[PRP] Enda's on a Mission

[Jovi of Shadows]

Siphiwe typically liked to travel alone on his journeys, save for his forever companion Ndleleni; but the pride was in dire straits nowadays. He'd have to put his personal feelings aside for the betterment of those he loved. The young male dipped his head to Liyana, his curled mane bouncing over his eyes as he did so. "It's definitely the worst I've ever seen," he agreed with a somewhat dry, serious tone. "We'll need to work together if we want to see ourselves through this." Which was why he had agreed to join up with Liyana. He didn't know much about the lioness, but he appreciated that she wanted to help and was willing to get her paws dirty to do it.

Ndleleni had his eyes on the lions below them, his wings lazily carrying him through the sky as he followed behind Avani's circles. They didn't often travel with others, much less lions with their own vulture companions, and Ndleleni was still getting use to the idea. "I'm worried it'll get worse before it gets better," he admitted as the thermals on the wind brought him closer to the other avian. He'd never seen anything like this before, as he and Siphiwe were roughly the same age, and he was rather young for a vulture. This had been the only home he'd known, and even though he and Siphiwe adventured to far off places, they always knew where their home was.

AstoriaFallen

((I'll use your rolls!))

 

[Jovi of Shadows]

Siphiwe hummed in agreement with her. It was strange that the herds hadn't returned, and it could very well end badly for them if they did not figure it out. He also heard the call from Liyana's vulture, though he was skeptical of their belonging to the pride. "We should be cautious, until we know for sure," he suggested, catching her gaze as she looked over at him. There was a tension behind his eyes as his gait moved into slower, measured steps. They were on their own out here, with no Umholi or Inselelo to chase away any rogues, and Siphiwe was not the best fighter. As an ahluke, with no ambition for challenging for a different position in the pride, he had never been all that interested in fighting.

Ndleleni was quick to follow Avani's gaze, his avian eyes transfixing on the small patch of brown near their lions. "This could be trouble," he groused as he gathered his talons closer to his body. He wouldn't be much help to his dear friend Siphiwe if the encounter went sour, but perhaps it was simply another member of the pride? Ndleleni much preferred Liyana's hopeful outlook as he tipped his wings slightly to spill some air from underneath him. Slowly the vulture circled downward, wanting to get closer to keep a better eye on the situation.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Jovi of Shadows]

"Liyana!" Siphiwe shouted in surprise as he was taken aback by the lion that had pounced on her from the cover of the brush. But before he could even think of jumping in to help her, he found himself face to face with the brown male that had rushed at him with his partner's distraction. "Hey man, easy-" Siphiwe stammered, his paws automatically backpedaling a step. Fighting was not something Siphiwe enjoyed doing, especially when it was thrust upon him so suddenly and without warning. In the end, it didn't matter what he said, because the brown male merely gave him a disgusted sneer at his apparent weakness before lunging with claws and fangs bared.

Everything was happening so fast, as Siphiwe was forced to focused on the threat in front of him, and he lost track of Liyana and her attacker. He could only hope she was faring better than he was! The rogue's claws sliced into his flesh as the other male forced Siphiwe to the ground, his fangs seeking any vulnerable areas. Terror struck Siphiwe as he felt teeth puncture the flesh near his shoulder, and a yelp of pain escaped him.

Ndleleni's eyes went wide as the scene below them seemed to explode into action. He and Siphiwe usually avoided other lions while they were out scouting or exploring, so he knew his lion friend was in danger the moment Liyana got jumped. Siphiwe would be on his own! Ever the more reckless of the pair, Ndleleni folded his wings against his sides to dive at the attacker that had his friend pinned. He couldn't do much, but maybe he could distract the rogue long enough to give Siphiwe an advantage. Ndleleni raked his sharp talons across the attacker's back in a flyby but was quick to take to the skies before the other lion could turn around and grab him.

It was the momentary distraction that Siphiwe needed to gather his legs up for a kick to the other male's underbelly, his sharp claws digging into the other's soft flesh. His attacker disengaged long enough for Siphiwe to roll back onto his paws, where the two clashed in a quick exchange of defensive blows. When it was apparent that the other male was now on his own against two, albeit injured, lions he sneered in frustration and turn to run in the direction of his accomplice.

Siphiwe panted hard as he watched the other male run, blood dripping from his shoulder and his legs shaking with pain and adrenaline. This had not gone as planned. He shot a look of concern over to Liyana, momentarily horrified that he had lost track of her during his own bout with the rogue lion. "You okay?" he asked hoarsely, somewhat uncertain of his own well-being at the time.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Jovi of Shadows]

Siphiwe took a moment to take in the wounds around her eye and the blood that matted her fur. "It does look pretty bad..." he agreed hesitantly, but at least she seemed to be okay in other regards. Still, he was wracked with guilt. Maybe if he'd been a better fighter, he could have prevented her from being hurt. Maybe if he'd been a better male, like the inselelo or the umholi, who were actually good at fighting, he could have prevented this. Siphiwe shook his head, his curled mane bouncing as he did so, at these thoughts as they wracked him with guilt. He couldn't protect her. Heck, he could barely protect himself. "I'll be okay," he replied at length as his breath steadied and he turned his attention to himself. His shoulder hurt where he'd been bitten, and he had minor cuts from claws, but no permanent damage seemed to have been done. "We should head back, before those two regroup and try again," he suggested. He doubted they'd chased them off for good.

Ndleleni circled low around the small group, his feathers ruffled from the encounter. That had not been something they had been expecting on this outing, and he could tell by how Siphiwe was holding himself that the young lion felt defeated. "I can stay behind and keep an eye on these two as they make their way back," he suggested to Avani, that way she didn't have to worry about them being alone and injured. He'd at least be able to warn them if something else were to happen.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Jovi of Shadows]

Siphiwe took in a deep breath to steady himself, trying to shake his mind loose of those self-deprecating thoughts. He'd have time to dwell on that later, for now they needed to make it back to the pride. It was a good plan to split up the vultures, one to remain with them and one to fly back to the pride, so he had no qualms or concerns about that. "I'm glad it wasn't worse," he admitted, readily willing to travel back before those two rogues decided to make their way back for a second round. Siphiwe was a young male, with a slightly smaller frame than usual for one his age, but he wondered if maybe he should start learning to defend himself better. Perhaps, in better times, he could ask an inselelo to teach him to fight. Or maybe not. Siphiwe was happy as an enda and an ahluke, and did not want to give the other males the wrong impression. He had no interest in becoming something else.

Ndleleni bobbed his head in agreement to their plan and allowed the drafts to catch under his wings to carry him higher. After what had just happened, he was keen to keep his eyes peeled for any signs of danger. He especially kept a good eye in the direction those two rogues had run off in, just in case.

AstoriaFallen

Fin for me as well.