Levi squinted at the brownish dunes with furrowed brows. He could have sworn he just saw the earth move, slow and slinky, like a silent landslide. He breathed deep and rolled the local scents around in the back of his nose, nothing smelled out of place except... Well the wind was blowing in from behind him, giving very little away. Something was out there, he was convinced of it. But what? Pressing forward, he carefully padded his way across the rocky terrain. More movement, clearer from this angle as Levi made out the well camouflaged form of a cat. A really big one at that. A female lion on the prowl.

Their gazes met and she sprung into action like a coiled spring, claws slashing through the air as Levi artfully dodged out of the way. The element of surprise had been her greatest asses and now she was caught, she was going full offensive mode.

By the time Álarr realized Ulmaria was tagging along after him he really didn't care to turn back. Might as well bring her along. Maybe she'd learn something and besides if she wanted to ever earn the Imperialis name then she'd need to be brave and enduring. Such travel would be good for her. He was headed south for Fern Gulley, one of the richest lands for finding healing herbs but to get there they had to cross through some less desirable territory, namely the Barren Hills. He did not wish to drag a travois through such terrain so Ulmaria was forced to walk. From time to time he would carry her by her scruff so that her feet could rest but then it was back to walking.

They worked their way around a particularly large hill as snarls broke out. Álarr saw the lion fighting a pup and sprang into action without a moments though. The lioness was focused on the pup and barely noticed in time to move as Álarr lowered his head and charged. She swiped for him but with a short shift of his horns her left wrist was speared on one of his horns. The cat screamed and Álarr snarled. Claws flew at him, digging into his neck as the lion struggled to free herself.

Ulmaria trotted along after Álarr, eager to see this gully, this healer's paradise as the older wolf called it. The sand was hot and her paws were starting to get sore but she didn't want to be picked up again just yet. They moved around a large hill and she gasped to see a large cat attacking another pup. A pup she had sparred some time back. Before she could say anything her uncle was charging for the beast. At first Ulmaria hunkered down to try and hide but when she saw her uncle get entangled with the lion she couldn't bring herself to just stand by and wait. She didn't rush in immediately, instead she crept close and when the lion's backside was to hers she sprang and bit down hard on the end of the lion's tail.

Levi smugly assumed he'd be strong enough to take the lion alone, but as he dipped and weaved out of the way it was apparent that maybe he was out of his depth here. That a little bit of help wouldn't go amiss. Just as that thought crossed his mind two wolves charged onto the scene, snatching the cats' attention as the largest of the pair barrelled it with all the might of a dire wolf. Taking full advantage of the new opening, Levi leapt in with talons tensed, claws going for its eyes as he scratched and scrabbled, making as much of a mess as he could.

Álarr snarled in pain as the lion's claws dug into the side of the neck. He shook his head violently and between the two flailing animals he finally pulled his horns from the lion's fore arm and was able to back up to reassess the situation. The cat had stumbled back, holding up the injured leg, her face marred by the boy's claws. It was then he saw Ulmaria hanging onto the cat's tail. Shit. The lioness noticed just as soon as he had and she spun around to swipe at the girl. Álarr leapt forward, fangs digging into the side of the cat's neck as he forcefully pulled her attention back to himself. It would take much longer. If he could distract her long enough for Ulmaria to get out of the way they could likely drive the lion off. It was injured and outnumbered.

Ulmaria hung onto the cat's tail as best she could. She growled fiercely but in truth it sounded like a rumbling squeak. She let the lion's tail drag her about until suddenly the cat turned on her. She screamed and let go of the lion's tail in her surprise. She was too small to get out of the way as the cat swatted her to the side. However, it proved a double edged sword for the lioness for while she batted the pup aside the impact caused a jolt of electricity from the the electrocytes in Ulmaria's skin to jolt the lioness. She yowled and sprang back, scooted away from the wolves and limping badly with two beaten up forepaws and a mauled face.

Undeniably, the adult was doing the brunt of the heavy lifting, but Levi felt fairly accomplished as the scent of blood filled the air. A look of raging frustration rippled across the feline's features, offended that she was being bested by a pair of pups and an adult. Unsure of what angle she ought to focus on and aware of the fact she couldn't fight them all off at once, she started to back way, snarling and swiping at the air in order to give herself more room to work with. It looked as though they weren't gonna kill her-to be expected really- but making her flee back to her pride was victory enough. Wanting to throw one last punch in, Levi was punched aside for his cocky show. Served him right, as he rolled up onto his side. Sore and bruised, but mostly fine.

Álarr did his best to hang on but the lioness twisted in on him, her claws striking his left shoulder and shoving him aside. He twisted back onto his feet as the lion yowled and sprang back away from Ulmaria who was thankfully free. Had she managed to bite the lion? He'd have to ask later, there was no time to waste. With her hind end in sight he bounded forward, biting hard onto the lion's left thigh. He let go as the lion twisted around to face him. She was panting heavily and clearly in pain. He sprang forward and snarled only for the lion to turn tail and run. He let her go, glad the fight was over.

Ulmaria scrambled back to her feet after getting batted aside by the lion. She felt dizzy and he vision seemed to go in and out at one point going dark. She watched in a daze as it seemed like little glowing white water bugs skidded across her vision. She blinked rapidly trying to focus on the fight from the pounding in her head. She watched the other wolves face off against the lion and when Álarr sprang for the cat she turned tail and ran. Ulmaria breathed a sigh of relief and sat down heavily. "Uncle… my head hurts." She liked sparring but she really didn't like the getting hurt part of it very much.