[commentlog]

[dormant_beast]

[Its the 16th deck that finally sends Anna over the edge - she’s there running from things, her life, her issues - it’s a deck that takes her concentration, that makes her think and count seconds in order to move in time and avoid falling. It prevents her from thinking too much.

That is, until she starts curiously opening the doors. The first few

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[scarredpalms]

[Cyrus hasn't been taking the elevators for the past few days. He's full of irritated energy that he just can't seem to get rid of, but physical activity helps, at least. He's one turn of a corner from the next flight of stairs back to his own deck.

What he doesn't expect is a giant cat tearing up deck six. He's never seen one quite like it, but this is a predator he's looking at - he doesn't need to know why it's striped or where it came from. He needs to get out. Maybe if he moves very slowly, the tiger won't notice...]

[dormant_beast]

[She may not have heard him initially despite sensitive hearing, shes too busy decimating... Something.

But, unfortunate for Cyrus, Anna's hearing eventually does pick up on his movements, and the tiger stills momentarily. She turns slowly to face him, a low, threatening growl slipping past her curled lips, snarl deepening until it turns into a roar. A...very loud roar.

And then shes running, right at him.]

[scarredpalms]

[Aw, shit.

When she starts growling, Cyrus's pace quickens, but then she's running. He knows he can't outrun an animal like this. He's not even armed. This is bad.

He ducks back around the corner, facing the tiger with both arms up. If she's going to pounce, he'd rather she tears up his arms than his chest.]

[dormant_beast]

[The running turns into a full speed intended assault, massive limbs thundering down the hall as she heads in his direction. She skids around the corner, claws extending as she launches herself to pounce at him, talons slashing.]

[scarredpalms]

[Cyrus has exactly half a second to come up with a plan, so he... doesn't. He's moving on instinct now, and instinct says dodge. He goes to the side, but not fast enough, and Anna's claws tear into him.

He shouts (those gouges hurt like hell) and hits the floor a couple of feet away. He's dazed, too - wonderful! It'd take him a few seconds to wake back up, and if he can, he'll roll onto his back and, hopefully, to his feet. Does he have a chance?]

[dormant_beast]

[Half a second isn't enough for him to get away completely - the second her claws tear into flesh, the fresh smell of blood reactivates that hidden instinct in her, pushing it even more out into the open.

She's a few feet away now, snarling at him with her teeth bared as she watches him roll and get to his feet. She crouches, rear in the air and she pounces at him, claws extended again, fully intent on crippling him enough to bring him down.]

[scarredpalms]

[Already hindered, Cyrus can't move fast enough and Anna takes him down hard. Anna's claws are planted squarely in his chest and all the breath is driven out of his lungs.

Something might've just cracked inside of him.

He throws an elbow strike across Anna's face as a distraction.]

[dormant_beast]

[She puts a lot of her weight on him when she pounces, claws digging into his chest as her teeth are bared. She makes to snap at his neck, but there's an elbow in her face and she yelps in surprised anger and pain. It distracts her enough to make her jerk back in protest. Possible window of opportunity here.]

[scarredpalms]

[That gives Cyrus a moment to breathe, if only figuratively; breath isn't coming easily. Cyrus takes this chance to jam his palm into the tiger's eye with all the strength he's got, and hopefully that'll be enough to make her back off.]

[dormant_beast]

[The tiger shrieks - it's her already injured eye he's managed to hit and she slinks off him, pawing at her face. If he's fast, he'll be able to either get up the the nearby stairs and into a room, or in an elevator where she can't follow.]

[scarredpalms]

[There's no way he can manage the stairs in this condition. Cyrus pushes himself to his feet - and his legs have actually come out alright through this, strangely enough - and makes a break for the elevator. He's hindered by the pain, but adrenaline and fear of death spur him on.]

[dormant_beast]

[He'll have a decent amount of time, considering the tiger is still desperately pawing at her injured eye, and rubbing her nose on the floor.

Eventually she'll look up and see that he's off, and she'll give chase then. He's probably going to be to far ahead of her though - and when he gets to the elevator? She'll crash into it just after the doors close.]

[scarredpalms]

[Cyrus mashes his hand against the call button, and then he's in. The tiger is after him again and the doors remain open for one count.

Two counts.

Three counts.

And then they close.

Cyrus lets out a short bitter laugh, and then winces from the pain. He pushes the button for deck five, and then he's off.]