It is a sheer purr of satisfaction that emits from the spotted creature at Tetradores approach. He can feel the other man, his nearness, his desires so aligned with his own that the moments that follow are a near poetic example of how entirely functional they are with one another alone. The panther launches himself from the darkness the Leopard has pressed the Hunter back towards, colliding from behind with their unsuspected prey as the spotted creatures jaws part once more and his own form lunges forward to seize the falling hunter, tearing into whatever part may have fallen into his welcoming jaws with satisfaction. Blood is blood, the taste of it decidedly sweet to the fractured Leopard in these moments, the boy evidently content to make a meal out of the fallen man, leaving Tetradore to rid them of the final Hunter. He remains attuned to the panther all the same, prepared to assist, else protect him at a moments notice and yet the bond thrums with little more then a blissful energy that seems to satisfy Tobias all the same- until images assault his mind. For a moment the leopard simply pauses, fractured thoughts attempting to comprehend these images not his own as they press into his skull, head shaking in dissatisfaction- though his meal has become irrelevant. A hole of sorts has been poked through the bloodlust of his animal form, some taint of humanity dragged forward through Tetradore's forceful attempt to press an emotion upon him. Children and protect.

Tobias, it would seem, has been spurred into action once more, eyes searching for Micah now- as if his son has simply been remembered in those moments, golden eyes fixating upon the bushes ahead, his lanky, yet powerful form circling away from Tetradores own, bringing himself closer to his kitten, aiming to position himself between it and the Hunter while sandwiching the mane between Tetradore and himself. The kitten is his own, yes, he is sure, his thing- to be protected, not for any other. His tail lashes in a sure sign of irritation, lips pulled back from bloodied fangs in evident threat before the kitten races from its hiding place. A low, short snarl is spat from the Leopards lips, a unique sound, a Father's command to his Son to stop, to go back and yet it has not come quickly enough. The Hunter reaches down to snatch the child up, a roaring growl erupting from within the Leopard now, the cries of pain from the kitten seeming to press upon some other, more ingrained instinct within the Leopard that demands action now- his power lashing out with terrific force to the man, aiming to tear into the Hunter's mind, to reduce him to nothing. Yet Nadya comes swifter- colliding with the Hunter before his own power can take hold or Tetradore can respond, landing atop the man as Micah tumbles from his grasp and Tobias hurries after the child, his own Leopard form curling about the limp form of his son as instinct demands of him, shielding it from further harm.

He does not understand it's lack of movement or response, he merely guards it until Nadya rushes forward in human form, her nakedness causing near no response from the Leopard. After all, he has seen it before (many times) and his mind is not so easily roused by such things regardless. His form shifts, allowing Nadya to take the boy up in her arms, eyes watching with simple curiosity, Tobias having failed entirely to perceive the severity of the situation as he looks on. He cannot understand his fault, after all, cannot perceive action and consequence fully. Hunters had come, this is not his fault, they had been defeated, the world continues- his capabilities for extended thought no greater then this, truly, the boy a creature of impulse and instinct and little else unless he should truly struggle to try. Her anger towards him results in only a moment of confusion, the jungle cat stepping back and back again, eyeing her warily now before his own frustration and inability to perceive sees a spitting hiss towards her. The adrenaline within his system is still fresh, the taste of blood upon his lips still raw, if she should desire to fight him then so be it. Her question, fortunately, seeming to distract the boy once more.

He turns neatly upon his paws, launching himself smoothly up and into the nearest tree, jaws reaching into the hollow to grasp Isabella from her hiding place, holding her firmly as he leaps back to earth and his own shift takes place- the child now held within his arms as he moves back towards Nadya, presenting her with their unharmed daughter. Her panicked words to Tetradore see those dark eyes narrow, gaze flicking from Tetra to Nadya and back again before he abruptly leans down to the child, rasping his tongue across the unconscious boys side. That this would be an action far more appropriate in his feline form remains to be seen- such things have never truly bothered the boy and licking, he is sure, is the cure for all things. Yet the mere instant his tongue connects with the wound sees him pull back hurriedly, spitting in dissatisfaction.

"His blood is....bad....taste very bad!"

That there is something else in the boys blood, or at least in the wound itself is surely evident from Tobias' frantic efforts to rid his tongue of the taste, dark eyes narrowed once more with disdain at his wounded son, as if the wound itself had dared to strike at him. His understanding of healing, evidently, is dangerously limited. If it cannot be licked clean he has no further remedy. How he himself had lasted so long on his own is surely a debatable thing, a sudden snort of irritation coming from his lips as he moves away, placing his daughter back on the ground, the now human child clinging to his leg in an effort to stand herself upright.

"Playing."

His words are sudden, though they often are, attempting, now, to answer the question Nadya had asked some minutes ago as if his mind has only just now found an answer to it.

"Nadya say....my kittens....mine, for me....Tetra said......stay away from horse....no horse."

His head shakes determinedly now, assured of these words. Tetradores commands, after all, are rarely forgotten by his fractured mind.

"Horse is....in Nadya's house...all over. I can....smell him...everywhere. Nadya did not listen...to.....Tetra. My kittens....not Frost's......so I take them away."

That he has, by this very reasoning done nothing wrong is surely clear. Nadya had impressed upon him many times that these were his kittens, that they were safe with pack alone, a lesson she had instilled within him- and a rule she herself had broken. Defying both Tetradores order to stay away from Frost and allowing another being, another male, to be around the kittens in a manner she had assured Tobias was not to be so. The boy had done only as she had taught him to do- while maintaining their own Alphas orders.....

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push