PLOT POINT: Invasion

"This is our kill! Have you no honor?!"

The call rang in Naasir's head like a thunderclap. Adrenaline already pumping, he yanked his head from the buffalo, only to see Natsumi attacked by two strange lionesses. Alpha Aurora was running madly to help her, but her swollen belly seemed to slow her down a bit. Naasir roared in fury. How DARE they attack his comrades, his family? Especially when they were outnumbered... a chilling realization cleared his head a bit, and the lion bolted after Alpha, yelling with all his might,

"It's a trap! Alpha wait, there are more of them!" Starpride help us he thought, still running. Bloodlust was creeping into his system, turning his vision red. A third lioness was running to intersect Aurora, but Naasir was faster. Leaping into the air, he felt his paws catch fire just as he tackled the enemy, sending them both to the ground.

Swetse was taken by surprise, this attack was not supposed to happen. Swetse batted his paws at a lioness, blue electric sparks flying off in warning, he would not attack until they did first, "Stay away from our kill..." He was so hungry the ache in his belly fueled him, but then he heard Natsumi's calls.

"Swetse! Protect Aurora!"

His head swung away from the lioness who had her eyes on him as he bolted for where Aurora was fending off another. "Aurora dodge!!" He shouted hoping she would move slightly too allow him full force onto this other lioness.

Nuru stayed by the buffalo, right now that was the most important thing for her to do. Everyone else had ran into the fray, there was only her and Hakim. "Hakim if we stay by the kill we can be prepared if one breaks out of the battle and heads straight for this buffalo..." Nuru thought it the best idea, right now there weren't too many, and at least they were ready and coiled for an attack.

Naasir and the lioness jumped apart, facing off. The fire in his paws was slowly creeping up his legs, and if he didn't stop it soon, it would engulf his whole body. He glared at the intruder, growling "You have no right to that kill! We took it down, it is ours by right. Are you nothing but mangy hyenas?"

"I could ask the same of you, cub." she spat back, though her gaze was drifting warily to the fire. "You hunt on enemy territory, and expect a welcome?"


(( Much bigger Original can be found here: So Not Fair... by ~ECMD on deviantART ))

Naasir roared, lunging at her. They went to the ground, and she let out a yelp of surprise as the fire burned her pelt. As they clawed and bit each other, the flames caught, and then the enemy lioness was on fire. She writhed on the ground, screaming in pain. Naasir came out of his battle frenzy, and looked on in horror. Memories of the poor souls caught in the brush fire leaped to the forefront of his mind, sending him into a panick.

"Help, somebody help! I can't put it out." He looked around wildly, spotting Swetse, but he was occupied trying to help Natsumi, and Hakim, who had pinned another lioness. Was there no one who could help him? Then his eyes locked on Nuru, who was standing by their kill. He shouted to the other fire wielding cat, "Nuru, please! It's killing her, and I can't make it stop." All he had wanted was to scare her off, not kill anyone. Images of his father's leering smile as he took out a rival rogue right in front of his week-old son flashed, sent him reeling. I am not my father! he thought vehemently. Hoping desperately that there was a way to stop the fire before it was too late...

"Jump on her!! It's the only way. It may sound cruel, but if you can save that's the only way."

Naasir vaguely registered Nuru's calm and sure instructions. He, the level-headed, relaxed warrior was panicking. But he did as he was told, leaping on top of the bigger lioness. Trying desperately to hold her down. She was roaring in pain, and doing all she could to get away from him, but his adrenaline had kicked in, and he kept her in place. The panic was receding a little now, and he looked to Nuru for what to do next.

Naasir batted at the flames, doing as his friend said, smothering them. Eventually they were all put out, and what was left was one burned and angry lioness. But the burns where too much for her to go on fighting, and she fled, yelling to the lioness fighting with Natsumi, "Shange, I can't fight. I have to go back to camp. I suggest an immediate retreat. These lions are not normal ! If we stay and fight we will lose and most likely die. Is that worth one lousy buffalo? She shook her head, then limped away from the rest of the fray. Lions were still duking it out, but first...

"Nuru, thank you. I'm sorry, I couldn't... it was like the fire all over again, and I panicked. It won't happen again." Naasir wasn't one given to losing control or panicking, even in the middle of battle. He felt ashamed at appearing so weak.

But an aggressive roar yanked him out of his reverie. Another lioness was coming at them. Is she crazy? he thought. She must have been, because she went straight for Nuru. Naasir whipped around, slashing at the new threat with his paws. Only claws this time, he didn't want a rerun of what had just happened. If Nuru uses fire, then so will I, he told himself, then proceed to circle the lioness, making a ring around her while Nuru mirrored him on the other side.

((Looks like Naasir has his own problems now))


((Original much Larger version can be found here: Defend Your Home by ~Kumlay on deviantART))

The leopard lifted his paw to land another blow, hissing to the intruder, "You mangy hyenas- oof!" a heavy blow landed on his neck, sending him sprawling. A VERY large male was standing over him, getting ready to swipe at him again with paws well larger than his own. He crouched into a defensive position, getting ready to counter the male's attack.

The blow came, and it sent Naasir flying. Holy Starpride this one is strong he thought, shaking his head. There was no way he could match this new lion with strength alone, so he sighed and resignedly ignited himself again, quickly circling with the male. For a split second he looked over his shoulder to see if Nuru was doing the same.

(( Tsavi's response to you, Naasir. ))


(( Much larger Original picture can be found here: Be A Lion by ~Kumlay on deviantART ))

Nuru followed Naasir's actions, circling the new female. Although another had taken him into battle, at that moment Nuru went for it, she leapt forward to attack the female. The lioness raised as she headed towards her, she streatched out her front right claw landing a blow upon the others face, "What's you're problem?!" Nuru snarled, after the lioness was taken aback, "We have no food!! Can't you see we're desperate!!" She said, hoping to find a good side to this opposing lioness, but it didn't look promising...

Swetse paced, each lion was taken up with another, he was keeping watch, seeing who was struggling, then he saw it, a young plucky male hurtling towards him. Swetse gave the impression he was a young male, by the fact his mane did not grow like a normal lions, but his size and muscle well out-weighed this little one's, Swetse only readied himself to defend. That was his nature, he'd rather defend than insight a new fight. The young male came barrelling forward, leaping full pelt at Swetse, claws unsheathed, Swetse dodged, by bending low to the ground, and knocking him off balance with a small flick of his tail on the male's underbelly. It was obvious he was not up to scratch on his fighting techniques, and Swetse was practically a pro. "You're out of your depths young one." Swetse said standing as he watched the adolescent gain his balance again.

((Just to warn everyone, get your last smacks in, because later tonight I'm wrapping this up.))


(( Original, and much bigger image found here: TRM02.2 - Surrounded by *Amritha on deviantART ))

Naasir's paws flared brighter at the insult. He would not let a blow to his honor slide.

"I would fight like a lion, coward, if my enemy acted like one! Take your friends and go, before you all end up pickings for the vultures. I spared your friend, but that is as far as my mercy extends. Leave us to our kill, and we'll be on our way."

He waited for the lion's reply, ready to fight. The lioness fighting Nuru was back to back with his foe, while he and his comrade made a larger circle around the two. If the lion attacked, he would go for his eyes, giving him an advantage over the bigger cat. If he backed down, Naasir would extinguish the flames and search for the rest of his party, seeing who needed to be helped. Judging by the defiant and proud light in the other male's eyes, the latter was unlikely.

Tsavi seems like his personality is very close to Naasir's, I have a hard time slinging insults at someone who has the same noble and loyal intentions as him