I could feel my face turning red as I struggle to breathe. I turn my head back and forth attempting to find a more comfortable position. I try to pull away from the human, but he's got help. Everythings going fuzzy. My legs give way and I slip back into the humans' grasp. I gasp for air, but the darting thing happens all over again. Lights out.

------------------------------------------------

I wake in a new cage, a cage of a much higher quality than at the arena. The cage was placed in a field in the sun, but I also had plenty if shade. I had enough space to walk a couple of paces, but I can't move yet. Looking around, I spot several other cages. Some were empty. I gather my remaining energy to stand. Then the humans start talking...

  "Look at the scars on this thing, I heard that it escaped from the Leopard Games!"
  "This one is really quite young. It shouldn't even be away from it's mother yet, but it's been alone for a long time."
  "I heard it ate a guy!"
  "We've been watching this cub closely and it's had a tough time. Shadowclaw deserves a quick death."
  "I guess it is best to put down a cat that's been accused of killing people." They can't do this. I didn't mean to kill him! It was an accident! He took my family from me and then your kind forced me to kill my brother, you lot are the ones that should be put down!
  "We can't rehabilitate this cub, it's been killing from a very young age and is rather stubborn." That's true.

  "Hey, hey, Shadowclaw!" The leopard beside me whispers. I whip my head round to see who is speaking. "You rescued me, now I've come to return the favor!" That's convenient. Finally something good comes out of what I have done! I don't want to be the villain.

The leopard has something shiny in it's mouth... a key? The lock clicks and I limp into the open.
  "Thank you so much! I never want to see a cage ever again." I smiled weakly.

  "The little absentee!" A human growls angrily noticing the desolate cage.
  "GUNS, GUNS!" Another calls to the rest. We ran. Well, limp-ran.

Even injured and limping, I glided across the ground at speeds that the humans could only dream of.

BANG!

My savior collapses onto the ground.
  "NO! NOT AGAIN, NOT AGAIN!" I plea as flashbacks of my mother flood my mind like a storm. Gripping the scruff of his neck, I tug him along the ground. I'm not leaving him.

BANG!

I duck a headshot, but it takes a chunk out of my already ragged ear. He is so much bigger than I, yet that won't stop me from hauling him across the dusty earth. I left my mother and I am not abandoning anyone else.

BANG!

I dodge another bullet. His breathing was shallow and he gave one final moan before attempting to get up. He groaned in pain before collapsing once again. I position myself by his side in hope that he can use me as a support.

BANG!

I fall onto my side, bleeding heavily from my flank.

Author's note: 100+ veiws! You guys are the best! Stick with me for the next chapter.