The leopard's Spots

Iona ran through the corridors with the sound of the alarm in her ears. What happened in the lab? Their alarm had a different tone, when it rang, further alerting those in charge where to go.

She slid to a stop at the group gathered around the door. No one moved inside.

"Out of my way! Move! This is my lab!" She pulled arms and bodies away from the glass to peer inside. Cages doors were open and a number of the cats roamed the tops. Others lay watching the action below.

"Zayan! Get out of there!"She yelled through the glass. The man inside didn't move. His eyes and that of the cat crouched before him never wavered.

Iona Saw Sayan's lips move and the cat shake his head. A howl from one of the she-cats above could be heard and the watching group shivered.

Iona's eyes never left Zayan's face. He seemed to be communcating with the large cat. The other cats wandered the room examining their freedom. They avoided the area of the man and the cat, Saphir.

Iona recalled the day the truck brough Saphir. Zayan had left the lab telling her he felt sick. Late she found him seated in front of Saphir's cage, talking to her in a low tone, in some kind of gutteral language.

From then on, the two seemed to have a silent communication. Saphir was the only one of her kind they'd ever seen. Since then two more had been taken from poachers and brought to the lab. Their blood DNA wasn't one that matched any in the database but this Leap of leopards were related.

Iona tried to open the door, but it was locked. Behind her security pushed their way to the door.

"Doctor, we have tranq guns. We can handle it from here." The crowded her away from the door.

"Look,: She pushed her way between them and the door forcing them to put space between them or be accused of harassment. "Zayan isn't in any danger at this time. See?" She pointed to the room. "It seems he has it under control."

She hoped he did at least. When then nodded and saluted the room behind her she turned. Zayan, had locked the cages with the escaped cats inside. There remained only Saphir now resting on the floor in front of her own cage.

The two stared at each other and Saphir rose gracefuly and stepped into her cage, allowing Zayan to shut and lock it. He turned to the door and opened it.

"The threat is over. All is well." The group muttered and turned back to their labs and offices.

Iona stepped into the lab and looked around. There had been little damage. A food bin or two knocked over but that was it. "What happened?"

Zayan took her arm and led her away from the door to their desks. He and Iona had a specail relationship. Since he'd arrived to take care of these special cats, they deveoped an understanding. That was over a year ago. Iona's body hummed when he was near. He'd been the only one to see through her fears and help her to gain more self confidence.

"Iona. We've talked about getting these cats back to their homeland. I think its time."

"We can't. The government won't let them out of here. It's too dangerous to the people. Beside we still don't know what they are capible of. You know we've never seen anything like them." She reached toward his jaw, staring at the unusual freckles that covered his face and neck. He'd said they were a family deformity. He said it covered his body, but she'd never been allowed to see it, no matter how often she'd told him she wanted to.

"Will you come with me and return them to the jungle?" His hands stroked her shoulders and arms then grasping her hands. He leaned forward to kiss her cheek.

A mighty roar came from Saphir who threw herself against the cage door.

Iona felt confused. There seemed to more to this request. "What are you talking about?"

"We've worked together this past year. I know how you love these animals and don't like to see them caged. There is more to this species than you know. Do you think you can handle more information, even if it scares you?"

Iona thought for a minute. She pulled out of his embrace and walked to look at the cages. Seh'd come to love each one. They seemed to understand what she said to them. The responded to some of her commands. Had she missed something? She turned to look at Zayan and to her amazment he wasn't there. In his place stood a cat, identical to the ones in the cages.

"Over here." A female voice came from beside her. Saphir's cage now held a beautiful naked female. Iona's eye qucikly scanned the other cages and found they too now held human figures of varying ages. He eyes returned to Zayan.

The from began to reform and return to the figure she recognized. Her blood thickened and pounded in her ears. Her hands now clutched at her lab coat, but it offered no protection.

"What are you?"

"I am Zayan, king of the this clan of the spotted lepards."

"He's no king!" Saphir screamed from her cage. "He's the Spotted Demon. He's going to take over your country after he brings in the rest of our Leap."

Iona turned to run, but Zayan and Saphir jumped on her.