As the three made their way in the dim light, Vanator's gaze fell to Loken as well. The man's purpose within the Fringe Forest was yet to be revealed, most likely innocent or mundane, but his stoic demeanor and apparent martial carriage warranted the Denusks' caution. Kavala too was not yet to ready accept the stranger, and as she subtly shifted to Vanator's outside, her brother shifted in to place himself between the Konti and the mounted man with the strange sword. Vanator did not grab his bow before heading out after Kavala and the mare, so he clutched the battle ax in his hand at the ready. Thankfully, his sister did have her crossbow, and if worse came to worse, if she could not kill the threatening lion outright with it, a wounded lion, though more desperate to fight, would be weaker as well.
As Indigo picked up the scent, a roar suggested that the lion may have discovered the mare as well, and Vanator started off as Loken wheeled his horse ahead and dismounted. Through the thicket, the starlight revealed the mare's form, and like a living shadow, the pacing lion. The stranger ran ahead, valiantly offering to take on the lion single-handedly. It perplexed Vanator, that a stranger would risk his life for a horse that belonged to people he didn't know. Sure, Kavala and Vanator would, to save one of their herd, but they were raised in a world where your horses were your family. This stranger was certainly not Drykas. He was either a skilled fighter, or a foolhardy zealot.
Van followed up behind and entered the clearing, seeing the struggling mare, and Loken between the horse and the lion. For a moment, Vanator considered taking the stranger at his word, leaving Loken to the lion and helping Kavala with the mid-birth mare. He owed nothing to the stranger, who voluntarily put himself in danger. But Vanator knew well the deadliness of the dark grassland predator. His ax had bitten the hide of more than one lion, and scars on his arm revealed that the fangs of a night lion had marred the Drykas' hide as well. He would not trust his life and that of his sister to the unknown prowess of Loken, he would not turn his back on the beast to help Kavala until it was dead or gone.
Instead, Vanator maneuvered behind Loken, closer to the mare, but leaving a clear shot for Kavala as she entered the clearing. The hounds instinctively took position to protect the Denusks and the horse, just out of range of the lion, hackles raised and teeth bared. Though the Drykas had seen no ranged weapons upon the outsider, Loken produced a small metal object that he flung at the predator. The projectile missed the lion, but the beast's attention turned from the birthing mare. A menacing snarl revealed ivory fangs that stood out against its dark form, eerie golden eyes fixed on the tall human.
Vanator saw the beast tuck, coiling back on strong legs, ready to lunge. The dog's agitated the large cat, restricting its movement. Frustrated, the creature sought to strike out at Loken.
Shifting his battle ax to his left hand, the Vanator plucked the hand ax from his belt, holding the haft near the end. Raising the weapon, Vanator hurled it at the lion as it began to spring forward. The small ax blade cleaved a chunk of flesh from the animal's haunch in a glancing blow, hardly lethal but enough to steal some momentum from its attack on Loken. Vanator then took up the battle ax in his right hand again, stepping closer, eyes darting to Kavala to see where she was and what she was doing.
As Indigo picked up the scent, a roar suggested that the lion may have discovered the mare as well, and Vanator started off as Loken wheeled his horse ahead and dismounted. Through the thicket, the starlight revealed the mare's form, and like a living shadow, the pacing lion. The stranger ran ahead, valiantly offering to take on the lion single-handedly. It perplexed Vanator, that a stranger would risk his life for a horse that belonged to people he didn't know. Sure, Kavala and Vanator would, to save one of their herd, but they were raised in a world where your horses were your family. This stranger was certainly not Drykas. He was either a skilled fighter, or a foolhardy zealot.
Van followed up behind and entered the clearing, seeing the struggling mare, and Loken between the horse and the lion. For a moment, Vanator considered taking the stranger at his word, leaving Loken to the lion and helping Kavala with the mid-birth mare. He owed nothing to the stranger, who voluntarily put himself in danger. But Vanator knew well the deadliness of the dark grassland predator. His ax had bitten the hide of more than one lion, and scars on his arm revealed that the fangs of a night lion had marred the Drykas' hide as well. He would not trust his life and that of his sister to the unknown prowess of Loken, he would not turn his back on the beast to help Kavala until it was dead or gone.
Instead, Vanator maneuvered behind Loken, closer to the mare, but leaving a clear shot for Kavala as she entered the clearing. The hounds instinctively took position to protect the Denusks and the horse, just out of range of the lion, hackles raised and teeth bared. Though the Drykas had seen no ranged weapons upon the outsider, Loken produced a small metal object that he flung at the predator. The projectile missed the lion, but the beast's attention turned from the birthing mare. A menacing snarl revealed ivory fangs that stood out against its dark form, eerie golden eyes fixed on the tall human.
Vanator saw the beast tuck, coiling back on strong legs, ready to lunge. The dog's agitated the large cat, restricting its movement. Frustrated, the creature sought to strike out at Loken.
Shifting his battle ax to his left hand, the Vanator plucked the hand ax from his belt, holding the haft near the end. Raising the weapon, Vanator hurled it at the lion as it began to spring forward. The small ax blade cleaved a chunk of flesh from the animal's haunch in a glancing blow, hardly lethal but enough to steal some momentum from its attack on Loken. Vanator then took up the battle ax in his right hand again, stepping closer, eyes darting to Kavala to see where she was and what she was doing.
