What Romano, as he surged head first with solidified attempts and resolve to kill Cothoza would not expect. Was not for Cothoza to fight him. Was not to feel his life drain while a black mass of fur blocked out the sun. Was not for Vellamo, the oracle of the sea to attempt and shove this mass over while he struggled to remain alive underneath it. But what Romano least expected was for that very lion who breathed heavily and slow to turn his yellow eyes with an icy glare and charge back at the leopard who seized him.

A roar and a crunch was all it took to catch the leopard. Funny, he thought himself a thousand times more swift than this.

Thud! He felt a grunt of pain swirl around him as his body was launched against a tree. But it was only a grin that Cothoza received from Romano when he had the opportunity to show his face to the lion. He would not go down. This- was nothing! The pain was temporary and as a Tafauti and ex. Ghadhabu he learned very early on not to fear battle.

Romano lifted his rear further up the tree. He couldn't to shoved his legs against Cothoza's throat as he attempt to maul the leopard with his teeth. The result was expected, with Cothoza having to back up and save himself from getting a crushed airway. This gave Romano time to recover, drop to the ground and swish his tail behind him in determination of a new attack.

But he was stopped. By the very person he was trying to save. Vellamo.


Vellamo moved her small frame to stand firmly between both the leopard and lion as they fought. Her jingly ears swayed as she made a pose that put most of her body towards Romano yet her glare towards the lion. Cothoza had not expected her to be there and was prepared for a retaliation assault when he noted the small hyena was in his path. Skipping backwards he ended up making a goofy face while trying his best not to so much as get dust on her paws. Vellamo, who normally would have rolled her eyes or laughed did not look impressed. "What do you think you're doing?!" She growled at Cothoza, who was stunned by her reaction. A servant, speaking out like this?

"Do not attack them! Ta warned ya many moons ago this would happen if you did!" He remained looking stunned, but was more shocked now that Vellamo had brought up the conversation (well, he was a mute it was more or less Vellamo speaking to herself) about monsters.

She seemed stuck on the thought that Cothoza had mauled a monster previously, and that was why the leopard attacked. How naïve, Cothoza wanted to swat her for her ignorance but remained where he was. He knew if he did do that then both Vellamo and the enemy leopard would gang up on him. A battle he was not sure he could survive.

Heaving with exhaustion of his petty attempt to protect himself and Vel, Cothoza reversed and allowed the angry female a little more space. She... Did she know these lands? Clearly not or she would have taken lead, but she knew it was a monster they were facing. Oh yes, it most definitely was. Romano's fur was ravaged madly two of his bottom teeth were exposed as he pulled his lips back into a growl. He looked strong, powerful and he wore a pelt of some kind on his back as an extra layer of protection against the attack. Weird, strange creature he was.

Vellamo would not have his crabby attitude though and glared at the leopard until he resumed a position of submissiveness. "I only-" She shut him quick.

"This stranger was escorting me home!" She informed him of a lie. Cothoza made a confused look at this new information. "The remainder of my clan is nearby. Should they hear of this I doubt you will survive the night." She spoke smoothly and sternly. The black lion was impressed she hadn't let her accent seep through.

Romano gave a low growl followed by short, quick words in a language that Cothoza's didn't understand. But Vellama knew the Tafauti language well, she had taken on learning it for the sake of understanding her clients. To imagine it would be used like this!

"I was only to trying to help you. The stranger is dangerous."
"Yeah, 'e might be, but 'e's my darn tproblem not yours!" Her accent was think in Tafauti tongue, unlike before when she spoke properly in words Cothoza appreciated.

"Then allow me to help. There is a river with a cliff face nearby. The river is too strong to cross but climbing up the cliff is easy!"

Vellamo looked away to considered the other monster's deal. If she kept travelling with Cothoza eventually she'd have to rely on her family to break free of his odd chain of command. But if she went with the leopard, then she could be free now. The question was now whether she wanted to see Cothoza get hurt or not...

Go with leopard, Cothoza walks free. Go on her way, and watch the lion get mauled by two angry hyenas. It was a tough choice, she wanted Cothoza to suffer for all the horrible things he made her do but at the same time he wasn't really that bad. In fact, she almost considered him a friend. Almost but not quite.

"I'm fine on ta own. 'e's not the smartest of 'em mortals. I giv'em a false trail and he's sniffin the wrong way. Outta my hairs."

"Please, it's safer."

Hmm... Safe was always nice perk to these situations...

She sighed, turned around and adjusted her voice to speak rogue tongue to Cothoza, who looked a bit scared and lost. 'Ta leopard wants ta help us. Consider dat mark his greetin call."

The lion did not seem pleased, but he did not argue only grunt to prove his displeasure with the decision to follow his attacker. But, he did eventually follow.

1027 words