TSF –The Test

Once Catarena had returned from her training abroad Wonder Woman summoned her to the Amazon island of Themyscira, to see what Cat had learned. Batman and Robin (now Timothy Drake) were allowed to go to the island as well. Tim could barely watch the fight between Cat and the Amazons. Having changed himself into what she was made him attuned to everything so much more. He was unsure he could keep his cover.

Catarena was evenly matched against the other Amazons. There was no threat she'd hurt any of them. The session went on for hours and Cat faced almost everyone. Tim knew something was up when Wonder Woman made Artemis face Cat. Wonder Woman had spoken to her before hand and even over the noise of the current fight Tim could hear Wonder Woman say to Artemis to push Catarena as far as she could. Tim knew they were trying to make her ferial to try to get her to turn on them. Wonder Woman had it set in her mind that Cat was a danger to humans and had every intention of locking her up forever.

When Artemis faced Cat her attacks were relentless. Cat was getting tired, which was rare for Cat. No matter what Cat did Artemis kept coming. Cat was getting angry because she knew what they were trying to do. The animal was taking control because Cat was so tired, the instinct to live was growing but Cat focused her mind to act defensively instead of aggressively. She wanted to be done fighting; she could barely escape Artemis's attacks. Cat crouched into a submissive stance but when Artemis attacked again, ignoring the submission Cat barely had time to react. Cat began to growl and hiss in warning. Trying to warn Artemis to stop, but Cat's warnings did no good. Catarena kept scrambling away from Artemis on all fours. Transformed and hunched in a defensively threatening crouch, the fur on her tail was fluffed and bristled. Cat refused to attack Artemis, threatening her with a swift swipe of her clawed hand. The scene now looked like the lion and the tamer. Artemis hammered on Cat but she still struggled to get away only scratching in warning. Though the more Artemis pushed the more it was obvious she would soon push Catarena too far. The more Tim listened to Cat's growls of warning the more he could understand her. Soon they were plain as English to him.

"Please… Stop! I don't want to hurt you!"

Her animal speech was pleading as well as threatening toward Artemis. Tim listened as Cat pleaded with Artemis to stop. Catarena didn't want to attack her because she knew she would. But Tim knew if this were a real situation Catarena wouldn't attack because she would have an escape. Here she did not; there was no escaping this until Wonder Woman said it was over. It was a set up. Tim was beginning to lose it. He couldn't stand to hear Cat beg any longer, he wanted to help her. His animal side was going nuts in his head, fighting to break free because the thing he loved was being hurt. Luckily, before Tim reviled his secret Batman stepped forward.

"That's Enough! She's had enough of this ridiculous test! You can see very clearly Cat does not want to attack, but push her anymore and she will!"

Batman roared with anger at Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman motioned for Artemis to stop and she did. Catarena backed away toward Batman, panting heavily for air but still keeping her sharp eyes fixed on Artemis, who did the same to her.

"That is exactly my point! Push her enough and she will. She will kill!"

"No She Will Not! In a real situation there is always an escape. Here was controlled, there was no escape! She held a submissive stance several times and Artemis dismissed them! She is half animal! Any animal will fight if provoked enough, it is nature but animals also recognize submissive behavior. I suppose Amazons do not. We know the risks of this line you've done so well to show everyone. Now I'll show you the precautions we've taken against it. If you'd like to see?" Batman said angrily.

Diana was interested and motioned for him to do so. Batman shifted to Cat; who with the slightest movement acknowledged he was going to address her; all the while her eyes were locked on Artemis.

"Shadow."

At his words her ears went from an aggressive bent position to alert and forward, the left ear tilting toward Batman for a moment.

"Get her."

Batman commanded Catarena, and like a switch going on she sprang with inhuman speed at Artemis; who did not have time to react. Cat's growling snarls were fully aggressive now, promising pain and blood. In less than a minute Cat had Artemis pinned to the ground by her throat. Cat growled and snarled in her face, but before Cat could do her any harm Batman shifted again, getting the same reaction from Cat.

"Stop."

He commanded and Cat stopped instantly, but still had Artemis pinned.

"Come."

Batman commanded again and Cat was at his side instantaneously. Diana and the others, including Tim, stared in shock.

"She recognizes an Alpha. She was trained like a soldier as well. She'd probably even recognize Robin as an Alpha." Batman said.

Diana seemed intrigued to test him.

"Then try it. I want to see if you are right." Diana said.

Batman looked at Robin.

"Go ahead."

Robin suddenly became angry.

"I won't command her to attack someone! She's not some trained pet!" Robin spat.

"I understand how you feel. Just go over there and tell her to come to you." Batman said.

Robin was still reluctant but walked past Cat to the other side of the sparring arena. Robin took a deep breath and looked at Cat, who still sat next to Batman ready to act at any second. Robin didn't like what he'd learned moments ago. He didn't want Batman to be able to command her like that, though Tim knew he wouldn't. Tim deeply wanted to be the one who could bring her out of this ferial state.

"Shadow."

Robin said and she acknowledged him, which pleased him.

"Come."

He said and as quick as before she was at his side. Diana was suspicious of how easily it was for Robin to do that and wanted to try her hand at it.

"Shadow." Diana said.

Tim noticed Cat had not acknowledged her as someone to obey but it was clear Diana hadn't noticed the subtle acknowledgements from before. Tim wondered if he was the only one who'd noticed.

"Come."

Diana said but Cat didn't go to her. Cat only looked at her and Diana was annoyed.

"So she doesn't respect me, because she's angry with me?"

"No, she respects you a great deal. She did look at you. She didn't listen because I'm here. I will always be Alpha in her animal eyes."

Robin was disturbed by his words. He didn't want Batman to be that to her, he wanted to be it. Even though Tim knew what Batman had meant by it he still didn't like it. He wanted to make Cat do something that Batman couldn't.

"It's ok now. It's over. You're safe."

Everyone heard Robin say this to Cat and at his words she reacted. Blinking several times and touching her head she got her bearings. Batman was surprised Robin was able to bring Catarena back and wondered what was going on between them. In a minute Cat remembered what had gone on and she stood on two feet finally. She glared at Diana and then looked at Batman.

"We're leaving."

Cat said flatly, but as she took a step she faltered. Her head spun from standing so quickly and the ground moved from under her feet. She was exhausted. Robin caught her and lifted her into his arms. Batman caught Robin's eyes and they started to leave.