Her original trip into the mountains hadn't eased her endless thoughts. She'd remained up in the mountains afterwards, stalking through the territory and scaring off anything that might try to lay claim to their home. There were, of course, exceptions to the rule. Some predators she allowed to remain in the Kingdom, such as the massive Dire Bear that called the grandest of caves its home. Then there was the griffin that soared through the sky, ever watching the range of mountains. Enya did not fear these predators, but instead respected them. They were so rare, that she felt proud to house them in her Kingdom. There was no denying the strength that came with such ferocious beasts.
Yesterday evening, while stalking the lands, she'd picked up a scent trail. It was of some feline creature, her senses told her. This morning, she'd risen before the sun had. She was going to find this trespasser and chase them out for good. As she stalked, Enya's tongue flicked out rapidly as she scented the air for a fresh scent trail from the stranger. She returned to where she had originally found the tracks and inspected them closely. The stranger hadn't come back by it seemed. Luckily, little else had as well, leaving the tracks mostly undisturbed - easy to follow. Maybe it had caught her scent and thought better than sticking around.
She was going to find out, that was for sure. Her muzzle lifted into the air and through it rang a chilling howl from her muzzle. I'm coming for you! This is our land, and you're not allowed into it without permission!' Her warning bounced off the rocks around her and echoed for miles. Perhaps those all the way down at the lake could hear her call from up high on the mountainside. "Heed my warning" she murmured out loud, more to hear how dangerous she sounded than to speak to anyone in particular. She was in hunting mode, and she was not going to let her prey get away.
Enya followed the tracks until they came across a wide creek carving into the mountainside. From there, they seemed to have vanished. She checked the other side, checked the top and then checked towards the lower part of the creek, testing to see if it had followed it and walked out further up or down stream. No luck. Until... a gust of wind came across her, delivering the fresh scent of feline straight to her. She looked up, high above her. Suddenly a figure was falling down from the cliff edge above, far more lengths than she would have thought was safe to leap from as a wolf. Luckily, because of the height, it gave her time to dodge out of the way. The large saber cat landed with a heavy thump on the ground.
"He's after you, you know. There's a bounty on your head for tearing apart the Kingdom." The saber cat snarled, it's large fangs hanging dangerously from it's mouth. It had blended in perfectly to the landscape, colored like a snow leopard would be. Scars littered the large male's body. "You are to be returned to him to serve your purpose, whore"
Enya bristled her fur as she returned the snarl of the feline with her own. "You would have better luck surviving an encounter with our resident dire bear than taking me back to him." As the words came from her mouth, so did green tinted saliva. Her venom glands were activating once more after a terribly long dry spell. "Run. Turn and run if you value your life, stray. You better start now, because there is no mercy for those who make a threat to a Monarch's life."
Enya did not give him a chance to run. Nor did he choose to do so. The two of them both leapt at each other, the pair colliding and swinging around one another from the force of the impact. Enya's fangs reached and snapped to grab and tear flesh from the saber the same way that the saber's claws attempted to tear at her. The two landed across from one another once more, each in the position the other had been in a second ago. She looked to see if her blow had connected. The adrenaline coursing through her numbed any pain she may be feeling. 'He really sent a bounty hunter to come for me. Unbelievable! He really thinks I'll give him what he wants. Ha! I can't wait to deliver this bounty hunter's head to him as a message.' She knew he would stoop low, but she never knew he would stoop this low. 'What a flatterer'
Saber-Cat Stats
HP | A | Ch | C | Dec | Dex | M | P | S | Str
10 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5
Enya Attack: Dex Roll - Level 4
Success: Bites the saber's leg and tears open a wound -1HP
Failure: Bites at the saber's leg but misses
Saber-Cat Attack: Dex Roll - Level 3
Success: Slashes at Enya with claws while they clash -1HP
Failure: The claws hit Enya, but they glance off her scaled belly and chest