A little friendship is all you need (Hyper and Clary)

[Ruby_Fehu]

Iris nodded numbly and continued to follow Sola until they eventually reached the cave and she fell to the ground and fell asleep almost instantly.

---

Ruby began to stir a little as she felt someone's gaze on her and eventually she opened her eyes and blinked sleepily. She peered at Xoren momentarily. "Is it morning already?" She asked, her voice muffled as she yawned. "Do you want me to go hunting for something for breakfast?" She continued. Her fur was a mess she realised and sheepishly the hybrid began to groom herself and flatten the floor, "I must have been tossing and turning last night." She commented.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: Happy second page =D)

Sola lied between Iris and the mouth of the cave, watching the sun peek over the horizon. She was determined not to sleep. Her heart felt strongly, a feeling she hadn't felt in far too long. It was the feeling of genuine care. She looked back at the sleeping cub, determined to protect Iris with her life, if need be.

---

Xoren looked to the sun that had just begun its trek around the sky, bathing in the new-found warmth. He hadn't noticed earlier, but his stomach was empty from the huge amount of traveling Ruby and he had done the previous day. "We should stick together," he told her, "We should look for food to the East so we can keep moving -- kill two birds with one stone right?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

( Indeed! Hehe)

Ruby pondered Xoren's offer for a moment before nodding. "East it is." She said, laughing a little. With that the young hybrid took the lead before rearing off to the left when she scented some antelope, she turned to Xoren and gestured for him to join her with her tail, "Shall we hunt?" She asked with a grin.

[Hypercube]

"We shall!" Xoren replied with a smile on his face. Xoren was the first to set out, going in a long path around the antelope in order to leave some room for Ruby to intercept it if it decided to run off. looking to her hiding spot in the grass, Xoren readied sat back on his legs, preparing to pounce. As the antelope moved closer, he rushed from the cover of the foliage, chasing the prey directly into Ruby's sights.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby dived and startled the creature so that it reared up; she dived under it's torso and snapped at it's hidn leg causign it to cry out in pain before she pulled and with a sickening crack the antelope fell to the ground in a heap, his hooves going like mad as it tried to kick Ruby who managed to avoid each hit until it landed a blow on her side, she inhaled sharply and bit at the paw that kicked out so it fell onto the grass. Growling she bit at it's neck and it let out a pained cry which turned into a gurgle; dark red blood staining it's pale fur. Ruby stepped back panting and looked up at Xoren, her chest rising and falling steadily.

[Hypercube]

Xoren was astounded; he was completely unaware of the prowess this cat had in combat and hunting. "That was... impressive." he said, still amazed by the shear power Ruby possessed. Snapping out of his state, Xoren looked back to the East, were he hoped to help Ruby find her sister. As a steady wind began to blow from the south, Xoren looked back to the fresh food they had just gained, "We should eat quickly; we as much time to look as-" Before he could finish his sentence, he heard a bellowing roar from the East, accompanied with a childish cry, riddled with fear. Before Ruby had the chance to react, Xoren began to speed towards the apparent source of the cry, a small cave in the nearby mountains, hoping to help whoever was in trouble before it was too late.

---

Sola awoke as the sun shined directly in her eyes. She immediately stood up, angry at her self for letting her guard down, and looked to Iris, who continued to sleep soundly. We're going to need to move soon, she thought to herself, they must still be looking for me at this point. A quick wind blew through the mouth of the cave, prompting her to look back to the entrance, the sun's rays now blocked from her vision.

Sola's heart stopped when she saw what stood before her; they had found them. Darnuka, ready to attack, let out a bellowing roar, that was only reciprocated with a loud cry from Sola's vocal chords, making the fear inside of her as obvious as blood on an antelope's pelt.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Iris woke at the cry and then screeched in fear before backing into the back of the cave, cowering greatly; "Sola help me!" Iris begged as Luna appeared and started prowling towards the cub her teeth bared in a wicked smile. Iris fell against something cold and she realised that she'd been cornered. She closed her eyes and started to sob in fear; waiting for the blow that would end her short lived life.

---

Ruby heard the screams and her ears perked up, the childlike scream; she recognised that scream. Before she could stop herself a single word passed her lips. "Iris!" Ruby yelled in fear. She raced after Xoren, adrenaline and her cheetah blood helping her to run so quickly until she eventually caught up to Xoren. "That was Iris, Xoren!" She cried in fear, eventually she burst into sight of the cave and she pushed herself forward a little more and barged towards the cave, praying Xoren would be nearby so the pair could fight together. "Iris!" Ruby yelled when she saw her sister, pressed against the wall.

[Hypercube]

Sola tumbled along the ground, fighting desperately to push Pyrex from on top of her so she could protect Iris. From her pinned position, she heard Iris's shy voice call out for help, but there all of her fighting was doing nothing to get her any closer to Iris.

---

Xoren raced to the cave, arriving just as Ruby had witnessed her sister backed up against a corner. He quickly assessed the situation and saw both Iris and the leopard that walked towards her as well another young lioness, pinned down by a cheetah who was barely maintaining her. Knowing Ruby could fend against the shadow of a leopard in the back of the cave, he focused on giving aid to the unknown feline. Xoren pounced on the cheetah, pushing him onto the stone cold ground with a loud thud. His eyes widened, it was clear he was not ready for a fight against more than one enemy. As he ran from the fray, Xoren looked to the lioness and paused; there was something about her that seemed... familiar to him.

---

Sola and this strange being stared deeply into each other's eyes, sharing an unspoken connection that neither of them seemed to understand. "Look out!" Sola cried as she watched Darnuka pounce upon the hybrid who had just saved her, tumbling along the floor of the cave, growling and clawing at each other. As she moved to aid the somewhat familiar cat, she was blind-sided by Pyrex, who had been hiding in the shadows waiting to attack her until she was alone.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Her instincts kicked in and Ruby lunged at Luna, the two cats fought together, their teeth snapping and fighting, saliva flicking everywhere. Ruby swerved as Luna attacked before pouncing on her back and pulling her down to the ground before swiping at her with a paw, hitting the rival against the cheek with such force that she was knocked backwards and hit the wall of the cave, slouching down unconscious. Ruby was about to go to Iris when she saw both Xoren and the other cat fighting two others - Xoren was seemingly coping on his own but the smaller more delicate creature wasn't, with that Ruby made her mind up and raced over to Sola and headbutted the oncoming male, knocking him to the side slightly and momentarily shocking him. "Help Xoren." Ruby ordered as she and Pyrex began circling each other and then at the same time both leapt towards each other, claws unsheathed and teeth bared.




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Iris opened her eyes when she heard a cry and looked around in time to see Ruby knock the female out. "Big sis!" Iris exclaimed, she was about to hug her when she saw Sola in trouble, "Help Sola! Please she helped me!" Iris said and she watched as Ruby raced over to her new friend. She looked at Luna before fleeing to the opposite corner and climbing up onto higher, safer ground and looking down at the fight from the safety of her perch.

[Hypercube]

Xoren and Darnuka clawed furiously, merely scratching each other due to both of there keen reflexes. Running and jumping around the cave, they fought as two whirlwinds, attempting to put one another out with their massive winds. Xoren, stepping on a loose section of rock, slid backwards, allowing Darnnuka to land a massive slash across his exposed underbelly. As blood spurted from the shallow wound, Darnuka did not waste a second in pinning the now injured lion to the ground, his sharp claws readying for a fatal strike on his victim's throat. Despite fighting back with all of his might, Xoren could not do anything against a beast as strong as Darnuka.

---

Sola, listening to the red-haired hybrid, turned on her heal to see Xoren pinned to the floor of the cave, a blood spot inches from where he now laid. Acting quickly, she pounced on the larger lion, doing nothing but shifting his balance. Without hesitation, she allowed her razor-sharp teeth to dig deep into Darnuka's back, forcing iron-tasting blood to spew into her mouth and onto her bright mane. Darnuka roared in pain, throwing the young lioness from her perch upon his back, sending her cascading into the wall beside them with a crash.

---

Xoren, now given the upper hand, pushed with all of his strength, forcing his attacker onto his back. While still in obvious pain from the bite, Darnuka did not flinch for a second, and immediately recovered from his fall. He released a gruesome battle cry, shaking the entire cave with it's audacity. Xoren was aware that this battle could not be won by strength, that this was a battle of brain versus brawn. Carefully watching the now charging lion's path, he planned his strategy, flexing his legs in preparation for a counter against the raging bull.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby looked up at Xoren and the stranger, "Try to distract him." She yelled, her voice bouncing of the walls, sure enough whilst he ran towards Xoren, Darnuka looked around. But in shouting that Ruby had lost sight of Pyrex and he dived forward, knocking her to the ground and winding her. She winced and groaned before trying and failing to stand, now she was lay looking at Pyrex who was looming over her and laughing wickedly.

[Hypercube]

Standing his ground, Xoren allowed the huge lion to barrel towards him, Darnuka's eyes ablaze with furious rage. Mere seconds before their bodies made contact, Xoren quickly shifted to his right, exposing the small stone step he was pinned to earlier. As he did this, a Ruby's voice echoed from the cave walls, bouncing and amplifying in all ways. Surprised, Darnuka's head turned, taking his vision from the incomming obstacle. With all of his momentum, Darnuka's head met with the hard stone, releasing a thunderous smash. Xoren turned to the place of impact, looking now to the ubconcious lump of a lion that laid there.

---

Sola, badly shaken from the throw, stood up, swaying on her legs. Her vision was blurry, but she managed to make out the shapes of two bodies; one pinning the other to the ground. She stepped back to regain her nearly lost balance, and attempted to make sense of the information her brain had given her. From the bottom of the pair of beings she saw an underbelly colored red, just as Iris's. Sola ran towards the duo, correcting her path and barely maintaining her balance as she went. As she approached a close enough distance, she sprang, catching the back end of the upper of the two, knocking the creature on its side.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby glanced up as Pyrex was knocked from her before standing up and starting to help Sola by biting at the lion - he reflexes a little slow.

After a fair bit of swerving and growling and biting, Ruby stood in front of Sola in a protective stance before lunging at the enemy and knocking him to the ground, as she kicked out though her hind paws hit a wall sending stones from the ceiling, when one whistled towards them, Ruby yelped and jumped back as it grazed her side and hit Pyrex knocking him out cold.

Panting Ruby stepped back and looked between Sola and Xoren until a small ball of fur raced towards her and dived at her, "Iris!" Ruby exhaled happily, hugging her sister close and licking her over and over. "I am so, SO sorry. I'm glad this young female found you or who knows what." Ruby gushed, clutching Iris with her paws whilst the small cub buried her head in her sister's neck.

[Hypercube]

Xoren looked past the rejoicing sisters and to the young lioness that stood past them, slowly regaining her balance and senses. Looking to her, Xoren could not help but feel as if they have known each other since the beginning of time. He and Sola observed each other, coming to the same conclusion simultaneously as they saw the fur that extended from their lifted tails. Sola was the first to move, running into Xoren's open arms as they both began to cry as their pelts touched for what felt like the first time. "Sola..." Xoren choked out "I never thought i would see you again..." The reunited father and daughter clung to each other, never wishing to let go, allowing their crystal tears to mix and fall to the ground.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby looked up from Iris as the father and daughter reunited and she smiled before picking Iris up and swinging her onto her back. "Come on kiddo, let's start walking somewhere new and safe." She smiled; she looked to Xoren and was about to say something before she decided against it. She didn't want to leave him but she assumed he'd want to be alone with Sola.

[Hypercube]

"Wait..." Xoren managed to utter as he felt Ruby begin to leave. Looking up to her, his amber eyes looking into the bright suns that had begun this journey, he whispered "thank you," as a stray tear rolled down his cheek.

[Ruby_Fehu]

(OOC: finally announcing Ruby's big secret hehe)


Ruby smiled at the male and nodded, "Anytime. Thank you to you too though-" She broke off and looked to Sola, "Both of you." She gave a sad smile and watched as Iris ran off to the outside of the cave, "You helped me find my daughter." Ruby smiled.

She knew she looked younger than most but she was older, old enough to be a first time mother.

------

Iris came running back inside, "Let's go Ruby! Let's go." The small cub looked up at Xoren and Sola, "Come with us!" She said with a grin.

[Hypercube]

(OOC: That's an awesome secret to reveal =D)

Xoren and Sola looked up, their eyes still wet from the heartfelt reunion. "It would be our pleasure Iris" Sola said with a smile, "That is if you would allow us" Xoren interrupted, the same smile stretched across his face.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby grinned and nodded. "The more the merrier. We better move quickly though, I don't want to attract any more attention to where we are." She smiled and picked Iris up again and swung her onto her back where the small cub snuggled into her fur and rested her head on top of Ruby's. "Shall we travel North?" Ruby asked the two with a grin. "I'm sure we'll be able to find a place where we can all settle down soon. Start our own little Pride, let rogue's who need it join us." The older hybrid giggled whilst Iris began purring contently.

[Hypercube]

Xoren and Sola, now side by side, walked to meet Ruby and Iris at the mouth of the cave. Xoren looked to the sun that warmed their fur and spoke to Ruby in a soft voice "That sounds perfect." The father and daughter, now seperated but still remaining together, tan down the side of the mountain and looked back up to the mother and daughter that stood atop the incline Sola shouting "you slowpokes coming?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby smiled, "Hold on tight Iris." She grinned before racing down the side of the mountain and soon caught up with them; hurtling through them easily Ruby stopped and turned to them with a grin whilst Iris squealed in delight, "You were saying." She replied playfully.

Iris clambered off Ruby's back and trotted to Sola, growling playfully she carefully sunk her small teeth into Sola's tail and tried to climb up onto her back until Ruby picked her up by the scruff and balanced her on Sola's back carefully. "Are you okay if she does that?" Ruby asked Sola.

[Hypercube]

Sola looked to her now occupied back and let out a small chuckle "of course!" Xoren looked to his daughter, overjoyed that she grew just as he wished her to; bright, fun, and most of all, compassionate and caring. As Sola got used to the new weight on her back, Xoren looked to Ruby and couldn't stop smiling. His quest was finally over, and it would have never been possible if that cat had not found him in that secluded area. "We should start moving," he said, looking past the cave and to the rolling plains in the distance, "it would be wise to get as far away from these rogues as possible before they wake up."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded her agreement to Xoren and started ahead of them carefully, "We need to get as far as we can before nightfall so that they cannot follow our scent or else it would be quite dangerous." She glanced around the area. "Which way should we go though, we came from the East, Sola and Iris came from the West, so either North or South." She said thoughtfully, looking behind her and ahead of her.


Iris sat pawing at Sola's ear, giggling in evident amusement before starting to nibble at her ear, mouthing on it softly.

[Hypercube]

Sola responded immediately, recalling her travels to the North. "We should head North," she said as the cub nibbled her ear, "there are a lot of hybrids in that territory and tons of places we could set up permanently." Xoren looked to his daughter "I know that you think the rogues will follow us back the way they came from, but don't worry," Sola answered without the need to hear her father's question, "the others and I were on our way South to escape another group that we managed to anger pretty thoroughly."

Xoren's face immediately showed concern, "if there's an entourage of rogues looking for blood, it wouldn't be wise to give them the golden opportunity to do so," he said father-like, "I can't let you get hurt." "Relax dad," Sola reciprocated with a teenage smile, "I can handle myself just fine." Knowing his daughter was right, Xoren dropped the subject, looking to Ruby for a final decision.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby smirked at the father, daughter duo. "Looks like we're heading North." She said finally before starting to pad off her tail sweeping side to side. "How many days travelling do you think it'll take?" She asked Sola. She then turned to Xoren and a small smile passed her lips before she looked back to her daughter and new found friend. "By the way." She said in a low voice to Xoren, "Iris doesn't know I'm her mother, so be careful what you say." She knew it was random but Iris was looking at her so intently she felt she had to give a small warning, "I'll explain why eventually." She contined; trusting the male.

[Hypercube]

"It depends on how far we want to go," Sola told Ruby, There is a very pretty oasis with tons of others about three day's worth from here." Listening to his daughter while also lending his ear to his friend, Xoren walked along side of Ruby, speaking under his breath, "I will not say anything about it if that's what you wish." He looked back to Iris, taken back by the similarity she shared with her mother, and scoured his mind attempting to figure out why Ruby kept her relationship to Iris a secret.

Sola, with the playful cub on her back, ran and jumped around the traveling group, being sure to keep Iris steady on her back while still providing an exciting ride for the young hybrid. She had a strange feeling in her chest though, something that had never been present before. After a while, she recognized the feeling; it was a sense of belonging, a sense of being part of not just a group, but a family.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby nodded gratefully at Xoren before turning to Sola, "I'm sure we can manage three days travel, if there's no caves nearby we can take shelter in the trees and just take it in turns to keep watch." She said thoughtfully before starting to laugh contently as Sola jumped around with Iris who kept squealing in delight. She waited until the two younger hybrids were out of earshot before sending her muzzle closer to Xoren.

"I was young when I fell pregnant with Iris my mate left me, refusing to have anything to do with Iris or myself. It would be frowned upon by others if they knew I was a single mother-" She rolled her eyes. "My parents took control of the situation, said they would help me raise Iris and tell others that she is their daughter. Until she was old enough to understand. I can't tell Iris because she'll ask questions. Questions which I won't be able to answer until she's a lot older." Ruby explained before she fell silent when Sola and Iris came near to the duo again.

[Hypercube]

Xoren wished desperately that he could respond to the new information, but with Iris swiftly approaching, he knew it would not be possible. Sola, now approaching the two older hybrids, was interested in what Ruby had just confided to her father. Her ears perked up, attempting to hear whatever she could regarding the information that they just exchanged. Xoren, aware that his daughter would be attempting to listen in, spoke loudly, while still remaining soft spoken enough to make it seem as if he was attempting to be secretive. "I'm sure we can fight them off if they do decide to attack her," he told Ruby, glancing at her to continue the new conversation.

Sola, while sure this was of valid concerned, was not at all convinced that that was what they were originally talking about. As she reached the middle of the two, she looked to both of their faces, attempting to decode somethings from their body language. Unable to determine anything, she looked to Ruby and inquired, "so how did you two end up teaming up?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby rolled her eyes good naturedly, a small smile playing around her lips as Sola kept trying to eavesdrop. "Of course we'll be able to, especially if we work together in a team." She replied to Xoren when he changed the subject to avoid Iris or Sola overhearing their discussion. She dipped her head in a slight nod of thanks as she spoke, small enough that only Xoren who was paying full attention to her would notice. She was about to continue speak when Sola popped up between them, asking how they had teamed up.

Ruby chuckled a little before replying to the younger hybrid, "I stumbled across your father when I was looking for Iris; I'd been running and been separated from her when I finally managed to stop for a rest where your father had been taking cover. I didn't trust him at first but eventually I managed to trust him and we both agreed to look for you and Iris together. We'd only been travelling for about a day before we did finally find you." She looked at Sola and then looked away, her face a mask of calm as she spoke.

[Hypercube]

Xoren faced his daughter, eager to know as much as possible about the time they spent apart. "Sola, I would be interested in knowing what you have done since we were separated all those years ago." Knowing her father would not approve of the lifestyle she was forced to follow, she responded with the convincing lying skills of her father. "Well I've been jumping between groups just trying to find a place of belonging," her head dropped down a bit, overcome by the memories of solitude, "but that's not important. What is important is that now we're all together; one happy family."

Xoren's face twisted in a surprised shock, "Well, it's... um..." he stammered, attempting to hide his true feelings, "Ruby and I aren't like 'that' Sola. We're just friends headed towards a common goal." Xoren looked to the hybrid that walked beside him, watching her expression intently, secretly hoping that her feelings were just as his.