A Darker Leopard

Chapter six: Darkest hate

I hadn't known I had killed him. I simply didn't know. Humans are weaker than I'd expected. I had a ball of ice in my stomach called guilt.

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

I was only going about my bisness, scratching the word 'Shadow' into the bark of trees with my claws and defending my territory from any threat when a large group of humans came by. Some had guns, some had big black boxes on their shoulder whilst others had long sticks with fluffy things on the end. I spyed on them through the bushes and thorns. One of them pointed at the scratched bark and they all stopped in their tracks.

Flashbacks flooded over me of my mother laying dead on the floor thanks to the same human that held the same gun in this group. Anger, hatred and grief were tearing at my insides. My blood boiled at the prospect of revenge. The temptation was far too great. I edged closer and yet closer not making a sound, my sight locked on that one human with the gun that killed my mother and then my brother so long ago.

Extended claws glinting in the torch light, I pounced. The man gave a screech of surprise as I landed squarely on his shoulders. Eyes grew wide as he realized exactly who's cub I was. He grasped his gun.

BANG!

A searing pain in my shoulder forced me to let go. I landed lightly on the ground to not cause any more pain. I knew it, I've been shot, just as mother had warned. I can't die now. I have not come this far to die now. Then one of the humans spoke...
"What the hell? Why would this cub attack us?!" The human pointed his black box at me. Then the man who shot me replied;
"I thought my dogs had killed you" aiming his gun at me once more. I braced myself for another hit and leaped out of the line of fire. I tore his backpack open only to find the skin of my sister. I gasped in both shock and horror as it tumbled onto the floor.
"Of all the family, I never expected the runt to survive longest! Now, hold still..."
I think I'm going to be sick. This man kills us and then keeps our skins as a trophy. I sprinted towards the human and bit down on the gun, breaking it in two. They all started running.

For goodness sake, if they're going to run from me, they should try running on all fours. Maybe they'd be faster? Ignoring the pain in my shoulder, I followed with my desire for revenge taking over. I launched myself at the man. He hit the floor hard. I bared by teeth in a savage snarl. I sank my teeth and claws into his neck.
"Dart it! Dart it!" A second human called. Next thing I know, darkness is consuming my vision.