Chapter Text
Ina
The world was small. At least it certainly seemed so to Ina. Her mother, her brother and 4 white walls. That was all. It took her maybe 8 hops to get from one side to the other. And she was still a little panther, it may only take her mother 4 hops. And that was really all there was to do. Hop. The bipeds, or humans as her mother called them, had bothered to install a chain with a rope attached, but unless she felt like hanging off it upside down, there really wasn't much to do with it.
Which was exactly what her brother was currently doing. Ina tilted her head, not bothering to lift it off her paws. Her brother hung perfectly balanced, one back foot hooked into the very top of the chain, as he stared intently at the chain. Its links glowed a deep red, the ball sinking mere millimeters.
Valo flipped himself fast, catching the lower section of chain between his feet. The links snapped apart with a quiet clang, dropping Valo and his prize to the floor. “I got it! I told you I could get it down!” He crowed. This had been his version of fun for the last week, ever since he got mad.
Her gaze strayed to the tile in question. Her mother had covered it with their bed, but the fragmented edges were still there. Valo's paw print, burned into the floor. She sighed. “I hadn't challenged you. In fact I distinctly remember mom telling you not to do that because the humans will question how you did it.”
“VALO!” Their mother pinned him to the floor with a vicious snarl. Her fur was washed out, a dingy gray with the lights above. “How many times?”
“But mom!” He went limp, baring his throat to her. “At least if they focus on us it'll be more to do then sitting here staring at nothing!”
Mykur sighed, stepping away from her son to stare blankly at the door. “Is it worth it, Valo? Is it worth watching you and Ina get taken away if it relieves your boredom? Because they will come. Especially after this action Valo. They are coming to take you away.”
Ina tilted her head up, meeting the unblinking red eye in the corner. They knew. They always knew. She could always hear their thoughts when they came to the door, their thoughts loud with excitement. She was careful to keep her mind when they arrived, just in case they were telepathic too. “Mom, what exactly are they going to do with you when we get taken? Heck, what should we expect?”
Mykur shook herself, forcing her eyes from the door. “Training. At least at first. Exactly what Valo wants. They'll assign you a person. Or so they did us.” She stepped away, back to the thin cushion left to them.
Ina bounced twice, two cute little bunny hops, before curling up tight against her mother's chest. Valo crept over, nuzzling up under his mother's chin. “Why is that so bad mom?”
“I'm not done.” She ran her tongue across his head, nudging him beside his sister. “That part isn't bad. Sometimes it isn't fun, but sometimes it's a lot of fun. They'll want you to show off, and you'll want to. You'll want to believe in them, but it's not safe. For the next 6 months to a year they'll be taking notes. Sending them on to the next level of scientists. These scientists are… Not good. They are the ones who start the testing to see if you can reproduce. If you can and your abilities exceed your parents, they will be put through one more breeding to get another generation, and then, then they'll be put to death.”
Ina tilted her head back, her mother's heart thrumming in her ears. A comfort she may soon no longer have, she realized. “Are… Are we more powerful than you or dad?”
Mykur rested her chin on Ina's head, chuffing softly. “Probably. In fact… I would say yes.”
“Is that why you always told us to hide what we can do? To protect yourself?” Valo blinked once, his malice failing him. “Sorry mom. I just… I, I can't stand being in this room much longer. It feels like I'm going insane. Completely mental.”
Mykur licked her lips, her jagged ears focusing hard on the door. “Run if you ever get the chance. Even if it's alone, go. Go as fast as you can, as far as you can. Do you understand? They already took your sister when they saw what she could do with lightning. They killed your father for his flame. And they'll kill me. Leave me to starve or to play in their sadistic games.”
The door slid open, three bowls slid in, the edge gleaming with their delightful gruel. A drop slid down the side, staining the shine of the metal with a sickly grayish green ooze. It seemed sharper, it's scent almost painful even across the room.
Mykur pulled herself to her feet once more and Ina regarded her with new eyes. Her fur was dull, whispy and too short in places. Her eyes settled too far into her head, cheeks sunken in.
“Mom…” Ina shook herself hard. “I would rather come home for you than ever leave here to suffer again.”
Mykur rested her tail across Ina's shoulders, guiding her closer to the bowls. “Eat, little one. They want you to sleep so you can go to your next stage. I'm sorry.” She leaned down, taking her first mouthful, her lip raising as she tried not to inhale the rancid scent.
Ina flinched back, unable to suppress her dry heave. She swallowed hard, blinking against the fumes radiating up. “Are you sure?”
“Just eat it Ina!” Mykur raised her head slowly, her eyes cold as ice. Her tone wavered as she fought to remain stern. “Just… Get it over with. Please.”
Ina took a deep breath and snapped at the cold sludge. The slime slid down her throat like molasses, stealing her breath. She blinked hard, swaying on her feet almost immediately. “I love you mom. Please be safe.” She sat, her tail bending uncomfortably beneath her. The door cracked open, a thin noose snagging her by the throat as she was pulled down the hall.
She gasped, her claws gouging the floor. They wrenched, ripping free again. “Behave. It's ok. You've got this.” She whispered, begging her heart to settle. “You didn't expect them to be nice. Just listen to their minds. You've got this. Valo will be behind you.”
She forced her eyes wide. The walls slanted high above her head, far higher than her roof ever was. Clear panes separated every second level and that's what she used to count. 3 panes, but only one level on the final pane. Humans zipped about, some leaping from one level to the next with feats of agility even she didn't expect to meet.
The noose tightened again, her vision swimming in grayscale as she twisted. Her fur tore, thin wisps of black floating down the hall. She blinked hard, the world darkening. They stopped at a door, padlocked much like the room she shared with Valo and her mother.
Her legs failed her, unable to even heave her back to her feet, no matter how she commanded them to. They were like lead. Blocks left to be dragged behind her.
They shoved her forward, the noose dropping her throat. Cold tile greeted her throat, the darkness finally winning.