Analetta (by missmacabre)
Ana was surprised when Dapple connected with the Chethume. When the horse calmed beneath her, she knew that they would be safe with him. Either way, she didnāt have time to consider any alternatives. There were orcs approaching, and the Chethume grabbed Dappleās reins and led them down a dingy alleyway. The horse would normally avoid rubble andā¦mess, but he soldiered on, following the Chethumeās lead. It was Ana who shivered in the saddle, her heart thumping loudly in her chest and her face twisted in disgust. The smell was so horrible she choked back a gag.
Quickly and quietly they walked the alleyway to its exit. After a fast survey of the danger, the Chethume crossed a doorway and beckoned Ana to come through. Analetta peered over the Chethumeās shoulder. She saw something moving in the passageway that he blocked with his body, but if he was willing to turn his back to it, it couldnāt possibly be all that terrible.
This was the point where the woman would have to dismount and abandon the safety and speed of her mount. Ana climbed down from the saddle and settled uncomfortably on the ground. Her legs and buttocks were weak and sore. She stopped a moment to stretch, then gathered up Dappleās reins and pulled his gray head close.
āListen Dapple,ā she whispered. āWe have to go through this door, and youāre a big horse. Well, a medium horse, but a big beast. Youāre bigger than this door. I need you to squeeze on in anyway. Follow me.ā
Ana stepped toward the Chethume. He backed away to give her and Dapple space. Ana went first, reins in hand. Maybe it was the fear of orcs behind him, or the comfort of their company, but Dapple complained very little on his way through the door. It did require a bit of tricky maneuvering on his part, but Ana knew it was possible. If her old aunt could squeeze a sick mare into one of the caravan trailers, Dapple could fit through a doorframe.
Once they popped through the other side, Dapple moved his body for Ana to shut the door. She grabbed the knob and brought it to a quick, silent close. Normally, she was very stealthy. Maybe she had spent all day proving exactly the opposite, but the woman still had faith in her own abilities.
Ana sighed in relief. She turned around to face the Chethume and crack off a quick jest when she saw what wandered the space they had just entered. Dogs. Big, mangy beasts, so starved their skin dipped into the valleys between their bones. Their lips peeled away, dripping slobber over the cracked yellow peaks of pointed teeth.
Ana pressed herself against Dapple. The dogs fell together in a trot, a gleam of malice and hunger in their eyes.
"They're coming," Ana croaked. The woman felt for the dagger at her waist. She grasped the hilt tightly, and waited for the Chethume to make his move.
Nuru (by Xavirne)
It was hard not to be impressed by this woman and her skill with her mighty horse. Dapple was wise beyond his years, too. Every muscle in his body contorted and finagled to squeeze through the narrow door. Had they entered from the front, Dapple wouldn't have had to make magic happen for those were double-wide doors. Still, that wasn't the case for them. They were forced to enter from the back. Had Nuru been thinking, he might have been able to use some lard on the door, greasing it up to make it less abrasive on the horse's skin. Perhaps he wouldn't reveal that tiny overlook just yet? In fact, maybe he would avoid bringing it up all together. Besides, the lard was excellent for starting fires. And fire? Well, it would be essential later on into the night. Wouldn't want to freeze now, would they? Nuru would be fine, but he wasn't sure how Ana would fair. Granted, he could just ball up beside her and Dapple, ensuring that she was plenty warm.
Hand crossing his heart, Nuru found himself releaved. Chops pulling back into a light smile, the Chethume was overjoyed that he hadn't decided to hunt these two. They were too perfect to devour. Ana was simply adorable. She was a real wild flower -- strong and capable but soft and beautiful. Dapple, like his rider, was just as skilled and he was extremely loyal. Not to mention, this type of bond between animal and human was rare. Most riders kicked, whipped, and forced their horses to do everything. Just by looking at Dapple, Nuru knew the horse was never abused or fearful of Analetta. His golden eyes closed into slender happy slits. It made him happy to know that someone could love an animal just as much as a human.
Reaching out a paw, he lightly patted Dapple on the back, a sign of approval from the cat man. A light purr even slipped from him when his fur collided with that of the horse's. There were an odd combo, but it wasn't unlike cats and horses to get along. Okay, so a cheetah was a bit of a stretch, but Chethumes had domestic cat mannerisms, too!
His lips pulled back to compliment the duo, but such praise was cut short but Ana's airy whisper. Ears flicking forward and eyes darting to the glass-less window, his golden fur started to stand on end. How much time could he buy?
Nostrils flaring momentarily, his tongue lolled from his mouth and lapped at his gums. He smelled something. It was nearby. It smelled like... freshly cooked rat meat. Collecting himself, Nuru suppressed the drool that would have surely come. Now was not the time to force on food. No, it was now time to give Dapple and Ana a running head start.
Muzzle curling up to reveal a rather long fang, Nuru's nose became loaded with wrinkles. Ears pinned against his skull, a low, light rumble came from his throat. It was time for the cat man to show these mutts why cats rule and dogs drool. Leaning onto his tip-toes, the Chethume instantly looked so much taller. His arched back and flickering tail were signs of warning for the dogs that would surely come crashing into the area. Sprawling out his hands, the retractable claws slipped out. Probably half an inch to an inch long, they would certainly scar anything that dared go toe-to-toe with the wild cat.
Just moments before the sharp, ravenous fangs of the dogs chewed down the door, Nuru flung his arms in a direction. "Concentrate on the scent of meat. I scene you're not the only one of your kind. You humans always have an... interesting smell about you." Eyes shifting back toward the door, his nose quivered before a loud, raspy roar broke into the air. Hissing, the door smashed in and the hounds were reeling back in surprise at just what laid beyond the door.
Seizing the moment, Nuru leaped over the wild dogs. Snapping at their hindquarters and tails, he was able to push them further into the hallway. Claws ablaze with feral wrath, the first of the hounds found himself howling in pain as its back oozed with blood. Not done with his first strike, Nuru lunged onto the back of the injured dog. Fangs exposed, he forced them into the rubbery neck of the dog. It shook quite vigorously for a few seconds, but Nuru's claws kept his lodged in the dog's back. The more the hound shook, the more damage Nuru's claws and fangs did. In no time, the creature collapsed on itself. Dead due to strangulation, due thanks to Nuru's iron-tight throat grip.
Kicking off the ground and flinging into the air, Nuru landed on a nearby stairwell. Hissing, he offered the remaining dogs a chance to flee. At first, the dogs didn't heed the warning. The second Nuru advanced forward, they went scampering away. One loss was enough for them, he supposed.
During the heat of the fight, Nuru hadn't noticed the injury his took to his paw. One of the dogs had managed to get its mangy muzzle around his arm. Eight large gashes were visible on his fur, all of which were in the shape of a mouth. Rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, Chethume ran his tongue over the wound. He would have to tent to it later, though. Right now, he needed to see how Ana and Dapple were. Had they gone the wrong way? Or had they managed to get lost?
Ears scanning the area for any noises, his nose finally caught a whiff of the duo. Slinking to all fours, he prowled down the hallowed halls. Eyes gleaming gold, he wouldn't make himself known until he was certain Ana wasn't in grave danger. If need be, Nuru would strike any foe that dared disturb Ana and Dapple's peace. As far as he was concerned, those two were a part of his family and he needed to do everything he could to protect them.