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Description

Part 1 ~*~ Part 3 ~*~ Part 4

Warning: Violence, death

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There was no time to discuss it any further. Four hyenas burst through the bushes, laughing madly. The first two, catching sight of their quarry, went running at her without even seeming to see Notch, and the leopardess bolted. Knowing that she would be cornered at the river if she continued in that direction, Notch tried to shout a warning, but the other two hyenas now needed his full attention. One leaped for his throat while the other tried to get in close and trip him up, but both attacks were easy to deflect.

“You die today,” Notch snarled as the rage began boiling up inside him. “My son will be avenged.” He couldn’t tell if either of these had been among those chasing him and Lomela, but it didn’t matter. If they weren’t, they were clearly no better than the others.

One of the hyenas, undaunted, responded in a mocking tone. “You got any more sons? I ain’t had a lion cub in days!”

Before they could launch another attack, Notch lunged, swiping at the one who had spoken, and he staggered away with bloody gashes across his face and neck. The other made one more attempt to bite, but found herself snapping at an empty space as Notch dodged her and pounced from the other side. She was prostrate and dying before the first one could even react, and neither had given Notch so much as a scratch.

His remaining enemy appeared to make the wise decision to retreat, but he was limping, and Notch was seeing red. He took one leap and tore into him, feeling bones snap between his jaws, but as the fury within him began to dissipate, he remembered what had started the fight and stopped in his tracks, standing still to hear over the hyena’s final whimpers.

Down in the direction of the river, the sounds of the chase continued. Before Notch could work out a plan, there was a terrible crunch, the high-pitched scream of a leopard, and then a loud splash. The distant cries of hyenas echoed through the cover of the trees. Horrified, Notch stared unblinking out at the jungle. The death of the leopardess was a cruel thing to witness, all the more because it seemed so senseless. Why had she run along the jungle floor and the lowest branches, instead of taking the easy escape up any of the massive trees where her kind spent most of their days?

There was only one explanation. Notch squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them with new resolve. The chase had left a strong scent trail, but he would have to hurry if he wanted to reach the end of it before it faded, and Lomela was waiting for him.

Description

Part 1 ~*~ Part 3 ~*~ Part 4

Warning: Violence, death

/////\\\\\/////\\\\\/////\\\\\

There was no time to discuss it any further. Four hyenas burst through the bushes, laughing madly. The first two, catching sight of their quarry, went running at her without even seeming to see Notch, and the leopardess bolted. Knowing that she would be cornered at the river if she continued in that direction, Notch tried to shout a warning, but the other two hyenas now needed his full attention. One leaped for his throat while the other tried to get in close and trip him up, but both attacks were easy to deflect.

“You die today,” Notch snarled as the rage began boiling up inside him. “My son will be avenged.” He couldn’t tell if either of these had been among those chasing him and Lomela, but it didn’t matter. If they weren’t, they were clearly no better than the others.

One of the hyenas, undaunted, responded in a mocking tone. “You got any more sons? I ain’t had a lion cub in days!”

Before they could launch another attack, Notch lunged, swiping at the one who had spoken, and he staggered away with bloody gashes across his face and neck. The other made one more attempt to bite, but found herself snapping at an empty space as Notch dodged her and pounced from the other side. She was prostrate and dying before the first one could even react, and neither had given Notch so much as a scratch.

His remaining enemy appeared to make the wise decision to retreat, but he was limping, and Notch was seeing red. He took one leap and tore into him, feeling bones snap between his jaws, but as the fury within him began to dissipate, he remembered what had started the fight and stopped in his tracks, standing still to hear over the hyena’s final whimpers.

Down in the direction of the river, the sounds of the chase continued. Before Notch could work out a plan, there was a terrible crunch, the high-pitched scream of a leopard, and then a loud splash. The distant cries of hyenas echoed through the cover of the trees. Horrified, Notch stared unblinking out at the jungle. The death of the leopardess was a cruel thing to witness, all the more because it seemed so senseless. Why had she run along the jungle floor and the lowest branches, instead of taking the easy escape up any of the massive trees where her kind spent most of their days?

There was only one explanation. Notch squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them with new resolve. The chase had left a strong scent trail, but he would have to hurry if he wanted to reach the end of it before it faded, and Lomela was waiting for him.