Choked

The creature pounced it's claws extended and ready to eviscerate. Lance matched its movements as he jumped backward the sickle-like claws scarcely missing his jumpsuit.

Lance did not dare to take his eyes off the massive creature. He kept his arms wide trying his best to appear as large as possible. The monster locked step with him ready to swipe at him once more. The only interruption to the pair's deadly ballet was the steady wheezing coming from the creature.

The Cat-Bull launched and swiped at Lance. The young man stagged backward again, aware of the limited space he had his mind started racing.

'I have two options, either fight or run, both probably leading to my death.' Lance tossed his can at the creature, it did nothing but pause for a brief moment. A gargled roar sputtered out of its mouth followed by labored breathing.

' The Can!' Lance quickly realized the can that he threw down the monster's throat was still wedged in there.

'It can still breathe, so it is only a matter of time till it dislodges it, I can't have that happen. Do I throw more cans down its throat…no that's impossible, but what if I did choke it further.'

Lance frantically scanned the room, it was even more chaotic than when he first entered it last week. He saw no rope or wire bar the straps that were still connected to the walls of the ship. Time seemed to slow as he looked for anything that could help him.

He sidestepped another powerful swipe from the beast, causing the living quarters to rock aggressively; furniture slid itself into the monster's giving Lance a bit more time to figure out how he could beat it.

Lance finally registered his tattered jumpsuit, it seemed to be made of some tough material but the issue was now he had no way to cut it.

Lance looked at the beast as it wriggled itself out of the pile of furniture. He had one way of cutting it. In a moment of sheer idiocy, Lance jammed his arm down the creature's mouth, he could feel flesh and fabric being ripped away by its abrasive tongue. He quickly yanked his arm out of the sleeve, feeling his fingers brush against the Cat-Bull's massive front teeth.

"Open wide!" with his now bare arm Lance sucker-punched the monster, causing it to cry in pain. Lance spared no time diving his arm back into the mouth, as to pull out his sleeve. He pulled the sleeve back only to feel it catch on one of the sharp teeth.

The battle turned into a tug of war, one side a tired and worn crash survivor and the other an apex predator. The predator naturally won as with a flick of its neck it sent Lance flying. He impacted the ceiling with a resounding thud only to repeat it as he impact the floor. His body once again screamed at him to run away. But he had the sleeve, he could enact his plan.

The creature shook off the last remaining pieces of furniture only to be greeted by Lance jumping over the scattered goods that covered the floor. With one final leap of faith Lance jumped onto the Cat-Bull's back. The creature hissed, attempting to buck off Lance.

Lance squeezed his legs against the creature's body, leaning his body as close to its neck as possible. Gurgled cries filled the air. He grabbed the sleeve in one hand wrapping it around the monster's neck and began to choke it.

It thrashed about wildly trying anything to get the man off its back. Lance barely managed to keep choking it, aided by the well-lodged can. The black-red saliva foamed at its mouth, giving the creature an even more monstrous appearance.

The Cat-Bull began to ram its body into the hull of the shuttle. Desperate to dislodge the unwanted passenger. Its movements began to dull as it began to collapse on the ground. Its last conscious was rolling onto its back hopefully crushing its opponent in the process.

Lance felt the oppressive weight of the alien, his bones cracked and his organs screamed, putting all his energy into choking out the monster. Eventually, the thrashing stalled, and the creature's beats grew desperate and hollow; yet Lance did not relent. Continuing to choke the monster till he no longer heard it breathe.