"What the..." A surprised voice said from the opened door. It was Laohu. "What happened here?"

Alex looked at him, his eyes wide with fear. Now that someone had seen the atrocity, a deep regret suddenly dawned on him. "It was... an accident," he lied, his voice shaking as he tried to cover the mess with a handful of hay. Marty trembled on the floor, in muffled moan, as some of the hay landed on his wounded body. "He's fine, see?"

But Laohu wasn't fooled by the lion's pitiful attempt of a ruse. His gaze was sharp, his eyes flickering from Alex to the zebra, and back again. "Doesn't look like an accident to me," he said, his voice cold. Yet, there was something in his eyes that made Alex's heart race faster. It was as if he wasn't just shocked; he was... impressed?

"Y-yeah, uh," Alex stumbled over his words, trying to come up with a convincing explanation, but his mind was racing too fast. The tension in the carriage was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. Laohu took a step closer, his paws landing heavily on the floorboards, and Alex could feel the vibration all the way to his core. The tiger's nose twitched as he took in the scent of blood and fear, his eyes gleaming with something that sent a shiver down the lion's spine.

"An accident?" Laohu repeated, his voice laced with disbelief as Alex nodded along. But then, his expression changed, and a smile began to spread across his face, revealing his sharp, gleaming teeth. "Ah, I see," he said, his tone taking on a knowing quality. "You were just... testing your limits. Practice for the future..."

Alex's heart raced as he realized the tiger wasn't buying his lie. He could feel the situation spiralling out of control, his mind racing to come up with a way to explain himself. "No. No. I... I didn't mean to," he stuttered, his eyes darting to Marty's still form on the floor. "I just lost control, really."

But Laohu was already nodding, his smile growing wider. "Don't worry, Alex," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "We all have our moments of... weakness. I wouldn't call this madness. But what's important is that we learn from them, and grow stronger." He took another step closer, and Alex could feel the power radiating off of him, like a predator assessing his prey. "You've proven that you're more than just a careless performer going through the motions," Laohu continued, his eyes gleaming. "You're a passionate fighter, dedicated to the art of the wild. And that's exactly what I need for my show."

Alex's heart sank as he realized his mistake. He had shown his true colours to the very creature he had hoped to impress and win over. He had done just that, but he had hoped to be seen as a leader, not a monster. "Really though, Laohu, I... I didn't mean to," he whispered, his eyes flicking to Marty, who lay unmoving on the floor.

But Laohu's smile only grew wider. "No, no, Alex," he said, his voice still eerily calm. "Accident or not! A show of power, of dominance. It's what the audience craves."

The train's rhythmic clacking continued as the animals outside remained blissfully unaware of the horror unfolding in the private carriage. Alex felt his stomach churn, his mind racing. He had never wanted to be seen as a monster, but here he was, blood on his claws, his friend at his mercy. The reality of his actions began to set in, and he felt a pang of guilt that was quickly overshadowed by fear of Laohu's reaction. "What? So this is all... fine to you?" the lion asked, bewildered by it all.

Instead of anger or disgust, Laohu's smile grew wider, his eyes gleaming with a newfound respect. "Yes, yes! Your instincts are strong, Alex," he purred, his voice a soft whisper in the dimly lit carriage. "In the wild, this is what we do to survive. To show we are not to be trifled with. The show will be amazing with this kind of stuff from you."

Alex took a step back, his heart racing. "But, but Marty... he's hurt," he stuttered, pointing at his friend who was now lying still, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow. The others were bound to wonder where Marty had gone by tomorrow morning. Alex was eager to make sure no suspicious went his way at the disappearance.

"Ah, yes," Laohu said, his gaze shifting to the zebra. "But that's the price of a good show, isn't it?" He leaned down and gently nudged Marty with his paw. "Besides, a little pain is nothing compared to the thrill of the hunt, the roar of the crowd, right?" the tiger quipped as he laughed to himself, Alex in no mood to join in. "I'll take the blame for this battered old zebra, don't worry. We'll tell the others he was stealing or something and... the henchmen were a bit too thorough in their punishment, hm?"

Alex looked at Laohu, his mind racing. He knew that he had to go along with the tiger's plan, but the thought of what this could mean for Gia was too much to bear. "What about Gia?" he asked, his voice trembling. "What's going to happen to her?"

Laohu's smile never wavered. "Ah, the lovely Gia," he said, his eyes flickering with something that sent a shiver down Alex's spine. "She's going to be the mother of your child, isn't she?"

"Yes, and my child. What about that?" Alex interrogated the tiger with concern, his previous question still unanswered.

"Ah, yes," Laohu said, his smile never wavering. "Well, perhaps they can take after their father's footsteps? Once he has made a name for himself of course..."

Alex felt his stomach drop. He didn't know what to say, his mind was a mess. He looked at Marty, who was barely breathing, and then at Laohu, who was watching him with a knowing smile. The tension in the carriage was thick enough to suffocate. The thought of his child living a life of winning fixed fights against defenceless animals scratched at him dearly. It was not what he ideally had in mind.

"I'll... I'll do it," Alex said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "As long as any child of mine is safe from any real harm... right?"

Laohu's smile grew even wider. "Of course," he purred, his eyes shining with a disturbing enthusiasm. "Your family will be treated like royalty. Now, how about you go elsewhere for tonight, while I take care of your little accident? It will lower suspicions."

Alex looked at the tiger, his mind racing with the implications of his words. He didn't trust Laohu, but he had no choice while he was deep into China. He nodded stiffly and stepped over Marty's unconscious body, his heart feeling heavier with every beat. As he left the carriage, the door slammed shut behind him, and he heard the tumbling of locks as Laohu secured it, leaving the him to deal with the aftermath of his rage. The sound echoed through the corridor, a grim reminder of the deal he had just made.

Alex scampered along, his mind racing with the sheer weight of his situation. He knew he had to find Gia, to tell her the news Laohu had informed him of. Each passing carriage was dimly lit, the flickering light from the gas lamps casting eerie shadows across the faces of the other sleeping animals.

As he reached the carriage before Gia's, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from the other direction. His heart pounded in his chest as he recognized the gait — it was Vitaly. The tension was palpable for the lion, he knew he had to tread carefully.

"Alex, is everything okay?" Vitaly asked, his eyes narrowing with suspicion, before coughing lightly. "You look... troubled."

Alex paused, his heart racing. He couldn't reveal what had just happened. Not yet. "Just... thinking," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He didn't dare to look at Vitaly, afraid that his eyes would give him away. "Just nervous about this new place, ha..."

"Hm... I trust this tiger. He is outsider still, yes, but I trust him," Vitaly reassured Alex, coughing again. "Calm your nerves, go be with Gia. Say, why are you not with her right now?"

Alex felt a jolt of fear, his feet flexing against the wooden floor. "I... I just wanted some time to think alone," he lied, hoping his friend would buy it. "But you're right, I should be with her."

"Okay, my friend," the tiger said with certainty in Alex. "I might go and have a talk with this new owner right now, actually. Melman was saying he is a South China tiger, I've never met one. They're very rare apparently," Vitaly rambled on to the fidgeting lion, letting out one last ginormous hack which took him to his knees.

Alex took a deep breath and sighed with relief silently, his heart racing as he placed a paw on Vitaly's shoulder. "I think it's best if you don't see Laohu right now," he said, his voice urgent but calm. "You need to rest, okay? For the sake of your health. We've had a long journey."

Vitaly looked up at him, his eyes clouded with confusion and pain from his persistent cough. "Bah! Tomorrow then, I suppose..." he agreed in frustration.

Alex nodded, a heavy weight lifting off his shoulders. "Yes, tomorrow," he said, his voice firm. "For now, let's get you to bed. You need your strength for whatever they have in-store for us."

At the opposite end of the carriage in a dark corner, unnoticed by Alex, lay a resting Stefano. His eyes were half open, watching the exchange with a mix of spite and confusion. He had not spoken to his best friend, Marty, most of the night now and was wondering where he was as he always slept next to him.

Vitaly managed a weak smile and nodded, his breathing shallow. He lay down on the hard carriage floor with the help of Alex, almost instantly falling asleep afterwards. The lion looked around, Stefano missing his eyesight. Alex turned and held his breath, and entered the next door in the search of Gia.

In a sudden burst, Stefano arose from his slumber once Alex had left. He had to find Marty to make sure everything was fine. He began his investigation, walking to the front of the train with determination.

The train's clacking was a constant reminder of the distance they were putting between themselves and their old life. The dim lights outside the carriage windows cast an eerie glow on the wooden corridor, and Alex couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled into his fur. His paws padded quietly on the floor as he entered a seemingly empty carriage, his eyes scanning the shadows for Gia. He had to tell her about Laohu's plans, about the future of their unborn child, in hopes that she would go along with it willingly.

As he approached the other end of the carriage, he heard a faint humming. It was faint, almost lost in the symphony of the moving train, but it was unmistakable. His ears perked up, and he froze in his tracks. The sound was coming from behind a privacy screen where the shadows were deepest. It became clear to Alex that the gentle hum came from Gia's mouth, his mind moving to a relaxed state in awe of her sound.

The jaguar's voice grew clearer as he approached, and his heart fluttered with a mix of hope and fear. He knew he had to tell her everything, but the words felt heavy in his mouth. He took a deep breath and stepped around the screen, his eyes immediately drawn to the small, flickering candle that illuminated her furrowed brow as she studied a tattered photograph.

Gia looked up, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, all the tension between them melted away. "Alex," she breathed, her voice filled with a gentle warmth that washed over him like a comforting blanket. Inside, she was glad he had found her so unexpectedly. All she wanted was for them to be on good terms.

Alex swallowed hard, his throat dry with the weight of his secrets. He sat beside her, the photograph in her hand a stark reminder of the life they had left behind. "Hey, Vancouver. Wow. That was great there," he reminisced, the photo of the two of them in the air. "One of my favourites, definitely top three, for sure."

Gia looked at him with a soft smile, placing the picture down. "Yes, same! It was almost perfect," she said, her voice a whisper as she began to giggle as an old memory hit her. "I remember then, when Marty's cannon delayed and then he was unprepared. He almost crashed into the crowd! But you caught him, haha."

Alex couldn't help but laugh a little, the memories of their old life coming back to him like a warm embrace. "Yeah, that was a close one," he said, his mind briefly escaping the horrors of the present. But the smile on his face was forced, the image of Marty's blooded body was prominent in his mind.

"Wow, I couldn't count how many times I have caught you from falling..." Gia realised, looking at Alex with cheek. "It is probably near the amount of shows we have done."

Alex's smile was strained, the humour lost on him in his racing mind. "Yeah, I guess so," he said, his gaze drifting to the photograph before he picked the it up from the floor. "Well, you've always kept me safe."

Gia tilted her head, studying him with intent. "Yes?" she asked, her eyes searching his. "You have too, you know. I hope you know that."

Alex nodded, trying to keep his voice steady. "I do, but sometimes it all gets too much..." he said, swallowing hard as he realised she was not accepting, from her lowered brows, of his self-pity. "Ah, I'm being down on myself. That isn't fair on you. Sorry."

Gia leaned into him, her fur brushing against his. "It's okay," she said tenderly, her eyes searching his, concern for her beloved lion etched into her features.

Alex felt the warmth of her body and saw the love in her eyes, and for a moment, he allowed himself to be comforted by it. But the memory of his violent outburst was too fresh, too raw. He pulled back slightly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I don't deserve this," he murmured, his voice thick with guilt. "After what I've done..."

"It's okay, Alex," she said, her eyes staring deeply into his as they shared an distant embrace. "It's okay."

He nodded in silence, shaking off any reluctance, and they leaned in swiftly and kissed with intention. Unknowing to Gia, although the cheating was forgiven, Alex now had another secret he had tugging at him from inside. He had made a deal with a creature who saw brutality as entertainment, who didn't flinch at the sight of his own friend's pain. The worst thing was he didn't either. Being truthful in this situation just seemed impossible to him, to let the future events just play out figured a better option.

They pulled away, and Alex looked into her eyes. The depth of her gaze was like looking into a vast ocean, full of an unconditional love and trust, his brain uncapable of comprehending the unbelievable fortune of her divine grace - something he lacked in himself so dearly. His eyes lowered to her stomach which still remained flat as ever, his mind's main purpose set on his child.

"Are you sure you're pregnant?" Alex asked jokingly.

Gia playfully slapped his paw. "I'm sure," she said with a laugh, her eyes sparkling. "It's only been a week, Alex, you'll see soon enough."

"Wanna... make sure?" he asked with hesitation. He knew it was a bold step.

Gia bit her lip at the question. "Ha... so naughty," she winked with a luring smirk. "Let's make sure..."

Meanwhile, Stefano had made his way across the train and he now stood across from the closed door which hid his friend's disfigured body, a snoring henchman now sat against it. His stomach flipped, but his need to know was stronger than his fear. He approached the guarded door cautiously, listening for any sound of life within.

"Where are you, Marty?" he whispered to himself so tenderly as he reached the door, the henchmen unawaken.

Inside the locked carriage, Marty was trying to keep his breaths shallow and even, his heart racing from fear and pain. His tongue was a throbbing mess in his mouth, and every inhale brought a fresh wave of agony. But the fear of Laohu's comfortable reaction to discovering his condition was far greater than his physical torment.

"Okay, guys. Ha..." Laohu spoke with a lack of gravity of the situation, his sick mind finding humour out of the zebra's desperate choking. "Should we even bother cleaning this mess up? None of the other animals have any reason to come in here..." he brainstormed almost to himself, his voice stopping momentarily to gather his thoughts in front of the other silent tigers. "Men, when we arrive, we might have to be aggressive from the start. I was hoping to get these animals settled before the truth became clear to them, I suppose this is a little hiccup... Oh, you may speak now, if you want."

The henchmen looked at each other, grinning sadistically. They had always enjoyed the thrill of power over the weak, and now they had Laohu's full support. One spoke up, "We'll take care of it, boss." he laughed darkly, the others too.

"Good," Laohu purred, his eyes glinting with a malicious delight. "I knew I could count on you all. Now, let me tell you what I have planned for these pathetic circus animals. We need something that'll really wow the audience this time."

The henchmen perked up, their expressions a mix of excitement and anticipation. For them, the inflicting fear and pain on the common animals was nothing new; it was a thrill they had actively craved for their entire lives. Being almost extinct in the wild had bred a deep-seated resentment towards the creatures who had overtaken their land and made them outcasts. This was their chance to regain power, to show the world that South China tigers were not to be trifled with.

"In the our little, beloved colosseum," Laohu began, his eyes gleaming with a twisted vision, "we will, as you all know, hold gladiatorial battles. But not to the death this time! Only to the brink of death... just like this fellow here," he joked as he gently kicked Marty who bounced in and out of conscience on the blood-stained floor. "Each night, two circus animals will be chosen at random to fight against another. It's a spectacle that'll keep the crowds coming back for more, to watch their favourite fighter neutralise another," he said, his eyes beaming at the thought of it all.

The tigers around him roared with excitement, but Marty lay there, his mind racing with the horror of what was to come. He had heard Alex mention the gladiator games before, but they were mostly always rigged to the better fighter. Now, the reality was too much to bear.

Stefano had been listening to the muffled conversation at the door, his heart racing with every faint word he heard. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, hoping it was just the unclearness of the almost inaudible words. He almost certainly knew the 'fellow' Laohu was referring to was Marty, his heart unable to believe it.

The sudden roar and bustle from the rowdy tigers' celebrations consequently awoke the sleeping henchmen beside the stealthy sea lion, the tiger's eyes widening to reveal a horrified Stefano stood with his ear against the carriage door.

"What do we have here?" he snarled, his teeth gleaming in the dim light as Stefano stepped back in shock.

Stefano's eyes darted around toward the other door, a hopeful escape route, but the henchman's swift grip caught him as his heart dropped. The sea lion thrashed and kicked, trying to break free, but it was no use. The tigers had been bred for their size and strength, and this one had the advantage of being trained in the dark arts of Laohu's underground life.

"Oh boy, Laohu is not gonna be happy with you," the henchman remarked as the sea lion struggled in his strong grip. "Let's pay him a visit..."

"No! Please!" Stefano begged, he desperate pleads going amiss as the uninterested tiger opened the locked door in the sake of his demise.

"Look what we have here, Laohu," the henchman sneered, dragging the sea lion into the bustling room filled with Marty's blood. The whole carriage went quiet as Stefano fell on their eyes in the henchman's painfully tight grasp. "A little spy, right outside the door," he answered himself, aggressively throwing Stefano to the bloodied floor beside Marty's still body and next to Laohu's feet.

The tiger boss looked at the henchman and then down at Stefano, his smile vanishing into a stern glare. "What is the meaning of this?" he growled, his deep voice resonating through the carriage.

Stefano's eyes widened with terror as his eyes confirmed the dreadful truth of his friend's mangled state, a pool of tears formed and rolled down his face before looking up at the instantly demanding Laohu. "I... I was just looking for Marty," he stuttered, his voice barely audible form the scarring revelation and newfound trauma. "I haven't seen him since we boarded the train."

Laohu's expression remained cold, his eyes flickering with a hint of amusement. "Ah, the little zebra," he said, his tone mocking. "He's had a bit of an... accident. Don't worry, he will be fine. You will be too, if you keep this quiet until we arrive," he told Stefano with broad deceit pulsating from his entire body. "Understand?"

Stefano nodded, his eyes still wide with shock. He couldn't find the words to speak, his mind reeling from the sight of his best friend's brutalized body and the reality of what he had stumbled upon. The tigers around them chuckled, enjoying the fear emanating from the sea lion.

"Good boy," Laohu said, his voice like a whip crack. "Now, you," he commanded menacingly, his tone changing jarringly to pure unbridled anger. "Seriously? You couldn't stop this complete loser from listening in? You are no longer apart of my company," Laohu informed, with a strongly pointed finger, the henchman who had found the spying sea lion. "Shā!" he bellowed as his eyes widened, the other tigers understanding his command.

The henchman's eyes widened with fear, looking around the cabin full of merciless eyes pointing towards him. Before he could not speak or even react, the other tigers descended upon him, their claws unsheathing with a chilling sound. The screams of terror and pain that filled the carriage were enough to make even the most stoic of animals weep, but Laohu remained unfazed.

"Make him quiet!" Laohu commanded his murderous inferiors as they ravaged the crying henchman. "Or you'll join him!"

Two henchmen sprang forward, their powerful paws grabbing the henchman's howling jaw, and with a sickening crunch, they ripped it clean off, the sound echoing through the carriage like a thunderclap. The blood spurted out like a crimson fountain, painting the already stained floor an even deeper, terrifying red. The henchman's body went limp, the scream dying in his throat, his eyes wide open in shock and pain. The sight was too much for even the most battle-hardened tigers, their eyes averting from the grisly scene, but not Laohu's. Stefano looked at the scene with pure shellshock, his whole mind and body frozen.

"Quieter..." Laohu muttered with a murderous smile, as the incompetent henchman's jawless mouth gargled in a gruesome dying sound.

The two henchmen who had dispatched of the traitor, both covered in a spray of crimson, looked to their leader informed of the further instructions. One took a step forward, his teeth glistening with the dying tiger's blood. With a fierce snarl, he sank his teeth into the his throat, tearing the flesh like paper. The sound of the windpipe collapsing was followed by a gurgling, choking noise as the life drained from the henchman's eyes. The henchmen all looked at Laohu, hoping that surely that was enough. There was silence now, after all.

"Come on boys," Laohu shook his head in disappointment at them all. "I don't want to get my hands dirty. Let's do a proper job here..."

The henchmen, now growing slightly hesitant, knew what Laohu meant. They had done this before in the grim underbelly of his operations, but not to one their own. Two of the tigers reluctantly stepped forward, their eyes never leaving Laohu's as they worked swiftly and efficiently. Both of them dug their claws deeply into either side of the dead tiger's ribcage and slowly pried it open, revealing a cacophony of organs. The smell of fresh blood was thick in the air, and the metallic taste coated the back of everyone's throats, except for Laohu's, who seemed to relish it.

With a quick snatch, one of the henchmen grabbed hold of the dead tiger's lungs, the organ slipping out with a wet sound that echoed through the carriage. The tigers watched in a mix of horror and fascination as the lung was torn from the body, still glistening with life. Another henchman then reached for the heart, his claws sinking into the warm flesh as he tugged it out. The heart was still beating, a macabre testament to the brutality of their world.

Laohu leaned in, his eyes glinting with a sick pleasure as he observed the butchery. "Perfect," he murmured, his voice a cold whisper in the silence that had fallen. "Now, let this be a lesson to all of you," he announced, his eyes sweeping over the gathered tigers, "Incompetency will not be tolerated."

The air was now thick with the scent of exposed organs, along with the blood covering everywhere, as Laohu turned his gaze to Marty, who was quite obviously still unconscious. "Consider yourself lucky, huh?" he asked him, his voice dropping to a chilling purr as kicked him once again. Laohu made his way out of the carriage that was painted in red, impatiently awaiting the train's arrival at Guangzhou.

The henchman all gave swift and momentary looks at each other, their eyes growing slightly deader as they processed the horror they had just created. After a swift breather, they assigned a new, more competent, doorman to guard the even bigger mess of a room and made sure the traumatised Stefano was securely cuffed to the carriage wall until they got to their destination.

Gia and Alex lay on the hard wooden floor, their hearts beating in a rhythmic pattern that filled the quiet cabin, their heavy breaths matching each other's as they both stared at the ceiling. They had made love with a passion that was fuelled by fear and love, a desperate attempt to hold onto something beautiful in the face of disloyalty, broken trust and the looming dread of their uncertain future.

"Tomorrow," Gia spoke, breaking the silence with a gentle sigh, her voice trembling slightly from their vigorous love-making. "What do you think will happen tomorrow?" she asked, her gaze shifting to meet Alex's, her eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. "And the day after that?"

Alex remained silent for a moment, his eyes still lost in the ceiling above them. "I don't know," he admitted finally, his voice low and tinged with doubt as he lied through his teeth, knowing the answer well. "But we'll face it together," he assured her, reaching out to stroke her fur gently. "We're in this together, you and me and our little one," he added, his gaze dropping to her still flat stomach.

Gia rolled onto her side, propping herself up on one elbow to look at him, her eyes filled with hope and love. "I believe you," she said, her voice soft and sincere. "And everyone else?" she added with a raised brow.

Alex's hand stilled on her stomach, his expression tightening as he thought about Marty and the rest of their friends. "Them too," he said again, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. "Everyone is going to be fine," he added, trying to sound more certain than he felt.

"Vitaly?" Gia questioned the lion, uncertain of the tiger's future fight with his cough.

Alex's expression grew solemn. "I hope he'll be okay," he said, his voice thick with concern. "But we have to focus on what we can control," he added, his eyes meeting hers, a silent plea for understanding. "I'm sure this Laohu dude will give him what he needs to live his best life until it ends. They are both tigers, after all, right?"

Gia nodded, but the doubt was clear in her eyes. "I just wish we could all go back to the circus," she murmured, her voice a whisper in the quiet cabin. "Those penguins have a lot to answer to, but I don't think we will ever see them again..." she pondered. "If they left so suddenly like that, surely they put no care into who they us to?"

Alex's heart sank, his guilt mixing with the fear of what Laohu had in store for them all. He knew he had to protect his family, even if it meant keeping his newfound knowledge hidden from her. "It'll be fine, Gia," he assured her, his voice strong despite his turmoil. "Let's not worry, tomorrow is right around the corner anyways. We arrive in a few hours."

He kissed her nodding forehead and gently pulled her into his embrace, the screams and the sickening sounds of Marty echoing through his head. The horror washed over him like a cold wave, but he pushed it back, focusing on the warmth of Gia's body on his. He knew the truth: the circus life they had known was over, and a new, darker chapter was about to begin.

"Bed time, I guess?" Gia asked with a smile, tired from the long day she had. So many events had happened in such a short time that her mind failed to pick one to think about. Instead, she fell straight asleep in Alex's arms, as if the day and his cheating had never happened.

Alex lay there for a while longer, his eyes staring into the abyss of the dark cabin, unable to shake the feeling of dread that clung to him like a second skin. He knew another sleepless night was in-store for him, yet for completely different reasons this time.

In the front carriage, Laohu paced back and forth alone, his tail swishing agitatedly. His thoughts were a tangled web of ambition, power, and the thrill of the coming battles. He thought back to his youth, the days when he roamed the wild mountains of South China with his pride, feared by all. The human encroachment had forced them into the shadows, but now he had found a way to regain some of that lost dominance, though not in a act of revenge against the humans, instead against other species who flourished in numbers. The circus animals were his new prey, and the underground colosseum was his stage to show other anyone unfortunate enough to be under his ownership what it felt like to slowly dissipate in numbers in such a brutal fashion.

He mused over his rise to power in the animal black market, the fear he had instilled in the hearts of his enemies and the respect he had earned from his loyal followers. It was all a game to him, a way to regain the power that he felt had been stolen from his kind. Those he called his henchmen were expendable as they were, unknowing to them, not South China tigers and he considered them as lower beings. The few of South China genetics that remained he kept delicate care of within his underground metropolis that he had built from the ground up, that fashioned as a breeding ground for his kind and a deadly fight club for any other animal that found their way there.

With the help of the secretly despicable North Wind, he had no problem finding other endangered species with their hand in wealth, who shared his sick love of watching other animals brutalise one another. He thought back to the days when he had almost been caught as a cub for the amusement of the humans who had brought his kind even closer to the brink of extinction with the addition of his parents on that very day. The humiliation had burned deep, but now, with each animal that he broke and controlled, he felt a small spark of vengeance. He hoped one day that poachers would be looked down on so lowly in society that no one would bat an eye at their sudden disappearance, allowing him to put them in the colosseum too without any fuss.

Laohu opened the door to the carriage where the violence had occurred, and where Stefano was being held. Marty was still lay on the floor, barely alive, and the murdered henchman had been tossed off the train in bits by the others. The scent of fear and blood lingered in the air, a constant reminder of the power he wielded. He grinned with amusement, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the cuffed animal, trembling against the wall.

"Well, well, if it isn't the nosy sea lion," Laohu purred, his deep voice a stark contrast to the quiet sobs that echoed from the corner of the carriage. "So, tell me, are any of your circus friends good fighters?" he asked, his tone mocking as he stepped closer to the trembling figure.

"Go away!" Stefano refused as he looked up, his eyes red and puffy from crying, and met Laohu's gaze with a mix of fear and defiance. "What have you done to Marty?" he demanded, his voice hoarse from the screams he had made to the others.

"Oh, your friend?" Laohu said casually, his tail swishing back and forth from the rush of the fear. "He's just taking a little nap," he chuckled, "but he'll be up and at 'em soon enough."

Stefano's eyes searched the floor, avoiding the puddle of blood that surrounded his friend's body. "Why would you do this?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Laohu's smile grew wider, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. "For the same reason you're all going to perform, sea lion," he said, his words dripping with condescension. "For the thrill of the fight. For the roar of the crowd. For the power," he leaned in closer, his breath hot on Stefano's skin. "You see, your world is changing. You're going to have to adapt, quickly. You all are."

Stefano flinched, his eyes never leaving Laohu's, trying to gauge any hint of mercy or humanity in the tiger's gaze. He found none. He was a different breed, a creature bred for power and control. His world was one of brutality and survival, and the circus animals were about to be thrust into it.

"So that is it? You ripped up Marty because he said no to this insane plot?" he whispered, his voice shaking with fear. Laohu's eyes narrowed, his smile fading into a cold sneer.

"Ugh, no," he said simply. "This... wasn't me. But, ha, I would've done a better job."

"Who did it then? One of your henchmen?" Stefano questioned the foreboding tiger.

"Let's just say," Laohu began, his voice a low purr that sent shivers down the sea lion's spine, "I'd be lion if I said it was me... Now, you're going to keep that little secret, aren't you?" He tapped the side of his nose with a his sharp claw, a twisted grin spreading across his face as he found his pun rather enjoyable.

Stefano's mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of who could have done such a thing to his friend. The fear and confusion grew, until it dawned on him like a bolt of lightning. "Alex... it was Alex, wasn't it?" he whispered, his voice trembling with a mix of horror and betrayal.

The tension in the carriage thickened as Laohu's expression grew even more predatory, his eyes narrowing at the revelation. "Yes, well done," he said, his tone mocking. "Your precious lion, the one you all trust so much, has a rather nasty temper when things don't go his way."

"None of us trust him!" Stefano revealed to the tiger with a laugh at the statement that was so wrong. "He cheated on Gia! He does drugs! And now this! None of us trust him!"

Laohu's smile grew, his eyes glinting with malicious delight. "But you all follow him, don't you?" he said, his voice a low purr. "He's your alpha, your leader. And that, my friend, is what makes him so powerful." He took a step back, his tail swishing contemplatively. "Look at Marty, he probably followed him in here. Even if he recovers from this, and that's a big if, he will probably follow Alex once again. Or... Alex might finish the job. Who knows?"

Stefano looked at him a distraught expression, unable to even comprehend the words the insane tiger was saying to him. He shook his head in disbelief, wanting this horrible nightmare to end. He sat in silence, looking down at the red floor, a tear rolling from his eye.

"Well... I'll let that sit with you," Laohu told him with a devious undertone. "Big day tomorrow! Two of your lucky circus friends will fight each other! How exciting!" He laughed as he walked away from a bewildered Stefano, who was shaken by his words. The tiger gave the sea lion one last threatening look, before closing the carriage door, leaving him alone in the blood-stained box with his dying friend.