Instinct

Lupa, wolf

The giggling got on my nerves. I could deal with the other noise, it was easy to tune out, but the giggling was horrible and high pitched, like claws scraping a plate.
I whined softly and put my head on my paws, closed my amber eyes and tried to sleep. Tried to stay calm. Tried not to go crazy. No luck.
I jumped to my feet, fur bristling in all directions, teeth bared in an angry grimace. I growled menacingly, shoving my head through the bars and staring at Spot in the cage next to me.
"SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!" I howled in despair, putting all my pent up fustration in these few words. They weren't my most cutting, but I couldn't be bothered with witticism today.
My voice grew pleading. "Don't you think it's bad enough," I almost whispered "That I have to spend every single day getting cut open, experimented on and punished? Oh no! When I get to rest, not only am I stuck in a cage, I'm stuck in a cage next to a STUPID HYENA THAT CAN'T SHUT UP WHEN I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!"
I howled then, raising my head to the bland ceiling and letting rip. I couldn't do this anymore, I couldn't stay here, letting this happen. I had to do something, I had to get out.

Ha ha! That was hilarious, Buggy!

Sophia ~ Panther

She drew her lips back and snarled. Her long, white teeth - which she'd love to sink into the hyena - were exposed. She shook her head, as though a fly was bothering her. That damn trash-digger was hurting her ears. If she didn't stop then Sophia was going to-

What, exactly? She was stuck in a friggin' cage.

She growled, and the hyena barked out a jittering laugh.

Yeah, you wait until I get out of this cage. Then we'll see who's laughing.

The wolf howled next. Wonderful, is there to be no peace in this godforsaken place? She thought. When I get out, I'll kill you all just so I can go to sleep in silence.

Ah, blessed silence...

**Question: can they talk in their animal forms? And thanks EmmaJane ^^**

Spot, hyena

I spun around, suddenly bristling in anger. "Stupid, am I?" I snarled over her howl. "What about you, Loopy? Yelling and whining to get her way, doesn't even think to be polite!"

Lupa got control of herself and growled out her next words, shaking. "Well," she said slowly, "what should I have said if I wanted you to stop?"

"Please." I smirked.

The wolf-girl closed her eyes, apparently trying to make herself calm down. "Spot, will you please stop being so loud? Some of us are trying to sleep."

I'd had every intention of saying no and continuing on with my orchestra of cacophony (where did I pick up all these words? I love words almost as much as I love noise), but at Lupa's words I just... deflated. It was quiet for a second.

"Fine. I'll be quiet." I collapsed on the floor with a huff, feeling melancholy. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was stupid; that would explain why nobody liked me.

Or maybe I had no friends because I derived great pleasure from annoying the crap out of everyone. I guess that made more sense.

Masumi

I cringed as the others complained in their own way as the stupid hyenas singing. If they just ignored her she might shut up. I was getting impatient and shuffled over to the door of my cage, I was one of those who couldn't turn into a human in my cage because there wasn't enough room, that had made Whiteside careless, he had not put a padlock on my cage door. I put my face up to the door and shoved my tongue through while everyone was distracted. I sighed, this wasn't going to work. I had tried it years ago and it hadn't worked. Why should it now. I recoiled as my tongue strained and touched the cold metal of the handle (*slidy lock thing you get on gates that I don't know the word for*) I grinned.
I finally did it, I finally managed to get the door open without the others noticing, and Whiteside was out this was what you would call a golden opportunity, I couldn't let it go. I jumped down out of my cage and stretched, I noticed Arun staring at me. turning into a human, I walked over to his (tank?) and spoke quietly, I waited for you to let me out, I thought you wanted to let your sister escape. The others had noticed that i was out and observed me in silence. I looked around at the hopeful eyes, begging me to let them out. I smirked, "Why should I help you? I will give you some advice, ignore the hyena and she might finally shut up."
There was an eruption of cries and wailing when they found out that I was leaving without helping them. Just as I was about to go out the door I turned back and let out one of the only ones that had been nice to me, turned and ran out, not caring if they followed.

*anyone can jump in.*

Yes, they can talk to each other in animal forms.

Arun

Arun leaned against the back of some cages, smirking at those who where trapped within. He paced the room as Spot wailed in her cage, dragging a finger across the bars and laughing as some of the animals shrunk away from him. The chatter slowly waned until the room was silent. He continued to drag his finger tips across the bars of the cages, noing that no one would have the guts to ask him to stop it.

He walked across the room, his golden reptilian eyes sweeping across the cages as he picked someone to annoy. He sought after Masumi's cage, and sauntered over to it upon finding it.

Even though Masumi's cage was one of the higher ones, he had to squat down in order to peer in due to his staggering height.

"Hey Masumi. You're looking pretty cramped in there." He smirked in and sighed, stretching out his arms. "Wanna come for a walk? I gotta check some of the other rooms."

Masumi crept forward hopefully. "You mean it?" His ears perked forwards, but he could still see wariness in the Lynx's eyes.

Arun snorted. "Surely you know me better. As if I would let you out. He cackled as a fierce yowl sounded from the cage.


Sora

Sora moved silently through the corridors, dodging the cages and trying to block out the pleads from the animals as they begged for release. She stopped and tilted her head slightly, filtering all the sounds that came to her ears and searching for Arun. Eventually she heard him; his unmistakeable cackle. Corridor A, first room on the right.

She reached the door within a few minutes, peeping her head around the door and entering without him realising she was there. She snuck up behind him and stood for a full minute before making her presense known with a quiet, "Boo."

He jumped slightly but turned around, knowing it was her. "Hey little sis." Her pale features broke into a slightly nervous smile. Arun frowned, immediately catching on and taking in a gulp of air through his mouth. She swallowed, knowing that Arun could 'taste' the air and sense her apprehension. He eyed her suspiciously. "What's up?"

"Nothing. I came to cover you, Father wants to speak to you," Sora said fluidly, thankful that she hadn't stumbled. She never was a good liar, and wasn't sure if she could fool her brother.

"Alright. See ya, squirt." He ruffled her hair and sauntered out of the room, and left her alone with the other shifters. Some hissed at her, and low growls echoed off the metal walls of the cages. They were quiet for Arun out of fear, but for Sora they had no respect. They hated her brother but punished her for it. She found that she didn't have the heart to punish them back, instead shifting into a beautiful pale faced owl, perching on the back of a chair and eyeing the creatures with completely black eyes.

*Anyone can interact with them *

Jaidev/Devraj-

"God you're heavy, why don't you lose weight already bro." Dev pushed as hard as he could, Jay through the small window. It had taken him weeks to secretly enlarge the opening, thank god Dingo's could dig."

Jay kicked Dev in the head as he pulled himself through, his voice half way between a whisper and a snarl. "Well excuse me if my big tiger ass, is too heavy for your dumb dog arms."

Panting, the twins finally scrambled through the hole, it was hidden behind some of the doctor's equipment. The stuff that had been thrown out and left in a heap in the yard. Jay glanced at Dev out of the corner of his eye. "Why do I have to leave anways?"

Dev sighed and flopped on his back. "Frankenstein's moving you to a new facility." He used the insult the twins had given Whiteside years ago. "This is your last chance to get free. No way the rebels will help you, none of the other shifters know you exist."

"But about you?" Jay eyes shone more gold then red in the afternoon light. "He'll set Arun on you."

Dev grinned, long canines flashing. "He's a snake and I'm a dingo. Last I checked snakes were lunch. I hear taste like chicken." He sobered, suddenly serious. "Go Jay, you can't stay here anymore."

Rolling back into the tunnel, Dev snared a support collapsing the tunnel behind him. Now he was trapped inside, and Jay was on the outside, free for the first time in years.

Jay stared into the distance. He could see the forest not far from the facility, the sound rushing water beyond, said there was a river nearby. Standing Jay took a step forward, then another and another. In a fluid motion he flashed from boy to tiger, and took off running.

*Maybe someone could spot Jay as they're escaping too, or a rebel could see him. ^.^*

Masumi had opened my door! I was free!
I had run out after him, my wolf body running fast, slipping through the closing door and out onto the corridor. I raced after him.
"Wait," I called "where are you going?"
He turned round, "Anywhere, where I can hide."
I gave a wide, wolfish grin and flicked my ears, "Follow me then, I know a good place."
I whipped round and ran down a side corridor, hearing Masumi follow behind me. As he caught up and ran by my side, I cocked my head in his direction.
"Thank you."

*sorry, do you mind if it was me? and sorry it's so short, I'm hungry!*

Rebekah Stonewall, black widow

I sighed. Spot had gotten everyone riled up again, and Arun in his infinite wisdom had decided to aggravate them more. I don't know why he thought it was funny to rub his freedom in the other test subjects's faces. It didn't help Whiteside any.

Of course, my own imprisonment was much more tolerable than, say, Masumi's. I was kept in a bell jar on the doctor's desk; it had more than enough room for me to stretch my many legs. I'd deigned to rebuild my web again as there wasn't much else to do. The webs of widows like myself are not the typical geometric patterns of orb weavers or barn spiders. They consist of a tangled mess of strands jutting out in every direction. Some would say it's ugly. I say it's efficient.

I peered out of the side of the jar as I deconstructed my nest, glancing at the light blur in the cage next to mine. It was Dalton in his little tank. "So how goes life?" I asked. He probably wasn't in the mood to talk, but I thought I'd ask anyways.

No answer. No, not just no answer, no movement. How odd... maybe he'd been let out for a while.

Oh no. I think me and Bonnie posted at the same time. Let's just pretend he escaped while Arun and Sora exchanged shifts

Sora

Suddenly, through all the babble and the sounds that surrounded her, she heard the voice of ther father screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Get them Sora, they've escaped!"

Sora's feathers ruffled as she immediately took flight, shooting through the air and out the door in fear of her father's anger. Suddenly her plan to let some of the animals escape was terrifyingly idiotic. She shot through the dark corridors, quickly catching up with the two escapees. She hovered mid air, hating herself for it but swooped towards a wolf, sinking her talon's into her head and feeling them cut through the flesh easily.

The wolf howled, turning back to face the owl as Masumi ran on ahead. She dodged the snap of her jaws narrowly, coiling her talons towards her pale underside as the wolf's jaws closed on thin air. Then she heard a terrible hiss and paws skidding across the floor as her brother appeared, a very angry 22ft cobra raising up to face Masumi.

Sora pulled back, cursing herself with every slash of her talons, hearing Whiteside's screams distantly as the wolf snarled.

Hold them off, hold them off. I chanted, baring my teeth at Sora and Arun.
My head throbbed and I could feel the hot wetness of blood trickling past my ear. I didn't know Sora had it in her. I backed away slightly, still snarling, then risked a glance over my shoulder to see if Masumi had escaped. Yes, he had run on ahead. Well, I owed it to him, he freed me, the least I could do was fight a 22ft cobra and a killer owl to save his ass.
Arun advanced on me now Masumi had gone, hissing menacingly. "You can't run now," he taunted "are you gonna fight?"
I growled again, wondering what the next move would be, now that Arun had got a little jibe out of his system, surely he would attack.
Maybe I should move first
Quickly, I darted at him, snapping my jaws together where his tail had been. "Too slow!" he laughed.
I whined now, I could smell Whiteside approaching. I threw a pleading glance at Sora,
Please, please let me go. Please, I can't be here, I can't die in a cage.
Hoping with all my heart she would be merciful (I knew I couldn' expect that from Arun) I turned and ran.

lol moo
I was gonna say that you had contradicted me but you corrected yourself.

*Can someone notice Jay escaping? Anyone please!?*

Derrick~

Derrick caught a swift motion of orange and white from the corner of his eye. A fellow rebel, who was still walking ahead obviously hadn't noticed. "Hey! There's someone over this way!" Derrick growled, running after the orange and white animal, distinctive stripes of a tiger soon showing on the fur. The tiger was looking around, nostrils flaring and he scented the air near the narrow river. Derrick shifted into his bear form, a deep growl sounding from deep within his chest.

*not much, just thought I'd help a little sylv*

Dylan~

Dylan nosed her cage open gingerly, taking a step out. Her vibrant blue eyes looked into those of her fellow animals, all of which were filled with anger, pride, or torment. She snorted and started walking, leaving them all to make their own screams. She wasn't escaping. She was too loyal to the doctor to do that. Way too loyal.

*maybe someone walking around could run into her*

Keiran,black lab

Keiran lay in a corner of his kennel, head tucked under his tail. He tried to block out the raging thoughts and emotions that so suddenly appeared. In a matter of minutes, it seemed, his entire life had been turned upside-down. Father is a murderer. Lupa was right. I should have listened.

"All arooound the mullberry buuuush, the mooooooonkey chased the weeeeeeeeeeaaaasel..."

CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG...

Keiran sighed through his snout. Spot. Damn her. She always picked the wrong time, if any time could ever be called "right".

"A peeeeenney for a spooooooool of threeeeeeeaaad, a peeeeeeeenney for a neeeeeeeedle, that's the way the mooooooooney goes-"

"Will you SHUT UP already?!"

Keiran tried succsessfully to blot out the rest of the encounter. It wasn't that hard, after all, with those thoughts bouncing around in his head. How could anyone bear this? It was awful!

The piercing howl of a she-wolf split his ears, amplified a hundred-fold by his keen senses. Lupa.

The howling reached a volume that forced him to shift back to his human form, to soften the sound. Except now he was crammed into every corner of the kennel, practically. Oh, well.

Keiran forced himself to bury his sadness, his shock, until they could be burned. His hatred he let rampage like a maddened bull, begging for release. Father had- NO! He's not my father anymore! That bastard Whiteside killed an innocent man, and I'll get him back. He would get him back for the betrayal, oh so bitter. He vowed he would. His mind cleared, now focused on the hunt. Not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but one day he would kill Arthur Whiteside.

His handshot for the latch of his cage, a latch he had had no reason to want open until now. Halfway to the handle, he froze. Sora was on guard. But where was Arun? They must have swapped.Checking the tiny window on the opposite side of the room, he tried the best he could to gauge the position of the sun. That's odd, he thought. Arun's shift isn't even halfway over. With a look around at his other initiates- cellmates, more like it- he noticed the doors of several of the cages were ajar, including the one of Lupa, sitting right next to his. They've escaped?!How in the world did they get away? The same way he hoped to: through the front door. But not now. Sora will see.

He waited impatiently and in torment at the sight of the scorpion helping his brother escape out of some kind of hole. Why couldn't I have thought of something like that? he thought, only to realize that he had had no reason to think of escape routes. Damn you, Whitside. Jaidev was through the hole, but the scorpion stayed where he was. Why isn't he going? Then he realized that not everyone would be so shocked at the display of cruelty shown by Whiteside.

The minutes ticked by like grass growing, slow, and boringly. He was about to throw caution to the wind and open his cage, when-

"Get them Sora, they've escaped!"

In a burst of feathers, Sora was out the door.

His heart beat faster as he counted the seconds, and suddenly, another kennel was open below and to the left of him. Dylan. She was an absolute follower of Whitestone, even more than he himself had been, and he highly doubted that a little thing like a murder would change her mind. She had a smug look on her face as she left the room.

Several of the shifters stirred at the sound, but Keiran wasted no time in reaching his finger through to pull the latch. It swung open without a sound. He had to reach Dylan before she did something stupid.

He leaped the short distance to the ground, and set out the hallway. In midstep, he shifted to his animal form, a black labrador with a single white forepaw. In his faster form he ran down the hallway, searching for Dylan. She had to be somewhere near, she had left only seconds before him. As he swung around a corner, he spotted her at the end of the next hallway. He ran at full speed.

"Dylan!" he barked. "Stop!"

Dylan~

Dylan's chocolate-colored ears cocked on the top of her head as she looked behind her slowly, eyes growing wide at the side of the large black lab barreling after her. "Stop! Don't do anything idiotic!" He shouted. Do something idiotic? What was he talking about? All she was doing was stretching her tired legs.

"Dylan! Keiran! Stop that god forsaken wolf!" Father's voice screamed down the corridor. Dylan looked up quickly, seeing a wolf speeding down the corridor. Arun and Sora were chasing after her as she neared the door of promise. The way out. Nobody was getting out. Not if Dylan had a say in it. This was it. This was how she'd prove herself worthy of Father's trust. Ignoring Keiran's warning of doing something stupid, Dylan darted into the path of the wolf. It was dangerous, she knew for a fact, to get in the way of the alpha of canines, but she didn't care.

"You might want to stop Lupa." Dylan snarled aloud, fur bristling. Lupa growled in determination and kept running. With a deep, angry growl, Dylan lunged, meeting the she-wolf head on. Due to Lupa being on her blind side, she missed greatly, embarrassment heating her pelt as she skidded across the tile floor and soon shot after Lupa, close on her tail. She'd prove herself one way or another.

With a snap of her jaws, she closed her sharp teeth around Lupa's tail. Using all her strength, she flung the wolf away from the open door, the precious scent of the outdoors wafting around her as she stood before it, growling menacingly.

Lupa's snarl was something so sinister. So demonic, that Dylan hadn't even noticed her next move. The she-wolf lunged, sharp canines digging into Dylan's shoulder. Dylan yelped and grabbed on the she-wolf's scruff, trying to yank her off but to no avail. With teeth still sunk into her flesh, Lupa flung Dylan from the door despite her bulk of being half pit bull, and shot out of it. Dylan knew the single word she was thinking.

Freedom.

Arun shot out of the door, followed closed by Sora, and finally Father. He glared Dylan down angrily, rage visible in his eyes as her gripped her scruff and shot her across the floor, back to her place before Keiran. She whimpered pitifully as she struggled to her feet. Keiran stared, wide-eyed. "What?" She snapped. "Going to tell me that you told me so?" Her lips raised up in a snarl, eyes challenging. She would not be made a fool of.