Corruption MxM

Chapter 2

Turned out my den wasn't so amazing after all.

I had been looking around the den, trying to hunt for building materials and a better den if possible when I had made the mistake of being too confident. Letting my guard down was stupid and I could only thank the gods that I hadn't shifted back.

Letting out a frustrated meow, I glanced up as the world darkened again, the small, muddy hole barely big enough for me. My fur was grimy, filthy and reeked from rolling in the mud. Baring my fangs, I hissed angrily while flattening my ears, only getting a deep grumble in reply.

The Jaguar from before had noticed me after all and had been stalking me. When I had heard a branch snap in the otherwise quiet jungle, I had made the split decision to bolt away.

It might've possibly saved my life.

The claws that could've sliced through my back like a knife through butter, had scraped over my fur and clipped the tip of my tail. Said tail was now twitching in annoyance at the stubborn beast, which was stalking back and forth.

No way am I going out there right now.

I twitched and backed up as far as I could, slipping n the moist soil as I got a nice close up of the jaguar's bared canines, dripping with saliva. It let out a deep hiss, audibly showing his annoyance in my presence.

Doesn't like any form of competition huh?

Both of us froze for a moment as we heard voices. My heart thumped violently while my pupils narrowed to slits. Those voices didn't sound familiar and that could only mean one thing.

Inmates were closing in on my location.

Eyes flashing to the jaguar, I calculated the chances of getting away before I just let my cat take over and bolted. My tail slapped against its chin as I ducked underneath and weaved, dashing past the low swipe.

Fear and adrenaline coursed through me as I heard its paws dig in the forest floor, a low snarl exploding from its lips just seconds before it pounced.

Stunned screams resounded through the forest as three men stumbled and fell, blocking the jaguar while I was able to slip between their legs, even jumping off the floor and climbing one of the men to vault into the closest tree.

I could feel finger slide over my fur and then nothing but the safety of the tree. When they looked up, they must've seen me clawing my way up the tree as fast as I could before slipping in the highest branch I could find.

Panting heavily, I looked through the cover of the canopy and was glad to have put as much space between the four men and I downstairs. My eyes slid from male to male, all of them looking between each other and to where I had disappeared.

Hold on... four?

My eyes retraced, spotting one of the men, naked. Chills rushed up my spine as I started to shake. Holy shit... the jaguar had been a shifter after all!

My ears were focused on the group so I could hear one of them scoff as he shook his head. "Dunno why you even tried to catch the little bugger. Boss told ya to keep your cat in check and leave them Margays alone."

I sagged on the branch, mentally sobbing in relief. They hadn't figured I was a shifter as well, which meant they hadn't seen the boat.

Thank the gods!

"What is... hah! The kitty cat clawed ya good Erin!" One of the men laughed, turning Erin around to show the triple claw marks on his cheek. Those had been his reply when he thought he could shove his face in the den and think I'd jump in his jaws.