Tiger was panting for breath as he faced down the remaining four. He had put in quite a bit of work onto them, and they were hesitant to come and assail Tiger. Tiger was grinning wide, ready and eager to fight. He didn’t have the senses to notice Tak arriving, so he was still facing the other four before he then noticed Dragon was in trouble. He glanced over to see him keel over, and then the darting spear guy coming over to attack him. He had moved to try and protect Dragon, though had been stopped by two of the others he was facing as they stepped around him. The other two remained back to rest up for the moment.

‘Damn it…’ He heard the clash of metal and his heart skipped a beat. He saw Tak had arrived. His heart pounded wildly as he grew colder. ‘Just one second…’ The words haunted him. He winced at the thought. Just one more second and Dragon would have been severely hurt, or worse.

Their leader, the strongest of the six, held his spear tightly before he spoke. “Sister.”

Tak didn’t reply, instead she pushed the spear upwards so it no longer threatened Dragon, and then planted hers into the ground. The large man loomed over her for some time. He could see the fight within their eyes.

Wolf had reappeared on the scene, fresh wounds littering his body. Parts of his body were still black and red from when he released his seal passed the third gate for the moment. Tiger exchanged a look with him.

Wolf then dropped his form, returning back to normal as they waited for the outcome, his breath heavy.

The man then turned. “Very well.” He said as the other four stepped back. Their leader picked up the fallen form of their comrade and tossed them over his shoulder. “I will overlook this matter.” The man said as he left them. The other four followed him, though a couple clicked their tongue and eyed Tiger. Tiger bared his teeth at them almost as if he was growling.

Tiger stumbled towards Dragon who had fallen unconscious. He dropped to his knees beside him and then placed both hands onto his fallen comrade’s chest. He started to focus in on his ki, honing it for a moment before then pouring it into Dragon. His body became hot as he poured in his ki. It drained out of him slowly, he didn’t need to jump start Dragon.

He didn’t know how long he was pouring his ki when he was pulled out of it by Wolf, who had placed a hand on his shoulder. Tiger pulled back from Dragon, who now had some more colour to him. He glanced at Tak, whose expression hadn’t shifted, though her eyes were filled with worry. Tiger lay back against the tree and then he sighed. He closed his eyes and blackness took him.

Tiger awoke in the dead of night, nearly jumping up. He looked around the camp to see not much had changed. Dragon was laying under the shade of a brush with a pelt drawn over him. Wolf was up, looking out for any danger. There was no sign of Tak. Tiger sat up, shuddering some what.

“Did you sleep well?” Wolf asked.

Tiger yawned and straightened up against the tree. “Like a baby.” He cracked his back as he stretched it out.

“That bad?”

Tiger nodded and then crossed his arms. “I’ll take watch.” He returned in a whisper.

Wolf didn’t protest, but did throw him a look. It was an interesting thing for Tiger to state.

Wolf stepped closer and then sat opposite Tiger, leaning back against a tree. “I didn’t expect you to still have so much ki.”

Tiger shrugged and smiled. “I retired long ago.”

“…” Wolf looked up at the sky. Tiger looked down at the ground and sighed. Wolf whispered to him. “You’ve been busy.”

Tiger grinned and looked up to him once more. “I’m still a Tiger…” He then glanced back down. “A Tiger with dull fangs.” He looked down at his hand and clenched it into a fist. “We almost lost Dragon.”

“Almost.”

“Yeah…” Tiger leaned back and looked straight at Wolf.

“We didn’t.” Wolf’s eyes closed once more and soon his breath became deep and slow.

‘I’ve become so weak…’ Tiger thought to himself. In the safety of his mind, he berated himself until the sun came up.