Nadeem & Inkavikai

A large, six-wheeled vehicle hummed across the landscape. It splashed slowly through rushing waters, at times seeming to float across particularly deep areas, before rolling up the next bank and cruising through spongy fields without a hitch. A large log that lay in its path was easily traversed, with the tan-sided ATV bouncing simply over the obstacle as if it were no more than a little branch in its way.

Inside this fully-enclosed, semi-aquatic contraption was a half-giddy, half-apprehensive Nadeem. This was his first time piloting the 'Rover' - as his team had affectionately named it - out in the wilds. After years of work and mountains of paperwork, a grant had finally come through to purchase the armored land-crawler. It was a bit of an older model, but it had been outfitted with newer gear, and sported four large windows along its sides, and one in the back for optimal wildlife viewing. Insulated, well-fortified paneling meant that it could handle any weather, as well as the prying jaws and claws of the local wildlife. At least, that's what Nadeem hoped.

The elongated ORV eventually puttered to a smooth stop at the edge of a timberline. Nadeem popped open the hatch on the roof of the Rover and climbed out to setup a satellite tracker. "Okay Inka, here we go. We're south of the Silver Glades pack, and east of the Aspen Grove. No signs of a pack yet, but we know this area has been inhabited before. Lets see what we find, huh?"

Down inside the Rover, Inkavikai quirked her head up at Nadeem and patted her tail against the floor. She was eager to get out and explore, but unlike her untrained counterpart who'd been left back at home, Inka would wait patiently for her owner's commands.

Nemu, Scar & Katara

Nemu was with Scar and Katara patrolling their territory while her sister was out with her cubs and Sarabi hunting. She still has not forgiven the makucha for what they have done however, they have left them alone thus far and so Nemu was calmer about them as of right now. She was walking when her ears flicked and her fur bristled.what is that sound? Its horridShe growled.

Scar looked up and his ears flicked in the direction.we should investigate before Dusquei comes back with the cubsHe said.

Katara agreed and the three of them now moved in the direction of the vehicle.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

"Cats!" Inka barked, spotting the trio making their across the open field towards the Rover. She pressed her muzzle against the thick window and barked once more, a sharp, ringing sound that caught Nadeem's attention up above.

He had just gotten the satellite set up when the hybrid's urgent call went out. The man immediately began to scout around, until he too spotted the three big cats heading directly for him. They were still a ways off, so Nadeem remained poised on top of the Rover, with a pair of binoculars swung up to his eyes.

"How unusual." He murmured with wonder, all while his heart began to pound. He recalled a report of animals - including big cats - attacking two vehicles along a mountain road last year around this time. "What are you?" Nadeem continued to talk to himself as he viewed the three felines, first honing in on the largest, the female that looked like a tiger, but had a few odd characteristics that suggested she carried lion blood as well. And she was massive, for a female - though he currently branded her a male.

The smallest of the group caught his eye next, and had him temporarily scrambling down the hatch to grab his camera. "You're definitely jaguar, but not fully..." Again, there were enough things 'off' about her look, not to mention her large size, then told Nadeem this too was a hybrid, and a rare one at that.

Then there was Scar, a lion completely out of place in the Valley, and yet a sight that didn't surprise him. "And who are you, big fellow? Look at that mane, such a regal boy!"

Nemu

Nemu eyes are noq on the large vehicle as she hears the canine. She begins to pick up pace. "Becareful for boom stick" dhe spoke

Scar picked up his pace as well

Katara too picked up her pace

Nadeem & Inkavikai

The even pace of the three cats suddenly shifted, as if a fire had been lit beneath their tails. They were heading straight for him now, with urgency. Nadeem took his cue and, after snapping a few pictures of the trio, climbed down the hatch and pulled it shut above him. Now safely inside the amphibious vehicle, he clambered towards the window that faced the approaching group and observed.

"They look pretty intense." Inkavikai noted to her partner, who reached out distracted to pat her head. The gray-toned hybrid wasn't looking for pets though. She was staring out the same window, ears forward and body ridged as she too observed Nemu and her posse grow closer.

Nadeem clicked a few more pictures from within the vehicle, all while feeling his heart begin to pound. This might be his chance to tag one of the big cats in the Valley! He would wait and record their behavior first though, and decide which feline might be the best target; if not all three.

Nemu

Nemu signals for katara to go the the right and scar behind while moved to the front she attempted to jump on the hood of the thing

Katara moves around to the other side and scar yhe back

Nadeem & Inkavikai

As Nemu leaped on top of the Rover, Nadeem was struck by their brazen curiosity. Or was it aggression? He wasn't sure, but it did send a shiver down his spine to think that, just a month ago, he could have been in this same position with a meager four-wheeler instead of this armored vessel. He would have been another statistic in the Valley.

Feeling a wet nose against his arm, Nadeem snapped from his thoughts and smiled belatedly down at Inka, giving her a scrub behind her tall ears. "Some big cats out there, huh Inka?" The man breathed in deeply and looked upwards, wishing now that there was a skylight so that he could see what Nemu was up to on the roof. Unfortunately there wasn't, but there also wasn't any way these big cats could chew through the vehicle and reach him. With that in mind, he set about his observation of the trio.

Turning around, he spotted Scar circling around the opposite side of the vehicle, his position clear through one of the large windows that framed the sides of the Rover. Katara likewise was easily visible, and close enough now that Nadeem began to note down some of her more interesting features.

Nemu

Nemu could not feel see or smell any weakness in the thing. She jumped hoping to break it

Katara fur was bristled as she lashed out ar the front tires

Scar attacked the back

Nadeem & Inkavikai

A muffled thud sounded, and Nadeem felt a slight shift in the vehicle when six-hundred and fifty pounds of solid cat leaped upwards and came back down with force. Six sturdy wheels and a healthy shock and suspension system kept the Rover from being harmed though, other than a few scratches her claws might rend against the metal. Those same tires, meant to handle sharp rocks, locus thorns, and all manner of other obstacles, even resisted the claws of Katara's vengeful swing. They left their mark for sure, but it would take a good few hours of serious chewing and clawing to make any dent in these formidable wheels. Similarly, Scar's assault on the back of the vehicle was met with impressive resistance, with little more than some shallow claw marks left in the sturdy metal exterior.

"This isn't just curiosity." Nadeem noted, wiping a bead of sweat from his temple as he watched and listened to the assault, "This is a coordinated attack." He peered from one window to the next, while occasionally looking up as he heard Nemu shuffle about on top. "I wonder where this aggression comes from? And how to stop it?"

Inka listened to the babble of her owner, always keeping an ear attuned for one of the many words that she actually understood, but it seemed that he was not speaking to her right now. Whatever her curious human was talking about, it was beyond her comprehension. All she knew was that he was both excited and frightened, and that meant that she would remain vigilant and ready to throw herself any one of these cats if they somehow made it into the rover.

"You seem to be a group, working together. But just you three, or are there more?" The man continued his outspoken musings, "You'd be perfect for collaring, it'd make things much easier, and safer, for me."

Nemu

She finally lept down when she realized nothing was happening. She paced back and forth.how the hell do we get rid of this?

Katara was circling the car.I don't knowShe said.

Scar had now jumped on the hood of the car.there is a two legger and canine inside it... how are they alive in its belly?he growled.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

The Rover shook slightly when Nemu leaped off of it, and then again when Scar sprang upon the narrow hood. A few more pictures were snapped of the three, giving Nadeem a good reference to go by to identify the trio in the future, although he hardly needed any help identifying Nemu and Katara, with their unique breeding.

"You're a Queen Sheba alright - and that's what I'll call you. Queen." Unsatisfied with the numerical monikers that he used to identify individual animals in his official notes, Nadeem preferred to give them each a more personal name. After scratching Nemu's new name down on his paper, he turned to watch Katara, while also keeping an eye on Scar and his antics on the hood.

The muffled words of the felines might have been utterly lost on Nadeem, but Inkavakai could hear snippets of them through the thick paneling of the vehicle. "This is our thundrebug, and his name is Rover. Your teeth and claws won't hurt him. My human will leave this place soon enough, and he won't harm you. And I won't harm you as long as you don't mess with him."

Nemu

Nemu heard the canine and she snarled at her.you will get him to leave now or I will find a way to kill him and this stupid thunderbug and you if you get in the way. These are my lands and two leggers are far from welcomed hereShe growled.

Scar made to pounce on the windshield. everything breaks eventuallyHe growled.

Katara paced.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

Inkavakai rumbled, and immediately found a dark hand stroking the top of her head, and scratching at the base of her ears. "It's okay, Inka. They can't hurt you in here. Pretty big cats huh? Not quite like the ones at home."

The wolfdog quieted her growling for Nadeem's sake and thumped her tail against the ground, convincing him that all she needed were a few comforting pats. Forcing herself to be a little calmer, she spoke again, without the growls that would alert her human, "He'll only leave when he's ready to. I would sugg-" The Rover shook again, this time as Scar jumped on the windshield. Even Nadeem's eyes went a little wide to see those giant paws, and their accompanying claws, pressing against the glass. Inka swallowed, wondering just how tough that glass really was. "-I would suggest moving away from the Rover. As long as you three are here, he'll sit and watch you all day."

Little did Inka know, Nadeem was waiting for that moment too. Not so that he could leave, but so he could get a shot at tranquilizing the trio. Or at the very least, setting out some camera traps if he failed that.

Nemu

Nemu hissed at the canine.Do not tell me what to do in my terriratory you mangy curShe growled. She gave the rover one exit and that was the direction it had come.

Scar jumped one more time and then jumped off.He got a clear way to go and that is the only way he can gohe growled.

Katara had moed to stand now to block the left side.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

The Rover rocked a final time before settling as Scar hopped off of the impervious hood. Nadeem scrambled from one window to another to get a view of all the cats, noting how they had neatly surrounded the vehicle, leaving only the rear exposed. Had he been in anything other than this hardcore ORV, this would be the moment Nadeem took his cue and left. But feeling confident and secure, the man continued to scribble down notes on the trio of felines, utterly fascinated by their appearance here and their bold behavior to his presence.

Inka held back on her own growls. She watched how her human went from nervous to almost giddy in excitement, bumbling around in the vehicle while scratching those weird designs on his paper. "He'll leave when he's good and ready." She returned, not know what Nadeem had planned, but recognizing his growing confidence in the situation.

Nemu

Nemu glared.Then we shall come on his land and do the sameOF course they would hunt on his land too. See how he likes having us on his territory without permission she said and then sent up a call for the other adults in the vacinity. Given it take about them 15 to 20 minutes to get here probably.

Scar added his own call.

Katara meanwhile was determined to find a weak spot.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

That threat made Inkavikai a little nervous, especially since Nadeem lived on the outskirts of Atroe City, and not in the heart of it where he'd be safer from roving big cats. "Do that, and you'll not only face my fangs but also the boomsticks." It was a partially empty threat, as Nadeem had never held a gun in his life, and had none in his home to defend himself from these felines. But she couldn't let on that Nemu's challenge had hit a nerve.

Utterly oblivious to the threats being passed back and forth, Nadeem had paused to listen to and record the summoning roars of the big cats. From inside the rover, he couldn't hear the distant call of Dusquei, announcing that she and the others were on their way, or know that so many other felines would be arrive over the next many minutes.

The Rover itself, meanwhile, sat quite and idle as Katara tested it for weakness. The amphibious craft was sturdy though, and designed in part with polar bears and arctic exploration in mind. The fangs of Kat might offer some scrapes and dings, but so far she'd find no obvious weak spots in it.

Nemu

Nemu laughed.as if you scare me, you'd be dead in two seconds once you meet my fangs and im not scared of those either. Having an old bullet wound on her leg from rescuing darkia.

Scar laughed.such big words for something that won't last a second in the wildHe said.

Katara kept at it

Nadeem & Inkavikai

Inka's blood began to boil, and her heart began to race. If only there weren't inches of dense metal and glass between her and the cats, that fury would have been replaced by fear. And Inkavikai knew it. So the hybrid took a deep breath. She held it for a moment, considered her next words, and slowly exhaled. Violet-blue eyes danced from one window to the next, mostly focusing on Nemu and Scar, "Listen, I don't want to be here any more than you guys want me here, but I can promise you that my human isn't here to harm your pack. Or take your land. He..." Inka cocked a gray ear, shifting a side-glance at her two-legged companion, "...likes to watch animals."

Nadeem had scuttled to a different side window, looking out as Katara tested a new part of the vehicle. The metal continued to defy her fangs, though she did leave a few decent scratches that would need to be repaired later on. "You're a determined one, aren't you? And a big girl." A frown darkened his expression, the giddy curiosity he'd had moments ago being dampened by a new thought. "That boldness might get you into trouble."

Inkavikai looked over her shoulder as the jaguar-spotted feline continued her assault, and Nadeem murmured more of his human noises. Inka herself frowned, "I concede that you guys would tear me to shreds if I were outside of the Rover, but you have to trust that I can't make Nadeem leave if he doesn't want to. And trust that none of your toughness and strength would do you any good against boomsticks if you came into the humans' territory. Your best bet is to leave us and give Nadeem nothing to look at; he'll get bored and leave." That she couldn't really guarantee, and still didn't know that her human had plans to collar at least one of the big cats.

Nemu

Nemu didn't care for what the human wanted.he is the only animal here. And I will not leave him or this contraption alone till he is well gone off my landShe growled. He will have the force of my pride in aproximately 20 minutes if he doesn't leaveShe growled pacing back and forth.I will never leave a human un checked onmy land he is athreatShe growled. She turned then clearly showing the bullet scar.

Katara kept at it even throwing her body into the vehicle a few times.

Scar now made to stand up on his hind legs placing his front ones on the drivers side door as he made to bite at the top of the vehicle.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

The Rover rocked again, moving subtly with the blows that Katara threw at it, but remained stable enough that it didn't jostle Nadeem off balance as he moved from one viewing point to the other. It continued to defy her efforts, and thwarted Scar's as well, when he reared up to test the top of the metal ORV. Scraps and small nicks were left in the paint, but the feline's teeth would break before the sturdy Rover took any serious damage. As a vehicle meant for arctic exploration and protecting its occupants from roving polar bears, it continued to rebuff the pride's assault.

The attacking cats did give Nadeem plenty to watch though, and he marveled at Scar's size as the lion stretched to his full length to reach the top of the vehicle, and admire the giant paws that were pressed against the thick window. "You look all lion, and an older one at that. Look at those scars." Dark eyes drifted to Nemu then, as the biggest of the three cats turned, and the gray, furless notch of skin on her leg revealed a telling scar. "You've got some too Queen, don't you? Is that why you're so aggressive towards people?"

The thought of so many cats further worried Inka, but seeing no fear from her master - a fellow who was prone to anxiety - the wolfdog managed to retain her cool, "He's not like the human that gave you that wound. He won't harm you; he saved me, in fact. He's saved a number of your kind, even." Inkakikai left out the part where some of those rescued hybrids were now at the EARTH facility, figuring Nemu and her cohorts wouldn't think highly of captivity. "I'm telling you, the more you attack the Rover, the more he's going to sit around and watch you. If you guys just move away from him, into the woods, he can't follow you, and he'll get bored and leave. That's the one place Rover can't go."

Nemu

"I dont care what a slave to these filthy creatures says. Your words fall on deaf ears and he is gonna pay for his intrusion"even if they had to follow him all the way back to his house he would learn of his mistakes.

Katara kept at it.

Scar pressed his paws hard on the glass.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

"It's pointless-" Inkavikai stressed, spinning about to see Katara doing her best to tear away at any exposed piece of the Rover she could find. The vehicle shifted again with Scar's weight, and the hybrid wondered just how tough that glass really was. "I'm trying to warn you, you might have survived one boomstick attack with a human, but it's a different story if you enter their territory..." Her futile effort at dissuading them came to a stop when she realized Nadeem's excitement had turned to anxiety again. She went quite for a moment as she watched the frown deepen on his dark face, and saw the notepad be set down.

Nadeem was indeed worried. The cats weren't letting up in their assault as he thought they would. They kept at it, with no sign of relenting. He half considered driving away, but worried the big cats might chase after him and end up back on the dangerous roadway, or even worse, be lured close to town where they could come into conflict with humans again. This led him to a opening a case behind the front seat and pulling out a long, smooth-barreled dart gun. A few darts were carefully filled and loaded into the weapon.

The muzzle of the slender gun was angled through a side window that he slowly, quietly cracked open, and with careful aim, he fired one of these darts at Katara, who seemed to be the most aggressive. After that he would carefully fill and load two more darts, and aim these at Scar and Nemu...

Katara

She thought she heard something but shrugged it off as she tried desperately to break this thing. She did not hear anything but felt a small pinch on her back haunch and hissed a bit as she stopped to look at what was sticking out and she tried to to grab it. But she started to feel tired and with a final try she lunged at the car but collapsed.

Scar and Nemu reacted the same way before collapsing to the ground knocked out.

Nadeem & Inkavikai

Nadeem waited with ample patience until the trio were out before he cautiously exited to Rover with a bag of equipment. He worked quickly and with well honed skills to collect samples from the big cats, take measurements, and attach small collars around their necks.

Outside with him, Inkavikai circled her human and the three cats, watching for any sign of them beginning to stir. She was also acutely aware that more felines were fast on their way, and her frequent look in their direction keyed Nadeem into that fact as well.

It took only minutes to complete his tasks, after which he gave Nemu, Scar, and Katara a reversal drug before scrambling back into the Rover...

Scar

Scar was the first to wake and he nearly leaped up from it shaky but if the rover was still there he immediately started attacking it.

Katara was next and took a little longer to stand before aiming to attack it as well if ti was still there.

Nemu followed but much slower.

Just as the human was headed back into the vehicle others of pride were rushing to their leaders side.

Nadeem, Inkavikai, & Dusquei

"Nemu!" Dusquei's worried call sounded as a nearby roar to Nadeem's ears. He nearly tripped over his own feet getting back into the Rover, with Inkavikai slipping in just behind him. The door was closed with haste and safely latched, leaving the researcher inside to catch his breath and marvel at the assortment of cats that came thundering through the tall grasses to reach their queen.

Looking nearly identical to her twin, only a hair smaller, Dusquei slid up beside Nemu and offered her support, even as the lead ligeress turned back to the vehicle. "Nemu, what happened, what... what is on your neck!?"

Nadeem only lingered long enough to ensure the cats had recovered from the drugs before he started the engine of the all-terrain vehicle. A few pictures were snapped of the pride before he began to carefully maneuver the Rover, trying to make his way out of the territory without running any of the felines over.

Nemu

She had little choice but to lean on her twin. "I dont know" she looked to the falcon that she had recruited. "Follow that vehicle i want to know where he lives. " the falcon took off to do as instructed. She turned to her pride "this two legger thinks he can get away with what hes done. But he is wrong" she said she noted scar and katara also had things on thier necks

Dusquei

Dusquei lashed her tail uncertainly, feeling unsettled about the deep scent of human that lingered in the area, and her sister's wobbly balance. And those... collars! Did this human really think Nemu and the others were his pets?

"We need to get those off." She suggested, while keeping herself steady next to her twin, and offering that physical support for however long Nemu needed it. Her eyes flashed after the disappearing Rover, and then to the raptor that began to trail it. "Who's that?"

Nemu

Nemu was still very groggy from what ever the human had done. The raptor? Her name is Chalis I recruited her to be our eyesShe said.

Scar was helping Katara.

Dusquei

She watched the raptor disappear into the distance, following after the strange vehicle. It made her feel a little safer knowing that Chalis would be tagging after the humans, and ensuring that truly left the territory. That gave Dusquei time to be beside her sister, and help her as she recovered from whatever it was that the humans had done.

"That's good. Khala was a huge help to us in the Makucha, scouting enemies and targets alike." She purred approvingly, before turning her attention back to the collar and leaning her muzzle in close. Carefully, she tried her teeth against the hard plastic, and instantly recoiled at the intensely bitter taste that met her tongue. Shaking her head and flicking her tongue, Dusquei snorted, "Ugggh, disgusting!"

Nemu

Nemu would find this humans lair and he would pay for his intrusion. He will pay for his intrusionShe growled.

Katara and Scar were sitting now.

Dusquei

"Do you mean for us to go after him?" Dusquei questioned, her face still a little skewed and crinkled by the bitter taste that clung to her taste buds. She flicked her tongue out a few more times, to no avail. The big cat looked away from the retreating form of Chalis and the rumble of the Rover, and focused on the pride. "What's our plan?"

Nemu

She sat down.when Chalis returns we will discuss a plan to show him he messed with the wrong prideSHe said.

Dusquei

Dusquei considered her sister's plan, and couldn't deny that something needed to be done. The humans couldn't be allowed to simply invade their territory and attack them - they had to be stopped. "Sister, do you want me to ask the Makucha for help?" Her suggestion was asked softly, knowing that there was bitter blood between the two groups. But the Makucha were good at what they did, and seeing Dusquei was pining to see her children again.

Nemu

Nemu growled .No I'd rather ask the haunters then them but I will not involve them eitherShe said her tail twitching at the thought. Nemu wasn't stopping Dusquei from going to see her children and Laya had said that Dusquie kids could come visit if they wanted to and Nemu wouldn't stop them either.

Dusquei

The ligress shifted her head down at the rumble of her twin's growl, though she'd half expected such a response. Dusquei couldn't blame her either, for all that the Makucha had done. The big cat was quiet for a beat or two, then spoke again, "Do we wait for nightfall to attack? I understand humans have weak vision in the darkness."

Nemu

Nemu would never stop her sister from visiting her cubs or her cubs from coming here.Night yesShe said