Tarnish scouted along Fossil Ridge, picking up a few items here and there and burying them in a cache for later. That wasn't the primary reason for his visit, oh no, he simply wanted to get a view of the southern border of The Hallows. Ever since his little visit with Sid back in the spring he was curious about the friendly pack. Not in any friendly way of course. He was a raider, he wasn't going to be kissing any alpha's paws. All he knew was they had a big castle, and based on the feast and celebrations they had plenty of resources. A target for a raid in his humble opinion. But what did they have in terms of prey?

He kept a good distance from the border, he didn't need to get that close to assess the mix of smells. He untangled the scents with keen practice but he was so engrossed in the task he didn't notice that nestled within an ancient beast's ribcage there was a male lion watching him intently. It had been dethroned and exiled from its pack and day by day the hunting grew more difficult. Tarnish… was on the menu.


Raider Brats

Did Tarnish even know that she was following him? Sid picked her way along behind her brother, watching him from bushes and hills and rocks. She was practicing her stalking, but she was also incredibly bored. So when she saw him sneaking away, she figured... why not?

The pale girl followed her much darker brother as he made his way to the ridge. Hiding within a big skull, tri-colored eyes watched and waited. She planned to pop out at him and scare the shit out of her brother, but the opportunity never came. Something else came instead.

From her quiet place within the skull, Sid noted movement. Eyes widened as she watched the old lion slowly get to its paws and crouch. It, too, was waiting for Tarnish to come close enough to pounce. Her silly brother was headed right for death and didn't even know it.

Siduri leaped out from her hiding place and howled loudly, startling the big feline so that it jerked and sent up a cloud of dust. The action gave away its hiding place, which was what she had hoped for. "Tarnation!" she yelled and rushed forward to her brother's side. Setting her defenses, Siduri snarled at the big cat, but it was too hungry to heed her warning.

"Siduri"

Nelu had done some thinking on the future, trying to decide what his role in the pack should be. Although fighting was interesting it was a skill he felt compelled to learn out of necessity rather than enjoyment. Truth be told he enjoyed learning many things and so he decided the best course would be to become a Scholar. He wanted to learn all he could about the lands they resided in and the things that could be done with the resources they possessed. One particular area of interest was the Fossil Ridge with its great many bones and strange formations. So much to learn and analyze here. With his companions in tow he was eager to gather samples, until he caught the scent of Raiders.

Nelu frowned, it seemed to be the two that had appeared at the Harvest Ball. They had trespassed and he certainly hoped they would not do it again. It was very rude. Perhaps their parents did not teach them very much? Maybe he should meet them and discuss such matters. Yes, yes, that is what he would do.

Nelu shifted course to spy the black-pelted pup but before he could call out a sudden howl and jolt of movement drew his eyes to a lion. Oh no! He spied the girl run to her brother but there was little time to think for the lion attacked. Nelu was not sure on the proper protocol. The Raiders were not allies, but he did not think it correct, based on his knowledge of the Hallows, to not lend a helping fang.

Nelu darted forward, defenses setting into position as he approached the lion from behind, his long legs eating up the distance before his fangs latched onto the lion's tail with bone crushing force. The lion snarled and twisted around, claws lashing out. He released the tail and tried to dodge but was struck across the left shoulder leaving moderate wounds and casting his blood into the dust.

Tarnish hummed to himself, tail wagging lightly before he caught an unfamiliar scent. Hold on, what kind of animal did this belong to? Something seemed off and he looked up, glancing around. Something was amiss. He started to step back from a nearby fossil when he heard his sister's warning howl. He focused in on a hit of movement and saw a large cat emerge, its neck ringed in a thick coat of fur. "Aww, fuck. Really?" His hackles raised, fur on end as he followed up Sid's growl with his own.

Despite the show the lion did not seem impressed. As it was about to lunge Tar spied a large, wolven form headed for the lion. He had no idea who it was but he didn't really care for the wolf bit into the hind end of the lion and gave Tarnish the opening he wanted. He barreled forward, fangs seizing into the exposed side of the lion's face. His claws wrapped around the lion's neck and he held on tight as the lion thrashed. With a powerful swipe it pushed out, slamming paw pad and claws into his chest and shoving him back and off of it.


Raider Brats

What in the hell was going on in this place? As the lion rushed towards them, a big, pale form rocketed in from behind. The big wolf snapped onto the feline's tail. As the cat spun and lashed out, Siduri could see the red blood fly. For some reason, that made her angry. She didn't know this wolf, but he had come to their aid, so she felt as though she owed him something.

Tar found a target on the lion's face and Siduri, significantly smaller, avoided the head. Instead, she maneuvered around the side and sank her teeth into the lion's haunch, whipping her head back and forth and doing the best to damage the muscle and tissue, thus rendering the cat crippled in one leg.

"Sid"

Nelu inhaled sharply at the pain but quickly exhaled it out. Pain was a part of battle, it was a sensation he did not dare to dwell on for it would make him a less effective fighter. His distraction had paid off for the Raiders attacked the lion, one clinging to the face while the other crippled one of the predators legs. He couldn't quite understand the look in the lion's eyes but it seemed like its mentality was shifting from predator to survival. He could see it trying to shift its way back and away from them. That was a good sign. Nelu charged once again, a snarl rolling from his large frame like thunder as he slammed his shoulder into the lion's side, fangs digging into the middle of its back. He was the same height as the lion and nearly as heavy. His head thrashed and the lion yowled, he could feel it trying to pull away and he released, readying himself to attack again and drive it off.

Tarnish flinched, the piercing pain in his chest slowing him for just a moment before he bounced back up, narrowly avoiding the lion's claws. The blood could barely be seen on his dark coat and he had no intention of letting anyone know he hurt. His focus was squarely back on the lion. It's focus was once again on Sid and Tarnish flew back into battle. As the lion's massive paw came flying down he shifted his fangs and caught its wrist, clamping tight.

Suddenly, the lion shifted, nearly falling into him but it remained standing. Assuming the strange, large wolf had done something Tarnish kept up his attack, keeping one paw busy while the lion tried to swipe with the other.

Tarnish was pulled sharply forward as the lion kicked off with its hind legs, trying to break itself free from the wolves. Was it going to make a break for it? Tar let go and turned to nip at the lion's rear, eager to send the beast packing.


Raider Brats

A strong force slammed into the big cat and Siduri was forced to release her hold on its haunch. The cat snarled and spun. Three wolves on one side and the lion on the other. Sid could see the fear in its eyes and the trio snarled at the cat in unison. It had had enough. The lion turned and began to flee, running away from the three young wolves. Young, yes, but very capable. Siduri had already fought tigers, snakes, and more.

The cat run, but not quickly due to the damage in its leg. The pale girl charged after it, jaws snapping loudly to scare the lion and keep it going. Sid assumed that the cat had been hungry, but wolves weren't for eating. Especially not these wolves.

Nelu licked the blood from his teeth, swiftly falling in line with the other two wolves. It was weak, wounded and outnumbered. The lion seemed to recognize its hopeless situation and the wolves did not give it a chance to reconsidered, both the Raiders lunged and Nelu followed suit. He snarled and gnashed his teeth, picking up speed as if to ram the lion again and if it didn't move he certainly would have. The lion turned tail and ran, all three wolves giving chase, though the fastest by far being the colorful raider girl. When it became clear the lion was beaten and had no interest other than fleeing Nelu let his pace slow, coming to a trot before he stood still. He turned his head and lapped at his injury for a moment. He hardly knew what to say now, his struggling social skills failing him.