lost its energy to bother. Not an intelligent creature, she had to admit, which made their work a bit easier. At the time the beast was heading towards her, then Ren came along and dived into the water. Wonderful. She now had two family members to protect, including the Silver Lady. "Get away from him!" she snarled, fiercely splashing the water as she made her way up the bank. The scaly animal turned its head around lazily, hesitating for a few moments before approaching her, noticeably slower than before. It's working! "Speech"

This was just getting crazy. If it wasn’t bad enough the three women were present, here came her son, distracting the creature away from Zephyra. Marina would feel her heart leap to her throat as it went towards him. Thank goodness the silver woman called out. But the creature was wearing down -- it was noticeable. Marina would wait until Zeph began splashing before going back to work as well. Before long the creature had to get bored, right?

“Come on ya lug! Give up already!” Marina would snarl, splashing into the mud and water with her front paws. The creature seemed to start for her before it would finally give up, sliding back into the water away from all of them. Marina would breathe out a sigh of relief, glancing towards her children. “Ren, Zephyra, get to the bank now!” She’d give a nod towards the silver woman as well, offering a smile. She was welcome to join them on the bank if she wanted.

Table by:: Nyx

Ren would see his intervention working - giving time for the others, who finally convinced it to wander. Warmth burst in his chest at the protectiveness of his sister, though, in his mind, he ought to protect her. Though, he had to admit, Zephyra handled herself brilliantly that he saw... and he would most definitely praise her on that. It was well deserved.

When the beast finally meandered off, the young boy would race towards his mother and the silver woman, who he presumed was the one being helped. After all, Zephyra was... okay, she was not smart enough to avoid this but... okay, he didn't really have a reason why he thought silver lady needed to be helped. Maybe because he just hoped. Either way, he hovered on the edge of the bank that Marina was on, switching his gaze between the three women as he waited anxiously for them to join him.