Masika and Lana's shrieks of horror directed everyone else's attention towards them, and when they looked over all they were greeted with was the sight of over 50 wild dogs crashing into the two young lionesses. Just as shrill and high as they were emitted, their shrieks of surprise and pain were drowned out in almost the same moment in canine barks, growls and other sounds. And in that moment, Sefu found his courage, followed by David and then finally Malka. The three young lions, all determined to do as males do, rushed to defend the lionesses they care about.
Sefu especially was determined to fight his way to Lana as he began to pull dogs off of his friends, and whether they were simply tossed off with no injuries or had their necks snapped before being thrown roughly away varied with how much objection the individual put up. Some were smarter than others, definitely, but there still seemed to be an innumerable amount of dogs that now turned their attentions to the mute prince. Just as soon as they turned their attention to the prince did they then also realize that David and Malka were also upon them. As the three males fought their way to the fallen, beaten lionesses, Othello saw his chance.
Though Lana and Masika both were knocked unconscious in the ambush, Othello noticed that neither Cobarte nor the other males had seen them yet. What was more, the oddly-familiar lioness was nowhere to be seen. So Othello had to act right then and there. As he raced to the dark lioness, a plan formed in his mind. Somehow, someway, unconsciousness caused her beauty to be magnified ten-fold, and it was at this moment that Othello decided that family loyalty just absolutely wasn't worth handing this beautiful lioness over to Iago's depravity. Although Othello couldn't keep the realization, or even think too much about anything (let alone the epiphany he just had), in that moment he evaluated what Iago truly was. And from there made the decision that he did; that is, that he couldn't just hand her to the scrappy heir. Othello moved quickly, putting Lana's unconscious body on his back and breaking into a run. He had no clue where he was going, or if where he was going was going to be any safer for the lioness he was trying to rescue, but he figured that anywhere was better than the current battlefield. She needs the attention of a shaman, but there's only one that I know of. And he'll probably alert Iago just as soon as he's done patching her up. Damn it, I hope he can see reason. Othello thought as he almost mindlessly raced to the marula groves, where he knew Korofi had set up his residence. The smell of wild dog was heavy as he re-entered the Goldlands, but Othello didn't care about that beyond the hope that Masika (whom he left behind) hadn't been torn apart by the land equivalent of vultures yet.
And back at the battlefield, some of the wild dogs continued to bite and beat the unconscious lioness, taunting and laughing at their fallen victim as they did. Thankfully, before any serious wounds could be inflicted, David closed his jaws around one their necks, severing the arteries, and his resulting yelp of agony got the attention of the rest of Masika's tormentors. As the other 6 leaped at the beige sub-adult, each one was slashed across the face, and then sent hurtling to the ground in as much pain as they inflicted upon Masika. As soon as a path was cleared, and David was able to get to Masika's fallen body to check on her, he could notice the scent of another lion. More pertinently, this lion's scent was very familiar; the most familiar scent in the world to him in fact. "MOM!"
David had sounded more like a cub than the sub-adult he was, but seeing whom he called out had perhaps shocked him back into that equivalent mental state. For stepping out of the brush and in full view of all to see was none other than Kuendesha. Indeed, the entire battle stopped when the dogs heard David basically shriek for his mother, or rather that was what they perceived until they looked over and saw the two beige-tan felids standing across from each other, Masika's unconscious body seeming to draw a line between the two of them. Even Malka and Sefu stopped wailing on their adversaries when they looked over to see why all went silent, and when they saw Kuendesha the two of them found their jaws involuntarily apart from shock.
"Hi son." She said simply, yet viciously, as though 'son' was the worst insult imaginable. And David bared his teeth once he figured out why she was there. "Mom… you… How? Why? Don't you know what these mutts are about?! Don't you know ANYTHING AT ALL about Iago?" David asked, and if Kuendesha hadn't been focused on the way David had her exiled she might have mistaken his words and tone for concern. But she simply narrowed her icy eyes at him, and growled her next words. "Yes, and Iago, unlike you, is an obedient child and doesn't think to talk back to his elders, especially when she knows best how to take care of him. He doesn't disrespect the one who so graciously helps him, even when he doesn't ask for it. Tell me, how is your second daddy treating you? Is he loving you as only a mother can?" And, at Kuendesha's taunting tone, it is now that David roars in anger, as he jumped over Masika and into Kuendesha's face to confront her over what he just heard.
"So that is what this about? You are now siding with a pack of lowly canids; worse, you are now siding with a lion who anyone can see is a danger to each and every creature around him, and you are now the reason my life and the lives of my friends in abject jeopardy. And all because Julia and I told you to back the hell off and give us our space?!" David said, and the fact that his voice carried perhaps made his words stand out a lot more. His arms tensed, and though he raised his clawed paw, he held his wrath at bay just long enough to say what he was going to say next. "When you see my father, tell him that Icarus has indeed honored his last wish." And with that David brought his paw down as hard as he could.
How unfortunate the circumstances would truly turn out to be.