Kotori had asked Hikaru to come with him as they went a bit farther out past the border.  Having had a bear already charge the borders it seemed a good idea to stop any predators before they got so far.  All the sickness was creating madness for one reason or another.  It didn’t seem to matter if it was a fox, coyote, bear, or anything else.  Sure, not every individual was sick but too many were and they were all unpredictable.

Kotori paused, ears pricked as he had heard something abnormal.  He was careful to note where mushrooms and crystals were as to avoid stepping on any one of them or brushing up against any in trees.  Even as he stepped around a crystal protruding from a rock the unknown sound turned into a challenging roar.

Stepping into sight between some of the leaves of the willow was a lion.  Kotori was a bit surprised and concerned when there was no sign of gem or mushroom on it.  That meant it either wasn’t sick or it could have some madness as some of the wolves had.  “Never fought a lion before.” Kotori had spent a lot more time traveling than training to fight.  Hopefully, the lion wasn’t in as good of shape mentally as it appeared to be physical.

The big cat was moving towards them with a steady but not hurried pace.  “Well, this should be, fun.”  They could try and just get away with it but even if they weren’t on the pack land they were close enough that a lion hanging out seemed a bit overly close for comfort.  All the more dangerous with the ‘what if it got sick.’  Then again, Kotori also just hated to turn down a challenge.  He was a Fatalis and his pride said there was no backing down.

"Kotori Fatalis"

He wanted to do his duty to his pack no matter what, so Hika patrolled with the young prince, trying to keep the Armada safe from the madness threatening it from all directions. He meant that very literally. There were crystals and glowing mushrooms everywhere, and more than that the predator load had tripled. Both young men paused when the sound of a massive body moved and then suddenly the lion was rushing at them.

Kotori had enough time to mention he hadn’t ever fought a lion before and Hika had to agree. There weren’t many large predators in Nippon. They’d fought a bear together though surely they would survive a lion attack. It was a massive beast that showed no fear, and Hika was convinced it turned mad.

"’Fun.’” The koi echoed as he shook himself and his mushrooms as the beast prepared itself. It was far too close to the pack and far to bold not to be killed or chased back into oblivion.

"Speech"

Kotori was impressed by Hikaru.  The wolf had to be suffering with the sickness but he hadn’t hesitated at any point to fight alongside him at the predators that were popping up.  If Kotori had a leadership roll he would offer the koi wolf a promotion for that alone.  Considering they were the same rank though it didn’t mean very much.

Kotori flashed his teeth back at the lion, side stepping away from where Hikaru was so they could have different positions to attack.  So far the same game plan had worked so no reason to change it up.  Kotori would bait the beast and let Hikaru get some solid attacks in until it was weak for them to both finish it off.

The lion was closing in and Kotori wasn’t letting it come any closer, he lunged forward a step snarling and snapping at the air, quickly gaining the lions attention.  It roared and as it faced Kotori the wolf twisted sideways, grinning as the cat was clearly focused on him.  Soon enough it was stuck between the two wolves.  

The lion lunged, front paws up as if he planned to pounce Kotori, its jaws wide.  Kotori leaped back, scrambled a few more steps surprised at how far the lion could move in one pounce.  The moment the cat’s feet were on the ground Kotori lunged forward, attempting to bite at a leg but the cat’s mouth was already open and ready to make another attempt to bite him as well.  Kotori pulled back, snarling aggressively.  It was fine if he didn’t get the first bite.  The stupid lion was indeed giving him all the attention and forgot his partner, at least it sure seemed that way.

Kotori Fatalis

 

The lion stalked closer, showing no hesitation in its movements, eyes locked on the young prince as massive paws stepped one in front of the other. Of course the wolves couldn’t allow the beast any closer to their pack lands and they stood in the way of the heavy predator. The lion went for Kotori first, swiping huge knife clawed paws towards the horned wolf.

Koroti wasn’t about to be scared off, as the cat landed he lunged, and Hikaru did the same. The cat was forced to contend with two attacks from two directions. It was almost as if it had forgotten wolves fought in packs. Hika took his chance, leaping at the cat and aiming to rip at its neck. It was distracted so he got a good shot, but he could only get of a damaging shake or two before it hissed and twisted to reverse grab him. Hika was too quick, but he hoped Kotori was ready to grab its attention back.

"Speech"

Koroti wasn’t about to be scared off, as the cat landed he lunged, and Hikaru did the same. The cat was forced to contend with two attacks from two directions. It was almost as if it had forgotten wolves fought in packs. Hika took his chance, leaping at the cat and aiming to rip at its neck. It was distracted so he got a good shot, but he could only get off a damaging shake or two before it hissed and twisted to reverse grab him. Hika was too quick, but he hoped Kotori was ready to grab its attention back.

Kotori felt pleased excitement when Hikaru managed to get a good bite on his neck.  The moment the lion turned to attack Hikaru Kotori ran in, slamming his horns into the lion's front shoulder, jerking his head up to slash past skin and into the muscle.  It caused confusion in the lion on who to attack first.  Head swinging to and fro snarling at the both of them.

The lion quickly decided the wolf who had attacked the neck was the worst threat and had turned its attention back to Hikaru so Kotori bit into the wounds he had just bit, crushing his teeth in as much as possible, and soon as the lion’s attention was back on him the horned wolf leapt away before it could connect an attack.

"Kotori Fatalis"

The wolves worked together to keep the beast off the other one, the war of indecision was wearing the cat down and making it choose poorly. Its decisions would have been its downfall. Kotori was relentless and Hikaru would be as well. His teeth flying as fast as his paws as he weaved around getting hit too hard. He wasn’t invincible, the lion was still powerful and cany. Hika might have been nursing a few sore ribs and lacerations though.

Hikaru and Kotori put up their fight, drawing blood and teaching a lesson. This cat wasn’t mad, just taking advantage of what it thought to be a weak pack. However, The two young warriors stood their ground and made the beast reconsider it choice. Much faster than how it arrive after one too many bites the massive feline tucked its tail and ran back towards where it came from.

"Speech"