"Man why do I get these assignments." Oswald thought to Himself. Oswald Lerner was'nt a small man persay but he was rather short. Standing barely 5 ft 2 and weighing in at over 200lbs he was rather comical in appearance. Dressed in a Parka too small for his stocky frame he shook his head as he stepped out of the red land rover. As he gathered his gear from the back seat he continued to glance over his shoulder. as if expecting something to jump from the woodline any moment.
" Lerner can do it He'll be just fine." He mimicded the Proffesors voice. He then picked up the Sniper Rifle reequiped for tranquilizer darts as well as his Backpack. he hoped this wouldnt take long he only brought three days worth of food. Reports had come in of a Hairy Manlike beast roaming the forest in this area. He didnt know whether to be more afraid of the creature or his passenger.
" You whine too much , Meat Sack. " A voice growled from the Passenger seat . Then it stepped down from the vehicle its weight releasing the vehicles suspension in aloud groan. The Being stood upright and stretched its massive arms. As Lerner looked at its Back he cringed and his skin tingled with goosebunps. It stood over 7 ft tall , Its back at least three feet wide. On closer inspection what looked like bare skin was densly packed tan fur. Wearing only a green hunting vest and black BDU pants it seemed to be reenergized by the cold ignoring the freezing temperature and then it turned around.
" I'll take it from here." It's voice was raspy and faint almost a low growl . Its head was shaped like a grotesque mockery of Human and Mountain Lion. Ears stood erect at the top of its head, Fur cascaded down over its feline muzzle and bright pink snout. Whiskers protruded around the muzzle and twitched every so often. Then it smiled at Lerner showing enormous fangs and snow white teeth just as a mountain lions. Its Hands where what Lerner studied the most, short stumpy fingers that hid three inche long retractable claws. Lerner had seen the test videos this one was named Sabrecat . of all the Genetic freaks the Dr had made he was the only one besides the boy that wasnt dead or a vegetable.
" Look I am the lead on this little escapade, You do what I say. " Lerners voice semed to crack as he spoke showing his fear. Not a good Idea.
" I can sense your fear boy, I won't hurt you until the Doc tells me too. It aint worth my time or energy. Besides your too fat for a meal. " Sabrecat gave Lerner a hard look with his piercing Green eyes.
It was almost Dawn as he left his favorite spot a small cave high enough on the cliffside to keep him from night predators. He stretched to his full height of 6ft 8 inches and felt the bones crack in his neck and back. Hunger was beginning to overtake him so he decided to hunt again. Hopefully there wouldnt be any Hunters this time. He decided to go down a different way this time closer to the highway. It was dangerous he knew but sometimes he liked to look at the shiny things that moved so very fast. One day he said to himself Im going to see how they move so fast. Especially with all those Humans inside. Well tiem to move he loped quickly throught he underbrush until he caught an unfamiliar scent. It struck him full on like abrick wall. Its pungent odor filled His nostrils witha burning sensation. He could pickout the scent anywhere. Looking down from the rock overhang he saw two figures. one pudgy and round wearing something like ahunter would wear. He was holding a rifle something the boy had come to know and heard the Hunters talking about constantly. The other though sent shivers down his spine , the mysterious scent hung on this one . Larger than the Human by far in every respect. He could see his muscled back and arms from here although he couldnt make out the face which was covered by a hood.
" Hes here." Sabrecat whispered " I can sense him ." The Big cat then gazed upward at the rock overhang suspende djust over the stretch of highway they stopped upon.
" Wheres he at?" Lerner asked readying the rifle. 'How close?"
" Shut up !" Sabrecat growled abruptly . His eyes were far better at night but he could make out a dark shape just along the outcrop of rock. He then made an impossible leap straight up about 30 feet claws extended and gripped the rock face just under the outcrop.
The boy stood for a moment marveling at the leap the large one just made He had only seen one animal capable of leaping like that but never that far. MOUNTAIN LION. The word screamed into his brain and he too leapt back from the cliff and landed at a dead run. .He always kept away from them with good reason the last time he fought one he almost died.
" This doesnt make sense. " He thought as he quickly skirted the large rocks and overturned trees. Mountain Lions didnt walk on two legs and wear human coverings. He heard the sound of branches breaking and heavy footfalls behind him. " And why is it after me?"
Sabrecat moved through the forest with a speed reminiscent of a cheetah more than mountain lion. His large clawed fingers plowed throught the soil making large furrows as he half ran half loped on all fours. . He could hear Lerners voice behind him vaguely but to far away to take notice. He could no longer see his adversary but now he had his scent and could make out sparse tracks. Unlike the Big Cat it looked like the Boy had little in the way of a human thought process. Which meant he was all animal right now. Which meant to Sabrecats satisfaction there would be a fight.
" I hope that psychotic Bastard doesnt kill him." Lerner prayed as he struggled to keep up with both. Panting now and sweating profusely he now wished he had went on that diet that had been going around the lab. " Did the last subject have to be an adult , and adult hand picked from special ops groups. Made him even more dangerous in Lerners opinion but the General insisted once the preliminary tests on humans had been finalized. Lerner then stopped and took amoment to wipe the sweat from his glasses just as his cellphone began to vibrate.
" Hello , Yes Dr we have made contact , shouldnt be long now." Lerner stammered still trying to catch his breath.
" Very Good , Where is Sabrecat ? " The Dr's asked the seriousness in his tone unmistakable.
" He set out after our Quarry , no contact since then." Lerner stated a little apprehensive.
" You let him go on his own after the boy? " The Dr asked angrily. " Do you know what could happen I wanted him alive."
" You sent him with me , you know what hes capable of seeing as how you created him." Lerner said going on the defense." You tell a seven foot , 400 lb cat whose only purpose is to hunt and kill ...."
" I understand Lerner do the Best you can. " The Dr sounded as if he were more calm. " For the record I did not send him of my own volition. "
The Boy felt as if he had been running forever , his lungs began to burn and his muscles ache. Although He knew if he stopped it would likely be his death. All the while he could hear his adversary keeping pae with him gradually pulling closer. Then it happened , the boy began to smell the fresh water of the river long for he saw the edge of the cliff he almost tumbled over head first. He started clawing the ground in an effort to slow down. Finally he rested almost at the edge and looked down ,a long way down. He hated water but he didnt relish the thought of being caught here any better. With his back to the proverbial wall and nowhere to go but down. His ears perked up and he heard a sound that he had never heard before a thing of nightmares.
Sabrecat roared as loud as he had ever dared ,wanting the boy to know in no uncertain terms his time had come. He the straightened himself back on his two legs and ajusted his stance claws flourishing from his fingertips. Long and black and sharp as razors each like two inche knives . Sabrecat now saw his Quarry clearly. He looked like a wolf a very large wolf with fur the color of Honey that drifted into a lighter shade of tan at its stomach. His head looked full canaine with his largemuzzle protruding from the center and ears high on his head and perked up. The only Human trait that he noticed were his eyes a shade of blue no canine had ever had no matter what breed.
The Boy stood staring at his adversary rather transfixed on his shape and apppearance. He appeared to be amountain lion in every respect although he couls walk on two legs. But what interested him the most were the things jutting from its front paws. The enormity of this things claws left little the imagination of what they were used for and capable of when used. The boy made his decision If I'm going to die it will be on my home ground. He then sucked in as much air as he could and leapt from the cliff.
