Las leaped from the building across the street, landing in the dark alley below before breaking into a sprint toward the infirmary. Determination burned fiercely in his eyes.
As Eli watched him run like a madman, she immediately rushed after him and dug the sharp claws of her hand into the back of his shirt, trying with all her strength to stop him from entering the clinic.
Las turned and glared at her angrily.
"Idiot, you're going to rip my shirt."
Eli looked at him in panic and whispered harshly:
"Stop! If we get caught, do you have any idea what's going to happen to us?!"
Las clenched his teeth, his voice firm.
"I don't care... I have to know."
With a powerful tug, he broke free from her grip and dove straight into the narrow opening beside the infirmary.
Eli muttered a frustrated curse under her breath and squeezed in after him.
The two slipped through the opening and entered the clinic.
Inside, the building was dark.
Every light had been turned off.
Large white curtains covered the windows, drowning the room in a cold, ghostly silence.
Shelves lined the walls, packed with medicine bottles and old medical books. X-rays of various animals lay scattered across the counters beside dusty projectors, surgical instruments, and every kind of object one might expect to find inside a small hospital.
The air smelled strongly of medicine...
And blood.
Las looked down.
Across the white tiles, crimson stains were spread across the floor, mixed with scattered golden eagle feathers.
Las whispered, his eyes widening.
"E-Eli... look. That's blood."
Eli shuddered. A chill ran through her body, and her voice trembled.
"Let's get out of here, Las... This place belongs to my parents and if they find out about us we'll be in trouble.
But Las clenched his fists.
"No. I'm not leaving."
Eli hissed:
"Stop acting like a brainless idiot! We're leaving! Or I'll headbutt you so hard you'll forget your own name!"
Las shook his head stubbornly.
"No. No, no, no, no!"
Eli rolled her eyes toward the ceiling in frustration.
"Stupid little monkey..."
Suddenly, voices echoed from somewhere beneath the clinic.
Voices below:
"Hold him down!"
"I'm trying!"
"We're losing his pulse! Quickly, bring the defibrillator! We need to shock him now!"
Las jumped, fear flashing across his face.
"They caught us?!"
Eli smacked him on the arm and whispered through clenched teeth
"No, idiot. Not yet."
Before she could stop him, Las darted toward the staircase and rushed down toward the large underground chamber.
Eli's face turned red with anger as she watched him disappear.
"If my parents catch us in here and ban me from training, I swear, Las, I'll never speak to you again!"
Las reached the bottom of the stairs and slowly pushed open the massive double doors, peering through the narrow opening.
Then he froze.
His eyes widened in complete awe.
There, lying upon a massive hospital bed, was the giant eagle.
Eli's parents were fighting desperately to keep him alive, their hands moving rapidly around his wounded body.
Without thinking, Las slowly stepped forward, pushing the doors open wider and slipping into the operating room.
But suddenly Eli grabbed the back of his shirt with all her strength and yanked him backward, dragging him behind a stack of medical crates at the edge of the dim chamber where nobody could see them.
Eli whispered furiously:
"What do you think you're doing, you stupid little monkey?!"
Las couldn't take his eyes off the eagle.
"I've never seen a creature like that before... only in fairy tales. I need to get closer."
Eli gritted her teeth, nearly shaking with frustration.
"I can't stand you anymore! Because of your stupidity, I'm going to miss my training with Master Sifu!"
Las flashed her a mischievous grin.
"Training? For what? Even the punching bag has more strength than you."
Eli's face twitched with irritation. Her fists clenched.
"You want me to show you who's stronger, little gorilla?!"
Las shot back immediately.
"I'm not a gorilla... short cat!"
The two began arguing and shoving each other behind the crates.
At that very moment, Eli's father paused during the operation.
Karol narrowed his eyes.
"Did you hear something?"
Roza lifted her head and suddenly sniffed the air
Her eyes narrowed.
"...Eli?"
In the middle of their struggle, Las accidentally swung his arm and slammed into the stack of crates.
The loud crash echoed throughout the chamber.
Both parents immediately turned their heads.
Las and Eli froze behind the fallen crates.
"S-Sorry! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
Eli squeezed her eyes shut and screamed in frustration.
"STUPID LITTLE MONKEYYYYY!"
Roza and karol stared at them.
Anger burned in both of their eyes.
Karol spoke heavily.
"Roza..."
Roza answered without taking her eyes off the children.
"Yes, karol?"
His voice became cold and serious.
"Call Sifu... and Grov. Immediately."
Then he turned toward the children and shouter
"NOW.....