"Do you see where they're coming from?"

Another body rushed past them and Fashaq hissed as he felt claws scrape into his side. His body spun towards the assailant, but the figure had already disappeared into the dark. The lion cursed, darting back towards the body of his companion. "No," he called back.

"What are you doing?" Tabari didn't spare a glance back towards the other reaver. He could feel Fashaq's body heat at his side. The brown and white lion stiffened.

"Shh," Fashaq hissed, the muscles in his body tensed and ready to spring. "Back to back. It gives us a chance to see any of them coming."

It was dark. The lions could still see (not clearly, but enough), though the swiftness of the shapes and their obscurity in the foliage was disorienting. The two reavers had been separated from the bulk of their band, having taken to a patrol while the others rested and ate. It was night and the air was dry. Much moreso than the area near the pride lands had been. Still, they weren't too far off. A day's journey straight, if they hustled. The pair had been having light conversation as they moved through the brush. Neither having been native to the pride, they had various stories to tell one another to pass the time, though to be honest the navy lion had done only a small portion of the conversing. His companion had long since come to the assertion that Fashaq was a lion few words.

Tabari was from the desert. It was an area that, though Fashaq was not unfamiliar with, he had little experience traversing. He was also from a pride. A complicated one, from what he could understand. The brown lion had been explaining his history—the ancient bloodwar, the politics, the plague—when the two had heard a noise.

The forest had opened up into a clearing. The sound of running water was soft, but discernable. In the distance, some figures moved.

"Leopards," Tabari muttered under his breath. Pesky creatures. They were smaller and not as muscular, surely, but damn sneaky. If there wasn't too many of them, the pair could certainly take some down. Leopards were solitary creatures, so if there did happen to be more than a couple, some were sure to flee upon a surprise attack by some lion. The pair had agreed to make an attempt at them—some interesting thralls to bring home, if anything—and though the group hadn't seen them coming they quickly disappeared into the brush. Some, he was certain, were even up in the trees. "If I never have to see another leopard in my life, I can't say that I'd be upset about it."

"There, from the left."

The hissing voice came not from Fashaq, but form the individual that had settled itself around his shoulders. Kha had been at the lion's side from the moment he entered the pride. Throughout their travels, the snake had proven itself a worthy and useful companion. It had been a long while since the two first met. Fashaq's mother happened across the snake in its youth and offered it safety and companionship and, just like that, the two had become inseparable. The viper's tongue flickered in and out. He remained close to Fashaq's ear, watching the forms move with his infrared vision.

Fashaq reeled in preparation for the blow from the left and, as Kha had warned, the strike came. The lion was ready for it this time, though and as quickly as the leopard came it was struck down. A snarl escaped the navy lion's maw as he pressed his weight into the smaller feline.

Tabari, realizing what was happening, gave a brief backwards glance towards his companion. He didn't move to assist the other reaver though. Fashaq looked like he had things handled and they didn't know how many others were out there. Instead, the spotted lion moved just to Fashaq's flank, keeping an eye out for any others that would try to strike while his back was turned.

A growl came from the leopard as the feline thrashed beneath the lion's weight. Claws and fangs were thrown haphazardly through the air seeking purchase. There was none to be found, as Fashaq positioned himself away from the strike zone and increased his weight.

"Awfully tenacious for some leopard don't you think, Tabari?" The lion growled, more towards the leopard than to the other lion who offered only a grunt in response. "You think they have a death wish? Or maybe they're just particularly stupid?"

Tabari snorted, sending the other lion a glance. He'd head his fellow reaver speak more in the past few minutes than he had for the entirety of the time he had known him (which, albeit, was not particularly long). It was fair, though. Being ambushed in the dark had its way of getting to you.

"Now," Fashaq was continuing. Even more words from the characteristically quiet lion. "I do hope that your friends over there, who I'm sure are listening, choose to keep their distance. For the sake of your windpipe." His claws pressed thoughtfully into the dark fur of the leopard's throat.

The leopard, in return, cast a sideways look into the shadows before turning his attention back towards the lion above him. They made eye contact. The whites of the leopard's eyes were bright in the dark.

The smaller feline let out a breathy noise. Coughing from lack of air, Fashaq told himself. Still, he didn't let up. Then, the noise became more recognizable. It was… laughter?

Unnerved, the navy lion shifted his weight. Tabari narrowed his eyes, peering down at the pair of them.

"Something funny?" The brown lion's lip curled and he tensed, preparing himself for another ambush.

"He- he said," the leopard sputtered between labored breaths. "He said you would come. That we… that you would find us. We didn't believe him, but gods be damned."

Fashaq increased his weight with a snarl, lowering his head towards the smaller feline. "Who? Who said?" But even as he asked, he knew the answer.

"He said to tell you. That it's the only way we'd survive this." The leopard's voice was faint, now. He'd pass out soon, surely. "He said to tell you. And then to show you the way. He said to tell you that your uncle sends his regards."

(WC: 1069)