Where the Brave Will Live Forever

The pleasant wandering of the day was interrupted suddenly by silence, and stillness, and a scent that pricked at Katja's age-dulled memory like a lance. Alfrun had stopped suddenly and she'd followed suit, raising her muzzle to get a better scent. Alfrun signaled her to remain where she was before stepping away, and scent and sound told Katja she had continued forward. Gather that strange scent. Yes, there. She recognized it, but from where? Not bear, nor wolverine, nor any canine she recognized. No, this rank scent was... feline. Katja closed her eyes, though she didn't need to in order to block out sight, and delved deeper into her memories. The scent of...

Cougar!

A snarl ripped from her chest even as her daughter screamed surprise and pain somewhere in front of her, and ignoring her own disability and danger she sprang forward toward the sound. Toward where the scent of her daughter and the scent of the cat mingled with blood.

The impact of her body against that of an unfamiliar form was shocking without sight to prepare her for it, but the cougar hadn't been expecting a seemingly frail, elderly and clearly blind creature to dare attack him, either. He had been counting on being able to finish off the younger and to his mind more dangerous of the pair before leisurely turning on the second, but his mistake cost him the advantage he'd gained through surprise, and he and Katja both were sent rolling together across the ground. Years of dead leaves and sticks were sent scattering beneath flailing paws and tangled bodies.