Whiskers

Sharp Spaces

But if he's telling the truth, it still doesn't matter. 

Animal rescuer or not, he would kill him. The instincts were already there from birth, just like all carnivores, but over his years of captivity, they were the only thing that helped him. He couldn't be tortured by someone who was no longer alive. 

"Alright, well... we're going to take you there with the truck you're hearing. We'll try to load up this hauling container as carefully and quickly as possible, but it might rock a bit. Please just stay calm. I promise you, we're only here to help." 

I promise you, I will still kill you either way. 

Jamie left shortly after, sealing the container. Only, he didn't technically leave the area. Palace could still hear him and several of his workers milling about, shouting directions and what not. 

At one point, Palace heard several heavy pieces of metal thunk around the container, as if they were lines being thrown from one side to the other. 

"Got the first three hooked up! Just fasten the last one, then we'll see if this thing can still be moved safely!" Someone shouted. 

He heard the last metal rope go over the top, then get fastened in the far front corner by the door. Silence took over for a few moments before he heard someone outside yell for everyone to get clear. 

The next thing he knew a loud groan reverberated throughout his territory, making his ears pin back as he stiffened his stance. The front portion of the container lifted several feet in the air abruptly, forcing him to stumble backward into the wall. His weight made the container jar, adding momentum and forcing him forward when whoever was controlling the ropes over-corrected. 

He tried his best to keep himself from sliding forward, but being locked away, practically immobile, had clearly hindered his ability to react quickly. He fumbled to the end of his chain far too fast, making the metal already buried in his throat dig in. He yelped, but it sounded more like a pained roar as his claws scrambled against the worn steel floor. 

Someone started yelling outside to lower the container, but when it just jarred harshly, Palace felt his air get cut off. 

"Lower it, dammit!" Jamie yelled right as Palace swung his right front paw forward, digging three inch talons straight through the dilapidated metal floor. 

The second he realized what he'd done, he did the same thing with his other paw, then pulled himself high enough to gasp in a rasping breath. A moment later, the container dropped back down hard, forcing his body to slam against the floor and his talons to retract back to look like normal claws.  

Everything went quiet for several moments as his mind tried to reboot from the hit his head had taken and the lack of oxygen. The sound of the rusty bolt moving jerkily on the container door finally managed to pull him together enough to lift his head in that direction. 

Jamie's face appeared as the door was shoved to the side. When he stepped inside, turning on the strong flashlight, likely to check on him, Palace bared his teeth. He tried to growl, but it ended up coming out as a reverse cough, much like what canines usually did when they had been pulling on their leash too hard for too long. 

"Dammit. Get me the tranquilizer gun! This isn't going to work." He yelled over his shoulder. 

Palace gave a few more coughs before letting his aching head rest back down on the warm metal floor. He remained still even as he heard Jamie's men bring him the gun he'd asked for, then come further inside. Each time he tried to growl, his throat just backfired on him, forcing harsh coughs until he was panting for breath.