As Bowen neared the oasis, the scent of blood was heavy on the air. It was a strange, sickly smelling blood as though something was either dead or dying. For a moment she thought about leaving, but her thirst proved to be too great. The desert was hot as balls, after all.

Padding towards the waters edge, Bowen soon saw the source of the sickly smell. At one end of the waters edge lay a big, greyish form. Swathes of red lacerations cut across the beasts back, looking as though it had fought for its life and barely won. Maybe it wouldn't win in the long run. Keeping her emerald eyes on the hippo, Bowen crept to the water and lowered her head to drink. The caw of a bird alerted the hippo to her presence and the shredded beast spun, still having enough mental capacity to fight for its safety.

The hippo rushed Bowen, spraying her with water before she was able to back away. The woman believed that, if she retreated, it would let her alone, but this wasn't the case. The hippo continued to run after her and Bo skittered away, her path curling around it so that she could bit into one thick, hind leg.

"Bowen"

As Cadaver ventured towards the oasis, the scent of blood on the air caught his attention, mingling with the earthy fragrance of the desert. He approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. His gaze settled on the source of the scent—a large, wounded hippo lying near the water's edge. The beast was massive, with powerful jaws and a formidable presence.

As Bowen approached the water to drink, the hippo stirred, its injured form bristling with aggression. With a sudden burst of speed, it lunged towards her, spraying water in its wake. Cadaver's instincts kicked in, and he sprang into action, darting towards the hippo to distract it from its primary target. He circled around the massive creature, looking for an opportunity to strike. Seeing the tawny fae skitter away, Cadaver seized his chance. With a low growl, he lunged at the hippo's hind leg, shallowly sinking his teeth into its thick leathery hide. The beast bellowed in pain, thrashing its massive body in an attempt to dislodge him. But Cadaver held on, determined to be as big of a pain in its ass as he could be.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

A sigh of improbable annoyances, a snarl of frustration, Caedes launched himself from the shadows, his muscular form cutting through the air like a shadowy missile.

Bounding towards the struggling pair, Caedes closed the distance in a matter of heartbeats. With a powerful lunge, he sank his teeth into the thick, hind leg of the hippo, his jaws clamping down with a vice-like grip. The wounded creature bellowed in pain and fury, thrashing wildly in an attempt to dislodge its newfound assailant.

Only then did he notice the small form of Cadaver, that little fighter. Again, in the thick of battle. On the other hind leg. Haha.

"speaking"

Gods above, was he stalking her? The big, scarred brute from before came out of nowhere and launched into the fray, his teeth finding purchase on one leg of the hippo. The grey beast spun, sending up curtains of damp sand. Cadaver had his teeth in the mix too. Did she have two stalkers?

As the boys kept the beasts attention on them, Bowen leaped upon the wide, rounded back of the hippo. With teeth and claws she tore at the crusty, rotting wounds that riddled its back. It looked as though the hippo had fought of an entire pride of lions. Blood began to course down the sides of the hippo, making Bowen's perch a bit slippery. She leaped back down onto the sand but didn't stay still for long. The hippo decided that it would have better luck in the water and was ready to drag the boys into the drink. As long as it left them alone, it could go into that water to die for all Bowen cared.

"Bowen"

Bowen Arrow Carpathius

Cadaver felt a surge of adrenaline as he and Caedes worked together to bring the hippo down. The massive beast thrashed and roared in pain, but the two wolves held on, their jaws locked onto its hind legs. Bowen joined in the fray, leaping onto the hippo's back and tearing at its wounds with ferocity.As the hippo tried to retreat into the water, Cadaver knew they had to act quickly. With a final, determined effort, he tightened his grip on the hippo's leg, digging his claws into its flesh. With a fierce growl, he pulled with all his strength, trying to destabilize the beast and prevent it from reaching the safety of the water.

The hippo fought back, its massive bulk straining against the wolves' hold. But Cadaver refused to let go, his determination unwavering. With a sudden lurch, the hippo stumbled, its injured leg giving way beneath it. It crashed to the ground, sending up a cloud of dust and sand.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

He held fast to the hippo’s hind leg, weaponized teeth tearing straight to the bone as he shook his skull left and right. All the better to bring pain to the dying creature. Caedes registered Bowen above the beast’s back, pain erupting from it’s maw as she worked at its  injuries.

As the hippo crashed to the ground, its immense weight sending shockwaves through the parched earth, Cadaver felt a surge of triumph course through his veins. The beast's thrashing ceased, replaced by desperate gasps for air as it struggled to rise once more. But Caedes and Bowen were relentless, their feral instincts driving them to finish what they had started. But then the hippo decided to begin to drag them into the water. But Caedes was more than that, he was far more relentless than his struggle. Cadaver only added to the tug of war.

The hippo's struggles grew weaker, and eventually it fell.

"speaking"

The hippo crumpled to the ground with one big tug of Cadavers jaws and Caedes worked alongside him to keep it down. What could Bowen do to help? As the hippo began trying to drag itself back to the water, the woman loped around its side, sinking her teeth into one big lip and nostril. She pulled with all of her might, paws digging into the earth as she jerked its head backwards. In its weakened state, there wasn't much that the hippo could do, even against one with such a diminutive stature.

Bowen continued to jerk and pull, baring the hippo's throat. Emerald eyes cut to Caedes, narrowing before sliding back towards the hippo's throat. She was telling him to do his job and take the kill. She didn't want Cadaver to get hurt, being as young as he was, but she knew that Caedes had the experience to keep himself safe. Not that she cared.

"Bowen"

As Bowen and Caedes worked to keep the hippo down, Cadaver felt a surge of pride in their teamwork. The massive beast was no match for their combined strength and determination. With a final, fierce tug, Bowen managed to expose the hippo's throat, a clear invitation for Caedes to deliver the killing blow. Cadaver knew that Caedes was more than capable of finishing the job. The older brute had proven himself plenty of times at this point. With a nod towards Caedes, Cadaver maintained his grip on the hippo's leg, instilling as much resistance as he possibly could.

As Caedes moved in to finish off the hippo, Cadaver felt a sense of satisfaction. They had faced a formidable foe and emerged victorious, their bond strengthened by the heat of battle. Cadaver knew that this experience would stay with him, a testament to the power of teamwork and unity.

"Cadaver Nightwing"

Her eyes locked onto his, a command passing between them. Caedes understood her unspoken request, and though he did not take orders from those not of his blood, he relented.

Caedes stepped forward, his emerald eyes glittering with predatory intent. He approached the wounded beast with measured caution, his movements deliberate and calculated. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, sinking his teeth into the exposed throat of the hippo. A final cry echoed across the oasis from the hippo as Caedes delivered the killing blow, his powerful jaws crushing bone and sinew with lethal precision amongst metal and flesh.

"speaking"