No, No, No!

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.