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((birchy- you totally picked out the species of cats I was thinking of making for additional characters. XD I found that amusing))

Thela had been prowling away from the pride's home. She had been doing that of late, ever since the assassination. The jaguar needed some time alone to cope, to think about what had been done, and being out on patrol helped her relax. Keeping her people safe was she wanted to do.

"And yet he was murdered right under our noses!" Thela seethed. So caught up in such thoughts, it took her a moment to realize some unfamilar scents. And one that was quite familiar. She turned to follow the scents, and that was when she heard the sounds of a fight. She immediately started to run towards Calyn.

She stopped when she thought they might notice her, crouching low. Calyn was fighting a leopard, and a blur of fur had intercepted a tiger. Thela realized it was her second, Mahora.

Taking only a moment to assess the situation, Thela decided to help Calyn. The hunter, while strong, was not used to fighting, and Thela was sure Mahora could handle himself, for now, at least. She charged in, aiming at the leopard, to hit him away from Calyn.

Tami nodded, remembering he couldn't see her a second later. "I'll be careful." she promised, slipping out of the cave. She knew she needed to hurry, but his warning to stay hidden rang louder. She didn't move much faster than a quick walk, careful to not make too much noise. She wasn't nearly as skilled as a hunter, but better than some of the fighters. She reached the den without a problem, searching for the herbs. She sighed, and made herself calm down before she remembered where they were. Grabbing a small mouthfull of each she put them on one of the larger leaves they'd found in the jungle. She carefully picked up the makeshift bag, hoping her teeth wouldn't tear it as she slowly made her way back to the others, safe in the den.

Calyn jerked back, the leopard barely piercing the fur on her neck. She raked a clawed paw at his face, movement catching her eye to the side. Mahora had leaped at the tiger, and Thela was trying to help her.

Calyn yelped as he scratched across her stomach and hind legs, drawing several bloody furrows. She was pushed off, swiping one last time at his side with a paw.

[LoL. I just saw that Kyground's appearance for his character is the same as my picture for Mahora. And waveh, maybe you could make like a Snow Leopard, which hasn't been used. Just a suggestion ^.^ That's the only other breed I can think of now. Or you could go into more specific breeds. Like a Siberian Tiger, Sumatran tiger, or an Indo-Chinese tiger.]

Mahora let out another hiss, although more in surprise than pain, as the tiger kicked dirt into his eyes. He blinked, clearing his vision just in time to see the tiger vanish. The cheetah would have gone after the leopard as well, but already saw him trying to escape Calyn's grasp to run. So he merely sat calmly on his haunches, licking his paw and rubbing it against his wound, almost like a house cat might.

-------

"Here are my only terms. If we have to eliminate anyone, Kurros' daughter is mine. The lion ruined my family's life, so I'm going to make his daughter's life miserable. In return, I offer my complete service."

Azure's nose twitched slightly, his sandpaper tongue rubbing against the roof of his mouth. His long tail was curled around his body tightly, and he watched Raiden with emotionless golden eyes.

-------

Jacqueline mewed a quiet greeting as the many adults entered the den. She was feeling oddly drained, and curled up, big blue eyes watching everyone. Her fluffy tail was curled tightly around her, and from a distance, she looked almost like a pet. Her head lifted slightly as Tami entered. The little ocelot cub had a fascination with the healer's apprentice, and was more fond of her then Zephre. As the den began to empty again, the cub stood up, stretching and sitting on her haunches to look around.

Jacqueline's big eyes turned to follow Konya's voice. It was familiar, and comforting. She stood up, her paws silent on the ground as she padded over to the panther. The young ocelot cub then curled up between Konya's front paws, snuggling close to her chest for comfort.

"Konya, do you think they'll be okay," she asked, her voice soft and barely audible, but surprisingly smooth and unfaltering.

The leopard was hit directly by Calyn's powerful swipe. He tripped and fell, scrambling up and away as fast as his injured body would take him. The rain came without warning and without mercy. It pelted down upon the cats with the fury of a true spring storm.

Brindle appeared on the scene just in time to see the leopard slip away. It was almost too dark, yet she recognized some of the cats that had arrived to aid her second. Their markings gave them away.
"You won't get far." She growled before racing after the only cat she had seen flee.

"Gen. Gen where are you?" The leopard whispered. The rain was now making so much noise he could scarcely hear a thing. His injuries were slowing him down and they hurt badly. What was worse, it was getting muddy and making him slip, causing still more pain. He never saw his partner the tiger...until it was too late.

Brindle moved quickly, the rain had washed away almost every scent and made hearing her target impossible. Even in the darkness her eyes would now be her best tool. She winced as cold mud seeped between her toes and rain soaked her pelt, but she wasn't going to let him get away.
Suddenly something caught her eye. She ducked low and crept forward slowly. The pelt of a cat could be seen through the wet grass. It was spotted.
Got you. She thought, then tensed and leapt.
She landed directly on top of him, pinning his flank with both her paws and bringing her jaws lightly around his neck only to recoil in shock. A sharp, sour taste filled her mouth and she gagged.
"Blood?" She had not bitten nearly hard enough to break skin. Now she realized he had not even struggled when she pounced.
Brindle was swept with a fear colder than the rain falling over her. She looked down at the body of the leopard. The hyena's blood she had never seen now washed completely away.
"Dead."

((Gasp plot advance!))

Zephre listened to Bianca's nervous growls. He wanted to comfort her, somehow.
"If something has happened. The den will be the last place that is in danger. The cubs are the future of the entire pride, no matter who rules it."
He lowered his head sheepishly.
"I am not half as good a fighter as you are...but...if need be I will defend the den with my life."

((Post edit, I put Zephre in too ^^))

"Tami," squeaked the little cub in suppressed excitement.

Jacqueline pounded onto the leopard, digging her tiny fangs into the apprentice's fur lightly before pawing at her head. New found energy seemed to rush through her body as she stared up at the older cat with bright blue eyes.

"It's part of being a member of the pride," said Mahora simply before slipping off into the darkness after Brindle.

He nearly recoiled in disgust at the scent of blood. And lots of it. He padded over to stand next to Brindle, staring at the body with surprisingly empty eyes.

"Well, that could be a problem."

[I'm attempting to draw human-like drawings of my characters, so my posts might be a bit slow.]

ooc;; I had thought of a snow leopard as well (my favourite cat, as well as black panther heart ), but a snow leopard would not be comfortable in the heat of the desert, and it's not nearly plausible. ;-; I'll think of something. :3

Edit: Hah! I've googled wild cat species, and found interest in either the clouded leopard or the caracal. ^_^

bic;; Sahari glanced up so quickly, she thought she heard her neck crick. "Talk of death already?" she murmured so quietly that Daniel, squirmin by her paws, could not hear. She shivered, knowing Zephre was right - only ruthless rogues would be foolish enough to attack the cubs and nobody yet had shown any hostility towards the den's inhabitants. But, she as she bent down to rasp her rough tongue over Daniel's coat, freeing it of dust and grits of sand, she also knew she wouldn't hesitate in throwing herself at any would-be attacker, giving her life for the many precious lives within the nursery.