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Hastiikyin huffed in irritation as the flies who'd made their home on the meat wares of the trading post buzzed around his eyes, quickening his steps to the cub post. A fine cub would help settle the pride greatly, and provide a good home to some poor underfoot kitten out there-
"DEMON!" someone roared and Hastiikyin jumped, teeth already bared in defense as he and a dozen other lions rushed towards the shout.
But instead of an enormous Cthonic snake or a slithering monster- Hastiikyin skidded to a halt as he looked down upon a blood-soaked lion cowering at the paws of a group of pride males, all snarling aggressively at the young adolescent.
"What-" the lion next to him speaks up, to his relief, also hesitating in the face of the heavily outnumbered cub. "What seems to be happening here?"
"We are getting rid of a demon," one of them growls, swiping out again at the injured lion, prompting a small whimper of pain as he tries in vain to dart away from it.
Hastiikyin is standing in front of the adolescent and snarling threatningly before he realises it, the lions besides him thankfully joining flanks to charge the bullying males, driving them off. He turns down to the cub in worry, half-convinced he might be too far to save- then meets a gaze of blood and darkness.
So that's why. "Oh," he breathes, heart twisting painfully at the fear in those eyes, the flinch like Hastiikyin was going to attack him for it.
"Come with me," he whispers under the noise of the sudden battle that has broken out in the middle of the market, pushing the wide-eyed, malnourished lad up to his feet and out of the trading post. He nods in respect to the strange kind lion who'd first spoken and recieves one in turn before he turns back to maul one of the bullies. "I think I have a pride I want to you meet."
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