Die Hard

As the first coyote recoiled from Redrum's counterattack, the other two seized the opportunity to strike. They darted in from opposite sides, aiming to catch him off guard. But Redrum was ready for it, he could hear every cackle and yip they made, his senses honed by countless nights spent navigating the depths of the forest at night. He couldn’t take them all on by himself though! He just had to keep himself from being too injured, and stay alive. Umbra was somewhere in the darkness, but he’d made sure she wouldn’t interfere unless the goings got much too tough for him. He didn’t want to always be saved. He wouldn’t grow that way. He wouldn’t make his mother proud.

With a rough pivot, he evaded the second coyote's lunging jaws, narrowly missing being caught by its teeth. Their attacks were solely focused on playing the numbers game, and Redrum was focused on evading. In one swift motion, he countered, delivering a powerful kick from his hind leg to its side that sent it sprawling to the forest floor, stunned for the moment. Lucky! He wasn’t so sure that luck would hold out for much longer.

Immediately after, the third coyote tried to press on with its assault. It lunged forward, teeth bared in a menacing snarl, aiming for Redrum's exposed flank. But there came a sudden phantom. A monochromatic flash of fur and the gleam of teeth from Ripper’s maniacal laughter. Redrum couldn’t think of a time he was happier to see his cheerful brother. What good timing, too! He was here to play, and play they would! Redrum grinned, dropping low to propel himself forward at the first coyote again. Nothing like fighting to the music of cackling laughter.

With a new air of confidence, the boy struck out with more purpose than to just survive, his claws finding their mark as they slashed across the first coyote's muzzle again, drawing a pained yelp from its throat. "Play. You. Thing." Cowardly thing, wasn't used to not having it's kin to back it up! (Funny how that's what the pair of siblings were doing too.) He snarled at it, puffing himself up to look even bigger as he dared it to continue attacking him, advancing on it with blazing golden eyes.