Zaka attacked with more discipline after the first cat fell, keeping his body between Sagiri and the wounded beast while every exchange carried the animal toward safer ground.
Grief had not made the Grand Chief careless, since it had stripped away the political performance and left a warrior who understood exactly what the remaining companion meant to him.
The surviving cat limped once before correcting its gait, its eyes fixed on Sagiri while the smallest shift in Zaka's weight guided the creature toward the next charge.
Zaka cut low toward the ribs Sagiri had already injured, forcing Sagiri to jump over the blade before the cat's shoulder struck his side and sent him across the ash.
He rolled before Zaka's follow-up could pin him beneath the weapon, then raised Nokai as the Grand Chief stepped in and the cat circled behind him.
