A Darker Leopard

Chapter eight: Just kill

I was released from the grasp of the loop around my neck and the door sealed behind me. I whipped my tail out of the way just in time, I would've been trapped under the metal door. I turn to see my challenger...

A big male that was badly injured and angry. No way I can play the cute kid card now. A long rod is poked into my back, making me move closer. It stung. My only hope is that the last fight left some serious damage on this guy. As we circled, eyeing eachother up and waiting for the other's move, the leopardess' words spun round my head. Phrases like 'No such thing as mercy' and 'Grand massacre' each word stabbed. The likelihood of the outcome would be that I die.

The male's patients frayed and he lashed out, racking his long claws down my side. This action tore my mind back to the terrifying reality. As he drew his paw back I saw a painful twitch. My ticket to victory. 'Welcome to the leopard games.'

I slid beneath him and kicked his exposed chest with all my might. He flew then collapsed onto the floor several feet away, and looked over at me with the same stunned confusion as my brother had in my first ever fight. I taunted him, beckoned for him to come closer. He layed his ears back and sprang to his paws. I noticed him flinch at the pain where he twitched once more. Batting his head and leaping back swiftly, he attempted to land another hit which I dodged nimbly. This is taking too long, I pounded his side when he was off balance, causing him to fall to the blood-coated ground with a thud.

'Just kill.'

That's exactly what I'll do.

The crowd cheered as the underdog finished off the enemy and a new opponent was shoved in. Had only half a tattered tail and was no older than myself... my brother.

  "Brother? Could that really be you??" I ask in astonishment while the male's blood drips off my face.
  "Yes, you're not the only one that can escape from dogs. So I understand your name is Shadowclaw now?" I nod. "The other cats were chanting your name during the last battle." Wow. These leopards believe in me, but then I realize that only one of us can come out alive.
  "You know, brother... there can only be one winner. I-I can't find it in me to kill you-" I began.
  "Pa-lease, you're a cold blooded killer. Just look at yourself!" He gestures to the blood on my front and the corpse of the dead adult cat that was being dragged away, then he embraces me in a hug. I hold the hug for a few moments until I find his unshiethed claws sinking into my back. I stumbled away. This was no sympathetic hug, just one deadly trick. He spotted the bullet wound on my shoulder and dug his claws in.

  "YEEEEAAAAGH!!!" I let out an agonized shriek as he tears through my matted fur. To think I trusted him.

In my resentment, I smashed his head into the concrete wall. I stared at his lifeless body as my blood ran cold.

What have I done?