Fighter stared at the rest of his fallen opponents. He counted at least three animals in the pile of bodies that was left. Either beaten; bruised, scratched up. He didn't want to hurt any of them, unfortunately it wasn't his choice. He wiped the sweat from his brow as he went back into his fighting stance. He practiced this numerous times with his till it became second nature to him. He placed his left foot farther in front of the right foot, he rested his elbows on his chest while keeping his fist up toward his chin. The right fist extended slightly forward: A boxers stance.

In the arena he quickly learned two things; first, no matter what happens only one animal will come "home". The rest—He really didn't want to know judging from the angry human handler, he saw one of them with a pocket knife hanging down their waist. What mattered was keeping himself alive, and dodging the occasional bottle thrown into the arena by an angry human spectator—Fun times. They constantly cheered for the combatants to brutalize each other. The roars of the crowd were overwhelming as he looked forward to see his new opponents.

They wanted to see blood.

Second, his handler: wasn't the smartest person around. This was an understatement considering he brought three animals with him for this bout, but didn't allow him to switch off. Something about him being on a roll or something as he started to drink with his buddy from a bottle. Momentum be damned, you'll roll snake eyes eventually and lose everything.

A steel create was dropped into the arena. It opened and out of the box came out a bearded-vulture. It was about the same size of the bear. Its head was small, with red eyes being it's definitive quality. It's feathers had a beautiful orange colour to it, a sunrise would be the best comparison.

He noticed it's sharp talons, they could probably tear his fur clean off. The bird screeched and charged forward, it's wings spread out and it's talons exposed. Predictable. He thought, it reminded him of something. Observe your opponent and find their weakness. He waited till it was about to connect with its talons as he weaved to the right and gave the bird a left hook to it's stomach, it rolled into the pile. Another featherweight falls, who's next?

The crate held another opponent. He heard a large roar from the box as it echoed in the arena: A wolverine Ran out of the box. Normally the bear would be larger than the wolverine, but unfortunately for the bear he wasn't fully grown yet, so this animal had the size advantage. The coat of it's fur had a brown with a darker tinge starting at the legs. It walked on all fours. He noticed the animal's paws had a bit of blood as well as some on it's claws.

Another smart move on the humans part, leaving predators in a cage together. The Wolverine snorted as he swiped at the bear. But it was slower than he expected. He dodged preemptively only to get slashed, just barely leaving a mark on the symbol he had on his belly. A pair of red boxing gloves. He was lucky it wasn't deeper, he got into his stance again.

The wolverine kept attacking furiously, it had no fear. He was about to retaliate when the animal waited and jumped back with a retreating slash. He dodged and continued to watch. This time it swiped twice and backed up again. The bear narrowed his brow, he knew what he had to do. Again, it went for the same strategy this time he swiped three times. He stepped forward and followed him. The Gulo smiled as he had readied his claw.

The bear knew what was about to happen. He watched his opponent and just as he was about to impale him with his claw. He darted to his right and slammed his fist into the head of animal as it growled in pain, but it wasn't done yet—The Gulo slashed widely at the bear, it wasn't going to let him hit on the same side again. This however wasn't a problem. He charged forward to the animal and then as it reached it, he placed his right hand and right foot forward. He threw a jab with his right, it countered with a slash to his knee. He grunted in pain and kept going.

He kept his knees bent, he needed to be relaxed as possible lull it into a false sense of security. It saw this and went all in. Slashing, biting, even whipping it's tall, but all attempts missed as he bobbed and weaved around the despite the scratched knee. It grew angrier and snarled as it lurched forward with it's claws. Now the bear smiled pleased, Babbeo.

He stepped into the range of it's claws and gave it a swift uppercut to his jaw, result making the Gulo stand up on it's hind legs with it's head pulled back and arms openly to it's sides. "Graaaaaaah!". It's scream echoed in his mind as it reverberated in the arena. It was about to retaliate but the bear was quicker, he moved his rear shoulder and thrusting it forward and giving the animal a straight punch in it's throat knocking the animal down. He sighed as he tried to relax holding his chest.

A low growl came from the crate. Another one? This one was larger than his previous opponent and luckily for him his last. It was a crocodile, it's scales were gray and it had splotches of blood near its jaw. It slowly approached him, he watched him intently and noticed a shining object in the sand behind his opponent.

The croc lurched forward and began chomping at the bear. Fighter quickly stepped back swiftly dodging the chomps as it slowly advanced near the edge of the ring. He step back again only to feel something graze the back of his feet. "Gah, that stings!" He must of stepped on a bit of glass. Clever.

The Grey fiend lurched forward to chomp again, but he lept over the crocodile brought both his knees inward, rolling in the air while simultaneously pulling the glass from his heel and landing. Blood was left on the sand as turned to his opponent. Boxing won't help much here, He let his claws out.

The bear slashed at the croc with all it's might, it had no effect. it's hide was to thick for him to pierce or scratch. The crocodile continued to gnaw at him, his teeth barely grazing his side. This needed to end. Now. He looked around and saw the a larger shard of glass jutting out… I have to do this...sorry

He rolled around the fiend and ran to get a head start as the croc followed. The audience booed throwing food and drinks into the arena. He didn't care, he just dodged the occasional drink or corn-dog as he got to the glass. The croc lurched forward again, this time he was ready. He darted around the thing as he let it fall unto glass. It left scratches in his hide. Perfect.

He charged forward and let the croc have it. His blows were heavy and unrelenting. Not giving it an inch for him to work with. That one degree, that inch is the difference between failure and success. The croc finally dodged the blow and went to clamp down on his body. He held the beast's jaw back. He was growing tired as he felt the teeth of the animal clamp down further. Wait for it. He pulled the jaw up further apart. Now!

He let go it jaw as It clamped down. It heard the croc's mouth squish as he saw a bit of blood drip from it's mouth. He grabbed the thing by it's head and slid under the belly and slashed across it's belly leaving a gash behind as it, then pulled the glass from the ground and slammed it in the back of his foe's head. The crowd roared in excitement...He grew tired of this, he waited for his handler to pick him up. He looked up noticed a room above the arena, two humans watched the events unfold with headsets...

In the truck of the bear's handler laid three cages. Two of them were at the front while furthest one that had the bear was nearest to the back of the truck. A radio played music as the driver was trying to bring these animals to their "home". A mouse sitting on top of Fighter's head started to sing out the chorus:

(wo-oo) Were half way there

Wo-oo) Livin' on a prayer

Take my hand we'll make it, I swear

(Wo-oo)

Livin' on a prayer

Fighter opened his eyes and chuckled at his companion. "Please for the both of us. Mike, stop singing." He crossed arms and rested his back on the bars. Mike smirked and responded. "Don't like my lovely voice? Women love a man who can sing." his raucous voice didn't help his point.

"I'd rather be shot then hear you sing again." A feminine voice was heard from the front of them in one of the cages, Tali.

Mike responded as eloquently as possible. "Well screw you, nobody asked." He stuck out his tongue.

"As soon as we get back that tongue is mine." She said coolly.

"Ooooh, Dirty girl! How bout we-" Fighter quickly silenced his friend with his finger.

"Years together and you still can't keep your mouth shut." He moved his finger from his mouth.

"Not my fault, she's giving me ammunition to work with." His friend smiled softly

"While she's a loaded gun, careful you don't shoot yourself."

Mike laughed stridently. Glad to know his humour isn't lost.

The song changed to something more familiar to the both of them. "Ohh, yes." The mouse started to dance on the bear's head and the sing the lyrics.

"God—Stop that mouse's singing, he sounds like a dog whining at the moon." She looked at the cage beside her.

"No offense." A scoff was heard from the cage.

Fighter nodded his head to the beat of the song.

Mike noticed and started to goat him to try and sing with him, he starting tapping his knees.

"No." he stated flatly. But it didn't stop Mike from singing:

Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive…

He paused as he looked at him. A smile crept on his lips as he continued.

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals
Animals
Like animals

So what you trying to do to me
It's like we can't stop we're enemies

Fighter blurted out the next lyrics as both of them shouted it unison."But we get along when I'm inside you!"The bear held the bridge of his nose and grinned, while Mike was laughing hard while slapping his knee.

"It's gonna a be long trip back." She sighed. Glad to know someone's enjoying themselves.

"Agreed." Clyde said. Karaoke night couldn't be any more annoying.

The truck arrived back at the warehouse as night fell. The humans placed them back in there respective areas, predators together while the lesser animals were paired amongst each other. The cages weren't small enough to be constricting, but it was just enough space to still remind the animal that they couldn't get out once they see the bars around them. Mike and Fighter slept on opposite ends of the room, the bear snoring all the way. However something was about to change that.

A small figure crept from the top of their cage and landed just at the entrance of the cage. It fiddled with the lock on the cage, a small beep was heard before it opened. It pushed the door open and locked the cage as it saw it's prey. Closer and closer it crept till it reached the small mammal it readied it's claws.

"Funny thing about breaking in, you don't close the door till you leave." Fighter grasped the intruders tail. It turned it's head in shock. Even in the dark it still see his yellow eyes, they glowed ominously. Almost like the headlights of a car in the night, except this deer didn't freeze when it was caught.

It swung at Fighter lunging forward, he barely avoided it. It lunged again this time it made it's mark jumping on top of the bear. Scratching and clawing at him furiously. Just stay down. Both of them didn't let up, neither of them gave an inch. It's tail wrapped around the bear's torso, the bear grabbed the animal by it's neck just barely grasping it because it was so small. The bear had grown tired from the previous escapades, but it couldn't let up, not now. But it could see it in his eyes how tired the bear was. All she needed to do was wait…

Morning came around although the animals couldn't tell considering the poorly lit environment they were forced to live in. It was quiet, eerily so as the sun rose over the compound as one of the animals rose up from their slumber. "Aaaah," He yawned. "Just what type of dream were you having, Fighter? It sounded a little too intimate for my liking." Mike smiled which immediately turned into a perverted grin as he saw his companion's form. I got time before he wakes up. Gotta think of something good when he sees this.

….

The bear yawned openly his still eyes closed. He felt odd this morning granted he fought many animals that day but something...was...still on his chest. He opened his eyes to see his new 'bed mate'

"Son. Now I've told you about bringing women in your room late at night, it worries me and you m-"

"Shut. Up." He would be angry at Mike but he was grinning due to how much effort the mouse put into this moment. "How long did you plan this for?"

The mouse frowned. "Do you really think I have enough time for this?' He smiled genuinely as he placed his hand on his chest, 'I'm touched."

"That makes the both of us". A yawn was heard from his bedfellow. Tali opened her eyes and smiled innocently. The two looked at each other, the cage was silent.

"Soooo, you two gonna get intimate? Cause I can leave right now. Or take pictures whatever you like." Mike chortled at his friend predicament.

Fighter shook his head annoyed. Tali struggled trying to get out of his grip she grinned sheepishly. "This is the part where you let me go awkwardly and I escape?" Fighter narrowed his brow and gave her a flat expression.

"No that's not gonna happen for two reasons; One, I'm not letting go of you until you explain why you were about to 86 my friend here,'

"That's not number I'd personally go for I'm more of he he, sixers fan." Mike snickered as Fighter ignored him.

"And two, you are literally stuck in here with me till lunch time when the cage opens. Talk now." His voice was stern, it seemed she couldn't wriggle her way out of this one.