A/N: Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. It was a definite and unexpected thrill to see so many familiar names. I can think of no higher compliment for an author than for their audience to return for a new story. It's one thing to read a story to the end, just to see how it turned out, but you guys voluntarily read another story. A story from a series I have never even written for before. So thank you, that was wonderful. And thank you also to the new names, I hope to see more of you.

The black jaguar's sleek coat gleamed in the light. Out here in the sun, it was easy to see the underlying golden with its strong black rosette patterning. Supay looked okay. He looked better than that, actually. He looked absolutely wonderful.

He was thriving in the large holding pen. It was well equipped. There was the trunk of a dead tree set up on one side, which Supay could scratch on, and also perch on top of. There was a magnificent stone structure that had many spots to perch, including a landing in front of a cave about three feet off the ground. There was a large sack with stuffing, which Supay used to simulate kills, his massive fangs sinking in deep for what would be a killing bite. The soft material did not exemplify the sheer power of Supay's jaws. The jaguar could bite through the skull of a fairly good sized animal. Supay never had, but he was clearly itching for the opportunity. There was a small pool of water for Supay to splash in, but out in the fenced wilderness was a lake, where he would be able to swim and fish if he wanted. Jaguars loved water, and Supay was no exception.

Melina stood watching him, amazed at how different he was without a chain to hold him. The fur around his neck was short and scruffy where the chain had rubbed, and might never grow back properly. But the physical scars were minimal, and Melina knew that they did not define him.

Melina hadn't had any second thoughts about this. She didn't toss and turn at night, wondering if this was the right decision. She had a choice. She could either ignore this magnificent creature, or she could help him.

Carver had taken him from his jungle home. Bernard had tortured and imprisoned him. But Melina had played her role as well, doing nothing to free him, and eventually condemning him to death for her own selfish purposes.

Now, through the generosity of Wayne Enterprises, both she and the big cat were getting a second chance. She had options, but this was the only one she wanted. This is where she should be, she could feel it in the air around her. This was home.

"You ready for this?"

Melina turned in surprise. Robin was perching on a section of fence behind her, looking down with bright eyes. It seemed odd to see him in broad daylight, and so far from Gotham.

"Robin!" Melina exclaimed, "Are you alright?"

"Obviously," Robin chuckled warmly, "I only fainted. No biggie."

"From blood loss," Melina pointed out, "That's a big deal."

"Eh," Robin shrugged, "Anyway, back to you. I hear today's the big day."

"Yes," Melina sighed, turning back to Supay, "And, I don't mind telling you, I'm scared to death."

"Of what? The fence is thirty feet tall. Granted, that's no guarantee."

"Oh I know it's possible for him to escape. But that's unlikely. It's not what I'm worried about."

"No?"

"No," Melina shook her head, "I'm worried I'll never see him again."

She stepped closer to the fence. With a loud purr, Supay bounded over and rubbed against the fence.

"He's beginning to trust me," Melina said, "I've been feeding him, and he's been so much happier here. It's amazing how fast he's recovering from his trauma. But..." she trailed off.

"You're afraid if you let him go, he'll forget you."

Melina said nothing, but nodded mutely.

"Melina," Robin said, swinging down off the fence to land silently beside her.

She turned to look at him, biting her lower lip, determined not to cry.

"He is a wild thing. We both know what comes of trying to contain him. He needs space to roam, to be whatever he chooses. Whether he comes back or not is up to him. It has to be. If he loves you, he'll be back."

"And what if he doesn't?" Melina asked.

"Don't worry," Robin touched her cheek gently, "There are a lot of other big cats out there."

"More fish in the sea?" Melina raised an eyebrow, still fighting tears.

"It won't be the end of the world if he leaves you," Robin said, "If he takes off and gets killed, or hunts on his own, or only comes to eat when you're not around... so what?"

"He's... well... the center of my world," Melina said.

"But he is not what defines you," Robin told her, "He may leave and not come back. But you'll still be here. You'll still be free to choose who you want to be, what you want to do."

"I'm not like you," Melina said, taking his hand away, but holding onto it, "I can't swing through the city in the dead of night, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. I don't have friends like Bruce Wayne. Don't even try to deny it. You know him. That's the whole reason Supay and I are here."

Robin didn't deny it. It was true.

"I don't have anything," Melina said, "Except him," she nodded towards Supay.

"We've been over this," Robin told her, "You can't get your sense of self worth from other people... or cats either. You can devote your entire life to someone, and they'll never love you for it. That's how the real world is. What you need to do is realize that. You can't substitute Supay for Bernard."

"I'm not-" Robin cut her off.

"You are."

Melina glared at him, but he stared back impassively. He was right. She hated him for it, but he was right. And he was holding his ground about it because he cared about her. He wouldn't say these things if he didn't. He'd let her continue on the way she was, on towards that self-destructive, self-deluding path she had been on when they'd first met.

"So what do I do?" Melina asked.

"That's up to you," Robin said, "No one can choose how you live your life for you. That's something you have to figure out for yourself. But you've got to realize that it's your choice. It doesn't matter what Supay does or doesn't do. What matters is what you do."

"We're never going to have a conversation where we don't fight, are we?" Melina asked, finally letting go of Robin's hand.

He smiled and shook his head, "Probably not."

"Alright," Melina sighed, "Let's do this."

She turned towards the small building near the enclosure. It was not really a building, just enough of a shelter to protect the machinery from weather damage. She pressed the red button on the control panel, and a buzzer sounded. She looked out the glass window of the structure at the holding pen.

Supay was pacing in rapid circles, flicking his ears in agitation. He'd heard the sound. He didn't like it. It was upsetting him, but it couldn't be helped. And then the gate which led to the outside began to slide open. Supay hissed and backed up, uncertain of the moving object.

The gate rattled as it slid open. Melina exited the building and went around so that she could see the holding pen better. Supay flicked his tail and snarled at the gate. But then it was open, and became silent. Supay glared at it for a long moment. But then he looked past it.

He'd been gazing through the fence for a long time now. The small holding pen wasn't big enough to satisfy him. That was the long and the short of it. He was too confined, even now.

Cautiously, Supay stepped towards the open gate. He put his head down and sniffed warily. Then he walked into the opening left by the gate. He stood uncertainly, his ears flicking as though he was hearing the sounds beyond the enclosure for the very first time.

He looked over his shoulder at his temporary home, as though unsure of himself.

"Go on," Melina whispered, but didn't think he heard her, "Go explore your home."

Supay swung his head and roared, a warning to anything and everything in hearing range.

And then he padded slowly out of the enclosure. He soon picked up speed, until he was moving at a swift, smooth lope, looking like liquid ebony in the sun. He angled towards the shadows, lowering his body and picking up speed. He'd spotted something in the distant underbrush.

And then he was gone from sight. Melina covered her mouth and fought against tears.

She couldn't help it. Despite what Robin had said, she wanted Supay to come back. It would mean the world to her if he would only come back.

He wasn't a pet. She didn't need him to come when she called or sit in her lap or let her pet him. But to see him every day, to know he was still alright... that was all she wanted.

Only time would tell whether or not that was too much to ask.

"What will I do without him?" Melina asked.

But she received no answer. When she looked around, she saw that Robin was gone.

"Supay's not the only wild thing around here," Melina told the empty air.

It was the middle of the night when Melina heard it. It woke her from a sound sleep. A low roar. She knew the sound well. It was Supay. He often roared, claiming his territory with his voice. But the house was outside the fenced area. Melina knew the roar carried for some distance, but it seemed very loud.

She got up out of bed and went to the window. She peered into the moonlit night. Just a few yards away was a section of the fence surrounding Supay's new home.

At first, she didn't see anything but the low grass. The trees and heavy brush were cut back from the fence. There were motion activated cameras throughout the enclosure so that they could keep track of Supay, and make sure he was far away from where maintenance crews were working.

Then, out of the grass came a shadow. Not just a shadow. It was a jaguar. The jaguar. Supay. It took her a moment to realize that because he was backing, dragging something. Something large. Supay moved out of view.

Throwing on a robe, Melina quickly left her bedroom and went to the large sun room which overlooked a good portion of the enclosure. From there she could see the holding pen and the feeding area. And she saw that Supay was dragging his prize into the holding pen, which she'd left open.

He dragged it up on top of his rock house. He had a large animal clamped in his jaws, but he sprang lightly from rock to rock until he reached the top. A shaft of moonlight cut down, revealing his catch to be a large deer. Melina wondered how he'd caught it.

Supay dropped it on the rocks and lay down, panting with exertion, but looking terribly pleased with himself. He tipped his head back and roared again. Then he yawned, displaying his fangs to the night.

"Thank you," Melina whispered, "for letting me know he's alright."

The future was far from certain, she knew that fact well. But, for the moment, Supay's looked bright.

A/N: If you enjoyed this story and want more of it, check out the sequel which will be/was posted starting in February. I hope you enjoyed it, thanks again and goodnight everybody.