Chapter Text
Run. Just keep running.
Gus panted as he ran through the forest for what felt like hours. He continued to run until his paws felt like falling off. He eventually stopped against an old oak tree, wiping the blood from his nose. He took a deep breath, then sighed. He walked to a nearby stream and stepped in, washing himself off. He soon stood up on his back legs and climbed out of the stream, shaking himself dry.
Now what? Gus looked around. He sniffed the air, overwhelmed by the new scents surrounding him. He thought for a moment, then decided to go down one path. His pawsteps were the only noise he heard so far; it should’ve been comforting, he was used to the quiet. But these were new surroundings, a new situation. He didn’t know what to do.
A twig snapped. He paused, stopping in his tracks. He pricked his ears up, listening to the forest around him. He turned his head left and saw movement in the bushes. His senses took over and he ducked down, avoiding a creature lunging at him. He whipped his head around and saw what attacked him: a tawny-furred lion snarled at him, his black mane blending into the night.
Gus lowered his ears and stepped back. Another growl was heard, and from the corner of his eye, he saw a tiger hop out. One more roar, and a lioness landed nearby. Surrounded, Gus went on all fours. He was tired, but his natural fear of the unknown kept him awake and alert.
The lion roared and lunged at Gus, but the hamster quickly dived out of the way. He unsheathed his claws and struck, landing a blow on the lion’s cheek. Not deep, but enough to prove he was willing to fight back. The tiger butted his head against Gus’s side, causing him to fall back. He let out an ‘oof’, barely managing to catch himself. He looked at the three cats, then turned around and ran off. The cats were heard roaring and running after him, making Gus panic and run as fast as his weary paws could take him.
He could hear the lion racing forward, probably wanting to get back for the scratch. Gus panted. He knew he couldn’t continue for long, but he tasted freedom for this long; he may as well fight for it. Using his claws to grip onto the earth beneath him, Gus slid to a stop and turned around, butting his head against the lion’s chest. A roar let out from the lion, falling back in front of the lioness and tiger. Gus prickled his fur and lowered his head, attempting to make himself bigger. The lioness growled and raised a paw to strike him.
“Stop!”
Heads turned, looking at the tiger. “Khan, what on earth are you blabbering about?” the lioness hissed at him. The tiger stepped forward.
“He gave us quite a good fight; most prey don’t fight back so easily.”
“Most prey aren’t this big; he will be a good meal,” the lion growled, digging his claws into the ground with a lash of his tail.
“Hush now, Scar. I have an idea,” the tiger disputed. He turned to Gus and gave him a smug grin. “Good evening, I am Shere Khan. These are my colleagues, Zira and Scar.”
Zira scoffed while Scar batted his tail. Gus flattened his fur a little and nodded his head. “H-Hello.”
“You gave quite the fight. Admirable for a gerbil.”
“Hamster.”
“Whatever. Regardless, we don’t see much energy often, especially from a newcomer. But, I believe you may have potential,” Shere Khan spoke, looking at Gus with some respect. Zira growled and opened her mouth, but Khan whispered in her ear. Gus couldn’t catch what it was, but he could assume whatever he said sat well with Zira, as the lioness’s face shifted to form a crooked grin.
“My colleague here brings a good point. You could be a…good addition to the rest of our posse,” Zira added on, her voice eerily smooth and attempting to sound sweet. Gus flicked his ear and stood up on his back legs. He knew better than to trust what they said; they attacked him not too long ago.
But on the other hand, he’s never been genuinely respected before. And Khan’s words did sit well with him. Plus, he had nowhere else to go.
Taking a deep breath, he looked at the cats and nodded wordlessly at them. Shere Khan nodded back, and with a flick of his tail, he turned around with his group, going down the path they had come. Gus followed them, holding his breath while trailing behind.