Family Reunion

As Iro sprinted towards the field clearings, his mind raced nearly as fast as he was running. It made sense that this could be a descendant, but he also assumed the day would never come that one would bother coming to the city. And, what the hell could be happening that none of the eagles could talk the damn snake down? It was probably because they were incompetent, he concluded. It never made sense to him to just have birds scouting the perimeter. They escalated tempers faster than the lions. It was one of many things he would change if he managed to become King, over his spouses' father.

He had superb far vision, and as the scene before him came into focus, Iro had to hold himself back from trying to run faster and overheating himself. It was, in fact, chaos. In front of him, there was a swarm of eagles, diving and screeching at a gigantic black and red snake, who had turned himself into a tornado of scales, circling and snapping at the birds. As the leopard closed in on the fight, he saw one eagle was laying on the ground, wings outstretched and panting.

Without stopping, Iro burst into his human form, almost falling over from the force, and giving a bellowing roar. A few eagles pushed back away from the snake, who continued to frantically snap in the air at those who hadn't listened, and with one more warning call, the remainder of the birds reluctantly backed off. Still running on adrenaline and instinct, the snakes green eyes locked onto the naked man standing with his fists clenched in front of him, opening his mouth and hissing, spitting mad.

"Stand down," Iro growled. "And tell me what your problem is."

Set narrowed his eyes, spinning around to look at the eagles, who were still circling the skies. Iro followed his gaze upwards, then looked back at the snake.

"Everyone land," he ordered. "He's not going to shift if you're up there."

There were many calls of protest, but one by one the eagles landed, and as soon as the last one's foot hit the dirt, Set shifted into his half beast.

"My female was attacked by a Rootless cat," he started, with no niceties.

"Likely story" scoffed one of the eagles, but when Set spun to descend on him, Iro raised a hand - but at the eagle beastmen.

"If you say another negative word to my brother, I'll kill you myself."

Set raised one eyebrow, looking at the leopard beastman, who's messy blond hair was covering half his face before he ran his hand through it. He had questions, but there was no time for small talk, and he already figured he knew this was either First, or Second, merely by his attitude. Quickly, he uncoiled his body, revealing the terribly broken fox female who had tucked herself into a ball. Her mangled arm lay at an unnatural angle, with blood now mixed with dirt.

All the eagles who had changed form let out an audible gasp at the sight, Iro giving a low growl. "You're a three striped male. How the hell did you let this happen?"

Set held back the urge to wring this male's throat. He had asked himself the same question, but he wasn't going to get into specifics. "Does it matter," he hissed. "She needs the doctor."

Iro snorted, not thinking their doctor could do anything, but he wasn't going to leave her out here to suffer, either. "Quickly, give her to an eagle, they'll get her there faster."

"SsssSSSSSSSSS" Set almost turned back into a full snake at the thought.

"You'll follow me in, but you need to pass her off. I'll let you in the city-" More wails were heard from the eagles, now irate.

"The girl isn't marked!" one cried. "He's just here to steal our spouses! You know the rules!"

Iro lost his temper, roaring and lunging at the nearest eagle, cuffing him in the head. "YOU'LL DO AS I SAY OR YOU DEAL WITH THE KING" he bellowed, then turned to the snake, "YOU TOO. If you want her to die for certain, keep arguing. If not, let that one fly her in," he demanded, pointing to a gray harpy eagle who hadn't bothered to shift into a human to argue.

Set bared his fangs in protest at the idea, but turned to Shuule, who's breathing was soft and shallow, and stroked her cheek, before moving back, allowing the Harpy to scuttle over and look at his cargo. He moved to her left, deciding the only safe way to grab her was from her less injured side, and when took flight with her in his talons.

More obedient than the others, the black eagle who had alerted Iro in the first place, also rose up into the air, to fly ahead of the other eagle, as he would be able to alert the doctor faster that there was an emergency coming, as he was not carrying weight.

Iro stared pointedly at Set, then transformed back into his leopard. Turning to the eagles, he flashed his fangs, his ears pinned flat to his head, before starting to jog back to the city. Set went to follow, but stopped short, locking eyes with the eagle who had been downed, who was still open mouth panting. Quickly, he brought his tail tip up to his chest, plucking a scale off it, and tossing it in the dirt towards the bird.

"The antidote," he murmured, before turning into a full snake, and following the leopard down the dirt path.