Cougar's Roar

by Jim Mohr

  Lion looks at Falcon. “Bring Mountain Lion to me.” She nods and looks at me. She is afraid.

  “Mountain Lion, come to your King,” Falcon says.

  I smile as I realize what this is. This is so like the Timere class, they want me in front of the masses to humiliate me, to break me. “Hey Falcon, tell your King to fuck off. I don’t answer to civilians who are living off daddy’s fortune. Why don’t you come down here, Lion?! Or, better yet, how about I consider your threats as a hostile act against an Alliance officer and I end your miserable existence.”

  Lion stands, even from this distance, I can see his yellow eyes flash. His golden blonde hair shakes like a mane. “You dare speak to me like that, in my home no less!”

  Cheetah leans her head toward me. “Cougar, this isn’t Todd Vance you are provoking. What are you doing?”

  “Dena, I’m tired of these God damned bullies. Fuck them.” I look at Lion. “Fine, you want me up there? Here I come. You won’t humiliate me as the Timere have… asshole!”

  I push my way through the crowd toward the throne. Across the room I see Dove heading there as well. Psychokinetics move aside as I walk, dogs, cats, birds, the unattached, they all move. One cat catches my senses, Calico, or one of the Calicoes at least. I look at the small black girl who smiles innocently at me.

  “Your mother would be proud of you, Cougar. You are not like your father,” she says.

  I stop and look at the girl. “How do you know that? Where is she?”

  She blinks slowly. “Didn’t you listen to Eagle? She is with the Wolves.”

  Lion roars in anger. “Stop talking to that worthless cat and get up here!” Calico bows in shame toward Lion.

  “Listen, mother fucker, I’ve had it with how you talk to people!” I shout back. “I don’t know what the hormone has done to your sense of honor, but you are a dishonorable piece of shit!”

  Behind me, at the entrance to the throne room, I sense German Shepherd, Hyena, and Labrador. They have returned from wherever they were hiding. Hyena’s cackling laughter penetrates the air.

  “Hold that thought, Lion. I’ve got a little fat shithead that I have a score to settle with first.”

  Several Psychokinetics yell: “No!” “Leave him be!,” and “stop, Cougar!” They are all dogs or unattached Psychokinetics.

  I move back toward the entrance, toward Hyena. I hear Hyena say to German Shepherd: “See John, I told you, he’s crazy! Hee, Hee.”

  I feel the power emanating from Lion. His telekinesis is grabbing at me. My defensive power rises, shielding me from Lion’s power. I am 20 feet from Hyena. Labrador stands next to Hyena, a look of concern is on his face. German Shepherd is on the other side of Labrador.

  Suddenly, Hyena grabs Labrador and pulls him in front of himself, a small handled knife is in his right hand, it is a neck knife. The blade is pressed against Labrador’s throat. Labrador’s eyes are wide with terror.

  “Stop right there, Cougar, or I’ll kill the dimwit!” Hyena yells.

  I growl in anger and I slowly draw my Kalashnikov. German Shepherd points at me. “Holster your weapon! Hyena, release Labrador, now! What did I tell you not five minutes ago!”

  Hyena barks at German Shepherd. “I don’t answer to you, Indian! I am a follower of Lion! Hee, hee, hee.”

  I level my pistol, I can kill him now. “Release him Hyena! Release him, or I’ll put another hole in your worthless head!”

  My defensive power has my senses at a level I have never experienced before. I sense everything, the world seems to slow for me. Lion is continuing to grab at me with his telekinesis, he cannot. It is as if my defensive power has me covered in grease. Falcon is moving around to my right, she is hiding in the crowd. Cheetah’s sword is half out of its scabbard, she is watching Falcon. Dove is still moving toward Lion.

  Behind Hyena I sense the two Fox girls. They each are carrying half a dozen rocks, ranging in sizes from a walnut to a small apple. Their telekinesis is working in tandem on the rocks they carry.

  Labrador cries as the knife draws his blood, a thin line of red falls from his neck. “Please Hyena, don’t hurt me,” Labrador cries. The sight of Labrador’s blood angers me further. Images of Gabrielle’s torture, Nada, my torture at the hands of the Timere, all flash in my mind. I see Labrador as pure innocence, undefiled love. He is being held and threatened by a dishonorable, baleful man. Who stands for the innocents? Who will defend them?

  Without warning, one of the larger rocks that the brunette Fox, Kit, carries strikes Hyena in the back of the head. The pain causes him to drop his neck knife. German Shepherd’s power grabs Labrador and pulls him free of Hyena’s grasp as another rock, hurled by Tee’s telekinesis strikes Hyena in the back. He yelps in pain as he is struck by more rocks hurled telekinetically by the Foxes.

  My finger applies pressure on the trigger as I contemplate ending Hyena’s life right now.

  Chapter 57

  Dove—Devante Estate: The Buckhead District; Atlanta, Georgia

  My slow, methodical approach toward Lion has gone unnoticed. Luckily Cougar has kept Lion’s attention on himself, toward the entrance. To my right between myself and Cougar, Falcon is hiding in a group of birds, Pigeons mostly. She is also focused on Cougar.

  Lion is standing in front of his throne, on the top of the three steps leading down to the common level. He is staring at Cougar, his right arm extended, grasping at the air. He is trying to grab Cougar with his telekinesis but cannot do so. I can feel his anger growing, his power is making the air feel as if a lightning storm is about to descend on us.

  His arm drops. “Put down that weapon, Cougar! I ordered no weapons!” his voice sounds like a roar. “NO WEAPONS! COUGAR, STOP NOW! PUT DOWN YOUR WEAPON!”

  He turns suddenly and sees me approaching. His eyes flash a bright yellow and fear grabs me. If I use my empathy powers now, others will be affected. I have seen what my power does, how it changes people. I must be precise when I use it, I cannot affect others. “YOU!” He screams as he points at me. “You are the one that I want! You attacked Falcon, you used your power against her!”

  My arms suddenly slam into my sides. Pain tears through my torso as my head snaps back. I cannot release my power. I cannot concentrate on it. The ground gives up its hold on me as I am lifted into the air, like a bird taking flight. The commotion with Cougar has ceased as the ground grows more distant. I must be 15 feet in the air, levitating because of Lion’s telekinesis. “Put down your weapon, Cougar, or I will slam Dove into the floor. She will be crushed and die. Her blood will be on your hands.”

  I cannot move, I cannot release my power. A circle of marble tile awaits me as my fellow Psychokinetics clear space, so they are not injured by my fall. His power rotates me and I turn slowly. I face the entrance, my back is to the throne. I see Cougar, his pistol in hand. His eyes glisten as he looks up at me. He slowly places the pistol on the ground in front of him as he focuses on Lion.

  “I put it down. Release her, you sleazy fucker!” Cougar replies as he stands resolute, facing Lion. Behind him, Hyena is on his knees, crying. His face and arms are bruised, two teenage girls stand over him. Labrador is laying on his chest. His face is covered and he is sobbing.

  Lion spins me quickly so I am again facing his throne. He is still pointing at me, his power is emanating from his index finger. “I summoned everyone here to know that I am your king, your Lord. This one, Dove, used her power against my servant Falcon. No one, NO ONE USES POWERS AGAINST MY MINIONS!”

  I close my eyes as I feel his power growing on my body, like an evil fog engulfing me. I feel a burning sense of hatred. I haven’t felt this since my powers awoke. I feel hatred, I feel dirty, sinful, evil.

  My stomach tickles as a quick breeze rushes upwards across my throat and chin. I feel immense pain in my legs, my back, my face.

  ***

  Cheetah


  The force with which Dove slams into the floor causes the mass of Psychokinetics to gasp. The sound of her bones shattering cause screams to resound from all of the birds. I see Owl crumple to the ground. Eagle straightens and looks at Lion. I feel the telepaths power growing.

  My sword leaps into my hand. “You cocksucker!” I yell. The world slows for me as I sprint, I leap to reach Lion. My sword offers no resistance as I dart between motionless people.

  Pain… I have been struck in the ribs by a telekinetic blow. My speed has tripped up my defenses, my balance is gone as my face slams into the floor.

  “Going somewhere, Cheetah?” It is Falcon. Her power holds my leg. I claw to get to my feet; my sword harmlessly strikes the ground.

  “You bitch! I’ll kill you, you bitch!” I scream at Falcon as I struggle to stand, I cannot. “He killed Dove and you let him!”

  BLAM! BLAM! Gunshots. Then, I hear Cougar’s lovely voice. “Okay fucker, now you die!”

  ***

  Cougar

  I hear Cheetah scream and yell. It must be Falcon. I level the Kalashnikov that, as if it had a mind of its own, seems to have leapt into my hand when Dove struck the floor. I aim at Lion and squeeze the trigger. My aim is at his head, the bullet is pushed to the right, his defensive power moves the lead. The curtain behind him flaps as the bullet passes through it. I cannot aim for small targets… I squeeze again, this time aiming for center mass. The bullet strikes his shoulder. Lion screams as the bullets impact spins him.

  “Okay fucker, now you die!” I scream as I hastily move toward Lion. A group has surrounded Dove. I hear yells for Saint Bernard. On my way toward Lion, I pass Eagle; he is heading toward Dove but is glaring at me.

  Lion staggers as he gets to his feet. He squares his shoulders, fear is in his eyes. I can see that the burn of the hot lead has aroused his fear of his own mortality. Even from this distance, I can see it. Everyone has the fear of death, everyone except for me that is. He swings his arm horizontally, the world blurs as I feel a barrage of blows on my left side. My shoulder slams into the mural wall to the left of the entrance. Pain burns through my shoulder as it breaks. I taste blood, I see red… I struggle to remain conscious. My Kalashnikov, it is not in my hand. I hear screams and crying, I cannot move.

  The haze of telepathy covers me again. It is Eagle. “Don’t fight him as a Psychokinetic. He is coming to you, he thinks you are unconscious. Dove is alive, you deal with Lion. Godspeed, Cougar.” The haze lifts as my healing power repairs my shoulder. I do not move. Lion is approaching.

  ***

  Cheetah

  I twist just in time to see Cougar fly horizontally as if the world has tilted 90°. His body strikes several people before it slams into the wall. I hear his clavicle snap and he crumples to the ground.

  Falcon maintains her hold on my foot, I cannot escape. “You stay out of this, Cheetah. Lion is going to kill Mountain Lion, it doesn’t concern you.”

  “NO!” I twist and scream, I cannot escape her telekinetic hold. She is too far away for me to reach, I could throw my sword, but then what? Her defensive power would move it, I would be unarmed. “Help me!” I yell. “Somebody get this bitch off of me!”

  Falcon laughs at me. “Nope, Cheetah, no one is going to help you. Mountain Lion is going to die.”

  Dove is broken and crippled, possibly dead. Cougar is unconscious with Lion coming in for the kill, above the screams, above the commotion, I hear Owl’s voice. “Knight, get that whore off of Cheetah!”

  Seconds later Falcon screams and my foot is released. I spring to my feet, I turn to face Falcon. A great horned owl is tearing at her face. Blood and feathers are everywhere… The great Cheetah has been saved by a bird. Saved by her knight in shining armor.

  ***

  Owl

  I feel Knight probing the house for an entrance, an open window, a cracked door. He found a way in, he wouldn’t be kept from me. I sense him watching the fray, wanting to join in on my behalf. Mountain Lion’s gunshots startle him, but my Knight will not flee. No, he will avenge Mr. Beauregard’s death. Knight knows the pain still with me, how my first companion died by Falcon’s power. I see the opportunity for him when Cheetah is restrained by that murderous whore… Now, my Knight will bring the reckoning.

  “Knight, get that whore off of Cheetah!” He is on his way even before his name escapes my lips.

  ***

  Cougar

  Lion is in my range. I have calmed my breathing, gone over my martial arts attacks. I have positioned my legs and tightened my arms for my Dragon tail leg sweep. I will lift my upper body, as if doing a push-up, and I will sweep him with my right leg. I focus my telekinesis on my leg. Our powers obey the laws of physics, if I can catch him between steps, I will trip him, then he is mine.

  “Cougar? Are you dead?” Lion asks. I feel his telepathy probing my mind. I submit to the intrusion as I focus on my mountain lion friends, Kiara and Smokey. “Where is your power? I do not sense you.” He steps… I spring up. I sweep my leg, his face displays his shock at the surprise attack. My right leg strikes him just above the ankle. My physical strength, combined with my telekinesis, magnifies the effect of the blow.

  My muscles scream as the force of the blow carries me through his leg and around in a circle. Lion screams as he slams to the ground. Before he can move, I am on him.

  Every bit of strength I have goes to my arms. I punch his face. I feel a finger break as his mouth twists in pain. His eyes are wild with fear as I focus my blows on them. I unleash a flurry of punches on Lion’s face. My knees are embedded in his biceps. My ass is resting on his chest.

  His healing power heals the damage almost as fast as I can cause it. My arms ache as I punch continually. My anger, hatred, and wrath pour out onto Lion. I will beat him to death.

  ***

  Cheetah

  The owl ceases its attack on Falcon. Her blood is splattered on the floor, on her clothing. The bird is covered in her blood and some of its own. It rests peacefully on Owl’s shoulder as it tends to its feathers. Owl touches the bird and heals its wounds.

  A scream sounds to my right… I turn to see Lion upended. Cougar is on top of him, screaming wildly as he is beating the supposed Lord of the Psychokinetics. Cougar’s fists rain down on the man in an unrelenting barrage of violence. It seems to be a reenactment of the morning when Cougar killed Todd Vance.

  Psychokinetics yell: “stop him!” or “get him off of Lion.” While others reply: “no, Lion deserves it,” and “kick his ass, Cougar!”

  My mind slows as pressure builds in my head. I hear the soothing African voice of Eagle. “Cheetah, Saint Bernard is at the gate. Get him. He can heal Dove.”

  I speak out loud, to no one in particular. “How will I know him?”

  Again, the voice in my head. “Foolish cat, he’ll be the drunk man. The drunkard from England.”

  ***

  Falcon

  My face burns as my healing power repairs the damage done by that damn bird. This failure was Coyotes’. He was responsible for taking care of Owl, for securing the mansion. I’ll fix his ass when this is over.

  Near the throne, and to the left, I hear screams, yelling, and the sound of flesh striking flesh.

  Lion’s voice penetrates everything. “Hel…p… me!” A thunderous clap sounds out that startles the Psychokinetics. Cracks in the tile floor extend outward from the commotion. Lion is releasing his power, trying to free himself from whatever is assaulting him.

  I hear Cougar next, his vulgarity is unmistakable. “I… told… you… fucker… Don’t… pick… on people!” Slams of flesh sound between the words.

  Cougar is assaulting Lion! My telekinesis weaves out and I find a broken slab of the marble tile. Its weight causes my back to strain, even using the power of my mind. Though I lift it with my power, it seems to crush me. It is at the limit of my
power.

  I move as fast as the congested crowds allow, toward my Lord, and his assailant. My power holds the tile slab in tow. If I can rescue Lion, he may forgive me for my failure with Dove and Owl. Maybe I can regain his approval.

  The last group clears, I see the scene of the ongoing attack. Lion’s blood is intermingled with Cougar’s. It looks like the scene of a brutal murder. Cougar has Lion pinned down and is using his knees to hold his arms. While holding him, he is brutally beating Lions face with his fists. Cougar’s physical power is immense, combined with his telekinesis, he is nearly invincible in the human world. I can sense that all of his power is focused on healing his hands, and on applying telekinesis to his strikes. His human strength is all he needs to hold Lion down. He will wear Lion out and beat him to death. As of now, Lion’s healing power is keeping up with the assault. Soon it will run out. When that time comes, Lion will die from the trauma.

  I focus all of my power on lifting the slab. My mind feels as though it is tearing in half with the strain. I need to apply as much power to the slab as I can. I must hurl it, with as much force as possible, into Cougar. My back twists as I notice others watching me, wondering what I am doing. I apply everything that I have to the great chunk of marble and I move it as quickly as I can. My target is Cougar’s back and head.

  The sound of the impact assures me that my aim was true. My mind burns as I drop to my knees. I see Cougar hurled off of Lion, blood is gushing from his head.

  Over me stands another cat, Bobcat. He is a boy of no more than seventeen. I wonder if his voice has even completed the transformation of puberty. I can sense his fear of me. Why shouldn’t he fear me? I am the second most powerful bird.