---Eris---
Hearing an ear splitting roar, she silently wished that she wasn't so soft hearted and had hoped for the male's death instead.
Now, she was in quite a predicament. Not only had her people been attacked and their resources raided the past few weeks, she was now at risk of exposing the current location of their tribe.
They had only just found a new place to hide. One where they had clean water and enough land to wait out Claw Kingdom's attack. Yet, now due to her stupidity, they might lose their safe haven.
She didn't dare stop, as fast as her legs could carry her, she made her way back. The tribe needed to know what she had done.
Even if she didn't make it out alive, she had to get them to move themselves to safety.
Why did she make the decision to follow one of the attacking tribe's warriors?
---Roy---
First and foremost, he was a strategist, a patient and resourceful one too. Before his own comfort, he always put the needs of the kingdom at the forefront of his mind.
Roy made his way back to where he had separated from his tribesmen. He wanted to ensure their plan was carried out smoothly before he hunted his prey down.
Watching from a slight distance, he sighed inwardly as the soldiers had seemingly forgotten everything he'd taught them.
Bryant his temporary second in command had not lived up to his expectations. Roy watched as the Margay Tribe (small feline species) outsmarted his tribesmen.
The margays who possed an innate talent for the wood element had raised large walls out of wood and vines at the entrace of their tribe, spanning across from one large tree to another; forming a hexagonal shape to enclose the Tribe's dwellings.
Arrows rained down from the top of the wall, making it impossible for the soldiers of to advance. Roy was appalled by their ineptness. Shifting back into his soft form, he made his way closer.
The soldiers held their shields above their heads to ward off the arrows, and yet again, they were fighting a defensive battle. The soldiers couldn't risk shifting into their beast forms for the fight as they couldn't hold up shields using their paws.
Prior to Roy's arrival, they had been in the exact same position. Waving his hand, he lit the Margay clan's bows on fire with his talent; giving him enough time to formulate a plan in his mind.
Roy let out a long sigh before taking command again. He immediately changed tactics to prevent them from losing ground they's already secured.
He pulled ten of the most reliable males away from the entrance and went with them to a small rise next to a cliff face on the East side of the entrance.
With one of his own arrows, he skillfully aimed and killed a Margay male who was standing on top of the wall.
It was ridiculous that both armies focused most if not all of their combat ready males at the entrance.
Following Roy's example, the ten soldiers he picked, took over the task, quickly eliminating last few Margay males on top of the wall.
In little to no time, the already isolated side of the wall was left unprotected.
Roy was quite impressed at the location of the Margay Tribe. To have built near cliff faces, have ample water source and highly fertile grounds, they were well resourced.
Five of the males Roy had selected shifted into their beast forms, scaling the walls with their sharp claws and cutting the vines that held the wall together.
As a gap appeared in wall, Roy found himself sighing yet again as he had to remind one of the eager men to check his surroundings before charging in.
Roy took the lead, scanning the area before entering the Margay Tribe's territory. They made a thorough search of the huts and caves only to discover that it was empty.
Not one elderly. Not one female. Not one cub. Not even an able bodied male was anywhere near the vicinity.
It became very clear to Roy that their enemy had left their holding by a secret passage. He ordered half of his soldiers to search for such an opening and he vowed to seal it as soon as they located it.
For now, they made their way towards the entrance where his men were bravely, yet barely, holding on.