Tale of Panthera Regina (Remake)

Chapter 15: Escape

POV: Rex

The creature hissed as it took several steps closer. Its middle toe seemed to click the ground as it walked. The lizard walked like a bird, and its brownish-black feathers and fur were spiked like a porcupine.

Whatever the strange creature was, a lizard-like bird. Its eyes appeared to be hyper-focused on the three. Rex finally knew what it was like being a mouse as the lizard-like bird stared at them. The behavior of the strange beast was like how a small cat or a fox would sometimes play with its prey before killing it. 

Being an apex predator meant you had little to fear about being hunted, except for your species. Rex now understood what the other side of the hunt was like, and he got to say. Rex rathered be on the other side. The Prince shivered at the thought and was very concerned about how they were going to make it out alive.

"Kadupul!" The brown tiger called out to the fox, who was still in the corner. "Get behind me," Rex commanded in a rush, tense tone. However, heard not a sound.

Rex knew why Kadupul kept quiet: if the animal couldn't hear or see you, then you might survive. However, that only happens when luck was on your side. The prince had a feeling that this creature could smell them out. So, he knew that staying still would mark their doom.

*Maybe I should get closer to her.* Rex thought but was feeling nervous for himself. He didn't want to make a mistake and have them all be killed. Rex just wanted to protect everyone and hurt him every time he fails.

Rex's side glanced at the white tiger. *Mendax should be able to handle himself.* The Amur White Tiger remained silent and seemed not to dare to look away from the lizard.

It almost appeared that Mendax was a statue as he never moved as the Prince dared to take another step closer to Kadupul. However, the lizard seemed to copy his movements as it got closer as well.

It would make odd hissing noises and walk with its back hunch. The grin was wicked, and Rex could see teeth much bigger and sharper than his. The brown tiger shivered at the thought of those teeth and claws digging into his skin. However, the thought of his friends getting the same treatment made Rex's stomach turn and that much more determined to survive.

"Breath," Rex told himself. He didn't want to close his eyes, fearing that is what the creature wanted. "Just breathe."

Rex just needed to focus on getting to Kadupul and did his best to protect her. Or give her enough time to run. Rex prayed that it wouldn't have to come to that. Rex didn't want to know what it felt like those sharp claws felt like.

Rex also knew that he couldn't die because he needed to find the Statue and get back to his family. Rex still had three years left with his family, and he didn't want to miss seeing Velox, Mel, Viola, or any of them growing up. He also wanted a few more years of picking on Regina.

The lizard breathes in and out as well. Rex wasn't sure if it was mimicking him or just being a normal or normal-ish creature. However, the Prince found it nerve-racking that the lizard only hissed and chirped but didn't say a word. Rex wondered if the lizard-like bird was intelligent, but none of its chirps made any sense. The Bengal gier was starting to think that maybe not all creatures were smart enough to have a spoken language and relied on body language as a form of communication.

Rex made a come here gesture with his paw but felt stupid for doing so. Sometimes he would forget that Kadupul was blind, and it wasn't because he wasn't paying attention. The Darwin Fox can handle her own even without the aid of sight. Sometimes he wondered if Kadupul was doing a better job of protecting him than him protecting her.

The Prince looked back at the strange creature. Rex notices that the lizard copying the gestures that he made as well. Although, it just looked like the lizard was showing off its six-inch claws if you asked him.