It had gotten weirdly cold that night.

As the sun set an odd chill set in, chillier than normal in the forest, where the trees protected one from the biting wind. It was peculiar to the rose woman, who had awoken as darkness began to fall upon the world and stepped out to shiver just a little. Perhaps it was an omen from Apophis that something was coming.... Maybe it was just cold.

The leaves beneath her dark paws crunched as Arachnae made her way through the trees slowly, crouched slightly, alert and sniffing for anything that may prove to be a meal- something to fill the growing void that berries and small rodents was no longer filling. The mamba around her neck coiled tightly, his tail just barely above dragging, completely still from the lack of proper heat to his cold blood.

@Madison

Code by Naya Image by Tippy

It had started as a quiet night, colder than most had been, but it lacked in chaos and she could deal with a little chill. Yet, what an unexpected turn that had chased her from the warmth of her den and had pinned the young cub beneath the sanctuary expanse of a rock where curled fearfully as far back as she could. The creature had followed without fail, pacing to and fro outside with restless intent as she watched it's feet keenly, her pulse beginning to race when it suddenly took to delving within the earth and hauling it out in forceful hollows. Gods, it couldn't reach her could it? As if it had heard, the beast then plunged it's head into the hole it had created and began to shove it towards her, so close she could feel it's rancid breath on her face. A low hiss rose from her throat as the hyena's maw inched closer, and without the slightest, her paw shot out and audibly smacked against muzzled flesh. It came away howling and cackling madly, shaking it's head violently side to side as it reeled from the pain of the bloody claws across it's mouth, and for a moment, she thought it might be the end of it. Her heart heavily sank as soon as the hyena turned back to digging ferociously at the rock's underside, seeming more determined than ever now that she had struck it. No, why wouldn't it just give up?!

@Arachnae

Yowling, yipping- the chilling cackle of a frenzied hyena caught the ear and attention of the rose woman, and frantically she trotted towards the sound. It likely had something edible cornered, and if not, there was a thing that needed assistance. Upon her arrival, the smelly beast had its head in a crevice, digging its blunt claws wildly into the dirt, trying hard to get to whatever hid inside- and beneath the vile smell of the hyena, she smelled her. A cub.

A high pitched roar came from the lioness, and the hyena startled, turning its braud face to look upon her own masked one with a deep snarl, and turned back, ignoring the woman, more interested in a meal. The rose woman rushed at it, digging her claws into its thick backside and dragging it back, snarling as its bone crushing jaws latched onto the skin of her shoulder as it whipped around. It screamed suddenly, stepping back and standing there for a moment, eyes wide- and fell to the ground, writhing, seizing almost. Rawkshi had bitten it, and mamba venom coursed through its body, causing muscle spasms and heart failure. The thing was in immense pain before it laid still, foam pooling from its mouth.

Blood dripped from the blossoms shoulder, but she limped towards the crevice, crouching down with a wince and peering into the darkness. "Its dead now, you are gonna be okay."

@Madison

Code by Naya Image by Tippy

The creature had more tenacity than most to keep at the endeavor of trying to dig out it's prey, much to the point that it was making some bit of progress as those feet tore ever closer to her. There almost seemed to be no hope, but then suddenly, a deafening roar tore through the night and without warning, the hyena disappeared from where she could see out beneath the rock in a flit of dust and angry cackling. What was happening? A confused look took of a hold of the young cub's face as she stared wide-eyed out into the night as the frightening noises raged on before it was engulfed in silence, her tiny body still pressed heavily back against stone. Mama had always taught her to never think that when danger looked like it had passed, it would be safe. The world we live in, Madi, is full of terrible things. Not everyone is who they appear to be, not every face means to be kind. That is why you must always have your guard up and throw caution to the wind, my child. You must survive when those terrible things come for you, for I always won't be there to stop them.

Movement stirred outside where quiet had come to pass, the slow thumping of a languid gait that was heading towards her, her entirety coiling like a spring that was prepared to launch at a moment's notice. Dual gaze focused immediately on the languid movement of a shadow as it came closer, closer still to where the beast had been mere moments ago, and she felt her heart leap into her throat. It was coming back?! What if it wasn't even the hyena but something else?! Yet, the moment she saw the darkened face and heard the dulcet tones of her voice, it was like she had just encountered an angel. Maybe it was the absence of her mother or the fact she had faced death so closely, perhaps both, but the spotted cub came flying quickly out from the crevice of rock and shoved herself as close to the woman as she possibly could. Svelte head would push heavily against the pale cheek of her savior with a crying mewl, nuzzling into warm fur and peach skin as she buried her face within it to hide and embrace, for the moment, some semblance of safety; that she wasn't alone anymore.

@Arachnae