The young Songa felt herself disturbed during her after lunch nap. Her bright red-violet eyes opened with a snap and she took to her feet. Below her the sea cows flapped their round flippers at something big in the water. It was long and thin, possibly a shark but nothing like a manatee. It bulged in the middle, tapering off at the back and bluntly at the front. Velvette felt her heart drop as she recognized the shape. Saltwater crocodile.

She wasn’t immune to fear, but she had to rescue her sea cows, crocodiles almost never came out here. She huffed softly to herself as she tried to decide how she might defend the gentle mammals. Ra had to be around here somewhere right? She bristled at the thought of calling for help, but she soothed herself saying it wasn’t her aid. The manatees needed them. Velvette called out quickly to her brother, crossing her toes that he’d stayed close to her tree after lunch.

With nimble paw steps she crossed over the thick branches to stay above the creature’s silhouette. So far the sea cows had managed to keep away from its deadly jaws, but as it tested the herd it drew more near to the young calves. Her heart started to race and her tail flicked impatiently behind her. Ramesh had better hurry up.

Tree hopping was a skill . Nya, it was an art. There was a beauty to it, finding the right angle, judging his branch, the one across from him and instinctively knowing the weight of his body. Failure meant injury, death, or worse. Embarrassment.
He was dangling preciously from a long branch, he crouched so far from the trunk, that his supporting limb swayed at the slightest of movement. It was his riskiest jump of the day, knowing how pushing off the branch was going to bow it, and ruin his jump. But there had to be a way to judge it, to compensate for his own movements, right?

He tensed in his crouch, shuffling slightly backwards, tongue hanging just pass his fangs in concentration as he worked through the motions in his head, of hos the branch would dip down, and he would throw himself forward. He wouldn’t aim for a branch higher then him, but one lower. Not until he could compensate for the -- was that a howl? He turned suddenly, ears cocked, and the movement shook the branch, and with a yelp, he tumbled free and smacked the ground only a short distance below him.

The tiny wolf shook his head, glancing about quickly to ensure no one saw, and uttering a curse at all the sisters in the world, he bounded back up the tree and took the safer course to jump to the next one, and the next, leaping his was to where he had left his sister at lunch time.

As terrible as sisters where, it was a brothers duty to look out for them, and being a whole thirty seconds older then Vel, meant he had to take this duty seriously. He approached her tree and was able to land a branch above hers, little head peering over the edge, tilting to the side with an inquisitive frown. “if I have to watch one more birth of a sea cow Ve-Ve i’m going to push you of your branch.” he warned. If that was what she had startled him into falling for, he really was going to push her.

Looking downwards as he was, he squinted at the silhouette of something moving in the water below them. “What’s that?” he asked, immediately curious and forgiving. Had his sister shown him an interesting creature to harvest?

""

Vail felt her tail lash out in irritation behind her, watching with fear at the assault on her manatees. Ra wasn’t fast enough for her, and Velvette started looking for a closer vantage while she calculated her option. She narrowed her eyes, squinting through the glare on the water. In this part of the tree many of the massive tree’s branches dipped close and into the saltwater. Maybe she and Ramesh would be able to navigate the branches while alternating attacks. They didn’t have to kill it, but it had to go.

Just before she attempted the leap Ramesh’s voice was in her ear. Like most of the Songa he had arrived practically in silence. Velvette brought her brilliant colored eyes up to meet his as he looked down from the branch above. She narrowed her gaze, was that dirt in his claws? What had he been doing on the ground? She didn’t spare much more thought to his obviously perturbed attitude.

She bristled at the nickname, he really was upset at her for some reason. She put her eyes back to the water, unable to deal with his hurt fee-fees right now. He seemed to sense her urgency as he looked to the creature in the water. ”A crocodile. It’s going to kill the calves.” She tried to keep her fear for them from her voice but didn’t think she succeeded. She had managed to keep from asking for his help. ”I thought about it while I waited for you,” Ve had to get him for taking so long somewhere. ”If we hit it and retreat back up the branches we might be able to drive it off.”

A crocodile? but as it moved slowly through the water, he would see that his sister was right. Perfect. He eyed the creature in anticipation, knowing he would fight it, not to protect his sisters silly creatures, but because he could then claim that he had killed a fierce, many toothed creature of the ocean.

His sister gave him her plan of attack, and he gave her an approving nod. It was the Songa way, to flit in and out of battle, using trees to their advantage. He wasn’t so sure about the driving it off part, how was he going to harvest some awesome stuff if he just let it go?

That she didn’t even return the jab of his nickname, told him how important this was to hers. He could be a hero and warrior both today, fighting this terrible foe. His eyes alight in anticipation, he dropped down onto her branch, his much shorter height gave him an advantage on balance as he crouched near the end of this branch, tail flicking behind him. “He’s going to go in between those two branches there, i’ll take the right?” he suggested.

He was already moving, jumping from branch to branch until he was one jump away from his target spot. He just needed to wait until the crocodile move into his range, he would leap on the branch in that moment, swipe, and then jump to the next branch, taunting and harassing the crocodile, keeping to the right side of it as often as he could, working in tandem with his sister.

""

Velvette felt the tiniest hint of relief as Ramesh was quick to find his focus. He usually did when she offered him a chance to draw blood. She spared him her usual disapproving shake of the head and got straight down to business. He fell in front of her, his almost six in difference in height kept him balanced further out on the branch. Though he often did, Ra didn’t argue now. He took her plan and literally ran with it. Like a tiny flash of lightning he sprang into action. Velvette joined him, moving to the left in mirror movement.

Ra took the offensive first, racing to attack the crocodile and remove himself from the beast’s reach just as fast. He was successful in his first attempt, the crocodile was nowhere near her brother as it snapped its jaws together. Velvette didn’t take the time to miss her chance and as the creature closed its mouth she dashed in to take a bit near its eye. She doubted she would be able to blind the thing with one go over, but it was a start. She flew over the creatures head and ascended into the canopy once more, leaving Ramesh to take his turn behind her fleeing form.

Sisters and woman might both be gross and something that he barely understood, but when it came to action, to working in tandem, their movements mirrored in perfect teamwork, he felt a connection to her that he felt at no other time. They were like two parts of a whole and needed very little communication between them. His heart soared, and he fell into his attack with silence, leaping to the branch as the crocodile swam by, and striking out at him. It turned and snapped it jaws at thin air, the boy was already gone, leaping away again almost the same instant his attack landed. He was on a branch further out, away from the crocodile’s reach.

He bounded into positon once more as his sister struck the distracted creature, going for its eye. Even as her form began to ascend, Ra was there, making a daring move as he landed between its eyes and swiped at the same one Vey had struck. It skin was smooth and slick and he almost slipped as he bounded away. He landed awkwardly on a branch and the creature almost got a bite out of him, before he got his feet under control and bounded further into the tree.

His heart beat rapidly in his chest, but his breathing wa still even and quiet, a match to his movements as he leaped back into place again, waiting for his next turn to strike the creature. It was perfect, him and Vey’s harmonized, silent movements. He had already forgiven her for distracting him, and his heart soared in delight at the raging battle.

""

The two of them endured their deadly dance together. Ve and Ra both timing their movements in perfect tandem, swooping in and skirting away with practiced grace. This was what Velvette trained for every day, the rush and thrill of combat. She felt the adrenaline rush through her veins and her heart beat fast inside her chest. Her breathing was even though, and even in such a high stakes environment she was silent on her toes.

Ramesh performed another flawless attack, the crocodile was completely confused and enraged enough it hadn’t sunk down beneath the surface. Once it went into the water their advantage would be gone and they would not be able to follow with out incredible risks to their lives.

Ramesh took up her game and zeroed in on the left eye. It turned towards where he had disappeared and Velvette renewed her attack. More swift than the ocean breeze Velvette attacked and took her retreat, tasting the iron flavor of blood as her paws carried her back into the canopy. She put herself back into her position, bright eyes falling back on the creature to track its movements. How much longer would the beast tolerate them?

He struck at the same two spots as often as he could, either its eye or its snout on every turn he took. He was beginning to peel beneath the skin, and they were leaving bloody marks against its skin as they darted away. As Ve retreated another time, Ra jumped forward to strike and - the teeth where there! He pulled himself to a stop, breaking his silence with a soft and startled yelp. Their actions had been too synchronized, and the beast had known where the next attack had come from. He pulled to a stop so suddenly that he toppled off the branch with a splash.

He avoided the teeth by a hair's breadth, but now he was in this creatures territory. He was only a passable swimmer himself, spending more time in the trees then the ground. As he tried to get back up on his branch, Ve was already there, teeth in his neck as she hauled his much smaller frame clear of the water. He landed on his stomach, still remembering the breeze of the crocs teeth as it had closed just a second after Ve had moved him. Trembling slightly from the adrenaline rush, he got his paws out from under him, and both of them leaped away to regroup and reassess their attack.

""

Their luck had run out quicker than she thought. The large brute hadn’t looked like a smart creature, but suddenly Ramesh was headed straight for an ambush. It had been watching them, piecing apart their dance. It was mad and it wanted to taste wolf flesh. ”Damn it Ra-ra.” She mumbled angrily so her fear wouldn’t overwhelm her as she rushed to her brother’s aid. Thankfully she had a bit of height on him and could grab his scruff with relative ease. She hauled him away from danger with all of her might, not even feeling sympathy when he landed on his soft belly. She hoped the wind had been knocked from him for not paying more attention.

Ve dashed away when she was sure Ramesh would find his feet. She found a tall perch, noticing the manatees had moved far off, and likely would escape further pursuit by the reptile. She was breathing hard, a surprise for her. However, the adrenaline was beginning to wear off and she realized how scared she had been for her brother. ”Ra, you could have been killed.” She scolded him, hoping he wasn’t about to suggest they continue after it.

The fight had been going really well, up until that moment. He had gotten a bit of a fright, but it was already wearing out, and he wanted to get back up and on with it. They had a beat to slay, after all. He leaped to a branch just above his sister, peering down at her as he loved to do. Perhaps it was to do with his height - his short stature was a matter of pride to the Songa people, but he still didn’t like having to look up to his younger sister.

He tilted his head over the branch, looking upside-down at his sister as she breathed heavily. She only made noise with her breath and body when she was very stressed, and he realised this had affected her. Which was strange, wasn’t he the one who almost got his tail chomped off? And how was he supposed to jump around trees without his tail for balance?

“I was fine Ve, I knew you were only a breath away, and I could have gotten out myself, anyway.” he pointed out, blatantly ignoring how even with help it had been a close call. “It’s getting away, aren’t we going back out there?” he wanted to know, confused to why she sat on her branch, breathing heavily, and letting the beast get away. He thought she was afraid for her sea cows or something.

""

Her brother found his way to the branch above her, always looking for ways to look down on her position. She looked up and saw no remorse in his features as he peered down at her. Quickly he dismissed her concern and her help. Her brows knits and she growled at him. ”You would be dead you mean.” She wasn’t about to let him have that victory. Velvette had to let out a long sigh before she could answer him. Honestly she didn’t want to go back after it, it swam in the opposite direction of the manatees, but her brother seemed so eager. ”If you can honestly think we can kill it before it kills us.” She finally compromised, staring deep into his warm eyes as she said it. Ve had always thought herself a good judge of when her brother was lying to her or himself.

He sighed softly, he had forgotten how girls could be. Every cut was an emergency, and even when you didn’t get a single scratch you could be berated for what could have been. he got it from his mother and sister both. Didn’t they see that he was totally fine, that no harm was done, and moving on was quicker and better than mopping about it?

But of course, she was a girl, so she needed to rant. He let her have it, knowing she wouldn’t feel better until she did. “Yes sis, that’s why your the person I always want on my side, your the best, and that’s why I lived.” completely straight faced, his voice soft and innocent, to match his little face, and tuffy ears. He knew it worked sometimes, if he gave her just the right expression, and just the right level of remorse in his voice.

He needed her on his side, he knew that, even if she was a silly girl. She was also a warrior, and he wasn’t lying about her being the best. Well, aside from him, that was.
When she dubiously agreed, he jumped up on his branch, little body balancing easily as he grinned at her. “Yeah! We switch it up, you see. Tail twitch means im going right, ear twitch means im going left. I’ll keep my ears plastered to my skull when i’m not signalling, and my tail behind me for balance, the same.” he explained to his sister. Their previously plan had been sound, the only issue with it had been how predictable it had gotten.

""

Though her brother was a few second older than she was Velvette thought more than once a day that she was actually the elder. He seemed like the immature little brother, he didn’t take death serious enough. He told her what she wanted to hear, and the spotted she wolf knew she wasn’t about to get anything better out of him. It was the closest to an apology or thank you she’d get and other than a raised eyebrow Ve would drop the subject. As soon as she gave him an inch he took a mile and his solemn face changed to determination once more as he mentioned how he was going to change up their tactics.

She continued to view him with a critical eye, but his plan sounded half way better, and it compensated for their earlier failure. She huffed and sighed, but couldn’t think of a legitimate reason to deny him again. ”Fine, I’ll follow you’re lead this time. But I’m not rescuing you again.” She made her position clear, they would have to do this one perfectly.

And that was why, despite Ve being only a girl, he still loved her. She accepted his words, kind of, with a frown, and moved on the important stuff. He could see the determination that overcame her as she listened to his plan and let them get down to business. He shot her a grin, lopsided and full of fluff, little head tilted, charm on full swing. “Your the best, sis” he promised her, once again forgiving her for everything as they moved back into battle.

Nothing like a good kill to unite everybody, right?

The croc had made its way a little further along this time, but luckily this area was perfect for Songa’s, with deep trees that littered the soil in a spray of roots. Their croc was about to pass by another mangrove, and Ra was ready for action. “I’ll start on the left this time and take two strikes, then you pick a side at random and move in.” gotta keep it unpredictable, right?

He leaped across the trees, little paws a flurry of mindless elegance as they found purchase and pushed off time and time again, until he was where he wanted to be. He shot in at the crocodile, fearless. His claws racked against his face, and he felt the eye beneath ‘pop’ with a sickening, satisfying sound. He darted over the things head, a flying leaf, and scratched its air hole on its way over, before scampering up a tree once more.

""

Ve did her best to lose the anxiety, such tumultuous emotions helped nothing in Songa life. They were always living on the edge, never knowing if they would remain from one day to the next. Velvette accepted this rule of life for herself, but actually losing her brother was something she never wanted to face. He told her she was the best, effectively forgiving her for any previous transgression, including trying to hold him back. She had warned him, and vowed not to save him so if the croc got him in was his own fault.

Of course he gave her little time to finish making up her mind and charged after him, their new battle arena was almost better suited for their technique though the crocodile didn’t know it. Ra hurried his plan to her and Velvette nodded, not even sure if he had seen as he rushed off to begin his assault. He succeeded in taking the beast’s eye this time and Ve found pride swell in her chest as she set herself up for the next attack, She tried to keep to the crocodile’s blind side, sure it was looking out for her to appear next.

Ra fled and the crocodile attacked where he had been. The creature closed its jaws and Velvette tried her luck with another bite, going towards the beast’s one good eye. She felt her teeth connect and she ripped away it’s outer eyelid. It began to sink under the water as she leapt away once again.

He crowed in silent delight as he watched his sister swipe at the other eye, injuring its eyelid. It was half blind, and it’s more fragile parts where definitely getting targeted. It began to sink under the waves, and Ramesh let out a bark, unusual for the silent wolf, as he let his frustration get to him. He really wanted to kill it. He leaped towards it, getting a good swipe at its ear one more time, and then it was beneath the waves.

He jumped into a higher branch, and peered down into the water, trying to get any glimpse of it. He sat like that for a time, a patient warrior waiting for his prey. If he flicked his tail, it was only a subtle movement, mostly disguised against the browns of the branch. After a while, he saw a moving thing further out in the water, and would recognize it as a small slither of its head popped free of the surface. Dammit. “Coward!” he called out, but the croc didn’t so much as twitch.

Exasperated, he glanced over at his sister, and managed a shrug. “I guess it was still a win. Wanna find something else to poke at?” he asked her, a teasing grin on his face, and he was already scrambling higher up the tree, looking for a good vantage point to leap from.

""

Ve retreated to a higher vantage point as she watched the crocodile disappear into the deeper water as Ramesh watched as well. He had found a high point and was much more disappointed than his sister. Her warm gaze watched as the giant of a creature reappeared almost touching the shore on the other side of the bay. She sighed heavily as Ra called after it with malice.

He managed to see the bright side, saying he considered their effort a win despite not killing it like he had intended to do. And since he hadn’t spilled enough blood Ve was not surprised to hear him ask for another adventure. She rolled her eyes in his direction as her body climbed back in the direction where her nest was. ”Well, you helped me drive off that beast so I suppose I could thank you with a hunt.” She offered, sparing him only a glance as she continued onward.