Failed to Uphold By Valsotic

***

Roy whimpered, struggling to maintain his balance amidst the confines of the steel cage he was being carried in. Though the enclosure was small, with not much space to move around in to begin with; and though handled, in truth, with great care by the deer at his side, even the slightest movement - a simple step, an incurred bounce - was enough to push the little mouse over the edge. His nerves were jittering like crazy. His breaths were fast and heavy; his eyes wide and fearful. Add to that the sheer frigidness of the cage itself - which he was certain must have been stored in a freezer or something before being used now - and he may as well have been encased in ice. Cold, slippery... but, as he well knew by now, not nearly as fragile...

The little mouse shuddered. Nervously, he attempted to clear his throat.

"M-Mr. Deer, sir?" He squeaked solemnly. He had to try, he thought... at least one more time. "P-Please... I-I'm begging you... won't you please let me go? I-I know I messed up... a-and, trust me, I-I'm sorry! I really am! But please, just give me a little more time! D-Don't take me to Mr. Sa--!"

"Shut up."

It was a command, not a request; and the frightened mouse found himself obeying it almost instantly. The cervine continued.

"I shouldn't even have to be carrying you at all, you pathetic little mouse! Carrying you to my big brother... what an insult to him!" He scoffed and shook his head. "You should just be able to walk to him yourself, with any little squirt of honor you have left! Or do you not have any at all?" He paused, and then sighed. A sharp pain pulsed at his left arm, and he gritted his teeth. There was a rather nasty wound there, dealt to him by the very mouse in his possession now, delivered when he'd went to kidnap him...

He seethed at the memory.

"Well, no matter," the deer resolved. "We'll be there soon enough either way. And when we are... him you certainly won't be able to escape. You can tell him how sorry you really are then. Not that it'll make any difference... you really pissed him off, little guy..."

Roy gasped, whimpering as his tail tucked in between his legs. Soon, realizing that any attempts of talk were futile, Roy found himself scuttling into one of the cage's backmost corners, and curling into a ball, as he began to let out a strained sob. Against the mouse's tears, the deer only continued on, deeper and deeper into the hallways. And as he went on - so deep now within the mysterious hideout that Roy knew, no matter how hard he screamed or cried, nobody would be able to hear him - the little mouse found he could do little more than wait. Wait for his date. One, he'd been told, he was to have with the don's son himself...

The snow leopard, Saavre...

Roy shook his head solemnly, as though to will the thought away. Terrible memories began to inundate his mind once again. Why, he thought? Why? Why did he have to go and get himself involved with the mafia, of all things? What good could possibly ever come of it? An unlawful, temporary reprieve, perhaps, at best. A death sentence at worst.

The little mouse, however, had been desperate. Times had gotten tough. Extraordinarily so. A recession unlike anything the modern world had ever seen before. Roy himself, who by now was the sole owner of a family-run textile shop, smack-dab in the middle of the city, had been hit as hard as everyone else. Where once the shop was flourishing and booming, it was now barren and depressing... and at length, as he watched more and more shops begin to close up around him, conceivably forever, he began to get desperate. Soon, he knew, the government would come by as well, to not only take away the family business... but his home as well, also built by his great ancestors. The wonderful, memorable place he'd grown up in...

That was something that he just couldn't let happen. No matter the cost...

And that was why on that one fateful day many months ago he was approached by that shady-looking deer (in fact, the same as the one who held him now), and was given that so
enticing offer, Roy hesitated for only a little in agreeing to meet with the terrifying snow leopard. In the end, the mouse had indeed been helped out, and for a while everything seemed okay... but all too soon did Roy realize the foolishness in what he had just done, and he quickly regretted it. Despite all the time he was given, however, and all the genuine efforts he gave to revitalize the family business - even going as far as to enact a couple massages for a fee as well, which admittedly gained some bit of notoriety - it didn't do any good... and at length, his time ran out.

And now, here he was. Kidnapped, subdued... and on his way to meet perhaps the last person he'd ever want to see. Roy grimaced, thinking on how upset the leopard must surely be by now. He could only hope that somehow, someway... the mouse would be able to convince him. Convince him for just a little more time, a little more leniency... to be able to pay off his debts...

As it turned out, his opportunity at this would come sooner rather than later, as after but a mere couple more minutes being carried through the dark, dangerous hallways... they suddenly began to narrow. Narrow - into a singular point. It was an area that Roy recognized all too well, and his heartbeat began to hasten. The deer continued down, and before long, the cervine and rodent made it to a great door: beige in the coloration, save a sparkling gold for the knob, and a similarly colored plaque in the middle.

They had arrived.

The deer nodded, and gave the door a knock. He paused, and then not two seconds later came to life a small intercom on the wall to the right of the door. No salutation came forth, but the presence of static invited the deer to say his peace.

He leaned in.

"Brother?" Spoke the deer, with a tone stern yet warm. "This is Quinone. We've retrieved Mr. McIntire, the mouse fellow you requested from earlier. Would you see him now?"

There was a pause... but then, only seconds later the static fizzled out, as there suddenly came a sharp click from the door's lock. The two looked at it in tandem. It was now open.

Respectfully yet casually the cervine entered the office of the snow leopard. Time seemed to slow down for the poor mouse, finding himself in this grand room once again. It was refined and artistic, speaking of intelligence and grandeur. There were paintings, potted plants here and there, some candles, even a grand series of bookshelves - stacked with tomes - leaning up against the backmost wall. Just in front of the books was the desk itself. Oak, he presumed. Lacquered and polished. Some papers here, some pens there. Even a computer to the side, though seemingly turned off at the current moment...

Behind the desk, however, stood the most impressive feature: a grand, black leather chair, turned around, facing the books, with an even more impressive figure seemingly seated in it. They could only see the tips of some silver, fluffy ears poking out of the top, and a great paw poking out on the left, a smoking cigar grasped firmly between two furry fingers...

It didn't take a genius to guess to whom it belonged...

The deer clopped his way over and gently placed the cage on the wooden desk. The sound produced was a unique one, and it seemed to catch the attention of the don's son: his left ear twitching slightly. There was a pause... and then, soon, there came a chuckle....

"A cage, he Quinone?" came a smooth, icy voice from behind the chair. "Haven't had to use one of those in a while. That's certainly interesting..." The tone wasn't angry or accusing; more curious than anything. It was clear the leopard and deer were good friends, and that this "Saavre" was more or less messing with his little brother...

The deer bowed sincerely. "Apologies, brother. I know you like your routine and all... he was just a bit of a hassle, you see. Much more so than any of your other... uncooperative clients have been. Didn't want to risk it, at least not before I got here. Little punk even managed to nick my left arm during the kidnapping, actually..."

"Yes," Saavre empathized. "I was just about to comment on that. Blood has a very distinct smell, y'know..." Saavre sniffed the air quite loudly for emphasis. Roy staggered back a little bit, whimpering, and yet Quinone didn't even flinch. Saavre, still seated in his chair, turned his head a little, concerned. "Didn't think it was your blood, though! The wound's not severe, I hope..."

"It's fine," Quinone answered briefly. "It's just... I'm sorry. It's an embarrassment, I know. I'll be more careful next time."

"Don't worry about it," Saavre reassured. "I'm just glad you're okay... and that Mr. McIntire here and I finally have the chance to... catch up. Speaking of which - the cage. I don't think there's any need for it now, eh Quinone? Not like he could escape now that he's here, could he?"

The deer shook his head, chuckling slightly. "No, brother. I suppose he couldn't. Not with your nose. Not with your... prowess. Too late for the little guy now, I'm afraid..."

There came a brief pause before the two suddenly shared a rather sinister-sounding chuckle. Roy only shrunk in on himself. It was clear they were teasing with him... and he didn't like it one little bit...

"Well, unlock it, then" Saavre encouraged. "Go on, do it. And set him at the edge of my desk. Gently. You, little mouse, will remain there until I say otherwise. Believe me... if even somehow neither I nor Quinone here were to re-subdue you... then certainly our dart traps would. And believe me... the poison in there is very slow-acting. Paralyzing. And painful beyond belief." He was referring, of course, to the room's security system, present actually throughout the entire facility but most notably in places of high importance, like this. Even now, as they spoke, they were pointed towards the cage, ready to fire at the slightest whim...

The aura with which the great cat spoke astounded both the deer and mouse; the cervine still even with all of his years as part of his "family." He respected the feline's wishes all the same, however, swiftly undoing the lock and swinging open the cage's door. Before Roy could move but a finger, he was tenderly removed, placed on the desk's edge just as instructed. Roy, surprising even to him, did as he was told, and stayed perfectly still, too afraid to move even a single muscle. Before, he would've moved at even the slightest chance of freedom... but the feline's power was just that immense...

A soft purr escape the cat's lips, and Roy whimpered...

"Good. Now..." the feline brought the cigar to his lips, a puff of smoke escaping his mouth soon thereafter. "I must respectfully ask that you leave us, Quinone. You've done a wonderful job.
Locating and subduing this little cheapskate here couldn't have been easy. For that, I thank you. And if you haven't already... please, bandage up that wound. Wouldn't want you to get a cold. As I'm sure you understand, however, the matters that are to take place here are bit more... *Slurrp!*
... intimate than normal..."

The tongue slurp was quite audible to both the deer and the mouse, and they chuckled and whimpered respectively to it. The deer nodded.

"Of course." Quinone answered. "My priority was to get him to you as quickly as possible. I'll take care of the wound now. In the meantime... enjoy yourself, my brother." He gave a respectful bow before slowly turning around, and beginning to walk away. Roy whimpered, suddenly terrified to be left alone, helpless to do anything but listen on as the deer astutely clopped his way out of the office, further and further away... until at last, with a click and a turn...

*CLICK!!*

*Clop...* *Clop...* *Clop...* *Clop...*

Roy was alone at last.

Alone... with Saavre the snow leopard...

***

Against expectations, neither one of them seemed to say all too much for the first few minutes, although to Roy it felt more like an eternity. Saavre, seemingly, wished to take his time, to let it settle into the little mouse's skull just how screwed he truly was. It was quite effective, and in an effort to distract himself, Roy, at length, began to twiddle his thumbs and verily look around the room, although it didn't do too much good. All it did was remind him as to where he truly was now. It didn't even seem real. It didn't seem... right. Almost like he was dreaming or something. For so long he had been held in the deer's grasp, and he'd detested it immensely. Ohh, what he would give to be back in it now...

This was all just... too much... "He's a good kid, isn't he?"
The suddenness of the voice startled the mouse, and he looked back up to the backside of the chair, lips quivering hopelessly..

"One of my most trusted delegates. Grew up alongside him, actually. Father adopted him in, raised him as one of our own. He's become like a brother to me. Only the most delicate of favors I entrust to him, to deal with my more... troubling clients..."

The feline took a moment to take another puff of his cig, much deeper and thorough than before... and then, once complete, harshy grinded the remains into a nearby tray, and slowly turned himself around in his chair. Inch by inch, degree by degree... until at last, he was exposed fully, resting his elbows on the desk and his furry chin in his interlocked fingers...

"Roy McIntire?" He smirked. "You have been a very, very naughty little mouse..."

The world may as well have imploded in on itself for little Roy right there and then. He flinched, and shrunk in on himself, struggling to take it all in. Though having seen the don's son at least once in the past, and already having a familiar idea as to what he looked like... he simply was just not prepared for it. He was terrifying, the leopard. Gorgeous. Handsomely suave, and utterly brilliant. He had long, jet-black hair, and stunning light blue eyes, almost like ice. His silver, yellow and black fur was all clean and pristine, and his whole aura emanated one of sophistication. He was quite big, even for a great cat such as himself. Just his mere voice was enough to make one quiver in their boots. But his body? His presence? His being?

It was overwhelming, to put it bluntly...

"M-Mr.... S-S-Saavre...?" the mouse squeaked, shakily. The voice was so tiny that even he himself could hardly hear it. Saavre peered down to him, smirking.

"Beginning even with an improper introduction, I see." The great cat sighed. Roy gasped, realizing his mistake, but Saavre held up a paw before he could possibly get a chance to retort.

"Admittedly," he continued, "I am not very pleased that Quinone was apparently forced to have to carry you here. Quite insulting to me, little mouse. Definitely isn't winning you any brownie points. But the fact is that you are here now. And now... you'll learn your place. Come here..."

Suddenly, the great feline moved one of his paws down. With it he beckoned, resting his cheek lazily in the other paw...

Roy flinched, his little teeth chittering like crazy. It was obvious what the snow leopard wanted of him... and yet he just couldn't do it. He was too scared. He just... couldn't. He... He still had to try to convince him! Surely it wasn't too late! But, he just... h-he just...!

"M-Mr. S-S-Saavre?" Squeaked the little mouse, clear desperation in his voice. "P-Please, no... I-I'm sorry! Can I please speak first? You have to understand, the economy, I--!!"

"Ah-ah-aahhh~..." wagging his finger in a disapproving motion. Roy grimaced, and as he did so he saw the paw begin to beckon once again, a cool smile stretching over his lips...

Apparently no other words were needed to be spoken. The mouse knew what he was getting at. Saavre was a cat, after all. A great, big, terrifying cat. And Roy was a mouse. A weak, helpless little mouse. And if there was one thing that cats loved more than eating them...

It was playing with them...

Hesitantly, Roy took a step forward. Then another, then another after that. He stopped after a few more paces, looking down in shame, trying his best to keep himself from crying.

"Closer."

A dagger to the heart. Reluctantly, he took a few more paces, and stopped once again. Now he could hardly stand at all, and he felt he was starting to get dizzy...

"Cloooser~"

Goddammit. Wasn't he already near enough? He could feel the very heat emanating off his body he was so close! The genteelness, the smokiness. With every molecule in his body urging him to do the opposite, he took a few more paces forward. One, two, three... and four for good measure...

A soft purr escaped the great cat's lips...

"Mmm... good, good..." the suave feline crooned. "Now, up, little one. Up, up. Open your eyes, mousie. And dare - to look up..."

Roy let loose a long, high-pitched, shaky breath. With extreme reluctance he did as he was told and opened his eyes... and slowly - slowly, ever so slowly - turned his head upward... and upon reaching the apex, he squeaked in fear. Now the face was ginormous. He could practically feel the fur from where he stood. The heat. The breath. Saavre was still staring at him as seductively as ever. Head still resting in one of his paws. A cool smile stretched still over his furry, black lips. It was immense, it was terrifying... and yet, somehow, alluring at the same time.

A dangerous mixture, indeed...

"Theeere ya go..." Saavre purred playfully, casually shaking his head. "See, there's no need to be afraid. Was that so hard?"

That one admittedly caught Roy slightly off guard. He hadn't quite expected that. He took a few fast, shaky breaths, and he watched the feline's smile turn genuinely soft. Gentle. Kind. A sudden optimism, albeit small, overcame the mouse... and, just for a moment, he found himself giving a weak, shy little smile back...

Maybe, he thought... maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all--

*WHAM!!*

Roy's hopes were crushed in an instant, just as with his body itself, as great paw, concealed from his view, suddenly slammed down over his little body: completely smothering him under its weight, and enveloping him in a world of earthy padded squishiness...

The mouse screamed as loud as he could, and yet they proved muffled, squirming ferociously in an attempt to free himself. It all proved in vain. The great cat sighed in bliss, absolutely in love with the little squirms, all over his warm, moist, sweaty pawpads. The feline pressed him on further, crushing the mouse even more. To retain him there required not a single muscle from him. To crush him: hardly any at all.

"I know you can hear me, mouse, even from under there," the great cat purred. Roy's squirms gradually came to a halt, and he started to whine. The feline nodded. "One of the most primary characteristics of you little critters. Excellent hearing. And such... dexterous little bodies, as well. Truly, a delicacy for those of my kind." He paused. He blinked. He nodded, and sighed, crushing the mouse just a little bit more, and causing a shrill squeal to erupt from within.

"We'll get to business soon, Mr. McIntire, don't you worry. But first, you must understand... I've had quite the day so far. Despite what you may think, being in a position such as mine is no easy work. Not helped by the headaches you have caused me as of late. You can... feel that, can't you? All that persperation building under there..."

Indeed, Roy could. He could tell exactly what he was getting at. It was everywhere. Sweat. Great globs of hot, oozing sweat dripping from every little inch of the moist, feline pawpads that imprisoned him. It made him cringe, feeling like he was in a musty sauna of sorts...

The feline nodded. "A most unsightly condition, to be sure," he confessed. "Especially for one such as myself. But you, little mouse... you can help me with that, can't you? Rumors of your little 'massage' business hasn't gone unnoticed, not even by us. So... kiss it. Kiss the hand that's fed you. Kiss it hard. Put that tongue to work. Pleasure me where you have otherwise failed... and kiss it."

To say Roy was disgusted would be an understatement. He had to be joking. No... surely he couldn't mean to... but that's...! This wasn't the kinds of massages he ever offe-!!!

Suddenly, however, the hand began to squish down on him again, nearly crushing him. He whimpered, trying to think of any other way out of this... but all too quickly, he realized there

was nothing to think about... He just had to act.
And so, reluctantly, begrudgingly... he did. The little mouse opened his mouth, lolled out his tongue... and shakily began to glide the pink muscle of the big sweaty hand pads of the great feline. Up and down, side to side... over and over again. All the while using his own paws to massage...

The leopard sighed in bliss. "Mmm, that's right, that's right," the feline purred, loving the sensation. Slightly ticklish, though not nearly enough to coax a release. He looked over to his desk, and briefly reached over for a nearby stack of papers. "And as you do, why don't we take the time to... reflect a little bit on our agreement from earlier, hmm? Get all the facts straight... come to understand just how you ended up where you are now. Under my pawpads... and soon, assuming all goes well... *Slurrp!!* ... somewhere even more wet and moist than that..."

Just as before, the slurp of the tongue was highly audible. Perhaps even more so now than previously: caked in even more of that hot, wet cat slobber. Roy whimpered, tears beginning to roll down his cheeks. Desperately, he began to lick even harder, in some vain hope that by doing so would persuade the feline to show him mercy...

Hoping... that he could still convince him later...

Saavre tapped the papers, and stretched out his neck lazily. He began.

"Now, in the first place... I want you to understand that, all things considered, I don't consider myself as an unreasonable cat. I do for you, you do for me. That's just how it works, y'know?" Idly, he tapped the claws of the paw holding down the mouse on the desk. Roy flinched, licking even harder as sweat began to pool around him, sticking to his fur...

"I'm always willing to help those in need... for a fee, of course. You were just one of those persons. Struggling, as I recall." Saavre grunted. "Trying to maintain your 'family business,' as it were, in spite of the poor economic downturn. I sympathized with you, honestly. Even respected you. You're a family man, much like myself." He leaned in slightly, pressing even more weight into the little mouse as the cat let out a euphoric moan. "So, when Quinone was generous enough to introduce you to me... I had no qualms at all in offering you the help you so needed. I, to be blunt, upheld my end of the deal..."

There suddenly came from the cat's throat a excited growl. Roy was licking frantically by now, tears streaming down his face. He was listening to every word, knew where this was going, and was trying with every ounce of his being to prevent it. He, therefore, relented not even in the slightest, outside of a shrill yelp, when he was then suddenly and crudely tossed to the other paw of the great cat and began to get rolled around, licking and massaging just as desperately...

"But you, little mouse..." Saavre purred. "You never did. I was patient with you. More than patient, even. You can't possibly disagree with me on that. Surely..." he paused, squishing the quivering mouse whilst letting out another satisfied groan. "Surely you must understand just how great of a loan I offered to you, how much leniency I gave unto you. And yet, despite all that... do

you understand just how much fucking debt you've accumulated?" He sighed, looking up to the ceiling. There was a ceiling fan up there, spinning slowly and lazily...

The feline leaned back in his chair, relaxing a little. He twisted his hand slightly, letting off a small bit of weight to the mouse from under his moist, feline pawpads. Roy was starting to hyperventilate now. It was just... too much. He was getting more and more depressed, more and more hopeless that he'd be able to convince him at all. Saavre was dead accurate on everything so far. Even as he spoke, Roy knew he deserved no mercy... and yet his licked on, desperately...

"I understand that times are a bit tough right now..." Saavre mused, "but that's hardly an excuse. The deal was optional, little mouse. We never forced it upon you, yet you accepted it anyway. Quite feverishly, as I recall. You reassured us you would get it done. The onus is on you. Not on us. And yet despite that, you failed, time and time again, to uphold your honor." He crushed him down even more, eliciting another pained squeak.

"No..." Saavre continued. "Instead, what did you do? You ran away from us, like a coward. For months and months on end. And then, when we finally caught up to you? You injured Quinone, my own little brother. You spat in his face, and with that, mine as well. And then, when he finally brought you here, he had to goddamn carry you through my home, into my office. Like you're some goddamn royalty or something. You hadn't even the courage to see me on your own, to own up to your misdeeds. On your own two feet. Absolutely no honor at all in you... and that, little mouse, is the full resolution that we've arrived tat..." The feline's tone took on one of disappointment. He sighed longingly, looking down to the paw that held the mouse underneath.

"Well, Mr. McIntire?" He encouraged. "Have you anything to say for yourself in your defense? Hmm? Anything at all? Anything truly valid? Or do I have the full picture right after all? And that we understand, truly and fairly, that you are undeserving of mercy of any kind..."

Saavre paused for a moment, listening intently for a muffled reply, a muffled plea... but there was nothing. In fact, all the mouse's squirms seemed to have stopped by this point. Curious, Saavre leaned his head in so as to better hear, and not too long after... he smirked.

Roy was sobbing. Crying. Hard. Bawling, really, from the sound of it. Crying, and crying, and crying. Absolutely no words... but tears aplenty. Kid was crying up a storm. He was defeated. He was destroyed. Saavre had done it. Any lingering hopes that the little mouse had left was ebbed out of his tears. He was unredeemable... and he knew it.

The great cat sighed, and shook his head. Seems like everything checked out after all. Well, then... that meant there was only one thing left to do...

With a heavy sigh, the feline decided enough was enough. With his free paw he grabbed a nearby handkerchief, and without an ounce of mercy mightily threw the little rodent within, Roy letting out a muffled squeak upon impact. He rubbed him around in there for a few seconds, cleaning the mixture of sweat and saliva left on his own pawpads on the outside; the tears and sweat on the rodent on the inside. Once complete, he leaned to the side, resting an elbow on his desk, and resting the other on his leg, bringing the unveiled form of the mouse, quivering and whimpering, mere inches before his furry, silvery feline face. He looked him up and down, and smirked...

"Shh-Shhh..."The great cat hushed, planting a finger on the mouse's trembling lips. Roy flinched, startled at the advance. "I understand, little mousie. It's okay. Took on a little bit more than you can chew, eh?"

"I... I-I..." Roy stuttered, solemnly. "P-Please... M-Mr. Saavre, I-I'm so-"

"Doesn't mean I forgive you, of course..." the cat interrupted, hardly even hearing the little mouse's voice. Roy flinched, and halted. "But I understand, all the same. You did a wonderful job with those little massages, by the way. Quite tender and thorough. Perhaps if I were in a more generous mood, I'd consider keeping you around as a little... servant of sorts. A little paw-licker to massage my sore paws after a long day of work..."

He shook his head, and his eyes narrowed...

"However! I think there's something else I'd rather you do for me instead. Something that just might redeem you after all for all your terrible insults toward my family. Can you guess what that is, Mr. McIntire? Hmmm?"

Roy needn't answer. He was going to try to, but only but a second later, as if on cue, a second party answered in his stead... in a deep, bassy, hungry grumble...

*GRRMMBLE...*

The feline's stomach.

The two looked down to it briefly, and then back up to each other. Saavre grinned, and his eyes twinkled. A wide, pink tongue slowly slithered out between the cat's lips, and slowly, sensuously, licked over his whiskers...

"That's right," he nodded. "It's dinner time, little mousie..."

The mouse's quivers came to a complete stop. His breaths, his fingers... not even his heart seemed to beat for a moment. It was as if he'd went stone dead. Gradually, however, his breaths began to return, and his eyes began to widen...

He certainly wasn't oblivious to the reason as to why Saavre had really called him back into his office. If he simply wanted him dead, Quinone surely would've been ordered to kill him himself. It wouldn't have been much trouble; he'd already been able to kidnap him, after all. But it was clear that Saavre didn't just want him dead... he wanted him completely and utterly obliterated...

Melted... in the great cat's stomach acids themselves...

Suddenly, Saavre brought down a great claw. Without further delay, he began to tear off the mouse's clothes: traditional garments of the McIntire family's beloved textile shop...

He began... to unwrap his dinner...

"No..." Roy uttered at length. "N-N-No... n-no. P-Please... p-p-please, n-no...!!"

It wasn't clear if Saavre had even heard the little mouse. He was completely enamored, fully lost in his own world. Roy tried to say more, but was only able to utter a few more nonsensical stutters and whimpers, and before he knew it, he was entirely naked, held firmly in the great paw of the son of the don of the most terrifying mafia in all the city. About to be eaten. Said leopard, upon completion of his work, then suddenly let out a blissful sigh, admiring the mouse's juicy, scrumptious little body. There truly was something about mice. A feline thing, he supposed. Oh, how long he'd been waiting for this moment. He would've preferred, of course, if the mouse had actually been able to pay off his debts... but oh well. They would manage. For now, though... he was going to enjoy this...

"Mmm..." Saavre hummed. Greedily, he licked his lips once again, great rivers of drool beginning to trickle down his chin. "Forgive my crudeness, but... oh, you do look simply ravishing right now, Mr. McIntire. Skipped lunch today just for you, y'know. It's been... difficult to hold back all this time, I must say. But no longer. 'scuse me for a sec..." Slowly the leopard leaned his head forward, toward the mouse's body. Roy shrunk in on himself, nestling into the pawpads, feeling great gusts of breath rushing in and out of the feline's nose as the cat greedily sniffed over him... and then he licked him. With his wide, coarse, slobbery cat tongue, the snow leopard gave unto Roy a deep and thorough lick, from the legs to the head. Once complete, the cat slurped his tongue back into his maw, leaving the mouse caked in his slobber, and smacked his lips. He smiled, clearly delighted...

"Hahhh..." the great cat sighed. "Even better than expected. Oh, you truly are a treat, little mousie. A delicious little treat indeed. Guess you're good for something, after all..."

"P-P-Please!" Roy finally managed to squeak out. He was still trying to recover from the fierce, slobbery lick, feeling all the drool oozing down his body. "M-M-Mr. Saavre, please, don't eat me! I know I messed up! I know, I know! But I panicked! Please... I-I'm sorry!"

The feline chuckled. He twirled the squirrely mouse around in his paw for a couple seconds, before tossing him slightly in the air, and catching him once again. By the tail tip.

He began to move him upwards.

"Yes," Saavre crooned, sloppily licking his lips. "I imagine you are..."

"No... oh god please, no..." Roy mumbled, as he felt the leopard begin to lift him up. Up, up. Up and away. Higher and higher, further and further. "There... Th-There must be something I can do. My family house, I-I can't let it... p-please! Just give me a little more time! I-I'll do anything!!"

"No you wouldn't," Saavre put bluntly, now looking up at the mouse, now directly above him. He swung him around a bit, precariously hanging over that glimmering, toothy smile. Roy whimpered, nose sniffling pitifully. "If that were true, you would've found a way to collect the dough anyway. And yet, here you are. But that's all right, because all I want for you now, Mr.
McIntire, is to digest. To melt away in my belly. A fitting punishment for a cowardly little cheapskate such as yourself. Can't pay off your debt? No problem. You'll make up for it with your nutrients... fueling my body, supporting our family all the same..."

Saavre pursed his lips a little, blowing a heavy, teasing, smelly gust of thick cat breath all over the rodent's quavering body, laced with a hint of that cigar smell from earlier. Roy, still being wet from the fierce lick from earlier, was hypersensitive to it, and he whimpered all over. Roy stared at him, pleadingly, and Saavre stared back, giving another sloppy lick of the lips...

"But before that, little mouse... a gift. One final little present from me. A preview of what's to come..."

So saying, the great cat opened his maw wide, strings of saliva breaking as the jaws separated, allowing Roy to gaze inside. And gaze Roy did, horrified to find the wide, waiting maw slavering below him. A very cavern in and of itself. A great, pink, pillowy tongue. A set of razor-teeth, dripping with drool. Actually... god, the whole maw was dripping in the stuff. It was utterly abhorrent...

Saavre held him there for several more seconds, breathing purposely heavily, allowing Roy as great a view as possible. At length, however, he closed his mouth, and licked his lips. "Yes, yes. Look on, Mr. McIntire, and weep. Understand just how much of a fool, how much of a coward, you've truly been; and understand that, had you been able to but pay off your debts, you could've lived to see another day, and the bright rays of the sun once again..."

He lowered him down slightly, briefly enveloping the whole of the mouse's body into his mouth, and playfully suckling on him on him like a candy. Lowering him down, then back up, then back down, then back up. Over and over again. Completely bathing him in his slobber. All the while as the little mouse squirmed and pleaded fruitlessly...

Such the treatment continued much shorter, this time for only a few seconds, ending with a sharp, satisfying pop, and a slow, satisfying sigh over the mouse's coughing, sputtering body...

"And in that same breath," Saavre sighed. "Understand that instead, from now on, the only thing you're ever going to see is darkness. The darkness of my body. My stomach. And in there, you will meet your end. You're a family man? Would do anything to protect your lineage?" He scoffed. "Well, so would I my own. And let me tell you something, little mouse..." He lowered him slightly, his harsh, icy-blue eyes staring straight through him. Roy shrunk in on himself...

"Nobody ever fucks with it. Goodbye, Mr. McIntire. Consider your debt... payed in full..."

With that, the leopard suddenly reopened his maw - wide and slavering - and slowly began to lower the little mouse inside. Roy's eyes widened in tandem, squirming and squeaking like mad before, all at once, his face was suddenly smooshed against the cat's thick, coarse, squishy tongue. Only a second later, and the grip around his tail was released altogether, and Roy slipped right in...

Wholly... into the cat's maw...

"No! No!" He screamed, squirming with all his might. He tried to right himself, trying to turn himself around, toward the light, toward freedom! Only but a second later, however, did those wide, terrifying jaws close for good: shutting out the light, and bathing him in an unfathomably foul, hot, moist darkness...

One from which he would never be able to escape...

"No!! No, no, no!!" Roy yelled, quite frantic now, punching and kicking against the slick flesh in desperation. "Please!! Please, give me another chance! Please, Mr. Saavre!! I - ACKHMMMPHH!!"

Quickly however were the mouse's pleas cut short, as the sloppy tongue below him suddenly then began to prod and squish him around, tasting him. Around the whole maw Roy was thrown about, squirming and fidgeting like a madman. Against the insides of the cheeks, the gums, the teeth, the ridges on the mouth's roof. Everywhere. And it all seemed to go on for ages...

All the while, as the treatment went on, Saavre again and again found it impossible to restrict several deep, loving moans, clearly in love with the mouse's flavor, the vibrations reverberating through the whole of the slimy, organic chamber within. It only caused Roy to squirm even more. Saliva dribbled heavily down the cat's furry chin, eyes closed in bliss as he thoroughly tasted his mousie snack. In a way, he was glad the little cheapskate couldn't pay off his loans. He'd been wanting to devour him since he first laid eyes on him. Now that the deal was off... there was no need to hold back. All of the events that had transpired over the past several months had been leading up to this moment... and it was even more delicious than he could have imagined...

And so Saavre continued on, teasingly prodding and tasting him with his thick, slimy leopard tongue. For minutes and minutes on end, throwing the little mouse about this way and that, drenching him in drool. Dominating him, smothering him... like the pathetic little mouse he was...

Roy, meanwhile, did all he could to fight back. He screamed, he begged; he hollered and pleaded. Kicking, squirming, punching. Absolutely none of it did any good. In fact it only seemed to fuel the cat's hunger, saliva only building further in the cat's maw as he was continuously tossed him about this way and that, squishing him, tasting him, wedging him into tight, slimy spaces... even teasingly nibbling at him every now and then...

For how long the treatment went on, neither could say. At length, however, the effects seemingly began to take their toll. After minutes and minutes of the horrendous, slimy treatment, the mouse, once vitalized and strong, slowly grew weak and despondent. He still squirmed, and he still pleaded, but now they were but little minutiae... and he clearly couldn't hold on much longer...

And the feline sensed this.

With that, Saavre knew there was only one thing left to do. Delicious as the rodent was, even the cat could admit he was beginning to tire of the treatment. And, as his belly suddenly then gave an eager, expectant grumble, he knew it was at last time to send the mouse down there...

Into his snow leopard's hungry stomach...

And so, without another word, without even allowing Roy a chance to gaze into the feline's gorgeous, artistic office, that's just what Saavre began to do. Using his tongue, Roy was pushed to the back of the throat, and began to curl upwards. Roy tried with what little might remained to grasp onto the tongue, but it was just too slippery, and he cound't maintain a decent enough grip.

Roy was only able to utter one last final squeak for forgiveness before suddenly, all at once...

*GLRRRPPPP!!!*

"Ahhh..."

The deed was done. "N-No! N... n-nooo..."
From there, the esophagus took over, easing the rodent down with slow, rhythmic, peristaltic motions toward his doom. The mouse's ears, sensitive as they were, regrettably could not be covered as the mouse was forced to take in the disgusting sounds: squelches, schlorps, burbbles. At one point, he swore he could even hear the feline's heartbeat as he seemingly passed the chest: fast and excited...

At length, however, his journey through the slimy tube came to an abrupt halt, and after a brief pause at the sphincter, the mouse was crudely and messily spat out into the wet, organic chamber he feared most, a mouse's worst nightmare...

The cat's stomach...

Messily he was spat inside, the acids clearly already eager to eat away at his fur - his flesh, his being. To dissolve him into snow leopard pudge. A terrible itching sensation began to develop on his body in a matter of seconds. Desperately, though weakly, Roy tried to scratch at the stomach walls, up back through the esophagus, doing anything and everything he could to escape! He punched, and kicked, and pleaded... but he was ignored time and time again. Suddenly, the stomach walls, squelching and bubbling, eagerly began to close in on him, forcing his already small body into an even smaller, tighter ball... and he whimpered...

"N-No... no, no, no..."

And as he sat there, completely smothered by hungry stomach walls, feeling as more and more of the thick, putrid mire began to bubble and squelch below him, and even the great cat on the outside as he seemingly began to pat his own belly... Roy suddenly came to regret everything that had led him to this very moment. All to save his family home, his family textile shop. A choice made admittedly with good intentions... but foolishly all the same. Even if, he realized now, he had managed to pay off his debts, just knowing that he'd at one point had to instigate the help of the mafia to keep it afloat, the business was besmirched already. This, he knew, was really the only fair punishment one like him could receive. A coward... and a disgrace...

*GRRMMBLLE...* *GLRRPP...*

And so, hugging himself tightly in the steaming, acidic darkness... the mouse sobbed...

***

On the outside, however, all was well as could be...

Saavre the snow leopard, the son of the don of the most notorious mafia in all the city - now full and satisfied - patted his swollen belly in fervent delight. With a fresh cigar already lit in one of his paws, and a glass of wine, the bottle to which cleverly concealed in a cabinet underneath his desk, fully prepared on his desk, the great cat lazily stretched back in his leather chair, as he eagerly began to digest the mousie little feast. An irritating little pest the lad was, he thought to himself. But a tasty one all the same...

"Hm, hm, hmmm..."

*BURRRRPPH!!*

"Ahhh..." the great cat sighed, before purring in bliss. His tail wagged happily and lazily. He stared thoughtfully up at the ceiling, rubbing his belly. Faintly, amidst the heavy squelches and gurgles, he thought he could hear the mouse's sobs and pained yelps, as evidently the acids began to set in...

It made him smile...

"There, there, little mousie..." Saavre crooned, giving his belly a hearty smack. Roy yelped hopelessly within. "Just settle down in there and melt. It'll allll be over soon enough. And, hey, look on the bright side! By the time it's all over, you'll have become a part of me. In a way, part of the family. For a mouse as loathsome as you... you should be honored..."

Saavre chuckled, scratching at his belly - Roy within going back to his pained sobs - before he reached over for his wine. He gulped it down in great, generous gulps, feeling each liquid-bulge slip coolly down his throat, and undoubtedly over the quivering little body of the mouse inside his stomach. Once done, he put the empty glass back onto the desk, and simply sat there, and purred...

It was always an annoyance when clients refused or were "unable" to pay their debts. But... there were certainly some benefits to it as well. Indeed, Roy may not have been good for much, least of all paying off his debts. But as a massage therapist? And as a meal, especially?

"Mmm..."

That was a promise he could most certainly uphold...