He spotted it straightaway when he peeled his eyes open. They'd moved the cage closer. He shuddered but remained motionless. Maybe they hadn't yet realised that he'd woken up. He just needed to stay calm enough to lull them into a false sense of security. There would be an opportunity to run if he played his cards right. There just had to be.

He remembered what happened the last time they'd moved the cage. In Technicolor quality. He hadn't been paying attention because they'd distracted him with food. It had been good food, too. He'd thought it was Christmas. So, he'd let his guard down. And before he knew what was going on, he had found himself inside the cage.

No, no, no. He wasn't going to let his mind go there. They wouldn't be pulling any tricks on him this time. He'd fight them, if it was the last thing he'd do.

Through a tiny slit in his eyes he tracked their moves. They were talking but he couldn't make out their words. They always spoke in their own language anyway. He'd picked up a handful of words during the time they'd kept him here but not nearly enough to find out any actionable details.

He had to admit it could be worse, if you discounted the cage. They fed him regularly and gave him a place to sleep. They were nice as long as he abided by the rules. But any transgression...

Oh boy, the waterboarding was the worst. Well, it hadn't actually come to that so far. They'd always stopped at spraying him with water, but the threat was enough to keep him in line.

Then there was the cage. It was used to transport him to those special occasions of intense cruelty.

Not today, though.

His body remained still, but mentally he was sharpening his claws.

Someone was approaching.

So that was their play today. Grab him in his sleep.

It was the woman. He knew they'd send her. She was the only one quiet enough to tackle this mission.

Well, they had another think coming.

He forced himself to stay put, an outward picture of peace and oblivion. But his muscles were tightly coiled, ready to jump into action withing nanoseconds.

The woman's steps slowed, her breathing barely audible now. In slow motion, she stretched out her arms.

He took one last deep breath.

She was there now, her right hand just touching him.

He leapt into action, catapulting himself off the settee in one swift, smooth move. He landed on the woman's neck, digging his claws in hard.

The woman was creaming now. All he could make out was the word "vet", before he let go of the woman's skin. Running like the Devil in person was chasing him, he raced down the stairs and disappeared behind the water tank.

They tried to coax him out of there with false promises of food and cuddles.

He smiled. He might have fallen for those tricks before, but not anymore. He curled his tail around his body and settled in for the night.