Against the setting sun, as the family continues moving through the forest, Scar continues to lead his family. Seeing the last rays fade, as night descends, Scar begins searching for a suitable place for them to settle down for the night.
Hours later, having traveled for miles, the family is exhausted. Having not found a suitable site to rest they continue onwards. Illuminated only by the moon and stars, making their way through the dark the family comes across a small crystal clear river.
Parched and tired, the family comes to a stop. Taking a moment to catch their breath, they each approach the river warily. Scar alert, approaches the river cautiously. Coming to a stop at the waters edge, he begins to scan his surroundings, wary of any potential threats. Finding none, satisfied, he lowers his guard as he begins to take his first sip. Refreshed,he eagerly begins to quench his thirst.
Following his lead the rest of the family gather beside him. Each taking in a mouthful of cool refreshing water. The family, having satisfied their thirst, begin to settle down in the area around the river. Taking a moment to rest, and regain their strength, before continuing on their journey.
Unbeknownst to the family they have been surrounded. Having stalked them for quite some time, the Reapers prepare to make their move watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike...
Runt, having drank his fill, observes his surroundings, seeking a suitable spot to settle down. Turning his gaze upon Breeze, his eyes light up, he finds a suitable spot next to her. Eager for rest he scurries towards her.
Just when he is about to reach his sister, out of the corner of his eyes, he catches a flash of movement. Jerking his head towards the source he notices a pair of eyes peering at them from the darkness. His heart skips a beat as his muscles tighten.
The Forest falls eerily silent with only the sound of water being heard flowing in the background. Before Runt can let out a bellow, alerting his family to the disturbance, a figure rushes out of the darkness barreling towards him.
The Reapers, having been discovered, make their move. Twelve individuals rush at the family from all sides. Startled and caught off guard the family rush to face their attackers.
Runt, being the only one who was slightly prepared stands his ground. As the Reaper approaches he faces his attacker head on and lunges forward aiming to take a bite out of its neck. The Reaper, at the last second, shifts its body narrowly avoiding the blow before taking a quick bite of its own out of Runts leg. Blood has been drawn...
Grunting in pain, Runt shifts his wounded leg away from the Reaper. Turning his body to face this would be predator. The beast turns around, blood dripping from its maw. The Reaper, with a glint of intelligence in its eye, lets out a loud screech drawing Runts attention.
Distracted Runt doesn't see the second Reaper rushing at him from behind. As it pounces onto his back it begins to dig into Runt with its scythes and claws latching its teeth into his neck.
Roaring in pain he tries to dislodge it to no avail, as the original Reaper charges towards him ready to launch its next attack! Runt's eyes widen in fear as it becomes clear he is unable to stop it...
Just before the original Reaper can pounce, Breeze, crying out in anger sidelines it. With its ribs shattered, it crashes into the dirt unmoving...
Runt now free to focus on the Reaper on his back barrels towards a nearby tree and smashes the beast against its trunk. Winded it opens its maw, in shock and pain, loosening its grip on Runts back before falling to the ground.
Not wasting the opportunity, Runt opens his beak, and crunches down on its neck and breaks its spine. With the life fading from from its eyes, the Reaper falls motionless onto the ground..
Runt and Breeze, having ended the immediate threat to their lives, race to rejoin the rest of the family who are currently fighting for their lives!
While Runt and Breeze were occupied, the rest of the Reapers hadn't sat idly by. They had launched attacks on each member of the family.
Trying to separate them from one another, five Reapers had surrounded Brook, Ember and Jade, backing the girls towards the river. Cornered, the sister's flank their mother each warding off a reaper. Jade, remaining calm, lashes at the closest reaper with her tail.
Catching the Reaper across its snout and driving it into the dirt another one lunges forward and snaps its jaws toward Jade's neck. Seeing this Brook, enraged, charges at it while bashing her skull into its side driving it away.
Ember, with a crazed look in her eyes, snaps her beak fiercely biting and tearing aiming to cause as much damage as she can to the other three Reapers trying to exploit any hole in the girls defense.
While the girls fight for their lives the leader of the Reapers and two members of his pack had Scar trapped nipping and clawing at his sides tearing into his flanks trying to weaken the veteran fighter and keep him from coming to his family's aid.
The last two were currently occupied with Bighead, running circles around him, they taunted him with their sharp cries. Working together to drain his stamina, one would attack as the other would withdraw, a common but very effective tactic.
Enraged he stubbornly charges at them only to miss each time at the very last second. With blood dripping down all across his body and his breath becoming ragged, Bighead is losing ground.
Seeing their brother's dire situation Runt and Breeze move swiftly to help him fend of his attackers. Rushing forward Runt tackles a Reaper, preparing to pounce, knocking it to the ground. While Breeze sidesweeps the other with her tail breaking their tempo and providing some much needed relief.
Bighead, seeing his siblings come to his aid, catches his breath while Runt and Breeze flank him on both sides detering the two Reapers from making any more sneak attacks.
Working together in unison the three siblings go on the offensive! Runt charges at the Reaper, who is currently struggling to stand aiming to knock it back over. Seeing this and wary the reaper dives away narrowly avoiding his attack.
While Breeze, snapping her beak, catches the other Reaper's arm as it lunges at her and clamps down. Unable to withstand the sudden force it's bones break, causing it to let out a wail as it claws and bites at her face in a desperate attempt to escape from her grasp!
Bighead, seeing Runt has his situation under control, moves to help his sister. Coming behind the Reaper he opens his mouth and snaps his beak down on its spine ending the creatures life in an instant.
The Reaper, seeing it's partner's lifeless body, is overcome with fear. Wailing it turns tail fleeing back into the forest. Having settled their fight the siblings turn their attention to the rest of the pack.
The leader hearing the terrified cries of one of its own, turns it attention away from Scar. Upon seeing the bodies of its pack members spread across the ground and the siblings coming over, understanding flickers across his eyes. He is forced to make a bitter decision. With a loud cry, the rest of the pack cease their attack and immediately scatter. The Reaper's hunt had failed...