lion 1 outta 3


Hopping from island to island made the journey to Auster considerably easier for the pair of Iga-Ashen wolves. Sea water dripped from their bellies as they as they crossed the Bifrost and made their way over to the Glade, a little ways inland. Hues of oranges and reds soon filled his vision and Hattori felt a notable pang of familiarity, he'd always been fond of the maple trees back home and the ones here in Auster was almost as beautiful. Or at least he would have been able to focus on the scenery a bit more if there wasn't a female lion dead ahead, crouched low behind the shrubbery, no doubt waiting for the pair to get a little closer. He couldn't see her, she blended well, but the gentle patter of her swishing tail and her stink gave her way.

It would take a lot more than that to sneak up on a pair of Iga wolves.

"Ahead. There is a lion. He paused, breathing deep, knowing full well his cousin would have caught on. "More nearby." As for the exact number he could not say. But despite the risk the Shogun felt as though Ashen could certainly make use of a some lion pelts. He turned to Raijin, his gaze expectant, ready to kill like old times.

And then he rushed forward, charging through the undergrowth, effectively flushing the lioness out of her hiding place. She hissed in alarm, still crouching low as she aimed to bring Hattori to a halt with a tackle to his mid section. Obvious really, cats all tended to fight in the same way and understandably to their strengths.

With the frigidity of Boreas’ winter and his aspiration to refurbish the compound, Raijin hadn’t uttered a single complaint when Hattori had asked him to go out and help him hunt down some animals for food and pelts. They’d hopped, skipped and jumped their way through the islands until, finally, they had to swim the rest of the way to Auster. They’d emerged, freezing, but their momentum and thick winter pelts kept them somewhat insulated. Little crystals of ice formed on the edges of their fur, mostly being rid by some shaking, but there were the stubborn few that clung on for dear life and caught the light as they moved.

His cousin had been right to assume he’d also already detected the presence of the lioness. They hadn’t exactly planned on taking on such a large predator, but a lion’s hide was thick and would do them well after a good washing to rid it of the stink. The pair rushed forward to flush the cat out, the animal first going for Hattori and bowling him over with a tackle. The man snarled, performing a tackle of his own from the side, pushing the feline off of his cousin and swinging a paw out to slash the cat across the shoulder. It howled, swinging it’s paws out defensively and he leapt back to steer clear of the needle sharp claws, a growl vibrating deep in his throat.

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

lion 1 outta 3

Despite it all, Hattori knew Raijin would have his back. He cut the cat off, preventing it from grabbing a hold as Hattori twisted and made to lunge for the cats throat. The lioness was quick to lean out of the way and used the momentum gained to try and claw at Raijin. It was clear that despite her size she was a little experienced when it came to being outnumbered like this, no doubt used to fighting with her sisters by her side. Hattori had no doubt they'd already heard the commotion and were heading this way, teeth and claws bared, ready to defend their own.

Taking full advantage of her obvious panic, Hattori cornered her in against the ground, looming over as she kicked out her back legs and struggled to get to her paws. Try as she might he didn't let her get the leverage she needed and instead he lunged right for the line of her throat, undefended and vulnerable.

His cousin, ever quick on his mighty big feet, moved like a lightning bolt to the small opening that became apparent when the feline went to claw at him. Raijin moved in unison, lunging back in to press his hind legs against the lioness’ hips and his foreleg against her shoulder, pinning her to her side. She thrashed and yowled but was choked off as finagled his way to sinking his fangs into her throat. Her yellow eyes went wide in panic and she tried to fling them off, the Genji man grunted with the effort to keep her pinned down.

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

lion 1 outta 3

Hattori's ripped open her throat and he shook his head as he held on tight, shredding and tearing. It would be a messy kill, not exactly his forte, but given their opponent Hattori wanted to be safe rather than sorry. Even now she still had some life in her, kicking as Raijin pinned her down, using every muscle in her body to writhe and make it a hard fought kill. So be it. She managed to swat too close for comfort to Hattori's face and he backed off, blood dripping from his muzzle. Hattori grunted to his cousin as he licked his lips, he could finish this one off, Hattori would stand watch to see if another lionesses was approaching. After all, the last thing they needed was to be ambushed mid kill.

The wet squelching of blood and the crunch of cartilage filled the air along with the panicked yowls of their victim. He growled as she wriggled to and fro like a snark, a startled look passing onto his face when she managed to slip and arm free from his pin and swat at Hattori, who was quick to back away with a small scratch to his face. The man growled, reinforcing his pin as his cousin backed away, leaving him to finish the job. With pleasure, Raijin struck down like a snake and sank his own teeth into the lioness’ neck. He pressed down, his saber-teeth sinking in further than the Ashen Shogun’s normal fangs could. With a bloodied snarl he thrashed his head until, finally, his teeth and sabers cut through the last bits of sinew and he ripped its throat out. With the last of its strength failing, the lioness laid still, a final, gurgling breath exiting its throat before it laid still and perished.

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

lion 2 outta 3

Hattori watched with a distinct level of disinterest as the lion breathed her last. His senses were pin prick sharp, attuned and waiting for the footfall of approaching cats. The next lioness that arrived on the scene had next to none finesse, she was all bulk and brute strength as she charged out of the brush, horrified at the sight that laid before her. No doubt a whole slew of obscenities were coursing through her mind, her rage and fury evident as she aimed a series of two pawed swipes in Hattori's direction. Hoping to slash him into ribbons. He managed to duck out of the way, feeling a strong waft of air as the strikes went overhead.

Of course, it didn’t shock him when another lioness came thundering through the brush with all the sneaky skills of a bull in a china shop. After all, her sister had just been slaughtered, and not quietly either. Raijin spun around to catch his cousin ducking as she swiped one large mitten over his head. Venom certainly wouldn’t like it if the overgrown feline hurt Hattori’s pretty face. He raced forward, mimicking the first moment from before and he plowed into her, his forelegs wrapping around her midsection in a tackle that left her struggling for breath for a moment.

Talking, Talking in Italics means he's speaking Japanese

lion 2 outta 3

And then it was on, again. Raijin was quick to attempt to tackle the lioness into submission as he wrapped his forelimbs around her frame and yanked down with all his might. The former Iga wolf was strong, there was no denying that, but even then he struggled to contain her as she roared and flailed, her tail lashing out like a whip. Hattori added his weight on top, his talons curling down and piercing flesh as he made his strength known. But this lioness seemed to be more experienced and did not panic as the first had, she rolled sharply onto her side, wiggling out from beneath their grip as she rushed to her paws and squatted low with ears flat as she took up a defensive position. She seemed to be focusing the majority of her rage on Raijin so Hattori took the moment to skit around behind her and tugged at her tail, knowing full well that would get her attention. It always did.