Mingan drew his pistol and made his way carefully down the slope.

Hayeta bounded out of the brush below, a flash of red and white fur. She nipped at El Cucuy's heels. The nasty, old creature spun and made a grab for her. Mingan sucked a sharp breath as Hayeta narrowly slipped through the monster's hands. She yipped and brandished her tail before going back in for another mouthful of flesh. The gangly, clawed monster hiding in the guise of a man roared and scrambled after her as she bounded away again.

Wakinu's bulky form was hunched over the struggling ethereal woman. Mingan leveled his pistol and shot, unwilling to let the beast of a man paw at her any longer. Wakinu roared, clutching at his shoulder. The woman scrambled back from the bearlike man, wide-eyed and gasping.

"Step away from the girl," Mingan barked.

"Come down and fight me." Wakinu replied. "Using a gun," he spat. "Still a coward, I see."

"I am," Mingan agreed. If being smart enough not to step into the reach of a massive bear was cowardice, then a coward he was.

"Pathetic," Wakinu spat, and turned back to the girl.

"I will shoot again," Mingan warned, "if I must."

Though they were on opposing sides at the moment, native shifters, were few and far between. They had no real desire to kill one another. Battles for dominance, shows of strength, on the other hand, were not uncommon.

"You afraid to take on this bear?" Lokni taunted, landing and shifting to his human form. "If you're not up to the challenge, I'd like to see how I'd fare."

Mingan didn't turn, didn't dare shift his attention from the hulking bear-like man. The Ethereal girl was climbing to her feet, an unknown in this equation.

Get up, run while you can, Mingan willed her. She turned her head in his direction, eyes wide and he wondered briefly if she might have sensed his thoughts.

"A swat or two is all you'll take, crow-boy," the Bear laughed. "The wolf here, we've crossed paths before. I enjoyed the challenge. That is, when he wasn't resorting to cheap tricks," he spat.

"Can't say I share the sentiment," Mingan said. "You'll have to settle for Lokni alone, I'm afraid."

Lokni pulled a sword from midair, a trick of spells and runes.

"Perhaps this might even odds?" Lokni taunted. "I know you've a blade, Bear. Draw it, and I guarantee I'll take more than a 'swat or two'."

Wakinu chuckled, drawing his massive hunting knife. "Ah, so I see you'd like to make sure this brawl will draw blood." He straightened and shrugged. "I'll play, boy."

Lokni sidestepped a wide sweep of Wakinu's fist, drawing up his sword in time to catch the edge of a Wakinu's massive hunting knife.

The Ethereal woman was on her feet. Taking advantage of the opening, she sprinted into the trees. Her stride started unsteadily, but she quickly picked up speed. Wakinu roared his displeasure at losing his prey, but Lokni stepped in to block him.

Chase instinct triggered, Mingan set off after her.