Grabbing your phone you check the time. It was 8 a.m.. Looking over to Zoe who’s currently sitting patiently, you say, “The zoo should be opening about now. I think it’ll be best to get out of the zoo as our first priority. I’m going to turn off this light and take a peek outside.”
Zoe nods her vulpine head in confirmation. Turning off the light you slowly push the door open and see that the sun is moving up from the horizon. Opening the door more, you scan the area and don’t see anyone; keeping close eye out for the anthro-tigers.
“Coast’s clear,” you whisper. "Let’s follow the path I took as I came in. I hadn’t seen anyone until I saw you so that might be a good way to go.
Stepping out into the morning air, a chill assaults your still somewhat damp clothing. As Zoe exits, you close the door behind you as the two of you dash to the hedges you and she had hidden behind hours earlier. Lifting your head to get another scan, an itch develops on your arm which you absentmindedly scratch.
A tug at your shirt causes you to look back at your fox companion as she nods her head to the right. Quickly looking in that direction you can see the anthro-tigers walking toward you. Lowering your head again you make yourself as small as possible in the hedges as you wait and hope they hadn’t seen you.
The earlier itch is still there and a new one develops on your leg this time which you start to scratch when all of a sudden a sharp pain shoots from your lower back making you to mutter an expletive.
“Who’s there!?” A deep voice bellows from the direction of the tigers.
Looking at Zoe apologetically, you see renewed fear enter her eyes as you scramble to your feet. She bolts forward in a mad dash which you try to match but are left in her dust. Taking a quick look back, you can see the anthro-tigers are on all fours barreling toward you. Trying to put as much effort as you can to run, your foot hits a rock and sends you tumbling to the ground painfully face first.
A massive weight lands on your back and shoulders as you feel wind rush past you. A low, menacing, growl emanated from above.
“Who are you?” the anthro-tiger pinning you demands.
Deciding silence the better option you don’t respond as the weight of the human-animal atop you shifts.
“Interesting…” Is all he says.
For another minute you just lay there wondering what was going to happen next as more itches start to develop, this time on your chest and neck. Another shift of the anthro-tiger alerts you that he was getting off you; keeping your hands clasped in his iron grip.
“Finally got her!” A further off, but equally deep, voice comes with a slightly winded demeanor. “She was fast but not fast enough!”
Looking in the other anthro-tiger’s direction you can see he has a flailing vixen by her scruff.
“She’s feisty all right!” The anthro-tiger that’s next to you says. “I think we found our missing candidates. Let’s take ‘em back to the doctor.”
The antho-tiger that has you pushes you forward, forcing you to walk. After five minutes, going deeper into the zoo, you’re lead down a ramp into an underground sterile laboratory. As you enter the room, you’re pushed, hard, and stumble in as the door is closed behind you.
“Ahh there you are!” A chilly and ominous voice comes from a speaker in the corner of the room. “I was wondering where you had gone…”
His voice trails off for a moment as you hear a low voice saying something off mic; one of the anthro-tigers you guess. Another itch starts on your side as you scratch it.
“Interesting indeed!” The evil voice says with excitement. “This accelerates our testing quite a bit…”