I rammed my sword blade clear through the back of the creature's neck and on a choked roar of agony the creature ceased from ravaging the helpless woman who lay bloody and half bare beneath him and turned on me as I withdrew the sword.
The Lion Man fell over on his side still staring up at me with a look of such loathing hatred that I felt my blood chill. His eyes were decidedly not human just as little else about him was.
To my horror I realized that, though it had been but seconds since I had killed this one, there had also been a second one to deal with, which I had forgotten in my rush to the woman's aid. I wheeled around only to see the second individual pounce from the wagon with teeth bared.
I tried to bring my sword up but it was too late and I was driven into the ground by the weight of the Lion Man. I rolled off to the side and scrambled up to my feet only to be sent reeling backward through the air and slammed into the side of the wagon.
Blood ran down my chest beneath my torn shirt. How had I been wounded?
My eyes took in the hands of the creature across from me and saw that the fingers of the creature had the talons of its feline heritage. Everything I knew or thought I had known of the world was being redefined in this moment.
I'd lost my sword and I watched as, with talons spread and jaws open, he came at me on two legs with a roar of rage that sounded darker than the night.
The wagon behind me was ablaze with flame. Blindly I reached up and grabbed hold of the awning cover of the wagon and pulled. Flames kissed my skin as the burning canvas tore free of the wagon. I slung it toward the charging Lion Man and miraculously I saw it envelop him like a flaming curtain.
He shrieked and tore at his burning prison, but that wasn't what my ears picked up on. I turned to peer over the side of the wagon to behold a baby squalling in abject fear as the heat of the flames started to get close to it.
I reached over the side of the wagon and lifted the baby out. One glance told me enough to see that the baby's mother was dead and that her tormentor was about to be free of his fiery diversion. Looking farther down the line of wagons I saw that the scuffle had attracted the attention of even more of the Lion Men. Upwards of 20 of the hideous creatures were bounding towards me on all fours.