The four coursers shook themselves furiously as they finally kept  small chasm escaping the worst of the flood chasing them. Water flying even as Ritsu's corrupted treant lapped at it eagerly. The red courser grumbled, kicking some stones at the makeshift waterfall. “Damn glad we got out of that. Who the hell set that on us anyways?!” Ichi frowned softly. “You shouldn't kick rocks at the water Ritsu…it might make it angry…” Kiyomi chuckled softly at her younger son, nosing at his mane. “I don't think that was an intelligent water being sweetheart.” Ichi, the blue roan courser, frowned softly at the soft gold champagne of his dam. “But we don't know.”

The deep blue courser and de facto leader stood calmly, water still dripping from him as his ears flicked. “Silence. Something found our camp.” The other three froze, Ritsu moving ahead of Seiichi, his cloven hooves silent. Kiru also lowering his head and slinking forward until his good eye peered around the corner. A frown tugged the corners of his mouth down. “Bastards.” He muttered looking over his shoulders. “Scavengers.” He spat Before drawing his trident. “I've had enough of running and being driven off, how about you?” He asked of his group. Ritsu grinned and nodded unsheathing his sword. “Ichi, Auntie, you two stay back and watch our backs.” He murmured, the pair of roans nodding.

The tapestry pair exchanged a look before lunging forward in tandem each releasing a fierce bellow which sent two of the three invaders crashing into each other in fear, one collapsing from a vicious blow to the head from the larger companion who fled, tail tucked. The third however turned, grinning recklessly. “Ohhhh so we found the Kurosawa camp eh? Time to get rid of you brats.” He shouted, lunging toward them without a single weapon. That was when Kiru noted the sparks from the black courser’s hooves. Studded shoes? He scoffed. “Oi, Ritz, mind the hooves.” He shouted. Ritsu glanced over and nodded before the pair swung away from each other so the charging courser went between the pair. Each slid to a halt, turning in unison to lash out with their weapons on the exposed backside. Ritsu, forced into closer proximity due to his weapon, ducked as the black courser kicked out. “Tsk tsk didn’t your parents tell you stealing isn’t nice?” He jeered before the screams of pain echoed through the caverns. The dazed courser shook her head, seemingly coming to as she stood up swaying with the effort. Kiru, satisfied that Ritsu could hold off the black turned to face the white one, eye narrowing. “You’ve one second to make the right decision.” He said simply, neck arching as he trotted towards her, trident aimed. She took some alarmed steps back and then wheeled, bolting. “No no no. I didn’t know this belonged to the Kurosawas!” She shouted as she stumbled, slowing gaining strength and speed. Kiru scoffed in annoyance. A likely story. Though, she did look familiar. He’d have to see if she showed her face in his guild.

Ritsu however had managed to lose his sword from a blow from his opponent and was busy wrestling the bulkier horse. Fury was more than motivating him as his hind hoof slipped. The other laughing. “So the big ol’ Kurosawas just send out colts? Pathetic.” He sneered, lashing out with one studded hoof. Ritsu grimaced at the slice before reaching down to grab the other’s leg in his mouth and wrenching it around so the dark courser had to either move and follow or fall prone. “I am no colt you stupid mule.” The black courser screamed in rage, trying to lash out with his other forehoof but Ritsu simply jerked his leg, forcing his opponent to go crashing to the ground. It was but a second before the tip of Kiru’s trident was pressing against the throat of the large horse who went still.

Unbeknownst to the two combatants another had been perched up high. A smaller than average hawk was waiting before it screech and went to dive at Kiru, talons extended towards the exposed eye of the woad courser. However it was intercepted by ICU and Kiyomi’s bat, tentacles wrapping around the bird as the bat screeched furiously, battering the bird’s head with it’s wings. Seiichi and Kiyomi looked up, amused at the sight. “Well, it was a clever bird huh Mom?” The dusty mare nodded. “Indeed, but it looks like everything is over, it should be safe now.” She mused.