Vengeance Comes to Dallas

The plane hit a pocket of turbulence and lost some altitude. The other cats lost some of their meals. I think soon we would be landing and then I could finish my mission......

TWO WEEKS BEFORE

There had been more fighting in the last week than in the two months before. Our squad was running on adrenaline and chongo, a mild euphoric root. We had been hitting and running for three days and sleep was something you spoke of as a fond memory.

There was a snap of a twig off in the brush and all guns and eyes were suddenly pointed that way. Two large amber eyes reflected the campfire as a large, old lion passed by giving us the once over.

The call echoed in my head as the squad relaxed and joked about late night visits to another pride's females. I joked along with them, but soon got up to relieve myself. More jokes followed me into the darkness.

Out of sight of the camp I quickly shifted and padded after the Elder. He waited not far away, watching the camp. When I reached him I began to greet him as a youngster should, by rolling and exposing my belly.

Strangely he shifted to homid and bid me do likewise. "There is no time for this," he said,"your talents are needed urgently elsewhere. Come and I will explain."

He led me further into the bush and told me of a human atrocity, the trapping of big cats for shipment to a "hunting preserve". They were kept drugged and bound on the flight from Nairobi airport, through numerous stops, until they reached the United States. There a "game marshal" took custody and transported them, still bound to the preserve. Once a client was found with sufficient money and a penchant for "hunting", one was chosen and released. With circulation still returning to his tortured limbs, the cat was chased down and killed from the safety of an armored jeep. If the beast made it to the relative safety of a tree, then two or three of the "big game hunters" would simply stand under the branches and open up with various high-powered rifles. And as a perk of the hunt, the hunters received a video and a mounted head.

A barely contained rage flowed through me, setting my hairs on end. "What must I do to stop this?" The words were spoken in a barely heard whisper, teeth clenched and panting. "Simply scream out your anger and anguish," he said. With that the Elder uncovered a body, freshly killed with the marks of a lion clearly upon it. "One of their trackers that got careless."

He shifted to the large, old lion. . As I stripped and dressed the body, he told me what was to come. I was to be captured and sent along with the next shipment of lions. To make it believable, my legs would be bound as the others and the drugs administered. While the drugs would have no effect, the binding would be all too real. Luckily the gift of Lick Wounds was mine so I would not be disabled once we all arrived.

When the body was dressed in my clothes, once again I heard the Elder in my head, . With that I began to scream and he began to roar and thrash about, swatting the body and mauling it more. . One last swipe took the head clean off and suddenly there were shouts and calls from the camp. Shots were fired in our direction as I shifted to feline and loped off after the Elder, the trackers head in my teeth.

At a safe distance we stopped and watched my former comrades find the body and listened as they turned frightened eyes towards the surrounding wilderness. Two grabbed the arms and the rest covered them as they dragged the body back to camp. I regretted leaving them with a major push coming, but they were just my squad and I had to take care of my family first.

We ran into the night after burying the head. There was only a week left until the next shipment and we had many, many miles to go. The "hunters" were being watched to make sure that they did not leave before I was also caught. For six days we ran by night and walked by day, stopping only to make quick hunts, take water and nap for one or two hours.

Finally, one of the watchers spotted us and came to let us know that the hunters were still out searching for other lions to take. There were seven so far and only two more crates to be filled.

ONE WEEK AGO

Finally, the trackers have found me and I have led them a fine chase only to have them "lead" me into a pittrap. From the bottom I watched them take aim and fire a tranquilizer dart into my side. A bit of thrashing around and then down on my side, eyes half closed and panting, not moving as three men climbed down and attached ropes to my legs and a gag in my mouth. A sling was rigged and i was dragged up and over the lip of the pit.

"Careful, you bastards, we don't get paid for ripped hides",said a voice behind me. Booted feet came into view and I was hoisted into the back of the chase truck. I used the panting to get and hold the scent of all the men involved. Death would come for them later, but now it was off to the plane and the United States.

After a quick looking over from the cargo master, the nine crates were loaded onto three trucks and the trip began. These were old, surplus trucks and every pothole and every bump in every mile of road was transmitted to us. If our legs were free it would not have been so bad, but unable to stand, we took it all laying on our sides. Many was the time that a series of holes and bumps left me dazed from repeated bangings on my head.

Two days later, after little water and rancid food, we were delivered to a far runway at Nairobi airport. There, in the middle of the night, we were loaded onto an old transport plane for the first leg of our journey. Sadly one of the older lions had died on the trip. Either the drugs were too strong or the food was too spoiled. It was no way for a creature to die, alone in a box, bound and muzzled, away from the sun and fresh air. I promised his spirit that vengeance would come, swift and sure, for all that were responsible.

A brief time waiting on the runway and then the engines revved up and we were on our way. The lions were not used to the noise or sensation of flying and two began to retch through their muzzles. Luckily the feelings passed and we spent an uneventful few hours. One of the handlers came and provided water but no food was given. Those that had retched were hosed off and checked to see if they had harmed themselves. Watching the handler I could see that he kept looking over his shoulder at me. He finished his exams and quickly left.

There was no way of knowing the time or direction as there were no windows. Eventually we began our descent. I did my best to calm the others, and it seemed to help the more excitable, younger lions. We touched down and taxied to a deserted area. This I saw as we were transferred to a different plane. The weather was cooler and the accents of the drivers and helpers was strange. I had never heard anything like it, almost English but with differing stresses and timings. It was definitely not a language from anywhere near my home. The second plane was delayed for two hours and the temperature in the hold rose steadily. Just before we took off, a new handler came and hosed all the cages. It was refreshing and helped to relax the others.

This time the flight took much longer and we were given small portions of meat. Not quite as rancid as the truck ride, but far from fresh. It didn't matter because hunger makes the worst offering fit for a king. We ate and drank and soon were sleeping.

We awoke shivering and blowing smoke. This was a new sensation as it was also harder to breathe. The plane was on a runway and I could hear men working on some part near a wing. There was also a thrumming, swooshing sound that echoed in the hold. Soon the banging and swooshing stopped and we began what was to be our last leg of the trip. The handler returned and this time there were large hunks of meat and we were given more than enough. We all dug in and soon I could see that it was drugged. One by one the lions grew sluggish. I joined in and watched through hooded eyes. The plane started up and we were soon climbing. Making sure that the others were breathing easily, I decided that this was a good time to catch up on my sleep.

NOW

The planes vibrations woke us all and I could feel that we were descending. During our rest the bonds had been removed as well as the muzzles. Thankfully, all the lions were up and roaring their displeasure at Man in general, though they were all a bit shaky on their feet. The plane hit turbulence and lost some altitude. The other cats lost some of their meals. I think soon we would be landing and then I could finish my mission. We touched down and the different feel of the runway let me know that we were landing at a much larger airport. And the sounds of numerous other planes told me it was a much, much busier airport than the others we had visited.

The cargo hold was opened and the wave of sound and scent that rolled in was enough to set my mind spinning. Never had there been so many different things all competing for attention. Cars and trucks and people and colors and planes and tar and rubber and exhaust and smoke all melted into one huge sensory wave that I had not thought possible. This must be the United States because I had never seen so many pink or pale men anywhere in Africa.

Box sides were placed over our bars and we were loaded onto a large flatbed truck. This drove us to a warehouse and we were left there for a day. The warehouse was cooler than outside and food was provided. Still not fresh but at least not drugged.

The next day we were loaded onto the same flatbed and driven away from the airport area. The roads were smooth and though the air still smelled of oil and smoke, it was better than being cooped up in a warehouse. Three hours driving brought us to a checkpoint. I could just see men with rifles as we drove through a large gate in a chainlink fence. Another few minutes and were pulled up to what looked like a small zoo, complete with cages surrounded by deep trenches. We were unloaded one at a time and placed against a door that matched the ends of our cages. Those were made fast to the wall and with a swish thump, the cage end and the wall section both raised up.

There was a poke from behind and I sprang out of the small cage and into a large enclosure. It was around 30 feet by 45 feet and had a dirt floor with large boulders piled up and scattered about. There was a small watering hole scooped out of the ground and beyond the bars was a trench about 15 feet across.

Standing across the trench were seven men, all dressed in camo outfits and carrying rifles. I could hear them talking about first blood and best chase. These then were the "hunters". All were fat and the reek of alcohol was strong. I needed to see just what type of men they were, so I charged the bars from a standstill and roared out a challenge. Sure enough they all jumped back, two falling over and one even pissing on himself. They would die easily.

"Son of a bitch!", yelled the one that had pissed, "That one is mine!" There were jokes about his marking me, and they wandered off to the hunting lodge. A couple looked back and there was the shine of fear in their eyes. Tonight I would scout around and tomorrow would begin the killing.

When night came I watched and listened. Soon a guard wandered by with a flashlight, checking on the lions. When he had gone, I shifted to crinos and climbed up and over the bars. There was no roof as the bars were 25-30 feet high. Leaping down there was a small click as a rock was dislodged and fell into the trench. The guard was too far away to hear it so I began breathing again and started off to see what there was to see.

After a short search I found the lodge, the garage, guest housing and an office area. Through the windows, the "hunters" could be seen. Some were sleeping, others were working on their guns and some were drinking heavily. There was a strange scent in the air, almost as if...no, how could they get here? But the scent kept tugging at my mind, until there was no doubt left. It got stronger the closer to the office I got, until there was only one answer...Ajaba.

Suddenly it all made sense. Only lions were being caught and killed. The rancid food, the shipment out of Africa. As the rage grew in me I knew that these "hunters" would not see another sunrise.

FFFWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The guard had come back and with my discovery of the truth about the Ajaba, he had gotten close to my hiding place. Seeing what looked like the back of a lion he had blown a very loud and shrill whistle. Well I was not a lion and the sound did not send me running into the night. Whirling and rising from my crouch, I lashed out and sent the whistle as well as his lower jaw bouncing off into the bushes. Unfortunately the damage was done. Lights were going on in the guest houses and there were shouts to get the dogs.

Slipping into what shadows were left, I ran to the nearest guest house. Jumping in when the door opened turned the half dressed "hunter" into a half dressed cabbage. The smell of piss and shit filled the room and as I quickly ripped out his throat, the spirits of those that went before gave their blessings.

Out the window and into the shadows again. The next house was stirring and the shouts coming from inside were slurred heavily. Guards were running in the distance and the window was locked. Inspiration came and I knocked on the glass. "Whozzat at da winnow?!?" One of the heavy drinkers made his way stumbling to the window and lifted it slowly. The barrel of a rifle poked out and was followed by a head. His last drunken sight was of my teeth closing on his face as I pulled him through. I caught of glimpse of a naked female, sitting on the bed. Her face crumpled and an ear splitting scream followed the crunch of the hunter's head. He twitched and the rifle went off, the shot grazing my ribs. No time to check it though.

Dogs took to howling and barking as I worked towards the next house. The handlers were working my way so the direct approach seemed best. Through the window in a spray of glass as a rifle opened up full auto. The lights were out, but the muzzle flash gave his position away. I took a shot in the arm and then he fell under my claws and fangs. This one was opened like a goat and left to breathe his last with his organs in his lap. A quick check of the ribs and arm showed just flesh wounds and it was back into the night. The dogs were getting closer and raising more and more noise as they caught my scent. I skipped the next two houses to put some distance between them and me.

One of the hunters was running at a crouch to the door of the house. A quick knock and he was in. Ok, two for the price of one. Looking down I found a couple of fist sized rocks. Sprinting, I threw them both through the side windows and as the guns fired I broke down the front door. They turned just in time to have their heads smashed together, splashing blood and brains over me and the wall.

There was a crunch behind me. With one motion I hurled a body in that direction and leapt out the window. Another rifle sent it's clip's load of rounds after me, shattering the sill and the rest of the glass. And just under the thunder of the rifle, I caught the cackling laugh of an Ajaba.

FOUND ONE!!!!

He reloaded and went back out the door. I stood and waited until I heard him approaching the corner and then leapt straight up. He came around the corner with the rifle blazing and I landed on top. We wrestled for a moment and his teeth just missed my throat. The last of the bullets went zipping into the night and we both scored hits, me to his thigh and he on my wounded arm. I had to end this quick before more Ajaba showed up. I rolled us over so that he was on top and brought my legs up to rake him. He shifted to his crinos form and went for my middle. They rely too much on their jaws and his attack left his neck open. Both arms wrapped around it and both legs pushed skyward. The wet log crunch and the fact that he was suddenly limp told me I had won. I took his head off and crushed it against the wall.

My arm was throbbing and I had a gash in my stomach that was bleeding like a stuck warthog, but the night was still young.

Quick footfalls and there were two huge dogs barking and snarling and trying to pin me against the wall. There was no time to play so I commanded them: {STOP!} They stopped, and if dogs could look embarrassed, these did. The handlers would be here soon so this had to be simple. {DOWN!} {STAY...STAY}. They lay down and watched as I took to the roof and waited for their handlers.

While I waited I closed up the belly wound but left the scar. At least there would be no blood trail.

The handlers ran up, huffing and dripping sweat. I smelled them long before I saw them. Excitement and fear added to their musky odor, but they were human. They skidded to a halt at the sight of the dead Ajaba. He had reverted to homid in death but with his flattened head next to his outflung hand it was still not a pretty sight. One of the handlers turned away, fell to his knees and deposited his last two meals on the ground. I dropped to the ground behind the one still standing and thrust my hand through his back and out his chest. The dogs looked on quietly even though the blood splashed on them. Getting a grip of his neck, I lifted and threw the body on top of the other handler. He screamed and stood, vomit streaking his shirt and face. The spreading stains in his khaki pants told the story of stark terror. He turned, went whiter than snow and...charged me.

It took a second to register and then his fists were pounding me. No damage done, but he showed no signs of stopping so he had to die. I grabbed him up in a hug and squeezed until the cracking stopped. Blood fountained from his mouth and flowed down between our pressed bodies. Dropping him I once again commanded the dogs: {STAY}, and ran off to find the other Ajaba and the rest of the hunters

The sounds of the camp were subdued as the remaining personnel found the results of my handiwork. Another pair of dogs was raising a racket and a light came on in the main lodge. It looked like they were making a stand there and I had no intention of disappointing them.

The dogs were staked out at the front and rear doors as the last of the hunters came running up dragging women behind them. One of the women was practically dragged in as she was hysterical and kept ranting about demons and headless bodies dancing in the night. Just before the door closed, a guard came running up the road. He almost got shot as the others turned at his shouts and then the door slammed shut. I could hear furniture being moved, muffled instructions and over it all the screaming of the woman. That made ten in the lodge, but only five with guns. And at least one of them was Ajaba.

I let them wait for a bit, and when the screaming woman's tirade started to get on my nerves I leapt to the roof. Just a quick bounce and over to the other side. They opened up and sent dozens of rounds through the roof, knocking shingles off and setting splinters flying. The screaming jumped in volume and intensity as I faded back into the darkness. Both dogs were straining at the stakes and barking loud enough to be heard at the gate. Looks like this is the time.

I found a large boulder and sharpened my claws till they gleamed in the moonlight. With a petition to Celine for strength, I shifted to chatro and charged through the nearest window. The glass exploded inwards and caught one of the dog handlers in the chest and neck. The sill and a portion of the wall fell in and a cloud of dust rose up. Six rifles fired, but I was already moving. SIX?!? SIX!! A quick look and I saw a recessed gun case in the far wall. That look cost me two shots to the leg. Suddenly two of the guns were silent as a hunter and a guard dropped them. The hunter turned screaming and began to tear at the locked and barred front door. The guard, strangely, sat down, took up a bottle and drank deeply. I never turn down a freebie, so with a leap to the right and a slash the guard was dead. The others were not idle, and more shots found their marks. I was bleeding from leg, shoulder and side. The screaming hunter was next and he didn't even see me coming as he was opened up from head to thigh, so intent was he on getting out of the room. Another few shots scored and i felt my front legs getting hit.

A hunter was climbing over the bar, but his foot slipped on the stool. He turned to fire and a guard popped up and fired too. I leapt up and took a hit to the belly, but landed on the prone hunter. His blood gushed from his mouth and nose as the broken ends of ribs poked through his sides like quills. The guard tried to back up and tripped over the three women hiding behind the bar. They in turn began an earsplitting screeching and screaming, scrabbling on all fours to get away. The guard was dazed from the fall and I sliced him open from crotch to chin. The women clawed their way over a hunter that was hiding at the end of the bar. When I went over the countertop, they clawed and screamed their way back.

There was a handler trying to reload and I sent him flying into the fireplace. Fieldstone and concrete made him go crunch and there were more shots to my rear legs. Turning I charged him and closed my jaws over his arm. Biting down removed it and left him twitching and spurting on the floor.

The only ones left were the screaming women, only they were not screaming.

There was a crunching sound coming from behind the bar and one of them slowly stood. "Welcome, oh mighty king," she said around the arm of one of the other women, "now it is my turn." I had found the other Ajaba, and it was the one that had been hysterical. Now as I backed up to get more space, she hopped over the bar. "We are going to rebuild and you will be in a feature place of honor. This place always needed a rug."

She shifted and charged faster than I could counter. With all of these shots I had to take the charge and fall back again. We locked up and both of our claws left bloody tracks in each other. Either she was getting faster or I was slipping faster than I hoped. She scored a double hit to my bleeding belly and clamped her jaws on my shoulder. Pain exploded in me and a red curtain descended over my vision.

I came to on a hill overlooking the compound. The sun was beating down and near at hand was the body of the Ajaba as well as the gate guard. It was all I could do to drag myself into the shade of a nearby tree. Clots and scabs broke open and my blood flowed again, but this time I did not mind as much.

The mission was a success and death, my death, would not be in vain. My rear legs and belly were on fire from numerous bullets and bone showed through the skin of my forelegs. A quick licking and the more serious wounds closed. I was so tired....

I came to again and it was once again night. I checked myself and found that the wounds were closing and healing but scars were showing all over my body. I stood and started walking into the woods. This was not a place to linger and my health was not what it could be.

I wonder how far back to town. Food, rest and then...