The lion lowered its head, lightning crackling along its fangs as it prepared to lunge at the battered Leighton. His body stiffened, ready to counter, when a sharp voice cut through his earpiece.
"Move, now!"
Instinct overrode exhaustion. He threw himself to the side just as the lion pounced, claws raking the ground where he had stood a heartbeat earlier.
Before the beast could recover, a blur of black fur slammed into its flank. Zoe, in her full wolf form, sank her jaws deep into the lion's shoulder. Her snarl ripped through the air, savage and unrelenting, while the lion roared in pain, thrashing violently.
Vivi leapt from Zoe's back, landing lightly on the scorched earth. She glanced at the wolf, then at Leighton, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I did it."
Leighton wiped blood from his mouth, forcing himself upright with a grimace. "Good. That's… good."
Her expression darkened as she took in his wounds. "You should rest. You're in no condition—"
