I am in the feline district. But at what cost? - Shon's behind the gates bleeding to death, the canines are aware of my violating the law, and God knows what punishment might meet me... I've drawn Shon into this, and I have no way to get us out of the trouble.

I don't lose my hopes just yet, though. This is the district where Knut resides. According to Yelen's and Annabelle's words, he should be a strong deviant, so he might help us. I remember he was so close to the vice-warden he called him by name, so he should be a high-level figure too. An overseer, perhaps, or a prison doctor. At least, he's in the administration, so if I locate him fast, I might save both of us.

Without any more thoughts, I run across the hall. Felines are roaming around - the free hour is still on. It is the same for all districts but occurs at different intervals, whenever the high administration - the warden and his office - desires. However, as I've heard, the warden is asleep most of the time, so the vice-warden should be controlling all the administrative affairs like this one.

The felines begin to stare at me as I run. Apparently, unlike the canines where fire foxes can have red eyes, in the feline society, it isn't possible at all. All these folks have yellow, green, or even blue eyes, but not red. What's worse - all of them have feline eyeballs, so it is quite easy to tell I'm not one of them.

"Hey, who the hell are you?"

Some girls and boys - prisoners, judging by their clothes - approach me.  They try to surround me. I push a certain feeble girl in my way and rush through:

"Let me pass, I need to see the administration!"

"Ouch!" the girl I've pushed falls to the floor. "Careful!"

"Hey, who do you think you're pushing?"

The felines surround me. Some of them grab my arms and stop me from moving. I struggle to get free, but I can't - there're too many of them. My shoulder too still hurts. 

The girl I've pushed stands up and complains to some big guy with long red bushy hair and giant claws:

"She's pushed me, Dave! And she's clearly not from here!"

"An intruder, huh?" the big guy approaches me, cracking his finger-joints. "Are you some nasty fox again? Think you'll get away with pushing my little sister?"

"Firstly, I'm not a damn fox, I'm a bird-vampire," I retort, "Secondly - yes, I pushed her because she was in my way. I do apologize, but I'm in a hurry here, so let me go. My friend is bleeding across the gates. I've got to help him. I've no time for the likes of you."

"Huh? Well, too bad for you, chick, because we've got a certain law here in the feline district," Dave grins with his large fangs, "Birds are a snack!"

He hits me right in the stomach. I crouch in pain. The felines hold me from escaping. 

"This is for pushing my little sister!"

Dave begins to beat and kick me. I struggle to get free from the felines' grip, but soon, the wounds overpower me, and I kneel. The felines let my arms go, and instead, join Dave in beating me up. I collapse to the floor, bleeding hard. Yet the kicks keep coming in...

"Hey! What's the commotion there?"

A familiar voice thunders through the hall, although I can't remember where I've heard it. For the felines, however, it should be easy to recognize, for they immediately stop and glance up at the second-floor balustrade in fear. Some of them, like Dave's sister, are even shaking. I wonder what's so scary about that voice... It did sound deep and stern, though, almost like some ferocious overseer who's about to beat the crap out of law-breakers... like me.

I glance at the second-floor hand-rails where they're looking. I can see multiple doors up there - the administrators' offices. One door right next to the warden's one (I can tell the warden's office by the golden star on it) is open. A tall shadow has come out of there and is leaning on the hand-rails, glaring at us. I cannot see the face all that well from down here, but I can tell it's some grand administrator, for he wears soldierly trousers which only prison-keepers like the vice-warden wear. He has feline fur wrapped around his arms and legs. He too, is barefoot, from what I can see.

"Nothing, Lord Knut, we've just caught an intruder and were teaching her a lesson!"

"An intruder?"

The ferocious boss, who turns out to be Knut - the exact guy I've been looking for - jumps over the balustrade and down onto the first floor yet remains unharmed (that's what I call fine cat reflexes). He approaches us. Now I can see him fully well - that familiar short blond hair, and quite unfamiliar blue feline eyes (I clearly remember they were green when we first met). He wears a black short-sleeved shirt. The fur wrapped around his arms and legs that I've mentioned, turns out to be the one of a snow leopard - white, with black spots.

"The free hour's over. Back to your cells, kitties!"

"But Lord Knut, the intruder_"

"Back to your cells!"

His voice thunders throughout the entire hall. It is so strong that even I get goose-bumps down my spine. The felines scamper away to their cells. Even Dave and his sister run with tails between their legs. 

I, beaten-up and bleeding, lie motionless on the floor, unable to stand on my feet. Knut kneels at my side and glares down at me like an overseer would look at a law-breaker:

"The hell are you doing here?" 

Now I wonder why I've ever been searching for him. If I had forgotten about his saving me altogether, both Shon and I would've been fine. Only now I realise how foolish I've been.

But I've no minute to lose - I must do everything to save Shon. That's all that matters.

"Knut, I need your help..."

"I can see that."

"No, you don't understand..." I can hardly keep myself awake, from all the blood I've lost, "Shon... He's burned and beaten, because of me... in the canine district. You must help him!"

"Not only are you beaten-up, but you've violated the law, and pulled another prisoner into it?"

"Shon... needs help..."

My vision is going blurred. I can hardly make out what Knut's telling me. I can vaguely hear the vice-warden's voice from aside - he too, has found out about the whole situation, it seems. That means Knut cannot save us anymore - both Shon and I will be punished... They might even wake the warden. 

But Knut's called the vice-warden by name many times. He must be important. He might still manage to help.

"Knut..." I mumble as hard as I can. My consciousness is fading. "Knut, help..."

I black out.