The words struck Zaka hard, and his lips twitched in anger.
For a heartbeat, the Grand Chief simply stared, his enormous chest rising and falling as fury wrestled with reason. Then reason lost. A roar tore from his throat, so violent that the trees themselves seemed to recoil.
"A man rather die than fight a dishonourable fight!" he bellowed.
The sound had barely faded when two shadows burst from the northern ranks.
The great black cats that had remained patiently at their master's side exploded into motion, their massive forms gliding across the battlefield with terrifying speed.
Their paws barely seemed to touch the earth as they circled wide, instinctively cutting off every avenue of escape. Sagiri's crimson eyes shifted from one beast to the other before returning to Zaka.
"Finally," he murmured. "Now the real fight begins. I was wondering when you were gonna let your pets join the fight."
Zaka didn't answer.
