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Mtifu's ears were trained overhead as she stood stiffly. Waiting for something to happen. Her body tensed but remained still as a branch fell and while her eyes and ears flickered towards it a moment, she quickly returned her focus over head. While she didn't like monkeys, it seemed this one was the least of their worries. This monkey was trying to flee the monster as well? Great. That meant it hid in the tree tops. She hated creatures that hid out in trees. That was the one thing she couldn't climb. Trees. Stupid, bloody trees.

It seemed everyone's nerves were frayed. Bird calls startled some. Strange smells made others edgy. Sounds above and movement sent others scattering. Granted, it had been a dangerous situation, but she was beginning to wonder if they were making more of the dangers than they warranted. She moved out to the left-hand edge of the skittish whole. She didn't care to get caught in the middle if something made the majority present panic. It would be a slaughter, alright, but not necessarily by this monster or monsters. Terror alone could trample and injure many, should the whole group get spooked.

Rimma was neither very brave nor particularly cowardly, but to her this seemed to be getting out of control. She was starting to regret coming, as she felt very on her own. She had noone to depend on if panic did occur, noone to stand at her back. This left her feeling very vulnerable, not concerning the entity they hunted, but her very companions. Disaster was lurking most certainly, and it might just be one they brought on themselves!

If Veru hated birds, Seide hated monkeys even more.

They didn't need wings to be oversized rats. There was a growl in the back of her throat when the creature sprung, rendering most of the rogues red-faced and embarrassed.

It had thankfully been so busy punishing Veru for his errors that it had not thought to touch her face. Then again, she was already red through the most of her face.

"He seems to only smack people who need it," Seide mused. It sounded like it could have been a joke, but Seide did not make those. She cast Veru a pointed look.

Her eyes scanned the small, straining creature. But when the branch fell, she hunkered down to all fours, eyes looking upward and scanning warily. The Firekin were not used to attacks from above. What little high ground advantage there was in the land of the desert was quickly taken by the Firekin themselves. Skyward terrors was a new and alarming perspective. How did you defend against it?

"We want to talk!" She shouted up at the trees. Seide did not have Veru's skill in casual chatter.

The crashing branch was soon followed by a sleek looking blue leopard. Hopping from the trees, he made a quick grab at Pam- but stopped himself short when Seide's voice distracted him. Realizing his assault had failed, he made a few quick hops so that his back was to the trees. It didn't help too much, he was still surrounded.

His attack hadn't gone unnoticed by the still pinned monkey. It started to babble more strange gibberish, but had his arm stretched out sadly as if begging the leopard for assistance.

Veru might have been struck silent by the red slap on the face, but the sudden rush of being attacked had even him on high alert. At least Seide seemed to stagger it. "Alright, now, lets calm down here- you can't take on all of us."

The leopard took one look at the monkey and showed his fangs. "What sort of bullies hurt a poor old addled treewalker?"

Veru was about to protest, when another tree started shaking. This time, another leopard came into view. A female, her coat silver against the green canopy. Her eyes narrowed at the sight. "We'll talk when you release our friend. Or do you really think Old Ngedere is a worthy hostage? Don't test my patience, you don't know how many we hide."

arrow Is it a bluff?! Come to consensus fast!

Mura seemed to be taking up the defense. Good. Tahir lowered his head and tucked himself close against her side. Whatever danger was coming for them, he at least had her as a shield. He was surprised to see leopards leap down from the canopy, instead of more monkeys. But this did not make Tahir any happier. He bared his teeth, hackles raised (but tail, as ever, between his legs.)

“He attacked us,” Tahir snarled. His face still smarted. “It’s only right that we keep him from doing so again.”

The mention of more leopards hiding above made his lanky legs shake. He did not want to deal with such a large attack. No monkey could be important enough for that. Tahir didn’t care much for the garnering of information, either. Not from these cats. Leopards could lie.

“I say we let the monkey go… so long as the leopards promise to keep him under control.”

Well, s**t. This was just the sort of situation Sandor had been hoping to avoid by not meeting up with the leopards who were supposed to be in the area. On a practical side, talking to the leopards and their monkey pet would only put the hunters farther behind their quarry. There was also the minor irritation that Sandor, as a Jedi, really could not condone unnecessary violence against the elderly and infirm.

"You should keep your pet on a shorter leash," he rasped as he angled his body so that the red mark on his haunches was not readily apparent to the leopard pair.

The female's threat about the trees hiding more than just that pair seemed to him ridiculous. With the number of canines in this party, if there had been a sudden increase in leopard scents, at least one of them would have noticed. Probably that cringing coward who seemed afraid of everything and had no business being in a hunting party.

"Somehow I'm not concerned," he added, addressing the female leopard directly. "Perhaps if you had some proof, I would be more inclined to worry, but as it is, I think the two of you are alone with your pet."

The leopards! Oh, finally. That’s what this was all about. But… but… these leopards were just as Lani feared. Enemies, not friends, bandying threats about the group. She flattened her ears and growled low under her breath. The monkey had been frightening enough, but now this? She let her gaze flit from tree to tree, searching for the shadowy forms of cats. But leopards were excellent hiders, and she could see none.

“We shouldn’t trust them,” she said, probably too quiet to be heard,” Even if they get their friend back, they could still attack us.”

Oh, she just wanted to be gone from this place. But there was no chance of her leaving the group now. At least lions were bigger and stronger than leopards. The lions would be able to take the other cats, wouldn’t they? Lani didn’t think she could outmaneuver a leopard.