And It's The Stars That Shine For You

Success! Stjarna settled down over the deer the starlit wolf and Úlfr had just brought down. It had a been a thrilling hunt and now they could feast freely. Star ripped into the belly of the deer and began eating their fill. Star had had a string of bad luck when it came to hunting so they were quite hungry by the time they'd managed to bring something down. Star had wolfed down several chunks of meat before they felt the carcass suddenly being tugged away. Star looked up to see a lioness dragging the deer away. "No, no, no!" Star yelled at the lion before leaping onto the deer carcass and snapping at the lion's face. The lion hissed and swatted at him. She growled and the wolf growled back as they stared each other down in a stand off.

Úlfr let out a cheer as Stjarna delivered the killing blow and they could begin to eat. It had been a fun hunt but now the boy was ready for dinner. He moved in and started feasting around the deer's neck while Stjarna ripped at the belly. Úlfr ate quickly and sloppily, enjoying the warm meal when suddenly it moved. Úlfr blinked and stepped back before realizing a lion was trying to steal their kill! Úlfr lunged forward, seizing the deer's throat and trying to haul the kill back. However, the lioness was strong and it was difficult work. Thankfully, Star leapt up and confronted the lion. As the older wolf stared the lioness down Úlfr released his hold and bounded up next to Star doing his best to look big and scary. The lioness was out numbered and hopefully she would back down but it didn't look like it. She fixed her eyes on Star and leapt.

Making his way through the lush western land, now beginning to go to gold, Artur hadn't any particular plans which, frankly, had been pretty par for the course lately. He felt like he was spinning in place, never quite going anywhere but not able to settle either. It was a less than comfortable existence. And, lately, it seemed like his mind was doing the same thing, chewing over the same subjects over and over again obsessively. He needed to move forward but was caught in that same mental rut.

He was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of shouting that drew his attention to two wolves facing off with a lioness over a kill. Artur didn't stop moving, but let his path drift so that it took him closer. It was a good thing he had, because the lioness - who must have been desperate for food, to jump into a fight when she was outnumbered - tensed to leap. In a moment Artur shifted gears, spinning to face the ruckus and covering the relatively short distance through the grass in a series of bounding leaps, slamming into the side of the lioness as she was halfway through her leap and sending her - and him - rolling, as he was moving too quickly to completely control his landing.

And It's The Stars That Shine For You

Stjarna eyed the cat, locking eyes with her while trying to look as big and as frightening as possible so maybe the cat might back down. She didn't. She lunged for Star, but before her attack could connect another wolf slammed into her in mid leap. As a result both she and the man went tumbling to the side. Stjarna's legs coiled and the wolf sprang toward the pair. Fangs locked onto the back of the lion's scruff, right near the nape of her neck. They held tight, arms wrapped around her neck but it soon became clear this wasn't as safe a position as Star had thought. The lioness flopped on her side, hind leg reaching up and claws tearing into the wolf's side. Stjarna released their hold and scrambled away. Thankfully, the scratches weren't too deep but they still stung terribly.

Úlfr yelled as the lion leapt but he needn't have worried for another man intercepted the lion and knocked her off her course before she could slice Star into ribbons. Úlfr debated what to do, assist in the fight or try to drag the kill away? Ultimately he decided he couldn't drag the kill away far enough or fast enough to make the needed difference. They'd just have to communicate to the lion through violence that further attempts to steal the kill simply weren't worth it. As Star leapt onto the lioness' back, Úlfr charged for her head. Fangs latched onto the right side of her face and he tried to hold her head so she couldn't bite his friend but a she flopped to her side Úlfr lost his grip. A moment later she cut into Stjarna, causing the older man to abandon his position of attack.

Artur rolled back to his feet as the two strangers tangled with the lioness, ultimately backing off when she clawed the elder of the two. Either true desperation or the wolves' retreat gave her heart, because she wasn't yet showing signs of taking to her heels despite there being three of them. Artur wasn't particularly concerned about her persistence - either she'd back down, or the three wolves would be sharing out portions of lion hide and claws. Either way was a win as far as he was concerned. He leaped towards the lioness again, clamping his teeth into her tail. She turned on him with a yowl, but he stayed with her, partially letting her drag him as she tried to reach for him and partially turning in a quick circle to stay out of her reach. Eventually she would think to drop on her back and kick out at him but the strangers could undoubtedly give her something else to think about first.

And It's The Stars That Shine For You

Stjarna would nurse the wounds later, for now there was still the fight. Circling the lion, they searched for an opening, snarling at the cat before the third male dove in and grabbed a hold of her tail. She yowled and twisted around to get at him. The moment her neck turned Star dove forward and latched onto the side of the cat's neck, just behind her jaw line. It was a dangerous position, so close to those front claws. Star's arms wrapped around the base of her neck, trying to keep close where it was harder for her to use her claws to their full potential. They shook their head violently, seeking to shred as much flesh as possible until eventually her claws found purchase, sinking deep into Star's chest and pushing the wolf off of the lion and down into the dirt. In a moment Star was back on their paws, stalking toward the lion and snarling violently, seeking to intimidate her into backing down.

Úlfr backed off, quickly searching for a better angle of attack. The boy was a good deal smaller than the lion and he knew he wouldn't be able to use brute strength against her as easily as he might a creature his own size. The older males dove in to attack once more. The stranger latching onto the lion's tail while Star dove in for the lion's neck. Úlfr immediately dove for the opposite front arm, latching his jaws around the back of the lion's wrist to try and impair her ability to fight back. Eventually she shoved Stjarna down but Úlfr did not let go, instead he thrashed his head violently before the lioness seized him by the scruff and tossed him down. Her focus was quickly taken by the other men and Úlfr noticed now that as she tried to walk she was limping. She looked suddenly hesitant and unsure.

With the big cat's attention taken up with the other two wolves, Artur was able to stop literally chasing his tail, and let go to back away a few steps to take stock. They had done a great deal of damage to the lioness, and she was limping and bleeding from several wounds. If they were to press the attack they could likely kill her. But the elder of the two strangers was injured now as well, and drawing out the fight to the point of killing her would be even greater risk. He may have rescued the strangers only to get one killed fighting against an increasingly desperate lioness. She looked uncertain and wary now - if they gave her the chance she might not be so starved as to press her luck further. So as she circled them warily, watching the two wolves in front of her, Artur pulled the same trick he had begun with, throwing his full weight into the lioness' flank and tossing her. Her breath left her in a pained woosh as he hit, hard. She landed hard too, rolled, and gasped in a breath to yowl. Artur stepped up beside the strangers, and the lioness finally broke and ran. Artur watched her go with some satisfaction - she'd probably be back, if the strangers weren't smart rnough to take their kill off somewhere safer, but by then it wouldn't be his problem. Catching his iwn breath, Artur nodded at the strangers and continued on his way again without having spoken a word to either of them.