One of us is going down.

-Headstrong (Trapt)

Ezekiel turned to behold the intruders. They were closing in on his location fast. Following his scent easily which told him that they were hunters. There were only three of them. They moved along the expanse of the field jogging toward him with an easy fluidity that spoke volumes.

Their bodies though in motion seemed slow and relaxed, but their eyes and the grace with which they moved, slow or not told him that he was dealing with three very strong, very balanced Shifter males.

Ezekiel could see the three males scenting the air and that told him one thing. The three shifters were well aware his presence and that he was alone. He knew that by now the intruders were well aware that he was also a shifter but they continued to close the distance to him. Which made him think that they were either looking for a fight or a lone target.

Ezekiel also knew that he only had seconds until they were close enough to attack him and he was contemplating shifting at that moment and rushing the men, but he was surprised when the three males suddenly stopped.

A few yards was all that separated Ezekiel from the intruders, but in the Shifters world those few yards represented respect...temporary peace.

A moment passed as all four Shifters observed each other, sizing up each other. Then two of the males that were flaking the middle male on his left and right fell back. The middle man continued forward until he stood only inches away.

Now it was the lone male and Ezekiel. Instantly it was apparent that this was some kind of leader. The air about the man oozed with authority and dominance.

Something in Ezekiel hissed, but Ezekiel tamped down on his Shifter energy. He didn’t want to start a fight being overly aggressive. Instead he did a quick score on the intruders face and body.

The Shifter male was of middle age, maybe even the same age as Ezekiel himself, but most Shifters aged slowly. So of course age was always a shaky thing to guess. The Male Shifter was wide of chest, muscles and definition made up all of him. He was slim of waist, but he held himself the way that a man did when they were familiar with battle. The same way that Ezekiel was. But here the similarities ended. This males hair was much far shorter then Ezekiel’s. And where Ezekiel’s hair was golden yellow the Male before him had dull blackish brown strands that didn’t even brush his ears.

The intruder was dressed very simply, in lose jeans, a white Tee, and sunglasses that covered his eyes from the warm sun. Preventing Ezekiel from seeing their color or shape, but he had a feeling that the males eyes would be black like the night.

Eyes that would be black and as cold as ice and most likely in mid-Shift.

Ezekiel took his time, openly analyzing the male, as the male sized him up in return. Ezekiel could tell from the tilt of the mans mouth and his relaxed stance that he was a cocky so and so. Maybe even with good reason to be cocky.

Because Ezekiel could see that the male was a fighter. His cut up knuckles were easy enough to spot as were the nicks and cuts that braided up and down his exposed arms. Claw marks. Lots and lots of claw marks. They spoke of battle and pain and most of all they spoke of victory. They also spoke to age.

Even though the man that approached him looked to be in his early thirties.....he well could have been decades old.

And all through this small moment of peace between him and the intruder; Ezekiel got the oddest feeling that the Shifters true attention wasn’t really on him, but behind him. On Brandon. Already on guard Ezekiel finally dropped the silence and growled at the intruder in warning.

“Who are you outsider?” He barked taking a step forward keeping his claws at his sides. Not threatening....yet. “By what right do you trespass on my Peoples land?” he asked

The male before him blinked slowly a soft smile playing at the corners of his mouth, before replying. “I am Jacob. Jacob of the Lion Clan. I enter these lands because the Laws of our people permit me.” Jacob drawled in answer almost as though he were holding back a yawn. Much like a lion basking in the soothing sunlight. Uncaring of the flies that buzzed about its large head...and the way that Jacob looked at him....?

Ezekiel got the feeling that the Shifter categorized him as nothing but a bug as well.

Jacob of the Lions huh? What’s he doing here? What’s a lion doing so far from home?

Ezekiel thought to himself.

The Lions are a far away Clan....What could possibly bring this stranger all the way out here to the middle of the world?

Suddenly Jacob took another step closer and something in Ezekiel tried to tear him apart. The reaction was so sudden that Ezekiel had to close his eyes for a second and pull the beast back down.

Stay calm....for all I know they are simply looking for some help...or food or shelter. They could be travelers or emissaries. I need to keep tensions down. And I’ve going to have to tread lightly here. Starting a fight with these Lions could cause issues for the rest of my Clan....

But these more sensible thoughts were fleeting as he sensed the man’s attention narrowing in on Brandon behind him. As he sensed the Lions muscles and body growing more and more ridged and poised. Something felt wrong here. Something felt really wrong...and something about Jacob....made him the leopard inside of Ezekiel....boil.

Ezekiel growled aggressively to recapture the Lions wandering gaze and took a step in his direction. “Which Law are you speaking of? The only Law that permits another Shifter to trespass as you have, would be the Laws pertaining to Theft. And we of the Leopards have not stolen from any Clan nor harmed any Clan in any way. We have done nothing to warrant this kind of intrusion into our home! So you need to leave! Now!”

With a hostile forward shift of his body Jacob dropped any semblance of cool, and growled right back.

“You know of what I speak!” he accused heavily. “You have stolen from a Clan allied with my own.” The lion accused openly. “You have taken their property and you will return it NOW! That mortal, the one laying just there behind you. He belongs to them!”

Shock...and surprise took his words. These men were here for Brandon? Why? What Clan?

And yet the reasons didn’t matter so much just then as much as the fact that Ezekiel wasn’t going to give them what they came for. Refusing to glance back and take his eyes off of the Lion, Ezekiel growled at his words.

“I will not let my people be unjustly accused!” Ezekiel told Jacob. “I have stolen nothing. My Clan certainly hasn’t stolen anything...” Then with a small snarl Ezekiel raised his head. “And this mortal is under my protection.”

“Your protection? “Jacob snarled suddenly. Then something seemed to occur to him. Something that made him laugh. “You....” he began and smiled nastily “You’re a Guardian aren’t you. Ha ha ha! This is Wonderful! At least things just got more interesting!”

Not liking or understanding Jacobs’s candor, Ezekiel felt his inner Leopard flop violently against his control, but he covered the spasm by looking down and smiling....though he felt it more as a baring of his teeth.

“I have given my answer to you allegations. And you are not welcome here Lion” He said softly looking back up, he felt his eyes sharpen into slits, he felt them glow with unholy aggression.

“This mortal stays. So just walk away. Walk away right now. Leave before I put you out myself!”

Seemingly happy about the threat that hung between them, the Lion smirked at him and simply said. “No.” Jacob continued. “I think you should walk away Leopard. You have no idea what’s going on here.” With that Jacob tried to walk past him. “I have business.....personal business with that mortal sitting behind and you have no right to interfere! That mortal is coming with me.”

“What do you think you’re doing!? Leave!” Ezekiel hissed and shoved him back.

Jacob snarled and slapped his arm out of the way. He rushed into Ezekiel’s space, shoving him back with his right hand, and dropping all facades of peace or respect. Ezekiel hissed as Jacob growled back. The situation was quickly going past the point of no return.

“Are you sure you want to do this, Guardian?” He spoke softly as he let his fangs flash behind his sneer. “Because this is only between me and that mortal. Welcome here or not.....You will not stop me boy....” Jacob challenged. “So get the hell out of my way, and run, before I make you regret your choices.”

In his cocky state of mind Jacob had forgotten himself and had come within inches of Ezekiel and Ezekiel didn’t hesitate. He took Jacobs challenge at face value. Only a stupid or dangerous man would goad a Shifter trained enough to hold the title of Guardian so when Ezekiel hit him, he hit him hard.

Ezekiel snatched up Jacobs right wrists, and retched it savagely counterclockwise and up. The lion growled as he stumbled back to lessen the severe pain that the act must have put on his elbow.

Then Ezekiel, steeped close and with a quick intake of air, he slammed his forehead strait into Jacobs nose. A swift jab of pain radiated out as Ezekiel’s head connected with soft tissues, then as Jacob stumbled back once again, Ezekiel took another step forward and slammed his other hand down onto Jacobs shoulders and quicker then he could retaliate Ezekiel had slammed his leg up into his groin.

On a breathless snarl of outrage Jacob fell to his knees, his body going into full Shift in seconds. A roar of agony shifting into the roaring bellow of a lion as flesh and skin....melted together, ears and eyes moved to new spots and changed shape and color.

Distantly Ezekiel sensed the other Shifters coming at him. Their legs eating ground and the energy in the air expanding and contracting as they too began to Shift into lions.

Wasting no time and without slowing down, Ezekiel slammed his leg into the side of the half Jacob, half lion still kneeling on the ground before him. He didn’t watch Jacob fall to the side or care to, Ezekiel just kept the momentum going as he turned, scooped Brandon from the ground and ran for the woods.