Living Like A Lion-The Circus

Chapter 16-Louis and Stripes Pair Up

16.Louis and Stripes Pair Up

“James, come quick!” yelled Ringmaster as he ran towards the trailer.

I hurried out with Robi running on two feet right behind me. “Ringmaster, what is wrong?” I asked as he stood panting before us.

“My brother! Louis! Big cats! Help!” he cried before he fainted.

“Dad! John! Dr. Jason!” I yelled and they rushed out. “Take him inside. Robi, I'll need your help, but...you will lose the ability to be like this. Wish to be a full tiger.”

“Okay,” she roared as she quickly changed and stood beside me on four paws.

“Wait! Dad! I'm coming too!” Annie yelled as she grabbed onto my mane.

“But...OW!” I yelled as she stuck a needle in my leg and ejected blood my blood, which she quickly injected into herself. “Why Annie? Why!”

“Watch,” she said as she thought hard; then she turned into a lion. She was a little smaller than Robi, but twice as small as me. “Let's go!” she roared as she led the way.

We all ran to the big cat cages, only to find them empty; so we rushed to the circle cage, where Louis had the other big cats circling the circus doctor. “Louis stop now!” I yelled as we stood before the locked gate.

“Never!” Louis shouted back and we tried to open the gate, but we couldn't because of our paws.

“Let me, Dad,” Annie laughed as she changed back to a human. She unlocked the door and Robi and I bounded forward, while she returned to her lion form. Robi and I protected the doctor from Louis' whip and Stripes, while Annie convinced the brothers to help her attack Louis from behind. Mike and Tim stimulatory pounced onto Louis and pinned him to the ground, while Annie changed into a human again and rushed off to get John and Dr. Jason. Now all was left was me to fight Stripes.

“Stripes stop!” I roared as we rolled around the cage. His claws were sunk into my hide and my teeth were in his leg.

“No! I want to be free. I want to be human again!” he cried as I pinned him to the ground.

“I'm sorry, but we will try to help you soon,” I promised and my father shot his gun. I stayed on Stripes until I was sure that he was asleep. John and Dr. Jason tied Louis to the bars of the circle cage before my father and John carried Stripes to his cage; then they helped Dr. Jason take care of the circus doctor. “Is he going to be okay?” I asked as I laid near them.

“I hope so James, but I am not sure,” Dr. Jason said as Annie ran in with supplies. “He has lost tons of blood.”

“Please save him,” Robi cried; but Annie and I were the only ones, who could understand her.

“Robi, go ask the brothers what happened,” I commanded and she hurried to them. “Dr. Jason, is there anyway for me to help?”

“Um. I don't know, James. I guess you can tell the ringmaster what is going on,” he replied as he worked on, stopping the bleeding.

“Okay,” I roared as I rushed to Annie's trailer. “Ringmaster! Ringmaster! Open up!” I yelled as I pawed the door.

“Yes James. Is it safe?” he asked as he peeked around the door.

“Yes, we have Louis tied up and Stripes is asleep; but your brother is in critical shape,” I answered as he sat down on the steps of the trailer.

“Can I help with something?” he asked as he stared at his feet.

“I don't think anyone has called the police,” I replied as I stared at him.

“Okay,” he whimpered and as he wiped a tear away, he ran inside.