Sirens were sounding and searchlights were out as prison guards were running in all directions, trying to find an escaped prisoner. In a tiny hole outside of the prison near a dense forest, a man with a dirty blonde mullet was crawling on his elbows out of the hole. He briefly looked back at the chaos around the prison, and ran into the forest.
Television screens across the United States blared "Leopard Larry Escapes!" "No Sign of Leopard Larry" "Ciara Borden Fears Her Life Hearing of Larry's Escape."
Four months later.
Matt Cutter and Mendlesohn were watching the news. Mendlesohn, who watched the documentary "Leopard Lord," turned up the volume.
"There are still no whereabouts to Larry Lampanello, or "Leopard Larry" as he was known for. Ciara Borden believes he has fled the country. His last husband hasn't seen him, though many believe he is lying. Whoever finds him the United States government is prepared to give that person 2 million dollars. Ciara Borden also believes that wherever he is, he is around leopards."
Cutter turned off the television.
"Why did you do that?" Mendlesohn said.
"Because sensationalism isn't bringing us business. If Leopard Larry walked through the door it wouldn't mean squat for us."
"We barely have enough business as it is, even after your return."
"Thanks for telling me." Matt said, putting on his safari hat. "Kali wants me to help her with the Day of the Leopard, I'll be back. Radio me if there are any new customers coming in."
Cutter drove to Kali's village. As he got out, he heard Kali finish telling a story.
"….As Kamai learned his lesson, he was turned into a leopard himself, and was tasked to take care of leopards for the rest of his known life. Some say the girot who blessed him the gift made him live forever, protecting leopards of the jungle. Some say that is just legend, but today, we celebrate leopards."
Kali let those listening go and Cutter approached her.
"Does everyone have leopard fever? Between you and Mendlesohn.."
"Kaia legend is not feverish. From what I know of the leopard fever you are talking about seems to glorify hunters, poachers, and exhibitionists. The tale I told, if you caught all of it, was how someone took advantage of leopards to maintain power, only to be taught the ways of the leopard to release power isn't worth it."
"Yeah, I don't see that being the case with this guy."
"Sheena and Chris will be visiting today."
"That should be fun."
"Cutter, I get a sense you aren't looking forward to it."
"I just don't get the sense that Chris likes me that much. I don't know why. He is cordial and all, but I think he thinks the worst in me."
"Why would he think that?"
"The three months it took for Sheena to bring me back here. I got the feeling that as soon as he met me that he was expecting a quick return."
"Cutter, what happened to you and how we were able to get you back took a lot of trust in uncertainty. I am sure he was assured of this, but Chris may feel he is under your shadow, and may misread Sheena's intentions in getting you back. He's easily jealous."
"He has no right to be!"
"Remember when Sheena's first love came back to the LaMistas? Do you think you weren't jealous?"
"What is it you need me to help you with?"
"Yes. If you could move these logs over towards the fire before the Leopard Day ritual closing, that would be great."
Cutter looked at the logs, there were several. Cutter unbuttoned his shirt to reveal a tight, white athletic tee shirt and started moving the logs.
"By the way, Chris and Sheena are going to be here for the closing. This was Sheena's second favorite festival."
Cutter looked up, sweat already dripping down from his arms.
"Now she tells me."
Cutter moved the last log to the bonfire set up near Kali's hut. He wiped the sweat from his forehead when Chris and Sheena arrived.
"Hello Cutter." Sheena said, smiling.
"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Keeger, " Matt said, looking at them with a tired smile, "How are things?"
"Not bad, I see Kali has put you to work," Chris said, looking at Cutter looking at Sheena. "The Leopard Festival is something Sheena has told me about for a while."
"Yes," Sheena said, looking at Chris with a loving smile, " I wanted to show him."
"Perfect timing." Matt said.
"We got here early as Sheena told me she didn't mind helping set up, but it appears that there is little for us to do." Chris said.
There were leopards in the distance.
"Do we need to worry about them over there?" Chris asked.
Kali entered the space for conversation.
"No Chris, a pack of them usually show up around this time. Kaia legend suggests it is Kamai's sign."
"Okay." Chris said.
"Remember dear, I told you on the way here."
"Yes, well, come along all of you for the leopard blessing."
Kali and a few villagers came towards Kali's hut.
"As the leopards come, we bless them for protecting us and protecting nature around us. For teaching us how to adapt, and for keeping watch."
Kali walked towards the leopards and threw a spice into the air. The crowd, including Sheena, Chris, and Cutter applauded. Some of the leopard pack went off into the jungle. As Matt was walking towards his jeep, with his button down on the his belt, he heard a leopard cry and when he turned around, a leopard was charging him and pounced on him. Matt tried rolling the leopard away but the leopard opened its paw and claws ad started scratching at Cutter. Cutter kept moving as to not have the claws penetrate his skin, still wet from the heat.
Sheena saw this and her and Chris ran to try to get the leopard off, but the leopard kept clawing at Cutter. Chris grabbed the leopard by the back and Sheena looked into the leopard's eyes. Sheena saw the image of a man in black holding a Cutter Unlimited pamphlet. The leopard caught Sheena's eyes, and then, after one last swoop off of Matt's athletic shirt, ran off. Chris pulled Matt up from the ground. He wasn't injured, but his shirt was in tatters and only the strap outline was intact.
"Are you okay?" Chris asked.
"I don't know what that is about," Cutter said, breaking off the last remnants of his shirt, "But I'd love to find out."
Sheena looked towards the leopard, then looked at Cutter.
"You may want to get back to Cutter Unlimited," Sheena said, "We'll follow you."
Matt still had his button down attached to his belt, but Matt was too confused and determined to get back. Even when Sheena lived in the LaMistas, there was usually an explanation to this kind of animal behavior. He got into the jeep and put on his seatbelt, and he drove straight to Cutter Unlimited. The car radio dinged and Matt picked up the speaker.
"What?!" Matt said, keeping his eye on the road.
"Sorry your Highness," Mendlesohn said with his rapier wit, "You wanted me to message you when we had a customer. We have a customer."
"Be right there. I was attacked by a leopard." Matt turned the radio off before Mendlesohn could respond. Matt also saw Chris and Sheena follow him. Matt pulled into the garage. When he turned off the car, he noticed he was shirtless. He saw the shirt dangling from his belt, still intact. He got out of the car and put it on. Unbeknownst to him, his customer was watching him get dressed. Matt opened the garage door and went outside where Sheena and Chris were waiting in their car.
"I'm fine." Matt said, coming to the window on Sheena's side.
"You're sure?" Sheena said, "Just want to be sure you weren't too roughed up."
"No scars, in one piece." Matt said.
"Sheena, we best check into the hotel," Chris said, giving a slight smile towards Cutter's direction. "I'm sure the leopard just got a weird vibe is all. Maybe not used to be stared at by hunter types."
Matt saw Sheena give Chris a glaring look.
"We'll see you at the closing ceremony tonight," Sheena said, smiling defensively at Cutter. "I hope you have a good business deal."
Matt gave a friendly salute as Chris sped the car away. Matt entered his office and a man in a shaggy, dirty blonde mullet, face tattoos and random piercings looked at him from his black hat and trenchcoat. Matt stretched his hand out.
"I am sorry I was late; I was being attached by a leopard."
"I am sorry to hear that, you look pretty fine to me," the man said, with a Southern twitch in his voice, "I am in search of a leopard myself. Moreso, search for the site of the Leopard King."
"I'm afraid you'd have to look at your television for that," Matt said, "We do tours of the LaMistas and Darakn'a history tours but nothing more."
The man bent down and pulled out a bag, opened it, and poured its contents on Matt's desk.
"This here is fifty thousand dollars. I have a map to where this Leopard King appears to be hiding in the LaMistas. I have already captured a leopard from there and plan to teach people about leopards before I free him out into the wild. Will this be enough to help me find the Leopard King?"
Matt looked down and saw the money. It was just about as much as he saw in his lifetime over.
"Yes, we will! We can start out tomorrow. What is your name?" Matt looked up at his guest.
"Leonardo Lane." The man said. "Meet me at this address and I will follow you. I best be going." The man looked at Matt almost flirtatiously as he left.
The address was marked not too far from town, but not too far into the LaMistas. Matt counted the money then deposited it into the bank as soon as possible. He got the feeling that there would be more coming. Matt and Mendlesohn finished their paperwork and drove to Kali's village, where the closing ceremony of the leopard festival was taking place. Matt kept his distance from Sheena and Chris, who stared lovingly into the dances, bonfire, and blessings over the leopard. Everyone kept a watchful eye out for leopards, but they didn't show. As the festivities ended, Sheena came up to Matt.
"No leopard attacks since this morning?"
"Nope, but I do have a customer who is looking for the Leopard King."
"Leopard King? Isn't that just a myth?"
"Not to this person he's not. He has a map and everything."
"Do you need help on this case?"
"I don't know. I wouldn't ask you to stay behind."
"Chris and I will be here for a few days. He won't mind me helping you out."
"He seems to mind me in subtleties these days. When you rescued me from time, he seemed instantly jealous of me. Now, he just seems indifferent."
"You've picked up on that too? I explained to him over and over again why three months away in 1780 wasn't intentional. We had no understanding of time while we were in the Caribbean, but he didn't believe me. He said that I would have to have feelings for you if I stayed three months and not just take you immediately."
"Is he still jealous?"
"Of a non-existing romance between us? That's for him to decide. Either way, I don't mind helping you out. After the festival, I didn't really have a lot of plans."
"Okay," Matt pulled out a post it note, "Meet me at Cutter Unlimited, and we'll go from there. If Chris wants to tag along, he can."
Sheena smiled then disappeared into the night.
The next morning Matt Cutter got in his jeep and rode to the address his new customer told him to go. He had hoped that Sheena would join him, but he also hoped that it wouldn't lead to an argument with Chris. He knew he did invite Chris to come along, but he felt it would be to watch Sheena and him interact. He pulled into a driveway of a large estate, and barely saw the sign "Leopard Zoo" as he passed. He saw large cages and touristy stuff being created. He pulled in front of a trailer, and got out of the car. He didn't see Sheena.
"Leonardo?" Matt said, knocking on the trailer door.
"Be right out." He heard the man say.
Matt noticed there were a couple leopards fenced close to the trailer. Both looked at him, but one of them growled.
"You shouldn't be so close to them," a female voice said, "They tend to be hostile when caged for so long."
Matt turned around, and Sheena was there.
"Glad you are here."
"I left a note for Chris. I hope your customer doesn't mind me tagging along."
"I am sure he won't."
Just then, Leonardo Lane opened the door, as he was buttoning up his top buttons.
"I'm sorry," he said, "my home is quite a mess."
"It's no problem, Leonardo," Matt said, smiling, "This is my friend Sheena, she wanted to assist me, as she knows the LaMistas better than I do."
"It won't be too long though, as my husband is in town," Sheena said, looking at Leonardo Lane with a polite hesitancy while extending her hand, "And It's Dr. Sheena Keeger, I have since gotten my degree in medicine and am visiting for the Leopard Festival."
"I must have missed that."
"Cutter, I don't mind company, but if its okay with Sheena, can you come inside to discuss the rest of business?" Leonardo looked politely passive.
"Sure." Matt said, closing the door of the trailer.
Matt came into the trailer and saw what looked like a fugitive's stowaway residence.
"My apologies. My things have yet to be shipped," Leonardo said, clearing a fold out table to put a map on it, "I believe the Leopard King is in this part of the LaMistas."
Matt looked down and saw uncharted territory in which the circled space was on the border of.
"The mythical Leopard King is said to have lived there. I want to find the King and get his permission for saving leopards through my zoo. I need you to help me find him."
Before Matt could even speak, Leonardo pulled out a bag with more money in it and put it in Matt's arms.
"The other fifty thousand, for your discretion."
Matt's eyes widened as he started counting.
Outside, Sheena waited and looked around to see the property while staying close to the trailer. She heard growling and saw two leopards in a fence. She looked into their eyes. One of them just acknowledged a visitor, but the other one communicated something different. When Sheena matched eyes with the other one, she heard the leopard communicate that it was captured in the LaMistas, and that the man in the trailer has every intention of capturing the pack including the King, and that the man is not who he says he is, and to please free them. Sheena jumped away from the fence at first. It was a long time she listened to another animal in the spiritual, Kaia way.
Cutter and Leonardo Lane exited the trailer with map and money bag in hand. Sheena looked up from the fence and saw them, and gave a suggestive downturn seeing Cutter with money, his favorite thing in the world.
"All set?" Leonardo asked, "We'll drive up to the point and start walking."
"I do need to have a word with Cutter before I follow you." Sheena signaled to Matt.
"What is it, Sheena?"
"I just communicated with Leonardo Lane's leopards,"
"Wait, I thought you didn't do that anymore?"
"It just happened, okay, one of them said that they were captured by him and that he has every intention of capturing the King, and that Leonardo Lane isn't who he says he is."
"He just told me that he wants the Leopard King's permission to open a zoo to conserve leopards. I'll keep an eye on him, are you coming a long?"
"Leopards don't lie, Cutter, they are very protective animals."
"I'll keep an eye out, it's not like the Darakn'a is out there to protect them."
Sheena looked at him angrily.
"I don't know what's worse, my husband's jealousy of you or your flip attitude about not having me around to save you from creeps!"
"Are you coming along?"
"I'll follow you until my suspicions are proven unfounded."
Matt put the money into the safe in his jeep and Sheena got in her car and both of them followed Leonardo.
Back at Cutter Unlimited, Mendlesohn was just sweeping the garage floor when Chris Keeger kicked open the garage door.
"Where is that son of a bitch?"
"Hi Chris," Mendlesohn said, passively. "What brings you buy."
Chris grabbed Mendlesohn by the throat and shoved him against the wall.
"Where is my wife?!"
"I don't know," Mendlesohn said, "I also would prefer my throat have oxygen in it for me to tell you."
Chris dropped him on the ground.
"She left me a note. 'Out with Cutter, be back later today.' Why would she tell me so openly that she is cheating on me?"
"Why do you believe that she's cheating on you?"
"Because no one spends three months with a person if there weren't feelings for them after saying that they would return as soon as they will."
"Is this about the time dilation thing? Man, you gotta let that go."
"That's what Sheena keeps telling me."
"Why don't you believe her?"
Chris didn't know how to respond. He just punched a hole in the wall.
"That will be about a hundred dollars repair job, Chris," Mendlesohn tried sounding non-chalant. "Why is your conclusion the only conclusion?"
"Cutter will always be in Sheena's life, and I cannot compete with him."
"He isn't competing with you. She isn't bouncing between him and you. When she told you what happened that led to that rescue, she must have told you all the risks involved."
"Three months though."
"Look, you have every right to miss your wife. But that's an unrealistic standard."
"She didn't even talk to me as if I wanted to come along. For God's sake, Cutter Unlimited is exemplary for tourism. When he disappeared, it was like my idol was gone."
"Look pal, I'm not psychologist, but it seems to me that your jealousy comes from your admiration of Cutter mixed in with your feelings of uncertain loss. How about we go to where Cutter, Sheena, and Leonardo Lane are and that can show you and reassure you that no romance is taking place between them?"
"Fine. Something just seems off."
The two got into Chris's jeep and rode off to where Mendlesohn was told the point of the journey would begin.
Leonardo looked into the rearview mirror to see Cutter and Sheena follow him. He had the radio on.
"The FBI is still on the what is now international search for Leopard Larry, the famed zookeeper who was put in jail for ordering a hit on Ciara Borden. The FBI has found a record of a blonde man with a mullet in a security tape on the docks of the U.S.S. Fortitude, a cargo ship headed to Africa. It is believed that Larry fled the United States to find a new life." The radio news announcer said.
"I just can't believe he escaped prison. I just think of those poor animals in Africa he is going to exploit," Ciara Borden said in the radio broadcast, "It's important the FBI finds him and that anyone in Africa who supports preserving wildlife and not treating them like prisoners help them out."
Leonardo turned off his radio.
"Once I am the Leopard King, I will make you eat those words, Ciara." Looking at the jungle ahead, he stopped and got out of the truck. He put on his hiking gear, and signaled to Cutter that this was the spot.
Cutter got out and Sheena not too long after him.
"I hope I don't have to tell you to behave." Matt said.
"I hope I don't have to tell you a bruised leg is in your future," Sheena replied. "Besides, it's been a while since I've been to this part of the LaMistas."
"Howdy!" Leonardo said, "I figure we start here and reach this circle." He pulled out his map.
"That's unexplored territory," Cutter said, "We run many risks venturing that away. "
"I didn't pay you to tell me no." Leonardo said.
"We'll be fine, Cutter, "Sheena said, "I can help you."
The three of them started walking into the jungle. Around several miles deep, they stopped.
"Why did we stop?" Cutter asked.
"I thought this would be a good time to see if the little lady wanted to continue with us or not." Leonardo said.
"I do," Sheena said, "You seem to love leopards a lot, I noticed the leopard in your pen outside of your trailer."
"Yes, well, leopards are on the verge of extinction, and I want to make sure no poachers get them. I would like to set up a wildlife preservation center in this region."
"That's nice of you," Cutter said, "Though the tribes do a good job of preserving wildlife."
"Yes, well Cutter, some of us want to do better and not just run cheap safari trips, no offense."
"None taken."
"Of the two leopards I have currently, one of them is from this part of the LaMistas."
Sheena gave Cutter the cross-eye roll.
"It is said the Leopard King lives here. I believe he lives in the unexplored territory, and I want his permission to build my preservation center."
"Are you sure he lives in that territory?" Matt said, inquiring away from Sheena's doubtful glances.
"I'm positive, if the legend is real. Now, let's get going, we can at least make the halfway point before sundown." Leonardo kept walking. Sheena grabbed Matt's arm to hold him back.
"Sheena, what's the hold up?"
"I'm positive that he isn't the man he says he is, and I am positive that that what he said isn't true."
"How are you sure?"
"The leopard told me."
"At his trailer?" Matt moved Sheena's hand off of him and started walking. "Let's keep going, what could possibly happen?"
Sheena followed Cutter and they both caught up to Leonardo. There was a pack of leopards watching them.
Chris and Mendlesohn pulled up to the parked cars.
"This is where they started, so they must be on their trip already," Mendlesohn said, "Nothing to worry about. Can't we just go back to the town and wait for them?"
"We should find them so I can let Sheena know I'm not jealous and let Cutter know I don't hate him."
"If you insist, but I'd rather prep the bar tonight and start earning Cutter Unlimited some extra dollars. We haven't really bounced back since Dr. Devine." Mendlesohn and Chris got out of the car and started walking into the jungle as well.
Chris and Mendlesohn walked in a slightly different direction then Sheena, Cutter, and Leonardo did. A pack of leopards saw them walk as well. The air was getting very hot in the jungle all of the sudden.
"How is that we are in this dense jungle and it's become so hot?" Chris said, unbuttoning his top button.
"How long have you been in Africa?" Mendlesohn said.
"I want to say about five years."
"And you are complaining about the heat?" Mendlesohn said, sweat stains not so prominent on his Hawaiian shirt.
"I just didn't picture it to be this dense."
"Welcome to the LaMistas." Mendlesohn said.
"I wonder what a rich client would want in the middle of this part of the jungle. There's nothing here."
"The landscape is nice."
"Yes, it is."
Chris saw something in the distance. Mendlesohn saw it too. They kept walking and saw a statue of a king that had the crown of a leopard.
"Never saw this before."
"Reminds me of that Leopard King documentary I saw recently on television." Mendlesohn said, "Only this guy isn't some wildlife wacko."
There was something glowing from the statue.
"What do you think that is? Is it a ruby?" Mendlesohn asked.
"I don't know, but I think it wouldn't be glowing for a reason."
Chris touched the jewel. The jewel stopped glowing.
"Maybe it only glows when people don't touch it." Mendlesohn said, itching his arm close to the jewel.
"I don't know, but this isn't getting us closer to Sheena, Cutter, and Leonardo," Chris said. He moved his hand off of the jewel, but it was stuck. "I can't seem to get my hand off of this jewel here."
"Oh for the love of…" Mendlesohn said, trying to get behind him and pull. Mendlesohn tried, but Chris' strong back compared to Mendlesohn's weaker constitution wasn't helping to unpull the hand off.
The jewel started sinking into the statue and Chris' arm was following suit.
"Mendlesohn?! What's going on!"
Mendlesohn saw the statue compartmentalize into itself while still holding firm to where it was. Chris got his hand out of the way, but his sleeve was still stuck and was being pulled into the statue. Chris tried tugging his shirt away from the statue, but to no avail. As the shirt was being pulled away from the statue, Chris decided to tear himself away by his shirt and pulled himself in the other direction. His shirt tore from the seam of the sleeve, but it tore a deep part of his chest covering as well. Still, the shirt was being pulled into the statue. Chris slipped out of the shirt and the statue ate the rest of the shirt. Mendlesohn came to him watching in astonishment as the shirt was swallowed by the statue and returned to normal. When he saw Chris on the ground, he came up to him. Chris definitely had a similar build as Cutter.
"Are you okay?" Mendlesohn asked.
"I'm fine," Chris said, standing up. "We need to find them to warn them of this though."
Chris got up and pulled out his shotgun.
"Whatever ancient sorcery is going to mess with us next, we're going to be ready."
The pack of leopards watching Mendelsohn and Chris led a silent growl.
In the meantime, Leonardo, Cutter, and Sheena didn't experience anything out of the ordinary yet. Leopards were following them from a distance. They came across a collection of statues of leopards with crowns and glowing jewels.
"I've never seen this part of the LaMistas before," Cutter said, "What tribe is this from, Sheena?"
"I am unsure. Kali only told me of the Leopard King as myth, not fact, growing up."
"Who is Kali?" Leonardo said, admiring the statues.
Sheena was caught off-guard, but answered anyway: "The woman who raised me in the LaMistas."
The jewels stopped glowing.
"Where are we?" Cutter asked.
The three of them congregated around the map.
"We are near the point we are near before the unexplored territory." Leonardo said. "We can go further and then find a place to camp."
The three moved past the statues. The statues started moving and swirled in a circle in a glowing green light. The leopards who were following them from a distance came close and stood around the spinning statues and green light and they came into the center and the green light covered them and they morphed into leopard people. One of them stood on a stalled statue and spoke:
"Warriors of the King- protect the Kingdom."
The leopard people dispersed.
Sheena, Cutter, and Leonardo were at this point close to a mile away from the statues. They were in a deep part of the jungle. There was a deep sound of leopards growling that they stopped and went into a triangle looking around. After a minute, they started moving when the leopard warriors jumped down and started attacking them. Sheena tried to not hurt them, believing they were tribespeople she could talk to, but her efforts were not appreciated as the warriors continued swinging at her. Matt swung his backpack at two of the warriors charging him and fought them off the best he could, even though the warriors had claws come out of their wrists and slashed Matt's shirt from the back and other sides before Matt punched and dropkicked them away from him, leaving torn sleeves and an near exposed back. Leonardo fought as best he could, as he just threw the warriors towards Cutter and Sheena's way. The leopard warriors were mostly knocked out, except one who saw that Matt and Sheena were unbeatable for the rest of the leopard warriors and the warrior threw Sheena into a tree and then slashed Matt's right chest pocket off of his shirt and pushed Matt to the ground. Sheena and Matt got up and heard a large leopard growl, and the warriors vanished from their sight in a green mist.
"Are you okay?" Sheena asked Cutter, raising her hand to lift him up from the ground.
"Yes, I'm fine," he said, checking his exposed areas for scars. "Grateful for thick fabric."
Leonardo came up to Cutter and Sheena.
"I'm fine too, shall we keep going?"
"You want to keep going?" Sheena said defensively.
"Yes, I am not going to let a rogue tribe of leopard lovers keep me from finding the Leopard King."
"I don't think they are a rogue tribe," Sheena said, "There are no rogue tribes in the LaMistas, just rogue animals."
"Are you sure you didn't recognize them, Sheena?" Matt said, retrieving his bearings.
"I'm positive."
"We've made it this far, and if you want to go back, you are free to. It can be dangerous for a woman around these parts." Leonardo said.
"Excuse me?" Sheena looked at him angrily.
"Sheena knows the LaMistas pretty well, better than me," Matt said, "Just because this is relatively unfamiliar territory for us doesn't mean parts aren't."
"Okay, she can continue with us, though I only paid for you Matt." Leonardo said.
The three continued walking.
Mendlesohn and Chris continued walking themselves and came across a fountain. Chris was drenched in sweat walking shirtless in record heat.
"Do you want to head back?" Mendlesohn said, "When they return you can always say what you need to say and trust they will return."
Chris wipes his forehead and noticed the tan he was getting.
"If I sit on this now, then it would be too late. Sheena is not someone who you want angry."
"Seeing your anger, I'd say you two are an even match." Mendlesohn said, taking water from the fountain to drink.
"Thank you?"
There was a loud growl heard that made Chris and Mendlesohn look up. Chris pulled his gun out.
"Who's there?!" he screamed.
"We are." a leopard warrior said, as Chris turned around and was punched onto the ground.
Chris did his best to fight the swarm of warriors around him, as did Mendlesohn, but there were too many and they were captured. A warrior broke Chris's shotgun.
"Where are you taking us?" Chris said.
"To the Leopard King." The warrior said.
Green mist rose around them and covered their eye view. Within seconds, Chris and Mendlesohn disappeared into the air with the warriors.
The sun was setting as Sheena, Cutter, and Leonardo came to a wall that had similar ancient images of leopards on it, and references to royalty. There was a big image of a leopard's mouth opening in the middle.
"Isn't this amazing?" Leonardo said, "And to think the Leopard King was taught to be a myth. Look at these designs."
The three of them looked at the designs.
"We need to find somewhere to camp soon," Cutter said, "Provided we don't get attacked by something again."
Leonardo Lane was still exploring the designs with his hands.
"Cutter, " Sheena whispered, "He keeps wanting to go on and not listening to you or me anymore."
"He paid me to get him where he wants to go and we aren't there yet, and we do need to camp."
Leonardo ignored him. Matt walked over in front of the leopard's mouth and shoved Leonardo away from the wall.
"Leonardo, are you listening to me? We need to find a place to camp soon."
"I've heard you, I've heard you, do I need to pay you another five thousand to let me explore these ruins? Has anyone ever gotten this far in this part of jungle before?"
"That isn't the point, " Sheena interjected, "The point is that we don't know where we are and we need to get bearings and we need to rest."
"Fine, you rest," Leonardo said, "I've only paid for Cutter's attention and I'll even pull out the map to see where we are."
Unbeknownst to all of them, a fiery vein went through the design of the wall and went into the eyes of the leopard, causing an opening and air being sucked in. There was a growl emerging during the sucking, but it wasn't noticeable. Cutter was standing right in front of it.
"Does anyone else feel a sudden wind going behind them?" Cutter said.
Sheena and Leonardo stood in awe as the wall they were at growled and sucked Matt's backpack, safari hat, and the remnants of his shirt into its mouth. Sheena reached her hand out to grab Matt from the leopard's mouth as this was happening, as Matt was getting pulled into the leopard's mouth. It felt so sudden as all of Matt's top clothing was sucked into the leopard's mouth and Sheena grabbed Matt's hand and pulled him away from the ancient vortex.
The leopard's mouth growled and stopped sucking air. Matt was stripped shirtless and Leonardo calmed his awe at the magical leopard design and focused it on Matt Cutter.
"Cutter you are a very attractive man," he said, stroking Matt's bare, muscled arm. "I hope you are okay."
Matt, not knowing what to do with this attention, slowly moved Leonardo's hand away and looked at him with the same look Sheena gave him.
"Great! Our camping supplies were in that backpack. How do you expect us to camp now?"
"I've been on many a hunting trip in these situations and I think if we go back into the jungle but close to where we need to be, we'll be fine for the night." Leonardo said, signaling an area away from the leopard wall.
"Hunting trip?" Sheena said, "Aren't you a wildlife preserver?"
"Yes, well, hunters are preserving wildlife. I may have stopped a while ago, but I wouldn't have a desire to preserve near extinct animals if I wasn't a hunter."
Matt stood behind Sheena and held her back.
"Now, are we going to make a campsite and will you two lovers leave this mission alone? We are almost there."
Sheena was resisting Matt's grip.
"I'm married!" Sheena said.
Leonardo turned around, "Cutter, make sure Sheena leaves in the morning, I will not be sullied my journey for a wildlife Borden."
Leonardo went to the right of the wall and went back towards the jungle. Matt let go of Sheena and she slapped him across the face.
"Wasn't expecting that."
"Why did you hold me back?"
"I know how you are when you are angry."
"I wasn't going to kill him Cutter."
"Well, I suppose we can head on over to where Leonardo is and get some rest. It's been a while since I last slept dressed like this on the ground in the jungle."
Sheena resigned herself to follow Cutter to where Leonardo walked. When they came to a small clearing, Leonardo already had a fire going and made a tent for himself.
"Before you say anything, Sheena should at most be allowed to spend the night." Cutter put his foot down.
"I've made a tent for you Cutter." Leonardo said.
"You sleep in it. Sheena and I will sleep by the fire."
"Fine, but she leaves when the sun rises." Leonardo went into his tent.
Cutter sat by the fire and Sheena sat next to him.
"Are you sure he's asleep in there?" Sheena whispered.
"We can give it a half hour."
Night fell and Leonardo didn't come out of his tent. There were distinct snoring noises. Sheena and Matt were still by the fire.
"Are you keeping warm?" Sheena asked.
"Warm as I can be," Cutter said, "I think Leonardo Lane is asleep."
"Good, because I think he's the Leopard King who is out for the real Leopard King."
"Sheena, how are you sure?"
Sheena pulled out a broken lighter with an image of Leonardo and "Leopard King"
"He's a fugitive of the U.S. government and we need to stop him."
"We?"
"Yes, we. He's a dangerous man and we need to make sure that he goes back to jail."
"How can we be sure? Did you even watch the documentary? I didn't."
"I didn't either, but I have been listening to the news. When he called me Borden-like, he was referring to Ciara Borden, whom he put a hit on for having a bigger influence and a bigger wildlife preserve than him."
"So, what are you, I mean, we going to do? He's determined to meet the Leopard King." Cutter said, standing up.
"It's been years, but if I can match eyes with any of the leopards around here, I can change into one and follow you the rest of the way."
"Sure, if you think that will work."
Unbeknownst to Sheena and Cutter, Leonardo was awake enough to throw a tiny cannister of sleep gas that went off in short distance to Sheena and Cutter.
"Well, Sheena, it's late, we better rest our eyes." Matt said, yawning.
"Yes, well, let me put a few more logs on the fire." Sheena got up and grabbed five logs, and put them on. Matt was already asleep.
Suddenly, Sheena let out a big yawn and fell asleep.
"They should be out in enough time for me to find the Leopard King. No one messes with Leopard Larry."
Leopard Larry then went back to sleep.
Sheena woke up to find that she was sleeping on Matt's chest. The fire was out, but it was hot already. She looked around and saw the tent was taken down, and Leopard Larry was no where to be found. Matt turned onto the other side, still sleeping.
"Cutter, wake up! Larry's gone."
Matt jumped up and saw that his bare top was dirty from ashes and dirt.
"What?"
"He up and left," Sheena said, "and look," Sheena found the cannister of sleep gas. "This is why we went to bed early last night."
Matt slowly got up from the ground and wiped his face.
"We need to find him."
Sheena and Cutter walked back to where the leopard wall was. Larry wasn't there. Matt was more cautious about the leopard mouth, but there was nothing there. Sheena found footprints. They followed the footprints. The footprints led to an ancient castle, filled with images of leopards and royalty.
"Is this the Leopard King's palace?" Cutter asked, "His footprints disappeared and there is no trace of them."
"Just watch out Cutter." Sheena said.
"Okay."
Sheena and Cutter walked through the halls of the palace. They came across an open room with something hanging but there was no ceiling in this room. What was hanging was a candle, suspended in mid-air. The flame was green. Cutter stood behind Sheena.
"What do you think it is?"
"I don't know."
The flame drew a cloud of smoke in the air and leopard warriors appeared out of the smoke and started fighting Sheena and Cutter. As Cutter and Sheena knocked some of them out cold, more came out from the smoke. The smoke dissipated and Sheena and Matt stood back to back. At this rate, Matt was sweating to the point of drip and Sheena could feel Matt's back muscles.
"Is that all of them?" Matt asked, panting.
"Yes, I think so."
"Good, because I don't want to fight anymore."
The stones of the ground started moving, but the earth wasn't shaking. Sheena and Matt were separated by blocks and the walls around them became like moving blocks.
"Sheena!" Matt said, wondering what was happening.
"Cutter!" Sheena said, wondering the same thing.
Matt came close to an opening wall and two large, spotted claw hands grabbed him by the mouth and pulled him into the wall. Sheena's block crumbled and she fell down into the unknown darkness.
Matt opened his eyes. He was in a cell of some kind. His arms were above his head, and he was tied to the ceiling. His feet were not tied, but in the light, he saw he wasn't alone. Sheena, Larry, Mendlesohn, and Chris were also tied up in the same cell. Matt tried tugging at the rope.
"It's too tight," Chris said, looking at Matt, "I've tried since getting here."
"How did you get here? Did the Leopard King's warriors kidnap you or anything?" Sheena asked, looking into her husband's eyes with love.
"Chris came to Cutter Unlimited with your note, he was pretty angry but I talked to him, and he convinced me to come out here so he can apologize to you and Cutter," Mendlesohn said, "Needless to say, we fell into some traps before we were detained by warriors and brought here."
"So were we." Cutter said, feeling a drop of sweat drip from his arm down his back.
"Mendlesohn helped me realize that I have no right to be angry at you for wanting to hang out with Cutter. I'm jealous because Cutter is a legend in the safari business and I thought you were away too long when you rescued him and I thought it was out of love," Chris said, "So, I am sorry for my unregulated jealousy and for the strain on our marriage, Sheena. Cutter will always be in your life and I can't change that. I don't want to."
"Are you sure that's how you feel?" Larry injected.
"Stay out of this, Leopard Larry! We wouldn't be here if you didn't flee prison!" Sheena said.
"And you were supposed to leave in the morning Sheena," Larry said, "But instead I find you sleeping on Cutter's bare chest this morning twelve hours after he was holding you back from beating me up because I called you lovers. He was shirtless then too. There wouldn't be a need to be defensive if there wasn't some truth to that."
"I want to point out that one of the traps we encountered was a leopard statue that vacuumed my shirt and other safari gear off my body and would have sucked me in if Sheena didn't save me," Cutter said, "We were too far from the truck to go back."
"And you didn't help either Larry, you wanted us to keep going and you wanted Cutter to make sure I left because you were playing with our lives." Sheena added.
"What were you going to do if the warriors didn't capture you?" Chris asked, frustrated. He was looking at Cutter with growing anger.
"Again, with the hypotheticals." Mendlesohn said.
"These. Aren't. Hypotheticals!" Chris said, almost yelling. "As far as I am concerned, they would have made love in the jungle before going to the car."
"Chris, stop believing this person!" Sheena said, "He drove two people to suicide and put a hit on someone."
"I don't care when your relationship can be seen by whatever sociopaths drop ten thousand dollars into his lap because Cutter values money more than people."
"Ouch." Matt said.
"Chris, he is driving to drive division between us because that's who he is."
"It's not my fault Cutter was practically feeling you up this morning, and I saw you stroke your hands down Cutter's chest."
"You knocked us out with sleep gas, Larry."
"Cutter, I wish Sheena never rescued you from whenever you ended up," Chris yanked at this rope "If I ever get out of here, I will kill you!"
"Chris!" Sheena said.
The doors opened and a tall African man with leopard skin wares and there were guards in similar leopard skin clothes and masks entered.
"More people have entered my kingdom." The tall African man. "You have beat the traps. You have found the Leopard King. What do you want in my kingdom?"
"Your Honor," Larry said, "I am here for your grace and permission to save leopards in the area. These people whom I came with are here aren't."
"Your grace and permission are granted." The Leopard King signaled the guards to release him.
"That isn't true!" Sheena said. "Your Honor, he wants to kill you and take over your kingdom."
"You, with the blond mullet, follow me." A guard signaled to Larry.
"You might want to be careful with this group," Larry said, "Cutter here was messing with Chris's wife, Sheena, who is next to Sheena of all cases, and then there is Mendlesohn."
"Thanks," Mendlesohn said, slightly tugging the rope.
"Is this true?" the Leopard King asked Chris.
"Yes, it is, and if I wasn't tied up I'd kill Cutter right now."
"Chris, Larry is messing with you. He drugged us and we woke up that way. We didn't have sex. Cutter can swear." Cutter nodded in agreement.
"I meant what I said!" Chris said.
"There is a way to sort this out," The Leopard King said, "Clearly, these two men are fighting for this woman's heart. Whatever each of you want will happen, but if you don't fight this out, I won't allow you both to be free from this prison." The Leopard King said. "Whoever beats the fight, will get their wish. The other will get each other's wish upon victory."
"Please, Your Highness," Sheena begged, "Free us to resolve this, Leopard Larry just did this so he can best us and get away with what he wants."
"You will watch." The Leopard King snapped his fingers and left the space.
As soon as he snapped his fingers, the floor opened under Chris and Cutter's feet and their ropes dropped.
After Cutter and Chris fell, there were lights on them and they could only see each other.
"Chris, whatever Larry said isn't true. Sheena is more of a sibling than a lover to me."
"I don't believe you!" Chris shouted.
Two men in leopard skin outfits untied them. More lights came on in the room. There were several people around the circle. There was a referee type that entered the circle.
"As the King has ordered, Chris Keeger and Matthew Cutter are fighting for Sheena. The winner will get her. The loser will get what he deserves."
The referee exited the circle. Chris came towards him.
"Chris, I don't want to fight you."
Chris punched him to the ground.
"Chris please! Don't want to fight you." Cutter grabbed Chris's wrist. Chris used his right arm and punched him in the face. Both arms got free and Chris grabbed Matt's head before throwing Matt to the ground.
"Stay away from my wife!" Chris said, punching Matt on the ground.
Matt didn't want to go weak, so Matt used his back strength and popped his chest and abs, which threw Chris off of him. He then collected Chris and started punching him.
"Chris…listen to me….I'm not having an affair…with Sheena…." Matt said as he was punching him. Chris caught the fist and twisted Matt around and he fell on the ground.
"Stop lying to me!" Chris said.
Cutter tripped Chris.
"I'm not! Sheena and I are not cheating on you!"
Chris and Cutter were holding wrestling poses. A shaft opened above them and Sheena was dangled above the circle.
"Chris, what are you doing?"
"Tell me what you are doing?!"
"Sheena!" Cutter said.
The two fell on the ground and started trying to top each other. The Leopard King entered the space, with Leopard Larry freely in tow.
"Your Highness! Please! He is not your ally!"
"Shouldn't you focus on who will win you."
"I am not a prize to be won! I don't need two men fighting over me! Chris is my husband and Cutter is a dear friend whom I haven't slept with. We've been on several adventures over the years, but I swear, we aren't lovers."
Cutter wasn't paying attention to the dialogue between the Leopard King and Sheena. Matt finally to let his strength come through to end this battle. Matt threw Chris across the circle and gripped him strong.
"I am not going to kill you and I am not going to let you accept the fate you chose for me. I am not Sheena's lover. We are brother and sister at most. I am glad she found you. She loves you. When I was trapped in time, I didn't know whether Sheena would ever rescue me, and when she found me, I had to take care of my responsibilities back then so I could come back. We had no idea how long we'd be, and from what Sheena told me of the science."
"Let go of me!"
Matt gripped his dirty arm tighter around Chris's neck, but not tight enough to choke him.
"Not until you believe me. I came back and I can't imagine what you thought of seeing Sheena in pirate clothes and me dirty and half naked. I asked Sheena to assist as long as she wanted to. There was nothing going on. Everything Sheena and I said is true. Larry was just using that conflict to distract while he plans the Leopard King's murder."
"I believe you! Cutter, Sheena, I'm sorry! Mendlesohn was right. I'm so sorry. Your Highness!" Chris yelled.
"Is the fight over?" The Leopard King said.
"Please takeback my wish for Cutter. Please!" Chris said. Matt let Chris go and the two stood up and shook hands.
"Sorry, the wish is the wish." The Leopard King said. "You lost, Chris."
Sheena looked down and saw her husband, shirtless, sweaty, and dirty.
"I'm sorry Cutter and Sheena."
The Leopard King raised his spear and blue lightning emitted from the tip. It directed itself to beneath Chris and a circle of blue lightning formed underneath him. A portal opened up from underneath him and Chris fell on the edge of the circle in fear and terror.
"Sheena, I love you!" Chris said as he fell down the portal and the portal closed up.
"My husband!" Sheena said, looking at the Leopard King, "Where did you send him?"
"He wanted to send Cutter back to where you found him, so I sent him there."
Sheena swung ferociously from the rope until the rope snapped. She then fell on the Leopard King. Larry tried to pull her off, but Sheena clocked him in the jaw and elbowed him in the stomach.
"Bring him back!" Sheena angrily cried.
Cutter stood in complete pain and anger.
"Your Highness," Cutter said, kneeling down, "We resolved our conflict as we were fighting. He doesn't deserve that fate."
"You did?"
"Yes," Sheena was visibly crying, "They did. Please bring Chris back."
"Larry had me believe…" The Leopard King said.
"Larry was manipulating you." Cutter said, standing back up and dusting his shoulders from the dirt and sand.
"Well, it is clear Larry isn't who he says he is." The Leopard King raised his staff.
Just then, Leopard Larry grabbed a guard's staff and stabbed the Leopard King. Sheena and Cutter went to tend to the King to see that he was still alive, but Larry already grabbed the crown and the spear. Cutter charged him first, but Larry used the spear and turned Cutter into a leopard. Sheena charged at him and missed the lightning bolts coming from the spear. She knocked Larry off his balance and the crown fell of his head, but Larry was still holding the spear. Larry zapped Sheena, but she kept dodging the bullets.
"I am the Leopard King now!" Larry said. He rose into the air and transformed into the Leopard King.
Cutter as a leopard ran behind the Larry and jumped him making a large growl. Larry, not seeing this, fell down on the ground and the spear fell towards the previous Leopard King. Though he was severely wounded, the previous Leopard King grabbed the spear and stood up. Cutter was attacking Larry, ripping his clothes bit by bit and scaring him. Larry, the Leopard King of documentary fame, could not handle being attacked by a leopard. Sheena checked on the Leopard King.
"I'm sorry I didn't believe you Sheena."
Sheena smiled as she placed the crown upon his head. The Leopard King was able to heal as soon as he grasped his spear, and he slammed it on the ground, and a blue mystic wave swept over the space. The wave turned Leopard Larry into a leopard, and turned Cutter back into a human, though he was wearing a leopard loincloth. The blue mystic wave also restored Chris from the ground of which he fell under and untied Mendlesohn from above to bring him back down to where the action is. The blue mystic wave also gave Sheena a leopard outfit as well.
When the wave ceded, Sheena ran over and gave Chris a bug hug and a kiss. Cutter walked over to Mendlesohn who wondered what was going on. Leopard Larry was officially a leopard and went over to charge at the Leopard King, but the Leopard King waved his spear and the leopard Leopard Larry disappeared.
"Where did you send him?" Cutter asked.
"Somewhere he deserves to go." The Leopard King said.
Leopard Larry opened his eyes, looked in a glass casing to see he was still a leopard. He was in a fenced in area, and was free to roam the designated space. However, he was hungry. He saw that there was a woman near the fence handing out food to the neighboring leopards. He ran to the cage and looked into her eyes. It was Ciara Borden. Leopard Larry let out a large moan. Leopard Larry, now a leopard, was now in his own personal hell.
The Leopard King then said:
"Thank you all for saving my life in the ways you have come into this part of the LaMistas. I have summoned that the leopard Larry captured be restored to my kingdom and I will send you to where you need to return to. I ask that you keep your memories here and that you leave the Leopard Kingdom to its unexplored space."
Everyone nodded. The Leopard King waved his spear over them, and they disappeared in a blue light. A blue light reappeared in front of the line of cars from where they were before entering the Leopard Kingdom. They were still in their Leopard Kingdom outfits.
"Well, I say we head back to where we need to go." Cutter said, oddly finding his car keys in his loincloth.
"Sounds like a good idea." Mendlesohn said, getting into the car he and Chris drove in. "I'll meet you at Cutter Unlimited."
Cutter walked over to Sheena and Chris.
"I am glad things were able to clear themselves up in there."
Sheena patted Matt's chest.
"Me too."
"Please come by any time." Matt extended his hand to Chris. Chris shook it.
"Thank you."
Matt watched Sheena and Chris get into the car and drive off. He smiled.