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Slavering jaws snapped at the frightened and trembling zebra foal he had managed to corner away from its mother. A growl rumbling deep in his chest as the tiny creature wailed in fright and weaved back and forth looking for a way to escape.

There wasn't one.

Ninavunja had every intention of tearing the bleating creature apart. Would enjoy listening to the sound of its bones splintering in his jaws. Scattering the entrails in a bloody mess. There was definitely no escape. Circling around to one side and then the other the hyena lunged at stork-like limbs, plucking at them and enjoying the torment he caused as the little foal teetered off balance and nearly collapsed each time his teeth tugged at one of its limbs.

He never expected for even a moment that some stray lioness would come wandering into his business, butting her nose in where it didn't belong. Yet much to his surprise, white ears swiveled as the small, cream-colored figure appeared through the grass, putting her body between Nina and his prey. Amber eyes narrowing with immediate annoyance, What the hell is this? Go find your own meat bag. This is mine.

Can't? Can't let me do? Can't let me have? Nina sneezed indignantly at the foolish lioness, taking in the length of her skinny frame with confidence. The scars on her shoulder drew his eyes, apparently this wasn't the first meal she'd interrupted. If the aggravated hyena had his way though, this would be the last. Don't know the meaning of can't.

Don't remember askin' permission, either. Convinced this was a clever ploy to steal the foal for her own meal, the golden-eyed canine wrinkled his muzzle, revealing wet, white teeth. Her act was a believable one with the way her quiet voice trembled, striving to sound bolder than she was. It wasn't until he noticed the bird shoving his captive prey away from the scene that he realized this bizarre cat was serious about saving the young zebra from him. A wide-eyed stare leaping from the scampering monochrome rear back to that pink nose and innocent blue eyes in utter---betrayal! Damnit!

Charging past the figure in his way Nina drew up short in the tall grass, snarling as the striped figure disappeared amongst the rest of the herd. DAMNIT!

With a howl the dark hunter whipped around, surprised to find the brazen kitty already trying to make an escape as well. Oh there was no way in hell that b***h was going to get away with this! Nina wasn't opposed to trading up for a feast of lion for lunch, lurching after the little female with jaws parted, emitting a frightening cackle.

And despite the shortness of his stride, the burst of speed that accompanied the outrage that surged in his chest helped Nina to gain enough ground to sink his teeth into the blonde rump. Growling around the rush of blood that filled his mouth, You ain't gettin' away that easy!

A soft cry of surprise and anguish spilled across the grassland as pale blue eyes went round with the sensation of teeth sinking into her backside. Even if it had happened unintentionally, it was clear Chai had underestimated this hyena's tenacity. Gaze twisting over her shoulder as the weight of the canine caused her legs to wobble and sink to the ground. It was proving a tremendous effort simply to keep moving, let alone get her hind end out from under the angry male whose jaws refused to dislodge. The pain was beginning to cripple the little lioness, causing her awkward gait to slow with the only reprieve being Rin's efforts to distract and dislodge the hyena.

Get off her you filthy mongrel! A shrieking caw was near deafening in those giant ears as her talons raked at the stranger's vulnerable face. Tugging at whatever she could grab as her wings flapped and fluttered noisily, struggling to keep up with the pair as they crossed the savannah in their jointed way. Just let go right now!

Worried for the safety of the hawk that had inexplicably adhered herself to the less-than-capable lioness, Chai's voice trembled. R-Rin don't! Get away from here! I... I can---

Just shut up! I'm not leaving you alone! Rin hissed in annoyance, breathless with her effort to distract the attacker and cutting off whatever self-sacrificing speech her companion was prepared to make. There was no way she could leave the lioness in good conscience, even if Chai didn't believe herself worth rescuing. Prepared to argue further when those gentle eyes seemed to silently plead with her, the words never came. Instead, a roar shook the landscape, startling the trio.

Caught off guard by the booming, masculine sound that trumpeted, announcing the arrival of another lion in accompaniment of thundering steps, the wing-marked female dropped to the ground immediately. Fear seemed to paralyze her, wondering how she could have accidentally wandered unknowingly into a pride territory. There was probably an entire guard coming to dispatch her troublesome self and the hyena she had dragged onto their land with her. Leaning onto her side, half pinned beneath the savage beast the cornered mink bared her teeth and hissed both in fright and pain at the brute that refused to release her flesh. L-Let go! If you're any kind of hunter you can catch s-something else!

The big pale lion came to a stop in a flurry of dust and fur his teeth barred his mane bristeling. "Let, the girl, go." He growls through tightly clenched teeth, his pale eyes narrowed to mere slits as he eyed the dark hyena. "Release her." He barks his voice dropping a couple of octaves as he eyed the male musteladid.

Wessex slips beneath her companion and smiles a little doggy smile at the lioness, she wags her tail gently hoping to calm the lioness down. "Don't worry Dooley will see it off." She whispers her deep brown eyes smiling. She sends a sideways glance at the male hyena and barks bravely at the beast her ears flattening.

Unsheathing his claws the giant of a male rolls his shoulders, ready to take on the hyena. He didn't particularly want to fight but that didn't mean he couldn't, far from it, he was decended from firekin blood he had fight built in to his DNA. "Start moving hyena, or you'll taste my claws." He lowers his body slightly ready to pounce the big eared beast should it decide to stand its ground.

Rending at fur and muscle as he twisted his head to avoid the swat, the little lioness really was a piece of work. A sinister sort of amusement curling thin lips at her protest, as if she really thought it might work. Her little parrot proved more of a nuisance than she was, swatting the noisy bird aside with a grunt.

Nina happened to notice the lion a second before his prey did, a brow arching towards the giant skeptically. He wasn't sure if the pair were somehow involved and even despite the fact that this feline was several times larger than any other he'd ever had the displeasure of encountering, amber stare remained stoic and without fear. After all, big or not he was still just a lonely rogue like this female, like Nina who was prepared to take the bossy stray if need be. Releasing his hold, finally, on his victim. It wasn't to let her go, rather, instead he stood over the crouched lioness intently, brazenly refusing the orders that were directed at him. Let go? You all got some nerve, trying to tell me what to do. Get lost! I don't feel like dealing with you, too. Though..

Nina stared down the lion with a disjointed smile. I will, if I gotta.

Stirring to consciousness--after clocking her head--in the mouth of a predator, no matter how small it may have been, was not how Rin preferred to wake up. Her pale body wriggling against the gentle hold, wings attempting to spread to pry unfamiliar jaws off in a state of confusion. What happened in those brief few seconds she had blacked out? Let go of me! Get off! I'm not dead yet!!

When she was released a few feet away from the fray perfectly unharmed, except for what damage she had taken from the scavenger, the Hawk clicked her beak, feeling only mildly abashed. You're with that big lion? I suppose.. I owe you an apology then.

Ruffling her feathers in an attempt to dry the dampness on them soaring blue eyes examined the jackal and then her companion with critical eyes before nodding. It's fine, they'll dry. I hope you're right. Chai is well meaning, but runs into trouble where ever she goes.

Clucking in blatant exasperation at the thought of the lioness she accompanied she mused over the name. Firekin. It may or may not have been familiar to her, but then before meeting with Asali'kama, Rin had barely paid much mind to the affairs of lions. Perhaps, but then.. perhaps not, that one may be brazen, but he doesn't appear to have much of a brain in his head.

Barely several feet away from their casual conversation Chai stared at the hyena hovering over her and grimaced. The heroic stranger didn't give her much more time to react then that before leaping into action, taking her captor with him as he sprung in a surprisingly graceful arc overhead. Bravely threatening the hyena that he now pinned to the ground beneath one immense paw, despite her plea that he not involve himself.

Why were males so stubborn?

Unable to do much more than stare at the lion that had selflessly assumed the role of her protector, pinned to the ground and jaw hanging agape, Chai probably looked rather foolish. Brows furrowed with worry for the safety of her savior, even if he was certainly big enough to capably handle a fight.

The giant pale male laughed. "You are stupid yes? You know I could just kill you here and now?" He raises a curious brow those soft blue eyes fixed firmly upon the hyena whos life he held in his ample paws. He barely noticed the back paws at his belly or the paws flailing wildy at his face. He supposed he was lucky this was not another cat he had pinned, really hyenas had one weapon and it was that powerful jaw. "Now you listen to me, I am going to let you up and you start walking, do you understand that? Cause if you turn around and come back towards the lady and her friend I'll make sure you forget how to walk."

Dooley steps slowly away keeping his pale blue, very stern gaze upon the hyena, he thwaps at the prone shape his claws leaping out of their sheaths "Off with you!" He barks his order and waits , his massive muscular form still tense as he waited for the hyena to retreat.

Wessex smiles lightly at the bird "Oh yes, Dooley and I have been together for a long time he protects me I protect him." She laughs softly, it was sort of a joke, after all the powerhouse that was Dooley didn't need any real protection from a small jackal.

The monochrome Jackal wrinkles her nose in a doggish smile and pads on over to the pale lioness laying prone on the ground. "Would it be okay if I look at that bite ma'am? I'm not much of a healer but I can patch up a bite wound quite easily." she whispers her voice calm relaxed, sweet and motherly.

"Your friend was very brave, that hyena could have broken her neck." She looks at Rin and sends a similarly calm nose wrinkle at the bird. "Open your wings up ma'am your feathers will dry faster." She whispers, seemingly ignoreing the conflict barely feet from where they stood together. "Don't worry about Dooley he's a very powerful fighter, you have to be if you grow up on the sands."