Jasa pried the board away from the window, the loud cracking sound making him flinch in alarm. He looked back up at the door as voices sounded from above and let out a growl of frustration. Damn wood, making too much noise.
He took Kira's hand, hoisting her up toward the window and pushing her further up the wall with his hands on her legs until she was able to crawl out of the basement as the door above the stairs opened.
"Come on, Jasa- hurry!" She stuck her arm back in to help him up.
The leopard looked up at her hand, letting out a low growl as men started running down the stairs.
"Run, Kira." He said in a low, rough voice. "I will not put my mate in danger."
"Jasa, don't!" Kira yelled as he ran out of her view, preparing to fight off the men and buy Kira more time.
You lied to her. Kyle said accusingly.
"I did what I had to, to protect my mate. Whether she likes it or not, I will not put her in danger." Jasa answered, the men in front of them starting to circle around him and surround the leopard. "Now shut up and let me concentrate."
Kyle let out a snort of annoyance at the leopard's tone, but kept quiet. We'll talk later.
Jasa watched as the first man ran forward, brandishing a chain and swirling it around menacingly. The leopard smiled a fang-filled grin, dodging out of the way and slamming a clenched fist against the back of the man's head, sending him sprawling across the room.
The other humans shifted nervously, not used to seeing such advanced moves in a fight.
"What, you've never fought an elder?" Jasa laughed in amusement. "Too tough for you? I haven't even used my claws yet." He brandished the razor sharp claws that curved from the tips of his fingers and growled in warning. "You hurt my mate- there is nothing that will save you now."
One of the humans let out a small noise of fear and ran for the door. The other men seemed to shift toward the stairs as Jasa advanced on them.
"You will all die." The leopard growled in fury.
Kyle couldn't watch, mentally closing his eyes as Jasa leaped for the first man, tearing him apart with claws and teeth before moving to the next. The leopard was wild, terrifying and well deserving of the infamous reputation leopards had. To think that such a kind and wise soul could turn so feral was scary enough, but Kyle could feel a protective fury in Jasa that made him want to beat a few guys around too.
Kick their ass, Sabor. Kyle encouraged softly.
Jasa faltered in confusion at the nickname and Kyle realized he'd have to explain Tarzan to him later on.
He waited for Jasa to finish, the last man scrambling on the ground for the stairs before Jasa set his cat foot on his neck and pressed down until the man was still.
"Disgusting men." Jasa growled, spitting on the man before walking over to the window and climbing up.
Kira was waiting for them, and she did not look happy. She glared fiercely at Jasa as he walked out, but at the sight of the blood that covered him her anger quickly faded to concern.
"Oh God, what happened? Are you alright?" She asked, running over to him and smoothing her hands along his body as if to check for wounds.
"I'm fine." Jasa growled, his fur still bristling from the fight. "Those men will not bother us anymore, but I doubt they were alone. We should leave quickly."
"How will we find our way back? I don't even know where they took us." Kira whispered, clinging to him, letting out a sigh of relief when she was satisfied he wasn't hurt.
"I will sniff our way back. I can find what trail they took and follow it back to the mansion. Hopefully now they will realize that they should not mess with a leopard's mate." He looked back at the basement with a low angry growl rumbling in his chest.
"My fierce cat." Kira chuckled. "Calm down for now- I'm safe, and I want to get back home."
I could do with going home, too. This place sucks. The service is terrible.
Both Jasa and Kira smiled at Kyle's humor and Jasa took Kira into his arms, smelling her scent and letting out a deep sigh of relief. "To our home, then." He said firmly, then took her hand and ran into the forest.