[@Lord Santa][@BytheSpleen][@Shikaru] The cougar launched forward one more time. Lyra's beam barely missed the beast and hit a bigger boulder behind it. Illumina had better luck with her sword. She missed the neck but the blade dug deep to the side of the hunger driven mountain cougar.

The damage interrupted the beast's leap and it fell tumbling. Driven by an desperation the animal quickly struggled to a standing position. It had failed. It scanned it's surroundings. To it's left there was Lyra. In front of it was Illumina with a drawn blood dripping sword. Steven had made it to block it's way to the boy by now. Behind it there was another boulder approaching as the cougar backed slowly leaving a trail of blood.

[color=gold]The beast's steps began to be weary and unstable. A surge of panic filled it's mind and it took two quick steps launching at Illumina. The still deadly clawed paws aimed at her head.[/color]

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[@Baklava][color=gold]"Säätur?"[/color] The old man returned the water to the open barrel, [color=gold]"there is a boy with a gentle heart"[/color]. He smiled a moment thinking about the timid lad. Then his countenance darkened and became gloomier. Looking at Abel carefully, with slightly sharper attention than before he then said after a moment of considering silence: [color=gold]"How do you know the boy? His mother has been looking for him the whole day."[/color]

The old man put the bridles by his side and turned towards Abel.