Banding Together

The sun shone high in the clear sky, casting rays on the clear face of Leila as she sat on a branch close to Turan. The elder was adjusting his bow and sharpening some arrows on another branch above the two. Malik who was sitting next to the elder was keenly observing the surroundings.

"I hate this place," grumbled Danish, sitting on a higher branch. "We haven't had a single fight here. These cunning foxes won't come at us one at a time. Cowards!"

"There is nothing fair about life, and you have to accept how it is and fight them how they are."

"I don't agree," interjected Leila.

"Elder, how can you conclude it this way that life is not fair? Life is very subjective in itself. There is no such thing as fair and unfair about it...."

As the group was discussing, Kaito appeared in their vision hopping from one branch to another, making his way to them. 

"He is back, finally," interjected Danish. "Must be a good news this time." He said frustratingly.

"Good news guys, I found a few Timber Fangs in that direction." Kaito pointed to the northeast, "A ten minutes from here."

"Must be the Timber Fangs' territory," Elder stood up as he put the arrow in the quiver, "they are after all enemies of the Two-Tailed foxes."

"Are we heading there?" Danish held excitement in his eyes as he inquired.

"Sure we are." The Elder grinned, "Let's go!"

Three large Timber Fangs sat close to a bare boulder in a small clearing. They were resting, one of them slept, eyes closed, under the sun. The other two played closer to the other side of the boulder, playing and running after each other's tails.

A small breeze blew, fluttering the hoods of the watching party. Two hairlocks tied with hairbands danced as the breeze played with them.

The larger Timber Fang, sleeping closer to the boulder, opened its eyes and the playing ones stopped and began to observe their surroundings looking for any anomaly.

"They have such sharp senses." complimented Danish.

"It must have been the wind. But the fact remains the same, they are indeed vigilant," responded Kaito as a small smirk appeared on his lips.

"So who is in for it?" 

" I am in elder!" Danish was the first to respond.

"Nah!" Malik shook his head to Danish, "It's our turn." Malik looked at Kaito and Leila. "Are you guys ready?"

"Always." Kaito leaped with that.

"They are scary!" Leila complained.

"You are late," Turan jumped down the branch. He winked at Danish as he followed Kaito.

"That Bull!"

"The sleeping beauty is mine," said Kaito as he made his way towards it.

"Let's look after the two playing mates," Malik and Turan went for the other two beasts.

With the huge strong jaw line, and protruding fangs, the three beasts watched the approaching party with hunger. The bigger among the beasts roared, signaling the commencement of the battle. 

The three beasts charged simultaneously, throwing dust and rubble in their wake. 

Seeing the hundred and fifty pounds pounce from a distance, Kaito waited for the right moment to evade the attack.

With a similar road, Turan charged at the incoming beast, with a created momentum, he raised his Axe in the air as the two beings clashed head-on.

Malik unsheathed his Katana, took his stance, and waited for the right moment to slash the beast at the right time.

'Soooosh!' 

The paw that was meant to crush the skull, swat an empty air as the figure evaded in the nick of time. Just when the Dog landed on the ground his face grimaced as he experienced a sharp stabbing pain in his right forelimb.

Kaito pulled his dagger off the beast's forelimb and somersaulted a meter away from the target.

The huge Axe came down and clashed with the bare head of the Timber Fang, slashing through the tough skin on the skull. With a screech, the beast fell to the ground. Another swing came down on it, as the poor beast leaped back and evaded the strike. Fear was written all over its face.

Malik sheathed his Katana as he evaded the beast.

"What is he doing." Leila was surprised to see Malik turning back on the beast and making his way to them.

"Watch and see," Danish responded to her.

The beast stood still where he landed. only falling after a few seconds. Blood gushed out of a small wound on its neck.

"He went straight for the jugular." Leila was amazed.

"Show-off," Kaito grumbled. He waited for the Dog to strike again. 

The beast limped as it charged once again to pounce on its prey. Just when the beast felt that it had pinned the target, it saw the target evade its attack. The beast screeched in pain as it felt a similar acute pain in three more areas, severing the connection to the limbs. It fell to the ground. It screeched in horror.

Seeing the two beasts fall the third one ran not looking behind.

"What a shame, you are running." Turan sighed as his opponent ran to the forest.

As the trio was on their way back, a large number of Two-Tailed foxes appeared from a side. They all rushed to the small clearing, only to find three humans. The foxes looked at each other and seemed confused about the situation.

"What is happening." Danish stood up while unsheathing his sword.

"They must have misunderstood our fight with the Timber Fangs one against their own" responded Elder. "So they are here to assist."

"And that is why they are so confused," added Leila.

With no further delay, the foxes made their decision, seeing prey in front of them, the pack charged. 

"This is bad!" Turan blurted.

"There are too many...," Malik wasn't finished yet when Kaito interjected, "Aim their vitals, we only have so much time." 

With one quick motion, Kaito charged to the right side of Turan, "I will defend you from the leftovers. strike with full force." He took out his twin daggers and snapped at Malik, "Take the left side if you are done watching from the side."

"Don't tell me what to do."

Turan stood his ground, he raised his huge Axe high in the sky above his right shoulder. He waited for the Foxes to pounce while he would strike them in the mid-air. Meanwhile, Kaito watched the ones making their way from the side. Malik held his Katana in a defensive stance as he watched over the left side.

As the Axe came down, it generated a gale that fluttered their hoods, striking a fox in mid-air, Turan sent it flying off hitting other foxes. Kaito aiming for the vitals of three foxes that charged from the side, his daggers puncturing the jugulars left the beast limped on the ground.

Seeing a vulnerable point after Turan swung his Axe, Malik leaped in front of him and slashed multiple times, cutting two foxes' abdomens. Blood rained as the two beasts fell to the side. More foxes replaced the fallen ones.