Before we get to Ikuto and Yuki, let's see a little bit more about this young panther and his siblings.

Vow of Escape

Back at Kuzan's lowly cavern cell, the young black panther walks down the hallway and he just thinks about all the horrible things he was forced to do for those three years to keep his siblings alive and he just lived in fear, regret and total guilt that he had to cause such harm to a couple of innocent people, even if he didn't have the heart to do so because he couldn't bear the fact that he had to take someone's life. But he knew that he had to do whatever Kuzan says in order for his little brother and sister to stay alive.

During those intense times, some of the victims looked at him in the eye and knows that this isn't a stone-cold hearted killer, but of a scared cub that doesn't want to kill anyone and for the most part...spared the victims' lives and let them live. He doesn't wish any types of revenge against anyone, but Kuzan wants him to think otherwise and just kill, kill, kill until they're dead.

As he thought about it, he tried his best to be strong for his siblings and make sure that everything is gonna be okay and that they'll get out of this. But even when he tries to be a rock for them, he just knows that it's hard to be brave for them and not let them see him cry or feel sad or scared because they'll end up feeling the same way too and that they'll accept the fact that there is no hope.

Soon enough, he goes over to his siblings' cell and as he opens the door, he sees the two siblings; a 10 year old male black panther with green eyes, wearing a tattered grey shirt and tattered silk pants and another one; a 6 year old female panther with golden eyes, wearing just an old blue shirt and ripped grey sweatpants and he said, "Hey, guys. You hungry?"

Both silbings walked over to their older brother and sees two plates of noodles, rolls and kung pao chicken and from the minute the oldest one set them down, they were eating it with some chopsticks and that was one highlight for him to see; his little siblings eating.

"Thanks, Rex." the siblings said, happily.

That was the brightest thing that Rex could see; two of his siblings smiling because they have food and it sorta gave him the strength he needed to fulfill that promise he made; that they'll one day escape from there and find freedom and he patted their heads and said, "You're welcome."

"When will we get out? It's getting scary and boring." the younger brother replied.

"We'll get out someday. Don't worry about it." Rex said, looking at the young brother.

The younger sister comes over to Rex and gives him a hug and Rex hugged her back and then hugged her a little tightly and she said, "What if we never leave?"

"Don't say that, Rainbow. We will leave this place. I promised myself that I'm never gonna let anything happen to you guys and I'm gonna do everything I can to keep you safe and a promise is a promise." Rex replied, looking at her sister's eyes.

Rainbow responds with a little whimper as she buried herself in Rex's side and the younger brother came over as well and he said to him, "We'll make it out, Luke."

"I hope you're right." Rainbow said.

"He will, Rain. You worry too much. I oughta teach that Kuzan guy a thing or two. He doesn't scare me none." Luke said, attempting a few kung-fu moves, only to fall on his side.

Rex chuckled softly at this and that really helps him smile by watching Luke being really silly and Rainbow said, "I wish you could be with us, Rex. You're the best big brother ever."

"Thanks, Rainbow." Rex said, smiling a little.

Afterwards, Rex went in there and told his siblings a little story about finding a new family and starting a great life with that family and making sure that the promise is fulfilled and that really got them to go to sleep and he kissed their foreheads as he silently walked out of the cell and closed the door, but leaving it unlocked so he can check on them from time to time. After walking out of there, he could feel a huge amount of burdens inside of him knowing that Kuzan is will let them go and the fear of losing his siblings weighed heavily on his mind constantly.

He pulls out his necklace with little pictures of himself with Luke and Rainbow in their happy times before losing their parents to Kuzan and all he wants to do is keep them safe and one day, he will defy Kuzan's order and rescue his siblings and get out. But he also knows that that possibility will be very unlikely because of the risk of not only losing Rainbow and Luke, but Rex himself will be killed too.

"Rex...if you want to escape and take your siblings with you, why don't you that?"

Rex looks up and sees this old wolf in the cell and with a heavy sigh, he responds, "How can I? Do you know what it feels like to deal with the fact that your brother and sister's lives are in the balance of a madman? It's hard. It's really freaking hard, okay? These two are all I have. The only family I have left."

The old wolf reaches out to the young panther and just said, "You know you're better than this. You've spared several victims that Kuzan ordered you to kill."

"I don't want them to feel the same way I felt. It's not their fault. But I know that eventually...this will come back to haunt me until my judgment day comes. I love Luke and Rainbow and I look after them as much as I can, but I just wish that they wouldn't have to experience this and stay in this awful place for three years." Rex said, almost tearing up.

"Listen to me. You have a good heart and a very determined spirit. Choose from your heart and do the right thing. Ask yourself this question; what is the right choice for me and what is the right path I want to take; not for just me, but for my brother and sister?" the old wolf said.

Rex pondered on that question for a second and he walks away without another word and made his way back to his cell, laid down on his bed and looked up at the ceiling as that question keeps running through his head and soon...comes to his heart and once he thinks about his siblings, he knows that he'll do anything to keep them safe and sound and to escape from Kuzan's clutches.

With a heavy sigh, he turned to his side and tried his best to go to sleep...with a few tears coming down on his face with despair...mixed in with a sense of hope that they'll get out.

Poor guy. Let's hope that he and his siblings leave Kuzan's clutches! Next chapter...a moment alone with Ikuto and Yuki!