I wake up to a blinding light. As my eyes start to adjust, I look around as much as I can. I am too sore to get up. I look down at my arms, only to discover needles and other things in them. I look to my left, where there was a big machine. I look to my right, and I discover a table with bottles of strange-looking liquid and a few shots. I try to lift my head but I come back down with a groan and a thump. The sedative still had an effect on me. I realized that I had not told Shadow that I was not from B.I.G. I did not become the thing that I am because of B.I.G. I do not know where I came from. Maybe B.I.G. had different branches of different labratories in different places. I wasn't sure. 

I wondered where I came from. I knew that, once, I was a regular cat. Well, a Dolor Felis, that is. Did I have a family? Did I have friends? I never knew and I don't think I ever will. 

After I was captured, they experimented. I wasn't the most successful one. My leg was gone, and something happened to my face. But why? After I got "better," they sent me away somewhere where my memory-everything that I had hope in, everything that I could hold on to- was erased. 

I then became an assasin. No emotions. No fear. No sides. I was the perfect monster they created me to be. But where did I come from?

My ears pick up something. I move them around, trying to get a better sound. It sounds like paws scurrying through the roof. A rat? No, bigger. A big rodent? No, larger. Then all of the sudden a white thing shoots out of one of the vents. It crawls onto my bed, trying to release my bonds. 

"Why isn't it working?" she mumbles, pulling at them. 

She's here to rescue me. But I'm reminded, and a dreadful shot of regret rushes up my spine.

"Wait, no, the cameras--"

But it's too late. Before she can turn around, B.I.G. guards and scientists rush in. She seems to have brought a weapon, and she pulls it out. She starts shooting and most of the gurads are knocked out. She's very brave. But one dart gets to her before she can react. One of the missed darts plunges into my side. She takes hers out lightening fast, and starts shooting again.

I scream. "Wait, help!" I desperatley work at trying to get to my side, but I can't reach. The bonds are too tight. The last guard and scientist are knocked out.

When she realizes I have one, she turns wide eyed. I look at it. It's a Poisonberry dart. I used to use them. I desperatley work at my bonds to get it out, but I'm restrained. She tries to help me, but the dart is embedded. Then with one last pull, she yanks it out.

She tosses it to the side and works at my bonds again. She claws at it and bites, but it won't give through. Then I'm reminded of something. When I was being experimented on, an extra claw was embedded in my paw, and it was like the sharpest knife ever made. 

"My claw," I groan. "Pull it out." I unsheath my claws.

She looks at me uncertainly. 

"Do it," I say.

She does. It's a sharp pain, and I stifle a scream, but she uses it to cut me free. She helps me off the bed, but I nearly collapse to the floor. I've forgotten about the poison. 

"Rats," she scowls. She looks at me gently. "We'll help you, okay?"

I nod. I don't want to seem weak, so I stand up and walk. It feels like knives twisting in my side with each step I take, but I troop on. She looks at me with a sloght look of admiration, and jumps in front of me and starts to trot. I follow her.

"I'm Eli, by the way," she says. 

"Mina," I reply. "We going to get Shadow?"

"Yes," she says as she looks ahead. "And then we have long ways ahead of us."

I glance at the intern and Shadow and scowl. 

"It's okay, he's with me," Shadow says.

"Hello, nice to meet you a-" he gets interrupted.

"Okay, okay, let's skip the pleasantries. We need to get moving," Eli says.

"Right," Shadow says.

I stumble slightly. The poisen. It's getting worse.

"Hey, you okay?" Shadow asks as she walks over to us.

"Yes," I say. I glance over at Eli who's looking at me with uncertainty. "Everything's great. No let's go."

Shadow nods. She looks at the intern. "Are you going to get in trouble?"

"No, don't worry," he responds. I short-wired the video cameras, and I can cover up for myself."

"Okay, wonderful, now let's GO," Eli says impatiently.

I can tell she doesn't like humans very much.

We down the hallway and take a turn to a vent.

"Yeah, like that's happening," Shadow says. 

"Well," Eli huffs. "Can't you tuck them in or something?"

"I don't know. I just got these things," Shadow responds.

Eli laughs, loosening the tension. "Well then maybe you have to shed them."

Shadow chuckles. "Just got them!"

I would laugh but I just want to get into the fresh air. I'm starting to feel light-headed, and I think it's because of the facility.

We crawl through the vent, and Eli finally pops it open to the outside. We run to a patch of trees nearby to avoid being seen. I still feel light-headed. Eli motions for us to follow her down what seems to be a forest path. 

"Now, we're going to be trekking through here for a while, so we might have to set up camp for the night pretty soon."

"Okay. Eli, you and Mina can go hunt, and I'll stay and tend the fire. Maybe I can get some herbs ready too, to season the meat," she pauses. "Hang on. This looks like the place where Mina and I were ambushed," she pauses and looks concerned. Her eyes suddenley become saucers. "Diana! What did they do to Diana?!" she looks at me with fear. She remmebers the story I told her about the horses. "We have to go back!"

"No!" Eli says. "We have to keep on going. This is the only rescue you're going to get. Let's go."

"No, Diana!" Shadow wails. "We can't leave her!"

I look at both of them. My vision is getting blurry.

"Come on," Eli urges. "You have to make the fire, remember? I can't! I don't have opposable thumbs." She looks at me anxiously.

"Yeah, Shadow," I laugh forcibly. I can barely think straight.

"But-but-Diana...." Shadow says, looking down. "You're right. We have to go on," she says, regaining herself.

We go along and finally stop. While Shadow makes the fire, Eli and I rest before we go hunt. I'm freezing.

"Hey, are you okay?" Eli asks.

"Yeah, just cold," I reply with a smile.

"Really?" Shadow chuckles. "I'm hot!"

"Yeah, me too," Eli responds, looking at me questionably.

"Oh!" Shadow exclaims. "The intern gave me my pouch back, and I must of stuffed the lab coat in here," she says, handing it to me. "Here ya go!" 

"Thank you," I say.

"Alright!" Eli says. "Let's go hunt."

I stand up.

"You go that way," Eli says, pointing left. "And I'll go this way. We can meet back here in a few."

"Okay," I reply.

"Good luck!" Shadow says.

"Thanks," I mutter.

I walk along. My cat eyes quickly adjust to the darkness. I look down at my side, where the arrow was shot. I almost pass out. It's a gaping hole, and blood is slowly oozing out of it. I stumble, and turn around, trying to find my way back to the camp. I feel a sharp pain, and stifle a scream. It's blinding me. I can see the light of the fire. I stagger into the clearing. 

"Mina!" Shadow exclaims.

I try to push back the pain. I can feel the sweat and a cold feeling ruchng through my spine. I take another step.

"Mina, stop, you're scaring me!" Shadow yells.

"It's-it's not a joke," I sputter out.

My hand uncovers my side, and Shadow gasps. I look down. There is black stuff coming out. Hang on. This isn't a poisonberry dart discharge. I was shot with something else. differnt then Eli. What is this? I take another step forward. Shadow gets up and begins to head toward me. I wobble, and everything is dimming.

"ELI!" Shadow screams. "YOU NEED TO COME RIGHT NOW, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!"

A few seconds later, I see a white blur dart from the bushes. Eli yells out something, and so does Shadow. But I can't hear anything. I lose my balance, as I feel my eyes roll to the back of my head. Everything goes black, as I hear a large thump. It's me.  

I feel myself running away from something. I'm running down a path, the trees seeming to grow taller the deeper I go. What am I running from? I feel myself faster than usual. I look down and see my other leg. As if on cue, there is a lake that is crystal clear. I look at my reflection. My face! It's whole again! I look around and see other cats like me. A small cat comes up to me. 

"Come on, Mina!" she squeaks, with a huge smile on her face. She's beautiful. "Mom prepared minced pigeons! You're favorite! And dad's failing at making your birthday pie, but you can at least see him try!" 

My birthday? I stare at her. "Where am I?" 

"What are you talking about?" another cat, slightly older than me, says as she walks up to me. She's also beautiful. "Come on, let's go check it out Mina!" 

I feel dazed. "Who are you?"

The older cat looks at me. "Are you feeling okay?"

The younger cat looks at me. "What's wrong, Mina?"

The older cat shrugs. "Whatever. Come on, Leva. Let's go."

"See you in a few, Mina!" Leva says. 

I suddenely hear screams. I look behind me and a fire approaches. That's what I was running from. I can't move. 

"Leva! Run!" the older cat exclaims.

Leva runs inside the house to "mom and dad."

"Come on!" I hear her shout. 

An older couple trots out of a small hut, while the older cat gets people out of their houses. I hear more screams. Another fire is approaching, from the direction in which they are all running. More flames come, surronding the enitre village. Then out of the smoke and flames comes people in white uniforms. The spray the inside of houses with green gas as I hear cats wail. I look to my left and see armed people shooting cats with guns. One by one, the cats drop. I watch "mom and dad" drop. Leva runs to the older cat, and cltuches to her. Two guards surrond them. I fight to go help them, but I can't move. The older cat fights with the guards and successfully takes them out. There are more shouts from the guards, and I see one of them shoot the older cat. But even with one dart to her leg, she still fights. They shoot her the second time, and she falls. There are more screams from other cats and shouts from guards whie Leva screams out the older cat's name. I can't hear her. The other sounds drowns everyhing out. Leva looks at the guards fearfully. I'm paralyzed. I struggle to shout, but I can't. The sound choke sin my throat. They grab Leva by the tail and toss her to the side. She lands wrong, her body in different angles. She doesn't get up. The fire shoots up and consumes the village as the guards and those in uniforms run from the forest on foot and in vehicles. The light is so bright, and it finally fades to darkness. I still can hear the lasting echos of the cats screaming.

I jolt up, and Eli, Jake, and Shadow jump. I then groan and lay back down. I still feel terrible. 

"What was that about?" Eli exclaims, her fur bristling.

"Nothing," I mutter. "I need to go take a walk."

"Are you crazy?" Shadow hisses. "In case you don't know, we haven't gotten rid of the poison. It could KILL you."

"I'll be fine," I say as I get up. I'm sore, but I'm fine.

Shadow and Eli look at each other.

"If anything happens, scream lou-" Shadow tries to say.

"I can handle myself!" I spit.

"No, you can't!" Eli snaps.

I growl and bare my teeth, unsheathing my claws. Eli's fur puffs up, and she looks suprised.

"Fine!" she huffs. "See if I care!"

But I can tell by the look on her face that she does.

"Just be careful," Jake says. "The poison is still in full effect."

I feel an odd shudder down my spine. I feel like I have more adrenaline. Shadow looks at me weird.

Jake comes up and starts spurtting Einstein at me while Eli and Shadow whisper. I can still hear them. Do they not get the memo by now that I'm an enhanced cat?

"...Poison...Killed her by now," I hear Eli say.

"Then what...not poison?" Shadow asks.

"...Wait...we'll see," Eli responds.

Shadow nods.

I walk from our camp, and down the forest path.

Leva, I repeat in my head. A beatiful name. She must have been my younger sister. And the cat older than me. She must have been my older sister. I wonder what her name was. 

I hear something. I stop dead in my tracks and move my ears around. Suddenely, a wolf darts out of the bushes and growls at me.

"I thought that you moon children were supposed to be out at night," I say calmly.

Thw wolf sits up straight and looks at me with curiousity.

"And what are you?" it asks softly.

"A Dolor Feli-" I begin to say, but I feel a twisting pain at my side.

The wolf comes up to me and looks at my wound.

"This isn't poison..." it mutters.

"I know," I said. "I didn't think it was. If it is, I would be dead."

The wolf inspects it some more. "It's more like an experimental...." It jerks up. "We need to go now!" it shouts.

We run back to the camp. As soon as Eli sees the wolf, she growls.

"What are you doing here?" she spits.

"Not now, Eli," the woolf responds. "Your friend here," it says, looking at me. "She been injected with the same drug that they were."

They seem to have come code going on. Eli looks at me and looks back at the wolf.

"How would you like to be more than a cat?" 

"Why don't you get lost before I get rid of you myself." I growl. He throws back his head and laughs. I pull out my crossbow and loose a quarrel at him.

In a lightning fast motion, he's holding the quarrel. "How did you--" I spit. Then I shake my head. "Whatever. I'll kill you for Claaws." "Claaws isn't here to congratulate you." "OHH YOU!" I spit. Mina and Shadow stand there, heads swiveling, faces brave and pulled into tough expressions. "Whatever, I need the--" Catastrophe is about to say.

"Hello there!" A voice calls down from the sky. "Icy?" 

Hm. Running animals: I think they have information.

I flap my wings, and fly down.

Many people think that bats are blind, but I could clearly see the outline of a certain fox... 

I still remember the wolf who ran as soon as it saw Catastrophe. Nevertheless, my focus right now is keeping balance on the flying horses. It's getting really cramped on Ginger (yes, Shadow named her. She has a thing about horses.), and I start to fear that Jake might hurl on me. 

"Shadow," I whisper.

She looks at me. "Yeah?"

I point to Jake who looks like he's going to pass out.

"He's gonna do it on me. Can you get me to another horse?" I ask.

"How?" she asks back.

I point to her wings.

"Ah," she says, laughing. "I'm still not used to them..." she looks at her wings. She hesitates. "I was thinking about this before, but....do you think they're ugly? I mean I know it's ridiculous to ask you, but I didn't know."

"No, of course not! It only scared me because, well, I never liked experiments," I reply.

"Oh okay!" Shadow chuckles. She picks me up and flutters sloppily towards another horse. "Are you sure you want to be on a horse by yourself?"

"I'm fine," I sigh.

"Okay!" Shadow says, as she flies back to Ginger.

We continue for a few more hours.

I look down at my paws. They're aching. I check my claws and almost jump. They've grown a longer. WAY longer.