16 September 2012
I roared at the top of my lungs. Attracting crowds around my enclosure. "Call the medical! She's giving birth!" screamed my father. A few people in white uniform that were guarding my cage picked up little silver boxes, and held them to their ears. "Yes. Panther. Giving birth. Medical staff. Box. Right away." then they put the boxes back in their pockets. About ten or so medical staff dressed in brown uniform ran into our enclosure. They fired darts into Hurricane and myself. They paralysed us for thirty seconds, so they could pile us into the box. When we could move again, we nuzzled each other for a couple of seconds. Our plan was working. We were being carried to the maternity ward, where I would give birth, and soon be killed afterwards. Not if I could help it. Hurricane was watching through the holes drilled in the box. He was waiting for the perfect moment. 'Push Ailsa! Push now!' the pair of us pushed at the side of the box, it began to crack, but I was going weak, my contractions were starting. I couldn't help. Hurricane guesses this. He pushed as hard as he could, and the side of the box broke open, we clambered out the side, and ran as fast as we could towards the forest. But I was slowing down. The kitten was coming. But I couldn't give birth here, I had to run. I HAD TO RUN! I ran as fast as I could, but the contractions kept making me fall. Hurricane slowed down, and ran alongside me, i could hear the medical staff, running and swearing, they were getting closer. I slowed to a jog, I couldn't run anymore. I was going to collapse. Waves of pain shot through me. The kitten was coming. It was coming now! But I had to keep going, I had to. Hurricane was behind me, pushing me on. He was determined, and so was I. We were close to the forest. Only a few metres. But the staff were just behind us. I could hear their footsteps. One of them dove at me, and grabbed onto my back. And that's when I leapt. I leapt into the trees, and collapsed into a heap. The staff couldn't get us now. One step into the forest, and they could be swallowed up by invisible creatures, waiting for humans to tread near. My heart was pulsing. My body was contracting. I was pushing. The staff were swearing, Hurricane was behind me, waiting for the baby to come.
Breath Ailsa. Breath Ailsa, breath.
Ailsa push.
Now breath.
Now push again.
Now breath.
And one more push, just one more!
I gave a deafening roar as the kitten arrived. Hurricane grabbed it in his teeth, sliced the umbilical chord with his claws, and we ran further into the forest, before the staff could shoot darts at us again. We had done it. We had escaped. When I looked back I saw the American man. My father. He was crying, punching the ground, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Come back Ailsa! Come back! It'll grab you! Only god can save you now!" I stopped. I couldn't leave my Father. What was he talking about? What did he mean? "Ailsa! The epidemic! It will get you! Save yourself Ailsa! Save yourself!" he cried.
Claws 7: Complete The Plan • Opuss № I