Bonds as strong as Time [[For LoneDigger and Myself]]

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"As you wish" Katsu replied easily enough, a soft smile tilting the corner of his lips just slightly up. Kisame would take some convincing and his friend would more than likely still be upset about the little Prince's attack of him, but it couldn't be helped. Anyone would be upset about an assault such as the one having been launched at him moments ago. Dakari would need to apologize, but that could wait until things calmed down a bit further.

 

Eyeing the little one's tear streaked cheeks, Katsu felt himself instinctively leaning forward to slowly lick the salty trails away from the cub's skin. He repeated the action on the boy's other cheek in a bit of a teasing notion, a deep comforting purr escaping him before pressing a soft affection kiss against the little hyena's forehead.

 

"Now, no more tears, little one. I do not wish to see you cry any longer" he murmured quietly as he pulled away from the young Prince ever slightly.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari squirmed slightly and closed his eyes, he was still just a tiny bit mad at Katsu for everything. Even if it was mostly his own fault for acting out so violently. But even as he wiggled around was just because he didn't want the other to realize how much he craved attention. But after the other had been so tender towards him he couldn't help but let the faintest hint of a smile tug up his lips. His cheeks were red, mostly from crying, but for other reasons too.

 

"I won't..."

 

The prince promised, he hated to cry. And usually it took a lot to bring him to that point. He really was truly jealous.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"Good.....but cub. If I am going to do this for you, you will have to apologize to Kisame. Whatever reasons you had, the attack was not provoked and he is a Sentinel. He is a being you must respect, despite your status as Prince. An apology is necessary before you return to your palace" Katsu adviced calmly, rising to his full height once more and walking back to his desk. But that was only after he had ruffled Dakari's hair once more in a mild show of affection.

 

He had to admit, the excitement of the last few moments had tired him now that most his anger had passed, but he still had work to do before he could rest. Nevertheless, he wasn't sure he'd be able to do it while keeping an eye on Dakari as well. The Prince was proving to be much more to handle than Katsu had previously assumed.

 

"The apology can wait for now though. Is there anything you wanted to do? I assume after having rested, you'd be eager to do some sort of activity" he asked a moment later, dropping into his comfortably desk chair.

[LoneDigger]

"I can say sorry if he comes back... But I think I scared him off."

 

Dakari replied a bit cockily, still believing he had the upper hand in that scuffle when it was in fact the other way around.

The prince stood up then and waited in front of Katsu's desk, watching the other and wondering if he seemed tired. Probably so after dealing with Kisame. Not dealing with him though, of course.

 

"You know I'm always up for any challenge you throw at me."

 

The boy grinned softly.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"I believe it might be the other way around, cub. Kisame is more than likely being retrained by Hiyori, count yourself lucky for that. I wouldn't want to try to hold him back when he's in a mood" Katsu yawned. Usually when his old friend got into those moods, there was other more creative ways Katsu managed to calm him down. Such ways were not something he could do at the moment so he'd have to leave Kisame's temper in Hiyori's capable hands.

 

Flickering his gaze up at the Prince from where he had been reading the material on some sheets of paper, Katsu felt a small answering smirk appear on his face even as a brow raised at Dakari's answer.

 

"Is that so? Well then, why don't you take a seat over by the books and think of a sincere, proper and polite way to apologize to Kisame without any snark or smart comments. Adding an honest explanation to go along with the apology might work in your favor as well" the snow leopard suggested, lowering his gaze once more to his work.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari grumbled loudly but nodded firmly, he wasn't looking forward to this but it had to be done. He sat down by the books and started up some rough drafts in his head.

 

Shark boy, I'm sorry I bit your leg. But not as sorry that you tasted awful. You're lucky I went easy on you. Please don't ever kiss Katsu again or I might have to kill you this time. Sincerest apologies from your Prince. Dakari.

 

If only he could say that, but he knew that the snow leopard would hardly approve and he did say no smart remarks. But he was being sincere. He meant every single thing he said with every cell in his body.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Watching the boy from the corner of his eye, the snow leopard felt amusement flicker through him before he was putting most his attention on his work. As much as he'd like to lecture Dakari on not being a little shit when he apologized to Kisame, he had to get some work done before the end of the day. For now, he'd let the cub think of whatever way he'd like to apologize on his own.

 

Katsu didn't know how long he had been focused of signing off on some papers, but when the orb of blue energy that floated in the room rippled in distress, the feline shot to his feet. A concerned frown quickly appeared on his face as he took quick steps to reach the energy that connected him to the other Sentinels and the barrier that protected their realm amongst other things. For a moment, he forgot the cub was in the room as he lifted a hand to brush his fingers against the orb and the alert of intruders invading his territory shot to the forefront of his mind.

 

Absentmindedly hearing the room's double doors bang out, Katsu didn't so much as blink when the presence of Kisame registered at his side. The shark barely spared the Prince a glance, mind to focus and alert on the sensation of the disturbance the orb was portraying to them. Hiyori hovered just behind him, while she too was considered a Sentinel, his sister didn't interfere unless it was needed.

 

"Someone has crossed into the mountain terrain of the Kingdom....someone unpure" Katsu mumbled under his breath, blue eyes seeming almost faded and bleached white as he focused his entire self on the information being provided to him.

 

"That's never a good thing....its been a while since we got unwanted guests. We might as well go out there and give them a warm welcome then" Kisame murmured, feral grin appearing on his face. The man looked up for a good fight, even with the clear evidence of bandages around the wound on his leg.

 

"I suppose we should....Hiyori, stay with the Princeling. Make sure he doesn't get into trouble while we're away" Katsu wasted little time in agreeing, pulling away from the orb to turn and approach Dakari. Affection flickered through his gaze despite the overall seriousness of his expression. "Behave for Hiyori, Princeling. We'll be back as soon as we can" he spoke in soft tones to the Prince.

 

It was but a moment later that Kisame and he were heading out of the room and towards the entrance of the Tower. There was a job to be done and he wouldn't allow anyone to bring danger to the people of this realm.

[LoneDigger]

"Can I come? I can help defend you!"

 

Dakari insisted, even if he already had a sinking feeling that this was a mission he could not go on. And as if to answer his own suspicions the pair was already leaving. When Kisame had burst into the room made the prince tense just slightly, his apology wasn't ready but luckily the other had not stuck around to hear it.

He looked towards the lioness instead and sighed.

 

"... If I was older Katsu wouldn't do that."

 

He suddenly stated.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Smiling lovingly down at the cub, Hiyori shook her mane of golden hair as she plopped down next to Dakari. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. My brother has always been the protective type, I'm only just slightly younger than he is and he refuses to allow me to fight unless there is no other choice. It's just something in his nature. He's protective of those he cares for. Besides, a Prince has no place amongst the duties of Sentinels. It is our job to keep you safe, not the other way" Hiyori replied calmly enough.

 

While she was worried about her brother and Kisame, she had to believe the two would be fine. They always were, those two were a pair of the strongest Sentinel's alive today. Fighting off intruders shouldn't be much of a big deal for them. She just hoped they wouldn't let themselves grow too confident. Whoever had been bold enough to try and invade the kingdom had to be strong enough and cunning enough to know what they were doing.

 

"Let's just try and keep ourselves busy while those two handle our intruders. Did Katsu leave you with a task to do?" The lioness asked lightly, looking at the Prince curiously.

[LoneDigger]

"Well... I was supposed to apologize to Kisame. But I already though of one and then before I could tell him he just left!"

 

Dakari sighed dramatically, as if he really cared which was unlikely the case at all. He was a bit relieved in fact that Katsu and him had to go because it delayed his apology. Maybe they would even forget all about it.

At least he could try distracting Hiyori, but how? He gently grasped at the lioness's hand and leaned against her side.

 

"What kind of tasks are your duty? Sounds like Katsu gets to have all the fun and we have to stay behind..."

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Squeezing Dakari's hand in a friendly manner, Hiyori let out a soft purr at the feel of his weight against her side while she thought about how she could respond to his question.

 

"That may be the case for now, but it's not always like that, little one. My duties are different from my brother. Where Katsu spearheads confrontations and other things of the sort, I'm someone who enjoys reading through ancient scripts and picking apart enemies from the inside out. Truthfully, as a Sentinel, I should be guarding the South Tower instead of our cousin doing so. It was our father's post when he still lived and since I inherited both his bloodline and his elemental ability, I should be making my home there instead of here....however, I'm not someone who can stand being away from my brother for long. No matter if it is proper or not for two Sentinels to lay domain over on Tower" Hiyori explained, leaning back against the wall behind them and running her thumb over the young Prince's knuckles.

 

"In truth though, all Sentinels share a list of the same duties. We must protect our realm and our Royal family without fail. We must maintain the balance of all the realms around us. We are entrusted to know when dark forces are at play against us. And we must be willing to fade away or die so a new Sentinel may take our place when the time is right. Sentinels are not meant to live forever, just long enough to train and give way to a new Sentinel when one arrives that has been chosen by the ancestors. Some are chosen at random, others are born from Sentinel parents. Kisame, Katsu, and my parents all died in the great war but if they had lived, they would have faded to nothing when we were old enough to take their place" the lioness continued to speak, gazing thoughtfully up at the ceiling above them.

 

"Many consider it a cruel fate, but we always have known that our lives are never secure. If we don't die protecting you and your family, we will eventually fade away some other way. However, we consider it an honorable fate to give our lives for those who mean the most to us. As Sentinels, we would wish for nothing more than that" Hiyori concluded just as softly ad she had begun.

[LoneDigger]

"Well then you can't disappear because I still need you both for a very very very long time!"

 

Dakari remarked as he squeezed onto Hiyori's hand gently, the prince seemed truly riveted by the other's words. Sentinels were always beings who he had a sense of wonder about, and now that he had met several only increased his sense of awe.

How different the two siblings were but ruling together under the same tower in their own ways with the assistance from the others. Even stupid Kisame probably had some important purpose.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

"Then we will do our best to accommodate your wishes. However, keep in mind, My Prince, if it ever comes down to your life and the life of your family or our lives....we will sacrifice what need be to keep you safe. It is an oath we have sworn by and one we will always live by" Hiyori smiled down at the young Prince. The solemn promise in her words and the truth in her eyes enough to make sure the Prince understood she meant every word that was leaving her mouth.

 

No sooner had those words left her lips that a sharp pain had the lioness doubling over and her free arm pressed against her abdomen. The hand around Dakari tightened almost painfully and a pain filled hiss escaped her clenched jaws. Just for a moment, when she pulled her hand from her abdomen, Hiyori swore she saw it tainted with blood...swore she saw blood slowly seeping out of a wound to taint her clothing. But just as soon as she saw this, it vanished in the blink of an eye and a horror filled name slipped out of her.

 

"Katsu..." her voice a low, shaking whisper as fear and anguish filled her voice.

 

Her brother had been injured, she knew that as sure as she knew her name. The two shared an unbreakable bond, ever since they had been small cubs they had always been able to tell when the other was in trouble. It was an unexplainable bond that tied the two together, and no one that wasn't a Sentinel or one of their followers had ever been able to understand it fully. But at the moment, she knew her brother had been hurt and every instinct in her soul screeched for her to go to him.

 

Letting go of Dakari's hand quickly, Hiyori shot to her feet and her gaze quickly landed on the massive window that gave a clear view of the mountain terrain. There, in the distance, clouds were forming and the signs of a building storm was hard to miss. But it wasn't just a blizzard, no...Hiyori could just make out the flashes of lightning in the midst of the blizzard her brother had more than likely created. Thundersnow....It was thundersnow and it was something she hadn't seen her brother do since they recieved news of their parents deaths in the war. Katsu had just gotten serious...very serious....and by the heavy scent of water that reached her even from this far away, she knew Kisame had as well without a doubt.

 

"NATS-!" Hiyori began to call for Katsu's winged follower but she soon realized there was no need.

 

There, soaring over the Tower just seconds prior, was the large Snowy owl making his way through the skies to the obvious signs of a fight. No doubt he had felt the attack on Katsu as clearly as Hiyori had. All of his followers must have, their ties to their chosen Sentinel were implacable. Lowering her gaze, Hiyori could just make the form of Tsubaki's form at the base of the Tower. The massive bulk of his Polar Bear form hard to ignore despite how well blended it was in their white surroundings. And there, at the crest of one of the smaller mountains, Himora stood in full form of her Mountain lion shape. Both followers craving to go to their Sentinel but knowing they had to stay behind and defend the tower if need be.

 

Worry flooded her as she watched Natsume vanish into the distance and despite the waves of reassurance she felt Katsu sending her, the fact that he had been injured was more than enough to make her want to pull out her hair. She wanted to go to him, needed to go to him....Every muscle in her body, every instinct was screeching for her to defend her injured sibling....but she couldn't leave Dakari. No, she had to protect him.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari whimpered when he felt Hiyori clutching onto him harshly, and suddenly it hit him as well. That unmistakable scent of blood, and his head was right up to the source, the lioness's abdomen. He quickly reached up a hand to stop the bleeding, but when he placed his palm over her belly there was nothing there, no warm wet feeling of the life liquid seeping against his hand.

He sniffed again and it was gone. Why had that scent been there if it was like dreaming of it?

 

"Hiyori... We have to go."

 

The sub suddenly announced, his grip tightening on her hand as he tugged her towards the door. He could sense it too, that her brother was in peril. It scared him, Katsu had never been in danger that he had seen before, or even if he was he always handled things so cool and calm, that it seemed he could take on anything.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Feeling the cub tug at her hand, Hiyori lowered her gaze to him and it took a moment to stop herself after she had taken steps to follow him.

 

"My Prince, we can't. Its too dangerous" she hurried to say.

 

She couldn't lead Dakari into danger...it wasn't right. As a Sentinel she had to keep him safe, had to protect him from and all dangers that sought to harm him....yet she felt her will wavering. The knowledge of her brother out there hurt had her wailing inside to reach him. Katsu was with Kisame and she knew the shark would keep him safe, especially with the snow leopard already injured, but that didn't calm her mind. The separation from her sibling in a moment like this was too heavy a weight to be able to ignore. As much as she knew and had always known her first priority had always been to keep Dakari safe, she couldn't swallow down the urge to protect her older brother as well.

 

Gaze turning once more towards the window, green eyes locking on the furious storm so far in the distance....a storm that held three of those closest to her heart in it, Hiyori made a decision she would probably hate herself for later. But it didn't matter, she couldn't stay here a moment longer and do nothing.

 

"Dakari...if we go, you must promise me not to do anything reckless. I won't harbor Katsu's rage if you're hurt as well in the fight we're heading into. If you can promise me that, then shift into you animal form and climb onto me. It'll be faster if I carry you there. If you can't, then I need you to stay here with the others" the lioness turned those sharp eyes to the cub and even as she spoke, the shift was already happening.

 

Muscles and bones cracking and stretching, skin shifting and fur growing, it too little time for a proud lioness to stand where the woman had once been. Those fiercely determined and protective eyes never once leaving the cub even as she waited for an answer with slight impatience.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari wasted no time in shifting back to his original form after giving the lioness a firm nod to show he understood. Being so young made the transformation smooth as running water, though it seemed the older an animal got the slighter harder it was to change so effortlessly. Maybe because their bodies were no set and still growing. Either way the hyena chirped as he pawed at Hiyori's shoulder, waiting for her to crouch down so he could crawl up on her back. His front legs wrapped around her neck and back legs slumped over her shoulder blades as he held on tightly.

The prince knew this was serious, and for once he was going to act like it instead of treating everything so childish and recklessly. He couldn't let Katsu just perish because of him holding the help he needed behind to babysit some brat. Besides, he didn't need to be watched. He could help, they would see.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Waiting for the cub to secure himself after she had crouched down for him to climb on, Hiyori wasted no time in taking off. Bursting out of the office doors, she tore through the Tower hallways and down the massive stairs. Passing each floor without pause, the lioness didn't hesitate from exploding out of the Tower's main entrance and out to the frozen landscape around them. Shouting a brief order for the remaining two Followers to protect the Tower, Hiyori continued her fast pace across the snow covered lands and the looming mountains all around them. Whether this was the right choice or not, her brother needed her and she wouldn't just stand back and do nothing. Katsu was strong, but even he wasn't invincible no matter how powerful the snow leopard was.

 

Keeping her footing, not used to this terrain as well as her brother was despite her years of having lived here already, Hiyori made sure the cub remained on her back as her powerful muscles took them with leaps and bounds towards their destination. Green eyes never wavered from the massive storm clouds nor from the sounds of a battle raging somewhere within the bellyof the storm her brother had created in his rage. They would reach Katsu and Kisame soon and when they did, if their enemies were still alive, they would pay for making her brother's blood spill. That she silently swore to herself.

 

With ears pressed slightly back against her head as the freezing blizzard winds buffeted them the moment they arrived at the edge of the storm, Hiyori dared raise them a bit to try and catch sound or scent of her sibling. Or of Kisame or Natsume. The world around them was composed of nothing but white furious winds ripping across the land with enough force that had her stumbling a few steps when a particularly hard gust slammed against her. The wind smelled of nothing but cold snow and the furious howling of the storm around them made it almost impossible to hear anything. Lightning flashed above them menacingly, the flashes of light proved a rather eerie outline of some distant mountains and what almost looked to be bodies on the ground just a few feet from where she stood.

 

"Don't let go of me!" Hiyori called up to the cub, her voice just barely carrying over the wind as she cautiously approached the fallen bodies. Bodies she hoped belonged to their intruders and not their friends.

 

Freezing just a few tail lengths away from from the shapes of the corpses when the wind blew an unfamiliar scent her way, Hiyori turned her head slowly and growled a low warning when a large coyote forced it's way through the storm towards her. Its golden eyes shown with dark intent and the violent snarl that was on its face gave no mistaking what the creature's intention was. Muscles bunching under her pelt as she prepared to fend the coming attack off despite having Dakari with her, Hiyori tensed when the coyote leapt at her without even the slightest hesitations. However, the attack never reached them.

 

It was impossible to see him through the storm buffeting them, but one moment the coyote was leaping through the air towards them and the next Katsu's body had appeared out of seemingly nowhere. Her brother's leap was effortless, fluid and holding an infinite grace to it that had always awed those that watched him engage in battle. Front claws wrapping and locking around the coyote's shoulder blades, Katsu wasted no time in plunging his sharp canines deep into the jugular of the canine. His body weight propelled the canine onto the ground and with a sharp twist and snap of his neck, an action followed by a quick jerk of his head, had the snow leopard breaking the canine's neck in seconds.

 

Releasing the throat of the dead canine with a low growl, Katsu turned and faced his sister and the young Prince. While for the moment he still stood proud and fierce, his typical white fur was stained with red. His right flank bore a heavy wound that looked like something had been driven through him. The fur around it was tainted red and from the injury, blood steadily dripped to the snow below. The snow leopard's flanks heaved in a obvious sign of the effect his injury was having him and despite having just taken down an enemy with nearly effortless grace, the feline was far from well.

 

"Hiyori! What the bloody hell are you doing here with the Prince? You know damn well it is not safe for him here, or you!" Katsu's voice roared above the air, his irritation mixing with the clear pain in those blue eyes as it seemed like his legs couldn't hold him up any longer. Back legs folding under him to have him half sink down into the deepening snow around them, Katsu panted sharply but refused to give himself the time to rest he knew he probably needed.

 

"Katsu!" Hiyori's voice was deep with worry, so much so that she ignored his questions for the moment to rush to his side. Pressing against her sibling, she gently tried to lap at the sluggishly bleeding wound but her brother would have none of it.

 

"Hiyori, go back to the Tower! Dakari, you will go with her at once! This is no place for either of you!" The snow leopard growled over the force of his wind while forcefully pushing himself back to his paws. Ear perked for sound of any more approaching enemies, the Sentinel pushed the pain of his wound out of his mind while directing his eyes once more to the lioness and cub. "Return to the Tower! We have this handled!" He added a moment later.

 

"I'm not leaving! Not without you or Kisame and Natsume! We can help you, you know we can! And I swear I won't let Dakari get hurt...I swear!....But I'm not leaving you here!" Hiyori roared back at him stubbornly. She wasn't leaving her brother, no way in hell would that happen.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari squeezed his eyes shut and held on tight. The wind seemed to be pushed against them and blowing the cold snow right into their faces. But the hyena cub was still like a little heater on the lioness's neck. Even if this wasn't the smoothest way to travel he somehow manged to stay on, even when she bounded across the snowy landscape. He would have never been able to move that quickly, not even if he were full grown because his kind was built for strength and endurance, not speed.

 

The prince for once seemed to be listening carefully to orders and didn't leave his spot on her back, his eyes scanning over the dead with an interest that only a scavenger should ever have. He shook his head and tried to ignore his instincts, sniffing the air for signs of Katsu. The wind was bringing nothing. The scent's carried away or blurring together. But he didn't have to scent him out this time because he came with the icy wind, silent and killing. That little coyote didn't stand a chance, but there was something oddly beautiful about it to the cub. The leopard's grace and power combined was inspiring.

Only it seemed Katsu wasn't so happy to see them as they were.

 

Dakari slipped of the lioness's back then and clambered over to their side, he wanted to help. But he felt so small and more like a burden. It was his fault that Katsu had raised his voice at Hiyori and blamed her for bringing him along when he was too little to be useful.

 

"I told her she had to go to you! She couldn't just stay behind and do nothing!"

 

The prince defended the lioness, but remembering his lesson from before lowered his voice and bowed his head.

 

"... I'm sorry for yelling. But you have to understand it was the right thing for her to do. Now that's she come this far she can't just go back. I won't get in the way and I promise I'll follow orders this time."

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Looking between the cub and his little sister, Katsu knew in the most deepest, profound of levels that no matter what he said...he couldn't force them to leave. Even if he scooped Dakari up and carried him as far from the battle as he can while shoving Hiyoti to follow, the two would more than likely just come bounding back. And that worried him all the more. His sister might be half snow leopard and she might have gotten some of the traits she had from their mother, despite looking like a lion. But the cold still could hurt her. Hiyori just wasn't built for this environment, no matter the half of her that loved it here. And Dakari......

 

As much as the little one loved to be independent and claimed he could take on the world, he was still so young. So innocent to the brutality of the realm around them. They might be living in a time of relative peace at the moment, but war was never far from the horizon. And now, it seemed that their enemies were stirring the waters once more. Dakari didn't need to be involved in this until he matured a bit more. He should still be allowed to live his life as carefree and entertainment filled as he had before. While the cold might not affect him like it would Hiyori, his elemental attribute was still just awakening....he wouldn't be able to defend himself if something went terribly wrong....Yet Katsu knew he wouldn't leave, no matter what the snow leopard said or threatened him with.

 

Sighing out a puff of frozen air, Katsu shook his head in exasperation before lowering his head to nuzzle Dakari's bowed head in affection before lifting his head up again to rasp his tongue against Hiyori's muzzle. He knew how to admit defeat when he had no chance to win. He just hoped he wasn't making a mistake by allowing them to stay with him.

 

"I'm not going to tell you to leave because I know even if I force you to go, you'll just come bounding back....Just keep to your word, both of you. If the danger grows too big, you are to leave at once. I don't care what you see, Hiyori...you get Dakari out of here if Kisame, Natsume or I can't protect you. And Dakari, I'm trusting you. Don't charge into anything just because you want to help. Stay close and stay low, if I tell you to run...you run. No questions" Katsu ordered, tone more softer in nature though it carried over the wind with strength and firmness.

 

High above them, over the howling winds, the screech of an owl could be heard and just briefly, Natsume's white wings flashed into sight before they were vanishing into the distance once more. Heading north towards the sounds of a violent explosion, one that shook the ground for a moment.

 

"Stay close, we're heading for Kisame now. Keep your eyes open, we have a number of enemies trapped in the storm. If it's not Kisame or Natsume....do not trust them, no matter what they appear to be" the snow leopard commanded briefly before with a flick of his tail, he was bounding off into the storm once more. Hiyori stayed close by his side even so she draped her tail over Dakari's back to assure herself of the little cub's presence with them.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari tried to keep up with the pair of large cats, but he kept having to bulldoze his way through the snow, slowing him down considering but nothing was putting out his flame of determination to keep up. He didn't even seem tired or cold. The cub gently grabbed Hiyori's tail between his teeth and used it to help guide him when the wind picked up and drowned up the sounds of their voices. He only let go once he could see and hear properly again. His large dark rounded ears flickering as he tried to pick out anything that didn't sound familiar. Katsu said there were enemies everywhere, and in this snowy landscape could be anywhere and nowhere at the same time.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Leading his younger sister and Dakari through the howling of the storm around them, Katsu made sure to keep glancing back enough to make sure the cub was still with them. While neither Dakari nor Hiyori were born to withstand this landscape, Hiyori did have snow leopard running through her veins. It made her just a bit more tolerant of the cold lands around them, more so resilient than any other lion would possibly be should they ever find themselves locked into Katsu permanently frozen world. As for Dakari....well the little one's elemental attribute was enough to keep him from freezing out here. The fire in the young Prince's spirit would surely help him hold his own after insisting on being with them, Katsu just had to make sure they didn't lose the little one in the midst of the danger they were in.

 

Another massive explosion sounded off, this time much closer than the previous one. Lifting his tail and waving it in the air briefly in a silent command to slow down, Katsu lead the pair to the precipice of a steep cliff that gave perfect view to a vast frozen hollow between two towering mountains. No signs of growth or rock formation formed on the circular, large stretch of frozen land, covered by a heavy layering of snow. In fact, had the situation been different, it would have remained untouched and avoided under most circumstances. A frozen lake such as this one was no place to take cub nor his younger sister, but there was no avoiding it now. Especially when Kisame stood in the middle of the frozen lake facing off what appeared to be three men and two young women.

 

Ears flickering in the wind, Katsu just barely felt the presence of another creature in the area. Just below the frost and ice that covered the surface of the lake. It was impossible to see beneath the snow, but the snow leopard knew that another ally had joined them. And he was certain it was one of Kisame's followers this time. While the shark's domain was in much more tropical waters, he had a follower that took the shape of an Orca and he knew without a doubt that she had come to help them.

 

"The enemy has two more members of their little faction. My guess is that they've scattered to allow more room to conduct a successful ambush. If that is the case, keep a look out and watch yourselves. These two will take the shape of a pair of black bears and they seem keen on using underhanded methods to help their attacks succeed. Don't trust just your eyes, use your other senses if you find yourselves facing off against them and keep each other safe" Katsu murmured softly, blue eyes dragging themselves off the stalemate that seemed to be happening far below to look at his sister and Prince.

 

"Stay up here, try to maintain high ground. I'm going down there to help Kisame. Natsume will help should you need him. Don't give out your location if you can help it. Scout the high grounds, keep your guard up and take out whoever crosses your path. These individuals are tainted with negative energies, they can not be allowed to get any further into our lands" the snow leopard spoke, briefly butting his head with Hiyori as a sign of affection and protectiveness before he lowered his gaze to Dakari.

 

Lowering himself a bit further down into the snow to be able to maintain better eye contact with the cub, despite the shot of pain his crouching had going through him from the wound, Katsu leaned forward to nuzzle the little one's cheek for just a moment. "You stay close to Hiyori, Princeling. Do not go charging into danger, no matter the case. If you are attacked, help Hiyori in what you can but do not do anything reckless. I won't be able to reach you as quickly as I would like should something happen, so consider this a crash course on battle strategy and attacks" he spoke silently, looking into those young eyes for just a few seconds longer before he was pushing himself back up again.

 

With one final nod at the pair, Katsu turned and leapt off the precipice. A sound of alarm and fear ripped itself from Hiyori despite her confidence in her sibling. Surging to the very edge of the cliff, she watched in leg shaking relief as her brother seemed to easily race down the vertical side of the mountain face without so much as a missed step. Long tail waved behind him, maintaining his balance and propelling him on as his claws made sure to keep him from falling to his sure death. It wasn't long before the falling snow and fierce wind had made her brother vanish from view and by the time Hiyori could see him again, Katsu had shifted back to his human form and had made it to Kisame's side.

 

The shark seemed to exchange soft words with Katsu, shifting a bit more protectively in front of the other injured Sentinel. The shark's long pale gray hair was stained at the ends with a reddish cooper color and it would take an idiot to not notice that Kisame must have taken a hit somewhere as well. However, by the fierce grin that shark sported, it didn't look like the wound would be slowing him down. Nor did it look like it would slow Katsu down if the beautiful white sword manifesting in his hand was anything to go by. A sword that was soon joined by the appearance of Kisame's own blade, wider and heavier in appearance than Katsu's.

 

Hiyori didn't know if something else had been said or if anyone had made the slightest movements of aggression, but in the blink of an eye both Kisame and Katsu were on the move. Faster than the eye could see, in typical Sentinel fashion, the two had squared off against their enemies. Kisame didn't hesitate from taking on two at once, massive sword paring off swing after swing as manical laughter rose into the air the very moment it escaped him. Katsu wasted little time in locking blades with his two opponents as well. While his movements were far more smooth and graceful, meeting swing after swing with what appeared to be the barest of efforts, the gleam of his sword in the storm was no less deadly.

 

A point he made clear when a swing of his blade connected and had one of his enemies flying straight across the frozen lake and slamming into the face of the mountain, causing what felt like a tremor go through the whole structure. Turning to part off another attack from the member of the enemy faction that had appeared to be holding off as her friends engaged with the enemy, the snow leopard didn't seem to miss a beat as the battle raged on.

 

Crouching near the frozen ground, Hiyori swept her tail over Dakari's shoulder while saying even as she kept an eye on the battle far below them "Come on, let's see if we can find the last two in the group. The last thing we need is them getting further into the realm or sneaking up behind us. Keep your eyes open and if you see something, let me know at once. No recklessness, my Prince".

[LoneDigger]

Dakari stopped once they stood over the frozen lake, he heard something underneath the ice and crooked his neck so that his ear was pressed against the snow. It tickled and he had to shake his head to get rid of the snow. He then dug, kicking up the whiteness til he got to the clear frozen liquid and stared down intently. Suddenly he let out a happy chirp, despite himself, he knew this was no time to be cheerful, but he had never seen a swimming creature as big as a Killer Whale and it fascinated him.

 

The prince then turned his attention when Katsu began to speak and listened quietly. Don't trust a pair of black bears or his eyes, rely on his other senses... He'd make sure to remember that. When the snow leopard crouched down what normally would have always humored the cub only made him feel a twang of pain. It was as if he had suddenly learned empathy and after the other had finished speaking he quickly sneaked under the elder's legs so he could reach his flank and run his tongue over the wound. He didn't like the way the normally soft, plush perfectly clean fur was dirtied by the red liquid.

 

"I promise I won't let anyone hurt Hiyori... Only if you promise you won't let them get you like this again."

 

The cub said after he had moved back to where he was gazing into the blue orbs, and suddenly he leaned forward and nuzzled deeply against his chest, wanting to just stand there but he knew Katsu had to go. He and the lioness had a job to do now as well.

 

Hiyori wasn't the only one feeling faint at the sight of Katsu jumping down the side of a nearly vertical cliff. Both lions and hyena lived in a place where such heights did not exist so it was no wonder really.

Dakari stuck close to the lioness's side and paid close attention to her words, he was finally taking things seriously for once.

 

"Kisame... Kisame will take care of Katsu."

 

He said, more so to himself than Hiyori. It was kind of a hard thing to admit out loud. One, because he hated the sharks for obvious reasons, yet even so they were unknown to him. And secondly, because if something happened to Katsu he couldn't even think about it, it hurt worse even then when the snow leopard showed disappointment in him, or when he kissed the other man. He wondered if Hiyori felt the same, not about the latter of course, but of the prospect of loosing her brother. But when he glanced over at the battle it seemed that the snow leopard was winning effortless, so there was nothing to be afraid of, right?

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Leaving the cub and his sister had been one of the harder things he had had to do. For one, while he had given Dakari a reassuring lick on the top of his head in response to the cub's words and his nuzzling, Katsu had not been able to promise him what he had no way of knowing he could keep. He was a Sentinel, yes, and he was deadly powerful in his own right....but there was more than one enemy and these weren't just worthless opponents. They were far more cunning and intelligent than what he had previously given them credit for. Not only had they managed to land a solid hit on himself and scored an attack on Kisame, but they had strength in numbers as well. Katsu had no doubt that they would be able to take them down, but he also didn't doubt that more blood would be spilled before that happened. From both sides....

 

He just hoped he could keep his sister and the Prince out of most of it.

 

Flickering his gaze up to his younger sister as she signaled for Dakari to follow her from their position high above them, Katsu locked blades with the female attacking him as his attention was drawn back to the battle at hand.

 

"Come now, snow leopard. You mustn't allow yourself to be distracted least you want to suffer more damage to your body" the female sneered in cruel amusement while Katsu merely narrowed his eyes briefly in response.

 

Hearing the sound of Kisame's growing laughter, a clear indication to the fun his friend seemed to be having, the snow leopard couldn't help the soft smirk that turned the corners of his lips up. If their enemies thought they had them beat, they were sadly mistaken.

 

"I would worry less about myself and more about you tempting a force you should not tamper with" the Sentinel responded and just as the female gained a confused looking frown on her features, Katsu sharply crouched down and swept his leg out, effectively taking her legs out beneath her. No sooner was she in the process of falling, that Katsu sprang into action once more.

 

Sword sweeping out to slash across her chest, the snow leopard felt satisfaction at the shriek of pain she released before she was flying back through the air away from him with the force of his attack. However. He barely had time to celebrate before he was fending off the other outsider that charged at him from behind.

 

-----------------------------------

 

Above them, Hiyori briefly glanced down towards her brother when the shriek filled the air. However, it would appear she had nothing to be worried about. As tranquil and close to lazy as her older brother tended to be, Katsu was not someone that should be goaded into a fight. Especially by one inferior to him. They might have managed to draw blood from her sibling, but that was probably a larger mistake than they could even begin to imagine.

 

Ears pricking forward and tail curling tightly around Dakari when the sound of movement in this snow abyss gave her the knowledge that they were no longer alone, Hiyori released a deep rumbling growl even while curling her body just a bit protectively around the young Prince. It was clear to anyone watching that that the lioness would not allow anyone to touch the young one in her presence. While she might not have been as skilled in battle as her brother, she was fierce and dangerous by nature and she had no problems killing anyone who threatened to harm her Prince.

 

Two bulking forms moved through the blizzard around them, narrowing her pale green eyes, Hiyori kept her senses up and alert when one figure seemed to vanish from view and the other drew closer.

 

"A lioness and a hyena cub in the middle of a mighty storm....my my, if this isn't quite the sight to be seen. Especially when the cub just happens to be the little Prince of this realm!" the hulking figure crackled, pausing just far enough away that Hiyori could make him out clearly even as her scenes stretched to find the bear's partner.

 

 

"You should show care how you address those of higher authority than yourself" Hiyori growled lowly, green eyes flaring with life and challenge even as she half curled herself in a further protective manner around Dakari.

 

Hearing a snicker coming from somewhere behind herself, Hiyori whipped around just in time to nail a solid clawed swipoe across the second black bear's face, causing it to roar in fury and pain. Hearing an answering roar, this one filled with rage, Hiyori bared her sharp canines even as she divided her attention between both the bear circling them.

 

"Dakari...do not allow yourself to be separated from me, no matter what. Try to stay by my side....if it is impossible, flee to Katsu or Kisame...but do not let yourself be singled out" Hiyori hissed under her breath towards the hyena cub, never once taking her gaze off their attackers.

[LoneDigger]

Dakari didn't need to be told not to stay close. His instincts were screaming that they should all stick together, safety in the clan. But he knew why Katsu had to be separated for now. He only hoped that the snow leopard was as indestructible as he looked. But now he had to trust Hiyori was just as capable of not only protecting herself, but defending him as well.

If only he were older.. stronger... he hated being so young now. He was nothing but a burden who couldn't help.

Even if he were usually the most spiritedly cocky yet oblivious... However right now the prince felt like he was next to nothing.

He backed between the lioness's paws, trying to stay close while also he was covering her under belly. If anyone tried to dive for her paws he'd also be sure to make them feel his teeth first.

The hyena cub tensed at the sight of the two bears, these had to be some of the biggest animals he'd ever seen. Even dealing with just one would have been trouble enough... And if anything happened to Hiyori Katsu would be devastated more than anyone. He couldn't let her get eaten by these monsters!

Suddenly feeling like he had a purpose again the little cub puffed himself up, sticking close to Hiyori's side by less in a scared childlike way and more like a mini body guard.

 

"You shouldn't fight alone either! You need your pride, I know that because... because I need you."

 

He stated, showing a bit of surprisingly humility not only in using the group term of lions, but also acknowledging he couldn't do everything by himself and could need her help.

[Full_Moon_Rising]

Heart softening briefly at the words the little one spoke, Hiyori could only barely afford to just glance at him for a moment before her eyes were once again flickering between their assailants.

 

"I am never alone, My prince. My pride is always with me and while you stand with us, you will always be one of the pride as well" she reassured him silently, wishing in some way that she could take him away from this violence but knowing that her hands/paws were tied. Dakari was still to young to have to see such bloodshed but they had steam rolled their way into this scene and she knew he wouldn't leave without a fight. Neither would she. Not until Katsu, Natsume and Kisame were safely by their side.

 

However just as she was crouching to face off against the threat of an incoming attack when the bear she had landed a hit on decided to charge them, a spike made of pure ice surged put of the frozen ground between them and their would be attacker. Ears flickering in mild surprise, Hiyori chanced a glance over the lip of the cliff, down towards her older brother and found her gaze locking with his. Katsu had his attention focused on the lioness and the cub, one hand somewhat raised in their direction and those piercing blue eyes looked deadly and pissed, even from a distance. It was clear her brother was not about to simply allow an attack to be launched at them without interference.

 

Even if the interference came in the form of his element and not himself. Hiyoir knew that the snow leopard was fully aware she was capable of defending herself, but with Dakari at her side, neither of them were truly willing to take any chances.

 

Inhaling a sharp breath just as she caught movement beside her sibling, Hiyori didn't get a chance to warn the snow leopard before his slightly raised arm was caught between the jaws of what could only be described as a half shifted reptilian face. Perhaps that of a komodo dragon, yet not fully shifted. Nevertheless, as painful as it appeared to look, Katsu showed no signs of discomfort aside from the mild narrowing of his eyes as he turned them back onto the woman who had his arm between her jaws. There was a beat of silence, where blood dripped past her clenched jaws and dotted the snow covered ground beneath them but that was the only moment her brother wasted in doing nothing before he was in motion again.

 

Lifting his trapped arm further up, seemingly effortlessly bearing the weight of the woman on it as she refused to open her jaws and release him, the Sentinel's next movement was one that could easily have been missed if one wasn't looking closely. The hand holding his sword rose sharply, wasting not even the fraction of a second to produce a swift upwards motion that soon had the woman's head separating from the rest of her body. Watching stoically as the headless body dropped to the ground at his feet, blood steadily staining the ground where it lay, Katsu used the same sword to pry the dead woman's jaw open and shake his arm free of the body-less head.

 

Hearing the sound of a yell of hatred and rage, the snow leopard barely spared his second attacker a look over his shoulder as the man charged at him, the outsider's face contorted with the force of his dark emotions. However, just yards away from reaching Katsu, the frozen lake's surface cracked and then burst fully apart to give way to the form of a massive Orca breaching the surface. Akira, Kisame's follower, pumped her body out of the water in a massive leap, jaws open wide before clamping down hard around the body of the man that had been charging the cat the moment he leapt into the air to avoid falling through the ice. The intruder stood no chance and while he struggled in Akira's hold, when the Orca's body once again disappeared under the ice, the fate of the intruder was only revealed by the reddish color that rose to the water's surface.

 

Chaos erupted soon after the lake began to fracture and the ice gave away to the pressure of the water. Kisame grinned as he vanished below the water's surface, the remaining intruders that had been fighting him and Katsu all scrambled to find footing in floating pieces of ice. Katsu himself appeared to disappear from view and though that worried her, Hiyori was forced to pay attention to her own aggressors seconds later.

 

Ducking under the massive swipe of the paw of one of the bears the moment he charged them, Hiyori wasted no time in quickly locking her jaws around Dakari's scruff and leaping away to put some resemblance of distance between them. She knew the cub was brave and strong for his age, but she would not chance him getting hurt or worse in this fight. Hearing a screech from above, Hiyori shot her gaze towards the skies as Natsume all but dive bombed down from the air, huge talons extended and aimed towards the eyes of the second black bear that Hiyori hadn't quite managed to land a blow on.

 

The owl's aerial attack was on point and merciless and while the bear reared up instantly and swiped at his feathered attacker despite the clear blood covering his eyes, Natsume swiftly flapped his wings and flew out of range once again. Seeing the second bear go to his comrade's side to aide him, even as Natsume soared into the skies once more, Hiyori weighed her options. The bears were standing near the edge of the cliff, where the sounds of shouting and screams were coming from far below where Akira and Kisame were probably taking their time with the rest of the invaders. If they could just make the bears to go over the lip of the cliff, they'd be goners.

 

"My prince, I know this is asking alot, but do you think you can melt the ice beneath their paws? I know you've never used your affinity fully before, but now is better then never. If you can not, we can find another way to get them to go over the edge" Hiyori lowered her head to whisper down into the cub's ear, never once letting her guard drop in the slightest.