Ayame returned a playful nudge, but froze as she heard a twig snap. Snarling, she took a defensive stance as her eyes flared red again. The hair on her back stood on end and her tail bristled; the presence was a familiar one from back at the lab. She looked down as the light on her metallic collar flickered to a dim green. A soldier, in heavy armor emerged from the brush holding a tranquilizer gun. Though she could not see his face, she knew that he was grinning, "Here puppy," his voice sang out in a sick tune, "You've been hiding for so long.. we've missed you back at the lab.. And you've even found us some friends." He took aim at her with his gun.
Instantly, she charged at him, jumping and clamping on to the only weak spot in his armor: the throat, but not able to dodge the tranquilizer dart. It hit her in the neck as the soldier went down. She drew back, blood on her muzzle, eyes wide as she shakily ordered, "Run! Soran, grab the kid and run. They're after me... And they'll take you if they find you with me." With that she ran from the cave, knowing there were more soldiers to come. She saw one spring from the bushes, shooting another dart, this one hitting her in the back. She started to feel the effect of the drugs after she tore through his throat, and looked for others.. She was hoping for Soran to take her advice, hoping he wouldn't try anything in his current condition. Worse case scenario, she'd follow their scents and meet up with them later after she lost the soldiers from the lab.