Katoma had taken Nana'tehk to do several rounds on the outskirts of the path. Sure, other bandits would surely come to pick clean what the woman left behind. But he was going to at least make sure she got to the next town. So he clung to the shadows and simply watched, but he saw the riders coming long before she did.
He wasn't sure who they were, the distance made it impossible to tell. He hoped for the same thing she did, that they were friendly travelers that could help her out. But as they drew near, he realized he was very, very wrong.
"My, my what have we got here? Pretty little thing with a hobbly leg?" The man laughed, his wild, wavy black hair flying as his horse slowed in it's trot. There were about seven men with him, maybe eight. He saw the way they were dressed. They were neither Adelan sworn nor tribes of the plains. These were bandits.
Great.
He gripped onto Nana'tehk's reins and paced through the underbrush. It was best to wait to see what would happen.
But one thing was evident, as the men surrounded her, he could see their expressions. They were crude men and whatever it was they were saying to her, amused them, but clearly not her. He frowned. He couldn't just keep watching. The men were beginning to dismount and get closer to her. so he dismounted as well and commanded Nana'tehk stay put-
Only the dragon bird didn't listen, and as one of the men stepped forward from their circle in attempts to grab the woman by the arm, the avarian honked and pushed through the circle, it's beak snapping at the hand trying to reach for Penance as it's crown feathers bristled and fanned ontop of it's head. The bird stood before the woman protectively, and gave another beak bite towards the bandit leader.
"Well, well, well, seems you got yourself a fine beast to protect you," the leader said, grinning as he showed off his yellowing teeth. Katoma rolled his eyes from the bushes.
"Nana'tehk.." he growled under his breath. he was going to kill him!
The bandit leader than yanked out a curved, crude blade at his side, it's sharp, serated edges gleaming off the sun.
"Seeing as how fancy you are, we ain't gonna take no chances." he gestured to his men, and all seven of them drew out their blades. "gut the dragon bird and fetch the girl for me! Touch a single pearl of hers and you'll be gutted too!"
And when all seven blades came after them, Nana'tehk freaked out, wings opening and it's head throwing back. At least the avarian offered a good enough distraction for Katoma to literally slide under the bandits feet as he stopped just beside Penance and grabbed her hand away fromt he bandit leader's hand that had been reaching out for it-
and he pulled Penance down ontop of him, hugging her against his chest as he hissed to her,
"I'm sorry but you have to trust me!" And hugged her even more tightly against his form as he kicke doff the ground and rolled with her into the dirt, their combined bodies knocking over two of the bandits in their wake.
In the same rush of movement, Katoma was already back on his feet and had Penance now scooped up in his arm as he gav ea whistle and Nana'tehk gave a heavy kick of it's leg tot he bandit leader, sending him sailing across the dirt, and turned sharply to rush towards it's master. Katoma didn't wait for the bird to stop as he threw Penance across his saddle then threw himself behind her as he cried at the bird to run!