He pushed up on his hands and knees and Jonathan kicked him hard in the gut. The air exploded from Kim's lungs and he crumpled to the floor, curling in on himself.
"Seriously? That's it? That's all you've got?" Jonathan prowled around him and Kim flinched, glancing at the door.
"He'd rather have a whore, a freak and a pathetic scrap, like you?" Jonathan's mouth curled with disgust.
A second kick rammed into Kim's side, making him shout and whimper. The scents of humid forests and coppery blood filled the air and Jonathan's pupils widened, as he watched the smaller boy edge away from him. "This is too easy."
Hands hauled him up and Kim squeaked as he was shoved face-first into the wall, knocking his brow painfully against the stone. His bag slipped off his shoulder, but he barely noticed it.
"And here I thought Charles only bottomed." Jonathan chuckled, but it sounded more like the chuff of a large cat. Kim trembled, heart hammering so fast, he was starting to feel faint.
Jonathan inhaled deeply and exhaled, breath hot on Kim's nape. "God, that smell. Should I let you go?"
The hands on Kim's shoulders opened and Jonathan's warmth dissapeared. The redhead stood perfectly still against the wall, hardly daring to breathe.
"Go on." Jonathan purred.
Kim twitched and then he was sprinting towards the door, ignoring the pain shooting through his stomach. But he had only taken five steps, when hands grabbed him again, making him scream.
Jonathan laughed, claws cutting into Kim's shoulders through the cloth. Tears sprung to his eyes and Kim heaved a sob.
"Aw, don't cry. Do you want another shot?" Jonathan was starting to pant with excitement. "I bet you run fast. I haven't had a good chase in years. Running after a ball just isn't the same, y'know?"
Frightened beyond speech, Kim wrapped his arms around his aching middle and shook in the larger boy's grip, tears dripping down his cheeks.
Jonathan lowered his head and hissed in Kim's ear. "Chilla's no different from me. Even if he's mixed, he's still a cat. He doesn't want to fuck you. He wants to eat you."
A shove rammed into Kim's spine and slammed him against door. The redhead burst through it, stumbling to regain his footing and then he was racing down the hall.
Fast. Fast. Faster.
Fear choked him and tears misted his eyes, blinding him. He dashed them away frantically.
He could already hear Jonathan closing in on him, but he didn't dare look back. The boy's breaths were changing, becoming deeper and more bestial.
The sound of heavy paws thudding onto the floor made Kim's heart stop and panic tore through him. Heat sparked in his gut and crackled in his fingertips.
Suddenly he was on all fours and the corridor expanded.
Danger!
Danger!
Danger!
He wasn't Kim anymore. He was just a terrified animal running for his life. A swipe of a paw could break him, a nip could sever his spine. But he knew it wouldn't be quick. Not with a cat.
A door opened ahead of him and a snowy head appeared, red eyes peaking towards him for an instant.
Sharp teeth locked around him and he was tossed up in the air. The world spun in a frantic blur and then he landed hard on the floor. Shock reverberated through his legs, numbing his paws, but he was already running again.
The cat was toying with him. He knew he was already dead. But he wouldn't stop running. Not until it was over.
A bloodcurdling hiss and a rattle echoed through the hall, making all the hairs raise on the squirrel's skin.
A cat roared and the squirrel skittered up a wall, reaching a window left slightly ajar. He wriggled through the narrow gap. Human voices sounded behind him, shouting and screaming.
The squirrel fell through the air and landed in the grass with a soft thump.
He tore through the blades and the sun beat down on his bright fur.
No!
He had to hide! Any direction. It didn't matter. He reached a tree and raced up the trunk. The leaves and twigs thickened, blotting out the sunrays.
He saw a dense patch of foliage and climbed in, clutching a sturdy branch and resting his exhausted body against it. His pulse pounded in his ears and blood dripped from his fur. He closed his eyes, twitching as his laboured breathing slowed.
......
"Kim!"
The squirrel's eyes flew open and every sense sprang to alert. He squeaked reflexively, claws digging into the bark.
Did you hear that?
"Kim! Are you up there?"
Danger!
Danger!
Danger!
The squirrel curled up tight in the leaves, trying to suppress the panicked chitters building in his throat. Agony stabbed into his spine and he knew he couldn't run far.
I can smell him. He's in the upper branches. He's hurt.
"Can you give me a lift?"
He heard the branches creak with weight and a breeze carried the scent of hay and apples.
No!
The creaking stopped.
"Kim? Sweetheart?" The voice was so soft. He knew it from somewhere.
Go away!
"Honey, it's me. It's Cassius. I'm coming up now."
Don't!
But the creaking grew louder and the scent strengthened. The squirrel's breaths were frantic with fear and he wrapped his tail around his head, clutching his hind quarters. Trying to become as small a target as possible. Trying to dissapear.
"Oh, sweetie. Little puff."
A light touch brushed over his tail and he squealed, unfurling rapidly to leap for another branch. Hands caught him mid-air and he found himself pressed against a warm neck.
Soft clicking filled his head and lips brushed over his quivering spine.
You're safe now. The boy's voice whispered in his head.
He could feel a pulse beat close to him. It was a little fast, but nothing like Kim's drumming heart.
Even a squirrel had sharp teeth, that could slice open a hard shell. He could bite through that vein, if he wanted to. He recognized this show of vulnerability as a sign of trust and his eyes cautiously opened, tight limbs softening.
That's right, you know me. A second kiss feathered over his head.
Kim sniffed the air. The boy's comforting scent was overpowering this close. And beneath it, he could smell strawberries, a hint of musk and...himself.
Cassius.
"Good job." Cassius gently blew air into Kim's fur, warming him.
Relief swamped him and Kim closed his eyes, nuzzling the blonde's throat. The soft clicking in his head intensified, a rabbit's purr.
On the climb down, Kim squealed with fright at the sight of a massive elefant, extending its trunk towards them.
Need a trunk down?
"Thanks, Kasper." Cassius stroked Kim's head reassuringly with his thumb.
.....
Cassius took Kim straight to the infirmary and sat on a bed, letting the squirrel crawl under his shirt and curl up against his chest. Safe under white cotton, Kim's sore body soaked in the warmth of the boy's skin.
He listened as Cassius tapped on his phone. "Milly? I found him, we're in the infirmary."
It wasn't long before the door opened and two pairs of steps sounded. Kim scented Chilla and Milly, but he still twitched anxiously.
"There. There." The doctor's voice was close. "Kim, may I have a look at you?"
Kim reluctantly stood and crawled out of the blonde's shirt, into the harsh hospital light.
With Cassius' guidance he was able to shift. This time, he managed to change fully into human form, but he didn't have the strength to feel good about it. He just felt drained and sore.
To his utter mortification, his shorts stank of the urinals and Milly ordered him to undress. His t-shirt clung to his skin, soaked with blood, and Milly had to cut it with shears and peel it off him. He needed a bath, but his wounds were urgent and he had to make do with body wipes.
When he was somewhat clean, Milly hastily covered up his lower half with the bedsheet and examined him. His shoulders were torn, his abdomen and ribs were badly bruised and the bite marks on his back needed stitches.
He clutched Cassius' hand, as Milly gently cleaned his wounds and administered the anesthetic. She stitched him up, chatting cheerfully to distract him from what was happening. "You shifted perfectly, sweetheart. Just look at those pink ears. You can go on trips now. That's wonderful."
She finished quickly, wrapping his torso and shoulders, and walked to a cupboard to fetch him a hospital gown.
Chilla looked even paler than usual. He'd pulled up a chair to sit beside them, spine ram-rod straight. "Why were you on the predator floor, Kim? I gave you a schedule."
Kim squeaked as a wave of shame washed over him. He had wanted to make his boyfriends feel proud of him today. To show them that he could handle himself, but now he was more of a wreck than ever.
"Remember to breathe, honey." Cassius slipped under the sheet and pulled the redhead carefully into his arms, pressing his lips against Kim's cheek. "Breathe."
Cassius inhaled deeply and let it out slow, ending it with a soft kiss on the corner of Kim's mouth. The tender touch steadied him and he took a trembling breath. "J-jude t-t-told me t-to go d-downstairs."
"What!?" Cassius' voice was so loud, Kim flinched away.
"Jude said that?" Milly exclaimed, blue eyes wide. "Jude Meadow?"
Cassius abruptly pulled away and Kim looked up in alarm. The blonde's face was hard and unreadable as he strode out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Kim jumped at the noise and chittered with stress. He had never seen Cassius angry before. The blonde was always jovial and smiling, but he had looked like a stranger just now. Because of what Kim had said.
Chilla climbed in beside him, curling around the smaller boy and guiding Kim's head beneath his chin.
Chilla's no different from me...
Kim forced away Jonathan's voice and gripped Chilla's waist tightly. The headboy had been nothing but kind, patient and considerate.
Kim had no reason to believe Jonathan. He was a stranger and a bully, who was clearly obsessed with Chilla. Kim knew this, but years of feeling unwanted had left its mark and doubt still trickled into his heart.
But what if it was true? What if Chilla was confusing his hunting instincts with attraction and sex? What if he didn't really want Kim? Would he eventually snap and lose control?
Kim had lived with adults who lost control all the time. It had been terrifying, waiting for the next blow to happen.
"He's not mad at you. He's just going to have a talk with Jude." Chilla said quietly and smoothed down Kim's wild hair, combing the strands with his fingers. He was grooming Kim.
Grooming meant peace and bonding. It wasn't quite as calming as Yas' iron grip, but it was close. Chilla had never given Kim any reason to fear him and it wasn't fair to retreat from him now. It would only hurt him and that was the last thing Kim wanted.
Milly murmured something about fetching some tea and left, closing the door with a soft click.
"Be brave and allow them to love you." Milly had told him in a session.
Milly was wise and Kim desperately wanted to trust her. He wanted to be brave. He wanted to be able to give and receive love. Even if he didn't know how.
Kim closed his sore eyes and snuggled into Chilla's arms, pressing his nose against the taller boy's neck and breathing in.
Chilla smelled like fresh earth and sweet strawberries. Not at all like a predator.
A few weeks ago, Kim had discovered why the silver haired boy always smelled like strawberries. He munched on them daily and liked to keep a large stash in the back of his fridge at all times.
He hid them behind cartons and vegetables on purpose. Cassius said that Chilla "hoarded" them and that Kim should just pretend he didn't notice.
The memory made Kim smile, because a feline would never hoard berries and it was such an endearing habit. Even the seemingly perfect headboy had his quirks.
Kim licked the skin pressed to his mouth with small swipes of his tongue, grooming in return. Chilla hummed and moved closer, lightly pressing their groins together and stroking Kim's hip. The redhead relaxed further, lulled by the taller boy's warmth and soothing touches.
"Where's Yas?" Kim whispered and the body against him tensed.
A/N: Did you know, elephants are known for being compassionate. They feel distressed, when they see others in distress. They often rescue and comfort animals in need.
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