Arthur clasped his hands. "Alright, team. We've been selected as the hunting team for the reversed cheetah."
"Okay…?" Kay's voice came out a little confused.
"Can it moonwalk, though?" Amelia inquired with a grin.
The group instantly burst into light laughter. Arthur drew a sharp breath, and smiled.
"Good joke, Amelia but no it's a cheetah with reverse patterns." He picked up his backup with supplies given by Sterling.
"Do we have any idea of its location?" Ameilia widened her arms.
"No. That's why we're going to follow where it probably went."
"I don't like probabilities." Amelia hissed. "And how are we going to catch it anyways?"
"We'll…figure it out." Arthur backed away. "Now, come on. We've got until dusk to catch it."
Amelia let out a heavy sigh as the other passed her. After she opened her eyes, she picked her backpack and calmy followed behind her team, knowing they would wait for her. Just then, Sterling rushed at Arthur.
"Arthur! Wait! Take this with you."
Sterling handed Arthur a highly advanced radar speed gun.
"Uh…what's this for, sir?" Arthur asked while Sterling handed it.
"It's to measure its speed. Now, go before it goes somewhere far."
Sterling pushed Arthur forward and the rest of the team followed him out of the camp as Sterling waved.
***
They exited the camp, walking through the deep tranches of this unknown forest. The eerily quiet nature of it made the enforcers alert. Crows and Ravens whispered death's whistle in the distance. A few hours passed like that and Arthur was beginning to get impatient. Without warning, Maple pulled him back.
"What the hell ar-?!"
She covered his mouth. Feeling a strange sensation rise through his body, he quickly pulled her hand off. He then, whispered.
"The hell was that?"
Maple didn't reply, rather she pointed in another direction. Arthur glanced and saw their target. He quickly hid behind the tree and peeked around the corner. The cheetah was indeed inverted, covered in black with yellow spots and stripes. It was sitting under a tree, resting on the soft ground with no care in the world.
'That's our prey…it's looks pretty cool I won't lie…'
Arthur slightly admired its color pattern. Abruptly, Kay stepped out confidently.
"What the hell are you doing?" Arthur whispered, anger pouring through his teeth.
Kay puffed his chest. "Relax, captain. The cheetah is part of the cat family; it won't run when it sees us."
"I don't trust you one bit. Amelia, is this true?" Arthur hissed.
"Yeah, though they're not big cats. They're classified as Felinae and are more closely related to house cats." Amelia replied as if it was commons knowledge.
Arthur lowered his head, sighing. "Fine…go ahead."
Kay smirked and calmly approached. The cheetah caught Kay in its vision but didn't feel any danger. When Kay was about to reach it, he froze. The team were thrown in a state of confusion. Right then, kay slowly backed off and met up with them.
"Why did you come back? It was going smoothly." Harvey asked.
"…Come with me, you'll understand." Kay's eyes flickered with fear.
'This isn't good…'
Arthur's thoughts ran wild as they came closer. The cheetah didn't move and lied like a normal house cat. Then, they halted near it. Harvey's eyes widened as cold sweat poured down his face. The rest of the froze in utter shock as they stared at the abnormal cat. Harvey clutched his cheat, beginning to hyperventilate.
'It's…it's the same aura from those demons 17 years ago…'
A light darkness was swirling around the animals' body like a virus – too small to notice from afar which is why they hadn't noticed it earlier. Kay noticed Harvey's condition and helped him. He rubbed his back while Harvey fell to one knee. The rest also turned around and helped their friend while the cheetah looked at them in confusion. After a few minutes, Harvey was revitalized and stood up.
He drew a deep breath, careful not to trigger his PTSD. Arthur left them and advanced. He crouched near the animals the patted its head. The cheetah purred and lifted its head. Arthur stroked its chin as it purred in delight. The rest also approached and also stroked the animal. The cheetah fell sideways out of delight and purred lightly.
"It's such a cutie." Maple commented, standing up.
"Anyways, how should we collect it's DNA?" Harvey asked.
"I mean…a hair would be good enough. A blood draw isn't entirely necessary but it would help us get a better structure of its body structure." Amelia stroked her chin.
"Then, we'll do a blood draw. It shouldn't be that difficult with the numbing needle." Arthur replied.
"Then, let me get this cutie on its feet." Maple jumped at the opportunity.
"Go on." Arthur waved his hand.
Maple excitedly approached the cat and tried to make it stand up. But just then, Harvey's attribute sensed danger incoming. He instantly rose his guard and shouted.
"Be careful! Danger's incoming!"
The rest also raised their guard. Crows and Ravens screeched and flew away in the distance. Leaves fell from the tips of the tress as the ground shook. Arthur's pupils dilated as he looked sideways. In his line of sight, a gang of buffaloes were charging at them.
"Oh, shit…" Arthur muttered under his breath.
The cheetah perked up and got on its feet. It sensed danger and prepared to run away. Maple, realizing this, instinctively stretched her hand out and prepared to used her attribute.
"Someone! Touch my hand!"
Kay reacted first and put his hand out. The cheetah charged up. Maple brushed its body while touching Kay's finger. Instantly, the cheetah burst off in a blur. Maple coughed and weakly stood up.
'I'm sure I activated Harmony but…'
"Get out of the way. Buffalo's incoming!"
Her thoughts were interrupted by Arthur's voice. She remembered the current danger and rushed to get off the animal's path. Suddenly, something fast passed her like the wind. Kay crashed heavily into a tree after trying to run away. Blood poured from his nose as he clutched his nose, groaning. He fell onto his arse as Maple realized something.
'Did I…make Kay's speed the same as the cheetah's?!'
That struck her like thunder. Harvey carried Kay on his back, grabbing onto his arm. The gang passed them. Leaving a smoke of dust. The group panted heavily after the dilemma.
"It's hurts so much for the love of god!" Kay groaned, running his legs like a child. "Why the hell did I crash so hard?"
Maple scratched the back of her head. "I may have made your speed the same as the cheetah."
All attention turned towards her. They looked back and forth between Maple and Kay. Arthur pinched his nose and sighed.
"Okay, you made Kay's speed the same as the cheetah. You can relinquish its effects but…how will we catch it again?"
While Amelia tended to Kay using the first aid kit she brought, she blurted out in a clam tone.
"We make Kay chase it."
"Huh? Why him?" Arthur asked.
"Oh, Arthur. You've so much to learn." Amelia smiled. "Did you forget out little Kay's attribute?"
Arthur remembered Kay's attribute as the man rolled around in pain.
"But even so his brain can't keep up at such speeds."
"With his attribute, captain. It's possible…trust him." Harvey added.
Kay finally stood up after Amelia finished tending to him. He furrowed his brows ad cracked his knuckles.
"Let me do it, captain. I'll catch it no matter what."
"But…" Arthur hesitated.
"It's our only chance! We might not get another chance after this."
"…Okay but let us measure your speed beforehand."
Kay nodded and 'walked' far to the truck of a tree. Aiming at gain maximum speed, he placed his hands on the ground and feet against the tree. He narrowed his eyes and activated his attribute. Arthur calibrated the speed gun and pointed it at Kay. As soon as he gave the signal, Kay burst forward, shaking the leaves off. He flashed pass the group and rushed towards the cheetah. The gun rolled through numbers before stopping. Arthur looked at the reading and then blinked.
[ 300 mph]
Arthur's jaw dropped. "Holy mother of God."