Summary

Maximum is a black panther that lives in a zoo with her friend Ignite. She is bored every day until an unusual human dressed in black helps her realize she has a power that she never knew she had. Maximum is unwillingly thrown into a world of tricks, betrayals, and battles, and a decision between herself and her favorite boy in black.

A/N: Hey guys I thought of this story when I was looking at the panthers at the San Diego zoo I was so sad when they keep pacing the fence of their habitat. And I was like what if Max lived at a zoo and desperately wanted to get out. Pretty good idea right, yeah , Please review I would really appreciate it. So, on with the story.

~Wing Lover

*Five years ago*

I blinked, trying to shake off the unnatural sleep. I took in my surroundings. Warm black fur encased me, blocking me from whatever lies behind the furry barrier. I pushed in between the two bodies, "Man," I thought, "these guys are heavy!" I broke free of the musty scent, and gazed around my new surroundings, stretching my legs as I did. The ground was soft, small yellow, brown flakes cushioned my every move they smelled a little like trees. The walls were a harsh gray from the floor to ceiling. The ceiling made me feel trapped, claustrophobic even. The room itself was rater large, to me. I padded over to the large pile of breathing black fur.

I was able to decipher three individual shapes, two small and one large Black Panthers. I prodded the closest lump with an outstretched paw. "I am trying to sleep!" he declared, obviously still tired. I poked him again trying to wake him up. "Go. Away," he growled. "No." and then I sat on his back. "Ugh!" he lifted his head and growled, "Aright, I'm up." "Hi, my name is Maximum."I stated. "M'kay, odd name but who am I to talk, mine is Ignite." Ignite pushed me off of his back and I 'gracefully' plopped on the ground beside him. "So…" he said trying to start a conversation, "how did you get here?" I searched my mind for an answer. Nothing. "Not sure," I responded, "How 'bout you?"

Ignite's amber eyes darkened to a light brown, "I can't remember either," he mumbled. There was a full grown black panther curled around a kit that was much smaller than Ignite and I. "Let's wake her up!" I whispered glancing between the kit and Ignite. I softly padded across the room to the kit, grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and dragged her not so gently to where Ignite was perched. I let her head drop on to the floor and sat beside Ignite. "Hey!" she growled menacingly, "I was trying to sleep!" I rolled my eyes and asked, "What is your name?"

"The name is Amber and don't think try to boss me around, I'm in charge here," she growled in arrogance, her unusually bright amber eyes flashing. "Are you sure?" I scoffed. A growl ripped through Amber's chest, and she jumped at me claws extended. I rolled my eyes, again, and easily side-sided her attempt at an attack.

I whipped my head to look at her while she recovered from slamming into the ground. I leapt gracefully onto Amber's back, which knocked the breath out her. I bent down to her and whispered sarcastically, "Anger issues, much?" She growled. Amber wiggled out from underneath me and turned around and looked into my eyes. Her eyes amber mesmerized me and I couldn't feel the ground under my paws. I was jerked out of my trance when sharp claws ripped through my midnight pelt; I reacted quickly lifting my paws to slice her as she circled me. I growled, frustrated, when a large black paw moved me away from Amber.

I clawed the callused paw pad and snarled when I didn't get a response. I was brought around to look at the face of the adult panther. "Now, now," she spoke softly, but I could see in her odd black eyes that if she wanted she could easily kill the most seasoned fighter, "don't fight." Amber was nodding happily, but I wasn't bought by the adult just yet. "Why?" I asked rolling my eyes. "Because, it is bad to fight friends," she resounded in all seriousness. "We aren't friends," Amber protested quietly.

I rolled my eyes, I seem to do that a lot, don't I, but I did what she asked. "Who are you," Ignite asked. He must have stayed very quiet while Amber and I fought because I didn't notice him. "My name is Midnight and I am going to be your surrogate mother, for now." Ignite and Amber seemed to accept that, but I couldn't shake that knowing glint in her eyes when she looked at me. "Come and sleep," Midnight purred. Even I couldn't argue that it felt like my paws were one hundred pounds each. I happily obliged. Midnight lay down on the soft ground and nodded for us to come over. I curled in-between Ignite and Amber, warm and happy I closed my eyes. Right before I fell into a deep sleep I heard, "Sleep tight Maximum."

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R&R