Gripp

9

He heard her moving something metal, and an alarm blared overhead. He turned to her, almost wanting to yell at her.

"Shit." She scowled as she started prying at a file cabinet. "They hid it in here. It must have an alarm on it."

He could hear footsteps headed toward them and scowled. They didn't have long. "Hurry up."

"No s**t!" she yelled, fumbling for something on the desk.

"What are you doing?”

“Looking for the dam key.”

“Just use something else."

He started stripping, really not wanting to walk around naked after what was about to happen. They had seconds before someone came through that door.

He watched her pick the lock on the filing cabinet with a paperclip as he put his clothes in his backpack. She finally threw the cabinet drawer open and then rummaged inside.

"Yes!" she squealed and pulled items out. She had a file filled with paper, a camera, a recorder, and a phone. She shoved everything into a small bag, tying it up. He tossed her a waterproof sack he found laying on the floor, and she shoved her bag into it. She threw it over her shoulder, strapping it around herself.

Just then, the door busted open, and eight guys flew into the room. They didn’t have weapons but were still prepared to kill. He didn’t give them a chance. He shifted into his panther form. He didn't wait to put himself into action. He slashed at the first two, taking them down with ease. He heard the crack of a skull hitting the ground and the sound of ribs breaking under his weight.

He turned to see that April was holding her own as she’d promised. She kicked at one, knocking him into the wall hard enough to knock him out. He was impressed.

Gripp turned to the third guy, shoving the man to the ground, and dug his claws into his chest, hearing him wail out in pain. He ignored it, crushing his ribs and then his lungs silencing him.

He could hear April throwing another guy around. He had to give it to her. She was able to keep up, that was for sure. But there would be more, and they wouldn't last long.

He threw a guy against the wall, knocking him just enough to fall off center, before he clawed through his chest, ripping him the shreds. The smell of blood filled the room.

"Look out!" April yelled, and he turned to see a guy running at him with a knife. He moved aside just in time for the man to miss.

April, however, was quicker. She grabbed a stapler off the desk, unfolded it flat, and slammed it into the man's forehead. He screamed as she pushed a staple into his skull, blood traveling down his forehead. She repeated this four more times.

The man dropped, and Gripp stared at April, amazed. He wouldn't have thought to use a stapler like that. He also wanted to know what brand of stapler it was to take such a beating. Though maybe now wasn’t the time to admire the quality of office supplies.

They both turned as they heard someone stumble back. One guard ran down the hall, getting away and calling for backup.

"We need to stop him," she said, ready to go after him. "He’ll wake the rest. We can't let him get away."

He shook his head, knowing they didn't have time. There would be others, and his job was her, nothing else. He knew it was selfish, but he needed to get her out of there. He couldn't worry about the kids or anything else.

Once he got her out of the situation and he got himself free, he would come back and shut this place down. He would personally slaughter each and every last man who threatened the kids.

He pointed his head toward the window. "We need to get moving before they find us and bring their guns next time." He grabbed the bag holding his clothes with his mouth, not bothering to shift. He didn't know who they would run into outside the building.

April had already secured her gear and headed to the window. She looked at him, then at the open door. "Are you sure? What about the kids?"

He nodded. "Yes, we need to move. The kids will survive until I return." He knew this, or he could only hope.

APRIL

When they reached the orchard, April was winded, and her mind was in chaos. She was still taking in Gripp shifting in front of her, but she was more stunned that he was entirely naked.

She leaned on her legs and tried to catch her breath. She checked the straps on her bag before she pulled herself up. She looked at Gripp still in his panther body.

He was amazing, and she found him elegant with black fur, and the cat stood twice as large as a normal panther. He was certainly someone you wouldn't want to f**k with, and she was more than happy to have him by her side.

When the feline dropped the backpack at her feet, she figured he wanted her to dig out his clothes. She wondered if she should turn around for him to dress in privacy. He clearly was fine stripping in front of her, but would he want her to see him donning his clothes? She held his garments up as he shifted back into his human form.

"Thank you for pulling out my clothes." He grabbed them, not embarrassed at all, even though he was completely naked with everything hanging out.

She turned slightly, looking around the orchard. "Neat trick." She rubbed at her arms, not sure what to say. "I was really wondering why I was getting a strip show before they came running through the door. Sort of an odd time to just throw caution to the wind and free Willy."

He snorted at her, shaking his head. "I guess I just take after the ancient scouts. I prefer to fight without clothes. I'd rip them anyway, and I figured you would rather I wear clothes while we travel."

That she could agree on, but she had to admit that he was packing in more than one way. She didn't want to glance below his waist, but hey, a girl's eyes wandered.

"I can see that," she said instead, allowing him a few moments of her back while she surveyed the area.