Order Prompt 2

As the group of Haedians turned away Varos breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that their friend Maple had spoken up to tell those Haedians off. Just as they were about to express this they felt a rumbling rip through the wind, at first it felt like a mini earthquake yet there was rythmn to the way this sound ebbed and flowed. Then Maple realised. This wasnt the rumbling of rocks or the shaking of the ground no, it was a quiet chanting for a name that had started to turn into a yell.

„shira, shira, shira…“ they were finally able to make out the name, sending an anew shiver down Varos spine who was desperately wishing to be any place else other than the Orders territory right now. Katholes took a few steps back to be closer to their friends, eyes still locked with the group of haedians that had started to walk away from them.

„Stay close.“ said Katholes „I have a bad feeling about this.“ came from Varos, peeking out from under Maples wing to glance nervously around trying to see what would happen next.

Maples chose to remain quiet, though varos was able to see very clearly that the Tyrian was on edge, muscles tensed even if a neutral expression was plastered on their face.

Then it suddenly went dark. Varos knew in the back of his mind that day and night cycles didnt exist down below, but he could have been fooled that it had existed for just a moment.

 Blocking out the red glow of luminescent crystals within the cavern was the massive form that loomed over all of  the friends like a bad omen, streaks of white splintered their black pelt into jagged pieces with crimson red staining their head and tail. An unsettling toothy grin was etched onto this Haedians face as they descended upon the friends, looming easily over even Maple who was the tallest of the trio.

As their paws touched ground Varos felt it quake lightly under the impact. They hadn‘t been keen to tussle with this Haedian already but the thirst for blood, violence and readiness to dish the latter out freely only further convinced Varos that looking for a fight would be a bad idea.

„Oh please lets just go.“ whimpered the chaser, having hidden in Maples wing fully again, like a turtle in its shell.

„Welcome esteemed guests.“ said the Haedian, glancing down on the three friends like a hungry shark did who smelled blood in the water.

Katholes tried to get Shiras gaze off of their friends by stepping up.

„We just need to pa-„ they started „Oh you dont need to do anything.“ reorted Shirea, lowering their head to get a closer look at Katholes.

„Down here, you are eiter with me, or against me. You are against our religion as a few birdies told me.“ they said, anger solidifying on their face into full on rage.

„And that is already telling me everything I need to know about you and your unworthy ensemble of sorry excuses for Reoseans.“ this netted Shira a snarl from Katholes, whose fur was standing on edge at this point. From their lips came a not so subtly voiced threat.

„You know whats great about bigger targets? Your size works against you once I go for your eyes. I will ask once more, nicely. Please allow us passage through your territory so that we may see the caregivers and have an audience with the Matriarch, this is bigger than your religious beliefs.“

Shira chuckled. „Oh no, blood needed to be spilled the moment that you chose to disrespect my followers, my god and most importantly me you gnat. I will squash you like the bug you are.“

Shira roared, tossing themself at Katholes who through sheer luck was able to jump out of the way before their fangs could meet their form.

Maple used the fight breaking out to quickly grab a hold of Varos. Beating her massive wings she took to the air, making sure to hide Varos in a small cave inset into the wall that they were sure Shirea couldnt reach whilst they were distracted by Katholes. „Please be safe.“ said Varos, casting worried glances between Maple and Katholes for he knew that Maple too would toss herself into this fight to help Katholes out.

„You can count on me. Please hide until I call out for you again.“ Varos nodded in response. Maple did not wait a second to return back to Katholes who she would tag team with to go for the eyes of the Haedian leader.

Yet this wasn‘t a foe the two of them should underestimate, and they knew that. The bloodlust on their face had told Katholes as much from the start. This was a haedian that delighted on violence, wanted to prove their prowess. This surely wasnt Shiras first tango and as such the friends had to carefully coordinate and plan their attacks on Shira.